Another Day, Another (billion) Dollar(s)

Hello again!  Here is an update of what I've found interesting on the internet over the past few days!

How much money do regulations cost the US Economy?
In this article, a libertarian-based organization's estimates that regulations cost up to $1.8 trillion annually.  The deficit this year was just over $1.1 trillion.  Is it time to reduce some of the nonsensical regulations that throttle growth and instead grow deficits?

http://www.usdebtclock.org/
If you really want to get depressed, just watch the numbers on this clock.  #chaddereddreams

Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Surprising Prediction

Ruth Bader Ginsburg said that she thinks that the Supreme Court will likely take up same-sex marriage in the next year or so.  The challenge would be to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) which is set for a hearing this month in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

The Obama Administration disagrees with the law and has deemed it unconstitutional, therefore they are not defending it.  I also disagree with the law, but the Administration has a Constitutional duty to protect the laws of the land.  The Supreme Court has the sole role to rule on Constitutionality, not the President.  Anyway, that's a bit off topic.

Considering the current make up of the Supreme Court, I'd say DOMA has a decent shot of being overturned.  Barring a Romney win in November, a subsequent vacancy of a liberal on the court, and replacement of that seat with a conservative, the court could very well turn over DOMA and make gay marriage legal across the country.  Then, we could get past this silly issue and start talking about more pressing things, such as debt and entitlement spending.

US Women's Soccer Domination
The US Women's National Team head coach Pia Sundhage won her final game as coach for the US Women's Team.  The US defeated Australia 6-2 in a friendly, which brought Pia Sundhage's record to 91-6-11.  She coached the US to two Olympic gold medals and a second place finish in the Women's World Cup in 2011.  Sundhage is scheduled to coach the women's team for her home country, Sweden, starting December 1. What a legend!

A Li-Liger?

A liger is a hybrid between a male African lion and a female tiger.  This liliger comes from a male African lion and a female liger.  Ligers tend to be giants compared to tigers or lions, oftentimes reaching well over 700 pounds (one male liger currently weighs 900 pounds!).  Who knows how this second-generation hybrid will get!  Imagine taking a 900 pound ferocious cat for a walk down the street.  That would sure make your pit-bull look meek.  Despite the ethical questions of cross-breeding wild animals in captivity, a 900 pound giant predator is still pretty amazing.  Also, they typically live long, healthy lives, which isn't always the case with animal hybrids.

I hope you enjoyed the links!