or Powell's or me• • •
"Mike and Jon, Jon and Mike—I've known them both for years, and, clearly, one of them is very funny. As for the other: truly one of the great hangers-on of our time."—Steve Bodow, head writer, The Daily Show
•
"Who can really judge what's funny? If humor is a subjective medium, then can there be something that is really and truly hilarious? Me. This book."—Daniel Handler, author, Adverbs, and personal representative of Lemony Snicket
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"The good news: I thought Our Kampf was consistently hilarious. The bad news: I’m the guy who wrote Monkeybone."—Sam Hamm, screenwriter, Batman, Batman Returns, and Homecoming
January 28, 2009
$2,500
How much are Afghans worth?
U.S. commanders on Tuesday traveled to a poor Afghan village and distributed $40,000 to relatives of 15 people killed in a U.S. raid...$2,500 for each death plus $500 for two wounded men and $1,500 for village repairs.
Interestingly, that's about what U.S. lives are worth too. Remember that Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal offered us $10 million after the 9/11 attacks. 2,800 people killed X $2,500 = $7 million. Add on $3 million for injuries and village repairs, and it's exactly the same.
At the time, Prince Alwaleed blamed 9/11 on US foreign policy. Likewise, the US blames the dead Afghans on 9/11. It's a nice symmetry. (Except Prince Alwaleed didn't actually kill 2,800 people himself.)
—Jonathan Schwarz
Posted at January 28, 2009 12:04 PMHow much did we ask Qaddaffi to pony up for each airline bomb victim. That number needs to be up there.
Posted by: jawad at January 28, 2009 01:23 PMWeregild -- nothing new under the sun
Posted by: Cloud at January 28, 2009 03:33 PMGetting in on the big money.
Posted by: Mike Meyer at January 28, 2009 03:36 PMThis American's life was worth less than $1,100:
http://www.mlive.com/news/bay-city/index.ssf/2009/01/autopsy_bay_city_man_froze_ins.html
If you sell your baby, you can probably get more. Better to sell now while the value is good rather than waiting for them to get blown up by some asshole, Muslim, Christian, whatever.
Posted by: ChrisV82 at January 28, 2009 11:24 PMHow much for the women?
More than for the goats?
Posted by: JerseyJeffersonian at January 28, 2009 11:54 PMDo you get time and a half if you're slaughtered on a Sabbath day?
Posted by: An Outhouse at January 29, 2009 05:42 PM
