A few more items on a slow “Buy Nothing Day” (which I honored, by the way, although we did a little browsing).

• I take no pleasure in citing TMZ, but they’ve apparently discovered that Arnold Schwarzenegger owes some back taxes, and the LA Times is corroborating the story by finding that the IRS has filed an $80,000 tax lien against the California Governor. Arnold’s spokesman responded by saying that the Governor always pays his taxes on time and that this lien is for missing information. As a side note, Schwarzenegger is about as entitled and self-absorbed a public figure, someone who thinks the law doesn’t apply to them in any way, as… well, as anyone of his stature (and political party).

• Here’s an idea modeled on the “cash for clunkers” program – a trade-in deal on appliances. Cash for clunkers created economic activity and moved out some inventory, but it was temporary. I think the benefits justified it, particularly on the environmental side (where the MPG increase was much higher than the lower limit of the law), and “cash for appliances” may do the same thing. But at some point, the indirect job creation should get a little more direct, and sustained, instead of these short-term boosts.

• For example, a jobs bill. As Barbara Lee said, “I hope we don’t play around the edges with this and we do what will work. Invest the money now.”

• I expect that oil-rich Abu Dhabi will bail out Dubai, but it’s not entirely certain. Incidentally, the demise of a nation-state built almost entirely with slave labor is pleasing in a “just desserts” respect.

• A major arms reduction pact between the US and Russia hopes to be completed by the end of the year. Hopefully they can sign it when Obama visits Europe next month as a tangible step toward nuclear disarmament.

• I’m trying to piece together the reported concern of Robert Gates with the Soviet failure in Afghanistan and his eventual assent to add 30,000 or so more troops anyway.

• Read William Greider on Obama, FDR and Hoover.

• The Prime Minister of Vanuatu lost his seat because of a paperwork error. He missed three sessions in a row without written explanation, as required by law. In other words, he was ousted by the Parliament because he didn’t provide a note from his mother.