...and JPMorgan Chase honcho William Daley was just named as Obama's new chief of staff.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/…

I can't comprehend dollar amounts over $100,000.

On a different note, I just bought Stephen Gould's Mismeasure of Man which, I think, compares phrenology and craniology to contemporary intelligence tests. I'm pretty pumped to read it.

Thanks for the link, Rob. Here's my favorite bit from that. Ooh, these Chicagoans:

But his political centrism and background with business and Wall Street are certain to exacerbate the administration’s tense relations with liberal activists in the Democratic base.

One liberal group was quick to comment.

“This was a real mistake by the White House,” said Adam Green with BoldProgressives.org. “Bill Daley consistently urges the Democratic Party to pursue a corporate agenda that alienates both Independent and Democratic voters.”

Another challenge facing Mr. Daley will be integrating himself into the often insular world of close Obama confidants, who have largely run the presidency so far.

On the contrary, there is no higher human function than finding the easiest way to make the greatest profit. You can find people who believe all that "spiritual" nirvana nonsense. But when it comes right down to it, they're only looking for something to replace what they lack: Money.

Cesare Lombroso, an Italian criminologist of the 19th century, posited that all criminal behavior could be seen in the physiognomy of the individual. He created a theory that became wildly popular in penal theory that certain facial and cranial features could not only identify people who were criminals at heart, but also what type of crimes they were most likely to commit. It was an odd offshoot of phrenology. His work stemmed from social Darwinism, which became popular in the 1870's. This supported the popular beliefs of racial stereotyping, which as we all know, supported the idea that the white race was more evolved and was thus more qualified to rule the world. It is amazing and sad that such self-justification is still so potent.

Vince @ 4: you forgot to add "in a capitalist system" after 'function'.

But where is the brain of Hans Delbrueck, Scientist and Saint?

@6 I thought about that, but then I remembered a documentary I had seen. It was about the people of the Kalahari. They had devised many clever ways of conserving energy and attaining food. No small feat. And these were the original human ways.

This reminds me of the scientific article ("Hey, I have a degree in Science!") describing the basis for those new words in the OED: "to boehner" ( irregular verb, transitive), "boehner" (noun), "boehnering" (gerund) and "bohnered" (adjective). They are indicate some degree or state of idiocy, greed, narcissism, self-righteousness and water flowing freely out of eyes, or "tears."

I have a favorite use for the word "boehner." It's egregiously profane, so I'll forego explaining it here.

Oops. Excuse me. I have to go and pinch off a big boehner, then clean up with T.P.

Excuse the poor grammar: "are."

Wait so I'm confused... what is wrong with investment bankers charging fees again? This isn't personal banking. This is rich people charging other rich people fees. How is that a problem?

The numbers on personal banking fees, those are the criminal numbers.

13: OK, if you consider the indigenous tribal lifestyle of the people of the Kalahari to be a good example of using the easiest way to make the greatest profit. They look like they work damn hard to barely survive from where I'm sitting.