Eddy Arnold, one of the most successful country artists of all time–having 28 number one records–has died. Here he is, performing his masterpiece, one of the greatest songs in American popular music, “Make the World Go Away”:

The economy grew .6%, contrary to the perception that we are in a recession. See Economy Improves, Old Media Ignores. Some are saying that this represents the first time that we have had a recession while experiencing economic growth! Even though a recession MEANS subsequent quarters of no growth.

So is the economy stronger than the doomsayers have been saying it is? I suspect what we have is a paradox in a vast economy, with some sectors in bad shape–unfortunately, those that impact average Americans the most, with high prices for food and fuel and a loss of equity in home values–and other sectors doing quite well (such as oil companies and the farmers who are enjoying record prices).

In my travels in Oklahoma, I came across a gas station that sold an 85% ethanol fuel for just over $2 per gallon. Does anybody know anything about this? Can any car burn that, or does a car have to be specially adapted to burn that stuff? (Not that I approve of using food for fuel, but still. . . .)

An earthquake registering 7.9 on the Richter scale struck China, with great loss of life. See China quake death toll rises to nearly 10,000.

My daughters just went through a minor earthquake in St. Louis, no less. And my wife–who fears going to California because of its earthquakes (though she herself thinks nothing of Oklahoma tornadoes)–felt a small one the other day in Alexandria, Virginia.

It’s frightening when one’s very ground proves unstable.