Our guest columnist is Senator Tom Coburn, criticizing what we think is an excellent use of government funds.

One notable training-related event that was deemed an allowable expense by DHS was the HALO Counter-Terrorism Summit 2012. Held at the Paradise Point Resort & Spa on an island outside San Diego, the 5-day summit was deemed an allowable expense by DHS, permitting first responders to use grant funds for the $1,000 entrance fee. Event organizers described the location for the training event as an island paradise: “the exotic beauty and lush grandeur of this unique island setting that creates a perfect backdrop for the HALO Counter-Terrorism Summit. This luxury resort features over 460 guestrooms, five pools, three fantastic restaurants overlooking the bay, a world-class spa and state-of-the-art fitness center. Paradise awaits…”

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“The sperm count of French men fell by a third between 1989 and 2005, a study suggests. The semen of more than 26,600 French men was tested in the study, reported in the journal Human Reproduction.” [BBC]

Jazz pianist Dave Brubeck dead at age 91 [Chicago Tribune]

“49% of GOP voters nationally say they think that ACORN stole the election for President Obama. We found that 52% of Republicans thought that ACORN stole the 2008 election for Obama, so this is a modest decline, but perhaps smaller than might have been expected given that ACORN doesn’t exist anymore.” [PPP, via Political Wire]

“By all accounts, the past month has been most difficult on Romney’s wife, Ann, who friends said believed up until the end that ascending to the White House was their destiny. They said she has been crying in private and trying to get back to riding her horses.” [WaPo, via Political Wire]

Today is a case study about why I, as a lifelong Bob, go by “Robert Costa.” Also: thanks for the many emails about the 2nd amendment.

— Robert Costa (@robertcostaNRO) December 3, 2012

Bob Costas makes gun control speech on ‘Sunday Night Football’ [LAT]

Title: “Stop Living In This Land. Go To The Everlasting World Of Happiness. Live There Forever.”

Author: Woo Myung

Rank: 3

Blurb: “At last, the way to become complete is here.”

Review: “I can’t wait to find more about the methods to live in the true world at the local Maum meditation centre.”

Customers Also Bought: “The Natural: How to Effortlessly Attract the Women You Want” by Richard La Ruina

Footnote: Plato should have franchised the Academy.

Stop Living In This Land [Amazon]

Buy or Die [Stinque@Amazon Kickback Link]