So, Delta and Northwest have announced their merger. It will make the combined airline the largest in the country, surpassing American. The merger will help the two airlines cut costs, and will bring about the obligatory fare increases due to decreased competition.

It's funny how free marketers are all about competition. But, they never raise a voice in protest when mergers and acquisitions bring about near monopolies.

I've recently thought that the United States is rapidly turning into a nation of few choices. How many banks are there? How many airlines? Kind of reminds me of the old Soviet Union.

And speaking of Aeroflot. I went on their website to check out this former state-owned airline of the USSR. I had to laugh when I clicked on page that touted their new in-flight entertainment service. During April, Aeroflot is featuring such great movies as

Kidnapping Caucassian Style, or Shurik's New Adventure

"In this comic but dated story, nerdy Shurik travels to Caucas in search of native legends and folklore. But what he finds is a beautiful girl whom, due to intoxication and deceit of the local "gang", he ends up literally stealing for the local deceitful governor. All the time Shurik thinks that it is all just a one old Caucasian custom. When he, finally, realizes what he did he goes out in search for the girl of his dreams."

I'm not making this shit up.