"On Second Thought" for Oct. 14, 2012

• Protesters across Europe paused from torching cars and throwing rocks last week to celebrate the European Union winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

• Jubilant EU officials said they would be happy to travel to Oslo to accept the prize, except they can’t seem to find the money for airfare.

• Meanwhile, the Greeks are wondering what the peace prize might fetch on eBay.

• There hasn’t been this much head-scratching since the Nobel committee awarded Barack Obama for not being named George W. Bush.

• I don’t want to say gas prices are high in California, but it’s now just about cheaper to buy a new SUV — provided it comes with a full tank — than it is to fill up the old one.

• They don’t call it the Golden State for nothing. And right now, gold is going for about three gallons an ounce there.

• Hugo Chavez proved last week that you can win an election even if you don’t win a debate, or even submit to one.

• All you need is a winning smile, a warm personality and the power to force all media to broadcast your speeches, force government workers to campaign for you and suppress dissent.

• Salt Lake County officials have decided to send out property tax notices this week rather than wait until early November, which is too close to Halloween. One scary thing at a time, please.

• Meanwhile, health officials are still cool to my festive idea — spook house flu-shot clinics. At some point during the scary tour of a haunted house, a monster would come out of nowhere and stab customers with a syringe.  Why not make health care fun?