I just received an e-mail from a friend that is just too good and too cute not to be posted on a lazy Sunday afternoon. It is about a low-fare, 737-carrier based South African airline that tries not to take itself too seriously---something most of us should emulate. According to the e-mail and a related article: The airline started in 2001 and recently took … [Read more...] about An Airline that Does Not Take Itself too Seriously
Whales vs. Minnows In U.S. Senate Replaced By Balderdash
May I be so bold as to suggest recommended reading on how our U.S. Senate “works.” In its custom dating back to the beginning of time, the New Yorker Magazine takes an extremely dull subject and brings it to life. Be forewarned. This article is not a sound bite. The author went to extremes to be fair to the arcane process and the polarized influence practiced by both … [Read more...] about Whales vs. Minnows In U.S. Senate Replaced By Balderdash
Some Simple Political And Economic Suggestions
If you want to get into nation building, start with your own nation. If you don't like gay marriage, don't marry a gay. Don't try to save an economy by saving its banks; save its banks by saving its economy. Don't try to be in the middle when there is no middle. Don't compromise with a sullen, vengeful and beaten down opponent; they won't compromise with you if you let them … [Read more...] about Some Simple Political And Economic Suggestions
Simon Says: ‘Take One Step Back, Mr. President’
What a remarkable turn of events we've seen over the last 72 hours. The president of the United States, in what I considered at the time an act of true political courage, bucked 70% of his countrymen who oppose the construction of a mosque and Islamic center overlooking Ground Zero by making a strong statement in support of the constitutional rights of the Muslims who want to … [Read more...] about Simon Says: ‘Take One Step Back, Mr. President’
Report: Ground Zero Mosque Developers Open to Relocation
Is there a possibility that the developers of a mosque planned to be located within a few blocks of 911's Ground Zero are open to relocating it? The New York Daily News reports that it is at least a possibility: Sponsors of the proposed mosque near Ground Zero are not slamming the door on Gov. Paterson's idea to build the center someplace else. "We are open to a … [Read more...] about Report: Ground Zero Mosque Developers Open to Relocation
Muslims Should Show Respect by Understanding How Deeply Offensive They Are to Ordinary Americans
Some further thoughts, left and right, on Pres. Obama's speech supporting the proposition that the constitution's provision of religious freedom for all means that the Constitution provides religious freedom for all. … [Read more...] about Muslims Should Show Respect by Understanding How Deeply Offensive They Are to Ordinary Americans
Secret Assault on Terrorism Widens on Two Continents
Not to be outdone by the Washington Post (Top Secret America), the Sunday NY Times greets its readers with its own expose, Secret Assault on Terrorism Widens on Two Continents. The article begins with an anecdote about an air strike that killed a local Yemeni leader who "had been trying to talk Qaeda members into giving up their fight." Contrary to press reports at the … [Read more...] about Secret Assault on Terrorism Widens on Two Continents
On Obama’s “Clarification” of His Earlier Remarks on the Muslim Community Center in Lower Manhattan
Earlier today, Barack Obama responded to the avalanche of vitriol from the right that greeted his still earlier remarks about religious freedom in the United States of America. Some people are saying that Obama essentially "walked back" his earlier strong support for the idea that Muslims have the same constitutional right as any other faith tradition has in this country to … [Read more...] about On Obama’s “Clarification” of His Earlier Remarks on the Muslim Community Center in Lower Manhattan
Profile in Courage or Political Death Wish?
Barack Hussein Obama could have avoided this one, declaring the issue of a mosque near Ground Zero a local decision, as his Press Secretary has done for weeks, but the 44th President has taken his cue from the 35th by coming out in favor of building it. In a "Profiles in Courage" moment, he declares: "Let me be clear: as a citizen, and as president, I believe that Muslims … [Read more...] about Profile in Courage or Political Death Wish?
Burning The Qur’an, Literally and Figuratively
There, where they burn books, they will in the end burn people. - Heinrich Heine, 1821, referencing the burning of the Qur'an during the Spanish Inquisition A small church in Gainesville, FL (home of the University of Florida, metro population of 260,000) is holding an "International Burn A Koran Day" on September 11. The event Facebook page has almost 4,600 "likes" (no … [Read more...] about Burning The Qur’an, Literally and Figuratively
One to One
For CStanley, in comments -- Carole King, 1982: "I know this world needs changing. I know the shape we're in. But with all the confusion, I've reached the conclusion, there's only one place to begin...." :-) … [Read more...] about One to One
Congress Ranks Last In Trusted Institutions Poll
This is what decades of partisanship leads to: Congress ranks dead last in Gallup's annual Confidence in Institutions poll. Even worse than having only 11% of the adult population (+/-4%) have "a great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in Congress, 50% volunteered that they have "very little"/"no" confidence in Congress. This is the worst rating "for any institution … [Read more...] about Congress Ranks Last In Trusted Institutions Poll
Miracles To Woes, A Look At What We Have Wrought
Antibiotics are amazing; arguably the second most amazing discovery behind electricity. I have heard cogent and persuasive arguments that antibiotics are the defining feature of modern medicine being modern, meaning that you have a better chance of a doctor helping you instead of making you worse. Unfortunately when using technological advances, humanity has repeatedly … [Read more...] about Miracles To Woes, A Look At What We Have Wrought
Gallup: Public Has Little Confidence In U.S. Newspapers and TV News
A new Gallup poll provides more evidence that as Americans move further into the 21st century confidence in traditional news delivery systems of print newspapers and TV news is at "near-record" low levels -- a continued erosion of 20th century models where the media chose and provided the news and decided the amount and kinds of commentary that could fit into print media and … [Read more...] about Gallup: Public Has Little Confidence In U.S. Newspapers and TV News
Newsweek Sells for $1
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Newsweek Sells for $1
Swamp-Drainage Detritus (Guest Voice)
Swamp-Drainage Detritus Raging Moderate, by Will Durst There have been easier times to be a Democrat. Think way, way back to the halcyon days of two years ago. Summer of ‘08. Basking like a lazy cat napping in a sun-drenched window box. Now, not so much. Nancy Pelosi must be thinking someone on her team swallowed a bad-news electromagnet the size of a Buick. Obama’s poll … [Read more...] about Swamp-Drainage Detritus (Guest Voice)
Think Recession is Over? … ‘Keep on Dreaming’: Financial Times Deutschland, Germany
Do improved recent real-estate price statistics indicate that the recession is truly over? Under the contrary. According to columnist Wolfgang Munchau of Germany's Financial Times Deutschland, 'the supposed end of the drop in home prices, which has been interpreted as a sign of the end of the crisis, was a premature all-clear.' For the Financial Times Deutschland, Wolfgang … [Read more...] about Think Recession is Over? … ‘Keep on Dreaming’: Financial Times Deutschland, Germany
Obama Throws Support to Mosque Near Ground Zero
President Barack Obama has thrown his support behind the controversial plan to build a mosque two blocks away from "Ground Zero" in New York City. Here's the video of his remarks so you can judge for yourself before the inevitable politicking on his remarks begins. These are his complete remarks, so you can judge them in a better context then just a short snippet or one … [Read more...] about Obama Throws Support to Mosque Near Ground Zero
Hankster: Friday the 13th, Inception of a Chosen Nightmare
Welcome to Hankster Summer Early Friday -- only 4 more of these left! Even the temperature is dropping -- a little... Here's what I was thinking about this afternoon: I take a class at the East Side Institute taught by Dr. Fred Newman called Developmental Philosophy Group. Like most of the work that Newman does, it's ongoing to the extent that people want to do it or … [Read more...] about Hankster: Friday the 13th, Inception of a Chosen Nightmare
How BP Wasted A Month From Gulf Bottom Kill
If you have been following the engineering screw-ups as I have in BP’s efforts to seal the oil blowout permanently, the latest development this Friday the 13th is … is … one gigantic “HUH?” Incident commander retired Adm. Thad Allen announced the BP team will proceed to permanently kill the top capped blowout with the first relief well just feet away about 18,000 below the … [Read more...] about How BP Wasted A Month From Gulf Bottom Kill