The Pharisee Preserve by Doug Bursch In recent years, the North American Pharisee population has increased to dangerous, epidemic levels. If present trends persist, Pharisees may someday outnumber the individuals they are trying to judge. In other words, there will soon be a two to one Pharisee to nice person ratio throughout much of the western hemisphere. … [Read more...] about The Pharisee Preserve (Guest Voice)
Hey Paul Krugman
Burning up the internets... Krugman yesterday: The zombie ideas have won. The Obama administration is now completely wedded to the idea that there’s nothing fundamentally wrong with the financial system — that what we’re facing is the equivalent of a run on an essentially sound bank. As Tim Duy put it, there are no bad assets, only misunderstood assets. And if we get … [Read more...] about Hey Paul Krugman
Channeling “Psycho”
Here's a video with an important message that does it with style -- channeling Alfred Hitchcock's classic flick "Psycho." And now, for those who may have never seen the original scene, here's the original scene: … [Read more...] about Channeling “Psycho”
The Economy’s Ongoing, Endless Crash
As I've watched the response of Washington to the ongoing economic crisis, I've been reminded of that quote from Shakespeare: "Cowards die many times before their death, the valiant taste of death but once." The newest, the latest effort to rid the economy of the toxic assets that are crippling the banking system, an effort that will be announced tomorrow, simply makes this … [Read more...] about The Economy’s Ongoing, Endless Crash
Printed Books on the Road to Obsolescence
A rave from Jacob Weisberg: Like the early PCs, the Kindle 2 is a primitive tool. Like the Rocket e-book of 1999 (524 titles available!), it will surely draw chuckles a decade hence for its black-and-white display, its lack of built-in lighting, and the robotic intonation of the text-to-voice feature. But however the technology and marketplace evolve, Jeff Bezos has built a … [Read more...] about Printed Books on the Road to Obsolescence
Did Obama-Booster McCaskill Blink on Obama Budget?
Last week, Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) launched a blog, expanding on her already well-documented use of social media. Toward the end of her first week of blogging, McCaskill published a post hinting that she, like Sen. Bayh (D-IN), is not entirely sold on President Obama's budget; however, because she respects the President's ability to listen, she is confident he'll take … [Read more...] about Did Obama-Booster McCaskill Blink on Obama Budget?
Worth Reading
This commentary on embryonic stem cell research caught my attention for two reasons. First, its tone is perhaps the most even-handed and civil that I've read to date; it pays considerable respect to all points of view on the subject. Second, its author, Eric Mink, is a journalist who was not-long-ago caught in the crosswinds battering the newspaper industry. I have great … [Read more...] about Worth Reading
Congressman Ron Paul: Ex Post Facto Bonus Bill is “Unconstitutional” and “A Gross Distraction”
Jerry Remmer's rather salient post with regards to the outrage over the bonuses AIG gave to their executives and Congress's "solution" to this problem had me wondering whether anyone else has noticed that so many of the problems that Congress seeks to solve have—in fact—been caused (in part) by former "solutions" that Congress came up with. As I pointed out in the comments … [Read more...] about Congressman Ron Paul: Ex Post Facto Bonus Bill is “Unconstitutional” and “A Gross Distraction”
Espousing Theories of U.S. Demise Does Harm to Kremlin’s Reputation: Nezavisimaya Gazeta of Russia
Russian Political Scientist Igor Panarin postulates that the United States is on the verge of a civil war that will lead to it's dissolution into six seperate political entities. What's more, the Kremlin seems to be encouraging the idea. In another undeniable sign that independent media still exists in Russia, Stanislav Minin of Russia's Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes that when … [Read more...] about Espousing Theories of U.S. Demise Does Harm to Kremlin’s Reputation: Nezavisimaya Gazeta of Russia
More “Real Faces” In This Financial Crisis
Again, from Southern California - specifically the Inland Empire, dubbed "Foreclosure Alley." Watch and think about the human cost of this crisis. It's nothing like the desperation of the 1930s, but it makes the Down and Out in the Great Depression letters come back to life. … [Read more...] about More “Real Faces” In This Financial Crisis
Nalaka Gunawardene: A Blogger’s Milestone
In the blogosphere the second birth anniversary of a blog may not look exactly a big deal. However, Sri Lanka-based Nalaka Gunawardene's "Moving Images" deserves mention as it vividly captured not only his country's traumatic/critical journey through ethnic turmoil/terrorism, but also his pertinent observations on global issues. I first met Gunawardene at Vestras (in Sweden) … [Read more...] about Nalaka Gunawardene: A Blogger’s Milestone
Remember Crocs?
Back in August, 2006, I wrote about Crocs shoes: The jury is still out as to whether Crocs turn out to be like the PT Cruiser*, a product which looked dorky, became wildly popular, and has remained a consumer fixture, or more on the order of the Pog phenomenon, which took off like a meteor and is now largely forgotten. One indicator of the shoes' long-term prospects may be … [Read more...] about Remember Crocs?
‘A Time for Burning’
A Time for Burning is a cinema verite documentary that shows us what happened in a white Lutheran church in Omaha when its pastor, William Youngdahl, tried to gain congregational approval to foster racial understanding in 1965. His proposal was that ten families from his church meet with ten families from a black Lutheran congregation whose building was several blocks … [Read more...] about ‘A Time for Burning’
NHS Cuts Off Care To Child
This is a very sad case and I am still not sure how to feel about this issue in terms of whether or not care should have been cut off. By all accounts the child had no real prospect for recovery and I am sure for any parent it would be an agonizing choice. But in this case it was the government who decided to cut off … [Read more...] about NHS Cuts Off Care To Child
What Do These Two Guys Have In Common?
One is a Democrat, a former DNC Chairman and a former Presidential candidate: One is a Republican, a former Speaker of the House and a would-be Presidential candidate: What do they have in common? Could it be this? … [Read more...] about What Do These Two Guys Have In Common?
Reaction To Obama’s YouTube Peace Feelers To Iran
Some noses are out of joint... … [Read more...] about Reaction To Obama’s YouTube Peace Feelers To Iran
What Do The Real Victims Of The Economic Crisis Look Like?
President Obama: Veto The Bonus Bill
Democrats in Congress and perhaps even President Obama are making a colossal misjudgment by taxing the bejabbers out of compensation rewards to employees of bailed out financial firms. The tax is a pre-emptive strike at a select few and can be viewed as prohibited by Article 1, Section 9 of the U.S. Constitution, "No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be … [Read more...] about President Obama: Veto The Bonus Bill
“Roadmap” For an Israeli Attack on Iranian Nuclear Facilities
We have all read and heard about the Iranian nuclear program and its possible capability to produce nuclear weapons; about the diplomatic, economic, and other ongoing efforts to get Iran to come clean on its nuclear weapons intentions; and about the threat such a capability would pose to Israel and to world peace. We have also seen reports about the possibility of an Israeli … [Read more...] about “Roadmap” For an Israeli Attack on Iranian Nuclear Facilities
AIG Bonuses May Be More Than Reported
It now turns out the big, fat, controversy-sparking bonuses given to bailed out company AIG may have been substantially more than the dollar amount that sparked a massive bipartisan controversy, the AP reports: The attorney general of Connecticut said Saturday that he is asking American International Group Inc. why documents appear to show the company paid $53 million … [Read more...] about AIG Bonuses May Be More Than Reported