Analysts and commentators are debating what to call the present state of the U.S. economy. Is is a deep recession or an early depression? I have another suggestion in this regard. Perhaps we might more accurately term it a major economic reshuffling—a dramatic reordering of national wealth. The most obvious symptom of this reshuffling, of course, is wealth diminuation. A … [Read more...] about The Great Economic Reshuffling
The End Is Near: Starbucks Is Struggling! (Guest Voice)
The End Is near: Starbucks Is Struggling! by Doug Bursch Starbucks is struggling financially and this has me a bit unnerved. I’m not an end times expert, but a Starbucks downturn might be one of the signs of the Apocalypse. I think Revelations states before the four horsemen arrive, we are greeted by a large angry mermaid. Come to think of it, that might be from Jason … [Read more...] about The End Is Near: Starbucks Is Struggling! (Guest Voice)
Hillary Clinton And Iran
Could her overtures to Iran get Iran to cooperate? Here's one view. … [Read more...] about Hillary Clinton And Iran
Barack Obama, Socialism and Fascism (Guest Voice)
The S-word and the F-word by Cathy Young My column on the brouhaha about Obama as a “socialist” appears on RealClearPolitics.com (and on Reason.com) this week. Short answer: Yes, Obama’s proposals advance and enhance the welfare state and government involvement in the economy (and yes, I think this is a bad thing); no, this is not any sort of radical departure from the … [Read more...] about Barack Obama, Socialism and Fascism (Guest Voice)
Up, Up and Away! Best of Luck, Kepler.
"We have a feeling like we're about to set sail across an ocean to discover a new world. It's sort of the same feeling Columbus or Magellan must have had." So spoke NASA JPL project manager Jim Fanson this week as a Delta II rocket carried the Kepler spacecraft into orbit. For all of us who misspent much of our youth reading novels by Isaac Asimov and dreaming of worlds … [Read more...] about Up, Up and Away! Best of Luck, Kepler.
A Better Foreclosure Fix?
Good old American free-enterprise vultures may be trumping Obama's Treasury theorists in slowing down the rate of mortgage defaults. Instead of complex schemes to lower interest payments for under-water home owners, speculators are buying up loans at distress prices and cutting the principal but still keeping it high enough to profit--a market-based solution if there ever … [Read more...] about A Better Foreclosure Fix?
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
There I was, having a fine week of venting some righteous indignation about President Obama's economic policies and diplomatic gaffes, when others who oppose everything to do with both Obama's administration and his family force me into cursing them rather than lighting a candle in the darkness. Andrew Malcolm posted a story about First Lady Michelle Obama showing up at a DC … [Read more...] about No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
John Maynard Keynes Can Save The World’s Economy
Earmarks: The Mother’s Milk Of Congressional Giving
For weeks now, I have been hiding behind the bushes poised to pounce on a Congressional earmark that epitomizes pork barrel spending. Thanks to the Associated Press I found what I was looking for: A $1.7 million earmark for pig odor research in Iowa from its senator, Tom Harkin, a Democrat. When you stop yukking -- and it may take weeks because this story has legs -- … [Read more...] about Earmarks: The Mother’s Milk Of Congressional Giving
Finding The Bottom In The Real Estate Market (Guest Voice)
“The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow…You Can Bet Your Bottom Billion….” by Marc Pascal On a recent Saturday, I bicycled with my family to the Arizona Biltmore Resort, as it is only a few miles from our rented condominium in Phoenix. As part of this architecturally-significant and very attractive art deco 5-star hotel is a conference center. In this venue was being conducted … [Read more...] about Finding The Bottom In The Real Estate Market (Guest Voice)
How Far Will It Drop?
John Cole, The Scranton Times-Tribune This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on this site. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about How Far Will It Drop?
Obama To Scrap Bush Ban On Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Once again, Democrats, Republicans and independents are seeing in this big news how elections do have consequences -- and many scientists and victims of catastrophic diseases are feeling relieved: President Obama is planning to sign an executive order on Monday rolling back restrictions on federal funding of human embryonic stem cell research, according to sources close to … [Read more...] about Obama To Scrap Bush Ban On Embryonic Stem Cell Research
A Beautiful Young Princess on Banking and the Financial Crisis
When I was a teenager living in the Netherlands in the 50s, the reigning monarch was Queen Juliana of the Dutch Royal House of Oranje-Nassau. In 1980, her daughter, Beatrix, became Queen of the Netherlands. She is still the reigning monarch. Since moving to the U.S. about 50 years ago, I have not kept close tabs on the Dutch Royal family. Therefore, I was quite … [Read more...] about A Beautiful Young Princess on Banking and the Financial Crisis
First Lady Michelle Obama And The “CAMERA PHONE”
For all you "American poor people aren't really poor look at those people they don't look poor and they should get a job and if they can afford a cell phone they can buy food and they are just lazy living on the streets" types that look at the above picture and scoff so smartly, let me break something down for you, ghetto smarts style (I volunteered at homeless shelters for 10 … [Read more...] about First Lady Michelle Obama And The “CAMERA PHONE”
Rush Limbaugh: Number One Premise of Ruling Families: Do Not Kill Your Own People
Many were puzzled about why Rush Limbaugh suddenly took after candidates running in the Republican primaries last year. He lit out with all tail feathers burning after not the least of the Republican candidates, but the front runners... and not with his usual entertainer-like aplomb, but something that sounded in affect alone, like disappointment, rage and screed. A kind of … [Read more...] about Rush Limbaugh: Number One Premise of Ruling Families: Do Not Kill Your Own People
What If Mobile Were To Become The News Space?
Mobile applications might provide a new business model for some artists, according to one of my students who has been researching the music industry this quarter. Last month, for example, the Presidents of the United States of America released an iPhone application containing four of their albums, plus rarities, live tracks and demos. The cost? $3. Because the songs are … [Read more...] about What If Mobile Were To Become The News Space?
Wanted: An Anti-Limbaugh Big Mouth
This post over at Conventional Folly was a bit annoying at first blush, but then made sense: I went and listened to the on-air debate between David Frum and Mark Levin at the urging of Massie and Sullivan, and I came away with the surprising conclusion that Levin definitely got the best of Frum (all use of the mute button aside). I think that’s because Frum is not … [Read more...] about Wanted: An Anti-Limbaugh Big Mouth
The HOPE Bus
I've been missing in action lately. That's because I've been huddled away with my laptop editing this video. The Public Schools here have a program called Parent University. Parents teach each other how to better help their children get ahead in school. The Hope Bus (their name, an acronym, but I'm not sure what for) is a project of Parent University that takes computers out … [Read more...] about The HOPE Bus
Security in Afghanistan – The Civilian Side
By Sarah Holewinski Sarah Holewinski is the Executive Director of CIVIC (Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict), a non-political organization working with warring parties to help civilians they have harmed in combat. Seventeen thousand troops are set to enter Afghanistan. That may be necessary and will no doubt be the topic of much quarterbacking from Washington to … [Read more...] about Security in Afghanistan – The Civilian Side
‘Sophisticated and Fact-Based’
David Brooks updates today his Tuesday column of concern, which I commented on not once but twice that day. Tuesday, Brooks argued that "the Obama budget is a liberal, big government document that should make moderates nervous." This argument apparently riled up the Administration enough that they called Brooks in for a convincing session. But the columnist wasn't easily … [Read more...] about ‘Sophisticated and Fact-Based’