One of the first weapon systems-related decisions the Obama administration will have to make is whether to purchase additional Lockheed-Martin F-22 Raptors, after the last one of a 183 aircraft order has been delivered. As retired U.S. Air Force and retired Lockheed-Martin, this decision and this aircraft naturally interest me. According to The Hill, a group of 44 … [Read more...] about The F-22 Raptor, Obama’s First Major Weapon Systems Decision
Where to Watch the Inauguration Online
Andrew Nusca has helpfully provided a list for all of us. My picks from his: CNN has partnered with Facebook to provide live streaming of the swearing-in and Obama’s speech. A Facebook window on CNN.com’s Live channel will aggregate your friends’ related status updates. C-SPAN will debut its Inauguration Hub on January 20, featuring an online “control room” of various … [Read more...] about Where to Watch the Inauguration Online
Closing A Blogger’s Secret Bush Silly Photo File
It's no secret that bloggers save all kinds of images and use them when they need them. The most basic image to save is a silly photo of a politician, one that is so silly that it begs being used, or recycled. And Presidents are great -- and fair -targets. Silly or expressive photos of politicians are easy to collect, since few of them can stay in spin-perfect stances all … [Read more...] about Closing A Blogger’s Secret Bush Silly Photo File
Inauguration
David Fitzsimmons, The Arizona Star … [Read more...] about Inauguration
Vacating The Premises: The Bush Era Now All But Officially Over
As of Friday, many of the Bushies have left the building (and turned over their passes). … [Read more...] about Vacating The Premises: The Bush Era Now All But Officially Over
TMV’s Guide to Becoming Fabulously Wealthy
Following up on my earlier column, in which you learned to understand the basic concept of money, it is only natural that you would now wish to get a large supply of it for yourself. The problem facing many of you, of course, is that you haven't the first hint of an idea where to begin. You might be laboring under the tired, old "conventional wisdom" which seeks to convince you … [Read more...] about TMV’s Guide to Becoming Fabulously Wealthy
Debate Topic #2: Health Care Reform
Since we had a pretty good response to the environmental discussion last weekend I thought I would start a new topic for this pre-Inaugural weekend. Wanting to shy away from the more controversial subjects I thought I'd go with a tame one like..... Health Care Reform. I presume it goes without saying that we all agree that there is a problem, that our current health care … [Read more...] about Debate Topic #2: Health Care Reform
Presidential Inaugural Speeches: FDR’s 1933 Address
This is the second in a series of videos of inaugural speeches (this has excerpts). Franklin Delano Roosevelt's March 1933 inaugural address seems to apply to some of the same situation today. Another speech considered the gold-standard due to content and delivery: … [Read more...] about Presidential Inaugural Speeches: FDR’s 1933 Address
Barter or Buy
"Too many of us look upon Americans as dollar chasers. This is a cruel libel, even if it is reiterated thoughtlessly by the Americans themselves." Albert Einstein As both the preceding quote and illustration would indicate, our thought experiment for the weekend shall involve the nature of money and man's relationship to it. You are, as always, invited to explore this … [Read more...] about Barter or Buy
Just For a Moment, Rest: A Little Bedtime Story
This is a picture of Kinderdijk canal in the Nederlands with thousands of joyous ice skaters who descended on the frozen canal ...which last froze over more than twelve years ago. Long ago, in the time of the story of Hans Brinker and The Silver Skates, that is in Holland circa 1865, the canals in the Netherlands froze over every year. But gradually, with more and more … [Read more...] about Just For a Moment, Rest: A Little Bedtime Story
Obama Frees Science
Mike Keefe, The Denver Post … [Read more...] about Obama Frees Science
Poll: Bush Final Legacy Appearances Fail To Sway Thumbs Down Public
Despite a farewell address, a slew of interviews and a reported private meeting with conservative talk show hosts at the White House, President George Bush's approval ratings have not budged from what they were a few weeks ago: the public is continuing to give Bush a decisive thumbs down. Although one conservative talk show host today talked of being genuinely moved to tears … [Read more...] about Poll: Bush Final Legacy Appearances Fail To Sway Thumbs Down Public
The Best Conservative Movies In The Past 25 Years
The list is here. What -- no Michael Moore flicks? … [Read more...] about The Best Conservative Movies In The Past 25 Years
Fox News’ Latest
Bush "inherited" 911, he "inherited" the recession, and he "inherited" Wall Street's ills. Oh. … [Read more...] about Fox News’ Latest
Sarah Palin’s Media Pushback? A Lesson For Bloggers?
Shaun Mullen makes it clear he thinks it is... … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin’s Media Pushback? A Lesson For Bloggers?
Middle Eastern Nuts
Tab, The Calgary Sun … [Read more...] about Middle Eastern Nuts
Man Who Coined the Term ‘Hyperpower’ Opines on the Future: Le Monde of France
As the world prepares to wave good bye to George W. Bush and welcome Barack Obama, a key member of the French government that opposed America's invasion of Iraq is in the United States to witness the swearing in of the President-elect on Tuesday. And not surprisingly, he is expressing his views on the old president, the new president and the condition the West finds itself in … [Read more...] about Man Who Coined the Term ‘Hyperpower’ Opines on the Future: Le Monde of France
The Weather Is Strange Everywhere, But This Is Ridiculous
There are record high/low temperatures all across the US but Nenana, AK wins the award for wildest weather. On Monday they had a high of -46 degrees, while yesterday they saw a record positive 54 degrees. That's a 106 degree swing in a little over 48 hours! … [Read more...] about The Weather Is Strange Everywhere, But This Is Ridiculous
Proposed House Stimulus Package Also “Supports The Troops”
In my "In Farewell Address, Bush Touts Homeland Security and Rightly Praises Our Military, But…", I gave a long list of examples of disturbing statistics and phenomena affecting our troops and veterans that developed during eight years of an administration that had as one of its clamorous slogans, "Support the Troops." My list included the rising rates and numbers of cases … [Read more...] about Proposed House Stimulus Package Also “Supports The Troops”
Terror at 37,000 Feet: A Crash That didn’t Turn Out So Well
Pilot William Langewiesche writing in the January Vanity Fair: There were so many opportunities for the accident not to happen—the collision between a Legacy 600 private jet and a Boeing 737 carrying 154 people. But on September 29, 2006, high above the Amazon, a long, thin thread of acts and omissions brought the two airplanes together. From the vantage point of the pilots, … [Read more...] about Terror at 37,000 Feet: A Crash That didn’t Turn Out So Well