September 2009 Archives

Rather than just look to our country's past accomplishments as justification for continuing the space program, I'd like to take some time to explain why I think our future depends on it.  Science & EngineeringIn the present day and more immediate future, scientific research on the International Space Station is greatly expanding now that assembly is largely complete.  On the ground, we can only escape the pervasive acceleration of gravity for very brief periods of...

It looks like ex-Governor Palin's almost shotgun son-in-law, Levi Johnston, was right when he told a news conference this past July that "he heard the governor several times say how nice it would be to take advantage of the lucrative deals that were being offered, including a reality show and a book. "I think the big deal was the book. That was millions of dollars," Johnston said. Sarah the Quitter now has her lucrative book...

It's time to retell the American story the way it was intended to be told. Sure, I'm a history buff, but this is more about perspective than it is history. There has been a ton of talk lately about Obama being either a communist, fascist, or socialist (as if these are interchangeable) and how that goes against what the framers wanted. They are even having tea parties like those rebels in Boston before the revolutionary...

On the subject of congresspersons for sale to the highest bidder, here's one more to add to the list--Rep. Melissa Bean (D-IL). From AP this morning:"Moderate House Democrats are drafting a proposal that would continue to shield big banks from potentially tougher state regulations when it comes to selling products such as credit cards, mortgages and savings accounts.The lawmakers say it's a practical approach to regulating large financial institutions that have customers in multiple states...

Three Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee--Max Baucus, Kent Conrad, and Blanche Lincoln--voted against both public option amendments yesterday. Here is the contact information for all three, along with the bribes, excuse me, campaign contributions each has taken from the insurance industry they voted to protect:Max Baucus ($1,196,463)202-224-2651E-mailKent Conrad ($838,787)202-224-2043E-mailBlanche Lincoln ($504,383)202-224-2843E-mailWhile we're at it, and since it does those of us in Texas absolutely no good to contact our Senators on this matter, let's...

This is getting further and further out of hand every day. The fact that anyone is even suggesting a military coup in the United States is frightening. John L. Perry today at Newsmax.com:"There is a remote, although gaining, possibility America's military will intervene as a last resort to resolve the "Obama problem." Don't dismiss it as unrealistic.America isn't the Third World. If a military coup does occur here it will be civilized. That it has...

Over the weekend the Hilton Hotel in St. Louis was the site of what Firedoglake appropriately named "a pulsating black hole of stupidity" also known as the How to Take Back America conference, and the gang (pictured at left) was all there. "[Phyllis] Schlafly opened the event by saying she believes President Obama is "taking us into socialism."... She said of her organization, Eagle Forum, "fighting feminists is still our main object," arguing that feminism...

There is an issue that has been raging in education for as long as I can remember. This includes the time when I was in school because my parents would debate this at the dinner table when we (my sister and I) were growing up. The debate comes down to whether it is better to have classes with heterogenous grouping or homogenous grouping. It has been called many things in the past. When I was growing...

We're not even a year into this administration and I'm already beginning to feel burned out.  It seems like the far left and the far right are screaming at (and past) each other so loud that any rational discussion is stillborn.Obama's health care proposals don't bend the cost curve in the right direction because they put the cart before the horse in mandating coverage before addressing cost.  (Funny how increasing demand without a concurrent change...

While authorities in Kentucky are still investigating the details surrounding the murder of  Census worker Bill Sparkman, comes this from the Minneapolis Star Tribune:"Derrick Thomas was on his bike with home in his sights, returning about 1 a.m. Wednesday from hanging out with his girlfriend and cousin in Brooklyn Park.Before he knew to be terrified, Thomas, who has autism, found himself flying over his handlebars and writhing on his back on the concrete. Standing...