On his recent visit to Mexico, Obama offered the misleading statement that 90% of guns recovered in Mexico’s crimes come from the United States. It’s not true, although it’s a meme that will not die. The 90% figure represents: …only … Continue reading →
It’s been ten years since the Columbine massacre, and here’s an interesting article about the shooters, the plans, their actions, and some of the misconceptions fostered in earlier pieces about them. One thing that is now clearer than before is … Continue reading →
By now, most of you who use computers—and if I take a wild guess, that would be all of you—have probably heard of Susan Boyle, the dumpy 47-year-old from Scotland who stunned the world with the beauty of her voice … Continue reading →
Last year I wrote about the HBO show “In Treatment”, featuring fictional therapist Dr. Paul Weston, his sessions with patients, his private life, and the hours he spends talking to a supervisor/therapist of his own. It’s not for everyone, that’s … Continue reading →
The weather at the tea party I went to yesterday was lovely, the sky blue and a little chill. The surprisingly large crowd was extremely varied, from young to old and everything in between, their mood buoyant and assertive. I … Continue reading →
Here’s an article on the history of taxes in America. Summary: early on there were few, and the federal taxes that were levied were temporary and used to raise money to fight wars. But since the beginning of the twentieth … Continue reading →
When writer John Updike died last January I wrote this tribute to him, as well as this discussion of his brave and well-articulated stance on the Vietnam War, a position that estranged him from many of his friends and the … Continue reading →
…it’s the dolphins to the rescue. But alas, there are only so many dolphins in the world, and they can’t be everywhere at once. The pirates have wasted no time boarding four more vessels. This time, however, the targets were … Continue reading →
…sing:
Continue reading →In my youth, the word “pirate” had become somewhat of a joke, with overtones of operetta (“The Pirates of Penzance”) crossed with Disney’s version of Robert Louis Stevenson (Treasure Island) and Halloween costumes featuring funny hats and eyepatches. Lately, of … Continue reading →
I know it must be difficult to be a royal and all, especially nowadays when their roles are devoid of power and merely ceremonial. How to find purpose in such an empty, fishbowl existence? It gives new meaning to Shakespeare’s … Continue reading →
This excellent news is just in: the American captain has been freed by the US Navy. Details are sketchy as yet: Three pirates were killed and one was in custody after what appeared to be a swift firefight off the … Continue reading →