| Featured Articles |
Feature Article #1
And I Was Like Wow!
The problem of what is reality and what is illusion is a serious one in our relativistic generation. The too-frequent use of "like" seems to indicate that people can't even state that anything is more than simulated reality.
Feature Article #2
Founders and a 21st Century Idea.
Fifty-six men signed the Declaration of Independence. Nine died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.
Two lost sons serving in the Revolutionary…
Richard Cochrane | July 3rd, 2009 | Continued
Feature Article #3
What Americans Think Of Declaration of Independence on 233rd Fourth of July
Americans are celebrating the nation's 233rd birthday, and the words of the Declaration of Independence will be mouthed at countless patriotic ceremonies across the land. The core ideals articulated by those words are still embraced by solid majorities of the…
Richard Cochrane | July 3rd, 2009 | Continued
Feature Article #4
Iraq Comparison As U. S. Pullsback
Tuesday as U. S. troops turned over their responsibilities to Iraqi troops the Associated Press published a breakdown of key statistics in Iraq since the war began, drawing a line in the sand for comparison as it were including:.
- Electricity levels…
Richard Cochrane | July 3rd, 2009 | Continued
Feature Article #5
No Taxation Without Cogitation!
On this 4th of July weekend I would like to propose a revised version of the slogan that helped to rally the continental troops into fighting and defeating the English. Back then our forefathers complained that they had no vote…
PC Fugitive | July 3rd, 2009 | Continued
Feature Article #6
FORD Coming Out On Top Sans Obama
FORD's management look like geniuses for sticking to their guns and not letting Obama stick it to their company; its dealers, stock and bond holders announcing this week it will up production by a hefty 16% to meet demand for…
Richard Cochrane | July 2nd, 2009 | Continued
Feature Article #7
Honduras: What the U. S. Main Stream Media is Not Reporting
Why did Barack Obama and Hugo Chavez jointly sponsor a U. N. resolution condemning the people of Honduras for resisting the spread of Marxists communism by evicting a would-be dictator, former President Manuel "Mel" Zelaya. Hondurans view "Mel" as a puppet of…
Richard Cochrane | July 1st, 2009 | Continued
Feature Article #8
Fiddling With The Founding
The afterword in Pulitzer Prize-winning author Joseph J. Ellis' best selling 2007 book "AMERICAN CREATION" is particularly prescient. "The American founding," he writes, " lasted for twenty-eight years, from 1775 to 1803. During that time the United States declared and…
Richard Cochrane | July 1st, 2009 | Continued
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Other Recent Articles
In Moralistic Fit Russia Exiles Casino Industry - and Its Seedy Image - to Siberia
The move aims to counter Western depictions of the country as a fast and loose post-communist frontier. Gambling operators say the state is pushing the industry underground - and losing $1 billion in tax revenues.
There are big empty spaces on…
Towns and Residents Around Neverland Ranch Brace For Jackson Funeral
Based on rumors that entertainer Michael Jackson's body will be on view at Neverland Ranch in mid-Santa Barbara County, California has every motel and hotel room in the area booked for this upcoming Independence Day weekend.
On May 12, 2009 a…
Myanmar says no news on tracked NKorean ship
Myanmar, previously Burmas and now a harsh military dictatorship is downplaying reports that a possibly weapons-bearing North Korean ship was headed for its shores, saying it expected another vessel from the communist state but that it only carried rice.
The comments…
Obama Approval Goes Negative For First Time
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Tuesday shows that 31% of the nation's voters now Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Thirty-three percent (33%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential…
Kalifornia Budget Kabuki Has Austrian Accent And Masschusetts Mumble.
Rhubarb (ROO-bahrb) noun: A heated dispute; brawl..The origin of the plant name rhubarb is from Greek rha (perhaps from Rha, an ancient name of the river Volga on whose bank rhubarb was grown) + barbaros (foreign), but why the word developed…
Iran Puts Mousavi and Obama in Tight Spots
As predicted the Mosavi opposition has been weakened in Iran by the government crackdown to the point irrelevance amid a US distracted by slobbering over Michael Jakcson's and Farrah Fawcett's deaths.. Ahmadinejad and his supporters have begun to use his disputed…
5-4 Supreme Court Decision Against New Haven In Discrimination Suit
The Supreme Court ruled Monday that white firefighters in New Haven, Conn., were unfairly denied promotions because of their race, reversing a decision that Obama high court nominee Sonia Sotomayor endorsed as an appeals court judge.
On a 5-4 split vote…
Nicaragua Gets Bucks From Venezuela, Wants More from Iran and Russia after U.S. Cuts Off Aid.
The notorious Sandinista, anti-America leftist Nicaraguan leader Daniel Ortega is kissing up to Hugo Chavez in Venezuela following a cut off of U.S. funds.
Ortega threw a conniption fit June 10th when the United stopped the remaining $62 million in Millennium Challenge…
Funny - Sorta So
A Harley rider is passing the zoo when he sees a little girl leaning into the lion's cage.
Suddenly, the lion grabs her by the cuff of her jacket and tries to pull her inside to slaughter her under the eyes…
Old Time Religion
Chris Matthews just asked on his Sunday morning show what 
many liberals have been asking since Wednesday's press conference with the South Carolina governor. In a very smarmy way and with a gleeful laugh he asked: "Have Republicans finally embarrassed…
Russian military sees new U.S.-China Cold War resulting from PLA 'break out'
Russia's official defense newspaper reported last week that a new Cold War between the United States and China is impending. Ten days ago Pravda, Russia's official news service, advised Obama to stop his foolish domestic spending and now is adbvising…
Even Steven for Obama
Overall, 54% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President's performance so far. Forty-five percent (45%) disapprove. Thirty-seven percent (37%) believe that most Members of Congress have extramarital affairs. Twenty-four percent (24%) disagree and 38% are not…
Iran Squashes Protest, Challenges Obama As Obama Pulls Back In Iraq: Perfect Storm.
Ahmadinejad vowed Saturday to make the U.S. regret its criticism of Iran's postelection crackdown and said the "mask has been removed" from the Obama administration's efforts to improve relations.
Ahmadinejad - with his internal opponents virtually silenced as I predicted they…
Wortzel: China nears 'blue water navy' with 'operational submarine-based nuclear deterrent'
China is rapidly building up its submarine forces with more capable and quiet submarines and advanced weapons designed to sink U.S. ships and submarines in a future conflict, according to recent testimony before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission.
Commission…
Iranians Expected to Protest In LA Sunday
More than one-thousand people are expected to rally outside the federal building in West Los Angeles tomorrow, to protest the Iranian government's crackdown on dissenters, in the wake of the disputed June 12th presidential election in Iran. Protestors will then…
Ahmadinejad Attack On Obama: Door Slammed On Multilateral Nuclear Diplomacy
Irans president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad struck back Saturday, June 27, barely 24 hours after US president Barack Obama poured scorn on him and warned that "direct dialogue or diplomacy with Iran" would be "affected by the events of the last several…
EPA's own research expert 'shut up' on climate change
Government analyst silenced after he critiques CO2 findings
Chelsea Schilling of WorldNetDaily reports that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has silenced one of their own senior researchers after the 38-year employee issued an internal critique of the EPA's climate change position.
According to the…
What Would Jesus Drive?
Some activists today are actually inverting values and speaking as if animals were more important than human beings. This grows out of nature worship, but still tries to make use of religion to support itself.
Obama Approval Index: Polls
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Friday shows that 33% of the nation's voters now Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Thirty-one percent (31%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval…
TroopAThon 2009
Yesterday I had the honor of being a tiny part of TroopAThon 2009 raising $603,049.14 in 12 hours to send "care packages" of coffee, beef jerky, Jelly Bellies, oreo cookies and other most requested items to troops around the world.…
Iran media: Obama Sent Secret Letter Of Support To Khamenei Before Election - "Love Note"
Before Iran's presidential election, Obama sent a secret letter to its supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei calling for "cooperation in regional and bilateral relations" and a resolution of the dispute over Iran's nuclear program.
Irans media gave great prominence to the strange…
Irish Have English Where They've Always Wanted Them
As a first generation American of Scots-Irish heritage. I can testify that there is no love lost between them and the "English" notwithstanding fighting for centuries for the British empire. Indeed it is a heady time in Irish pubs and…
Medvedev Leads Russia's Scramble For Africa: Obama Dithers
It has been a couple decade ssince the then USSR used Cuba as its African proxy to spread violent discord across the continent most notably then in Angola. That pretty much failed and certainly ended when the USSR collapsed. .
Now…
Iran media: Obama Sent Secret Letter Of Support To Khamenei Before Election
Before Iran's presidential election, Obama sent a secret letter to its supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei calling for "cooperation in regional and bilateral relations" and a resolution of the dispute over Iran's nuclear program.
Irans media gave great prominence to the strange…
Al Qaeda Advancing As Obama Retreats.
Lebanese security sources said an Al Qaida network in Lebanon had planned major attacks throughout the Arab world. It recruited operatives, relayed financing and orders for major strikes in the Levant and Gulf. The sourc of the finances were not…
No Oscar Meyer For Iran: Obama Withdraws Weiner Offer
Investor Business Daily puts Obama's waffling on Iran this way: "Apart from rhetoric, the U.S. has yet to take a firm stand against the Iran's brutal oppression of its own people. For a start, how about rescinding the invitation to…
Is Iran's "Revolution" Over: Wither 'Hotdog' Diplomacy?
Whether you agree that successful revolutions have three phases as Strafor believes or move through more or less is of little moment. What is important is that Stratfor. a skilled private analyst group and others with knowledge and historical perspective…
ARNOLD'S POPULARITY
California's Governor Schwarzenegger doesn't seem to be able to organize a one car funeral as the State disappears in a sea of red ink.
Chugging Kang Nam Reported Loaded With Small Arms for Myanmar: WMDs?
In a screwy slow speed pursuit reminiscent of the O. J. Simpson chase the North Korean-Iran nexus has taken another weird turn this week. The Kang Nam, a North Korean ship, reportedly carryinh embargoed small arms but possibly carrying nuclear…
Obama Makes Little News About Iran: Clerical Conflict.
Obama said Tuesday about the unrest and deaths in Iran that he condemns "these unjust actions" and that the U. S. is not interfering. He said the Iranian people are trying to have a debate. He called accusations by Iran…
Iran Roundup: Nuke Question Looms.
Reports from throughout the Middle East and near Asia are fairly consistent that Iran has stiffened its stance against protesters Tuesday, firmly rejecting demands to annul the election over fraud allegations, set up a special court for detained demonstrators, and keeping troops…
Doomed Iranian Students
"Double bubble, toil and trouble. Fire burn and caldron bubble"
In honor of summer solstice and in recognition of the witches and pagans who gathered at places like Stonehenge and on Santa Barbara's State Street for the annual solstice celebration Saturday here's a modern renewal of a famous curse.
A production…
Greener Cows: Farmers change their cows' diets to reduce burps, source of greenhouse gas
Many years ago I putted into the Grange Hall aboard an ancient Allis Chalmers tractor - at 12 or 13 years old I was far to young to drive it on highways but I could always talk my way out…
Ahmadinejad tells US, Britain to stay out of Iranian affairs: BBC Says Protests Being Suffocated As Snipers Appear
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad warned the United States and Britain on Sunday not to interfer in the Islamic Republic's internal affairs, the ISNA ( Iranians news agency) was cited by Reuters as saying. Sunday morning ISNA said 17 have been…
Tinfoil Hat Crowd Grumbling as LHC Set To Fire Up: Biggest Science Instrument Ever.
The world's largest atom smasher will likely be fired up again in October after scientists have carried out tests and put in place further safety measures to prevent a repeat of the faults that sidelined the $10 billion machine shortly…
Obama to Ignore Illegal Aliens
Benign Neglect as Immigration PolicyObama has found a new way to handle the problem of America's 12 to 20 million illegal immigrants– ignoring them, says American Spectator's George Wittman. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano has decided that the best…
Hummer Become Chummer (Chinese Hummer) Amid Concerns Over Access to Military Technology
Military affairs specialists say General Motors' plans to sell its Hummer vehicle division to China raises new concerns about the transfer of valuable military vehicle technology.
The Hummer is the civilian version of the front-line U.S. military vehicle widely used since…
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Saturday. June 20, 2009 shows that 34% of the nation's voters now Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Thirty-three percent (33%) Strongly Disapprove giving…
Atomic Spies Executed June 19, 1953
On June 19, 1953 Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were electrocuted at New York's Sing Sing prison; the only civilians every executed for espionage in America. Both were convicted as atomic spies for giving secrets of the atomic bomb to the…
Hamas, Hizbullah join Iran's paramilitary forces in post-vote crackdown
Iran opposition sources said Hamas and Hizbullah have come to the aide of government forces in wake of the presidential elections.World Tribune report the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its Basij paramilitary force have used Iranian financed and trained…
This post is GREAT!
There are few people who have lived since the middle of the 20th century and been considered great. This may be because postmodernity's refusal to make value judgments has trivialized everything.
Solar Sleuths Tackle Meaning Of "Quiet Sun"
The Sun was spotless on June 19, 2009 - as it has virtually every day for the past year. That has AGW (Anthropomorphic Global Warming) proponents backing and filling. This "quiet Sun" has continued far too long. Two years ago,…
Short Retort
Khamenei defends ballot count, calls vote 'definitive victory'
As forces mass in and around Tehran Iran's supreme leader said Friday that the country's disputed presidential vote had not been rigged, sternly warning protesters of a crackdown if they continue massive demonstrations demanding a new election.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei sided with…
How accurate is this sequence: where is America in the cycle?
A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising…
Obama Studying Bulldozing 50 American Cities.
Dozens of U.S. cities may have entire neighborhoods bulldozed as part of drastic "shrink to survive" proposals being considered by Obama to tackle economic decline.
The idea was first presented to Obama by Dan Kildee, treasurer of the Michigan county that…
Thousands of Iranian Revolutionary Guardsmen deployed for crackdown on opposition
Accurate info
rmatiuonis oozing out of Iran. Usual access appears blocked or has slowed to a crawl. Middle East sources say Wednesday afternoon, June 17, armored convoys of Revolutionary Guard forces( actually the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution…
Irans Internal Balance of Power: Change Unlikely
Note: This article is edited, amended and expanded based on a an pragmatic analysis by a senior researcher at the Global Research in International Affairs Center, IDC, Herzliya. Published in Thursday's Jerusalem Post make important points about Iran including:
One would…
Union Says Study shows tax hike won't push out businesses
Contradicting other studies The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees is hypocritically touting the findings of a new study as proof that California can raise taxes to balance its $40 billion budget morass.
AFSCME notes that the study by Public Policy Institute of California indicates…
Happy Father's Day 2009
2009 is the unofficial 100th Anniversary of FATHER'S DAY. In 1909 Sonora A. Lousie Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington proposed the idea of a day to honor fathers. She recalled how her own father Willaim Smart, a Civil War veteran ,…
Reviving American Chestnuts May Mitigate Climate Change
Under a spreading chestnut tree
the village smithey stands
the smith a mighty man is he,
with large and sinewy hands.
Like you, I was forced to learn and grudgingly recite Henry Wadsmorth Longfellow's iconic poem. Never in his, my or your wildest imagining could…
DETRITUS
Russia's Vlad Putin has chastised Obama for his plans to raise taxes on U. S. offshore businesses saying it amounts to double taxation, and is unwise. Last week Pravda (Russia for "Truth - its state run news agency) warned Obama…
Stage Struck President
The Phantom of the Opera is one of the best, if not the best, show ever to hit Broadway. To prepare for this role of a lifetime, the lead actor spends two hours each day in makeup. And yet, the…
Beginning of the end of the Greenback
Hans Parisis writes in MoneyNews that he can understand why Western media didn't mention the just-ended the first annual BRIC summit of Brazil, Russia, India, and China. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization countries, which comprises Russia, China and four ex-Soviet Central…
Misconceptions Meet Reality In Iran: Now What?
Thirty years ago, in 1979, Americans were assured that the then Shah of Iran would survive despite President Carter's harebrained approach.. Last week Americans were assured that - to some extend due to Obama's support - Mousavi would be elected…
Israel Grimly Planning For Multi-front War: Not Counting on U. S.
Israel's military has intensified coordination between the army and air force to conduct simultaneous operations in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. fighting such adversaries as Iranian backed Hamas, Hizbullah and Syria.
In an address to Israeli military officers on June 9, Israeli…
Poland Tired Of Obama Using It As Bargaining Chip: Wants Clear Answer On US Missiles.
Poland wants a clear answer from Obama on plans to deploy part of a US anti-missile shield and a battery of Patriot missiles on Polish soil under a 2008 deal, the Polish government said Friday.
"We're still lacking an essential, clear…
Obama to California "Drop Dead":Last person out of California turn out the lights?
Why is California short about 50,000 registered nurses, according to the Labor and Workforce Development Agency? Because they left along with hundreds of thousands of others trained and talented people fed up with high taxes and cost of living. in recent…
Chinese sub smashes US destroyer's sonar: report
Amid increasing pressure by the U. S. for China's help to rein in its defacto client North Korea comes news that a Chinese submarine collided with an underwater sonar array towed by the destroyer USS John S. McCain off the…
Techno-fix Geoengineering Essay Ignites Robust Debate
Environmental "futurist" Jamis Cascio has touched off something of a brouhaha with an essay in today's Wall Street Journal entitled "It's Time to Coll the Planet." According to his website the immediate result is he is being branded a kook.…
Update: Letterman "Joke" Hateful Attack on Child: Was Disgrace Intentional
David Letterman smart aleck sex "joke" about Sarah Palin's 14-year old daughter being "knocked up" marks a new low for the so-often unfunny acerbic late-night host.
Under intensifying pressure Monday night Letterman again apologized for his joke saying it was tasteless.
Admittedly…
Netanyahu's Speech - More Political Than Statesmanlike: Palestinian's Enraged, More Violence
Israel's prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu's speech at the Bar-Ilan University's Begin-Sadat Hall last weekend -Sunday, June 14- failed to offer a new diplomatic beginning for approaching the intractable conflict with the Palestinians. He finally accepted the two-state solution heavily promoted…
Public Split On OBAMACARE
Today Obama is pitching his national health care plan, branded Obanmacare, to a very skeptical American Medical Association. According to a Rasmussen poll America is split asunder over the idea — forty-one percent (41%) of adults believe it would be…
June 15, 2009
Turns out the US is paying Paleu $12 million per Uigher a total of $240 million in "aide." to take them from Gitmo.
AP reports four Guantanamo Bay detainees, part of a group of Chinese Muslims, have been resettled in luxury…
Iran-backed Shi'ites stockpile weapons as they monitor U.S. pullout: Iran Full Speed on Nukes.
The Iranian-backed Shi'ite forces are engaged in a military buildup in Iraq. Shi'ite forces financed and sponsored by Iran are accelerating weapons acquisition to prepare for a civil war in Iraq. They said Shi'ite militias, particularly the Mahdi Army, have…
HYPOCRISY OFFICIAL POLICY IN DAFFY DUCK-LIKE STATE
Saturday's 6/12/09 Press-Enterprise calls California's scheme to use local revenues to fill the state's budget holes hypocritical and offensive and that Legislators should find honest solutions to the fiscal mess those Legislature helped create. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's May revision of…
Israel Turns To Moscow As U.S. Ties Cool
In perhaps the biggest foreign policy shift in six decades and after repeated snubs and waffling by Obama Israel and Russia are holding " exploratory" talks on weapons exports with the goal of resolving differences and potentially enhancing strategic cooperation.
Officials…
Hu plans to exorcise Tiananmen ghosts with Oct. 1 roll-out of new jet fighter
As Obama cuts U. S. defense spending and is pressuring the Pentagon to cut back on developing sophisticated weapon systems (including cutting the F-22 and F-35 fighter budgets, China's People's Liberation Army is flaunting its latest hardware as part of the…
"Just War"—Nothing But War?
War is a terrible thing, but Augustine of Hippo laid down some common-sense principles for Christians' participation in it.
AHMADINEJAD REELECTED: OBAMA RODNEY KING FOREIGN POLICY A FLOP
Based on multiple reports from an array of news services and including Iran's Interior Ministry Ahmandinejad has been reelected by a two-thirds to one-third margin and declared reelected. Two other candidates received only a fraction of the vote.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's…
SF Chroncile Not Dead Yet: In "Final" Oil Twitch
A June 10 San Francisco Chronicle editorial lambast Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for is" trying one of the all-time end runs. The governor appears ready to ditch his past pledges to bar coastal drilling, leapfrogging past the State Lands Commission, which…
Much Hangs on Youth Vote As Four Fight For Iranian Presidency.
As more than 46.2 million eligible Iranian voters choose their president in elections today - Friday. It appears that turnout is high and some say it will exceed 70%. If that's the case it favors more moderate Mousavi over the…
Two radical Muslims identified on crashed Air France Rio to Paris Flight
The Paris weekly L'Express reports a terrorists link has been found between the Air France A300 that left Brasil on May 31st and may have exploded before crashing in mid-Atlantic with 288 people aboard.
According to the report French security was going…
Tomorrow, June 12 is Iran's Presidential Election: Nobody is making any predictions of outcome.
Iranians go to the polls tomorrow, June 12, in what is shaping up to be the most contentious ballot in the 30 years since the botched overthrow of the Pahlavi monarchy by then President Carter and the establishment of the…
Czar Takeovers
Ronald Reagan started it with one. Clinton increased it to three and the last president upped it to four. Our current President, however, has gone over the top with 16 and probably more to come. Of course I am talking…
4 Chinese Guantanamo Muslims freed to Bermuda: Now It's Miranda Rights For All.
AP reports four Guantanamo Bay detainees, part of a group of Chinese Muslims, have been resettled in luxury in Bermuda with U. S. taxpayers are paying the bill.
Abdul Nasser, one of the four detainees who landed in Bermuda early Thursday…
America's Mood Increasingly Surly: 45% Say Cancel Stimulas Spending - Not Working Anyway.
Running on a slogan "Deeds Not Words" R. Creigh Deeds (D), a longtime Virginia legislator from rural Bath County, won a stunning come-from-behind victory in the Democratic primary for Virginia governor overwhelming a pair of better-funded and better-positioned opponents. Deeds…
Obama Says Unamed "Banks" Will Repay $68 billion Bail Out Bucks: So How Much Profit Will Taxpayers' Make?
Obama seems pleased as yet unnamed banks are reimbursing taxpayers to the tune of $68 billion in federal bailout bucks. The unanswered question is how much will taxpayers' profit? If they lend it or "invested" it in almost anything they…
'View' Gig Saved Whoopi from Bankruptcy: Will Hasselback Go?
According to the Left Coast Report Whoopi Goldberg would have been broke if not for the good fortune of getting the host gig on ABC's "The View" and a now-defunct satellite radio show.
It's hard to believe that the Oscar, Emmy,…
Touting "Fiscal Responsibility", Obama Return To Toothless Form of Gingrich Era "Pay-As-You-Go."
In what can only be described as a bizarre policy contortion Obama is pushing Congress to pay for "certain" spending increases or tax cuts by coming up with savings somewhere else - a "pay-as-you-go" system that would have the force…
42% Say Won't Buy Another GM Car
A generation ago, economist John Kenneth Galbraith (1908-2006) cited GM as proof that free market competition couldn't work because no auto company could take on General Motors and win - how things have changed.
Now only 42% of those who currently…
