The American "education" machine is broken!





Latest Analysis, Commentary and Opinion*
(The title of each article is linked to the complete article)

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Surprisingly Windows 7 Actually Works
   Computers piece by Editor (2/28/10)

I have been doing Windows 7 since the original beta and it does good.

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Fiscal Responsibility Lasted Two Weeks In Senate
   Senate piece by Warner Todd Huston (2/27/10)

Two weeks ago the U.S. Senate passed new rules that would require new spending to be offset somewhere else in the budget, the so-called paygo rule. They did this because Democrats and Obama got tired of being called big spending socialists and wanted the veneer of fiscal responsibility with which to cloak themselves. It lasted two weeks before the Senate broke its own new Obama-sponsored rule(1) and went headlong for just another big spending program with its supposed jobs bill.

The god we can control is no god at all
   Society piece by Offsite (2/27/10)

Imagine what would happen if the lines, traffic signals and signs vanished from our streets and highways. There would be chaos. Yet for many, that is what their life is: chaos. They have no moral compass to guide them, no set of absolutes - only their opinions. If there is a god in moral relativism, then it is a god of one’s own making.

Eminent Domain as Central Planning
   Big Brother piece by Offsite (2/27/10)

Wielding creative definitions of blight, New York runs roughshod over property rights and uproots viable neighborhoods - Free markets are out of vogue. The unfortunate lesson that policymakers have learned over the past two years is that a big, brainy government that supposedly creates jobs is superior to irrational, faceless markets that just create catastrophic errors.

‘Reid-Gate:  Where Did Harry Go Wrong?‘
   Domestic Violence piece by Guest: Gordon E. Finley (2/27/10)

As Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid unquestionably is one of the nation’s most powerful political figures.  So, as Majority Leader, how could he be so wrong on Domestic Violence?

Friday, February 26, 2010

FCC Chairman forecasts wireless spectrum crunch
   Computers piece by Offsite (2/26/10)

Demand for data services over wireless is no surprise. Mobile carriers in Europe knew the future was bright over a five years ago when they started tracking statistics showing mobile users texting 1 billion messages a month. Would this pattern duplicate itself in the U.S.? Initially, nobody believed it would. The growth was manageable between 2005 and 2009, and moderate compared to Europe.

Church Newscast Debut
   Information piece by Rev. Miles (2/26/10)

Oakley, California (2/26/10)  Mountain View Christian Center in Oakley, California publishes, America’s Good News (AGN), a Christian newspaper that is distributed in Northern California as well as online. AGN partnered with The Connecting Link (TCL) News Service to form a newswire that has broken some major stories that have been published throughout the world as well as publishing reviews of books, films, concerts and art shows.

‘I love money, how about you?‘
   Capitalism piece by Leon A. Weinstein (2/26/10)

I always thought that to have a lot of money is good. When I was a child growing up in the Soviet Union we were told that having a lot of money is not necessary, even stupid. We were told that one person can’t wear two dresses at the same time. We were told that even the most super rich can’t set on two chairs at the same time. It all didn’t hold water for me. I always suspected and now know for sure that there is a huge difference between having money and not having it. Otherwise why would most people on the planet prefer to be rich. They do not care what color the money is, whose portrait is on it or what language is used to say “money”. That means that people like money not for the beauty. They love money for the might.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Site Cosmetics
   Internet piece by Editor (2/25/10)

Today I managed to defeat IE 6 and get the new header on the main page to work.

Pravda laughs at America
   Bird-Brain Flu piece by Offsite (2/25/10)

With Internet communication instantly available around the world, it is easy for any publication on distant continents to know exactly what is happening in the United States and to comment on these events just as quickly. One of these publications is Pravda, the Russian equivalent of the New York Times or the Washington Post.

Generic drug plans focus on wrong problem
   Medicine piece by John David Powell (2/25/10)

The Obama Administration plan to put new generic drugs on the street faster is another example of how Washington healthcare reformers just don’t get it.  While it is true that more generic drugs will reduce healthcare costs, it also is true that health risks will increases for many individuals sensitive to even the slightest changes in their medications.

Supreme Court encourages Ninth Circuit to act on matching funds by June 1
   Elections piece by GoldwaterInstitute: Nick Dranias (2/25/10)

The U.S. Supreme Court has sent a strong signal that it will seriously consider intervening if the fate of matching funds in Arizona’s system of publicly funded campaigns is not determined quickly by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Alan Simpson Continues Where Specter Left Off
   Republicrats piece by Christopher Adamo (2/25/10)

Former Education Secretary William Bennett is chiding those who are advancing the notion of forming a “third party.“ And he is absolutely right for doing so. Such a rift within the conservative movement at this critical moment would do more to propel the liberal Democrat agenda to uncontested political dominance than any ploy envisioned by the left. Yet it appears that, despite such a risk, the movement is continuing to effervesce among the grassroots.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

30 Percent Chance China Will Crash And Burn
   Economics piece by Offsite (2/24/10)

Investment guru Marc Faber says there’s a 30 percent chance that China’s “soft landing” will turn into a crash-and-burn, taking most commodities with it.

States Push to Loosen Gun Laws
   Guns/Self-defense piece by Offsite (2/24/10)

When President Obama took office, gun rights advocates sounded the alarm, warning that he intended to strip them of their arms and ammunition.

Stimulus Increased Unemployment
   Bird-Brain Flu piece by Offsite (2/24/10)

With a “jobs bill” speeding through Congress this week that may end up totaling $154 billion, and a new Congressional Budget Office analysis claiming that last year’s $862 billion stimulus bill saved the country from 11 percent unemployment, the most powerful economic agency in the government is inconspicuously taking a very different view.

Tea Party Groups Declare Independence
   Elections piece by Offsite (2/24/10)

Just when it appeared the various tea party organizations couldn’t agree on anything, it looks like many of them have found common ground in support of a “Declaration of Tea Party Independence.“

Technology can lower health insurance costs
   Health Care piece by Offsite (2/24/10)

With his health care overhaul stalled, President Barack Obama has challenged America to come up with alternatives. “You got a better idea? Bring it on,“ he recently announced. A televised summit meeting on health care ideas is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 25.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Credit Card Act Hits Cardholders, Entrepreneurs
   Economics piece by Offsite (2/23/10)

Today, the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009 goes into effect and is being hailed as a boon for consumers. But the law passed last May is already showing a slew of unintended consequences.

Gordon Lightfoot is Alive and Well and Has a Clean Set of Teeth
   Entertainment piece by Aaron Goldstein (2/23/10)

Last Wednesday evening, during a break at poetry night at the Cantab Lounge in Cambridge, Massachusetts, I took a walk around the block to clear my head.  While doing this I was listening to “Summer Side of Life” by Gordon Lightfoot.  As I was listening to the song I thought to myself that Lightfoot could die any day.

Selective safety
   Nanny State piece by Offsite (2/23/10)

News from around the world: In Britain, it is traditional on Shrove Tuesday to hold pancake races, in which contestants run while flipping a pancake in a frying pan. The appeal of the event depends on the potential pitfalls in attempting simultaneous rapid forward propulsion and pancake tossing. However, in St Albans, England, competitors were informed by health and safety officials that they were “banned from running due to fears they would slip over in the rain.“ Watching a man walk up the main street with a skillet is not the most riveting event, even in St Albans. In the heat of the white-knuckle thrills, team captain David Emery momentarily forgot the new rules. “I have been disqualified from a running race for running,“ he explained afterward.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Health Care: More Government Is Not the Answer
   Health Care piece by AynRandInstitute: Alex Epstein (2/22/10)

WASHINGTON—President Obama’s latest proposal for health care reform will give the Health and Human Services Department the ability to deny or limit “substantial” premium increases, contains an insurance mandate, and bars insurance companies from denying coverage, according to the Associated Press.

Senate Weighs Final Push of Climate Bill
   Elitists piece by Offsite (2/22/10)

WASHINGTON - (Reuters) - A last-ditch attempt at passing a climate change bill begins in the Senate this week with senators mindful that time is running short and that approaches to the legislation still vary widely, according to sources.

Lawmakers in 44 States Warn Congress
   The Republic piece by Offsite (2/22/10)

(AP) - With tax collections dropping and jobless rates at record highs, state legislators hundreds of miles from Washington have found an easy way to appeal to conservative voters: Bash the federal government.

Climate scientists withdraw journal claims of rising sea levels
   ClimateGate piece by Offsite (2/22/10)

Scientists have been forced to withdraw a study on projected sea level rise due to global warming after finding mistakes that undermined the findings.

Tiger’s Faith-Road Home
   General piece by Guest: Rusty Wright (2/22/10)

Tiger gets religion? - Tiger Woods publically apologized to his family, friends, and fans for behavior he labeled “irresponsible,“ “selfish,“ and “foolish.“  He confessed to unfaithfulness, affairs, and cheating, calling them “wrong.“  He expressed remorse and took responsibility.  “It’s up to me to start living a life of integrity,“ affirmed the Associated Press’ Athlete of the Decade.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Another Failing Biofuel Miracle
   Bird-Brain Flu piece by Guest: Dennis T. Avery (2/21/10)

CHURCHVILLE, VA - My wife is complaining about our increased costs at the supermarket. I remind her that every pound of meat, milk, and butter we buy requires several pounds of corn to produce - and biofuel mandates have shoved the corn price up from about $ 2 per bushel to $3.60. Many hog producers, dairymen, and egg farms have gone bust due to the inevitably higher cost of feed for livestock.

The Multi-Billion Dollar Global Warming Fraud
   ClimateGate piece by Alan Caruba (2/21/10)

As the massive global warming fraud implodes, the one aspect of it that has not been explored in depth is the equally massive waste of billions of dollars spent by the United States and nations around the world, we were told, to avoid global warming.

A Wonderful Opportunity Squandered
   The Republic piece by Charles Cole (2/21/10)

Glenn Beck delivered another of his historical lectures in his keynote address to the recent CPAC convention in Washington.  He was his usual, entertaining self and made several excellent points about how the progressive movement has wreaked havoc with our country over the past hundred years or so.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Longtime Dem Consultant Torpedoed by Union Thugs
   Unions piece by Warner Todd Huston (2/19/10)

In Democrat political consulting circles Pat Caddell is a big name. One-time adviser to President Jimmy Carter and longtime political strategist for the left, Caddell isn’t someone you throw off a campaign easily. But the Service Employees International Union (SEIU)  doesn’t care about past success. It only cares about its power.