Presidential Message: New Year's Day

Well said, President Bush. Continue publicly to recognize and thank God for his providence.

Israel Decides to Expand Settlements at Golan Heights

The Golan heights has two values to Israel. It's military 'high ground value is unquestioned. Having been there in the mid-80s, the military significance is unquestioned for those who hold this ground. The second value is political. Israel might consider trading it but without significant concessions from Syria.

Keep in mind this land came from Israel winning a war begun by it's Arab enemies. Israel would be foolish not to exploit this valuable real estate.

God Help Us!

Here's a sample of the Progressive agenda in Vermont. Astounding! Who would pay for all these dreams?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

At the Progressive Party's Nov. 8th, 2003 convention, Rep. Steve Hingtgen's gave the keynote speech. The following quotes are of interest:

"...some things have definitely changed and we need to understand them to survive and to grow.

First and perhaps obviously: The Democrats have adapted their strategy to our growing power. Calling us radical is a tough sell when our statewide candidate is getting 25% of the vote.

Second and this is hard to hear: The Democrats have moved to the left ever so slightly...at least their rhetoric has. It is no longer the Vermont Democratic Party of Peter Shumlin, Gordon Paquett and Howard Dean. Heck even Howard Dean isn't acting like Howard Dean. He has stolen many of his lines verbatim from Anthony Pollina and Congressman Sanders. As the Vermont Democrats move ever so slightly left in their rhetoric, they are blurring the distinctions between our Party and theirs. Of course it isn't that hard when you're fighting George Bush.

Third and finally, and this is the hardest to hear: We have moved right...at least our rhetoric has. In our zeal to shed the old stereotypes of extreme and unrealistic, we have stared talking like them on the issues!

-Universal Healthcare? So what? Our Republican Governor says he supports it.

-Progressive Taxation? Us and half the Democrats!

-Pro-union? The Democrats say they are the party of Labor, despite little evidence of it.

-Standing with farmers? The Republicans have made a career of it.

-Civil Unions? That was the least progressive solution allowed under the Baker decision.

We simply no longer clearly distinguish ourselves from the Democrats on issues when we speak...."

"...I caution us to avoid some of the empty statements we may have adopted in the past:

-The Democrats are not just like the Republicans.

-We are not more ethical than politicians in other parties.

-We are not more in touch with our communities.

-It's not that we stand for something and they stand for absolutely nothing.

-And it is not even that we are better at opposing Bush, Douglas and the Republican administrations.

Sure, it might be that parts of those statements are true, but they are refutable and not as persuasive as courageously stating what we believe, what we stand for.

So what do we believe? To spark discussion, let me state some of what I believe. By saying these things out loud I risk being called unrealistic and radical, but I do not risk being called a Democrat.

I believe we need to:

1) Pass an outright ban on GMOs. [ Genetically Modified Organisms ]

2) Aggressively work to remove housing from the speculative market.

3) Create access to the status of civil marriage for gays and
lesbians.

4) Create a single, state-managed healthcare system that is
universal and has one tier for every Vermonter.

5) Decriminalize some drug possession, like in the case of
marijuana.

6) Abolish the residential property tax for education and create a highly progressive tax structure for schools and state services. Yes, that means raising income taxes...but lowering other taxes.

7) As part of that tax reform, eliminate Vermont’s corporate
welfare programs.

8) Implement of instant runoff voting in all elections with more than two candidates.

9) Provide 100% public financing for all candidates in all
statewide and local elections.

10) Guarantee a right to paid family leave.

11) Dramatically overhaul our labor laws to increase the power of unions in the workplace and expedite worker organizing efforts

12) Pass an absolute moratorium on new highway construction and divert those funds into public and alternative transportation. Oh, and

13) Grant free tuition at all Vermont State Colleges and UVM for Vermont high school graduates...."

This Car Can Talk. What It Says May Cause Concern.

I appreciate the privacy mavens paying attention to all these technological wonders, but I can't be bothered. Life is too short and if the government is electronically looking over my shoulder, that's OK.

What I worry about is the chance my identity may be stolen by a nefarious hacker

We Hate Spam, Congress Says (Except Ours)

Once again, isn't politics fun? Thanks to the Times reporters for digging this out and publicly exposing the politicos' shenanigans.

Yahoo! News - Meat From Infected Cow Went to 8 States

I wish these news stories would report on the type of beef parts eaten by the British people who died, if that information is known. Were these people in the habit of eating sweetbreads or other beef products known to carry the disease organisms? If muscle meat, i.e., the normal muscle/flesh cuts of beef has been definitively shown to be safe, even from diseased cattle, that would go a long way toward assuring people they won't die from eating a steak.

This quote is helpful, but not definitive enough. Using words like 'fairly' waters down the science, if the science is certain.

"Dr. Ron DeHaven, chief veterinarian for USDA, said Sunday that science has shown certain meat cuts are fairly safe from infection. Among those are whole cuts without bones, such as beef steaks, roast, liver, and ground beef from labeled cuts like chuck or round.

DeHaven said this suggests the trade restrictions 'are not well-founded in science.'"

As Pre-Primary Season Closes, Questions Cling to Dean's Gains (washingtonpost.com)

It's really clear that 'establishment Democrats don't want Dean, but are too circumspect to come right out and say so. So much for straight talk. Mumbo-jumbo talk by the political leadership and all this media focus on what's wrong with Dean in this early stage of the campaign is not a good sign for the doctor.

My Way News - Dean VT Energy Group Met in Private

The digging will continue and the publication of Dean's actions as governor will be portrayed by the media to suit the bias of the reporters doing the digging.

I'm surprised Gilbert wasn't portrayed as an influential lobbyist for...pick the clients that DRM represented during those years. I'll guess that many of Vermont's power brokers will find their names in the national media before this is over.

Isn't politics fun?

International Rescue Teams Join Relief Effort in Devastated City

International Rescue Teams Join Relief Effort in Devastated City:
A terrible tragedy, yet the spiritual/political sore festers with the Islamist government...

"Government spokesmen said that foreign aid workers would not need entry visas and that aid would be welcome from everywhere but Israel. In a televised address, President Mohammad Khatami urged on rescue efforts, thanked the nations that were sending aid and said he was preparing to leave for Bam."

And another throwback to the blindness and medieval thinking of Islamists...

"The use of dogs, which are considered unclean by most Muslims, was a sticking point in rescue efforts in 1990, after the most deadly earthquake ever to strike Iran. It killed about 50,000 people."

PCWorld.com - It's Official: The Net Is Part of Life

An excellent summary based on Pew funded research that shows that 2/3 of us have included the Internet as an integral part of our lives. Still further to go, though to get the other 1/3 involved. I think wireless options may help here.

PCWorld.com - Broadband Adoption Slows

Broadband adoption still growing. The rate slows as one would expect as the number in service increases. Still, 23.5 million in service and growing is not too shabby.

UK's Largest Wind Farm Approved

Seems visual pollution is not an issue in this part of the UK. I wonder what the 2004 Vermont Legislative debate on the policy issues will reveal?

U.S.-Russia Team Seizes Uranium At Bulgaria Plant (washingtonpost.com)

Thanks, guys for getting this stuff secured.

McDonald's Mad Cow Statement

Well worded, but it doesn't quite say " You can't get MCD by eating our hamburgers."

Judge: Schools Cannot Discriminate Against Christian View on Homosexuality

It's painful to think that a public school would act in the manner portrayed by the ruling in this case. No biased lifestyle agenda can be allowed to be promoted in public schools as the facts in this case suggest.

Three cheers for Judge Rosen!


Judge Rosen's 70-page opinion began with blistering criticism of the school:

"This case presents the ironic, and unfortunate, paradox of a public high school celebrating 'diversity' by refusing to permit the presentation to students of an 'unwelcomed' viewpoint on the topic of homosexuality and religion, while actively promoting the competing view. This practice of 'one-way diversity,' unsettling in itself, was rendered still more troubling-both constitutionally and ethically-by the fact that the approved viewpoint was, in one manifestation, presented to students as religious doctrine by six clerics (some in full garb) quoting from religious scripture. In its other manifestation, it resulted in the censorship by school administrators of a student's speech about 'what diversity means to me,' removing that portion of the speech in which the student described the unapproved viewpoint."

Op-Ed Columnist: Don’t Stop Dean

Ya gotta love these pundits continually musing and speculating. Keep the pot stirred, throw in some raw meat occasionally...that's the recipe for the insiders who love this stuff.

Please consider that more than half the country don't know who Dean is and more than a third of Democrats never heard of him!

Diseased Cow’s Origin Is Traced as Nations Ban U.S. Beef

Uh oh! This is not good news. Wouldn't this be a terrific way for terrorists to spread fear and disruption? I hope it's an isolated case that can be fully traced, explained and eliminated, not a terrorist MO.

MSNBC - NBC: Terror threat to extend through January

MSNBC - NBC: Terror threat to extend through January: "Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, on Monday called for the Bush administration to step up screening of cargo that is transported on commercial jets, calling it “the most obvious remaining hole in our aviation security system.”

If this is true, it is a serious shortcoming.

“As a routine matter, commercial cargo is not physically screened by anyone, even when it is carried on passenger planes,” he said." marked improvements in security, some in Congress still see holes that could be exploited.

The Sunday Mail QLD: The blonde who snared Saddam [21dec03]

Interesting speculation about Saddam being a captive, not in hiding at the time he was discovered.

Robert Novak: The Dean dilemma

Mr. Novak is correct in his assessment that Dean is an unwanted candidate of traditional Democratic king makers

New Economy: Offshore Jobs in Technology: Opportunity or a Threat?

This analysis suggests that professional services outsourcing to other countries is not a huge deal. It al depends on the pace of these dislocations for the US professionals affected.

The Night Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas and Santa's a wreck...
How to live in a world that's politically correct?
His workers no longer would answer to "Elves",
"Vertically Challenged," they were calling themselves.

And labor conditions at the North Pole
Were alleged by the union to stifle the soul.
Four reindeer had vanished, without much propriety,
Released to the wilds by the Humane Society.

And equal employment had made it quite clear
That Santa had better not use just reindeer.
So Dancer and Donner, Comet and Cupid,
Were replaced with 4 pigs, and you know that looked stupid!

The runners had been removed from his sleigh;
The ruts were termed dangerous by the E.P.A.
And people had started to call for the cops
When they heard sled noises on their roof-tops.

Second-hand smoke from his pipe had his workers quite frightened.
His fur trimmed red suit was called "Unenlightened."

And to show you the strangeness of life's ebbs and flows:
Rudolf was suing over unauthorized use of his nose
And had gone on Geraldo, in front of the nation,
Demanding millions in over-due compensation.

So, half of the reindeer were gone; and his wife,
Who suddenly said she'd had enough of this life,
Joined a self-help group, packed, and left in a whiz,
Demanding that from now on her title was Ms.

And as for the gifts, why, he'd ne'er had a notion
That making a choice could cause so much commotion.

Nothing of leather, nothing of fur,
Which meant nothing for him. And nothing for her.
Nothing that might be construed to pollute.
Nothing to aim. Nothing to shoot.

Nothing that clamored or made lots of noise.
Nothing for just girls. Or just for the boys.
Nothing that claimed to be gender specific.
Nothing that's warlike or non-pacific.

No candy or sweets...they were bad for the tooth.
Nothing that seemed to embellish a truth.
And fairy tales, while not yet forbidden,
Were like Ken and Barbie, better off hidden.

For they raised the hackles of those psychological
Who claimed the only good gift was one ecological.
No baseball, no football... someone could get hurt;
Besides, playing sports exposed kids to dirt.

Dolls were said to be sexist, and should be passe;
Nintendo and Gameboy would rot your brain away.

So Santa just stood there, disheveled, perplexed;
He just could not figure out what to do next.
He tried to be merry, tried to be gay,
(But you've got to be careful with that word today.)

His sack was quite empty, limp to the ground;
Nothing fully acceptable was to be found.
Something special was needed, a gift that he might
Give to all without angering the left or the right.

A gift that would satisfy, with no indecision,
Each group of people, every religion;
Every ethnicity, every hue,
Everyone, everywhere... even you.
So here is that gift, its price beyond worth:

"May you and your loved ones enjoy peace on earth!"

-Anonymous

Editorial in Burlington Free Press

Young people are not engaged in the process and reality of American democracy. These examples from a recent survey portend a dismal future unless the Internet can be a tool to get young Americans connected. The Dean campaign is an example of what can be done.

"Much of the problem, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures' study, is that many American schools do not stress civic education as part of the curriculum. That has contributed to a general disinterest in the political process.

The legislative organization's survey showed that:

-- Half of the young Americans regularly or sometimes follow news of government, compared with three-fourths of Americans older than 26.

-- Only 66 percent of the younger generation believe it's necessary to vote to be a good citizen, compared with 83 percent of older Americans.

-- Eighty percent of the young people knew that Ruben Studdard won the American Idol contest, but only 40 percent knew that the Republicans controlled Congress."

NDOL: Idea of the Week: Damage Control

The centrist Dems are clearly anti-Dean. This battle is for the control of the Democratic Party and the DLC is very unhappy. Seems the party is fragmenting out of control.

Op-Ed Columnist: Where Birds Don’t Fly

Sad as it may seem, the need for security at some level is always a requirement in any rational society. That security to enter the US on a visa is much tighter is a necessary part of security form the mad Islamists and others who would destroy us and our way of life.

By taking precautions we do lose something that is valuable to us, the exchange of ideas and ease of travel, but Friedman's alternative idealistic alternative of changing Islamic thinking and encouraging them to be more like us provides no short term security from the lunatic Islamic fringe. Sad but true, the world is a dangerous and hostile place.

The Sun Newspaper Online - UK's biggest selling newspaper

If the BBC continues on the course of riling the government and the people of Britain with this great swing leftward, they may find themselves in a for-profit status if the funding evaporates.

Strong Support Is Found for Ban on Gay Marriage

The last sentence in this piece, if meant to summarize the writer's 'bottom line' belief exemplifies the shortsighted thinking that proponents of gay marriage espouse. Stripping away the religious and spiritual arguments, which on their face argue against gay marriage, the culture will head into an even stepper decline if homosexual marriage is sanctioned.

Why is this not seen by so many people. We are victims of the "if it feels good, do it" attitudes so prevalent in American and Western culture.

Reuters | Latest Financial News - Michael Jackson

We live in a society polluted by pop icons who add no value and detract from a decent culture. The Jackson saga is a travesty.

Killing Him Softly (washingtonpost.com)

A common sense view of Saddam's demise with particular emphasis on the pain he visited on the Iraqi people and Arab progress in that part of the world.

A Voice in the Calling Wilderness

Good summary of the pros and cons of VOIP telephony

Tough Time For Democrats (washingtonpost.com)

Great column, well written, capturing the mood of the times in the personalities that play on the media stage and are imbibed through 20 second sound bites and photo-ops. What are we becoming?

CBS News | Poll: Dean Pulls Away In Dem Race | December 17, 2003 21:47:49

Can anyone explain how Al Sharpton is ahead of Kerry in the polls? This must be a 'margin of error' thing. Or does rabble-rouser Sharpton have Jesse Ventura's genes?

Malvo Convicted

Seems the proper verdict. Punishment should be death, not life imprisonment.

Albright's joke joins growing list of Bush theories - The Washington Times: Nation/Politics

The Political Crazy Season (PCS) has begun in earnest, much earlier this year than usual.

Op-Ed Columnist Friedman: Moment of Truth

Another excellent analysis by Thomas of the French reaction (What will he German's do?) to Saddam's capture and it's eagerness to forgive some debt. Yet more insight into what the Kurds, Sunnis and Shiites must do to move the country to unity. Well worth the read.

The Face of Scare Politics

These ads from shadow groups is what you get from McCain-Feingold which wrongly restricts free speech when labeled political donations.

Small, Cluttered Refuge Was a Far Cry From Luxury (washingtonpost.com)

Fascinating description of Hussein's last hideout, but no mention of the briefcase of documents and $750,000.

U.S. Troops Kill 11 Insurgents in Firefight

This won't be easy. It's never easy dealing with irrational fanatics.

"In Tikrit, about 700 people rallied in the center of town Monday chanting ``Saddam is in our hearts, Saddam is in our blood.'' U.S. soldiers and Iraqi policemen yelled back: ``Saddam is in our jail.''

In Fallujah, another hotspot of anti-American resistance west of Baghdad, crowds roamed the streets shouting pro-Saddam slogans such as ``We defend Saddam with our souls,'' after the Iraqi police withdrew from the streets, the crowd overran the mayor's office, a military statement said."

Op-Ed Columnist: From the ’Spider Hole’

Safire's description of the origin of the Vietnam era term 'spider hole' and the Cu Chi tunnels brings back memories, having been in Cu Chi a time or two in 1967.

Dean Comments on Capture of Saddam

What a sad state of affairs the Dems are in. Reading this criticism provides no answers, nothing more than anti-Bush rhetoric with no answers, no solutions.

Op-Ed Columnist: Hearts and Minds

A tough piece by Thomas Friedman, but he's probably more right than wrong.

Bush: 'Good Riddance' to Hussein (washingtonpost.com)

Bush: 'Good Riddance' to Hussein (washingtonpost.com)

An excellent press conference and this is the statement that is most meaningful:

"But more importantly, Saturday was a great day for the people who have suffered under this tyrant. I believe, firmly believe -- and you've heard me say this a lot, and I say it a lot, because I truly believe it -- that freedom is the almighty God's gift to every person -- every man and woman who lives this in this world. That's what I believe."

Freedom is a gift from God, the whole doctrine of free will is embodied in that gift to humankind. Salvation and eternal life is the more precious gift of God through Jesus Christ to those who believe He is who he said He is, the Son of God.

Nasty Language on Live TV Renews Old Debate (TechNews.com)

The debate rages on indecent language on FCC regulated stations. This is not so much a commentary on the FCC and their rules and enforcement as on the degrading culture in America. The standards of discourse are receding in the face of the rush for $ in the entertainment field.

From a cultural perspective, what are the arguments that rap music, as an example, is good for America?

Cutting James Baker’s Ties

The Times is wrong. Baker is the man for the job given his credentials. The fact there are connections to companies the Times finds distasteful does not constitute a conflict of interest or an ethical breach. Doe the Times think Baker and the Bush team are stupid to create an ethics problem?

The Times is blowing smoke.

Campaign Finance Reform

The Burlington Free Press editorializes...

"If the Supreme Court decision leads more Americans to feel that the system is fairer and encourages them to back up their political beliefs with a check, it will be a major victory for democracy."

While this is true , the right to spend money on political 'speech,' in any form without limit is a fundamental expression of free speech under the Constitution. I believe the justices erred and have eroded a basic right, as Congress did when this law was enacted.

Another reason for the pitched battle over judicial appointments in the Senate. Fundamental rights and philosophies are at stake.

Wired News: VoIP: Here, There, Everywhere

A well written piece explaining the present and near future likelihood for VOIP. The E911 issue is not easily solved unless all our phone devices have GPS built in. Another caution is the catastrophic failure of power that would kill a good part of the VOIP network.

I want to know when 800 toll-free services will migrate to VOIP. No one talks about this, yet it should be possible. Consider the huge amount of 800 calling to thousands of large and small call centers that use 800 services.

I wonder when... 5 years, maybe?

My Way - EU Squabbles Over Unification

This squabble will take years to resolve. The issues of sovereignty are not easily resolved in a culture hundreds of years and several nasty wars old.

French, Germans, Russians Need Not Apply (TechNews.com)

Let's see...could this all be a bargaining strategy to cajole these same countries excluded from bidding into forgiving the debts incurred with them by the Saddam regime?

News Analysis: Dean’s Role Is Redefined by Gore’s Endorsement

News Analysis: DeanÂ’s Role Is Redefined by GoreÂ’s Endorsement

Very interesting to read and watch the pundits decide what to make of Dr. Dean. Having met him a few times and knowing some of what he believes, the national pundits are still wandering in the trees trying to discover him.

Dr. Dean is a fiscal conservative and a social liberal, very liberal. At least he was in Vermont. He supports gun ownership rights because to oppose them in Vermont would be political suicide. I don't think he believes in his heart of hearts in open ownership of firearms. He has little patience with views that contradict his own, and he always wears a tie on the campaign trail and in 'official settings.' Yes, he does have a short temper.

New York Daily News - Home - Hil puts chill on Al's party plans

New York Daily News - Home - Hil puts chill on Al's party plans
Another analysis of the fault line in the leadership of the Democratic Party. Why hasn't the media elicited a statement from Bill as well as Hillary?

U.S. Bars Iraq Contracts for Nations That Opposed War

U.S. Bars Iraq Contracts for Nations That Opposed War

Seems fair to me given the lack of cooperation at the time of need. Remember these countries also have huge debts owed them by Iraq. Wonder if those will ever be repaid? If so, by whom? My guess is they'll be lucky to get a dime on the dollar and may not share in the future oil revenues, except for some debt repayment.

How Dean Could Win . . . (washingtonpost.com)

How Dean Could Win . . . (washingtonpost.com)
Keen analysis by Bill Kristol, the conservative's conservative, that Dean could beat Bush. Sounds like a rallying cry for Republicans to get their act together.

FOXNews.com - Views - Why Gore's Backing Dean

FOXNews.com - Views - Why Gore's Backing Dean

Fascinating analysis by Dick Morris. He's an insider who probably knows where all the Democratic rivalries and loyalties, if any exist, lie.

Time Warner to Use Cable Lines to Add Phone to Internet Service

Time Warner to Use Cable Lines to Add Phone to Internet Service

A high level summary of the VOIP challenge posed by the cable companies. The telcos like Verizon and Bell South have their work cut out for them in reconfiguring the traditional landline business. The huge investments in circuit switching technology will be around a long time and the copper distribution facilities are far from fully depreciated.

Any massive move to VOIP at the customer premises cannot be accomplished quickly. The market for VOIP at this point for both cable and telcos is the broadband customer base, now about a third of households. The business market is another story.

If 800 services migrate to VOIP, that will signal a massive change in investment required at the business premises to get the benefits of VOIP.

Op-Ed Columnist: Hillary, Congenital Hawk

Op-Ed Columnist: Hillary, Congenital Hawk

Mr. Safire, you are so sly! Political speculation demonstrated as an art form.

Op-Ed Columnist: Stalking the Giant Chicken Coop

Op-Ed Columnist: Stalking the Giant Chicken Coop

This opinion piece is more like Chicken Little announcing the sky is falling. Let me translate this piece into the real opinion of the author:

The drug companies are f....ing America. Because drugs exist and the research that leads to these drugs has been paid for by the drug companies with the revenues from the drugs they sell, Americans are entitled to the drugs regardless of the costs.

Everyone knows the drug companies are bandits.

Republicans don't give a crap about senior citizens' health care.

The Bush administration is lining the pockets of BIG business.

Give me a break, Mr Herbert! Do you think we're all idiots and the Republicans are all evildoers? Wake up!

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Bacterium may change DNA testing

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Bacterium may change DNA testing

Seems this is a big step forward for forensic science and for DNA analysis generally.

Online edition of Daily News - News

Online edition of Daily News - News

Worth watching, but I don't expect much of substance, unless of course, the UN proposes to take over and run the Internet!

MobileMag : MCI and Time Warner Jump on VoIP after FCC Announces Possible Regulations - Industry News - Mobilemag.com

MobileMag : MCI and Time Warner Jump on VoIP after FCC Announces Possible Regulations - Industry News - Mobilemag.com

The beginning of a concerted effort to ramp up VOIP as the voice call technology of choice. We can expect more of these deals, whether the FCC regulates or not. In any event, it's unlikely that state regulation can be effective for VOIP. As previously stated here, the days are numbered for state price regulation of telecom services, beyond, QoS and certification to operate in a state.
d-

InfoWorld: Windows ATMs raise security concerns: December 02, 2003: By : Security

InfoWorld: Windows ATMs raise security concerns: December 02, 2003: By : Security

Oh this sounds like fun! Windows XP on my ATM seems a recipe for terrorists and hackers. Worse, migrating from a private line network to the Internet's TCP/IP seems the open door for those hackers. I hope the baker's IT gurus really know what they're doing. I had no idea the ATMs were running on OS/2!!

The Dean Connection

The Dean Connection

The young people seeking something, anything, relevant oozes from this story. Shapiro captures the young and restless attitude of the swarm of campaigners. Is this energy sufficient to move Dean to the Presidency? I doubt it. More like a McGovern replay.

Charles Krauthammer on Dean

Gotta love this Krauthammer.

Cal Thomas on Hillary Clinton

Cal has no love for Mrs. Clinton. If Thomas is right , Hillary is more socialist than Democrat. Move over, Bernie Sanders.

local6.com - Problem Solvers - 'Trampled' Wal-Mart Shopper Has History Of Injury Claims

If these reports are true, what we have here is a professional bilker. These people who leech off the system or workers compensation and false injury reports ought not be defended by any reputable lawyer. These swindles and the shysters who pursue them get my blood boiling.

Yahoo! News - Group Urges Dean to Open Some Vt. Records

The pressure builds on Dr. Dean to open his sealed Vermont records. Where was the outcry from the VT media when he had them sealed?

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > State -- Driver license bill is doomed by Assembly

Seems more than logical to me that people who are in this country illegally have no right or privilege to obtain a driver's license. I know there are counterarguments, but are they substantive or anecdotal?

Op-Ed Columnist: Boots on the Ground, Hearts on Their Sleeves

Thanks, David Brooks for the personal side of the war in Iraq. Our soldiers are heroes.

Dr. Dean in High Gear

This photo will be the one Dr. Dean's opponents will use to exemplify his short temper.

http://www.msnbc.com/news/999347.asp

E-Commerce Report: Music at Your Fingertips, and a Battle Among Sellers

Bob Tedeschi's article suggests that the online music business will continue to expand, perhaps not accompanied by huge profits but with novel options. His article does not once mention personal piracy, though this will continue to be the dominant form of download with no thought of profits.

Patents: Idea for Online Networking Brings Two Entrepreneurs Together

Another example of what's wrong with our patent system. Patenting software code and algorithms as well as genetically manipulated organisms does not seem appropriate for the purposes of the patent system. There are many arguments on the other side, but to me a patent should represent a novel physical device or a process that produces a tangible product, not merely an idea represented in software or genetic code.

Op-Ed Columnist: On Same-Sex Marriage

Safire's 'libcon' (libertarian conservative) thinking on homosexual marriage. While he dances with the arguments, he does not reveal his stance. His most important recommendation is:

"The pace of profound cultural change is too important to be left to activist judges. As moral-political issues go, this big one deserves examination in communities with minds that can deal with internal contradictions — which is the libcon way."