The New York Times has an unintentionally hilarious series of photos of “The Writer’s Room” – the personal spaces where five authors write their books. Joyce Carol Oates (pictured at left) sez: “Like all writers, I have made my writing room a sanctuary of the soul.” Geez. None of these folks seem to appreciate […]
FBI Warning Omits Season’s Biggest Predators
The FBI issued a Valentine’s Day themed-press release warning of the danger of online dating scams: “Millions of Americans visit online dating websites every year hoping to find a companion or even a soulmate. But as Valentine’s Day gets closer, we want to warn you that criminals use these sites, too, looking to turn the lonely and […]
Public Policy Hooligan Reviewed by San Diego’s Bob Sale
 Bob Sale, a Canadian drummer living in San Diego, kindly posted a review of Public Policy Hooligan on Amazon yesterday: Memoirs of A(nother) Superfluous Man It’s always a joy and personally helpful to read the memoirs and realization of the imperative for individual liberty from someone who’s been at the center of the storm. Such […]
Leipzig Church Memories: Socialism’s Forgotten Toll
The New York Review of Books posted this great painting by Mendelssohn of the St. Thomas Church in Leipzig. I wrote about that seeing that church in Public Policy Hooligan – and in a 1987 New York Times article on how socialism was ruining the East Bloc. Here’s the riff from Hooligan – from a jaunt […]
Latest Foreign Aid Fiasco: Afghanistan’s Killer Roads
Going back nigh 30 years, I have always been deeply pained when people accuse me of being cynical about U.S. foreign aid.  At least my breakfast was nicely spiced this morning by a  Washington Post front page story – “After billions in U.S. investment, Afghan roads are falling apart.” The highways that the U.S. spent billions […]
How Many Howlers Will Obama Tell In State Of Union Speech Tonight?
Is anyone else having trouble distinguishing today’s two most popular acronyms – SOTU & STFU? When people ask why I watch Obama speeches, I shrug and admit that that is part of the terms of my parole. What will Obama’s biggest howlers be tonight? I am expecting a burst of candor as much as I […]
Holder and NSA Must Confess Guilt Before Clemency Talks
Attorney General Eric Holder & NSA poohbahs should be required to plead guilty before starting any clemency talks with Snowden. Otherwise, how can Snowden know that the Obama administration is negotiating in good faith? How many violations of federal law has the NSA committed since January 20, 2009? How many NSA crimes has Eric Holder […]