Understanding todays Soviet Russia

Nov 11, 2009 - Twenty Years After the Fall By George Friedman We are now at the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the beginning of the collapse of the Soviet empire in Eastern Europe. We are also nearing the 18th anniversary of the fall of the Soviet Union itself. This is more than simply a moment for reflection — it is a moment to consider the current state of the region and of Russia versus that whose passing we are now commemorating. - 0 Comments

‘Good evening, live from the Berlin Wall’

Nov 09, 2009 - I thought this would be an interesting tie in from Tulipe's earlier post. On the night of Nov. 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall — the stark, menacing symbol of the Cold War — came crashing down, suddenly and dramatically. - 16 Comments

Obamacare...a personal look.

Oct 25, 2009 - I am going to give you my personal look at Obamacare from a perspective which may seem a bit strange but in reality it should be alarming.  The interesting thing is that most of all of my childhood I went without even some of the basic things people assume most everyone has.   The only healthcare I had as a child was Medi-cal...which is the program upon which Obamacare was designed.     My father worked several part-time jobs as well as his full-time job as a Baptist minister.  He did everything possible to provide for us, worked his fingers to the bone and still managed to comfort the people in our church and help them deal with their own problems.  Not once did any congregation we served bother to possibly consider that making sure the minister and his family had any healthcare or even some of the basic necessities in life was one of their priorities. They did however call at any time of the day or night for his help and he was there for them.    Sometimes our whole family was there for them.  I was a very experienced babysitter, cook, and housekeeper before I was even 11.  This is not bitterness I speak from---it is my attempt at revealing to you that many who are among the uninsured are hardworking people often working in service-oriented positions which simply aren't offered healthcare.   So....let me get back to Medi-cal......the mentor of Obamacare.  When I hear people on the Obamacare bandwagon I think they probably don't really understand what they are supporting.   Many have never been on medi-cal. - 4 Comments

Cell-Phone Users Can't Spot a Clown on a Unicycle

Oct 19, 2009 - Using a cell phone while walking is so distracting that people are likely to miss a clown riding a unicycle. And yes, this is the result of real research, which involved mostly college-age students walking across a main campus square while a real clown performed. The research also found cell-phone users walk slower and weave about more than others. - 12 Comments

Micro - Pig

Oct 09, 2009 - I really want two of these wee piggies. I will name one bacon and the other sausage. ;) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/6267381/Micro-pigs-with-a-hefty-price-tag.html The pets, which grow to be just 14in tall, have become so popular that they are now almost impossible to get hold of in Britain. - 19 Comments

Science of Porn Surfing

Sep 29, 2009 - Porn surfing rampant at U.S. science foundation http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/sep/29/workers-porn-surfing-rampant-at-federal-agency/?page=3 By Jim McElhatton Employee misconduct investigations, often involving workers accessing pornography from their government computers, grew sixfold last year inside the taxpayer-funded foundation that doles out billions of dollars of scientific research grants, according to budget documents and other records obtained by The Washington Times. The problems at the National Science Foundation (NSF) were so pervasive they swamped the agency's inspector general and forced the internal watchdog to cut back on its primary mission of investigating grant fraud and recovering misspent tax dollars. - 3 Comments

Sep 27, 2009 - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/6226935/Pakistan-discovers-village-of-white-German-al-Qaeda-insurgents.html Pakistan discovers 'village' of white German al-Qaeda insurgents Investigators have discovered a "Jihadi village" of white German al-Qaeda insurgents, including Muslim converts, in Pakistan's tribal areas close to the Afghan border. By Dean Nelson in New Delhi and Allan Hall in Berlin Published: 11:44AM BST 25 Sep 2009 The village, in Taliban-controlled Waziristan, is run by the notorious al-Qaeda-affiliated Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, which plots raids on Nato forces in Afghanistan. A recruitment video presents life in the village as a desirable lifestyle choice with schools, hospitals, pharmacies and day care centres, all at a safe distance from the front. - 11 Comments

Obama missing in action

Sep 13, 2009 - Missing in Action Obama has opted out of the Iraq–Syria crisis. By John P. Hannah It’s hard to believe, but nearly three weeks into a major crisis involving Syrian sponsorship of terrorism in Iraq, the United States is feigning neutrality. - 2 Comments