What Does It Really Mean To Be A U.S. Citizen?

It means we have rights. Rights that many have fought for and given their lives for. Unfortunately in current America there is, for the most part, two separate classes of citizenship, a bipartisanship if you will. You have the poor and then you have the wealthy. Yes, there is a middle class, but the republicans and George Bush are slowly getting rid of this class. Their reason for this is simple. The middle class does not like a government that only favors the rich and it has a voice. The... Read more »

UN Atomic Chief Sees No Breakthrough At Meeting On Iran’s Nuclear Programme

The head of the United Nations agency entrusted with curbing the spread of nuclear weapons said today he did not expect any “breakthrough” or “positive agreement” on Iran’s nuclear programme at the current meeting of the atomic watchdog’s Board of Governors now under way in Vienna. “Unfortunately the picture is still hazy as to the scope and nature of Iran’s nuclear programme,” International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Mohamed... Read more »

With Liberty and Justice for All-Even Republicans

The purpose of this piece is to reassure its readers (and perhaps, its author), that civil liberties are not a concern relegated solely to the opponents of the Bush White House. Let me start off this essay by incurring much wrath in clearly identifying myself as a lifelong Republican, and a supporter of this Administration’s policies in the Middle East and in Iraq, in particular. Those whose judgment is so driven by obsessive hatred of George W. Bush that they prefer to see the failure of... Read more »

The Peak Oil Crisis and Water Supply

Much is being made about the “Peak Oil Crisis” in the media today. Gasoline and natural gas prices are high and continue to rise. But what is the “peak oil crisis” and how does it impact our water supply? Peak Oil is discussed and defined in an excellent book by Kenneth S. Deffeyes entitled “Beyond Oil, The View from Hubbert’s Peak”. As Mr. Deffeyes notes: “The supply of oil in the ground is not infinite. Someday, annual world crude oil production has... Read more »

What You Need to Know About the Green Card Lottery

The diversity Immigrant Visa program or also known as, the green card lottery is a congressional mandated lottery program which gives out green cards. It is only done was a year by the Department of State and is conducted under the terms of Section 203 (c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. It has provided a new class of immigrants that are allowed in the United States. The program allows up to 50,000 permanent resident visas to go out annually to people from countries with low immigration... Read more »

What is the Green Card Lottery About?

The green card lottery is where the Department of State annually awards green cards to immigrants. This is a lottery that is done by a random computer selection. The technical term for it is the Diversity Visa program. The people that conform to the rules and learn to speak English will be able to enter the lottery program. This is a great way for people that want to become residents of the United States without having to wait for many years. The immigrants that want to apply will have to obtain... Read more »

Challenge from a Right Wing Nut Job

Let’s try something new shall we? I got this idea after spending a weekend with my wife’s family. The Andersons are great group of folks who I enjoy spending time with, however, they are about as politically divided a family as I have ever seen. This is not just your standard “this is my view, this is your view lets have a drink and discuss it” type of family. Politics are a sport and are argued as vehemently as two teams fighting like the score is tied with 30 seconds to... Read more »

A Back Channel to Nowhere

In May, 1978, one of the Major American Television Networks put on a broadcast in celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the Founding of the State of Israel. The show was hosted by Barbra Streisand who, at the time, I guess, was deemed to be a well-known enough entertainer and “Jewish” enough to carry off the show credibly. The finale of the show consisted of a live (via satellite) interview between Streisand and Prime Minister Golda Meir, everyone’s favorite chicken-soup with matzo... Read more »

Just So We Have Our Priorities Straight!

Well, let’s see: we’re still at war in Iraq, we are (rightly) worrying about a nuclear capability in Iran, we’re unable to compete in the international labor market, we are facing unprecedented trade and budget deficits as well as federal entitlement programs certain to run out of money in the next few decades, and we are experiencing unprecedented crude oil prices. Our response? Our duly elected officials in Washington are debating gay marriage and flag-burning. I cannot imagine... Read more »

Are You Prepared For A Water Supply Disruption?

“City ravaged by chain explosions…chemical company razed…oil refineries explode and burn…utilities disrupted…water supply condemned after a fire broke out on a freighter in port.” “Power outage sparks one of the worst water crises in the city’s history as all four water pumps go down at once.” “Seven people dead and 2,300 ill after one of the town’s wells becomes contaminated with E. Coli.” These headlines are not the result... Read more »