No More Recession, Just a "Slow Recovery"
on Nov 18, 2009 in economic analysts recession recovery jobs I saw a news blurb a couple of weeks ago in which "analysts" stated that the recession is over. Well, that's comforting, isn't it? It's also really nice to know that economic analysts, at least, don't have to worry about losing their jobs, since th...

It Takes a SWAT Team to Raid a Massage Parlor
on Nov 16, 2009 in prostitution massage parlors SWAT A week or so ago, our local paper, the Daily Hampshire Gazette, reported that two small massage therapy businesses in Hadley, MA had been raided because of reports of "sex for pay". The articles, written by Ben Storrow and Owen Boss, described a mul...

The Catholic Church Interferes With Health Reform
on Nov 16, 2009The Catholic church has now jumped on the bandwagon of those entities who, for some reason or another, feel entitled to dictate the terms of the health care reform legislation. Not only are these "special interests" being given a hands-on role in sh...

Senate Refuses to Consider Health Care Bill
on Nov 10, 2009 in public option health care bill entitlement Joe Lieberman Now that the House has finally passed the landmark health care bill, the Senate has stopped it dead in its tracks. Why? Because it contains the dreaded "public option", which would give all Americans a publicly-funded alternative to those vultures...

It's Official: The Bailout of GM Was a Bad Idea
on Nov 9, 2009 in bankruptcy GAO bailout GM General Motors The Government Accounting Office released a study last week that officially stated what many have known for months: The $50 million given to General Motors to get the company back on its feet may as well have been flushed down the toilet. Since GM...

Another Step Back for Gay Equality
on Nov 4, 2009 in referendum voting gay equality same-sex marriage Yesterday's popular vote in Maine which essentially killed legislation allowing gay marriage in that state was yet one more defeat to those who believe that the legalization of same-sex marriage is long overdue. David Crary, reporting for the Assoc...

Time to End the Insurance Industry's Free Ride
on Nov 3, 2009Very recently, I read a small blurb in the local newspaper regarding legislation being put forth by Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. His bill would overturn the McCarran-Ferguson Act of 1945 which gives the insurance industry freedom from anti-trust laws.

Retailers Using Psychology to Boost Christmas Sales
on Nov 2, 2009 in psychology consumer Christmas spending This year, it seems as if stores have decked their malls earlier than ever. Immediately after the first frost, Christmas decorations bloomed at various retailers, nearly squeezing out the Halloween wares. Could it be that merchants, always concerne...

Elizabeth Smart on "Overcoming the Unimaginable"
on Oct 29, 2009 in Elizabeth Smart overcoming the unimaginable women's conference Elizabeth Smart spoke to a women's conference in California recently not to discuss details of her 9-month ordeal at the hands of two psychotic kidnappers, but to give other women a heartfelt message: You can move on. It is well known that Smart, ki...

Toward a Greater Understanding of Afghanistan
on Oct 27, 2009 in understanding invasion Taliban Afghanistan The Today show featured an interview with New York Times reporter David Rohde, who, with two other colleagues, was kidnapped seven months ago by the Taliban and was just recently liberated. Rohde has published a 5-part article in the Times recounti...