Some Moments Belong To Our Sons And Daughters
Some Moments Belong To Our Sons And Daughters Regular readers of this column know there are occasions when the lighter side of life has been overshadowed enough to prompt the flip-side of humor: reflection. As I sat in front of the computer this morning, I realized that this was one of those times. There are a number of privileges that go with being a columnist and sports editor for a small newspaper. Among them is the opportunity to talk with coaches and athletes throughout the season. Some of the most striking conversations I
Ex-Commodore Of Texas Navy Welcomes Court-Martial
Ex-Commodore Of Texas Navy Welcomes Court-Martial The court-martial of Edwin Ward Moore, former commodore of the Texas Navy, was gaveled to order on May 20, 1844. Although the cocky ex-commander stood accused of 22 specifications on a half dozen different offenses, he welcomed the opportunity to clear his name and to strike back at his mortal enemy, President Sam Houston. The show trial was certain to be a marathon as a quartet of judges considered six counts of “neglect of duty,” six of “disobedience of orders,” five of “contempt and defiance of country,” three of “embezzlement of public property and fraud” as well as one count each of murder and treason. An impressive cast assembled for the highly publicized proceedings. Despite the fact that the four members of the tribunal board were presidential appointees, the accused expected a fair shake from the presiding officer. Gen. Sidney Sherman was cozy with David G. Burnet and Mirabeau Lamar, Houston critics from way back, and usually delighted in defying the president. Serving as judge advocate or prosecutor was Thomas “Ramrod” Johnson, editor and stalwart supporter of Houston, whose nickname advertised his well-known toughness. Counsel for the defense was talented attorney James S. Mayfield, who accepted the case as much out of anti-Houston animosity than a belief in his client
Outscourcing Gone Wild
Outscourcing Gone Wild Over the last several years, we
Letters To The Editor
To The Editor: Prescription Drug Advertising Where
Free Time
Free Time I was noticing that Hillary Clinton looked pretty good on TV the other day. This is no indication of an inclination on my part to vote either for or against her, mind you. It was merely an observation. Now Hillary has a few years on me, and I was wondering how she manages to keep up with her hectic schedule and still look OK. I understand that she might have a good plastic surgeon (more power to her), and a fleet of stylists (clothing, make-up, hair, etc.) But I was thinking more about having the energy for the schedule she keeps (when I am often tired and overwhelmed). I expanded this thought to include the schedules of many politicians and VIPs in all areas. And let me repeat; many of these folks are even older than I am. How do they do it? Then it occurred to me (duh, no brainer) that, because of their ability to pay for help, the very wealthy (or those who finagle ways to use OUR money for THEIR purposes) are able to concentrate all their energies and efforts toward their passion, be it politics, acting, business, art, medicine, whatever. They cut right to the chase in ways we ordinary folks cannot. I started wondering what life would be like if, when I awoke, my oatmeal was prepared and served to me, the dishes cleaned and put away (by someone else). What would life be like if someone else had driven to the supermarket for the oatmeal and milk?
New Immigration Policy: Let
New Immigration Policy: Let
R.H.I.P.
R.H.I.P. Earlier this month, Paris Hilton was scheduled for a probation violation hearing in Los Angeles traffic court. She arrived a fashionable 15 minutes late. After poor little Paris blames everybody in her employ, her “handlers,” for getting into this mess of being arrested for driving while under the influence and subsequently losing that privilege a whole four months; confusing her infantile pea-brain as to when she could and couldn
Ding Dong, Jerry
Ding Dong, Jerry
When Will The Message Get Through?
When Will The Message Get Through?
How long will Congress and the Senate continue to allow the spectre of death to ride supreme over Iraq?
How long will they wait to return dignity to America?
We have in the White House a regime that is intent on destruction, not only overseas, but here at home.
A regime that is committed to robbing Americans of their hard-earned dollars for the sake of perpetuating violence while filling the pockets of plunderers.
For the most part, Americans are finally getting it.
They are aware that they have been had by Bush
ANSWER To Protest Bush At Coast Guard Academy May 23
NEW LONDON, Conn.
Army General:
ROCHESTER, N.Y.
Bush Is So Over Now: Song Marks End of Political Era
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Iraq’s Oil Goes Missing — Oil Metering System Not Installed
Oil Metering System Not Installed WASHINGTON, D.C. A draft report released last week says that hundreds of thousands of barrels of Iraq’s oil have gone missing each day since the U.S. invaded. A final conclusion was not drawn in the report prepared by United States Government Accountability Office; however, there is reason to believe widespread corruption and smuggling took place over the last four years. The report estimated that between 100,000 and 300,000 barrels of oil a day have disappeared to the tune of between $5 million to $15 million daily. The State Department has given a number of possible reasons for the discrepancies, such as sabotage of pipelines, false reporting of production capabilities, and outright theft. The suspected thieves include Shiite militias and Sunni insurgents, according to one department official. Still, the conditions for such thievery have been perfect because the Iraq oil industry remains broken, said Pratap Chatterjee, the managing director of CorpWatch and author of the book, Iraq, Inc.. Chatterjee explained in an interview with Democracy Now that two oil service companies have failed to meet their contractual obligations to fix Iraq’s oil infrastructure: Parsons and Halliburton. One of those important obligations was to meter the oil production which is a normal industry practice, he noted. “In four years, they have failed to repair and failed to calibrate the oil meters in the platforms. They’ve just finished repairing it,” he said. “Even the most complex meters take no more than a year to set up, and yet they have not been calibrated. And so, oil is being stolen right under the noses of US officials from the oil platforms out in the Arabian Gulf.” The State Department has agreed with this assessment, adding that Shell Oil was under contract to study the meters. Another independent oil industry analyst told The New York Times that the report about Iraq’s missing oil comes as no surprise because of the many other reports saying as much. Philip K. Verleger Jr. added that the market for this smuggled oil might include China, Europe, and the Caribbean, all of which have small refineries outside the control of the West. The GAO report also notes that American taxpayers have been on the losing end of this malfeasance. About $5 billion of taxpayer funds has been spent on rebuilding Iraq’s electricity infrastructure. Almost none of the goals for those funds have been met, the report said. Iraq’s power grid, for example, averages only 8.6 hours a day nationwide.
Texas Presidential Candidate Ignites Grassroots, Enflames GOP
LAKE JACKSON, Texas – After the first two rounds of the GOP presidential debates, Rep. Ron Paul has the grassroots buzzing and the Republican establishment fuming. At the same time, almost every mainstream media outlet has pegged the nine-term Texas congressman as a long shot in field of 10 Republican candidates. In fact, straw polls from the Big Three TV networks and 24-hour cable news channels glow bright red for Paul, though this fact has been downplayed repeatedly on air. Granted, Paul, a 71-year-old obstetrician, is no media darling like former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, or Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. But there
