Welcome! This is an unapologetic, agenda-free zone. Just commentaries on current events that’ll move you to think, laugh, rage, and even cry.
If, like me, you caught snippets of today’s Senate hearing on the nomination of Chuck Hagel to serve as U.S. defense secretary, you could be forgiven the impression that he was nominated to serve as Israel defense secretary. After all, almost every senator seemed more interested in getting Hagel to testify about his support for… Read more.
John Kerry left an open seat in the Senate when he became secretary of state. Yesterday, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick (D) appointed his former chief-of-staff to fill it. William “Mo” Cowan Cowan will serve until a special election in June. I have mixed feelings about this. I am glad Patrick ignored Rep. Barney Frank’s… Read more.
Over five years ago, the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled that Antigua and Barbuda is entitled to compensation for damages it suffered when the United States acted unilaterally to prevent American residents from participating in online gambling. This action caused Antigua’s online gambling/gaming industry to contract in short order from one that was worth $3.4… Read more.
Public disillusionment in Britain with the European Union is such that Prime Minister David Cameron felt compelled last Wednesday to pledge to hold an “in-out referendum” on UK membership if he is re-elected in 2015. The next Conservative manifesto in 2015 will ask for a mandate from the British people for a Conservative government to… Read more.
Davos is a place where corporate titans, international bankers, world leaders, and a smattering of celebrity do-gooders gather annually for invigorating gabfests about the impact of world developments on their businesses, personal wealth, and collective conscience. And, where politicians, celebrities, and token guests from the Third World change from year to year, the other attendees… Read more.
A blunt and explicit threat from North Korea on Thursday that its missile and nuclear programs would “target” the United States poses a stark challenge to the Obama Administration even as it hoped it could focus its major diplomatic effort on restraining Iran’s less-advanced nuclear program. (“North Korea Issues Blunt Threat to United States,” New… Read more.
No doubt you’ve heard about the Algerian hostage crisis that ended in a bloody massacre last Thursday when government troops stormed the gas plant where the hostages were being held. The plant is run jointly by Britain’s BP, Norway’s Statoil, and Algeria’s state oil company. Reports are that thirty-seven hostages (of multiple nationalities, including three… Read more.
I was unable to see any of the inauguration festivities live; therefore, what follows are observations based solely on news reports, video clips, and transcripts. The National Anthem Beyoncé looked a lot better than she sounded. And she sounded terrific – even if not quite as soaring and awe-inspiring as Whitney Houston at the 1991… Read more.
