Underage drinking considered

Prof proposes teaching kids to drink Here. Well, kinda.

This should make some people happy

Chevron's profit plunges 71%

But maybe not since they did still make a profit.

Really?

Really? This is something the leader of the free world needs to do? A "Beer Summit"? Seems like the government is being run by PR flacks. I see a new reality TV show in the offing. Move over Judge Judy. President Barry's in the house.

Gadgets circa 1979

This is kind of fun

I was in 8th grade in 1979.

I had this. And I played it a fair amount. It was basically just trying to move one dot of light through others. 

Saw this in theaters. I was a huge Steve Martin fan - had two or three of his albums.

No internet. 

No cell phones. 

VHS players were still a pretty big deal. 

No CDs.

No PCs. 

No Macs.

hard to imagine...

That was 30 years ago.

30 years from now expect to look back with the same sort of amazement at how primitive things were.

It's good to be the government

Social Security Administration spends $700,000 on conference. Good thing the government's got plenty of money ...

"Nearly all my professors are Democrats. Isn't that a problem?"

Diversity! But not for you.

Separation of economy and state

Makes sense to me.

"Patrick Henry did not say "Give me a small rollback in government or give me death." He said: give meliberty. So should we."

Pilot Green Energy Program Looking Green Around the Gills

Austin Energy officials say that times have changed and that the nation's most successful (by volume of sales) green-energy program, which offers the renewable energy only to those who select it, might no longer be the best way to carry out the city's goals. It now costs almost three times more than the standard electricity rate.

Sounds like a good concept - customers who opted in were guaranteed a fixed rate for 10 years. The program started in 2000 and went well up until this year when costs have risen. Now 99 percent of the current offering is unsold.

All they need to do is tax the standard electricity at a 200% rate and the green energy becomes competitive. Duh.

Responding to the president's op-ed.

Medicare - the future of medical coverage?

One doctor's choice.

I have faith, courage, and enthusiasm!

Positive self-talk may actually have opposite effect. Who knew?

If democracy and human rights are high values, then all societies are not morally equal.

President Obama hasn't shown much interest in promoting democracy according to this piece in the Wall Street Journal. I think it's evident not only in his foreign policy and his speeches which are the focus of the article, but also in his governance. He seems to have taken to heart the adage that the most efficient form of government is a benign dictatorship. Congress and the media have shown little interest in balancing or pointing out his power grabs - placing the administration of the Census under direct control of the White House, strong-arming and firing independent Inspectors general to help out political allies. I'm not much of an alarmist, generally, and I expect the pendulum will eventually swing back, but I'm a little nervous about the direction we're heading.

*grin*