March 10, 2010

NEW UK DIGITAL BILL TO FOLLOW US’S DMCA RIGHTS AND SPELL DISASTER FOR YOUTUBE?

NEW UK DIGITAL BILL TO FOLLOW US’S DMCA RIGHTS AND SPELL DISASTER FOR YOUTUBE?

by Jorge Paez

 

THere is a report out from Guardian news, that the very unpopular Digital Bill in the UK has just been updated to include several copyright additions, some of which may lead to the closure of user generated content sites like [...]

March 10, 2010

The Future of History

I was never a history buff. I was the kid in high school who got caught napping instead of listening. “So?” I would ask. “Why does this matter?” Now my tweenage daughters ask the same question and I struggle to explain why.

“Because,” I say. And it’s not one of those “Because I said so’s”. It’s [...]

March 9, 2010

I’m still waiting for the “Prize Patrol”

I’m still waiting for the “Prize Patrol”

By Alan Caruba

If anyone bothered to read the “Sweepstakes Facts” that Publishers Clearing House provides with its endless mailings, they would discover that the odds of winning “up to $10,000,000″ in any of their constantly on-going “giveaway” programs is “1 in 1,750,000,000.” I am not making this up, nor [...]

March 9, 2010

Media biased for Beard

Media biased for Beard

by Tyree Harris

Oregon kicker Robert Beard was allegedly beaten unconscious by Kirby Hawkins and Maurice Peterson on Jan. 24, at about 12:30 a.m.

When people heard about this, many felt terrible for Beard; he was portrayed by the police reports and the media to be the innocent victim who was just trying to [...]

March 9, 2010

Tapping palm oil without tapping out rainforests

Sustainable palm oil production shouldn’t be an [...]

March 7, 2010

American Al Qaeda is Captured

American Al Qaeda is Captured

By Alan Caruba

The news on Sunday, March 7th, is that Adam Gadahn, an American who became a Muslim and then joined al Qaeda, was arrested in Pakistan by intelligence officers and the only question I have is how long will it take to ship his sorry ass back to the land [...]

March 6, 2010

“Bleeding Hearts” Cause Many Hearts to Bleed

by Don Maker

In May of 2000, John Albert Gardner III pleaded guilty to molesting a 13-year-old female neighbor. Prosecutors said he lured the victim to his home with an offer to watch a movie. In addition to being molested, the girl was beaten before escaping and running to a neighbor.

First, this was not a case [...]

March 6, 2010

Celebrating a People One Month a Year

Celebrating a People One Month a Year

Now that February has come and, won’t come back for another year, I find myself reflecting on “Black History Month”.  We all know the reason for and the meaning of celebrating the accomplishment of African Americans during the month of February.  We all should know, by now, that Black [...]

March 5, 2010

Lies, Damned Lies, and Expert Testimony

Lies, Damned Lies, and Expert Testimony
 
by John Armor 
 
Before we get rolling, a pet peeve. Entirely too many reporters are too lazy to check their quotes. Time and again, they will say in their lede that “some wag referred to lies, damned lies, and statistics.” No, no, no. That was not “some wag;” that was the [...]

March 3, 2010

Medical care goes global

While politicians fiddle and patients get burned, Americans’ best bet for affordable, quality medical care right now is in [...]

March 2, 2010

Western perspective is not culture

Western perspective is not culture

by Tyree Harris

Sitting in my race, class and ethnic groups course, twiddling my thumbs and trying to follow my professor, I couldn’t help but feel disconnected. There he went, speaking of tolerance, what it means to be prejudiced and how it’s easy to stereotype other races — but this is probably [...]

March 1, 2010

Afghanistan, Again

Afghanistan, Again

By Alan Caruba

Think about this. Any nation that cannot rebuild the Twin Towers nearly nine years after they were destroyed has lost its ability to function rationally and effectively.

We have been a military presence in Afghanistan since 2001 following 9/11. That’s two years longer than when we were in Vietnam.

Afghanistan has a long history [...]

February 27, 2010

China Impression (Chapter Two: Chinese New Year)

China Impression

(2010-02-27 15:13:09)

Chapter Two: Chinese New Year

Now, more and more people, especially young people celebrate Christmas Day.Nevertheless,we still take the Chinese New Year as our major and overwhelming Holiday which we call the Spring Festival. Like the Christmas Season, we have a long Chinese New Year Season, typically the government approve a legal vacation of [...]

February 26, 2010

Comedy and Censorship

At what point does comedy become hate speech? How free is free speech? Do we still have lines that comedians and other entertainers can’t cross?

Comedian Guy Earle

Canadian comedian Guy Earle is dealing with all these questions lately. Earle is being taken to the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal to face charges of hateful speech. [...]

February 25, 2010

A Call For Help Goes Unanswered.

A Call For Help Goes Unanswered.

by Tyree Harris

When Portland State student Brenda Johnson, who asked that her real name be withheld, traded in her old BlackBerry for a new BlackBerry Storm from a man named Robert she met on Craigslist, she was thrilled.

After she made the trade, she called a friend to see if it [...]

February 25, 2010

To Kill a Killer Whale

I’m starting off by saying they should kill the whale that killed the trainer at Sea World yesterday. The killer whale has killed two times before. yet  those who train and love the animals say it is a good whale. To me either the whale is bad or the training didn’t work. I wonder if the [...]

February 23, 2010

Coyotes Making a Home in New York City

I am waiting for the morning when I look out my bedroom window and see a pack of coyotes traipsing down the street like they own the place. Their paws making prints in the snow, their presence making those hanging out after a night on the town take a second look at the number of [...]

February 22, 2010

Me and My Bully: A Kind of Essay (continued)

Me and My Bully: A Kind of Essay (continued)

 

            Before I continue on with this little narrative, I need to address something that was stated in one of the replies to this post, something I read and I did not digest too well.  Someone stated that [I] should somehow befriend my bully….  That person obviously [...]

February 22, 2010

Making Vitamins Too Costly for Your Health

Making Vitamins Too Costly for Your Health

By Alan Caruba

At age 72 I have been taking a full range of vitamin and mineral supplements for years. Even I find it amusing to open more than a dozen bottles every morning to extract vitamins A, B, C, D and E, along with zinc, potassium, selenium, and fish [...]

February 21, 2010

China Impression (Chapter one: Differences Among Cities)

China Impression

Chapter One: Differences Among Cities

This Chinese New Year Season,something did surprise me.

As a rule, every year this time, I must make the trip to the hometown of my wife, where her father still lives in. What astonished me is that I could not find anybody smoke in the bus! Just last year and before, [...]

February 20, 2010

All flash, no substance

All flash, no substance

by Tyree Harris

This past Tuesday, the University of Oregon had the honor of hosting a speech from Rev. Jesse Jackson, one of the most historically controversial figures in American history. This being a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, fitting right into a vast free space between my classes, and (most importantly) being free, it was [...]

February 19, 2010

Can Washington Meet the Demand to Cut Spending?

Can Washington Meet the Demand to Cut Spending?
Americans have reached a consensus. What’s lacking is trust.

 

President Obama’s decision to appoint Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson to his bipartisan commission on government spending is politically shrewd and, in terms of policy, potentially helpful.

It is shrewd in that he is doing what he has been urged to [...]

February 19, 2010

Me and My Bully: A Kind of Essay

Me and My Bully: A Kind of Essay

            Whew!  It is February 19th, 2010 and two days ago I think I brought my bully down.  I say I think I did this because with bullies, those that are not jailed or killed because of their behavior, they just keep up the behavior until one or [...]

February 18, 2010

Do We Really Need to Hear from Tiger Woods?

The media is all ‘twittered up’ for whatever the great golfer is going to say today. I am not interested and perhaps neither are you. It’s all a public relations gimmick anyway. Tiger Woods is losing ground with his fans as well as losing endorsements. He is going to stand before the lights and confess [...]

February 16, 2010

Glenn Beck is Still A Fat, Angry, Crazy Person!

Things change a lot. Like the four seasons of the year, things come and go, rise and fall, sparkle and fade. We live in an uncertain world, where we lose things we hold dear without any warning. Luckily, there are some things that stay the same and will never, ever change.

Glenn Beck is one of [...]

February 16, 2010

Drunken assaults in Eugene not isolated event

Drunken assaults in Eugene not isolated event

by Tyree Harris

The recent assaults and thefts at University of Oregon involving football players Rob Beard and Mike Bowlin have caused quite a stir: I’ve seen people in Eugene begin to worry about their safety, traveling with friends more often and discussing how violent it has become. However, despite [...]

February 16, 2010

The art of loving what you do

The art of loving what you do

by Tyree Harris

As broke college students, there isn’t a lot we won’t do for cash. From cleaning up after our peers at the EMU to standing for tedious hours at the mercy of a grocery scanning mecha-lord at Safeway (like me) — you name it, we’d probably do it.
It’s [...]

February 15, 2010

Is Silent Bob too Fat to Fly?

Silent Bob was not allowed to fly on Southwest Airlines because he did not fit into the seat. They have a policy of making those who do not fit comfortably into the 17 inches assigned to each passenger either get off or pay for an extra seat. Silent Bob has taken to Twitter to voice [...]

February 14, 2010

What is Nudity?

What is Nudity?

by Bob Grant

This seems to be the consensus definition of Nudity:

noun:   the state of being without clothing or covering of any kind.

Someone, very special to me, sent out a harmless Valentine’s Day JibJab video.  Someone else wrote something about there was an impression of nudity in this video – they try to keep their kids from seeing [...]

February 14, 2010

The SWI Question of the Day (02-14-10)

Is Valentines Day just a commercial holiday or something more?

We welcome your thoughts and comments.

February 13, 2010

The SWI Question of the Day (02-13-10)

What do you think of Body Piercing, Tattoos, and Branding?

We welcome your thoughts and comments.

February 12, 2010

The Death of One

The Death of One   Stephen Sangirardi    Bard715@aol.com
 
    Every year at the Oscars, there is a segment commemorating the stars who have died in the past year. Their picture flashes on the giant Academy screen, cinematic music plays in the background, and people applaud in noticeably ascending degree of the deceased star’s importance. From least important [...]

February 12, 2010

Singapore lets the games begin

A break from the government makes it a happy year of the tiger for Singapore’s first casino [...]

February 12, 2010

The Off-Center President

The Off-Center President
Obama says he’d settle for a single term—and seems to mean it.

 

There is, I think, an amazing political fact right now that is hiding in plain sight and is rich with implications. It was there in President Obama’s Jan. 25, pre-State of the Union interview with ABC’s Diane Sawyer, who was pressing him [...]

February 12, 2010

The SWI Question of the Day (2-12-10)

Do we need the United Nations?

We welcome your thoughts and comments

February 10, 2010

What if an African American were elected President?

First of all it would be very difficult to elect an African American President in America today. There would have to be some sort of cataclysmic event like a massive meltdown of or economic system that would cause people to lurch violently left. But let’s just say that happened and an African American were elected. [...]

February 10, 2010

Somebody should tell President Obama He won the Election

President Obama can stop running now. Someone should really tell him that. He is still in campaign mode and wants to give those feel good speeches. The problem is the speeches don’t feel so good anymore and we really don’t need somebody running for an office he already won. Being President is not about approval [...]

February 10, 2010

So what was written on Sarah's Palm...George Bush?

Sarah reads from her palm. She mixes up names and trashes the English language and makes up little idioms like shout outs and six pack joes and hockey moms. She really isn’t into all that minutia of policy and stumbles around when pressed and mixes metaphors and trips over sound bytes and puts her pedagogy’s [...]

February 10, 2010

The SWI Question of the Day (2-10-10)

Should Homelessness concern you/us?

We welcome your thoughts and comments.

February 9, 2010

Question Time Isn’t the Answer

Question Time Isn’t the Answer
In the age of terror, America needs sober, bipartisan leadership.

 

There’s renewed interest in Question Time, or rather in the idea of trying to import in some fashion the British parliamentary institution whereby the prime minister appears each Wednesday in the House of Commons in order to take questions and debate. The [...]

February 8, 2010

A Lawyer Gets Greedy in Haiti- What Would You Do?

The United States citizens who were arrested for kidnapping the 33 children in Haiti will go on trial today without their original Haitian lawyer. The story goes that he asked for $30,000 U.S. as a retainer and an additional $30,000 at a later date. The families of the people on trial called this robbery and [...]

February 8, 2010

The SWI Question of the Day (2-8-10)

Should Racial Profiling be used to help identify, and prevent, potential acts of Terrorism?

We welcome your thoughts and comments.

February 7, 2010

I Prefer Local to Global

I Prefer Local to Global

By Alan Caruba

Perhaps it is just the product of the times in which I grew up and my experience with the events of the world. Or perhaps it is the spin that has been added to the word “global”, endowing it with an almost spiritual quality.

Mostly, though, I think it is [...]

February 6, 2010

The SWI Question of the Day (2-6-10)

Is Money the root of all Evil?  If so – why?  If not – why?

We welcome your thoughts and comments

February 4, 2010

What is a Writer?

What is a Writer?  Is is someone who has been trained as one or someone who believes they are one?  Is is someone who uses big words and knows proper grammar or is it someone who writes the way they feel with spelling and grammatical errors?  Is it someone who has published books, articles, and [...]

February 3, 2010

The National Madhouse

The National Madhouse

By Alan Caruba

If you think that you are going mad, based on the statements out of the White House and Congress, let me assure you that you are sane, but those in charge of governing the nation appear to have lost their wits.

The Democrat’s third-ranking House leader, Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC), during an [...]

February 3, 2010

WHEN YOU CAN'T SHOW THEM THE MONEY: HOW TO MOTIVATE AND APPRECIATE EMPLOYEES IN A RECESSION

WHEN YOU CAN’T SHOW THEM THE MONEY:
HOW TO MOTIVATE AND APPRECIATE EMPLOYEES IN A RECESSION

by Peggy Klaus

It looks like 2010 is off to a cautiously optimistic start. We’re told the economy is rebounding. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is above 10,000 points and many Wall Street banks are expecting a blockbuster year. On the flip [...]

February 2, 2010

Suffer the Little Children- Stealing the Young from Haiti

They said God sent them to Haiti to save the children. Even behind bars after being stopped at the border of neighboring Dominican Republic with 33 children and no permission to take them they claimed they were doing the right thing. At this time Haiti is flooded with people helping from all over the world. [...]

February 1, 2010

Global Warming Makes the Case Against Global Government

Global Warming Makes the Case Against Global Government

By Alan Caruba

The utterly baseless case for “global warming” is melting a lot faster than the glaciers in India’s Himalayas which, by the way, are not melting.

It is time for the Nobel Committee to rescind the Peace Prize given to Al Gore and the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel [...]

February 1, 2010

“I am not an ideologue”

“I am not an ideologue.”
 
by John Armor
 
Last week, I wrote about 11 factually false statements in President Obama’s State of the Union address. Normally, one should not repeat the same subject next week. But, did you see the appearance of Obama before the Republicans meeting in Baltimore? I know that a few hundred of you [...]

February 1, 2010

February 2010 (Map Overview – Previous 12 Months)

Below are the results – from Google Analytics – for our SWI site showing the countries where visits have originated over the past 12 months:

Visits

53,629

% of Site Total: 100.00%

Pages/Visit
The average number of pages viewed during a visit to your site. Repeated views of a single page are counted.

Pages/Visit

2.40

Site Avg: 2.40 (0.00%)

Avg. Time on Site [...]

February 1, 2010

The SWI Question of the Day (2-1-10)

Should there be a ban on smoking – if so – in what places or areas?

We welcome your thoughts and comments.

January 31, 2010

The Great Green Land Grab

The Great Green Land Grab

By Alan Caruba

All across America, various environmental organizations have been engaged in schemes to deter development such as housing, new energy plants, or the horror of a manufacturing facility that might actually employ people. In some states, the attack has been on farms and ranches, finding ways to punish their owners [...]

January 30, 2010

All Obama, All the Time

All Obama, All the Time

By Alan Caruba

We are back to the Obama administration’s original theory of governance, “All Obama, all the time.” Having basked on the spotlight during his rather long State of the Union Speech, Obama addressed the Baltimore conference of Republican members of Congress with yet another familiar excuse, it’s all George W. [...]

January 30, 2010

The Failure of Multiculturalism in the United States

The Failure of Multiculturalism in the United States
by Lloyd Lofthouse

I taught in the public schools for thirty years and Multiculturalism in the schools was an attempt to create respect for other cultures around the world. If you read this blog about Multiculturalism, you will learn why it isn’t working. The neo-conservative political alliance with conservative evangelicals [...]

January 30, 2010

The SWI Question of the Day (1-30-10)

Do you think their will be a cure for HIV/Aids?  What should – or could – be done to prevent it?

We welcome your thoughts and comments.

January 28, 2010

Sex, Lies, and the State of Union

Sex, Lies, and the State of Union
 
by John Armor 
 
I’m just a semi-retired lawyer, living on a gravel road in the Blue Ridge Mountains. But I am also an avid consumer of news in all forms. This is a test. I read none of today’s analyses of the State of the Union speech. Here are the [...]

January 28, 2010

And, Now, for Some Good News!

And, Now, for Some Good News!

By Alan Caruba

After the State of the Union speech and the instant analyses on television and the punditry that follows on newspaper’s editorial pages and, of course, on news/opinion websites and countless blogs and forums, the tendency is likely to dwell on how it portends more of the same bad [...]

January 27, 2010

The SWI Question of the Day (1-27-10)

Sex Education in Schools – too much, too little, just right?

We welcome your thoughts and comments

January 26, 2010

The First of all Virtues – Part 1

The First of all Virtues – Part 1
by Lloyd Lofthouse

I read ‘any damn fool can be a parent‘ in an e-mail recently, and it made me think that North America is not a comfortable place to be if you become a geezer. Geezer is the endearing term our teenage daughter once called me–but not again–once was enough.

When [...]

January 26, 2010

MY State of the Union

MY State of the Union

By Alan Caruba

Each one of us has their own “state of the union” so far as the economy is concerned. Much of the workforce receives a paycheck, but many of those jobs have ceased to exist. Other jobs involve contract services. A reported 10% of the workforce is unemployed and the [...]

January 24, 2010

Google Recycled

Google Recycled
by Lloyd Lofthouse

Last week, the media buzzed about Google being hacked and censored. Google threatened to leave China if this didn’t stop.  Obama and Secretary of State Clinton demanded that China fess up.

What’s going on?  It isn’t as if Google is the primary search engine in China. In fact, this claim that they are being [...]

January 24, 2010

The Bill Comes Due for Socialism in America

The Bill Comes Due for Socialism in America

By Alan Caruba

“The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.” — Margaret Thatcher, former British Prime Minister

It began as a beautiful cruise to a land of “hope and change”, but it has become a nightmare in which the ship of state is [...]

January 23, 2010

Observing the Obvious

Observing the Obvious

By Alan Caruba

For the past two years, it has been obvious to a lot of conservatives and independents that we have a President whose elevator doesn’t go to the top floor. This is a seriously flawed person.

Anyone in law enforcement will tell you that there are few people, including serial killers, who “look” [...]

January 23, 2010

Earthquakes, Spoiled Formula and Kidnappings

Earthquakes, Spoiled Formula and Kidnappings
by Lloyd Lofthouse

Two recent pieces in the news focused a spotlight on how most people in the West misunderstand China and the Chinese.  On January 19, Time published a piece comparing China’s handling of its earthquake in May 2008 in Sichuan with the way Haiti is handling its current catastrophe. There were [...]

January 23, 2010

The SWI Question of the Day (1-23-10)

Do you think terrorism will effect you personally – if so, how?

Has it already effected you personally – if so, how?

Do you think worldwide terrorism will ever be defeated?

What are your thoughts?

January 22, 2010

Tiger Woods is Where?!?!

The rumor mill is at it again and although there may be some truth to this rumor there is much sadness connected to it. Tiger Woods is in rehab for sexual addiction.

They have got to be kidding? Right?

No, someone spotted him at a clinic in Mississippi where it is said it may take him five [...]

January 22, 2010

The SWI Question of the Day (1-21-10)

There have been many publicized cases of infidelity in marriages and relationships.  A defense that is sometimes used is Sex Addition.  Is this a real addiction or a rationalization/excuse when the participating parties get caught?  What are your thoughts?

January 22, 2010

Dancing with Dinosaurs

On cold and wet North West UK night we decided to find a warm cinema to bide a few hours. Avatar in 3D sounded interesting, nay compelling! The piece that Tim had written (……….Scoundrels) was very much in my mind and a comment by Prentiss on ‘History’ and the English psyche.

I was thinking about the [...]

January 21, 2010

Do Not Mistake An Independent For A Moderate

Do Not Mistake An Independent For A Moderate
 
By
 
Ron Marr
www.troutwrapper.com
 
 
Life is funny. A year ago Barack Obama thought that he had a mandate to rule – not govern, but rule – as a totalitarian dictator. Now, it turns out the only mandate he can count on is dinner and a movie with Representative Bawney Fwank.
 
Oh, how [...]

January 21, 2010

Wildlife in New York

Many nights I have ventured outside to ask the young people listening to their music so loud it makes my head hurt to turn it down. Other nights I take part in the Harlem nightlife at local clubs and restaurants where the music is more to my taste. One area affectionately known as the Harlem [...]

January 21, 2010

The Hippy Dippy Doomsday Clock

The Hippy Dippy Doomsday Clock

By Alan Caruba

Largely unnoticed was the January 14 announcement by the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists that they had moved the hands of their imaginary Doomsday Clock back to six minutes from five minutes before the end of the world. Whoopee.

Created in 1945, the clock has been adjusted only eighteen times prior [...]

January 19, 2010

A Daily Testimony of a World's Decline

My daily drive; today through pouring rain,
Behind road fog snaking towards me from the truck ahead,
Slowly approaching the cloud-shrouded glass and metal,
Framed by downtown’s bustling highways.

Graffiti on walls and overpasses define the city climate
Testimony of a divided space and time
Obscenities litter the viaducts and road signs
Racial slurs and sexual innuendos graphically apparent.

Beggars crowd each corner [...]

January 19, 2010

Ask not how Obama changed Washington…

After one year, President Obama has yet to defy the Nixon’s funeral rule and deliver change we can believe [...]

January 19, 2010

Deadly Earth, Deadly Humans

Deadly Earth, Deadly Humans

By Alan Caruba

The earthquake in Haiti is a perfect example of the arrogance of environmentalists who are always running around crying “Save the Earth” or making claims that any or all forms of life are going extinct.

For three decades we have listened to these charlatans claim that the Earth was heating up [...]

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