The Energy Policy Act of 2005 provides for substantial subsidies and tax credits to oil companies, for exploration and exploitation of new sources of oil. Exxon Mobil Corp., the number one oil producer and the world’s largest corporation, reported second quarter revenues of $88.57 billion, with net profits of $7.64 billion. Read the rest of this entry »
The newly-passed Energy Policy Act of 2005 is a juicy 1,724 pages of policies, programs, and pork, “An Act to ensure jobs for our future with secure, affordable, and reliable energy.” The Administration and Congress apparently felt that extending Daylight Saving Time for a month would help to “ensure jobs for our future….” As a result of the Act, Daylight Saving Time will begin three weeks earlier and end a week later. In theory, DST reduces energy consumption because people spend more time outdoors after work, and need to turn their lights on later in the evening. Read the rest of this entry »
Following are the first two paragraphs from an article in this morning’s Denver Post. The article appeared under the headline “Family from Northglenn aboard last plane to leave,” by Elizabeth Aguilera, Denver Post Staff Writer. Read the rest of this entry »
The words “First, do no harm,” are not in the Hippocratic oath. Too often, lately, we’ve seen journalists reporting that medical personnel involved in the interrogation of prisoners are violating “their Hippocratic oath,” which says “First, do no harm.” These journalists are showing their ignorance of medical education, modern medical practice, and history, and at the same time they are perpetuating the myth that doctors must commit to a higher moral standard than the rest of us. Read the rest of this entry »
There is very little doubt that the flag burning amendment (more properly, “the flag desecration amendment”) will become a part of the Constitution. We’ll talk about the history of the amendment and summarize the main arguments against it. The history of the amendment will, all by itself, explain why this bad idea is to all intents and purposes a fait accompli. Read the rest of this entry »
If the president appoints John Bolton to the U.N. ambassadorship during the Senate’s recess, he could well be in violation of the Constitution. Read the rest of this entry »
Ed Quillen’s column
in yesterday’s Denver Post contained the seed of a simple solution to a whole bunch of Internet problems. Titled
“Internet users need an upgrade,” the article starts by observing that 71% of respondents to a recent survey believe that Congress should pass some new laws to “keep the Internet safe.” Read the rest of this entry »
Opens mouth… inserts foot? So Karl Rove finally opens his own mouth and speaks his mind, not bothering to write a script for Someone Else, letting the chips fall where they may. Has he lost his mind? Did W let him off the leash? These questions and more are being asked fairly quietly by calmer pundits not actively engaged in the current round of name-calling. Why has Rove suddenly decided to step out from behind the curtain and make himself a target? Read the rest of this entry »
Wimbledon’s chief referee, Alan Mills, is retiring at the end of this week’s tournament after 22 years of officialing the tennis world’s premier event. His parting shot is a demand for a rules change, because “grunting” by female players has gotten out of hand. Read the rest of this entry »
Detention of the “enemy combatants” at Guantanamo Bay is under increasing scrutiny, but the fundamental questions are still being ignored by the administration– and its critics. It’s time to reconsider why the Joint Task Force (JTF Gitmo) exists, in the larger context of the War on Terror. According to a report released last week by the Department of Defense, the JTF operations at Guantanamo are critical to US intelligence and security. Read the rest of this entry »