Most of us are familiar with the famous "Ponzi scheme" a scam worked by Charles Ponzi in the 1900’s. Ponzi was an Italian immigrant who became famous for his swindles after immigrating in 1903. Standing only 5′ 2" tall, Ponzi had a gift of gab, enormous self confidence and a charming manner. After serving a prison term in Canada for forging checks he came back to the United States where he served time again for involvement in an illegal immigrant…
Here are some random observations about life. Richard Carlson has written Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff at Work after his best seller Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff. His second book has chapter headings that speak for themselves. They include "Remember to acknowledge, Stay focused in the now, Don’t be trapped by golden handcuffs, Accept the Fact That There’s Always Going to be Someone Mad at You, Before Becoming Defensive, Take Note of What is Being Said and Marvel At How…
Stephanie Mencimer has written Blocking the Courthouse Door, a book which carefully documents the Republican’s discovery that tort reform is an issue that elects Republicans and closes the court house door to injured people saving business money. Tort reform not only raises millions of dollars from industry seeking to stop lawsuits against them, but at the same time it elects Republicans to office. Republicans discovered that by focusing on tort reform the Democrats were in a conflicted position. If they…
Even before the horror of September 11, 2001, America had a past of terrorist activity and violence. Our long history of labor and political turmoil has involved bombing and killings. For example, a bomb killed seven policeman and injured 67 others in Chicago on May 4, 1886 at Haymarket Square where there was a union rally. In 1877 seven union activists, known as the "Molly Maguires " were hanged in Pennsylvania. A prominent union leader of the day, Eugene Debbs,…
Count U.S. Attorney John McKay of Seattle among the victims of the Bush administration purge of U.S. attorneys around the country. (See Bush Politics and U.S. Attorney Carol Lam posted 1/26/07) In typical conspiratorial fashion the Bush administration has once again fired a U.S. Attorney without cause and without explanation. In a scene like Germany’s 1934 massacre "night of the long knives" the Bush group has been firing U.S. attorneys around the country, many of whom were involved in investigations…
I’ve previously reported about presidential hopeful Senator John McCain’s (R-AZ) lack of political character. (See: "General George Casey Becomes Senator McCain’s Scapegoat" 2/4/07) I first became disillusioned with the Senator when he made a one hundred and eighty degree turn to embrace George Bush and his polices after a long an bitter political feud with Bush and his administration. He made the sudden U turn for the wrong reason – in order to try to gain political support for himself….
So often we are unaware of the ripple effect of our conduct. A smile and kind word that lifts the spirit of someone who needed it. A remark made without realizing the impact. An act of kindness or one of rudeness towards a stranger. Doing the right thing when no one is watching and no applause. These all can have long term affects. On more then one occasion someone has recounted to me something which either benefited them or hurt…
Previously unheard of profits of $39.5 billion dollars were reported this week by giant ExxonMobil for the year. With $1 billion you could purchase 50,000 automobiles at $20,000 per vehicle. One billion dollars could provide 500,000 people with $2,000 per person of health and/or dental care. With one billion dollars you could build 20 schools or hospitals with a price tag of $50 million each. While consumers were paying $3 a gallon at the pump, this giant corporation had profit…
Talk about a predictable political tactic. Senator John McCain’s (R-AZ) attack on General George Casey & the other U.S.military leaders in Iraq at the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing is classic political ducking and dodging on the part of Senator McCain. In August of 2004 during a prime time speech on the opening night of the Republican Convention, McCain strongly endorsed Mr. Bush’s Iraq policies. In spite of the failed Bush war policies, as a pro Iraq war hawk, the…
The 1948 movie version of "Bonnie Prince Charlie" (1720 – 1788) staring David Niven is virtually all fiction. However, the historical facts are of interest at least in regard to the quality of loyalty. Charles Edward Stuart, known as "the young pretender" and "bonnie prince Charlie" was an exiled claimant to the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland living in Italy. He was the grandson of King James II who had been deposed in the revolution of 1688 and was…
