L B Woodgate
Freelance writer presently residing in Denton, Tx. just north of Dallas-Ft.Worth with a focus on the political and social issues of our time.
Former Marine and Vietnam Vet. I earned my B.A. from the University of North Texas with a Sociology Major.
I now maintain a blog called woodgatesview at http://woodgatesview.wordpress.com/ that takes a progressive look at the social and political issues of our time
Married to the same wonderful woman since 1976, we have two equally wonderful adult children.
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Former Marine and Vietnam Vet. I earned my B.A. from the University of North Texas with a Sociology Major.
I now maintain a blog called woodgatesview at http://woodgatesview.wordpress.com/ that takes a progressive look at the social and political issues of our time
Married to the same wonderful woman since 1976, we have two equally wonderful adult children.
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So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Goodbye-eyeI'm moving on -
Tidbits and Considerations - Jesus, the Tea Party and John EnsignAnother weak, another collection of hodgepodge stories to present -
Thank God for ScienceSome Forms of Stress and Cynicism May Be Life Extenders -
Here is Why We're "going Broke"Trying to create and home-friendly image of our budget woes seems out of place as the GOP looks to slash critical social programs while eliminating needed revenue to address our debt. -
Tidbits and Considerations of the WeekA somewhat humorous look at what went on this week that caught the eye of the news media. -
I'm Willing to Take Paul Ryan and the GOP's "Path To Prosperity" Budget Plan Serious, IFWith little more than a wing and a prayer, future generations of seniors, children and the disabled risk losing affordable health care coverage under a Paul Ryan plan. -
Drawing a Line in the Sand on Tax Cuts for the WealthyAs jobs are being cut for lack of revenue in states, millionaires and billionaires are increasing their revenue due to gaping loopholes in state tax structures. -
CORPORATE MESSAGING: when a News Item is Really Just More Promotional JunkFilling time slots on the evening news with glorified commercials may help them pay the bills but it robs viewers of what they expect, at least those who haven't been dumbed down yet by corporate marketing practices. -
Hey! I'm Making a Point Here. so What If I'm Lying?It is unclear if Arizona Senator Kyl took Mark Twain's advice to get the facts first before you "distort them as you please." -
I'm Not Inspired yet Mr. PresidentWith the advent of the 2012 elections approaching something's missing that propelled the "Yes We Can" candidate to a record majority vote just less than 3 years ago? -
The Truth About Congressional Republicans on MedicareYou can't trust them on this issue and here's how you know they are deceiving you -
Tidbits and Considerations '" Ignorant and Intolerant Elected OfficialsThe absurdity of those who govern us. -
A Case for Changing Conservative Views on Spending Cuts in Health Care and Education to Balance the BudgetRe-thinking their wrong-headed approaches to getting "tough on crime" could carry over to other social issues as spending cuts are eyed to reduce the deficit -
Republican Congress Not Willing to Take Lumps from Government Shut DownGOP pays only lip service to spending cuts as it affects their wages -
Kill Medicaid and Medicare and You Eliminate Social SecurityIf wealthy financial interests cannot get the revenue that funds Social Security, then no one will. -
Concierge Medicine - a Potential Threat for Low and Middle Income Medicare RecipientsAs money talks, doctors walk to greener pastures, leaving lower-income patients to find health care services in a shrinking field of primary physician services.
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Those Who Falsely Yell Fire! in a Crowded BuildingThank goodness there are rare exceptions to the law but there is a point where freedom of speech can create life-threatening conditions and should not be legally tolerated.
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Tidbits and Considerations - Good Government EditionWhy we have regulations in place often go hidden from many see government more as the problem instead of the solution
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Taxes - Every American Needs to Pay Their Fair ShareThose who have more are bucking the system and laughing all the way to the bank.
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A Climate Hawk's Rethinking of Biblical ArmageddonThe catastrophic effects of the earthquake and resulting tsunami in Japan has once again catapulted the view of an "end times" apocalypse into the minds of many Judeo-christian believers.
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Tidbits and Considerations IIIDeath row humor, budget deficit cutting that threatens air passenger safety and attacks on PBS because it ain't like FOX are part of my T&C segment today
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Love Health Care Reform but Can't Stand the Name?Are we easily repulsed of what is good for us because we've been psychologically influenced to reject those things that feel emotionally "icky"?
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Death and Health Care CostsTaking a rational look at one to alleviate the burden it imposes on the other.
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Trophy Hunters - a Cruel Mentality Carried Too FarSports hunting carried to extremes
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Texas - the One Star StateBeing relegated from a five-star status to a one-star rating is not something any entity wants to face but must deal with when confronted with an embarrassing classification for poor performance.
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WWACD: What Would Andrew Carnegie Do?The value-less wealthy of the 21st century might have the wealthiest man in the 19th century rolling over in his grave.
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Tidbits and Observations"And now, here's what's going on in your neck of the woods."
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Are Spending Cuts Really the Saving Grace to Reduce Budget Deficits? Part IIFor all its advantages, nuclear power has one ominous downside
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Are Spending Cuts Really the Saving Grace to Reduce Budget Deficits? Part IHow skewered is the information that leads voters to think the GOP has a plan to balance state and federal budgets?
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Where the Worst Threat to the People in Japan Comes FromFor all its advantages, nuclear power has one ominous downside
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Tidbits and ObservationsSome musings on serious and not no serious current events before I head down to Austin to protest the state's efforts to balance their budget on the back of school teachers and by default, our children.
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Coal & Natural GasA pattern has developed where many in the Congress, especially amongst the GOP with strong ties to major corporations, are acquiescing on just about every issue to these special interests to the detriment of their broader constituency.
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Glorifying Dirty CoalSpikes New Reality Program Overlooks Toxic Threats to Workers and Community
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And Who is My Neighbor?What do people look like when the angels of their natures are overtaken by their demons?
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The American Petroleum Institute and Their Misinformation Ad CampaignDesperate times call for desperate actions and the oil and natural gas industries are desperate - for you to like them, despite the fact they've contaminated our environment and benefitted from government largess.
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Bidder #70: The David Vs. Goliath Ordeal of Tim DeChristopherIs the concept of "justice for all" merely words in an oath that school children pledge to without having any real application in the real world?
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The Irony of President Obama's 2009 Cairo SpeechBush's legacy for wanting to spread freedom in the middle east may become more a factor of what his successor, President Barack Obama, did.
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When "Job Creators" Really Are the VillainMost businesses, especially smaller ones, share the values of the average citizen. Most Larger, wealthier corporations have their own agenda.
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Gov. Perry and Texas GOP Are Short-changing Our Children's FutureDissatisfied with how our Governor and the GOP legislature are dealing with a budget deficit of their making? Let them know at the March 12th rally in Austin.
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How We Wound Up with People like Scott WalkerWill conditions that kept Progressives home when many Independents shifted back to the GOP in 2010 still exist in 2012?
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Money Well SpentWho really has your best interest at heart in the battle to balance state and federal budgets?
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The Real Owners of This CountryWaiting for that opportunity to become a part of the "American dream"? I've got some unsettling news for you.
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Why the Right Needs People to FEAR Democracy in the Middle East"Our tragedy is a general and universal physical fear so long sustained by now that we can even bear it... the basest of all things is to be afraid." - William Faulkner
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Are Liberals Deceiving Themselves?Should the kumbaya efforts of many liberals toward people who constantly vote against their own self-interest die a rapid death?
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The GOP's Mubarak Mistake - Ignoring the Need for JobsWithout skipping a beat, as soon as the GOP regained control of at least one house in the U.S. Congress and numerous state governorships and legislatures, private corporate interests have taken precedence over public issues again.
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Here's the Ugly Truth for the Wealthy on Social Security CorrectionsWhat motivates Republicans to continue promoting the myth that Social Security is a major source of the deficit problem? The general public's ignorance?
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Taliban Tactics Being Used on Women in South DakotaMidwest style of Sharia Law in the "Mount Rushmore State"?
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Youth, Old Age and TimeViewed as a gift, time is rewarding when not treated like yesterday's left overs.
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Mad Michele Bachman Strikes AgainCongresswoman Michele Bachman has always had words roll off of her lips that made you think she was having a stroke, talking gibberish-style, but it seems she has outdone herself in her recent attack on the First Lady.
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Do Conservatives Really Represent the Will of the People?The din and clamor of conservatives in Congress, state legislatures, the Tea Party and other political rallies, supposedly wants "the will of the people" to be addressed. But what is that "will" they so vigorously allude to?
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Natural Foods CEO Michael Gilliland Charged in a Child Prostitution StingNaughty and not so nice natural food businessman caught engaging in unnatural acts
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Push Big Business, Not Congress, to Create JobsPerhaps working Americans need to join with the millions still unemployed and create their own Tahrir Square at the corporate entrances of record profiting Fortune 500 companies.
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Sexual Infidelity: when is Relationship "Cheating" More Than the Just the Act of SexToday more than ever we see a need to revisit and incorporate an age-old practice that could well eliminate a syndrome of cheating between partners that many marriages and relationships fall victim to.
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Hard Times Force Some to Take Drastic MeasuresIn a real life incident played out recently in my home town, the effects of the recession are made clear to a store clerk who was confronted by a desperate father.
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Yearning for the "Good Old Days" that Really Weren't Always GoodFond recollections of the past often seem to overlook that much of those by-gone eras were not as pleasant as some imagine.
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Making the Tough ChoicesThere's some tough choices we face as a nation as we struggle to create job growth and find sustainable energy sources to keep our economy moving. For some of us the choice is a no-brainer.
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ANGEL or DEMON: Morality in America TodayIt may come as a surprise to many but we're not as morally bankrupt as some would lead you to believe.
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Congress Shows Concern for Wealthy Oil Companies to the Detriment of U.S. Education and Job CreationIn a recent display of affection for wealthy corporate interest, conservatives have once again come through for those who keep their boats afloat on a rising tide that has swamped the smaller fishing rigs.
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Preventing Abortions: How the Right Goes About it WrongUsing common sense and "fighting sin" or the oil and water equivalents in legislative efforts to reduce incidences of abortion.
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Physician, Heal Thyself: Conservative Hypochondria in the Age of ObamaSeemingly oblivious of what actually brought us to this America they don't recognize, the only cure for the Right seems to lie in the disease itself.
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BEING LEFT in the COLD: The Invisible HomelessHomelessness is a dehumanizing experience that can be fostered by a failure of those who the homeless are invisible to or are merely seen as a weak element of society who don't deserve our concerns for them.
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Energy Efficient Denton, TexasIn a state famous for its oil, the city of Denton north of Dallas-Ft.Worth has the distinction of being the city "with the most wind power per capita in the country". Can this be the way forward for other cities around the state and country?
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Mubarak's MistakeWhat can other nations take from corruptive and repressive government actions similar to Egypt's to prevent civil unrest that could lead to chaos?
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Prophet or ScaremongerIs there a thin line between people who claim to hear the word of God through their understanding of the bible and others who claim to hear voices that push them to kill those who pose a threat in their mind only?
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Challenging the NRA's 2nd Amendment Philosophy: The Fear of TyrannyFollowing yet another tragic incident where a deadly weapon gets in the hands of a mentally unstable young man, shouldn't we revisit the ban on assault weapons?
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Udall's Senate Resolution 10: a Path to Breaking Senate GridlockCan just a few rule changes in the Senate begin to untangle years of gridlock and partisan divide?
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Lawrence O'Donnell: Capable of Filling Keith Olbermann's Time Slot on MSNBC?Will the former U.S. Senate staffer now turned talk show host aptly fill the shoes of the popular Countdown host?
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Looking Back on Keith's Olbermann's Contribution to Progressive CausesWhat will be Olbermann's legacy to progressives and will his departure from MSNBC stymie their efforts?
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Social Security Will Only Fail If We Allow it ToWith a new GOP majority in the House, seniors and those closing in on retirement need to be watchdogs for any attempts to change Social Security.
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What Does the Tucson Tragedy Tell Us About the Mental Health Care in America?Will the tragic events in Tucson merely become another missed opportunity to get the American public engaged enough to hopefully prevent any similar reoccurrence?
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When Will the Imbecility Cease?It's hard to be civil when political adversaries virtually keep inviting you to do the opposite.
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Life After 50, or 60 or ... WhateverThere are benefits to getting older that many baby boomers are now discovering
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A Liberal's Reflections on ReaganMusings on Public and Political Behavior in this Time of Unrest
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The Demon Barber of Augusta DriveHaircuts a' la Sweeney Todd not for the faint of heart
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I'm BloggingLook out HuffPost and Daily Kos! The new kid is in town ... so can you throw a dog a bone?
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Gabrielle Giffords' Recovery: A Metaphor for the NationAs the injuries of Gabrielle Giffords heal, will we as a nation also heal?
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Palin Defenders Are Missing the MessageNot to beat a dead horse but the dialogue between Left and Right seems to be going down a worm hole much like what has brought us to our current state of partisanship.
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Sarah Palin's Decline"The bigger they are, the harder they fall" is a view that has been attributed to the ruined careers of many who once showed great promise. Is Sarah Palin one of its next victims?
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Muslim HateWill some in media ever realize their words have ugly consequences.
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Tragedy at TucsonPolitics of Hate, not Conservatism or Liberalism, were at play in the extreme actions of the mentally unstable assailant who tried to kill Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords
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Are Conservatives "born" Fearful?A recent study indicates that there may be a gene associated with fear in political conservatives. Cal Thomas' recent column appears to validate that
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The Ax Man Cometh (Again) in TexasWith a $25 billion budget deficit to address and social services already cut to the bone, where will the budget ax fall to make up a loss due in part to poor judgment by Governor Perry and conservative state lawmakers?
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Will We Lose Our Newly Gained Health Care Freedoms?Can we really rely on the new GOP House to repeal the Affordable Care Act and still provide needed new healthcare reform that cuts costs for consumers?
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Former Marine Corps Drill Sergeant and TV Personality R.Lee Ermey is a "jack-wagon"The man who epitomizes the fighting leatherneck image to many uses his celebrity at a charitable vent to slam the commander-in-chief
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Looks like We're in for Nasty WeatherI see the bad moon arising. I see trouble on the way. I see earthquakes and lightnin'. I see bad times today - Credence Clearwater Revival
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The Reserved Efforts of Republican Willingness to Re-Adapt Our Energy PolicyMany in the Party of No are beginning to say yes as it addresses the need to convert our finite energy sources of fossil fuel to ones that consists of clean renewable ones. But does this view consist of a stalling approach for such change?
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The Sermon on the MolehillThe Pharisee of the modern Right-wing thinking finds the log in her eye too deeply embedded to remove.
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Who Needs an Ozone Layer Anyway?At what costs do we value our dependence on oil and coal as it continues to contribute to the deterioration of a thin Ozone barrier that is our only protection against excessive solar UV rays?
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Nasty Weather; Nastier Climate ConditionsHow to read the signs of impending weather in your locale and knowing the difference between it and climate change
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Is Climate Science Being Held Hostage by the Fossil Fuel Industry?Are the fields of higher learning, especially within the natural sciences, being exploited by the highest bidder?
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Are Conservatives More Charitable Than Liberals?Findings in Arthur Brooks' 2006 Study, "Who Really Cares" and Ann Coulter's perceptions of these findings misses what charitable giving fully entails.
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Climate Deniers: An Example of a Good Brain Gone BadWhy do smart conservatives continue to exploit the lame arguments promoted by the corporate mindset of the fossil fuel industry?
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The Gift of Life that Can Come from a TragedyThe loss of someone close to us during this cheerful season doesn't have to rob us of our feelings of joy for this life
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Santa Threatens Law Suit Against Carbon Producing ManufacturersWith much of his home turf literally melting under his feet, Santa Claus is forced to take legal action against those who threaten his North Pole domain
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DAMAGING DEMOCRACYHow has so-called "effective language" in political discourse hurt or aided our democratic moorings?
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What Will Wiki-leaks Reveal Next?Will life altering revelations of more private and public powers be exposed in future leaks? In my fantasy world they do.
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The Best Measure of SuccessWhat stands the test of time that rates best our efforts of success
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Don't Ask; Don't Tell - Clarity, Not Hysteria is NeededThe opinions of civilians who have never received a paycheck from the Department of Defense hold views on DADT that reflect cultural biases rather than common sense approaches to an issue whose resolution is long overdue.
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A Brief Explanation of Why Extending the Bush Tax Cuts Hurts More Than Helps Our Future ProspectsConfused about the debate on extending or allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire? Here's information that will shed some light on the subject while exposing bogus claims of some who have promised to reduce our debt.
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Misperceptions and How We Can Move Beyond ThemIntransigence in the face of reality can become a means to no good end but one that many humans would rather endure than change. How do we get past this?
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Class Warfare: Are the Rich United in Their Efforts to Sustain the Status Quo?Are there signs being revealed that the wealthiest amongst us are determined to increase profits to the detriment of general public?
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Alaska's Former "First Dude" Todd Palin Considered for Spot on DWTS?Will "Dancing with the Stars" fame draw the reclusive Todd Palin down to the lower 48 to vie for the Mirror Trophy?
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Sarah Palin's Odd Defense of ObesityDoes the failed Alaskan governor and wannabe President ever really listen to what she says?
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A Brief View on the FOX News CultureSo what exactly is it that attracts so many seemingly reputable people into a culture created my media mogul Rupert Murdoch?
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Providing Meaningful Aid for Returning VetsHow can a grateful country really show their appreciation for the sacrifice that our men and women in the military make for us each day?
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Barack Obama Needs a Symbolic Bloody Lip from ProgressivesA bloody lip in a friendly basketball game is nothing compared to the mauling the President will get in 2012 if he doesn't get tougher with the GOP
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Call of Duty Game Series: Making War Action EntertainingWhen is a game more than its creators' intended?
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A Reflection on Being ThankfulThe spirit of giving thanks is upon us again but other than alluding to our own "blessings" why not invoke a perception that show why others wish they too had reason to celebrate?
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Helping the Powerless: Christian Morality's Conflict with Capitalist PrinciplesThe whole concept of early Christianity was based on voluntary service and servitude to others. "This world is not ours" declared the early followers but overtime such views have been subjugated to capitalism's "self-interest" concept.
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Bristol Palin and Her Final DWTS PerformanceWill "hateful people" undue Bristol Palin's attempt to win the DWTS Championship or will it be her performance that just doesn't quite measure up to a championship level
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Kennedy's Assassination Forty Seven Years LaterWould things be different in this country today had JFK survived a gunman's bullets?
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The Side Fate Sits OnRepublicans could be the recipients of an improved economy in the 2012 elections that resulted from policies they vilified and have opposed over the last two years.
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Pat Downs or Full Body Scanners: American Airport Security in a Post 9/11 WorldFollowing an air traveler's threat to have a TSA security rep arrested if he "touched his junk" during a pre-boarding inspection, are consumer memories fading of the lax airport security measures that occurred on 9/11?
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CO2: Friend and FoeMany are confused about CO2's roll in life and subsequently how it can impact the end of life. Here's some information that may clear this up for those who are befuddled.
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Religion Versus ScienceIn a modern age when economic and social stability are shaken, does religious scripture offer a clear picture of what's needed to correct what threatens us?
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Bristol Palin and "Dancing with the Stars"Does Sarah Palin's daughter serve as referendum for the former Alaska governor by her political supporters?
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Humans and Their Love/Hate Relationship with Science and KnowledgeWe are confronted once again with our need to break the ties of forces that seek their own self-interest over the general welfare of the human race.
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My Life as a Tom - a PerspectiveIf turkeys could talk, how would they view this season?
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Some Perspective on Keith Olbermann's SuspensionHas NBC exposed a double standard on their actions to discipline employees who violate their policies?
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The 2010 Elections: Failures of Messaging and Boldness by Democrats Are Responsible for Republican VictoriesThe jobs issue may have been at the heart of this election but there were factors set in motion almost after Obama was inaugurated that contributed to the Democrats losses.
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Yet Another Critique on the Rally to Restore SanityMany may want to make this democratic expression something other than it was. Often the simplest things are overlooked when you have already made up your mind about them.
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The Continued Decline of Texas PoliticsStruggling to advance to the 21st century, some Texas authorities are bent on dwelling in the fossil ages where voodoo and ignorance were often at odds with the light of science and rationale thought.
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Saving Capitalism's ImageAfter being eviscerated by government bailouts following the financial collapse of Wall Street in late 2008, purists have gone to great lengths to restore capitalism's faded glory
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Sanctimonious Ruminations of a Capitalist ZealotAs an educated man you would expect Walter Williams to present an objective view of subject matter he allegedly has some background on. Objectivity is completely missing in his views on socialism.
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How to Get Rid of Ghost? Grow Up!It may be hard for some to come to grips with but spooks are ancient myths; not real world phenomena. Here's a humorous video to help expunge these youthful fears.
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Restoring SanityJon Stewart's Rally to Restore Sanity offers us the opportunity to show the world what the true face of America is.
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More Letters from the FringeWhy do people keep writing serious letters to their newspaper that do more to expose mental deficiencies of theirs than actually convincing people they should be taken seriously?
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The Intricate Web of Agriculture on Global EconomiesA tomato and a corn kernel affect life in more ways than one would imagine
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I Got the Theme RightCal Thomas hits on a suggestion that would lift the mood of the country right now but it's almost as depressing as it is instructive of wealthy conservatives.
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The Weird Affects of Halloween on Wing NutsTales of dread and doom have been pervasive ever since Obama and the Democrats took control of Congress and the White House, but the right wing has elevated itself to a level that clearly reflects the frightful mood of Halloween season.
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Jobs and the Current State of the EconomyThe deciding vote for Democrats and Republicans this election cycle lies as it usually does with moderates and independents. Will the GOP be successful in their deceit to lay the economic woes of this recession at the Democrat's feet?
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Replacing Damaged Door CasingsSave yourself needless expense by replacing that busted door casing yourself. Here's how!
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Autumn Bonfire SafetyAs the season approaches that make outside fires a part of our weekend and festive evenings it is important to remind ourselves that fire is both friend and enemy.
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Yeah, but What Are You Really Going to Do If We Vote for You?Tea Party candidates are big on outrage, but vague on promises and haven't provided a clue to voters on how they will make things better if they replace the status quo in Washington
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Gas Drilling in the Barnett Shale: Community Health and LegislationCitizen panel seeks to inform general public of the health hazards and environmental damage wrought by the "fracking" process in natural gas drilling.
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Cal Thomas and Bob DylanConservative columnist Cal Thomas blunders in his comparison of 60's protesters and today's Tea Party rallies.
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Power to the ConsumerThe popular African narrative that states it takes a village to raise a child can be equally applied to changing the ever looming threat of global warming.
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Green RoofsThose poorly utilized spaces on roof tops could serve as part of an effort to combat the effects of global warming
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How We Adversely Affect Water Quality from Our Work to Our Home LifeAdequate supplies of potable water are diminishing as populations increase and existing supplies become contaminated from human and natural happenings. What needs to be done to reverse this trend?
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The Incomprehensible Message of GodPastor Jones in Gainesville Florida represents what a version of an American Taliban would look like
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Choosing an Assisted Living Facility for Aging ParentsNot all facilities that accommodate the elderly are the same. The choices are as different as the needs are for an aging population. Here's a guide to help maneuver through this modern maze.
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Could Elder Financial Abuse Become the Crime of the 21st Century?As more and more baby boomers retire and look for way ways to spend their retirement savings while also looking for new ways to add to it, we could see large increases in elder financial abuse.
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Senior MomentsThere appears to be no clear answer as to what exactly creates these glitches in memory but new research is promising and staying healthy, mentally and physically, can help you avoid them
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How Can You Appeal a Hospital or Nursing Care Facility's Decision to Prematurely Release a Patient?Because Medicare doesn't always cover the premium rates some hospitals and nursing homes charge, low-income patients are at risk of being discharged before they have fully recovered.
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Possible Debate May Finally Be Set for Candiates of Texas 26th Congressional DistrictWith only a week before the election, Congressman Burgess appears to have finally approved a late October date for a debate with his political opponents.
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Is the Social Security Trust Fund Failing?It's election season again and as if on cue, the tired old rumors about Social Security failing are being dragged out again.
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Do it Yourself Steps in Caring for an Aging ParentWhen adult children are required to meet their aging parents needs, it should be planned thoughtfully with dignity and respect
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Religious Intolerance: Is it Making a Comeback or Merely Being Exploited (again) for Political Gain?Are people really that confused about Obama's religion or is there something more sinister going on here?
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The News Corp Million Dollar Payola to RepublicansWhy Rupert Murdoch's campaign contribution to the GOP poses a threat to the 1st Amendment
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The Return of WASP CultureWhat is it about a handful of people who seem to have greater influence on the public discourse than their numbers justify and who are easily convinced of abject falsehoods about President Obama?
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Why the Need for High Speed Rail?In a move that can reduce our dependence on foreign oil and lower our carbon foot print, developing high speed rail will put us closer quicker than most other efforts to mitigate the threat of global warming while boosting job creation
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Ocean MotionIt's cheap, abundant, clean, renewable and it covers 67% of the earth. The motion of water is constant and that makes it a perfect source of reliable energy for millions of households
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Global Warming's Impact on Earth's SpeciesWe are ignoring the signals our planet is communicating telling us that the delicate balance that creates our ecosystem is being pushed beyond sustainable rates
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Tea Party Not the Victim of Being IgnoredThe Tea Party may be right about the American public not being listened to but it has nothing to do with them
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Potential Environmental Hazards Facing Geothermal Energy DevelopmentIts safer and cleaner than oil and coal but there are risks involved in extracting heat and hot water from geothermal resources
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Reparation Claims for BP Oil Spill Still Not Moving Fast EnoughThough faster now than when claims were first being filed back in May, many victims of the oil damage in the Gulf filing claims have yet to receive compensation
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Today's Prospects for the Newspaper Industry in AmericaMuch like the speculation that surrounded Mark Twain a century ago the reports of the industry's death are greatly exaggerated. Newspapers have a life of their own and a loyal following that will sustain well into this century.
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Restoring the Tainted Image of BPIt will take more from the oil giant than lip service to restore a public image that the BP Gulf oil tragedy ruined. True empathy for the victims of their misdeeds must be apparent.
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Where Are All of the Anti-global Warming Crowd Now?Record setting high temperatures this summer have evidently melted the coldly calculating misinformation of climate deniers.
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Will the BP Oil Failure Be the Death Nail for Some of the Gulf Coast's Wildlife Preserves?Though it is yet unclear exactly how bad the contaminated water of the Gulf will be toward ecological habitats in the area, scientist feel the effects to some degree will be with us for decades.
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The End of a CultureWill our experiences with the BP oil disaster finally awaken a need to pursue less threatening energy sources to sustain traditional cultures.
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From Tragedy to OpportunityThough not the desired approach for job creation, high unemployment rates have been offset some by the need to clean up BP's mess.
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Sand and OilIt is appears that the entrepreneurial spirit is meeting some of the needs to correct the environmental disaster caused by BP
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Measured Caution for Scuba Diving's Future in Gulf After the BP Oil DisasterIs there a modicum of hope that Gulf Coast Scuba Diving will not suffer the economic impact that other tourist trades have? If so, is it most likely to recover earliest?
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A Role Change for Kevin CostnerTaking on a role unlike his film career, Kevin Costner appears to be on the verge of offering a sensible solution to the BP oil spill clean up.
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Quick to JudgmentThere were those on the Right, Left and in-between who were ready to destroy the personal life of Shirley Sherrod merely for the sake of seeing who could out "moralize" the other.
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FIXING HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTSIn a move that should have solely benefited Americans to cover their health care costs, Congress added a hook to benefit the health insurance industry.
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JOBS - Not Worth Fighting ForIn a recently released fund-raiser canvassing document from the NRCC the GOP doesn't even discuss unemployment or job creation as an issue that needs their attention for 2010.
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Why Parents Should Avoid Comparing One Sibling to AnotherEach child in a family comes with a package unique to them. Parents should understand that it's not healthy trying to mix and match their children to suit their tastes.
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How I Learned to Move Beyond the God of My Religious UpbringingThe ancient scriptures that many fall back on today for their faith system falls way short of meeting the human spiritual needs of today.
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Household Chores and Today's TeenagerThough not always applicable in modern economics, one principle of Adam Smith's 18th century philosophy has practical applications for many parents and their teens today
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New Parent FearsWith local and global crises looming over wounded economies, should newly weds seriously contemplate bringing a child into this world now ... or anytime?
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Whose Shaping Your Child's Future?Left unchecked commercial TV can hinder postive social development for our children
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The Backyard Domain that Serves a Simple PleasureKeeping and passing on natural habitats is something we should all worry about, be they in our backyard or the larger backyards of other communities.
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Is Adam Smith Relevant in the 21st Century?Is the message from the father of capitalism and an icon to Libertarians lost on a generation far removed from when he first put his ideas on paper over 200 years ago?
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The Depleting Fossil-Aged Mentality that Permeates the Republican LeadershipYour money and your life are often in the hands of people whose self-interests takes precedence over the public welfare they are entrusted with.
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The Apology Heard Around the WorldDissing the victims of the BP Gulf oil tragedy, Texas Congressman Joe Barton expresses his mortification that the 3rd largest corporation in the world has to payout restitution.
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Criminal Charges Against BP. Are We There Yet?There should be no double standards between individuals and corporations when actions cause loss of life and there's been needless destruction of treasures
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21st Century Leadership is Lacking in Energy Policy MakingThe writing is on the wall but there remain those in the old guard who refuse to read the warnings of our continued use of fossil fuels
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Crop Monoculture: a Bad Technique for the Environment and World Food SupplyAgribusiness' focus on one or two cash crops eliminates other needed produce for the food chain and uses techniques to sustain them deplete food supplies around the globe
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Top Ten Polluted Metropolitan Areas in U.S. - 2010Though we are seeing some improvements with toxic emissions from auto exhaust and factories some communities still have a long way to go to to improve air quality.
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Building Green HomesBuilding your home is exciting. Building it with energy saving products and processes with your own two hands is a legacy to yourself and to the planet.
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Environmental Degradation: Pushing the EnvelopeThe BP oil spill is only one of thousands of human acts making the earth sick. So can she fight it off much longer?
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BP and the GOPRegaining Power of the House and Senate by the GOP could hurt efforts to insure that BP pays all that it owes for damages and job losses resulting from the Deepwater Horizon disaster.
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Cap and Trade: How Best to Trade Carbon OffsetsLest we go down another financial rat hole, the buying and selling of carbon offsets should not be left solely in the hands of Wall Street.
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Depleted Uranium Explosives Used in Iraq and AfghanistanMilitary and Political Leadership fail the troops and inflict long term health issues with them and innocent civilians in a failed attempt to kill two madmen.
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How the Global Food Crisis Affects National SecurityDeveloped countries must balance their needs for energy sources with growing food shortages around the world to avoid terrorist safe havens in poorer nations.
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Stepping Up to the PlateThe future is in green energy sources. We need the resources of large corporations outside Big Oil and Coal to provide the leadership to move beyond fossil fuels.
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Support Your Local Food BankIn a rich and prosperous country there are still large populations that rely on local charities for essential nutrition
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To Not Die in VainA reflection on war and its true cost. Such deadly actions must be weighed deeply by those who would commit them to harm's way.
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FOX Junior Snooper Viewed as "Prankster" by Times-Picayune ReporterActions by James O'Keefe attempting to violate the privacy of a U.S. Senator warrants harsher criticism than a New Orleans reporter seems willing to convey
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There She Goes AgainMentally weak links within the GOP continue to rely on factual distortions, lies and demonizing their political adversaries to regain power
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Why Are Conservatives Making Excuses for BP?Rand Paul and Governor Rick Perry can't seem to resolve that the BP oil spill is something other than unintentional consequences of drilling at excessive depths
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The Need for Immigration ReformThe persistant racism that is concealed in the immigration reform movement rears its ugly head again.
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Our Government, Right or Wrong; Good or BadAs we swing into another election year the mood for some is for "taking our country back". For those people, the question needs asking, "how did you lose it?"
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"Nothing's Going to Come Back to This Area"When all you have ever known is deprived from you, how do you start over?
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Corporate Branding and the BP Gulf Oil TragedyThe Corporate "brand" cannot reflect an image that is a contradiction of who you really are.
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Will Texas Be Spared Any Serious Economic and Environmental Consequences of the BP Oil Gusher?The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico could work its way toward the Lone Star State amid speculation from Governor Perry that it may be the will of the Almighty.
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The Media's Need for Instant CelebrityIn a world of Twitter, the most inane comments may throw you into the media limelight. Just ask Luann Haley
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The Drill Baby Drill Crowd: Contemporaries of King SisyphusIn lieu of the Gulf Coast disaster, peak oil and our need for oil outside our own limited resources, how smart is it to defy the gods.