Smoking is bad for people. Everyone knows and accepts this. New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg proposes to extend New York’s smoking ban to all offices, bars and restaurants. Read about it in the Houston Chronicle. So why are so many young people taking up this nasty habit? One example: Smokers make the air…
Month: August 2002
Police Suspensions
Remember the big stink regarding the mass arrest of people loitering around Westheimer parking lots in Houston last week? Well, the police captain in charge has been suspended and 12 others relieved of their duties. Houston’s police chief is running for cover too, stammering he knew nothing about the officer’s plans. The fact of the…
Time to Seperate
It’s time for Israel to simply declare the borders for a Palestinian state and be done with it, before it’s too late. Another day, another ill advised act of terror in the middle east, this time caused by the Israelis. Read the MSNBC.com article.
No Vote on War?
White House lawyers have concluded that President Bush doesn’t need congressional approval to launch an attack against Iraq. Read the CNN.com story. My high school government class was taught differently. Certainly a congressional, and thus a people’s, mandate is appropriate. The White House’s stance implies either a bluff at Iraq or the possession of intelligence…
Police Officer Fired
In Austin, Texas, the AP reports a police officer has been fired for taping the mouth of a belligerent teenage suspect shut. The suspect was asked repeatedly to “please be quiet”; after he continued his behavior, the officer taped his mouth shut. Sounds like something the boy’s parents should have done long ago. In true…
Islamic Support Dooms Candidates
A kiss of death even more potent than taking money from Enron executives is having Islamic supporters. Read the MSNBC.com article. I suppose it is no surprise given the superficial nature of politics. The Muslims I know personally are fine people; however, the perceived taint of Islamic influence will likely serve to keep their influence…
Forestry Debate
The Western United States are home to some unique natural resources. Some uniquely impressive stands of old growth timber still exist in a pristine state. Logging in these areas has been a sore spot between industry, government, and environmentalists for years. Read a MSNBC.com story regarding the subject. Nearly everyone would agree that we should…
What was the Houston Police department thinking when it arrested 300 people, some of whom were simply trying to get a chili dog at James Coney Island? Read Roma Khanna’s article in the Houston Chronicle. I have no personal knowledge of this area on Saturday night. There may be severe problems in this area that…
Ashcroft’s Constitution
The Houston Chronicle published a great editorial Sunday regarding the overzealous John Ashcroft’s plans to run roughshod over the constitution to pursue “enemy combatants”. The Chronicle doesn’t provide editorial content on-line, unfortunately. Even to a lay person, Ashcroft’s proposals are extreme and clearly infringe on the constitutional rights of American citizens. Nonetheless, it has fallen…
Brazil and the IMF
Brazil is going to get a big infusion of American support via the IMF during the next year. Read the IMF news release. An NPR report on the subject left little doubt the Brazilians feel economic policy strings attached to the loans are unfair, apparently feeling they are entitled to borrow another $30 billion dollars…