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Posted by on Dec 17, 2012 in Blog, Politics, Restaurant Reviews | 3 comments

You Won’t Believe the Things I Discussed with Dr. Vafa Kamali

Dalla and Kamali
A Dinner Conversation with the Man Making Scientific Discoveries which Could Enable Us to Live Twice as Long, Who Founded the First Anti-Ayatollah Khomeini Movement in the United States, and Was at the Poker Table Where “Puggy” Pearson Once Did the Unthinkable

 

A few months ago, I was enjoying a quiet evening at home, watching television.

On screen was the popular PBS program called “NOVA.” The show is mostly about science and technology and often features cutting-edge breakthroughs in various fields of study.

Imagine my surprise to see someone I knew appearing on the program. I came to discover, he’s one of the world’s foremost experts in the field of genetic engineering. He spoke about scientific advances he and his university research team have achieved which could ultimately enable humans to live as long as 150 years.

That’s right – 150 years.

I’ll tell you more about this shortly.

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Posted by on Dec 15, 2012 in Blog, Essays, Rants and Raves | 3 comments

When the Worst Thing is to Do Nothing — A Reaction to the Tragedy in Connecticut

 

WEIGHING THE OPTIONS:  TO DO SOMETHING VERSUS NOTHING

 

The horror of the Connecticut school shooting impacts us on so many emotional levels.

Just about everyone I’ve spoken to, or correspnded with, has endured a gambit of reactions over the past 24 hours since the tragedy — from shock, to anger, to sorrow, to (again) outrage, and ultimately (for some) to a renewed sense of determination.

Today’s column is a difficult one to write.  It’s probably the most complicated issue I’ve addressed, to date.  I admit experiencing a sort of “writer’s block” to this terrible tragedy, something that doesn’t strike me often.  The bottom line is — what is there to say?  What can be said?

But as the hours pass, I’ve come to realize that to say nothing is grossly irresponsible.  To do nothing, even more so.

Hence, I shall address the Connecticut tragedy in multiple parts.  First, there’s a purely emotional reaction to these unfathomable events.  As one might expect, these feelings are accompanied by a demand for action.  I’ve also included what I believe to be a few  partial solutions which seek to reduce the frequency and severity of these horrors.

Once again, this is a terribly difficult problem to face.  But we must look to these victims and honor their memory with something better than what we have now.  And then, we must look inside ourselves.  We must do it.  We must do it now.  Righteousness demands nothing less.

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Posted by on Dec 11, 2012 in Blog, Politics | 5 comments

Straight Talk on Balancing the Federal Budget

 

photo of us capital in washington

 

We are bankrupt.

Actually, that’s not true.  We are 16 trillion dollars beyond being bankrupt.  Trillion — with a “T.”  Think about that for a moment.  Let it sink it.

If you’re not mad as hell yet, then shut the page and go read something else.  Today’s column isn’t for you.

The so-called “fiscal cliff” debate happening in Washington right now underscores the reality that the two-party system has utterly failed us on every level.  Such a perverted system shows no capacity to either compromise, nor govern.  It’s a disgrace to the concept of democracy.  The two parties are fucking America in the ass and we’re all Ned Beatty.

Those of us out of the political mainstream, far removed from the dog and pony show, have been screaming for years that things would eventually come to this.  We foresaw the two major power brokers would eventually reach a stare down and come to what amounts to a political stalemate — where virtually nothing gets accomplished.

The debate goes something like this.  Liberals want to spend more money and expand the role of government.  Conservatives want to make budget cuts and decrease government’s role, opting to shift power to the private sector.

But that’s a gross over-simplification of what’s really happening.  In fact, it’s far more complicated.  There are plenty of government programs liberals would love to slash (you’ll see my list in a moment).  Moreover, many government programs receive their strongest support from conservatives.

The bottom line is — we’re in a crisis.  We have no choice.  Either make drastic cuts.  Or, increase revenues (taxation).  Or both.

Where the two parties fail is in not telling us the truth.  It’s time to level with the American people and simply announce that we all must all make some sacrifices.  Everyone.  We are all in this together.  I know, my socialism is showing again.  But these times demand shared sacrifices.  The sooner this nation is confronted with some kind of honest “fireside chat” moment where our leaders finally level with us, the sooner we can tend to the peoples’ business and get back on financial track.

Here’s my “wish list” of what should be cut (or added) to balance the federal budget:

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Posted by on Nov 10, 2012 in Blog, Politics | 3 comments

The Real Losers in the 2012 Presidential Election

Las Vegas Billionaire Sheldon Adelson

 

Aside from President Obama and former Gov. Romney, there were several other winners and losers in Tuesday’s election.

Most are obvious.

Some are less so.

Here are the biggest losers of all, listed in no particular order:

 

Note:  This is Part 2.  The first part contained at least one glaring ommission, which was pointed out to me by poker pro Adam Junglen.  I undoubtedly should have mentioned statistician and writer Nate Silver — who nailed the election results with his forecast.  Aside from forgetting Silver, the biggest winners can be seen here:  THE BIGGEST WINNERS IN THE 2012 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

 

BIGGEST LOSERS:

1.  Karl Rove and American Crossroads (PAC) — These buffoons blew a whopping $80 million in a losing cause.  EIGHTY MILLION DOLLARS!  Former Bush hatchet-man Karl Rove (who’s vastly overrated as a political strategist) scrambled around the country for a year, promising wealthy donors that with their money funding his discretionary torpedo campaign he’d be able wipe out President Obama.  One wealthy donor was reportedly duped into forking over $19 million for Rove and his cronies to blow.  After the election, Rove took no responsibility for his failure.  He even had the audacity to blame President Obama’s victory on “voter suppression.”  The man has no shame, and obviously no character.

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Posted by on Nov 9, 2012 in Blog, Politics | 1 comment

The Real Winners in the 2012 Presidential Election

 

Aside from President bama and former Gov. Romney, there were several other winners and losers in Tuesday’s election.  Many are obvious.  Some are not quite so obvious.

Here are some of the biggest winners, listed in no particular order:

Note:  This is Part 1.  Coming next, Part 2 will list the biggest losers.

 

BIGGEST WINNERS:

1.  Civil Rights Activists / Gay Rights Proponents — The prospect of a majority vote in support of gay marriage would have been utterly unthinkable a few years ago.  As recently as 2004, ballot measures on civil rights for all not only failed, but were cited as a key reason why former President George Bush mobilized his conservative voting base in some swing states and won re-election.  No more.  Last Tuesday, three states — including Maine, Maryland, and Washington — voted for ballot initiatives in support of gay marriage.  The historical significance of this victory cannot be overstated.  It’s the first time that a majority of voters (statewide) elected to support equal rights for gays.  And, it didn’t happen in just one state — it happened in three.  History will look back upon 2012 as a watershed year for true constitutional protection for all, much like 1964 was the key year for civil rights legislation.

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