Where is Your Taxpayer Bailout Money Going?

The New York Times reports that lobbyists are big beneficiaries of our bailout money. And what are they lobbying for? In most cases, more bailout money. Citigroup, recipient of $45 billion, spent $1.77 million in the fourth quarter on lobbying fees, according to its lobbyists’ filings. Additionally, during the last three months of 2008, at [...]

January 24, 1950 – Patent Issued for the Microwave Oven

On January 24, 1950, the original microwave oven patent was issued to Percy LeBaron Spencer under the title “Method of Treating Foodstuffs.” The origins of the microwave oven can be traced to World War II. Scientists in Britain had developed the magnetron, a tube that produces microwaves, as part of a radar system to spot [...]

African-American Golfers

The “Weekend Edition” of the Wall Street Journal reports on the lack of diversity that persists in professional golf, notwithstanding the dominance of Tiger Woods. The Journal notes a bit wryly: “Despite several similarities between Messrs. Obama and Woods — both are about 6 feet 1 inch tall, are multiracial with one foreign-born parent, and [...]

Contest Winners for “The Survivors Club” and Consolation Prizes

We have 3 winners for the Hachette audiobook, The Survivors Club! (Winners will be announced in two days for the Hachette audiobook, The Geography of Bliss.) Congratulations on being selected as a random number to: Carolyn G. Gwendolyn B. Christopher W. (I will contact each of you to get your mailing addresses) There were quite [...]

2008 Most Popular Dogs in the U.S.

Speaking of Labrador Retrievers (see my book review in the previous post of A Dog Among Diplomats here, which is a sequel to A Dog About Town (review is here), the American Kennel Club has just released the list of the top most popular dogs for 2008: 1. Labrador Retriever 2. Yorkshire Terrier 3. German [...]

Review of “A Dog Among Diplomats” by J.F. Englert

A Dog Among Diplomats is the second in the new “Bull Moose Dog Run Mystery Series” by J.F. Englert. These are delightful mysteries told from the point of view of a very proper, educated (self-taught from training newspapers) dog. Randolph is sentient, but more educated (in his own opinion) than other dogs. This black Labrador [...]

January 22, 1973 – The Supreme Court Decided Roe v. Wade

On January 22, 1973, Roe v. Wade (410 U.S. 113) was decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. A pregnant single woman (Roe) brought a class action challenging the constitutionality of the Texas criminal abortion laws, which proscribed procuring or attempting an abortion except on medical advice for the purpose of saving the mother’s life. In [...]

At Last, Part 2

You can’t possibly have any kleenex left! But if you do, head over to youtube to watch Beyonce serenade the Obamas with “At Last” for their first dance as President and First Lady.

Obama Acts Decisively to Halt Bush Administration Lame Duck Legislation

According to the Washington Post, “Acting only hours after his inauguration, President Barack Obama has ordered a freeze on new or proposed regulations at all government agencies and departments.” Rahm Emanuel issued a memo declaring: “…no proposed or final regulation should be sent to the Office of Federal Register for publication unless and until it [...]

January 21, 1824 – Birthday of Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson

Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson, one of Robert E. Lee’s most outstanding generals in the Army of Northern Virginia, was born in Clarksburg, Virginia (now West Virginia), on January 21, 1824. General Robert E. Lee’s greatest victory is said to have been the Battle of Chancellorsville, the largest battle in Virginia’s history. But it was also [...]