A rose by any other name

Shakespeare so eloquently once stated: “A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet”. We ought to take this sentiment to heart when considering the nature of the “economic stimulus” legislation working its way through congress right now.
For once, the republicans have got it right (sort of). Many have decried provisions in [...]

Lobbying or Lying?

Growing up, as I became more aware of the political process, the terms “lobbyist” and “lobbying” would frequently crop up- and always with a negative connotation. For a long time, I thought lobbying was a four-letter word, and all the dirt bags out there doing whatever  dirty lobbyist do, were just a bunch of corrupt [...]

Economic Stimulus for Social Workers

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill has been submitted to Congress for review. There are billions of dollars floating around in this economic stimulus proposal & yours truly has taken a look through it to cull some funding streams that should be of interest to social workers & like minded individuals (read: you are [...]

Today I stood for the Star Spangled Banner

Often chided by my foreign-born girlfriend for my cynical tirades about the state of America without giving credit to the multitude of freedoms and opportunities available within our borders, I usually acknowledge that yes, I do live in a great country, and it is marvelous that I am able to freely criticize the government without [...]

The Cost of Being Ordinary

As I drove along Market Street I was surprised at how empty it was. The thousands of folks who hustle and bustle during the daytime were now largely gone. As I approached Chinatown however, there was one person whom very definitely had not left Market Street when the shops closed up. In fact, this person [...]

Mississippi Mud

On Saturday, January 3rd I boarded a plane headed for New Orleans. We touched down a few hours later, and made the hour-long drive to a little town forgotten by the world: Pearlington, Mississippi. Having spent some time in the Gulf region last year, I wasn’t sure what to expect three years out from Katrina.
Would [...]