Forty years ago today, American astronauts gave us this image.

Islam and the Middle-East:

Few in the west have any clear understanding of what Islam or life in the middle-east is like. Michael Slackman, writing in today's New York Times, provides a glimpse into what it's like to be a young Jordanian college student and the appeal of Islam. As I read the article, I couldn't help but keeping comparing them with young right-wing American religious fundamentalists. While not the same, we're also not exactly talking about square pegs in round holes either.

Democracy Gone Awry:

Democracy California style has managed to shoot itself in the foot big time. Today's Washington Post carries a story that illustrates how democracy can defeat the best of intentions, and what happens when state voting districts are gerrymandered so that elected officials can hold office in perpetuity. Oh, yes, and then there's the governor who is more interested in being a celebrity than in actually governing.

The Coming Debate:

Should the federal government spend our money repairing roads, bridges and other "shovel ready" projects? Or should "green collar" jobs take precedence? Look for a "battle royal" on a C-SPAN station near you in the coming months. (See The Washington Post story.)

Signs of the Times:

The market for corporate Jets is, according to The New York Times, in a "Free-Fall"; the last remaining SUV plants are closing, and Toyota's world-wide car sales are down by more than 20 percent. In other market news, Wall Street actually rose slightly, but that happens when the government's prognosis on job losses and consumer spending are met, regardless of whether the news is good or bad. Wall Street hates surprises. Which would indicate that keeping one's head out of the sand might be a good practice.

This Just In:

The New York Times reveals that, while Bush is an idiot, Cheney is actually evil. Stay tuned for further developments.

Words of Wisdom:

"As people do better, they start voting like Republicans—unless they have too much education and vote Democratic …" — Karl Rove, chief architect of the worst administration in American history.