Opinion

Opinion - Topics from September, 2009

School's in session...forever!

Posted by

in Opinion

Wednesday, September 30. 2009

Comments (36)

It seems the government wants to extend school be it by the hours in the day or the days in the year. Either way, the decision has some parents and a lot of students up in arms.

The change would bring about a host of peripheral issues - childcare, budgeting for teachers/educators, school security, etc. [Full Story »]

Is Obama the president he promised he would be?

Posted by

in Opinion

Tuesday, September 29. 2009

Comments (58)

No one is exempt. Not the news crowd. Not the garden clubs. Not the caucuses. Not even the late-night TV set. No one is exempt to Barack Obama - or at least his seemingly omnipotent persona.

Each morning millions of Americans awaken to the sound of talk radio and television pundits who may find themselves asking, "When is he going to realize he is the President of the United States?"

Sooner or later it is going to occur to Barack Obama that he is the president of the United States. [Full Story »]

so, is this indoctrination.....

Posted by

Walter Geiger

in Geiger's Counter

Monday, September 28. 2009

Comments (20)

students taught to sing... [Full Story »]

Iran goes up in arms

Posted by

in Opinion

Monday, September 28. 2009

Comments (8)

Iran just released a statement saying it test-fired the longest-range missiles in its arsenal, capable of carrying a warhead and striking Israel, U.S. bases in the Mideast, and parts of Europe.

Now what?

GO! [Full Story »]

State Parks: State run or federally underrun?

Posted by

in Opinion

Friday, September 25. 2009

Comments (4)

Since 1916, the American people have entrusted the National Park Service with the care of their national parks. With the help of volunteers and park partners, nearly 400 places are safeguarded in an effort to share their stories with more than 275 million visitors every year.

National Park Service by the Numbers

$48,000,000,000 incentivized in private historic preservation investment

11,700,000,000 visitors

$5,409,252,508 in preservation and outdoor recreation grants awarded

$2,750,000,000 annual budget

121,603,193 objects in museum collections

97,417,260 volunteer hours

84,000,000 acres of land

4,502,644 acres of oceans, lakes, reservoirs

2,482,104 volunteers

218,000 jobs supported in gateway communities

85,049 miles of perennial rivers and streams

68,561 archeological sites

43,162 miles of shoreline

28,000 employees

27,000 historic structures

2,461 national historic landmarks

582 national natural landmarks

400 endangered species

391 national parks

40 national heritage areas

[Full Story »]

Gadhafi takes the stage

Posted by

in Opinion

Thursday, September 24. 2009

Comments (32)

World leaders, many reeling from a year marked by global economic freefall and a growing threat from global warming and nuclear proliferation, exhorted one another Wednesday to work together to meet those challenges.

But it was Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, both with his entrance and his 96-minute address, who stole the show completely.

Gadhafi called for world unity in confronting crises -- such as climate change and food shortages -- but he expressed ire at the world body and the United States. [Full Story »]

A downtown report card

Posted by

in Opinion

Wednesday, September 23. 2009

Comments (23)

There is no doubt that a downtown in any community is the raison d'être - the heart of that community - and the need to keep that heart healthy lies with a keen emphasis on continuous downtown focus and revitalization.

The phrase "downtown revitalization" is a buzz phrase that has been circulating now since the mid-1990s when box stores, strip malls and online shopping became the preferred method of shopping. [Full Story »]

Geiger’s Counter: Joe Cox is a shining example

Posted by

Walter Geiger

in Geiger's Counter

Tuesday, September 22. 2009

Comments (7)

It is hard to imagine stepping into bigger shoes than those Georgia quarterback Joe Cox has had to fill.

Cox, a fifth year senior, rode the pine for the Bulldogs while phenom Matthew Stafford honed his skills in Athens and eventually became the number one pick in the NFL draft and a very wealthy young man.

Joe Cox likely won’t see similar millions as a pro signal caller. When his college career is over he wants to be a coach and the bet here is he will get that opportunity.
[Full Story »]

Buggy Days: YAY or NAY

Posted by

in Opinion

Monday, September 21. 2009

Comments (35)

The weekend has drawn to a close. The streets are welcoming traffic again. The vendors have packed up and moved on. There is no more smell of fried delights in the air.

So do we chalk this annual festival as a success or perhaps something less than? [Full Story »]

Farmers or Fish?

Posted by

in Opinion

Friday, September 18. 2009

Comments (30)

I am an admitted advocate of the environment. I cherish our planet and I work my hardest to preserve its beauty and legacy. I am not in favor of abusing any of our animals or vegetation. But I am completely opposed to the abandonment of humanity. Such a case of loss may be taking place in a profound way in the Central Valley of California.

It has long been known that the Central Valley, when properly irrigated, farmed and cultivated, is considered the bread basket of America. But now farms all over that region have been allowed to dry up. Why?

[Full Story »]

who you like in the tech-miami...

Posted by

Walter Geiger

in Geiger's Counter

Thursday, September 17. 2009

Comments (7)

game tonight? [Full Story »]

President Carter lays down his cards

Posted by

in Opinion

Thursday, September 17. 2009

Comments (41)

In light of the Joe Wilson / Kanye West debates that rage on regarding public outburst I have begun to think about all the residual damage that can occur.

One such example is the public playing of the "race card" by former President Jimmy Carter. [Full Story »]

40 in 4 or 40 in 5?

Posted by

in Opinion

Wednesday, September 16. 2009

Comments (8)

This past week I rediscovered a thought I have had almost every 3-day weekend I have ever experienced.

What do we - as the American workforce - accomplish on day 5 of our 40-hour workweek that we could not finish up on day 4?

What could be gained from a 4-day work week and what could be lost? There seems to be so many angles: family time, quality of life, length of workdays, stress, revenue, etc. [Full Story »]

I pledge allegiance...or do I?

Posted by

in Opinion

Tuesday, September 15. 2009

Comments (33)

It's a new school year, but an old fight is fast becoming the title bout in American classrooms. Teachers and administrators around the country are perplexed once again over the Pledge of Allegiance.

The courts have consistently ruled that students have the right not to recite the pledge in public schools. But now some First Amendment advocates are taking it one step further, arguing that the law compels educators to inform kids at the beginning of school that the decision is entirely up to them. [Full Story »]

Has dignity died?

Posted by

in Opinion

Monday, September 14. 2009

Comments (47)

When did we as a society cease to let others gain spotlight?

When did we become so self-absorbed that unless we were directly included, praised or acknowledged, we looked down upon something?

Chalk one up for embarrassment, indignity, classlessness and absurdity, as it reared its ugly head at the MTV Video Music Awards last night...again!

As a surprised Taylor Swift took to the stage to accept her "moon man" for Best Female Music Video on Sunday evening, rapper/producer Kanye West suddenly burst onto the stage and rudely stole the microphone from the country singer during her acceptance speech.

"Yo Taylor, I’m really happy for you, I’ll let you finish, but Beyoncé has one of the best videos of all time," West said. "One of the best videos of all time!"

West did later apologize on his blog with the following:

"I'M SOOOOO SORRY TO TAYLOR SWIFT AND HER FANS AND HER MOM. I SPOKE TO HER MOTHER RIGHT AFTER AND SHE SAID THE SAME THING MY MOTHER WOULD'VE SAID. SHE IS VERY TALENTED!" [sic CAPS] [Full Story »]