First of all, let me explain my general position on global warming. Does global warming exist? Yes. Science has shown that the world’s temperature has gone up about one degree in the last 30 years.

Are we causing it? Maybe. Although some warming may be anthropogenic, it appears that an increase in solar activity is also responsible. Similar warming is happening on Mars, and the warming on earth is directly proportionate to graphs of recent sunspot activity.

>> Full Story

It has been said of those who question the policies of our government that “if you don’t like this country then you should leave it.” I recommend to the person who says this that instead they leave this country and see what the world is like outside the United States.

One vacation suggestion is Nicaragua. This is a country where the United States supported the brutal Somoza regime for four decades. Under Anastasio Somoza Debayle, torture was regularly used in interrogations with reported use of methods like electrical shocks, water-boarding and hanging by the wrists. Fingernails or eyeballs would sometimes be “pulled out” from the victim, and “others had their tongues cut off.” When Somoza was overthrown in 1979, the U.S. tried to preserve the brutal National Guard that was responsible for tormenting the Nicaraguan population.

>> Full Story

A comedian running for president might have been the plot of Robin Williams’ movie “Man of the Year,” but it turned into reality when extreme right-wing satirist Stephen Colbert cast his bid for the 2008 election.

This came after weeks of jokes about being “pressured" to run by the public and stating that he would first need a sign to run. The legitimacy of his campaign was questioned, but he maintained that he was serious.

>> Full Story

After reading the articles about Hunting that were published in the Post’s Editorial section the last two weeks, I thought it best to share some facts about hunting as well as some of my own personal opinions on the subject. Josh McCracken’s article seems to paint hunters as cowardly, antiquated, heartless hicks that hunt only to hang a head on a wall and destroy nature.

This could not be further from the truth. First of all, hunters do not kill simply to hang a mount on the wall. Most deer are never mounted, and the statement about a doe being born just so it could end up as a “decoration above the fireplace” only goes to show that McCracken is trying to appeal to emotion rather than reason.

>> Full Story

That’s it; it’s finally happened. The DVD revolution has penetrated the book world.

Earlier this year, I bought my first copy of “The Bell Jar.” I tore through the book pretty quickly, and was mildly confused when I got to the end but still had 30 some odd pages to go. After flipping through it, I realized that inside were numerous “special features” – biographical info about Sylvia Plath, original drawings, etc.

>> Full Story

I would like to draw your attention to a particular problem I see today. It seems that a sort of nihilism has taken place in society. In America it has not quite gotten as bad as it has in Western Europe, so I will provide some examples from overseas to show where this nihilism will eventually go if it is left unchecked.

In Western Europe a political movement is afoot to normalize pedophilia. The movement even has its own political party in one country. In many countries marijuana has been legalized, but if some of you think that is fine, let me go further to show that in 2001 in Portugal, cocaine and heroin were also legalized. Needless to say, drug addiction has skyrocketed in many of these countries.

>> Full Story

Orthodox capitalism died in the Great Depression. We are living in the age of capitalist decline. However, as Lenin noted, “There are no absolutely hopeless situations” which capitalism cannot recover from, since the transition to socialism is not automatic, but must be fiercely fought for by the working class.

Capitalism is declining in that free competition and private enterprises are failing and being superseded by monopoly and state contracting. It is no exaggeration to say that without state interventionism, every serious recession would grow into so many Great Depressions.

>> Full Story

I realize that I have been rambling on and on about the state budget and how long it took for our legislators to finally get a version agreed upon to hand over to Gov. Doyle. But how in the world can “Diamond Jim” get away with his “Franken-veto” shenanigans and not hear the same complaints that former Gov. Tommy Thompson heard for doing basically the same thing?

During his tenure as governor, Thompson used his line-item veto powers as he felt necessary in order to move Wisconsin, as our motto states, forward. He heard a great deal of outrage when he used his cut-and-paste powers to increase a spending proposal from $30,000 to $300,000 (by crossing out enough of the bill to add an extra zero).

>> Full Story

Plan B is not in any way, shape or form close to an abortion. It will not do anything – I repeat, anything – to an already fertilized egg. If anyone is judging you when you go up to the counter to buy the emergency contraceptive, they are stupid and misinformed. It states this information on the box.

So when it comes to the issue of doctors having to give the option of Plan B to all rape victims, there shouldn’t be a question. There’s a nasty rumor out there that is being taught by certain religious forms of education that contraception is evil because the only reason for sex is procreation. I’m not getting started on a rant about sex education or my theories and opinions regarding love-making.

>> Full Story

Cheers to Lakshmi, an Indian girl born with four legs and four arms, who survived a 24-hour operation to remove her excess limbs.
Jeers to Christian protesters opposing “The Golden Compass,” a movie adapted from atheist Philip Pullman’s novel trilogy, “His Dark Materials.” Protestors believe the movie is a ploy to promote atheism to children.
Cheers to authorities jailing teacher Kelsey Peterson on charges of crossing state lines with the intention of having sex with a minor. Peterson fled to Mexico with a 13-year-old student. The student is an illegal Mexican immigrant and may not be able to return to the United States.

>> Full Story

After reading Joshua McCracken’s latest article on the barbaric act of hunting I felt it necessary to express an opinion which is not derived from what is probably a complete disassociation with the hunting community. I am from north central Wisconsin, the heart of whitetail deer hunting, and I have developed a much different opinion from McCracken’s through being raised in this environment.

Mostly, I see a great value in hunting. First and foremost, I know dozens of hunters and I have never seen any one of them who hunts for sport discard of the body of a deer as perceived by McCracken. While not all parts of the animal are utilized, there is almost never a waste of venison (deer meat). Even sport hunters, who typically shoot deer whose meat is not considered great, will still at least take the field dressed animal to one of the many charitable organizations which will cut it up and donate the meat to a needy family. As far as what’s left in the woods, my Alaskan friend said it best while we were hunting together on Kodiak Island: “a gut pile never lasts more than one day,” meaning that animals will always eat the rest of the deer.

>> Full Story

Posted by UWM Alumni/UWM Neighborhood Resident on Oct 31, 2007 at 07:28 PM:

Dear UWM Post,

>> Full Story