Columnists

Dispatches From The Edge: Israelis Divided on Whacking Iran

By Conn Hallinan
Sunday February 20, 2011 - 10:35:00 PM

Behind the recent appointment of Israel’s new military chief of staff are several months of bitter infighting among Israeli generals and intelligence agencies over whether to attack Iran, and, in the event of such an attack, how to rope the U.S. into the war. -more-


The Public Eye: What Can Americans Learn From Egypt?

By Bob Burnett
Sunday February 20, 2011 - 02:49:00 PM

As the world watched, millions of Egyptians engaged in an eighteen-day democratic revolution. For those of us fortunate enough to live in the United States, there are five lessons to be learned from the insurrection in Egypt. -more-


Eclectic Rant: Is Qaddafi's Libya Next?

By Ralph E. Stone
Sunday February 20, 2011 - 02:32:00 PM

Demonstrations led to the downfall of President Hosni Mubarak in Egypt and President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in Tunisia. There are protests in Bahrain, Yemen. Jordan, Algeria and new demonstrations in Iran, a nd minor incidents have occurred in Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Sudan, Somalia, Syria, Iraq, Morocco. Repressive regimes around the world must be very nervous. Is Colonel Muammar Qaddafi's Libya next? -more-


On Mental Illness: Caring for A Mentally Ill Family Member

By Jack Bragen
Tuesday February 22, 2011 - 01:18:00 PM

Persons with mental illness may suffer an episode of acute symptoms even if taking medications as prescribed. An acute episode or in some cases, a longer period of severe mental illness affects the afflicted person, but also puts a strain on family members. -more-


Restoration Comedy #5- Chinks in the Armoire

By Jane Powell
Sunday February 20, 2011 - 02:54:00 PM

After a few months delay, we rejoin my ongoing and probably fruitless quest to get a mortgage modification under HAMP, the Home Affordable Modification Program, rolled out with much fanfare by President Obama, wherein he promised it would help four million homeowners to reduce their mortgage payments so they could stay in their houses instead of losing them to foreclosure. Number of at-risk homeowners who have received permanent modifications so far? 549,620. Number of homeowners kicked out of the program? 729,109. Number of permanent modifications cancelled? 44,972. Therefore, actual number of permanent modifications? 504,648. Number of at-risk homeowners jerked around by their mortgage servicers, the Treasury Department, and the White House? 100%. And note, these modifications aren’t actually permanent-the way the name implies- they only last for five years. Meanwhile, there were 3.9 million foreclosures filed in 2010- that is one for every 45 households. -more-


Senior Power:“… something special for seniors -- like a visit to a senior center...or simply researching a family tree. ...” Dale Carnegie (1888-1955)

Sunday February 20, 2011 - 03:06:00 PM

In high school, I was placed on something called the Regents Diploma track. Almost everyone there was headed for college or the military. It was rumored that the Daughters of the American Revolution chapter provided college scholarships for members’ daughters. My mother trekked up to a Poughkeepsie, New York cemetery to document family history that would help to establish her, and thus, my, DAR eligibility. -more-