Of all the stories concerning the attack on America September 11, 2001, I’m always drawn to stories of firefighters. 343 firefighters died in the World Trade Center towers 10 years ago; many after charging up 110 flights of stairs. 60 police and 8 paramedics died, as well. Cary Sheih was working in the towers on a project for the Port...

Americans are angry like never before. These are two of the messages that appeared during yesterday’s Meet the Press on NBC: “I think we now have elected officials that are afraid of their support bases, rather than wanting to represent them. Why does it seem that compromise is a dirty word, these days?” “I have never been less confident about the future.”...

During the first of what would become my favorite two years, I was listening to the Moody Blues (on cassette), Tchaikovsky’s 1812 (on vinyl) and Simon and Garfunkle’sSounds of Silence. I studied theater and philosophy, worked on a college production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and rock-climbed. I read Clarence Darrow for the Defense, Carlos Castaneda and Hamlet.  » Read more...

“We know we can find stories of people who do it wrong, but where can we find stories of people who do it right?” Those words began the second chapter of my book, What Do You Stand For? whose stated purpose was to offer a collection of positive examples of integrity and moral courage. The goal I set for myself at the beginning...

As the aerial photo illustrates, Japan’s Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear facility suffered yet another explosion on March 14 raising the threat of more catastrophic radiation danger in the immediate region and possibly abroad. In this timely essay, nuclear peace advocate David Krieger discusses what may well be a final wake-up call regarding any use of nuclear energy. Our hearts go out to...

Last night I attended a lecture sponsored by The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation given by Commander Robert Green (Royal Navy, Ret.) that calls out to every representative of every country possessing a nuclear capability to pay close attention. For 20 years, Green served in the British Royal Navy. As a bombardier-navigator, he flew in nuclear strike aircraft and anti-submarine helicopters. On promotion...

Amanda Yost is a frequent visitor to this site as well as a student at Santa Monica College currently studying cultural anthropology, with an eye toward cultural ethnography. (Yeah, I had to look that one up, too.) “I’m hoping,” Amanda says, “to focus on the ethnographic side of anthropology as another way to give a voice to the voiceless. Ethnography takes into...

The following, written by David Krieger, gives us a closer examination of President Eisenhower’s final thoughts before leaving office, regarding the growth of military budgets. It’s interesting to look at in light of today’s continuing build-up of nuclear weapons in particular. Yesterday, January 17, 2011 was the 50th anniversary of President Eisenhower’s Farewell Address to the nation in which he...

In 1994, while doing research on the creation of the Lone Ranger for my first book, I spent four days with Fran Striker, Jr., the son of the creator. It still surprises me how few people know that an unassuming, imaginative writer from Buffalo, New York created, developed, and wrote the Lone Ranger,Green Hornet, Sgt. Preston of the Yukon, and many others.  » Read more about:...

Today is Veteran’s Day, but it also marks the 90th Anniversary of the original name for this holiday, Armistice Day. The day was created to celebrate the war to end all wars, World War I.The Armistice took effect on November 11, 1918 at 11:00 A.M. or at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. That date quickly became a...