Once upon a time, in a country wide and beautiful, there was a very audacious and flamboyant financier who liked to wear very nice clothes. (Here he is in his gold tie and pinstripe finery.) One day, this very daring man saw a need in the housing market, and lo, with a skill for salesmanship and the help of the...

On October 8, 2010, I posted a commentary regarding Snyder v. Phelps, a case currently before the U.S. Supreme Court in which the key question, as outlined by the court, is “Does the First Amendment protect protesters at a funeral from liability for intentionally inflicting emotional distress on the family of the deceased?” Among the comments I received, was this one that sided...

Last Friday (Oct. 8) I published a commentary discussing the case Snyder v. Phelps currently before the U.S. Supreme Court; a case that, at first glance, would seem to fall under the free speech aspect of the First Amendment. Quoting from the Court’s own website: “Does the First Amendment protect protestors at a funeral from liability for intentionally inflicting emotional distress on...

At its best, religion can offer hope and comfort in time of need. At its worst… well, that brings us to Snyder v. Phelps – a matter before the U.S. Supreme Court which is sure to raise reaction on both sides. In plain English, the issue is “Does the First Amendment protect protesters at a funeral from liability for intentionally inflicting emotional...

Mark that date in your iPhone calendar, people. Yes, right now! On October 30, 2010 an event of biblical proportions will…change… history! (No, not that Event, that’s on NBC.) I’m talking about an event that’s bigger than Lincoln, yes; bigger than Jefferson, yes; even bigger than Washington, himself! Throughout history, America has witnessed many great Americans coming together in solidarity to support American virtues,...

Does anyone listen anymore? When I was in school we went to class, listened to the teacher, had a discussion about what we thought, listened some more, thought some more, then prepared for the test. The great lesson for me in all this was to listen, gather and read relevant information, think, discuss with friends, listen some more, think some...

Ethics scandals continue to make the news. “California City Officials Arrested in Salary Scandal” (Sept. 21); “Clemens Lied About Doping, Indictment Charges” (Aug. 19); “P.R. Missteps Fueled Fiascos at BP, Toyota and Goldman,” (Aug. 22) Are companies paying attention to headlines, and are they making any attempt to reinforce the moral conscience of their own organizations?  » Read more about: Searching...

Ann Coulter never met an incongruity or contradiction she didn’t embrace. In her 2002 book Slander, the conservative commentator rails against The New York Times for its misinformation and wanton liberal bias on 198 of the book’s 261 pages. “The Times regularly interprets standard Republican positions as fanatical, religiously based racist hate crimes,” Coulter writes. But take a close look at the top of the...

Everyone has weighed-in on the proposed Park 51 Islamic Cultural Center to be built two blocks from the site known as “Ground Zero” in New York. Local and national officials, pundits, and the fringe are having a go at what is, at its heart, a fundamental ethical issue. But it’s also an emotional issue and there are no easy answers. Two of...

Baseball is a game obsessed with the number nine: nine players on each team; nine innings; ninety feet between the bases; and if you’re a pitcher with “stuff,” three strikes against three batters total nine and you’re out of the inning. Think of the players that wore the number 9: Roger Maris, Bill Mazeroski, Minnie Minoso, Enos Slaughter, Reggie Jackson...