professorlarry

Yesterday, President Obama lashed out  at Republicans for blocking the Senate’s efforts to extend unemployment benefits. The bill is likely to pass the Senate today. Many Republican Conservatives claim that giving unemployment benefits is a disincentive for people to look for work. While there might be some unemployed people who don’t want to work, the majority of unemployed people want to work but can’t find work. Just look at the long lines of people that apply for jobs when a new casino opens. Republicans want to extend tax cuts for the rich, but they don’t want to help the people who really need it. What say you? (photo from Reuters).

Last week, Sarah Palin tweeted that Peaceful Muslims should “refudiate” the building of a Ground Zero Mosque. When told that “refudiate” was not a word, she compared herself to Shakespeare in that he made up new words. I know Shakespeare, I read Shakespeare; Sarah, you’re no Shakespeare. This was a poor bit of strategery (as George W. Bush would say).

When old-timers point out how much better the NBA was back in the 1960s and 1970s, I always tell them that it’s unfair to compare today’s players to that era because there are many more pro basketball teams today. In today’s Philadelphia Inquirer, columnist John Gonzalez argues that the NBA should reduce the number of teams. Of course, it’s unlikely that this would happen, but it would increase the quality of the product. If the NBA went down to 10 teams, each team would be able to do what the Miami Heat just did. What do you think?

There was a news report that the Taliban were training monkeys to be terrorists. Turns out that the report was, naturally, false. But maybe they’re hiding the WMDs from Iraq. (Photo from MSNBC/Via Pakistan Defence).

Temple football just started a new marketing campaign to promote running back Bernard Pierce for the Heisman Trophy.

Orange you glad John Boehner isn’t Speaker of the House?

I wrote an article for the Arcadia University Bulletin on Dr. Elliot Gevis’ earthquake relief trip to Haiti.

I’m glad to see that CNN reported today that the Democrats are looking to Bill Clinton to go on the campaign trail.

Landon Donovan scores winning goal (Getty Images)

It was a great World Cup. I’m sorry to see it end. Hopefully, it will boost the popularity of pro soccer in the U.S.

I wrote an Op-Ed in the July 13, 2010 Philadelphia Daily News on the 25th Anniversary of Live Aid.