December 2013

It’s past midnight in Aukland so here you go!!!  Happy New Year. Vuja De By Leonard Zwelling          If Déjà vu is the feeling that you have been there before, Vuja De is knowing damned well that you have—many times. Two articles in the newspapers today, December 31, gave me a strong sense of Vuja […]

This is the last blog of 2013.  See you on the other side of midnight. Happy New Year 2015 By Leonard Zwelling          It’s the time for wrapping up 2013 and making resolutions for 2014. Not for me.          I am past that.          Here’s what I would like to say this time next year

“Happy Holidays”: It’s What We Jews Say This Time of Year By Leonard Zwelling          The other day on MS-NBC’s only politically balanced broadcast, Morning Joe, journalist Sam Stein made the observation that led to the title of this piece. It’s not so much that we Jews feel left out at this time of year.

The Selling of the No No, Prescription Drugs and Health Insurance: Mad Men in White Coats By Leonard Zwelling          The best part about HBO is the lack of commercials during broadcast dramas. Of course most of the content is great just as it is on Showtime, Cinemax (aka SkinaMax) and the other pay cable

Advice and Consent By Leonard Zwelling          It’s right there in Article II, Section 2, Clause 2 of the US Constitution. “He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate…”. This describes the time-honored principle of legislative review of presidential appointments and treaties. The recent adoption of the so-called “nuclear

After Joe DiMaggio’s Gone By Leonard Zwelling          Joe DiMaggio (1914-1999), the Yankee Clipper, was the hard-hitting center fielder for the New York Yankees who epitomized grace and style before Mickey Mantle took his place. For my generation of New Yorkers, Mantle was the Yankees, but for those a bit older, it was DiMaggio. To

200 K (+ more…) By Leonard Zwelling          It has been less than a year since I began lenzwelling.blogspot.com. We have just passed our 200,000th page view.  There have been close to 180 postings.          I am floored. I guess, as I have said before, this internet thing is here to stay.          This is

Fakin’ It (and Extra—Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-changes…) (With apologies to Simon and Garfunkel and David Bowie) By Leonard Zwelling          Just when you think it has gotten cold enough that all the nuts have frozen on the trees, my favorite story of 2013 drops like an apple on Sir Isaac’s head. The harassing San Diego mayor was not

Paternalism (and EXTRA “……of the Year”) By Leonard Zwelling          It’s way too simple but it does ring true. Republicans are like your father; Democrats like your mother. Republicans tell you to man up; Democrats will care for you. Republicans fancy themselves rugged individualists and self-made men (what happened to self-made women or is this

 The CPRIT One: Failing the Smell Test By Leonard Zwelling Both the Houston Chronicle and the on-line version of the NY Times via Kindle (by-line Associated Press) have reported on December 7 that the inquiry into the misdeeds that hampered CPRIT’s progress and held up the awarding of grants has resulted in a single indictment.