Fathers considering a victory lap after a day of accolades may not want to read this story . I did, and I now hold my manhood cheaper than I did even this morning. It is the tale of Dick Hoyt, the father of a severely disabled son whom, it was believed, was effectively brain dead from a birth injury.  The boy […]

Only 17 percent of eighth graders in the U.S. scored at the “proficient” level in a standardized test on American history this year, the National Assessment Governing Board reports.  And that’s supposed to be good news. Eighth graders were the only age group tested that actually improved its proficiency percentage in the past five years.  Fourth graders and high school seniors lost ground. […]

General Motors’ new chief executive, Dan Akerson, has been floating the idea of a special $1-per-gallon federal tax on gasoline in order to make people buy more fuel efficient cars. From Ackerson’s board room viewpoint I’m sure that looks like a good idea.  American’s have shown no interest in buying his electric Chevy Volt, so maybe Washington can tax […]

Milne, [A]lan [A]lexander (1882-1956) British journalist and playwright, best known for his books for children, When We Were Very Young (1926), Now We Are Six (1927), and The House at Pooh Corner (1928.) (Christopher Milne explains how his father tactfully corrected his table manners.) “Once, when I was quite little, he came up to the nursery while I […]

In my haste to complain about shaving cream and Blackberry chargers this morning, I completely missed the “wood” of the day, as it’s called. The Wall Street Journal reports that the AARP is about to issue a seismic policy shift and agree to accept reforms in the Social Security system, which even it now recognizes is on […]

The New York Post editorial page turned a tactic threatened by NY Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D) on its head today.  For months, Silver has been trying to link the effort to cap property taxes in New York State — the highest in America —  to expanding, not just extending, New York’s arcane rent regulation […]

I’m reminded on recent mornings that it’s not just government that needs to change its ways in this country. U.S. businesses have some work to do, too, if they are going restore consumer confidence. It comes to me when shaving. I press a button on a can of Gillette each morning and out comes a […]

“The mightiest military alliance in history is only 11 weeks into an operation against a poorly armed regime in a sparsely populated country, yet many allies are beginning to run short of munitions, requiring the U.S., once more, to make up the difference.” — Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Libyan Campaign. (Reuters)

Did the sexual revolution somehow get misinterpreted by men on trains? Or is it just being used as an excuse to be selfish? I am constantly amazed at how many men today pretend not to see women standing while they are sitting — not just young women, but older ladies and pregnant women as well. […]

A couple months back I wrote a small item about the military tradition among Britain’s aristocracy.  I lamented that, with a few notable exceptions, that tradition no longer exists in the U.S.  We no longer see Gen. Teddy Roosevelt Jr’s charging ashore Utah Beach scenarios.  For the most part, we leave our fighting to the poor […]