How Scared Are You Today?

Do you suffer from paraskavedekatriaphobia (fear of Friday the 13th) or friggatriskaidekaphobia (morbid, irrational fear of Friday the 13? Maybe it’s triskaidekaphobia, fear of the number 13. In any event, there are some things you should know.

Why Did Judd Gregg Want The Job In The First Place?

Now, he’s saying:

It has become apparent during this process that this will not work for me as I have found that on issues such as the stimulus package and the Census, there are irresolvable conflicts for me,” Mr. Gregg said in a statement. “Prior to accepting this post, we had discussed these and other potential differences, but unfortunately we did not adequately focus on these concerns. We are functioning from a different set of views on many critical items of policy.”

But Obama Press Secretary Robert Gibbs says it was Gregg who reached out to Obama in …

On Thursday’s Radio Show…

• Naomi Klein, author of The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism, explains how the troubled economy is placing President Obama in a tug-o-war between corporate and democratic interests.

• On Charles Darwin’s 200th Birthday, are science and faith at odds? American Atheists President Ed Buckner debates Ray Comfort, author of You can Lead an Atheist to Evidence, But You Can’t Make Him Think.

• Can you survive the cut? It’s a special Valentine Edition of Sudden Death Radio!…

Palin and Ayers

Has a nice ring to it, no?  The man conservatives loved to demonize during the presidential campaign, the man Sarah Palin tried to use as exhibit A in the argument that Obama was “palling around with terrorists“,  says he sent a note to the former VP candidate suggesting they do a talk show called “Pallin’ Around With Sarah and Bill”.  But, in spite of Palin’s obvious love of the spotlight, Bill Ayers says he hasn’t heard back.

According to Ayers, Obama’s election was “a strike against white supremacy.” But, he says, his victory doesn’t change the …

Chuck Darwin Not Believable By Most

The father of evolution, born on the same day as Abe Lincoln, gets just a 39% approval rating.  A new Gallup poll shows that just 39% of Americans believe in the theory of evolution.  Twenty-five percent say they don’t believe in evolution and 36% have no opinion.

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There is a strong correlation between educated and non-educated people on this issue. The more educated you are the more likely it is that you believe in evolution.

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There is also a correlation between belief in evolution and church attendance.  The more you go …

White Castle Is The Love Castle

There can be nothing sexier than candlelight, table service, and sliders at the local White Castle.  And that’s what some lucky patrons will get on Valentine’s Day.  If you’re at one of the Valentine’s Day-friendly locations, you’ll even get silverware.  I grew up going to the White Castle in Lynbrook, LI.  Below, some happy patrons at that Sunrise Highway location, enjoying the best shakes and fries money can buy.

If life gets better than this, please tell me where and how.…

On Wednesday’s Radio Show…

• White House Deputy Press Secretary Jen Psaki tells Alan how the finalized stimulus will get America’s economy back on track.

• Barry Lynn of Americans United for Separation of Church and State responds to Mike Huckabee’s claim that the stimulus bill is “anti-religious.”

• Alan explains why Tom Harkin’s desire to bring back the Fairness Doctrine is so misguided.…

Crisis? What Crisis? These Businesses Are Doing Great!

Foreclosure listing companies, real estate agents who focus on distressed properties, and grass painters are all doing very well in this economy.  Yes, grass painters. They paint the grass at homes being foreclosed because in many cases the city has turned off the water, and these paint jobs make the lawns look better.  They do the same thing at the Super Bowl.

Animal rescue, caretakers, credit repair services, locksmiths, and board-up folks are doing well, too.  Any other bright business ideas?

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This Year It’s A Sussex Spaniel

Stump, a 10-year-old Sussex Spaniel, has become the oldest dog to take Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club. Stump, with handler Scott Sommer (above), almost died in 2004, but was saved by the vets at Texas A&M.  As a Beagle owner, I was partial to last year’s winner, Uno, but how can  you not love Stump?…

British Resident In Gitmo For Reading Satirical Website

At least that’s what the British press is reporting.  According to the Daily Mail,  Binyam Mohamed was beaten, hung by his wrist for a week, and had a gun held to his head in a Pakistani jail before he admitted reading a joke website about how to build a nuclear weapon.  The former UK asylum seeker’s claim that he read the satire, based on an article in the magazine Seven Days, led the CIA to believe he was an al Qaeda terrorist.

Written by Barbara Ehrenreich, the publication’s food editor, Rolling Stone journalist Peter Biskind and scientist Michio …

On Tuesday’s Radio Show…

• Can the economy be saved? Alan weighs in on the newly passed stimulus and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner’s bank rescue plan.

• How will Obama’s plans to “directly engage” with Iran reduce the threat of terrorism? Alan gets the insight of Michael Scheuer, the former head of the CIA’s bin Laden Unit, whose latest book is Marching Toward Hell: America and Islam After Iraq.

• Should a “Truth Commission” probe possible crimes by the Bush administration? We’ll debate it.…