Three honest words: “I don’t know”

By John Silveira Issue #63 • May/June, 2000 As we enter another political campaign season I'm reminded of my three favorite words: "I don't know." Some years back, when I lived in southern California, I met the...

Introducing the international tax cartel

By Dave Duffy February 13, 2001 Democrats on Capitol Hill aren't the only ones who don't like President Bush's $1.6 trillion tax cut plan. A group of Western European nations think they should have global veto...

Tomato-Avocado-Buttermilk Soup

Recipe of the Week  Tomato-Avocado-Buttermilk Soup  Courtesy of Jimmy Andalli  Ingredients 3 pounds tomatoes, peeled and seeded 2 tablespoons tomato paste 1 cup buttermilk 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 avocado, mashed to a puree Juice of 1 lemon 2 tablespoons finely minced fresh parsley Salt...

Terrorist attack! Was this predictable?

By John Silveira September 11, 2001 I was awakened to news about the suicide attacks by my daughter. Quite frankly, I thought it was the beginning of a bad joke she'd heard and I was expecting...

Artichoke Omelet Appetizer

Recipe of the Week  Artichoke Omelet Appetizer  Courtesy of Patti LaBeck  Ingredients 2 jars marinated artichoke hearts 8 ounces sharp Cheddar cheese, grated 4 eggs, beaten slightly 1 small onion, chopped 1/4 cup Italian flavored bread crumbs 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon white pepper 1 teaspoon...

Is it time for an education revolution?

By Dave Duffy Issue #77 • September/October, 2002 Education is important, right? Of course it is. Then college must be really important, right? ... Did I hear some of you pause before saying, "Well, yeah, I...

Zucchini with green chilies

Recipe of the Week  Zucchini with green chilies  Courtesy of Pat Ward   You'll find this recipe and over 400 more in Backwoods Home Cooking.Click Here Ingredients 2 lbs. zucchini, cubed into 1/2-inch thickness 1 large onion, diced 2 Tbsp. olive oil 1 6-oz....

Fixing a broken jury system

By John Silveira “I blame every juror who let him go, every juror who sat on that trial and believed this man over those little girls. I will never understand. And that is why he...

Hot Artichoke Dip

Recipe of the Week  Hot Artichoke Dip  Courtesy of Frank Felts  Ingredients 1 (14 ounce) can Artichoke Hearts, drained and coarsely chopped 1 cup Parmesan Cheese 8 ounces Cream Cheese, at room temperature 1/2 cup Mayonnaise 1/2 Teaspoon dill weed 1/4 teaspoon Garlic, minced Method Preheat...

Raspberry Pears with Chocolate Sauce

Recipe of the Week  Raspberry Pears with Chocolate Sauce  Courtesy of Lyle Staple  Ingredients 2 cups cranberry/raspberry juice 1/2 cup port wine (optional) 1/2 cup raspberry syrup (use 1 cup if port wine is omitted) 3 2" x 1" strips...

Eggplant salad

Recipe of the Week  Eggplant salad  Courtesy of Habeeb Salloum   You'll find this recipe and over 400 more in Backwoods Home Cooking.Click Here Ingredients 1 large eggplant (about 2 lbs.) oil for frying 4 cloves garlic, crushed 1 small hot pepper, very finely...

The curse of oil

By John Silveira Issue #82 • July/August, 2003 To many, the oil beneath the sands of the Middle East is a kind of godsend for them. My take on it is that it's illusionary wealth in...

Why not risk it all!

By Dave Duffy Issue #64 • July/August, 2000 I got this letter from a reader: Please cancel my subscription. I had the opportunity to read your editorial glorifying your agenda as a "paranoid, gun-toting nut." This is...

Lessons for My Children, Chapter 2: Statistics, history, and the rise of the Underground...

By Dave Duffy Issue #137 • September/October, 2012 I've always been a student of science and history. They tell you things many people don't know. I especially pay attention to statistics, which underlies all science, and...

Biological & chemical terrorism

By Dave Duffy Issue #73 • January/February, 2002 More than 5,000 American civilians lay entombed in the World Trade Center wreckage and more than 20,000 are taking antibiotics to fight off anthrax. America wages war against...

Spicy Beef and Peppers

Recipe of the Week  Spicy Beef and Peppers  Courtesy of Yvonne Melillo  Ingredients 2 lb sirloin steak, cut in 1/2 inch strips 2 bell peppers, cut in strips 2 cups chopped onion 6 green chiles, skinned, seeded, chopped 2 teaspoons fresh...