Author: Tom Faranda

The Dow Jones Industrial average hit an all-time high yesterday, and then gained 123 points (about 1%) today. The close today was 11,850.61. Nice of course… HOWEVER The DJIA is ony 30 stocks. The much broader S & P 500 closed at 1350.22 today. This is about 15 % below it’s all-time high of 1553.87.…

Here’s an article from The New Zealand Herald about a concern in the world-wide rugby community – the seriousness and high number of injuries among professional players. The players are bigger, faster, and stronger, with high velocity collisions in tackle and ball-winning situations (and only very light pads for the shoulders). It’s fantastic to watch,…

Brigid’s brother Neville, his wife Geri, and their daughter June just finished a lovely five day/four night visit with us. They’d flown in Thursday from England, where they were visiting other relatives, including Brigid’s two sisters and left Monday afternoon. They’ll have a couple of nights in LA and then fly to Brisbane, completing an…

The title of this editorial is The GOP Record: The Roots of Republican Failure in Congress. OpinionJournal – Featured Article Social Security reform was never going to be easy, and Mr. Bush’s war-driven decline in job approval meant he couldn’t move any Democrats. But that still doesn’t excuse such prominent Republicans as Tom Davis (Virginia)…

Yes, I’ve often wondered why dogs bite people – having been bitten seven times myself. My friend Ellen Mullin has provided the answer in this pictorial essay. So she again gets the credit (and the blame).

Well, not the whole family. Brigid’s brother Neville, his wife Geri, and their daughter June flew in today for a five day stay. They live in Australia and were visiting in England before arriving here. When they leave, they will fly west to Los Angeles for two days and then back to Australia. So they…

UPDATE #2 Thursday – Washington Post sensible editorial: A Good Estimate – washingtonpost.com The larger thrust of the report goes well beyond Iraq or the cacophony of the midterm election campaign. It says "the most powerful weapon in the war on terror" over time will be not military success in Iraq or the capturing and…

I’m sure that overwhelmingly, the men and women who have died in Iraq have been outstanding individuals. This certainly seems to be the case with this young woman, who is the first female graduate of the military academy to die in Iraq. West Point Mourns a Font Of Energy, Laid to Rest by War –…

My brother Paul died one year ago today. He died in the bathroom of his house in Texas, and wasn’t found for almost two days – he missed his dialysis so a friend came looking for him. For more about my brother, go here Tom Faranda’s Folly: Paul Faranda, 1958-2005  and here Tom Faranda’s Folly:…

The Washington post has a fascinating and sad feature about Franci Lupo, killed in the Marne, and recently identified. You may have to register with the Post to access the article; it’s free and easy. WWI Soldier Comes Home at Long Last – washingtonpost.com