I want to forewarn you that there may be some disruptions on the site. I am taking the plunge and upgrading the site's software. This will be a multi-step process. The upgrade is necessary for security (damn the spammers and hackers) and to add capabilities not available with the current version of the software.

The upgrade has required a redesign of all of the site templates - a major task for this site, and one prone to a problem or two.

Given the complexity of this particular upgrade, please email me with any problems that you run into - or things you like or dislike.

Thank you for your continued patronage of Uncommon Thought, and for your patience while it undergoes reconstruction.

I am disappointed with the view of some knowledgeable commentators over Scotland's release of the dying man who was convicted of the Lockerbie-airline bombing.

Dr. Christsakes took a yawning breath and pushed the oars deeper into the Stygian river. Sticks and stones can break my bones, he thought, but death panels won't hurt my business. His ferry to the other side was full of previously middleclass baby-boomers and his palliative crew was busy setting the final rigging in the cool autumn air. The pre-fabricated riverboat made flat line waves as they began their once-in-a-lifetime death trip across the river. Ironically, some religiously yearned to survive it. Since the recent election, it had been determined that rising insurance premiums were a pre-existing perdition and that those without healthcare would be forced to wander the banks of America for one hundred years.

With elections just around the corner in Afghanistan, it might be timely to reflect on the US engagement with that stricken nation and consider just how much foreign intervention has contributed to the prospect and possibility of free and democratic elections. More, it is fitting to consider what kind of example the US and its allies have given to the people of Afghanistan, if they have bestowed any wisdom and guidance for a nation facing a turbulent and uncertain future, to say the least.

The health reform debate is roaring, as it should be, and we are engaged in pressing the spineless Dems - including Obama - to stand up to the insurance companies and rescue American health care. We are in danger of distracting ourselves from another important situation: the US Attorneys appointed by Bush are still in place. These appointments were the brainchild of Karl Rove, and their express purpose was to pursue political prosecutions of Democratic office-holders, and to create cases of "voter fraud" in order to divert attention from very real election theft. It is beholden on President Obama and his AG Eric Holder to remove these political hacks and to charge them with criminal behavior where appropriate.

Editor's note: Here is another literary friction by Stratofrog. While most can figure out the cast of characters, here's some help. Widdledub is George W. Bush, and Blunderdick is Richard Cheney

EERIE, Pa. Recently reclusing and reproofing his forthcoming storybook at a library in Texas, Widdledub finally broke his silence on Oh-Balm-Ah, speaking to $1500 dollar tables at The Manufacturit & Busyness Association's 104th Annual Wingnutteroo. Breathing in the parrhasia and breathing out his displeasia he took to the stage benighted and feckless with a large helping of arcane verbal tendencies. Widdle began by serving up enigmatic drift and wooly treasons for his "Eight Year Reign of Error:"

In the heat of healthcare reform and the mobilization of radical shock troops, the economy has drifted with little public discussion. When it comes up, it is frequently within the context that "the worst is behind us;" "we're leveling off;" or "recovery is just around the corner." While I wish all of this was true, I am concerned that it is not. While I wish that the Obama administration were being more honest, I believe they are engaging in the same type of spin we became accustomed to under the Bush administration.

Thanks Kelly for bringing this to my attention

Dear President Obama,

I understand you're thinking of dumping your "public option" because of all the demagoguery by Sarah Palin and Dick Armey and Newt Gingrich and their crowd on right-wing radio and Fox. Fine. Good idea, in fact.

This is hardly the rational order of things. An overpowering military occupation was meant to be resisted by an equally determined, focused and unyielding national movement, hell-bent on liberation at any cost and by any means. This is the unwritten law that has governed and shielded successful national liberation projects throughout history. The Fatah movement, under Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, however, wants to alter that order, meeting Israeli colonialism with ill-defined 'pragmatism', extreme violence with press statements laden with endless clichés that mostly go unreported, and a determined Israeli attempt at squashing Palestinian aspirations with political tribalism, factional decay and internal divisions.

There exists today, a trinity of situations that confronts those of us who live in Western culture: global climate change, the peak and eventual end of non-renewable sources of fossil fuels (oil and gas), and economic meltdown. These issues are old news for much of the world. We in the wealthier nations are going to join the global community in attempting to find ways to survive and live amidst enormously trying circumstances.

Editor's Note: I am introducing a new author to Uncommon Thought. I believe that you will find Stratofrog's work incisive, highly pertinent, and humorous - I know I do. Stratofrog characterizes this style of writing as "literary friction." It fits. Welcome Stratofrog! ~Rowan Wolf

Blog-us-sphere, EARTH:

Like other dishwater poppyfish, mockshow host Shush Phlegmpaw extracted oxygen from over-the-air, as well as from supersillyously angry Re-Pelicans using a variety of aquamedia-structures to stir up the ailing atmosphere.

As we approach the eighth anniversary of 9/11 consider this paradox. In the post 9-11 years the scientific evidence for disbelieving the official government story has mounted incredibly. And the number of highly respected and credentialed professionals challenging the official story has similarly expanded. Yet, to the considerable disappointment of the international 9/11 truth movement, the objective fact is that there are no widespread, loud demands for a new government-backed 9/11 investigation. The 9/11 truth movement is the epitome of a marginalized movement, one that never goes away despite not achieving truly meaningful results, which in this case means replacing official lies with official truth. What has gone wrong?

Across the country there is a vocal minority who are loudly protesting certain issues. We have the "birther" folks who think that Obama is not a natural born citizen of the United States. We have the "deathers" (including Sarah Palin) who apparently think the government is going to use health care reform to kill the old and disabled. Then we have the anti-healthcare reformers who have a bucketfull of confusion and fears about socialism, fascism, and losing their "choice" in healthcare. All seem to be being spurred on by corporate backed "astroturf" organizations and by a few unethical media mouths.