Month: February 2010

A father of three, a loving husband, and a failed pundit, Edward Samuelson was not ready. For years, he’d struggled far from the limelight. He wrote position papers, articles and even books on a wide variety of topics he thought were fascinating. He also believed his takes on these diverse areas were accurate, insightful and… Continue reading Day #56: Confidence Game

I’m a wart on the face of the planet. That is the kindest thing my critics have to say of me. When I die, I hope they’ll put that on my tombstone. In every direction, in every land, peace reigns. Not just peace between nations. Indeed, there are no nations – just cultural theme parks… Continue reading Day #55: Journey

The city is huge. Like any city, it has its sections of palatial mansions and downtown government towers. But mostly, it is occupied by shanties and rundown housing. The city is a war zone, i’s downtown shielded off  with concentric layers of security, anti-mortar systems and an array of other technologies. In one corner of… Continue reading Day #54: UAV

The darkness was nearly complete. Clouds covered what moon there was and a slight drizzle seems to encompass everything else. In a generic cargo van, four men were crowded around a single monitor. On it, there was an increasingly scratchy video feed. A women was there. Asian. She was looking into the camera. She kept repeating the same… Continue reading Day #53: Live Feed

I got a bit sick folks and fell behind. I hope to catch up this long weekend.

“Today, we’ve got a very special guest!” The host, a solidly built woman with a firm personality, is parading in front of the cameras and her audience. “Would you please welcome, Moshe the Teacher!” The small audience claps enthusiastically, but politely as Moses walks in and sits on a large couch next to the Host’s… Continue reading Day #52: Talk Show Moses

Most days Julia Bendum wakes up late. Today, she’s up at 5:30 in the morning, far earlier than her son. She can’t help it. She showers, washing her dark hair. She looks in the mirror and sees a quiet face – a face that seems beat down by life’s troubles. She dresses. Jeans and a… Continue reading Day #51: Goal

It is hard to understand the Age of Progress without actually being here. The world is changing, like it never has before. 50 years ago, all the world was a frontier. Nature was certainly stronger than man. Hunger was the norm and there was a paucity of goods available to all but the very rich.… Continue reading Day #50: Time

I’m a good man, but nobody sees it. What they see is an unwashed vagrant. A man who lives in his car when he has one. And a man who disappears before anybody has a chance to know him. They see the truth and yet they miss so much. Which is why my present circumstance… Continue reading Day #49: Angel of Life

“I’ve got bad news,” said the General, somberly, “It ain’t popular.” The General is dressed in civilian clothes. We’re at a nice DC restaurant, one of those places with the sharp edged lines and soft lighting. He’s trying to fit in. Nonetheless, everything about him says military. He’s a man in his late 50s, experienced… Continue reading Day #48: Private War