Long Island Sentinel

Long Island Sentinel, December 5, 2011

2011-12-05T20:46:00.000-05:00

> Sports: NY Islanders – Could It Be Worse? On and off the ice, it could be worse for the New York Islanders. Couldn’t it? Well, Raymond J. Keating provides an example in his latest NY Examiner Sports Business column. Business and the Economy: Business Tips on TV #5 – A Chapter from “Chuck” vs. the Business World by Ray Keating Failure sucks. Nonetheless, failure is part of life, and it’s

Long Island Sentinel, October 24, 2011

2011-10-24T08:27:00.001-04:00

> Business and the Economy: Business Tips on TV #3 – Chuck and Getting the Kinks Out With season five of NBC’s Chuck getting under way on October 28, the third “Business Tips on TV" column by Ray Keating looks how a change in story might lend it self to some lessons in entrepreneurship. Politics and Society: First Cigarettes, Now Bacon and Eggs Economist Ralph Reiland takes a look at the

Long Island Sentinel, October 18, 2011

2011-10-18T09:29:00.000-04:00

Politics and Society: Tough Budget Calls in Suffolk County Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy calls on county legislators to get serious about working for the taxpayers when it comes to the county’s budget. Business and the Economy: Business Tips on TV #1 – Castle and Rejection Using the Castle TV show, the first “Business Tips on TV column by Ray Keating looks at the issue of failure or

Long Island Sentinel, September 27, 2011

2011-09-27T14:05:00.000-04:00

Culture & Entertainment: Business Tips on TV? Get the scoop on Ray Keating’s new book “Chuck” vs. the Business World: Business Tips on TV. Business and the Economy: Wrong Medicine for Sick Economy Economist Ralph Reiland sets the record straight on how much is paid by upper income earners versus their secretaries.

Long Island Sentinel, July 29, 2011

2011-07-29T16:40:00.001-04:00

• Business and the Economy: Nassau to Vote on Corporate Welfare for Islanders On Monday, August 1, Nassau County voters will go to the polls to vote on a referendum that would allow the county to borrow $400 million for a news arena for the New York Islanders, along with a minor league ballpark. In a piece for the New York Post, Ray Keating explains why taxpayer arena/stadium subsidies make no

Long Island Sentinel, April 11, 2011

2011-04-11T09:07:00.002-04:00

Religion: Book Excerpt – Torture, Terrorists and Just War by Ray Keating Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel is a tale about a former CIA agent who became a Lutheran pastor. A shooting at his church and an assignment to help protect the Pope mean that Grant’s former and current lives collide. This book excerpt – a discussion about terrorists, torture and “just war” – occurs during a

Long Island Sentinel, March 10, 2011

2011-03-10T18:30:00.000-05:00

Business and the Economy: Obama’s Two-Bit Nod to Capitalism By Ralph Reiland Last month, attempting to patch things up a bit with the business sector, President Obama began his February 7th speech at the U. S. Chamber of Commerce sounding more like Milton Friedman than Saul Alinsky. Culture and Entertainment: Top 10 Reasons Conservatives Should Love Warrior Monk Check out the top 10

Long Island Sentinel, February 1, 2011

2011-02-01T20:11:00.002-05:00

Politics and Society: Nassau County’s Continuing Crisis by Ray Keating In a New York Post oped, Ray Keating wonders if there are any adults left in Nassau County who could pull the county out of its long-running fiscal mess? Culture and Entertainment: Warrior Monk’s Keating in Spirit of Dan Brown by Todd Rutherford This review starts out: “Ray Keating’s Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen

Long Island Sentinel, January 18, 2011

2011-01-18T12:05:00.000-05:00

Religion: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity by Ray Keating January 18-25 is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Pope Benedict XVI had something to say about this, and so does Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel.

Long Island Sentinel, January 17, 2011

2011-01-17T14:34:00.000-05:00

Culture and Entertainment: Why Conservatives Should Love NBC’s "Chuck" by Ray Keating Nerds have many reasons to love NBC’s “Chuck,” but what about conservatives? In a National Review online piece, Keating explains why conservatives should embrace “Churck,” whether they happen to be nerds or not. Politics and Society: Red Flags, Conspiracy Kooks, and Jared Loughner by Ralph R. Reiland

Long Island Sentinel, January 7, 2011

2011-01-07T12:59:00.003-05:00

Culture and Entertainment: Touchstone Book Excerpt - Warrior Monk on Lutheranism Touchstone magazine has published as excerpt from Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel by Ray Keating on its “Mere Comments” blog. Read the introduction and go to the full article.

Long Island Sentinel, January 6, 2011

2011-01-06T08:48:00.000-05:00

Culture and Entertainment: Profile of Novelist St. Joseph’s College focuses on Ray Keating, author of Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel, in its latest “Alumni Spotlight.” Business and the Economy: Mandatory Anti-Entrepreneurial Posters?! By Ralph R. Reiland Just when it looked like employers were getting less fearful about what President Obama might do next to worsen the

Long Island Sentinel, January 4, 2011

2011-01-04T09:14:00.000-05:00

Business and the Economy: Debit Card Impose New Burdens by Raymond J. Keating Keating takes a look at new regulations imposed on debit cards. Business and the Economy: Fracking Ban? by Raymond J. Keating Keating looks at the fracking process for extracting oil and gas from rock. Business and the Economy: Loose Money a Bad Economic Idea by Raymond J. Keating What’s the problem

Long Island Sentinel, December 20, 2010

2010-12-20T08:59:00.001-05:00

Religion: Two Popes on Relativism, Secularism and Islamic Fascism by Raymond J. Keating Oscar Wilde wrote: “Life imitates art far more than art imitates life.” That quote hit home when I read Pope Benedict XVI’s message for World Day of Peace, January 1, 2011, released on December 16. It turns out that Pope Benedict’s declaration struck very similar themes as the fictional Pope Augustine

Long Island Sentinel, December 15, 2010

2010-12-15T17:04:00.000-05:00

Business & the Economy: Special Place, Special Business Owner by Ralph Reiland Reiland salutes a businesswoman who owned a special restaurant in New York, and recently passed away. Culture and Entertainment: Podcast on the Writing Process In a new podcast, Ray Keating, author of a new book Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel, touches on the process of writing.

Long Island Sentinel, December 10, 2010

2010-12-10T16:38:00.000-05:00

Business and the Economy: NY and NJ Against Small Business by Raymond J. Keating In a New York Post op-ed, Keating looks at how hostile New York and New Jersey are towards entrepreneurs. Business and the Economy: States and Small Business by Raymond J. Keating State politicians say they love small business. But in which states do elected officials actually show entrepreneurs some

Long Island Sentinel, November 19, 2010

2010-11-19T08:34:00.000-05:00

Culture & Entertainment: Review of Warrior Monk A nice review of Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel from “Liturgy, Hymnody, and Pulpit Quarterly Book Review.” Business and the Economy: Thanksgiving Thanks to Battered Businesses by Raymond J. Keating What do you have to be thankful for this Thanksgiving? How about the role that many businesses play in our daily lives? Politics

Long Island Sentinel, November 15, 2010

2010-11-15T18:45:00.000-05:00

Religion: From Spy to Pastor Podcast by Raymond J. Keating What's Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel about? Where did the idea come from? And what got the author, Ray Keating, writing? Find out by listening to the first Warrior Monk podcast. Business and the Economy: Goose Egg for Net Neutrality Crowd by Raymond J. Keating As an economist, I often ponder the following question: Why

Long Island Sentinel, November 1, 2010

2010-10-31T21:26:00.000-04:00

Politics and Society: Tomorrow, A Time for Patriotism by Ralph R. Reiland Here’s a thought regarding tomorrow’s voting, from Samuel Adams (1722-1803), a leader in the movements that became the Boston Tea Party and the American Revolution, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and the governor of Massachusetts from 1793 to 1797. Politics and Society: Tsunami to Blast Obama and

Long Island Sentinel, October 30-31, 2010

2010-10-30T14:41:00.000-04:00

Religion: Halloween or Reformation Day By Raymond J. Keating October 31 is not just Halloween, but Reformation Day. Check out an excerpt from Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel, and added thoughts on what Reformation Day is about. Business and the Economy: Centralized Hot Air vs. Economic Reality by Ralph R. Reiland An excellent piece on Cuba before Castro, and since Castro took

Long Island Sentinel, October 28, 2010

2010-10-29T20:48:00.000-04:00

Business and the Economy: Keating on Fox Business Economist Ray Keating was a guest on Fox Business talking about the economic ills of the death tax. Business and the Economy: Obama – Too Foreign, Too Anti-Business by Ralph R. Reiland What’s very weird, even a bit “foreign,” not unlike how self-declared communist leader Hugo Chavez in Venezuela regularly demonizes the

Long Island Sentinel, October 13, 2010

2010-10-13T08:19:00.000-04:00

Business and the Economy: Our Jobs-Killing Politicians by Raymond J. Keating In an October 13 New York Post commentary piece, Raymond J. Keating asks: “If our elected officials in New York love small businesses as much as they claim, then why do they keep voting to make life so difficult for entrepreneurs?”

Long Island Sentinel, October 6, 2010

2010-10-06T08:29:00.000-04:00

Sports: Payroll, Playoffs and the Mets by Raymond J. Keating The baseball playoffs start on Wednesday. The New York Mets, of course, will be playing golf and/or watching the games on television. The Mets provide the best evidence that big payrolls do not necessarily mean making the postseason. Business and the Economy: Obama on Jobs by Ralph R. Reiland Stuck with the fact that we need

Long Island Sentinel, October 5, 2010

2010-10-05T08:22:00.001-04:00

Sports: Volquez and the Reds by Raymond J. Keating Why is Edinson Volquez getting the ball for the Reds to start against the Phillies on Wednesday?

Long Island Sentinel, October 4, 2010

2010-10-04T08:21:00.001-04:00

Religion: Heroic Pastor Saves Pope Russell E. Saltzman, pastor of Ruskin Heights Lutheran Church in Kansas City, Missouri, reviews Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel by Ray Keating. He calls it “a fun adventure romp.”

Long Island Sentinel, October 2, 2010

2010-10-02T22:30:00.000-04:00

Culture & Entertainment: Keating Talks Warrior Monk on the Radio, Part III Check out Part III of Ray Keating’s interview with radio talk show host Jim Blasingame about Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel and the publishing business.

Long Island Sentinel, September 30, 2010

2010-09-30T19:52:00.000-04:00

Culture & Entertainment: Keating Talks Warrior Monk on the Radio, Part II Check out Part II of Ray Keating’s interview with radio talk show host Jim Blasingame about Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel and the publishing business.

Long Island Sentinel, September 29, 2010

2010-09-29T13:46:00.003-04:00

Culture & Entertainment: Keating Talks Warrior Monk on the Radio Check out Part I of Ray Keating’s interview with radio talk show host Jim Blasingame about Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel and the publishing business. Business and the Economy: Obama’s Fairness Backfiring by Ralph R. Reiland We raise taxes on things we want to discourage, like cigarettes, and we lower taxes on

Long Island Sentinel, September 26, 2010

2010-09-26T18:58:00.002-04:00

Culture and Entertainment: Newsday's Henican on Warrior Monk Newsday columnist Ellis Henican gives a shout out on Ray Keating’s new book titled Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel. Business and the Economy: Castro, Obama and Irrationality of Statism by Ralph R. Reiland At least for a few moments recently, we had the strange spectacle of President Obama sounding more like a

Long Island Sentinel, September 23, 2010

2010-09-22T23:15:00.000-04:00

Warrior Monk Novel Features Former CIA Assassin Turned PastorFormer Newsday columnist and current Dolan Media Company columnist Ray Keating has published his first novel – Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel.Warrior Monk revolves around a former CIA assassin, Stephen Grant, who has lived a far different, relatively quiet life as a parish pastor in recent years.

Long Island Sentinel, September 21, 2010

2010-09-20T23:35:00.000-04:00

NY Sports Business: Revis, NY Jets and Contractsby Raymond J. KeatingNew York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis wanted more money – a lot more money. Hey, who doesn’t? And Revis got it. Unfortunately.Business and the Economy: Obama’s Rich-Bashing and Economic Ignoranceby Ralph R. ReilandWith 15 million workers unemployed and another 11 million underemployed, President Obama recently decided that the

Long Island Sentinel, September 17, 2010

2010-09-17T12:21:00.002-04:00

Politics and Society:Back-to-School Advice for Studentsby Ralph R. ReilandGood back-to-school advice – in particular, for those in college.Business and the Economy:Wonderful Song and Video on GovernmentFound a great song and video that captures what government is all about in the end.

Long Island Sentinel, September 15, 2010

2010-09-15T17:46:00.002-04:00

Politics and Society:Clingin’ in Pittsburghby Ralph R. ReilandOn President Obama and the idea that people cling to their guns.Religion:Solid Theology and Amusing, TooCan good Christian theology be fun, too?

Long Island Sentinel, September 13, 2010

2010-09-13T08:52:00.001-04:00

Politics and Society:GOP-Tea Party Train Wreck Coming?by John LeBoutillierThis year’s elections are going to be a smash success for the GOP – and for conservatives and for traditional small-government, lower-tax conservatism – and especially for the Tea Party movement. But how will this political marriage fare down the road?

Long Island Sentinel, August 24, 2010

2010-08-24T08:48:00.001-04:00

Religion:America and a Mosque Near Ground Zeroby Russell E. SaltzmanSaltzman reflects on what it means to be an American, and what that, in turn, means about a mosque near Ground Zero.

Long Island Sentinel, August 20, 2010

2010-08-20T18:27:00.001-04:00

Religion:Lutherans, Catholics and Going for a WalkThe 500th anniversary of the Reformation approaches in 2017. This has spurred an interesting article by Sarah Hinlicky Wilson, the editor of the Lutheran Forum, about following in the footsteps of Martin Luther.Business and the Economy:Monkeying Around with Tax Dollars and the Economyby Ralph R. ReilandRemember those stories about Nero playing the

Long Island Sentinel, August 16, 2010

2010-08-16T18:37:00.001-04:00

Business and the Economy:Robbin’ the ‘Rich,’ Gettin’ Even, & Wreckin’ the Economyby Ralph R. ReilandDemocrats in Congress, frightened by what voters are likely to do in November, have been given their marching orders by the Obama administration. We're to be told that we're now enjoying "Recovery Summer," an economic turnaround that's the direct result of unprecedented government spending on

Long Island Sentinel, August 5, 2010

2010-08-05T15:52:00.000-04:00

Culture & Entertainment: “Covert Affairs” vs. “Rubicon”by Raymond J. KeatingAugust 5, 2010Two new spy shows have hit cable television recently – “Covert Affairs” (USA on Tuesday nights at 10:00 PM EST) and “Rubicon” (AMC on Sunday nights at 9:00 PM EST). Which comes out on top in this TV spy competition?Politics and Society: Slippin’ and a-slidin’by Ralph R. ReilandI don’t write a self-help

Long Island Sentinel, August 4, 2010

2010-08-04T13:19:00.001-04:00

Politics and Society:Why Not Truly Free SUNY and CUNY?by Raymond J. KeatingCentral to New York’s late state budget this year was wrangling over a bill to provide the State University of New York and City University of New York with greater autonomy from Albany’s dysfunctional politics. But how about even more fundamental reform: Why not complete autonomy for SUNY and CUNY through privatization?

Long Island Sentinel, July 23, 2010

2010-07-23T14:28:00.001-04:00

Politics and Society:“I Won’t Die for a $9 Pie”by Ralph ReilandThere’s no right to have a pizza delivered in a neighborhood where drivers have to worry about dodging bullets in order to get to the front door. The recent headlines on the TV evening news in Pittsburgh tell the story. “Pizza Delivery Driver Shot in Hill District One Day After Police Warning.”

Long Island Sentinel, July 16, 2010

2010-07-16T08:21:00.000-04:00

Religion: Lutherans Making News vs. Offering Good Newsby Raymond J. KeatingSince the late twentieth century, when a Christian church body has made headlines, it’s usually bad news. For example, in August 2009, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America abandoned the authority of Holy Scripture by giving thumbs up to gay marriage and ordaining sexually active homosexuals into the pastoral ministry

Long Island Sentinel, July 15, 2010

2010-07-15T21:33:00.000-04:00

Business and Economics: Obama vs. Reality on the Economyby Ralph R. ReilandWith job creation in the private sector basically dead and a growing number of jobless workers ceasing to even look for work any longer, the number of people officially counted as part of the U.S. labor force shrank by 652,000 in June. Yet, President Obama declared the June jobs report to be good news.Culture and

Long Island Sentinel, May 13, 2010

2010-05-13T19:29:00.001-04:00

Politics and Society:Keating in NY Post on School Budget VotesRaymond J. Keating opened a recent opinion piece in the New York Post as follows: “New Jerseyans voted down a record number of public-school-district budgets last month. New Yorkers will have a chance to do the same on May 18 -- and should.”Business and Economics:Keating Talks Taxes on Fox BusinessRaymond J. Keating recently appeared

Long Island Sentinel, May 3, 2010

2010-05-03T18:31:00.001-04:00

Politics and Society:Scary Tea Parties?by Ralph R. ReilandThe Pulitzers for top-notch journalism aren’t what they used to be. I was at the Pittsburgh Tea Party on April 15th in Mellon Square and Mr. Eugene Robinson, a Pulitzer winner for outstanding commentary, got it far from outstandingly accurate on several counts.

Long Island Sentinel, April 26, 2010

2010-04-26T11:52:00.000-04:00

Sports: Scratch Government from Horse Racingby Raymond J. Keating Corruption, shady jobs, payola, cooked books, wise guys -- and oceans of red ink. For many, that's what comes to mind when they think of horse racing. In New York, much of the industry's woes can be traced to one source: government. Isn't it time we scratch state and local government -- and politics -- from the card, once and for

Long Island Sentinel, April 23, 2010

2010-04-23T14:34:00.000-04:00

Sports: Four Jobs Where You Can Be Wrongby Raymond J. KeatingAfter listening to analysis leading up to and after the first round of the NFL draft, I discovered another nice job where you can be dead wrong and it just doesn’t matter.

Long Island Sentinel, April 20, 2010

2010-04-20T09:59:00.001-04:00

Religion:Lutheran Leanings: Earth Day – Green Morality vs. Biblical Morality?by Raymond J. KeatingApril 22 is “Earth Day” – a date that the green movement treats as sacred. The question is: What should Christian churches do, if anything, with this day?Business and the Economy:Plucking the Fortunate Chickensby Ralph R. ReilandHere’s the news from The New York Times on the day before tax day: “

Long Island Sentinel, April 15, 2010

2010-04-15T18:04:00.001-04:00

Politics and Society:Who Has the Right Stuff Among GOP Governor Candidates?By Raymond J. KeatingIn an op-ed in the New York Post titled “Who’s Got the Right Stuff? A Look at GOP Gov Candidates,” Raymond J. Keating evaluates the Republican candidates for governor in New York. Is there a true Republican among the three?Business and the Economy:Taxing the Rich is Bad for Everyoneby Raymond J.

Long Island Sentinel, April 13, 2010

2010-04-13T09:49:00.001-04:00

Politics and Society:Where Do All Those Tax Dollars for Education Go?By Raymond J. KeatingIn a New York Post op-ed, Raymond J. Keating looks at the tremendous costs of public schools in New York, and where the money actually goes.Business and the Economy:Not a Dimeby Ralph R. ReilandObama’s big promise is that the vast majority of the U.S. population can get tons of free stuff from the government

Long Island Sentinel, April 7, 2010

2010-04-07T10:53:00.001-04:00

Sports: LI Golf – Practicing at Eisenhower Parkby Raymond J. KeatingThe weather turned warm on Monday (April 6). Buds and blooming flowers were spotted. Birds were chirping. And since the pros tee off at the Masters this Thursday, my golf clubs were calling from their dark corner of the garage.Politics and Society: Looming Slaughter for the Democratsby John LeBoutillierSince the health care bill

Long Island Sentinel, April 6, 2010

2010-04-06T09:55:00.000-04:00

Business and the Economy: ObamaCare vs. Jobsby Ralph R. ReilandNow that ObamaCare has been enacted, we definitely won't be knocking any new archways through the wall at our restaurant and expanding into the empty storefront next door. With a waiting line on weekends, we could use the additional seats. The adjacent space could also be turned into a party room with seating for 50, perfect for

Long Island Sentinel, March 24, 2010

2010-03-24T18:46:00.000-04:00

Politics & Society: Obama’s Health Care Deceptions to the Very Endby Ralph R. ReilandWhat became quickly obvious while watching President Obama’s recent interview about health care reform with Bret Baier on FOX is that we failed to getstraight answers about the proposed reforms to the every end -- and this after a year of health care being the No. 1 priority at the Obama White House.Politics &

Long Island Sentinel, March 18, 2010

2010-03-18T13:04:00.000-04:00

Politics and Society: Obama’s Perfect Formula for Self Destructionby Ralph R. ReilandIt’s not difficult to understand the fall of Obama --- the largest presidential drop in Gallup’s approval ratings in half a century. Just start with Obama’s overly-cocky notion that he’s exceptional and America isn’t.

Long Island Sentinel, March 15, 2010

2010-03-15T09:08:00.001-04:00

Politics and Society:Where to Start Cutting in the New York State Budgetby Raymond KeatingLt. Governor Richard Ravitch served up gimmicks to fix the New York State budget. Keating offers substance.

Long Island Sentinel, March 10, 2010

2010-03-10T16:28:00.000-05:00

Politics and Society: Two Economists as New York GOP Senate Candidates – Anyone, Anyone?by Raymond J. KeatingWhen it comes to serious candidates for U.S. Senate races this year, New York Republicans resemble zoned-out high school students from the movie “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” learning about economics. But how about a couple of economists to challenge Senators Schumer and Gillibrand? Anyone,

Long Island Sentinel, March 9, 2010

2010-03-09T14:58:00.000-05:00

Politics and Society: Losing Faith in the Fedsby Ralph R. Reiland“The majority of Americans say the government poses an immediate threat to individual rights and freedoms,” stated CNN, summarizing the results of a recent CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll.

Long Island Sentinel, March 5, 2010

2010-03-05T12:58:00.000-05:00

Sports:Starting Wimps?by Raymond J. KeatingWhen exactly did starting pitchers become such wimps? Of perhaps more accurately, when did they start getting treated like wimps?Politics and Society: Obama’s Obsessionby John LeBoutillierThe March 3 announcement from President Obama that he is making the final push for his signature health care bill has enormous political, economic and medical

Long Island Sentinel, March 3, 2010

2010-03-03T08:30:00.000-05:00

Sports:The Sporting Fellow: Olympian Lossesby Raymond J. KeatingLosing is never fun. But some losses are harder on fans than others. But which is worse – the long, inevitable defeat, or the sudden loss when so close to winning it all? Well, think about the different between the U.S. hockey team and the New York Islanders.

Long Island Sentinel, March 2, 2010

2010-03-02T14:55:00.000-05:00

Politics and Society: American Collectivism – A Record of Failureby Ralph R. ReilandThe hype is always better than the real thing. As Reiland makes clear, that is particularly the case with big government projects and crusades.

Long Island Sentinel, February 24, 2010

2010-02-24T08:57:00.001-05:00

Business and the Economy: Krugman Cracks Up Over Obama's "Lemon Socialism"by Ralph R. ReilandPaul Krugman, a top columnist and liberal opinion-maker at The New York Times, sounded last week like he was tied to the tracks and saw a train coming around the bend. “We’re doomed,” he cried. “Oh. My. God.” The melodramatic periods after each of the aforementioned words are Krugman’s punctuation,

Long Island Sentinel, February 23, 2010

2010-02-23T08:59:00.001-05:00

Business and the Economy:New York City Against Entrepreneursby Raymond J. KeatingNew York City is a lousy place to start up, run or invest in a small business, but city officials don't seem to have a clue as to what to do about it.

Long Island Sentinel, February 22, 2010

2010-02-22T00:22:00.001-05:00

Sports:The Sporting Fellow: Yankees Better or Worse?by Raymond J. KeatingThe Yankees prepare for the 2010 season as reigning World Series champions for the first time since they won the 2000 Series. With a 2009 record of 103-59 (best in baseball), leaving the Red Sox eight games behind, and earning their 27th championship, the only question is: Are the Yankees better off or worse heading into

Long Island Sentinel, February 17, 2010

2010-02-17T13:45:00.000-05:00

Sports:The Sporting Fellow: Don’t Blame Citi Fieldby Raymond J. KeatingSome fans and analysts have blamed the Mets’ lack of homerun clout in 2009 on moving into Citi Field last year. But the numbers reveal that the Mets cannot blame the ballpark.

Long Island Sentinel, February 16, 2010

2010-02-16T11:03:00.001-05:00

Business and the Economy: Obama’s Anti-Business Prejudiceby Ralph R. ReilandWhatever happened to the Constitutional concept of equal protection under the law? Whatever happened to the recognition that it’s overwhelmingly the nation’s private sector that delivers the jobs, goods and services, and our overall well-being? With his proposed change in forgiveness rules on student loans, President

Long Island Sentinel, February 15, 2010

2010-02-15T14:32:00.001-05:00

Sports:The Sporting Fellow: What 2009 Says About 2010 for the Metsby Raymond J. KeatingFinally, pitchers and catchers report this week, and we can get focused on the 2010 baseball season. But before diving into forward-looking thoughts, opinions and analyses, let’s review what 2009 says about the New York Mets’ needs for 2010.

Long Island Sentinel, February 11, 2010

2010-02-11T09:28:00.001-05:00

Business and the Economy:New York’s Public Fat CatsBy Raymond J, KeatingIn this piece for the New York Post, Keating looks at the big taxpayer costs for public-sector employment in New York.

Long Island Sentinel, February 10, 2010

2010-02-10T16:30:00.000-05:00

Politics and Society: On Sarah Palinby John LeBoutillierThe former Long Island congressman offers his take on Sarah Palin.

Long Island Sentinel, February 8, 2010

2010-02-08T16:54:00.000-05:00

Business and the EconomyObamanomics Digs America into Deeper Holeby Ralph R. ReilandWe’re already on the hook for about a half million dollars per household just to pay for the unfunded liabilities in Social Security and Medicare, according to David M. Walker, former comptroller general of the United States and head of the Government Accountability Office from 1998 to 2008. And President Obama is

Long Island Sentinel, February 5, 2010

2010-02-05T10:49:00.001-05:00

Sports:The Sporting Fellow: Pick for the Super Bowl? Do I Have To?by Raymond J. KeatingThe question is: Who is going to win the Super Bowl? Quite frankly, I could not care less.

Long Island Sentinel, February 3, 2010

2010-02-03T09:14:00.000-05:00

Culture and Entertainment: Review of “Avatar”by Raymond J. KeatingJames Cameron’s “Avatar” received nine Academy Award nominations on Tuesday (February 2), including for Best Picture and Best Directing. I finally got around to seeing the blockbuster over the weekend. So, now my question is this: Has any previous film this bad ever received this many Oscar nominations?

Long Island Sentinel, February 2, 2010

2010-02-02T08:54:00.000-05:00

Business and the Economy: Obama Doesn’t “Get It”by Ralph R. ReilandIs there anyone out there who thinks Barack Obama hasn’t been on TV enough, hasn’t been on enough magazine covers, or hasn’t done enough softball interviews? It seemed to me that he was vastly overexposed, getting old. I thought the next thing was giant portraits of Obama on the side of buildings, like Fidel in Havana.Politics

Long Island Sentinel, February 1, 2010

2010-02-01T09:04:00.000-05:00

Politics and Society:New York’s Bloated Public School Spendingby Raymond J. KeatingIs Gov. Paterson out to destroy public education in New York? You might think so from "the sky is falling" reaction to his proposed 2010-11 budget, which would cut state aid to public schools by 4.9 percent, or a little over $1 billion. In reality, New York's schools are bloated, particularly with big fat salaries

Long Island Sentinel, January 27, 2010

2010-01-27T16:38:00.000-05:00

Politics and Society:Seven Prudent Steps to Tackle Our Nation’s Big-Spending ProblemsWith tonight’s State of the Union speech, and as the U.S. Senate continues to deliberate on amendments to the bill to raise the Federal debt ceiling yet again, Americans for Tax Reform offer a quick look at a few prudent reforms that would help bring our fiscal house in order without burdening taxpayers. Politics

Long Island Sentinel, January 25, 2010

2010-01-25T13:07:00.000-05:00

Politics and Society: Racist Codes and Naked Threatsby Ralph R. ReilandDid you know that trucks were racist? Reiland takes a look at a revealing exchange between MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann and Newsweek’s Howard Fineman regarding Republican Scott Brown and the result in Massachusetts.

Long Island Sentinel, January 23-24, 2010, Update

2010-01-24T17:15:00.000-05:00

Sports: Are Sports Leagues Monopolies?By Raymond J. KeatingSuper Bowl XLIV will be played in Miami on Feb. 7 to determine this season’s National Football League champion. But the NFL was involved in a very different contest on Jan. 13. It was a legal battle before the U.S. Supreme Court. The case – American Needle v. NFL – could help clarify how antitrust law is applied to sports leagues.

Long Island Sentinel, January 23-24, 2010

2010-01-24T13:32:00.001-05:00

Politics and Society: Long Island Democrat for GOP Governor?By Raymond J. KeatingWhat about Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy, a Democrat, running for governor as a Republican? Hey, stranger things have happened in politics -- like Scott Brown's winning the late Ted Kennedy's Senate seat in Tuesday's historic upset.

Long Island Sentinel, January 21, 2010

2010-01-21T15:54:00.001-05:00

Sports:The Sporting Fellow: Who Is Going to the Super Bowl?by Raymond J. KeatingSo, which teams are going to the Super Bowl? Keating offers his analysis, while making a confession.Religion:Lutheran Church President on Roe v. WadeThe Reverend Gerald B. Kieschnick, president of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, released a statement on January 20 regarding the 37th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme

Long Island Sentinel, January 20, 2010

2010-01-20T09:17:00.001-05:00

Culture and Entertainment: “Human Target” on Targetby Raymond J. KeatingFunny. Exceedingly smart. Handsome. Handy in all kinds of combat. And smooth with the ladies. Who am I talking about? It could, of course, be James Bond. But it’s not. Instead, it’s Christopher Chance. And the show is “Human Target,” which premiered on Sunday night on Fox. Business and the Economy: On the Railsby Ralph R.

Long Island Sentinel, January 19, 2010

2010-01-19T13:15:00.000-05:00

Culture and Entertainment: Jack in New York – Day 8 of “24”by Raymond J. KeatingJack is back, and this time he’s right here, trying to save New York City. The four-hour, two-night premiere of the eighth season – or “Day 8” – of “24” offered the just-right mix of intrigue, old and new characters, mystery, and of course, suspense and action.Politics and Society: The End of the Obama Revolutionby

Long Island Sentinel, January 15, 2010

2010-01-15T09:24:00.000-05:00

Sports:The Sporting Fellow: Picks for NFL Divisional Playoffsby Raymond J. KeatingWe’re down to the final eight NFL teams. Which teams are going to win this weekend’s games? Get the rundown here.

Long Island Sentinel, January 12, 2010

2010-01-12T14:50:00.000-05:00

Business and the Economy:From Florida -- Cold Oranges, Hot Commies, Etc.by Ralph R. ReilandReiland offers a look at what cold weather in Florida tells us about the economy, agriculture, global warming and French tourists.

Long Island Sentinel, January 11, 2010

2010-01-11T12:45:00.000-05:00

Sports:The Sporting Fellow: Wild Wildcard Weekend, Golf and Baseballby Raymond J. KeatingThoughts on the wild Packers-Cardinals game, Ogilvy winning in Hawaii, and where Cuban pitching star Aroldic Chapman signed.

Long Island Sentinel, January 8, 2010

2010-01-08T14:15:00.000-05:00

Sports:The Sporting Fellow: Picks for the NFL Wildcard Weekendby Raymond J. KeatingWhat’s clear about the NFL’s Wildcard Weekend is that the games are wide open. No big favorites are in the mix.

Long Island Sentinel, January 7, 2010

2010-01-07T16:37:00.000-05:00

Politics and Society: Rockefeller Drug Reforms Have Drastic Unintended Consequencesby Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy and Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas SpotaLawmakers and editorial writers collectively hailed last year’s rollback of the Rockefeller Drug Laws. These laws were originally enacted as a reaction to the devastation of our communities by relentless drug addiction, which

Long Island Sentinel, January 6, 2010

2010-01-06T16:03:00.001-05:00

Sports:The Sporting Fellow: PGA Tour Kicks Off in Hawaiiby Raymond J. KeatingMy love-hate relationship with golf gets rekindled tomorrow (January 7). The SBS Championship marks the kickoff of the 2010 PGA Tour season. Last year’s winners of PGA Tour events will gather on The Plantation Course at Kapalua on the Hawaiian island of Maui. Golf in Hawaii in January?Politics and Society: Health Care

Long Island Sentinel, January 5, 2010

2010-01-05T14:58:00.000-05:00

Religion:Lutheran Leanings: Hume, Tiger, Jesus and Buddhismby Raymond J. KeatingWell, we now know where the line is drawn when it comes debating the sex-capades of Tiger Woods. The golf, sex and divorce angles are OK. But religion? No way!

Long Island Sentinel, January 4, 2010

2010-01-04T09:52:00.000-05:00

Politics and Society: Watch and Spend Like It’s Your Own Moneyby Raymond J. KeatingIt’s amusing to here elected officials proclaim that they are going to make government efficient. Or, that they are going to run government like a private business. But what about the new Nassau County comptroller’s ideas on how to govern?Politics and Society: Crotch Bombers, Caulking and Now Health Care?by Ralph R

Long Island Sentinel, Weekend Edition, January 2-3, 2010

2010-01-02T21:28:00.000-05:00

Religion:A Spy Novel for Epiphany?by Raymond J. KeatingWhen was the last time you wished that someone would write a good spy novel tied to Epiphany? Never. Well, nonetheless, David Morrell offers The Spy Who Came for Christmas, and it is an enjoyable read.

Long Island Sentinel, December 28, 2009

2009-12-28T13:02:00.001-05:00

Politics and Society:The Fully Inept Tackle Health Careby Ralph R. ReilandAs I’m writing this, they’re in a panic in Congress, voting in the wee hours, bribing reluctant senators with millions in slush funds for their respective states, all to ram through a health reform bill that few if any of the lawmakers have even read, let alone intellectually reflected upon or debated.

Long Island Sentinel, December 21, 2009

2009-12-21T16:01:00.000-05:00

Politics and Society:A Greenie Christmas?by Ralph R. ReilandThe Christmas prescriptions from the green movement do not seem all that jolly. Indeed, they’re a bit nuts. Ralph Reiland explains.

Long Island Sentinel, December 16, 2009

2009-12-16T08:56:00.000-05:00

Politics and Society: Alarmists Running Hot and Coldby Ralph R. ReilandOur dreadful destiny was that we were either going to starve to death or be buried by advancing glaciers in a new Ice Age. The alleged villain was global cooling, coming faster than anyone had predicted. It wouldn’t be all that long before polar bears would be rummaging through the aisles of Macy’s in Manhattan. That was the

Long Island Sentinel, December 14, 2009

2009-12-14T09:28:00.000-05:00

Politics and Society: Keating in New York Post on Nassau County’s Political Earthquakeby Raymond J. KeatingTen years ago, an earthquake shook Long Island politics: Republicans lost control of the Nassau County Legislature. Two years later, Democrat Tom Suozzi won the county executive seat. Last month, another political earthquake swept the GOP back into power -- surprising most everyone,

Long Island Sentinel, December 11, 2009

2009-12-11T08:58:00.000-05:00

Politics and Society: Keating in the New York Post on New York’s Job-Killing Climateby Raymond J. KeatingIT'S no secret what drives innovation, economic growth and job creation forward: It's entrepreneurs and investors taking risks and starting up, investing in and building businesses.New York policymakers often talk a good game about all this -- but over the years they've worked hard to make the

Long Island Sentinel, December 10, 2009

2009-12-10T09:13:00.001-05:00

Politics and Society:Botched Year One for Obamaby John LeBoutillierThe former Long Island member of Congress sums up how President Barack Obama has botched his first year in office.

Long Island Sentinel, December 9, 2009

2009-12-09T18:25:00.001-05:00

Sports:Football Celebrations – Just Who Are the Pros?by Robert BenneIt’s getting more and more difficult for me to watch professional football on TV, and this fan has been a devoted viewer since the late 1940s. Why? Mainly because many of the players have become exhibitionists, hot-dogs, show-offs.

Long Island Sentinel, December 8, 2009

2009-12-08T10:10:00.000-05:00

Politics and Society:Hofstra, Football and the Point of Higher Educationby Raymond J. KeatingHofstra University made a splash when announcing on December 3 that it was dropping its football program. Was it the right choice?

Long Island Sentinel, December 7, 2009

2009-12-07T00:09:00.000-05:00

Sports:The Sporting Fellow: Now Rooting Against Tigerby Raymond J. KeatingWho says there are no golf stories in December? Well, normally, there aren’t. But Tiger Woods has changed all that this year. It’s become apparent over the past 10 days that, while being the best golfer around today, Woods is nothing but a sleazebag as a person.

Long Island Sentinel, December 1, 2009

2009-12-01T15:55:00.000-05:00

Business and the Economy: Kamikaze Economics from the White Houseby Ralph R. ReilandHow can Obama’s policies be explained? It’s either a complete lack of understanding of even the basics in freshmen economics or a refusal to accept the reality of how the world works, a blind devotion to what’s been proven to be a failed ideology, a Kamikaze mission, a last ditch effort to intentionally go down in

Long Island Sentinel, November 24, 2009

2009-11-24T20:25:00.001-05:00

Business and the Economy:Can Liberals Be Good Economists?by Raymond J. KeatingCan liberals be good economists? That question came to mind reading a Nov. 17 letter on health care policy addressed to President Barack Obama signed by 23 economists.Business and the Economy:Cluster RetailingRaymond J. Keating made a brief cameo on a CNN report about entrepreneurs who own different businesses within

Long Island Sentinel, November 23, 2009

2009-11-23T08:37:00.000-05:00

Politics and Society: Obama’s Imperial Hypocrisyby Ralph R. ReilandNovember 23, 2009By Obama’s definition of U.S. “leadership,” we get a seat at the table with the world planners if we bow to their demands in terms of what we buy and how we live, if we downsize in accordance with their centralized planning, if we admit our gluttonous faults and send reparations for all the effluence and global