‘The Mask of Dimitrios‘
“For money, some men will allow the innocent to hang. They will turn traitor… they will lie, cheat, steal and they will kill. They appear brilliant, charming and generous! But they are deadly! Such are men as Dimitrios.”
Americans, living in what is called the richest nation on earth, seem always to be short of money. Wives are working in unprecedented numbers, husbands hope for overtime hours to earn more, or take part-time jobs evenings and weekends, children look for odd jobs for spending money, the family debt climbs higher, and psychologists say one of the biggest causes of family quarrels and breakups is “arguments over money.” Much of this trouble can be traced to our present “debt-money” system. Continue reading
Lafayette Helped Americans Turn the Tide in Their Fight for Independence – and 50 Years Later – He Helped Forge the Growing Nation’s Sense of Identity

Jean Marie Joseph Bove’s depiction of Lafayette returning to the U.S. The caption says, ‘A great man belongs to the whole universe.’ Blancheteau Collection/Cornell University Library via Wikimedia Commons
America is nearing the 250th anniversary of its revolutionary birth, the Declaration of Independence. July 4, 2026, will mark a milestone – and a time for reflection.
As fascination with America’s founding endures, controversy colors how the revolution is taught across the United States. From contested efforts by The New York Times “1619 Project” to put slavery at the center of America’s story, to attempts to limit teaching about race and racism, partisanship surrounds the teaching of American history. Anniversaries can inspire public passion, but they can also open old wounds. Continue reading
Public Schools Are Failing And Parents Are Bailing
Families are choosing alternatives to the educational-industrial complex.
Students attending American public schools are struggling. Test scores from the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), released this year, indicate that 33% of 8th graders – a greater percentage than ever before – are reading at the “below basic” level.
Additionally, only 22% of high school seniors are proficient or above in math, down from 24% in 2019, and only 35% are proficient in reading – the lowest score since NAEP began in 1969 – down from 37% in 2019. Also, a record-high percentage scored at “below basic” levels in both math and reading compared to all previous assessments.
Parents across the country, especially in big cities, have become aware of the problem and are removing their children. Continue reading
The Hollywood Starlet We Have To Thank for Wi-Fi
When you think of Hollywood’s Golden Age, you probably conjure images of glamorous actresses walking the red carpet and lighting up the silver screen with their charm, looks, and talent. You most likely wouldn’t think that any of them were pioneering inventors who ushered in the age of global communication.
Hedy Lamarr was one of Hollywood’s brightest stars. Many consider her to be a film icon, and she was called the most beautiful woman in the world. But behind her appearance, acting talent, and international fame was the mind of a brilliant inventor whose efforts laid the foundation for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and modern wireless networks.
While her contributions weren’t recognized in her lifetime, she is now celebrated for her brilliance and stands as evidence that genius doesn’t have to look a certain way. Continue reading
Theodore Roosevelt Cracks Down on NYC Corruption
It took a 100 years for them to destroy his monopoly laws. That’s why we only have 2 or 3 technological companies controlling the internet right now. Because our government destroys the monopoly laws so that they could do that. They’ve been given special permission to do it just like the sports teams have been given special permission to ignore the monopoly laws. ~ Tony Moore
‘Part of History’: Family Steps in to Save 120-Year-Old Store in Northern Arizona

The Parks’ general store, tucked in the pines on Route 66, has been a staple in the community of about 1,500 people since 1906.
PARKS, AZ — A 1906 general store was on the brink of closing on Route 66 in Arizona until a family stepped in to save it.
Stepping into the Parks Old Route 66 Store feels like stepping back in time. Not only for its 50s theme and location on the Mother Road, but also because the store itself is 20 years older than Route 66.
NOTE: Consider this a follow up to our recent post of the video and story of Old Route 66 that we published last week. And there is more to this story. Stay Tuned. ~ Jeffrey Bennett, Editor Continue reading
THE PILGRIMS: The First Thanksgiving
The Surprising Reason Kids Can’t Seem To Read Anymore
Without substantial reading skills, “the risk is that future generations will simply be unable to think as deeply and with as much complexity as in the past.”
One of my daily challenges as a parent is getting my fourth grader to read for 30 minutes as part of her homework.
It’s not because she struggles with her reading skills; she actually reads well-above grade level. Like many kids of her generation, though, my daughter has zero interest in picking up a book. Why would she, when she’s got an iPad offering her nonstop entertainment via videos expertly designed for her short attention span? Continue reading
William Lyon Phelps ~ The Subject of Owning Books
“You should own no book that you are afraid to mark up.”
NEW HAVEN, Conn., April 6, 1933 – William Lyon Phelps, who retired this year after 41 years of teaching students at Yale the richness and delight of literature, tonight gave to the American public a living legacy of his appreciation in a brief broadcast on the subject of owing books.
Professor Phelps noted that he lives principally in a room that contains 6,000 books; remarked that when he was asked if he had read them all, he hedged in his reply by saying, “Some of them twice.” Continue reading
The Untold Story of Route 66: America’s Most Famous Highway
Route 66 is more than just a highway — it’s the story of America itself. From its birth in the 1920s to its role in World War II, the Dust Bowl migrations, the dreamers who built and traveled it, the day the road went silent, and its surprising revival, Route 66 has always been a symbol of freedom, resilience, and change.
There was a time in our lives that my wife and children lived in a 70 year old two-story farm house house that we had restored. We had 3 1/2 acres, and for the most part – collected our own water, heated our own home with a wood-burning stove for which we cut and collected about 12 cords of wood per year to heat the home. OH – and during the cold months – we cooked soup and various sauces on top of the wood-burner. Damn that food was good.
There were times during the year that young bears came on our property to see what we might have to eat – and of course – the wife grew an intense vegetable garden whenever she could.
The road that passed by our driveway – WAS Old Route 66. ~ Editor
Paine reminds us that, Government is Not a ‘Necessary Evil‘ but a Positive Good
Led as they are by sinful men, many human governments abuse their power and authority and inflict great suffering both on their own subjects and on the people of other nations.
The notion that government is a “necessary evil” has seeped into American lore and consciousness. Many Americans accept it as they would a self-evident truth. Yet treating government as a necessary evil contradicts biblical teaching and, by extension, contradicts God’s good design for government. Continue reading
United Nations Finally Recognizes Homeschooling — by Demanding Government Ruin It
Homeschooling embodies the basic American principles of self-governance, freedom, and the presumption that families know what is best for their children.

COTTONBRO STUDIO/PEXELS
For decades, families around the world have fought for the freedom to homeschool their children, often against hostile laws, heavy-handed bureaucracies, and, in some cases, outright persecution. I’ve walked alongside many of these families as a global advocate for homeschooling rights, challenging oppressive regimes and urging governments and international institutions to recognize what should be obvious: Parents have the fundamental right to direct the upbringing and education of their children.
That’s why UNESCO’s new report, “Homeschooling Through a Human Rights Lens,” is significant. For the first time, a major United Nations agency has taken homeschooling seriously — not merely as an educational alternative, but as a legitimate expression of the human right to direct the upbringing of one’s children. As a member of the report’s panel of experts, I can attest to the thoughtful and at times tense dialogue that shaped the final document. Continue reading
Bennett ~ 1957 The Autumn of My Youth
It is that time of the year once again – for those who still follow the game of Baseball – the 2025 World Series. I no longer follow sports – I have no time, but this is today – but this was yesterday!
I was nine years old – the Autumn of my youth – and I was out in the front yard of my Grandfathers home with Uncle Charles, and we were playing Monopoly while listening on the radio to the 1957 World Series. We lived near Eagle, Wisconsin – the state of my birth
I was at home and tuning in to the Milwaukee Braves…
This was my youth – and they were my Home Team. This is the Year that the Braves would win the World Series.
1957 World Series highlights (New York Yankees vs Milwaukee Braves)
Bizarre Facts You Didn’t Know About Edgar Allan Poe
How Progressives Broke the Constitution and Praised Themselves for It
Editor’s NOTE: When I developed this site some years ago – it had always been my intent to share what once took place in the Public School System so many years ago – and yet is completely ignored today.
It is with that thought in mind that I have chosen to publish the following series of columns, which are all related. In many respects – they are also quite timely – given the economic issues that we are dealing with in America today. All of this teaches our history – which seems to be repeating itself – but is for the benefit of our Homeschool students everywhere. Welcome to today’s History Class! I will see you ‘on-the-air’ today! ~ Jeffrey Bennett, Editor
In his article “Is the Constitution Broken beyond Repair?” David Gordon draws attention to a phenomenon that is often overlooked, namely, the great rejoicing among some constitutional lawyers over the fact that “to establish the new Constitution, Lincoln overthrew the first one… he replaced the old, immoral Constitution with a new one based on equality.” This is indeed one reason why some of Lincoln’s admirers still celebrate the burning of the South by the Union Army – the devastation and destruction of the South symbolizes for them the brave new world of equality and social justice forged by a righteous army through fire and steel.
Most people, if they understood what was really being celebrated here, would be bewildered. Continue reading
How Just One Man Triggered the Great Depression In 1929
Lessons from the Economic Catastrophe of 1929
(Bank Failures Played a Crucial Role in Deepening the Economic Crisis)
The Great Depression of 1929 stands as one of the most significant economic crises in modern history, casting a long shadow over the global financial landscape. Sparked by a catastrophic stock market crash in October, this era of intense economic turmoil led to widespread unemployment, poverty, and social unrest. In the United States, millions lost their jobs, homes, and savings, forcing families to confront an uncertain and often dire future. This article delves into the factors that precipitated the Great Depression, its profound impact on American society, the government responses that shaped economic policy, and the global ramifications of this devastating crisis. By understanding these aspects, we can glean valuable lessons that inform current economic practices and prepare us for future economic challenges.
The Causes of the Great Depression
The Great Depression did not arise in a vacuum; it was the result of a confluence of several factors that had been brewing throughout the 1920s. To fully understand the causes of the Great Depression, it is essential to look at the economic environment of the 1920s, commonly referred to as the “Roaring Twenties.” This period was marked by significant economic growth, technological advances, and an unprecedented rise in consumer culture. However, this prosperity was built on shaky foundations, and cracks were starting to appear.
One of the primary catalysts for the Great Depression was the rampant speculation in the stock market. During the late 1920s, an increasing number of Americans began investing in stocks, often borrowing money to purchase shares in hopes of quick profit. This speculative bubble was characterized by inflated stock prices that did not reflect the actual value of the companies. The euphoria surrounding stock investments created an unsustainable market driven by the belief that prices would continue to rise indefinitely. Unfortunately, this led to an inevitable collapse when the bubble burst in October 1929, resulting in a dramatic stock market crash that sent shockwaves throughout the economy. Continue reading
In a Word: National Dictionary Day
Why dictionary lovers celebrate Noah Webster’s birthday.

Noah Webster
On October 16, 1758, Noah Webster and his wife Mercy Steel Webster welcomed a new son into their lives. They named him after his father. Noah Sr. was a farmer and weaver, and Mercy was a homemaker, and by all outward appearances, they lived a rather normal life in the West Division of Hartford — what would become West Hartford, Connecticut.
Though the elder Webster had never attended college himself, he placed great value on education, so from an early age, Mercy taught the younger Noah what she could of spelling, mathematics, music, and other subjects. At age 6, he began attending a one-room schoolhouse; later in life, he described his untrained teachers there as the “dregs of humanity.” Continue reading
Documentary: Tuskegee Airmen
Back in the 1980’s, a firm that I was part owner of had the privilege of performing and intense home security project for a man who had been one of the Tuskegee Airmen and who was having a new home built in Flagstaff, Arizona. His name was Lincoln Ragsdale – and I will soon have the privilege of publishing his life’s story in the Profiles pages of Metropolis.Café.
THIS is part of America’s History! ~ Jeffrey Bennett, Editor
