http://www.metro.usen-us You’ll notice none of America’s problems have been solved. Well, you can only blame yourself for not doing a good enough job of demanding the government act on the brilliant ideas I’ve been dispensing every week in Metro, the world’s greatest newspaper. Don’t bother groveling for forgiveness; it demeans us both.http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/20/06/5257-82/index.xml Here are my responses to a few of the most pressing questions of the week:http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/19/01/5628-82/index.xml In a Republican Party hoping to rebound in 2010 on the strength of a newly energized and ideologically aroused conservative grassroots, Sarah Palin’s influence is unparalleled. http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/18/06/2031-82/index.xml Meet the new Boston, same as the old Boston? When Mayor Menino was re-elected to an unprecedented fifth term, some observers claimed that “Old Boston” triumphed while “New Boston” — the large, reform-minded voting block of immigrants, minorities and young professional newcomers — would have to wait its turn.http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/18/04/5601-82/index.xml The California Democratic Party speaks with a loud voice in national politics. It is, by any reasonable measure, the biggest party in the biggest state in the nation. http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/17/05/3240-82/index.xml So the University of Massachusetts worked overtime to protect the rights of a convicted terrorist to exercise his so-called First Amendment rights — rights I would argue that bomber Raymond Luc Levasseur relinquished when his group killed cops and blew up buildings — but if a kid utters the noise “Meep” in Danvers, it’s an immediate suspension. http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/16/08/1603-82/index.xml It’s happy time in Coney Island! Sure, Astroland is still a vacant lot, as are the former batting cages and go-cart rides, and even the few remaining attractions are shuttered for the long winter.http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/16/03/0103-82/index.xml Sarah Palin’s “Going Rogue: An American Life” is being pitched by her publisher as “one ordinary citizen’s extraordinary journey.” That’s about right. Palin is ordinary — remarkably, overwhelmingly, mind-numbingly ordinary.http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/16/02/4625-82/index.xml Last week, I began a crusade to save the world, and though my solutions to the economic crisis have not been implemented — and more importantly, “Mad Men”’s Christina Hendricks has yet to be delivered to my apartment — I refuse to let that stop me.http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/13/02/3015-82/index.xml On Tuesday, John Allen Muhammad, the D.C. sniper, was put to death by lethal injection. http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/12/05/0625-82/index.xml Who dares predict what revenues oil producers will earn 10, 20 or 30 years from now? The last couple of years have provided a sobering lesson in the extreme volatility of oil prices. So what will the future hold for countries whose whole economies are built on the export of oil and gas? Will they be rich beyond the dreams of avarice or poor as church mice?http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/10/02/0132-82/index.xml Thursday’s shooting at Fort Hood — which left 13 people dead and 30 others wounded — was indeed a tragedy. Another: The incident inspired an all-too-predictable outbreak of Islamophobia.http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/09/09/3656-82/index.xml “He didn’t know,” was the excuse the Governor’s Office used (it came from one of Deval Patrick’s 67 state-payroll-glutting “staff assistants”) when confronted about a taxpayer-funded terror talk that would have taken place at UMass-Amherst this Thursday. http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/09/05/0219-82/index.xml Over the next few columns I plan to solve all of America’s problems, one by one. I ask for nothing in return except for “Mad Men” bombshell Christina Hendricks.http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/06/05/0950-82/index.xml Without question, Tuesday’s elections were a major victory for the GOP.http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/05/06/2018-82/index.xml I’m not one to tell the World Series champs how to celebrate, but these champagne-dousing bacchanals are getting downright silly.http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/04/08/2907-82/index.xml President Obama seemed close to passing health care reform with a public option this fall — until Senator Joe Lieberman announced he’d filibuster any bill with a public option. Conservatives cheered, but progressives fumed the whole deal could fall apart. http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/04/07/5813-82/index.xml By the time you read this, Seth Williams will likely have been elected D.A., and, at the CJC, jury selection in the capital trial of alleged cop killer John Lewis will have commenced. http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/04/06/2150-82/index.xml The U.S. has 5 percent of the world’s population and 25 percent of its prisoners. Expert Paul Butler offers 10 ways to fight overincarceration. http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/03/06/5434-82/index.xml Where were you Halloween night? If you were like me you were all Halloweened out in some outrageous costume at some stokin’ party with the scent of sex all over everything and you completely forgot about the Phillies. http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/02/05/3036-82/index.xml