Feted, n. 1. To celebrate or honor with a festival, a feast, or an elaborate entertainment. 2. To pay honor to. [French fête, from Old French feste; see feast.] The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. There must have been a typo. You might remember this, from 2008 (Washington Post) [emphasis added]:

Today on PRI’s “The World,” I heard a heartening story. Somebody was listening, somewhere. And that’s a good thing. Here is my original post: 5 APRIL 2010 · 8:55 PM Lazy Pro-Animal Blogging – Oregon Edition Electric cars are coming to Oregon, and they’re trying to figure out where to site the charging stations. I had been waiting for the right time to make this observation, and...

by VALERIE BURCH Mohammed Uddin lived in New York City for 15 out of his 41 years. Back in Bangladesh, he wouldn’t be able to get the life-sustaining heart medication he takes daily for a rare form of severe hypertension called Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome. On the tarmac at Harrisburg International Airport on May 13, 2008, about to begin the arduous journey back to Bangladesh, his blood pressure soared...

We need to define our terms, here. [Note: there are a very few "bad" and uncomfortable words contained herein, and if such words cause you grief, please read no further. ~ HW] The Birth of Venus, by Sandro Botticelli, 1486 Allow me to make a very late addition to Ambrose Bierce’s Devil’s Dictionary: Erotic, n.: MY sexual fantasies. Perversion, n.: YOUR sexual fantasies. Will the adults stand up?...

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy WASHINGTON – This is not a Brett Favre situation or a John Ensign, David Vitter, Larry Craig, John Edwards, William Jefferson Clinton moment. But the amateur sleuth contest goes on, with no signs of abating yet, at least if you look at Memeorandum. It’s a Left versus Right battle, which leaves what matters out. By now you...

Christopher Costa/Patch.com WASHINGTON – Gov. Christie is pictured departing from his spanking brand-new AugustaWestland helicopter, which was reportedly purchased at a cost to taxpayers of $12.5 million. How he used it yesterday is the stuff of an amateur politician forgetting about perceptions in an era of austerity, which Gov. Christie helped to usher in as the champion of waste-busting. The dust swirling...

I was alerted to this story by a friend on Facebook. It is reprinted here by permission. Marie Hobson’s blog can be found here. This Column is Dedicated to The Spouses, “Those who Silently Serve.” Anything But Dependent is the title I chose for this weekly spouse column. I came up with this title because of the stereotype we are given. Our civilian counterparts have labeled us as dependent, needy,...

Guest post by Ali Ezzatyar Ali Ezzatyar is a journalist and American attorney practising in Paris, France. His beard is long and grey; he is reputed for living a rather simple life, but Israel’s prime minister recently called him the greatest threat to the world. He is the Supreme Leader of Iran. As attention remains focused on Abbottabad, Iran’s nuclear program continues nearby. Some are hoping...

By Mark Soifer In a quieter time, before World War II, we would chase the ice truck down Kerlin Street on steamy August afternoons. When the truck stopped for a delivery, the driver would let us grab the small pieces of ice that littered the soaked floor boards of his well- worn vehicle. That ice belonged to us. There was never a question about it. It was the Diamond Ice and Coal Company’s contribution to...

It is incomprehensible how the White House has screwed the pooch in the aftermath of their most spectacular success; the killing of Osama bin Laden. Incomprehensible because one would have to believe that they discussed the potential fallout from the attack, as well as how they might exploit any political advantage that came their way, before the attack took place. It’s a good bet they talked about what...

Guest post by Christopher Miller Chris Miller, a Truman National Security Project fellow, was a sergeant in the U.S. Army’s 1st Armored Division through two tours in Iraq, during which he earned a Purple Heart, and an adviser to the Iraqi Army. After returning to the U.S., he was involved with VoteVets.org and Operation Free, travelling the country as part of the Veterans for American Power Tour. He is...

Cherry Blossom Chopping Time In Washington ©2011 Kay Wood Click on the image to make the cartoon larger. This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved.

I missed writing my annual paean to the change of seasons this year. In the past, my blog sang the praises of the return of the robin, the blooming of the dogwood, the eternal hope engendered by opening day at Wrigley Field, and the quiet joy that feeling the warmth of the sun on my face after months of bitter cold brings to my fatalistic Irish soul. I just didn’t have it in me this year. I am restless,...

Guest post by Hamid M. Khan Hamid M. Khan is a Rule of Law Adviser with the U.S. Institute of Peace in Kabul, Afghanistan, and a fellow with the Truman National Security Project in Washington D.C. Recently, Rep. Peter King, with much fanfare and consternation, launched the House Committee on Homeland Security’s hearings regarding “The Extent of Radicalization in the American Muslim Community and...

In a word – it’s complicated. First and foremost, I am supporting the president because he is Commander in Chief and he has taken the United States to war. He didn’t take the Obama administration to war, or the Democratic party, or (many) liberals. He has taken the country to war – my country, our country. If we have disagreements – and believe me, I’ve got a ton – they...

I’m a professional engineer. I love building roads and bridges. I tell people I never got past building them in the sandbox. I understand how blessed I am to be able to combine passion with a vocation. Truth is, I would probably do it for free. Being a pro engineer, however, I get paid to do it. I get paid a lot. People don’t have to tell me how lucky I am. Well, maybe lucky is not a good choice of words....

In my youth, it was popular to say, “The revolution will be televised.” At that time, it seemed magical that we could witness unrest in countries from around the globe almost in real time, not to mention videotape of riots and demonstrations here in the states. The technology of recording video at the time was laughably primitive. The professional grade video recording equipment may have been “portable”...

We are rightly proud of the accomplishments of western civilization over the past 500 years. We have not been perfect – not by a long shot. But gradually, western values and attitudes have permeated the planet, softening the rough edges of civilization, and providing a framework of law where the strong do not always ride roughshod over the weak. Imperfect, but viable. Flawed, but as a practical matter,...

There are many on the right who make the argument that clowns like Glenn Beck, Hannity, Limbaugh, and their ilk are, if not entertaining and usually right about Obama and the liberals, basically harmless. “No one believes they are ‘leaders” of the conservative movement,” goes part of the argument. The left wants to choose our leaders for us and define them while the MSM takes every nutty...

Guest post by Ali Ezzatyar Ali Ezzatyar is a journalist and American attorney practising in Paris, France. (Ed. note: Earlier this month, Ali wrote a guest post on dictatorship in Tunisia and Egypt. You can find it here. — Michael Stickings) ********** Started with the match of a Tunisian who aspired for more, a revolutionary wildfire burns near and far from his resting place. We have already witnessed...

My PJ Media piece yesterday wasn’t linked by a single blog and yet, it garnered more than 150 comments. My guesstimate would be that 95% were extremely negative — abusive, belittling, and dismissive. I fully expected this, have come to expect it, whenever I write anything for PJM or other conservative websites. No one likes to be called a paranoid, but frankly, I can’t think of another word...

Guest post by Ali Ezzatyar Ali Ezzatyar is a journalist and American attorney practising in Paris, France. As Egypt moves ever closer to life without Hosni Mubarak, governments and analysts everywhere ponder the important question of what will come next. The conventional and clichéd wisdom pronounced by pundits and politicians the world over focuses on the risk of a dramatic rise to power for the Muslim Brotherhood...

Exactly 100 years ago in Tampico, IL – not far from where I am sitting writing this – Ronald Reagan was born. I realize that all Americans lay claim to Reagan’s legacy, but I hope you’ll forgive a little Heartland chauvinism and allow me to say that we here in the Midwest – perhaps more than others – can claim him as a favorite son. Heartland values defined his life....

Clio, the muse of history, can be a bitch of a mistress. Just when you think the world has settled into a nice, ordered regimen with the “March of Progress” proceeding at a stately pace, along comes the Countess of Chaos, the Mistress of Mayhem to throw all of our pretensions about controlling events into a cocked hat and teach us a lesson in humility, if not in respect for the gods. Egypt; Land...

In the time honored tradition of dictators who have reached the end of their rope, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has decided to crack down on the demonstrations that have brought his regime to its knees. Rather than use his army or uniformed police to do the dirty work, Mubarak has instituted a jobs program for thugs. He has hired several hundred – perhaps thousands – of bully boys to mix with...