It's still our fault (via The Economist) IT HAS been a long time coming. But then the fifth assessment of the state of the global climate by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a United Nations body, was a behemoth of an undertaking. It runs to thousands of pages, involved… … [Read more...] about UN Report on Climate Change: It’s Still Our Fault (Guest Voice)
Adios to Mariano Rivera, American Matador
At my first and only bullfight eons ago, I was surprised by an inner surge rising in my blood at the matadors’ movements, an unconscious response to pure grace and courage. In baseball, opposing batters pose no physical threat but, in the years between, Mariano Rivera has brought back that sensation by his demeanor on the mound and the sureness of his mastery over the fears … [Read more...] about Adios to Mariano Rivera, American Matador
On His Own Little Planet
If you were hoping that Stephen Harper was re-evaluating his approach to people -- particularly Barack Obama -- yesterday should have dashed that hope. Speaking before the Canadian American Business Council, the prime minister said that, on the Keystone Pipeline file, he wouldn't take no for an answer: The logic in support of the project going ahead is … [Read more...] about On His Own Little Planet
Too Many Pills for Doubly Depressed Americans
Mental health is keeping statistical pace with the economy. As jobless figures and GNP paint a sickly picture, record numbers of Americans are on antidepressants. Is there a connection? Or perhaps the better question is: How could there not be? Just as national leaders stumble around in Washington in a vain attempt to appear rational, individuals doubt their own sanity … [Read more...] about Too Many Pills for Doubly Depressed Americans
Can Economists Explain a System of Plenty?
In physics there are in a way two distinct universes within our own that haven't been reconciled even now. The realms of the very small and the rest of the universe seem to operate on different sets of rules with quantum mechanics and its uncertainties dominating the small and the rest of the universe operating more on a mixture of Newtonian mechanics and Einstein's General … [Read more...] about Can Economists Explain a System of Plenty?
Barilla faces international boycott after CEO serves up portion of antigaysto
Guido Barilla, chairman of the world's leading pasta manufacture, has ignited an international firestorm and boycott of his mega-company by serving up a heaping portion of antigaysto. Or was it pasta al piedi in bocca? You'd think that in the 21st century wealthy CEOs would have learned by now that no one can take away their thoughts or convictions but they could lose … [Read more...] about Barilla faces international boycott after CEO serves up portion of antigaysto
Canine Comfort at the Washington Navy Yard
Plenty has been said and written about those wonderful, loyal and courageous animals, the Military Working Dogs. But these intelligent animals not only protect our troops in the battlefield, root out drugs, explosives and criminals, they also bring a smile to the faces of the sick and the elderly, they are therapy to the traumatically stressed, the sick and the injured -- … [Read more...] about Canine Comfort at the Washington Navy Yard
Report: PJ Media Booted Alan West due to “Jewish American Princess” remark
Former Congressman Allen West has reportedly been booted from his high profile role at Pajamas Media after an exchange with a staffer in which he is said to have called her a "Jewish American Princess." Buzzfeed reports: Former Congressman Allen West is leaving his job at Pajamas Media after an altercation with a female staffer in which he allegedly called her a “Jewish … [Read more...] about Report: PJ Media Booted Alan West due to “Jewish American Princess” remark
Interpol launches global hunt for British ‘White Widow’
Interpol launches global hunt for British 'White Widow' (via AFP) The British woman dubbed the "White Widow" was at the centre of a worldwide hunt on Thursday after Interpol issued an international arrest notice in the wake of the Kenya shopping mall attack. Samantha Lewthwaite, a 29-year-old Muslim convert, was married… … [Read more...] about Interpol launches global hunt for British ‘White Widow’
Gallup: Tea Party Support Dwindles to Near-Record Low (UPDATED)
A new Gallup Poll finds Tea Party support fall to a near-record low: As Washington braces for another budget showdown, this time with the threat of defunding the new healthcare law in the mix, the key political force pushing for conservative policies sees diminished popular support. Fewer Americans now describe themselves as supporters of the Tea Party movement than did … [Read more...] about Gallup: Tea Party Support Dwindles to Near-Record Low (UPDATED)
Iran: A Failure in Translation but, Worse, a Failure of Truth
On Tuesday, CNN aired an interview with Iran’s new president, Hassan Rouhani, by Christiane Amanpour during which Amanpour asked Rouhani about his view of the Holocaust. Here is CNN's original translation of Rouhani’s comments: I have said before that I am not a historian. And that when it comes to speaking of the dimensions of the holocaust it is the historians … [Read more...] about Iran: A Failure in Translation but, Worse, a Failure of Truth
Report: Comedian Dan Nainan allegedly punches the Daily Beast’s Josh Rogin at Comedy Competition (UPDATED)
This tidbit from U.S. News & World report resonates with me because when I'm not writing, I'm performing in my non-writing incarnation. Anyone who has been a singer or comedian knows that you can't always please all the people all the time. In fact, Bill Cosby talks about "the face" in the audience -- that no matter how well a comedian may do, he or she may focus on that one … [Read more...] about Report: Comedian Dan Nainan allegedly punches the Daily Beast’s Josh Rogin at Comedy Competition (UPDATED)
Ted Cruz uses the “N word” (Guest Voice)
Ted Cruz uses the N-word Michael Moses Ward, Birdie Africa — rest in peace Pew survey shows low marks for Nutter, Philly Council Arcadia prof connects education class with 'The Wire' for lesson in real-life challenges How does the Affordable Care Act affect seniors with Medicare? Increased demand for permits post Sandy slows rebuilding 'Birdie Africa,' child of MOVE, dies … [Read more...] about Ted Cruz uses the “N word” (Guest Voice)
Cruz Channels Palin, Bachmann and Glenn Beck
After nine months in office, Texas’ junior Senator has seized the GOP stage, a perhaps unspectacular feat in light of the party’s leadership vacuum. What his colleagues have to decide now is whether Ted Cruz is anything more than a loudmouth Pied Piper leading them off the edge of rationality to political irrelevance, a Sarah Palin in pants spouting absurdities, a … [Read more...] about Cruz Channels Palin, Bachmann and Glenn Beck
Breaking Bad’s Bryan Cranston does improv on short-lived TV show
"Breaking Bad's" Bran Cranston's talents include doing improve. And here he is some year ago appearing a short-lived TV show "Thank God You're Here." … [Read more...] about Breaking Bad’s Bryan Cranston does improv on short-lived TV show
Seven Things You Should Know About the Wackiest “Fiscal Crisis” Yet (Guest Voice)
Seven Things You Should Know About the Wackiest “Fiscal Crisis” Yet (via Moyers & Company) Sometime in the next week, Congress will either get it together to pass a new budget resolution or the government will shut down (all but essential services). Two weeks after that, the federal government will reach its debt limit. If it is not raised… … [Read more...] about Seven Things You Should Know About the Wackiest “Fiscal Crisis” Yet (Guest Voice)
Lotsa luck, America
Our international economic reputation—reflected in our low interest rates, the safe haven status of Treasuries (when everything goes haywire, investors clamor for U.S. debt), and our status as global reserve currency—rests on the assumption that Washington isn't completely insane. ...Derek Thompson, Atlantic Lotsa luck, America. Besides Denmark, no other country … [Read more...] about Lotsa luck, America
Obama’s most important diplomacy
WASHINGTON -- President Obama's foreign policy now seems to be defined by a series of ironies. Having pledged to pivot from an emphasis on the Middle East to a focus on Asia, he has announced that the two large public initiatives of his closing years will involve Iran and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Having begun as a foreign policy realist, he found … [Read more...] about Obama’s most important diplomacy
(Sigh)
And so it goes on and on -- to the point where it is highly predictable. But here are the facts. … [Read more...] about (Sigh)
Clinton’s Feminist Imperative – The Battle For Gender Equality
Tom Watson has a great piece in Forbes on a talk with Chelsea Clinton at the Clinton Global Initiative. I attended one of the CGI meetings three years ago in New York, and it was solid and serious. Here's the some of his piece: Chelsea Clinton has a bunch of titles. In the universe of blended politics and philanthropy created by her parents, she is an emerging spokesperson … [Read more...] about Clinton’s Feminist Imperative – The Battle For Gender Equality