By all means, let us continue to debate the surveillance activities conducted by the National Security Agency (NSA) to make sure that our privacy and civil liberties are not compromised, but let us not ignore the consequences of revealing some of our most sensitive national security information and let us also take a look at how the NSA activities and processes work in the … [Read more...] about NSA Surveillance in Context
The Devil’s Dictionary Of Wall Street – Featuring Selig Cartwright, Goldman Sachs Washroom Attendant
The Devil's Dictionary is a classic of misanthropic American literature. It was written in bits and pieces between 1881 and 1906 by Ambrose Bierce, a well-known social critic, short story writer, columnist, gossip, and all-purpose cynic. At a time when most Americans were exhibiting an almost pathological positivism, Bierce, and his great contemporary, Mark Twain, were … [Read more...] about The Devil’s Dictionary Of Wall Street – Featuring Selig Cartwright, Goldman Sachs Washroom Attendant
Jonathan Swift On Politics
He may have written 300 years ago but some of Swift's ideas on how to deal with our politicians seem pretty good. When it comes to the Congress It is allowed, that senates and great councils are often troubled with redundant, ebullient, and other peccant humours; with many diseases of the head, and more of the heart; with strong convulsions, with grievous contractions of … [Read more...] about Jonathan Swift On Politics
On gay marriage, Republicans dig themselves deeper hole
On gay marriage, Republicans dig themselves deeper hole (via NewsWorks) National Interest June 27, 2013 By Dick Polman It was fascinating yesterday, in the wake of the high court's historic gay marriage rulings, to see so many furious Republicans chewing the carpet. Apparently they didn't heed the dire warnings - from… … [Read more...] about On gay marriage, Republicans dig themselves deeper hole
Levitating magician: How magicians use science to deceive
Levitating magician: How magicians use science to deceive (via The Christian Science Monitor) A TV commercial posted online shows an English magician named Dynamo apparently levitating off the side of one of London's iconic double-decker buses, as amazed onlookers gape, point, and, because this is 2013, shoot photos and video with their phones… … [Read more...] about Levitating magician: How magicians use science to deceive
Food for thought on Paula Deen
WASHINGTON -- Paula Deen needs to give the self-pity a rest. The damage to her carefully built image is self-inflicted -- nobody threw a rock -- and her desperate search for approval and vindication is just making things worse. Sorry to be so harsh, but come on. Deen is tough and savvy enough to have built a culinary empire from scratch, in the process becoming the most … [Read more...] about Food for thought on Paula Deen
Ich bin ein Berliner (Guest Voice)
Ich bin ein Berliner by David Goodloe "All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin, and, therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words 'Ich bin ein Berliner.' " John F. Kennedy June 26, 1963 Most of the presidents who are remembered fondly by history were eloquent speakers, and most people, even those who don't know much about history, can … [Read more...] about Ich bin ein Berliner (Guest Voice)
James Gandolfini funeral: David Chase’s moving eulogy
James Gandolfini funeral: David Chase's moving eulogy (via NJ.com) David Chase, the creator of "The Sopranos" delivered a moving speech to the star of the series, James Gandolfini at the actor's funeral today. Below is a transcript of the speech. Dear Jimmy, Your family asked me to speak at your service, and I am so… … [Read more...] about James Gandolfini funeral: David Chase’s moving eulogy
Texas GOP Deny Hispanic Vote? (Guest Voice)
Texas GOP Deny Hispanic Vote? (via LA Progressive) Texas Republicans, led by Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott (R), are using a special session of the Texas legislature to launch an aggressive attack against voting rights that will backfire and ignite a wave of Hispanic voter turnout that will propel… … [Read more...] about Texas GOP Deny Hispanic Vote? (Guest Voice)
Moderately legitimate (Guest Voice)
Moderately legitimate (via The Economist) THE SUPREME COURT struck down an unusually large number of statutes this term. Just this week, the court nullified Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA), both federal laws. Last week, it struck… … [Read more...] about Moderately legitimate (Guest Voice)
US Senate passes comprehensive immigration reform
US Senate passes comprehensive immigration reform (via AFP) In a vote hailed by US President Barack Obama, the Senate passed comprehensive immigration reform that would put 11 million undocumented people on a path to earning citizenship. Chants of "Yes we did!" erupted from the public galleries after senators… … [Read more...] about US Senate passes comprehensive immigration reform
Another Mom in tennis shoes takes the political stage
In the aftermath of the filibuster led by Texas Sen. Wendy Davis on Tuesday, the internet has gone a wee bit crazy over a pair of pink tennis (well, really, running) shoes. It's reminiscent of another Democratic politician who successfully ran for the U.S. Senate in Washington state way back in 1992. I'm not going to try to understand our fascination with women's … [Read more...] about Another Mom in tennis shoes takes the political stage
Conservatives continue to misrepresent what happened in Austin Tuesday night
I remember the first time I was the focus of a news story. I watched it on TV and asked myself if the reporter and I had experienced the same event. That was many decades ago, but I'm having serious deja vu as I read essays and tweets coming from America's political right. Their characterization of Tuesday night's actions in Austin illustrate a warped reality field. Yes, … [Read more...] about Conservatives continue to misrepresent what happened in Austin Tuesday night
Why Russia, China, and Others, Love ‘Poking America in the Eye’ (Gazeta, Russia)
Many people have asked the question: Why are Russia, China, Ecuador, and others, so prepared to help Edward Snowden, a fugitive from justice, when America has legitimately asked for him to be extradited? According to this editorial from Russia's Gazeta, the reason is simple: these countries envy, admire, and fear, the power of the United States. Especially surprising … [Read more...] about Why Russia, China, and Others, Love ‘Poking America in the Eye’ (Gazeta, Russia)
Sealed U.S. Border Will Be ‘Unprecedented Challenge’ for Mexico (El Universal, Mexico)
Mexican authorities are just coming to grips with the ramifications of the extremely tough border security measures that have just passed the U.S. Senate. According to this El Universal column by former Mexican diplomat Enrique Berruga Filloy, the impact on Mexico will be severe, both in terms of jobless Mexicans and the way it deals with migrants from Central America who used … [Read more...] about Sealed U.S. Border Will Be ‘Unprecedented Challenge’ for Mexico (El Universal, Mexico)
“Crossfire” Returns with Newt: Paging Jon Stewart
Six years ago Jon Stewart nailed the “partisan hacks” of CNN’s weeknight food fight by telling them on camera, “You’re doing theater, when you should be doing debate, which would be great.” Soon afterward, Crossfire disappeared but now CNN is starved for ratings, Stewart is temporarily away, and the program is rising from the undead with, appropriately enough, Newt Gingrich … [Read more...] about “Crossfire” Returns with Newt: Paging Jon Stewart
6 States Rushing to Use Supreme Court Voting Rights Nix to Restrict Voting
With truly breathtaking speed, six Southern states are rushing to take full advantage of the Supreme Court's blow to the Voting Rights Act. Think Progress notes that in the "5-4 decision, the Court’s five conservative justices ruled Tuesday that the formula, which required states with a history of racial discrimination to “preclear” changes to their voting laws with the … [Read more...] about 6 States Rushing to Use Supreme Court Voting Rights Nix to Restrict Voting
The Supreme Court Overstates Racial Progress
There is a common thread in both of the Court's last two decisions: an appeal to illusory racial progress. In Fisher v. University of Texas Kennedy argues that it may be time to replace race-based affirmative action with another system, "Strict scrutiny imposes on the university the ultimate burden of demonstrating, before turning to racial classifications, that available, … [Read more...] about The Supreme Court Overstates Racial Progress
James Gandolfini’s Funeral
MailOnline has THIS article about "The Sopranos" star and acclaimed actor James Gandolfini, who died last week of a heart attack. It's filled with photos of familiar faces -- only sad. Cast members, family members. … [Read more...] about James Gandolfini’s Funeral
Justin Beiber’s Unaired SNL Skit Disaster: “The Greatest Trainwreck” (VIDEO)
What happens when a sketch is so awful in rehearsal that it shouldn't be aired? Sometimes it isn't. And here's an example -- with Justin Beiber from SNL. Viewers often don't know the things that go on behind the scenes on famous television shows. For instances, during is quarter century early television run, the famous host of the Ed Sullivan variety show on CBS could cut an … [Read more...] about Justin Beiber’s Unaired SNL Skit Disaster: “The Greatest Trainwreck” (VIDEO)