First there were allegations that he was orchestrating a crackdown on the opposition, the allegations that he walked off with Robert Kraft's Superbowl ring, then reports of a tense-no-love-in mood when he met with President Barack Obama, and now there's the development that Russia is involved in helping NSA leaker Edward Snowden flee Hong Kong and go to a country where the … [Read more...] about Schumer: Putin ‘aiding and abetting Snowden’s escape’
How Hitchcock Assembled (Cut) “Psycho”
Alfred Hitchcock's great 1960 film "Psycho" was a trial-blazer in more ways than one. In this great video Robert Carroll has footage of the great man himself explaining how he "assembled" the pieces of film and his philosophy. MUST VIEWING: Hitchcock Assembled from Brian Carroll on Vimeo. … [Read more...] about How Hitchcock Assembled (Cut) “Psycho”
In Snubbing Kenya, Obama Acts Like a Typical ‘Luo’ Man (The Citizen, Tanzania)
Here is an article from Tanzania, another of the three African countries President Obama is due visit on his to upcoming trip to the continent, from June 30 to July 3. Given the fringe controversy over President Obama's origins, it is particularly interesting, and touches on the tribal undercurrents in African life, which is something people outside the region are hardly aware … [Read more...] about In Snubbing Kenya, Obama Acts Like a Typical ‘Luo’ Man (The Citizen, Tanzania)
Africa Needs Obama to Join Fight Against Witch Hunting (Xewmedia, Senegal)
This week we posted content from Africa that I found quite startling. In this article, columnist Leo Igwe of from Senegal's Xewmedia implores President Obama to take a stand on the issue of "witch hunting." Yes - I said witch hunting - and this is serious. In Africa today, according to Igwe, witch hunting and the defamation and abuse of people accused of witchcraft is a major … [Read more...] about Africa Needs Obama to Join Fight Against Witch Hunting (Xewmedia, Senegal)
Wikileaks: NSA Leaker Edward Snowden Leaves Hong Kong and Lands in Moscow Bound for Asylum
Wikileaks has tweeted that NSA leaker Edward Snowden has landed in Moscow. There is no way he will be extradited to the U.S. to face espionage charges. This is a travesty because he broke the law but America is now hated all over the world, so we essentially made the bed we are now forced to lie in. I am still asking how he was able to gather steal so many documents in such a … [Read more...] about Wikileaks: NSA Leaker Edward Snowden Leaves Hong Kong and Lands in Moscow Bound for Asylum
A cooling consensus (Guest Voice)
A cooling consensus (via The Economist) GLOBAL warming has slowed. The rate of warming of over the past 15 years has been lower than that of the preceding 20 years. There is no serious doubt that our planet continues to heat, but it has heated less than most climate scientists had predicted. Nate Cohn of the New Republic reports: "Since… … [Read more...] about A cooling consensus (Guest Voice)
Alien No More (Guest Voice)
Alien No More Raging Moderate, by Will Durst Ear to the ground, everybody. Listen close. You can hear it coming. Could be a while. Might be a bit beat up. Probably won't look like it does now. But eventually those slight puffs of dust in the distance will slide right down Main Street and America will undergo another facelift. And yes, after it's over, the whole country will … [Read more...] about Alien No More (Guest Voice)
Where’s Waldo? Snowden has left the building (Hong Kong)
According to the Times, "The government statement said that Hong Kong had informed the United States of Mr. Snowden’s departure." A Moscow-based reservations agent at Aeroflot, Russia’s national airline, said that Mr. Snowden was aboard flight SU213 to Moscow, with a scheduled arrival there a little after 5 p.m. Moscow time. The reservations agent said that Mr. Snowden … [Read more...] about Where’s Waldo? Snowden has left the building (Hong Kong)
Verdict All but Official: Republican “Rebranding” is Dead
Over the past few weeks you could see that many analysts in the media are now concluding that Republican Party "rebranding" is all but officially dead. It's not just that the GOP seems to be (again) rejecting any suggestion that it needs to moderate the party slightly, or expand it's existing coalition by offering a bigger tent. It's that a big chunk of the party is … [Read more...] about Verdict All but Official: Republican “Rebranding” is Dead
China puts up a green wall to US trash
China puts up a green wall to US trash (via The Christian Science Monitor) Have you ever wondered what happens to the soda can that you toss into a recycling bin? Chances are high that it ends up in China – like 75 percent of the aluminum scrap that the United States exports. Or 60 percent of its scrap paper exports. Or 50 percent of its plastic. But a new Chinese … [Read more...] about China puts up a green wall to US trash
James Gandolfini’s 2002 Golden Globe Awards Acceptance Speech
Here's the late James Gandolfini accepting a Golden Globe award for "The Sopranos" in 2002 -- sans the Tony Soprano accent. You get a hint of why he was so well liked. As I've noted before, as a former fulltime journalist I can usually tell when reporters truly like a celebrity. And it was clear they liked Gandolfini -- something that was stated openly upon his death but was so … [Read more...] about James Gandolfini’s 2002 Golden Globe Awards Acceptance Speech
Domestic Violence Revelations
Join us today, Saturday 22 June 2013, at 4:00pm London time, 11am Eastern US time, 8am Pacific US time, for Episode Four of Erin Pizzey's Domestic Violence Revelations. This episode will feature selected readings from Chapter 3 of her classic suppressed book, Prone to Violence, read by Diana Davison. We will be discussing in particular the issue of the effect on children of … [Read more...] about Domestic Violence Revelations
Kardashian baby name: the science of how names shape us
Kardashian baby name: the science of how names shape us (via The Christian Science Monitor) Kim Kardashian, for reasons that are not yet clear, has named her baby North West. It's an odd choice that's unlikely to much affect Kanye West's and Kardashian's little girl – but, for a child born to non-famous parents, is a name that might critically shape who she grows up to be. … [Read more...] about Kardashian baby name: the science of how names shape us
Cartoonists Honor James Gandolfini
The sudden and tragic death of James Gandolfini, recognized as one of the best actors of his generation whose Tony Soprano is now being hailed as the greatest character portray on the small screen, has inspired cartoonists to honor him in their own ways. A cross-section: See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license … [Read more...] about Cartoonists Honor James Gandolfini
Obama and LeBron: Not Everyone Loves a Winner
Six years ago, a basketball-playing Presidential hopeful was behind on the scoreboard and did some trash-talking. “I'm LeBron, baby,” Barack Obama boasted. “I can play on this level. I got some game.” His enthusiasm was suspect, since Tim Duncan, a gentle giant, had just won the NBA title, not the physically gifted man-child who would power his way into the basketball … [Read more...] about Obama and LeBron: Not Everyone Loves a Winner
It’s the Synchronized Cats
Do you like music? Do you like cats? Then here's is something for you: the synchronized cats compilation video: … [Read more...] about It’s the Synchronized Cats
Food Channel: Buh-Bye Paula Deen (Fired over Racist Remarks)
US TV drops celebrity chef after racist remarks (via AFP) A top US television network dropped Paula Deen, the self-proclaimed queen of Southern cooking, from a show she has hosted for a decade after a series of racist remarks. The Food Network said it would not renew Paula Deen's contract when it expires at the end of June, declining to provide further details… … [Read more...] about Food Channel: Buh-Bye Paula Deen (Fired over Racist Remarks)
Hannity Guest Bill Cunningham Erupts At Democrat Tamara Holder: ‘Know Your Place And Shut Your Mouth’
I won't comment much on the video below because it (to be SURE) speaks...or rather shouts...for itself. But let me just say this before you view it: 1. This is why I increasingly can't stand talk radio. . 2. Watch this a few times and you can see how some Republicans really have a problem with women and I am predicting they will continue to pay for it bigtime at the … [Read more...] about Hannity Guest Bill Cunningham Erupts At Democrat Tamara Holder: ‘Know Your Place And Shut Your Mouth’
Border security has become a phony issue (Guest Voice)
Border security has become a phony issue (via NewsWorks) National Interest June 21, 2013 By Dick Polman @dickpolman1 It appears that a goodly number of Republicans -- at least in the Senate -- will support historic path-to-citzenship immigration reform as long as they believe that our border with Mexico will be made more secure. But the thing is, our border… … [Read more...] about Border security has become a phony issue (Guest Voice)
US leaker Snowden charged with espionage: WPost
US leaker Snowden charged with espionage: WPost (via AFP) US authorities have filed espionage charges against rogue intelligence technician Edward Snowden and asked Hong Kong to detain him, the Washington Post reported Friday. Citing US government officials, the report said that a sealed criminal complaint had been lodged with a federal court in an eastern… … [Read more...] about US leaker Snowden charged with espionage: WPost