Katie Brewin/Aeron Haworth, The University of Manchester A tiny fragment of Martian meteorite 1.3 billion years old is helping to make the case for the possibility of life on Mars, say scientists. The finding of a ‘cell-like’ structure, which investigators now know once held water, came about as a result of collaboration between scientists in the… … [Read more...] about Martian Meteorite Yields More Evidence Of The Possibility Of Life On Mars
Senate Trending Democrat?
Nate Silver revises his prediction for the Senate majority in the November mid-terms on Five Thirty Eight.[icopyright one button toolbar] When we officially launched our forecast model two weeks ago, it had Republicans with a 64 percent chance of taking over the Senate after this fall’s elections. Now Republican chances are about 55 percent instead. We’ve never quite … [Read more...] about Senate Trending Democrat?
Changing the culture of Chargers football (Guest Voice)
Changing the culture of Chargers football by Thomas Powell When Tom Telesco arrived in San Diego he talked about changing the culture in this city and on this team. Sunday was a prime example that his mission has started. The Chargers have seldom been a team to win a BIG game. Either through turnovers, penalties or bad decisions (coaches and players) they struggled with … [Read more...] about Changing the culture of Chargers football (Guest Voice)
Hillary Clinton needs to tell us her vision
WASHINGTON -- Judging by her weekend appearance in Iowa, it looks as if Hillary Clinton is indeed running for president. Now she has to answer one simple question: Why? "It is true, I am thinking about it," she said Sunday at the final Harkin Steak Fry, an annual cholesterol-boosting fundraiser that retiring Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin has hosted for the past 37 years. … [Read more...] about Hillary Clinton needs to tell us her vision
Cartoon: NFL
See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about Cartoon: NFL
Cuba: Endangered Species?
If you want to experience this Caribbean island and its culture while both are still authentic, don’t wait for Washington to drop its anachronistic embargo. Go now. After 54 years, a US embargo designed in part to discourage Americans from traveling to Cuba still clings to life, defiant in the face of logic, failure and common sense. Still, it seems inevitable that this … [Read more...] about Cuba: Endangered Species?
US could send advisers into combat against Islamic State: Dempsey
The US military's top officer on Tuesday raised the possibility that American troops serving as advisers to Iraqi forces could eventually be sent on combat missions against Islamic State extremists. "To be clear, if we reach the point where I believe our advisers should accompany Iraqi troops on attacks against specific ISIL (IS group) targets, I… … [Read more...] about US could send advisers into combat against Islamic State: Dempsey
How many Republicans does it take to change a light bulb?
They're back with their "star" witness (as noted yesterday). Michael Calderone / The Huffington Post Fox News Aired Nearly 1,100 Benghazi Segments Across 5 Programs, Study Finds NEW YORK -- Benghazi is back in the spotlight this week, as the House on Wednesday begins its select committee hearings on the Sept. 11, 2012, attacks. But given that conservative media have … [Read more...] about How many Republicans does it take to change a light bulb?
Right Wing Recycles Old Benghazi Attacks
Hillary Clinton appears to have unofficially begun her campaign in Iowa over the past weekend, and the response from the right is loud and clear: "Benghazi, Benghazi, Benghazi." The right wing Heritage Foundation put out an old, meaningless story by Sharyl Attkisson which made it to the top of Memeorandum thanks to all the right wing blogs repeating it.[icopyright one button … [Read more...] about Right Wing Recycles Old Benghazi Attacks
Undoing the Tyranny of Political Parties
Here in my state of Oregon most municipal and local elections are already non partisan. Oregon's ballot measure 90 will carry that to a new level if passed in November. As an unaffiliated voter (Independent) I have not been able to participate in the primary elections. I am part of at least a third of Oregon voters. I have no illusions that this will make third party … [Read more...] about Undoing the Tyranny of Political Parties
Generational Inequality
A small number of individuals currently control a disproportionate amount of the wealth in most democracies. In America, the ultra-rich .01% of the populace has 11.1% of the nation’s wealth, with the top 1% owning 39.8% of the wealth, an astounding $32.6 trillion. These numbers do not consider assets held in offshore accounts which would skew the percentages even further. The … [Read more...] about Generational Inequality
Realism About ISIS
Kevin Drum suggests that poll data may show surprising realism among respondents about the threat posed by ISIS on Mother Jones.[icopyright one button toolbar] Hawkish Republicans have been running around for the past month insisting that ISIS terrorists are a direct threat to the United States, and therefore we have to fight them in Iraq so they don't come over here and … [Read more...] about Realism About ISIS
Heavily-backed Koch candidate is losing more and more
Heavily-backed Koch candidate is losing more and more:[icopyright one button toolbar] We're talking about Sam Brownback, Kansas governor who appears to be losing to his Democratic challenger, Paul Davis. Conservative dominance in a state long known for moderation (and, before that, populism, socialism and violent abolitionism) has in many ways been the work of Davis’ … [Read more...] about Heavily-backed Koch candidate is losing more and more
Kent State scolds Urban Outfitters’ red-splattered sweatshirt
Kent State University and many on the Internet criticized Urban Outfitters Inc. on Monday for selling a sweatshirt with its college logo and what appears to be splattered blood, saying it evoked memories of the 1970 shooting where four students died. "This item is beyond poor taste and trivializes a loss of life that still hurts… Kent State scolds Urban Outfitters' … [Read more...] about Kent State scolds Urban Outfitters’ red-splattered sweatshirt
Cartoon: Smart Ass Watch
See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Smart Ass Watch
Finding the right words for the fight against ISIS (Guest Voice)
"Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world. . . . The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity." — William Butler Yeats, "The Second Coming" Republicans were berating Secretary of State John Kerry last week for calling the fight against ISIS a "counter-terrorism operation"… Trudy Rubin: Finding the … [Read more...] about Finding the right words for the fight against ISIS (Guest Voice)
Clinton’s bubble separates her from voters
INDIANOLA, Iowa — Hillary Clinton is trapped in a bubble. She's been guarded by the Secret Service since 1993. She hasn't driven a car since 1996. When she shakes hands with voters — as she did Sunday in Iowa — she's often separated from them by metal barriers. In some ways, Clinton is a prisoner of… … [Read more...] about Clinton’s bubble separates her from voters
Can Congress be responsible?
WASHINGTON -- There was a moment in the last quarter-century when the Congress of the United States made the nation proud. It did so across all its usual lines of division: Republican and Democratic, conservative and liberal, hawk and dove. In early January 1991, the Senate and the House staged searching and often eloquent debates over the first President Bush's … [Read more...] about Can Congress be responsible?
Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Obama and the Middle East
OF RELATED INTEREST: --Reality impinges on Obama's Middle East strategy [Commentary] --Barack Obama's Iraq plan is sound but the Middle East is a graveyard for good intentions --Obama has a chance to reset American leadership --Arab Nations Offer to Fight ISIS From Air Mike Peters is recognized as one of our nation’s most prominent cartoon artists for his outstanding … [Read more...] about Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Obama and the Middle East
We Jews also have our fanatics (Guest Voice)
We Jews also have our fanatics By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Not all the religious fanatics are Muslims. One can think of candidates under the umbrella of Christianity, but here our concern is Jews. Two cases recently in the headlines provoke shame or something else, depending on one’s sense of responsibility or cynicism. One is a bearded, well-coiffured man whose … [Read more...] about We Jews also have our fanatics (Guest Voice)