BEIRUT - Video has been posted online purporting to show the beheading by the Islamic State group of British aid worker David Haines, who went missing in Syria last year. The video emerged hours after the family of Haines issued a public plea on Saturday urging his captors to contact them. Islamic State militants have beheaded… Islamic State video purports to show killing of … [Read more...] about Islamic State video purports to show killing of British aid worker David Haines
This Week In Pantsuit Politics: Ireland’s Mary Robinson Has World’s Most Impressive Resume
One need only look at the Oval Office to see that when it comes to politics, we've got a bit of a gender discrepancy.[icopyright one button toolbar] In this weekly roundup, Ravishly.com focuses on powerful political women in the news who are helping to break the proverbial glass ceiling of policy-making around the world. Politicos, move aside. We bring you . . . politicas. … [Read more...] about This Week In Pantsuit Politics: Ireland’s Mary Robinson Has World’s Most Impressive Resume
Weekend Photo – Fall
Even though it is supposed to be in the upper 80's or low 90's today there is little doubt that the feel of fall is in the air. As I write this it is the mid 40's here in the Portland area and I was thankful that I put my down comforter on my bed when I washed the sheets yesterday. I for one am ready for Fall. We have not had measurable rain since June and have had over 70 … [Read more...] about Weekend Photo – Fall
Response To Republican Support For Making Birth Control Pills Available Over The Counter
While Republicans have generally been trying to restrict access to contraception, recently some Republicans have been promoting making oral contraceptives available over the counter without prescription. Many people quickly saw through this. It gives the Republicans a way to claim they are removing a barrier to receiving contraception and avoid situations like the Lobby Hobby … [Read more...] about Response To Republican Support For Making Birth Control Pills Available Over The Counter
ISIS, Obama And The Mother Of All Conspiracy Theories
Thirteen years ago, the U.S. was the victim of an attack that sparked numerous conspiracy theories. Al Qaeda's assaults on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon led to all manner of weird and wacky theories, suggesting the American government abetted the terrorists who killed thousands of its citizens. In the 13 years since 9/11, those… … [Read more...] about ISIS, Obama And The Mother Of All Conspiracy Theories
Clueless Pundits Cluck About Domestic Violence
Clueless Pundits Cluck About Domestic Violence By Dick Polman If there's any institution arguably more noxious than the National Football League, it has to be Fox News. Where else can you see clueless blowhards laugh it up about wife-beating? In case you've been living under a rock, that's the video - released Monday by TMZ - where entitled pigskin jock Ray Rice … [Read more...] about Clueless Pundits Cluck About Domestic Violence
Rob Ford drops out of Toronto mayor’s race: reports
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has withdrawn from the mayor's race. His campaign spokesman Jeff Silverstein filed the paperwork at city hall on Friday, about an hour before the deadline. Mr. Silverstein made no comment as he completed the transaction. He also filed withdrawal papers for Michael Ford, the mayor's nephew, who had been registered to run… … [Read more...] about Rob Ford drops out of Toronto mayor’s race: reports
Good News on Software Patents
The current system of software patents has been criticized by many for years now. Overly broad patents granted based on simplistic descriptions with nothing to back them up have been, in the opinion of many, a bane to real technological innovation for quite a while. I admit that I agree with that view. But then in June of this year the Supreme Court made a ruling concerning … [Read more...] about Good News on Software Patents
The ISIL Debate: There Are Virtually No Winners
[icopyright one button toolbar] The ongoing national debate on what to do, or not to do, about the ISIL threat -- or whether it is even a threat -- is probably the most intense and divergent debate since the one we had about the Iraq War and its legacy. There are those who do not believe ISIL poses a threat at all to Americans or America -- and/or “is not our problem” -- … [Read more...] about The ISIL Debate: There Are Virtually No Winners
As Shown Again in Iraq, France Must Reject ‘Subjection’ to the United States (Le Figaro, France)
After France's rejection of the Iraq War resolution at the U.N. Security Council, has France retreated from its independent course, only to march in lock step with the United States? For Le Figaro, senior international correspondent Renaud Girard reminds readers of how prescient the non-aligned France of General Charles de Gaulle and Dominique de Villepin have proven to be, and … [Read more...] about As Shown Again in Iraq, France Must Reject ‘Subjection’ to the United States (Le Figaro, France)
Obama’s Coalition Of the Unwilling To Actually Do Anything
The more I think about President's Obama speech last night the more upset I become. Secretary of State John Kerry was in Saudi Arabia today and the most they offered was moral support. The same applies to Germany and Great Britain and the attitude of Turkey is especially disturbing. The reality is the United States is probably less threatened than any of the the countries … [Read more...] about Obama’s Coalition Of the Unwilling To Actually Do Anything
Sarah Palin’s family (including Sarah) allegedly ‘involved in drunken brawl’ at house party
History has not been kind to former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Except in the eyes of some die-hard conservatives, it's clear she will go down as the living embodiment of the poor judgment of Arizona Sen. John McCain and his 2008 Presidential campaign advisors. She's not considered a serious politico, but a specialist in pithy zingers, tweets, Facebook posts and getting big bucks … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin’s family (including Sarah) allegedly ‘involved in drunken brawl’ at house party
No Safe Haven for Obstructionists
by Walter Brasch Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), the Senate minority leader, is not a happy man. [icopyright one button toolbar] He didn’t like it when Barack Obama was elected president. Just about the first thing McConnell said was that his main responsibility was to make sure that Mr. Obama was a one-term president. That vow drove McConnell’s and the Tea Party’s … [Read more...] about No Safe Haven for Obstructionists
The Types Of People More Prone To Drug Addiction
Addiction is a complicated affliction, affecting people of all ages, intelligence levels, and backgrounds. It's hard to tell what causes some people to be more prone to addiction than others; it's usually a mix of many factors, from family background, genetics, environment, stress, and personality traits. The National Institute on Drug Abuse lists some basic addiction… … [Read more...] about The Types Of People More Prone To Drug Addiction
What if this doesn’t work?
WASHINGTON -- President Obama has committed the United States to another open-ended Middle East war in which the potential for doing harm rivals the possibility of doing good. That's the bottom line from Obama's sober address to the nation. The president made his decision cautiously, reluctantly, even painfully. But make no mistake: The pledge to "destroy" the Islamic … [Read more...] about What if this doesn’t work?
ISIS and the Nazis
Whither the Islamic State? That's a real double-edged question: where is the group otherwise known as ISIS headed, and can the United States and other civilized nations make it shrivel up and die? The group is and has taken off like a bat out of hell, gobbling up territory and becoming a virtual murder machine.[icopyright one button toolbar] President Barack Obama's speech … [Read more...] about ISIS and the Nazis
What justice? US attorneys go after conservative author
Federal prosecutors are seeking a 10- to 16-month prison sentence for conservative author and filmmaker Dinesh D'Souza, who has pled guilty to violating campaign finance law. [icopyright one button toolbar] D'Souza, 53, admitted in May to illegally reimbursing two "straw donors" who donated $10,000 each to the unsuccessful 2012 U.S. Senate campaign in New York of Wendy … [Read more...] about What justice? US attorneys go after conservative author
What if Michael did it?
As an unashamed Michael Jackson obsessive, one question I get asked more than any other, more than what is my favorite song or album, is: What if he did it? [icopyright one button toolbar] The question is always phrased in this way, in an ambiguous fashion but I know exactly what they’re trying to say. But I like to screw with people so I always answer: did what? There … [Read more...] about What if Michael did it?
The new politics of foreign policy
The new politics of foreign policy (Changes throughout to reflect President Obama's speech on the Islamic State) By E.J. DIONNE JR. WASHINGTON -- Over the last decade, Americans' views on foreign policy have swung sharply from support for intervention to a profound mistrust of any military engagement overseas. Over the same period, political debates on … [Read more...] about The new politics of foreign policy
13 Years On, Our Choice Is Between America and Fear
The politics of our nation since 9/11 have been the politics of fear.[icopyright one button toolbar] Because of fear that one of us is a terrorist, we've allowed our intelligence services to listen into our private conversations; because of fear of terrorists from abroad, we have killed innocent people in foreign nations (supposedly to protect ourselves here); because of … [Read more...] about 13 Years On, Our Choice Is Between America and Fear