I was in Hong Kong in July 1997 when Britain transferred its sovereignty to China in return for promises to slowly democratize the former colony. There was excitement in the air, and gigantic fireworks displays for two evenings. But the anxiety was palpable the day after celebrations when we all woke up to Chinese tanks and… … [Read more...] about Tremors from Hong Kong: Are protests over China’s broken promise doomed to end in violence?
Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Obama and the Secret Service
Obama and the Secret Service by Mike Peters OF RELATED INTEREST: --Ex-Agent Cites 'Progressive Down Slide' In Morale At Secret Service --Have '2nd-term blues' hit the Secret Service? --The Problem With the Secret Service --Why Julia Pierson Resigned Mike Peters is recognized as one of our nation’s most prominent cartoon artists for his outstanding work as both a … [Read more...] about Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Obama and the Secret Service
The End Of Lotus 123
One of my first experiences with PC programs was Lotus 123. As a scientist and engineer it was a blessing. Originally I used it on a pre-Windows DOS PC and was often a pain in the you know what but it still made my job much easier. I can say the same for the pre - Windows word processor WordPerfect. Well 123 is on it's way to the software grave yard.[icopyright one button … [Read more...] about The End Of Lotus 123
Krugman on GOP Voodoo Economics
Paul Krugman predicts the institutionalization of G.H.W. Bush's aptly named "voodoo economics" should Republicans gain a Senate majority in The New York Times. During his failed bid for the 1980 Republican presidential nomination George H. W. Bush famously described Ronald Reagan’s “supply side” doctrine — the claim that cutting taxes on high incomes would lead to spectacular … [Read more...] about Krugman on GOP Voodoo Economics
A little Late But A Weekend Picture
Here is a Ron Beasley original: ©Ron Beasley … [Read more...] about A little Late But A Weekend Picture
US airstrikes in Syria targeted French agent who defected to al Qaida
IRBIL, Iraq — A former French intelligence officer who defected to al-Qaida was among the targets of the first wave of U.S. airstrikes in Syria last month, according to people familiar with the defector's movements and identity. Two European intelligence officials described the former French officer as the highest-ranking defector ever to go over to the… … [Read more...] about US airstrikes in Syria targeted French agent who defected to al Qaida
Sullivan on ISIS and Obama
Andrew Sullivan critiques Obama's policy on ISIS on The Daily Dish. Yes, we should tighten our defenses; yes, we should deal firmly with any Americans who are going to fight there; yes, we should perhaps intervene from a distance if one side seemed to be gaining the upper hand too much. (Our real interest is in bolstering the one stable power in the region, which is … [Read more...] about Sullivan on ISIS and Obama
SciFi Weekend: Doctor Who; You’re The Worst Renewed; Dallas Cancelled; Twin Peaks May Return; Marvel News; Arrow; Homeland; Community; Another Stephen King Novel To Television; Outlander; Short Skirts And Invented Languages In Genre
Kill the Moon could be seen both as one of many totally implausible and scientifically absurd episodes of Doctor Who along with another high concept episode with a major role in the series. Even if we accept that the moon could really be a giant egg, it makes no sense for the development of the space dragon to also lead to giving the moon more gravity. Doctor Who also has a … [Read more...] about SciFi Weekend: Doctor Who; You’re The Worst Renewed; Dallas Cancelled; Twin Peaks May Return; Marvel News; Arrow; Homeland; Community; Another Stephen King Novel To Television; Outlander; Short Skirts And Invented Languages In Genre
Kansas Appears Ready To Reject Republican Extremism
Maybe nothing is the matter with Kansas in the long run. Republicans obtained firm control over the state government and their policies have turned into a disaster. Now voters appear ready to reject the Republicans. A Gravis Marketing Poll shows independent Greg Orman leading Republican Republican Pat Roberts by 47 percent to 40 percent. Paul Davis leads Sam Brownback in the … [Read more...] about Kansas Appears Ready To Reject Republican Extremism
Video purports to show another Islamic State beheading
The terrorist group known as the Islamic State released a video Friday purporting to show the beheading of Briton Alan Henning - the fourth such beheading over the past six weeks. In the video, which has not yet been confirmed by U.S. or British officials, an Islamic State fighter blames U.S.-led airstrikes against terrorist targets in… … [Read more...] about Video purports to show another Islamic State beheading
Obama’s ‘Failed Experiment’ Proves Only America Can Maintain Order (Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Germany)
How should the world react to America's return to the role as world's top cop? For Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung, columnist Nicolas Richter writes that misgivings over NSA mass surveillance and past military adventures notwithstanding, the world is breathing a sigh of relief to see the United States return to the role of maintaining a 'basic level' of global order, … [Read more...] about Obama’s ‘Failed Experiment’ Proves Only America Can Maintain Order (Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Germany)
The Barney Fife Secret Service
Law enforcement has long been a popular subject in film comedy. It looks like some producer now has a lot of potential material. [icopyright one button toolbar] In the early 20th century, the incompetent Keystone Cops did big "B.O." (Variety's old term for "box office," although it also means "body odor") for Mack Sennett and his Keystone Film Company. With its cast … [Read more...] about The Barney Fife Secret Service
President Thanks the Troops (Video)
[icopyright one button toolbar] President Obama today released a video thanking the troops “for their dedicated service in Afghanistan, in the fight against ISIL in the Middle East and against Ebola in West Africa, and all the men and women who serve the nation in uniform”. The message aired during the Air Force-Navy football game on American Forces Network, which is … [Read more...] about President Thanks the Troops (Video)
Lucas Oil Co-Founder “Sick and Tired of Minorities Running Our Country”
Charlotte Frances, co-founder and vice president of Lucas Oil, went on a sickening Facebook rant about atheists, Muslims and "other minority group[s]" that tell the "majority" what to do, The Indy Channel reports. “I’m sick and tired of minorities running our country!” Lucas wrote. “As far as I’m concerned, I don’t think that atheists (minority), muslims [sic] (minority) nor … [Read more...] about Lucas Oil Co-Founder “Sick and Tired of Minorities Running Our Country”
Return to Sobibór
[icopyright one button toolbar] "Sobibór 'Himmelstrasse'," by Jacques Lahitte It was many years ago when I first heard about a Nazi death camp named Sobibór, nestled deep in the forests of the Lublin district of South-Eastern Poland. Sobibór was one of three Nazi extermination camps -- the other two were Belzek and Treblinka -- that had received little notoriety … [Read more...] about Return to Sobibór
Secure the people’s house
WASHINGTON -- Put a taller fence around the White House complex and lock the doors. Then get rid of the dry rot in the Secret Service bureaucracy, restore staffing to reasonable levels, adopt the latest technology and develop new protocols to replace the ones that didn't work. But don't use the recent shocking lapses in presidential security as an excuse to further … [Read more...] about Secure the people’s house
When The NFL’s Concussion Problem Goes To High School
In the last week alone, three high school football players across the country have died as a result of on-field injuries — rehashing a debate that first began in the mid-2000s and tends to cycle through periods of dormancy and revival with the beginning of each season. The National Football League has been wrestling with the… … [Read more...] about When The NFL’s Concussion Problem Goes To High School
DOD: America’s Sons and Daughters in Liberia Will Be Protected from Ebola
[icopyright one button toolbar] As the White House seeks to reassure Americans that the U.S. health-care system is “well-equipped to treat the virus and stop it from spreading,” and “is prepared to deal with this crisis,” the Department of Defense (DOD) and other government agencies are also busy reassuring the public that our troops -- 4,000 of them -- to be deployed to … [Read more...] about DOD: America’s Sons and Daughters in Liberia Will Be Protected from Ebola
Republicans Running Seinfeld and Wizard of Oz Campaigns
Brian Buetler is unfair to Seinfeld, but on target with regards to the Republican Party. He attacked them on two fronts. First he looked at the contradictions in Reince Preibus' policy speech: As if to signal his awareness that there’s a gaping void in the GOP’s midterm election strategy, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus did something a little unusual for … [Read more...] about Republicans Running Seinfeld and Wizard of Oz Campaigns
A Fracking Good Letter
by Walter Brasch The oil and gas industry has retreated from its entrenched position to have the public delete the “k” in “fracking,” and write it as “frac’ing” or “fracing.” Those who have been the strongest advocates for fracking scorned and mocked those who place the “k” in the word. The problem is that without the “k,” the word sounds like “frasing.” However, the first … [Read more...] about A Fracking Good Letter