Like most I suspect I had never heard of Iraq's Yazidi population. Over at Vox they explain who they are, their beliefs and history. Rather than do a lot of inadequate copy and pastes I will simply direct you to the post. … [Read more...] about So who are the Yazidi
Not The “Libertarian Moment” But Also Not Hillary Clinton’s Moment To Attract Millenials
Robert Draper asks, Has the ‘Libertarian Moment’ Finally Arrived? in The New York Times Magazine. [icopyright one button toolbar] Libertarians, who long have relished their role as acerbic sideline critics of American political theater, now find themselves and their movement thrust into the middle of it. For decades their ideas have had serious backing financially (most … [Read more...] about Not The “Libertarian Moment” But Also Not Hillary Clinton’s Moment To Attract Millenials
Iraq and ISIS
I'll be honest up front, I opposed the initial invasion and occupation of Iraq but in an area made up largely of bad actors ISIS (ISIL) are the baddest of them all, so bad in fact that even al-Quada has denied any association with them. Dorian covered the recent US involvement below. I still think the Iraq war was one of the greatest blunders in American history but that … [Read more...] about Iraq and ISIS
The Kurds, ISIL, and Iraq’s Icosahedron Triangle of Interests (L’Orient Le Jour, Lebanon)
Whose fighting who - and whose helping who, in the geopolitical maze called Iraq? L'Orient Le Jour columnist Christian Merville outlines the latest baffling wrinkle in the quagmire, suggesting that, despite the fact that they appear to be under attack by ISIL, the Kurdish Peshmerga, thought to be extremely close to the Americans, may in fact be cooperating with none other than … [Read more...] about The Kurds, ISIL, and Iraq’s Icosahedron Triangle of Interests (L’Orient Le Jour, Lebanon)
My New Book Now Available For Order Online: ‘When All Are One and One Is All To Be A Rock And Not To Roll’
A character in the Doonesbury comic strip once called the 1970s "A kidney stone of a decade," and compared to the 1960s and 1980s, it indeed was. It was a period of economic and political decline and, of course, abuses of power with Watergate being the worst but by no means only scandal. Decades get demythologized; it is a quintessential part of the Great American Meat … [Read more...] about My New Book Now Available For Order Online: ‘When All Are One and One Is All To Be A Rock And Not To Roll’
Book Excerpt: ‘There Must Be Some Way Out Of Here Said The Joker To The Thief’
(Excerpt from opening of first chapter) [icopyright one button toolbar] The first time I went out to Kiln Farm, bumping along in an aluminum beach chair anchored to the floor in the back of Eldon's Chevy Step Van, it seemed like it took forever although the farm was only 10 miles from New Park. Back then New Park was a quaint college town without a … [Read more...] about Book Excerpt: ‘There Must Be Some Way Out Of Here Said The Joker To The Thief’
(Continued Updates) Air Operations in Iraq
[icopyright one button toolbar] For some background, scroll down to the end -- Statement by Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby on Airstrikes in Iraq At approximately 6:45 a.m. EDT, the U.S. military conducted a targeted airstrike against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) terrorists. . Two F/A-18 aircraft dropped 500-pound laser-guided … [Read more...] about (Continued Updates) Air Operations in Iraq
Illegal Immigration At 40-Year Low, But Border Crossing Still Kills
What ‘war on whites’?
WASHINGTON -- If there really were a "war on whites," as a Republican congressman from Alabama ludicrously claims, it wouldn't be going very well for the anti-white side. In 2012, the last year for which comprehensive Census Bureau data are available, white households had a median income of $57,009, compared to $33,321 for African-American households and $39,005 for … [Read more...] about What ‘war on whites’?
The Most Expensive Food In The World: 10 Lavish Alternatives To Your Everyday Dishes
Tired of eating cheap fast food? The folks at financesonline.com offer us this infographic of some dishes that are run a bit more -- and are a bit more ornate, in culinary terms: … [Read more...] about The Most Expensive Food In The World: 10 Lavish Alternatives To Your Everyday Dishes
This Is What The Ebola Virus Does To Your Body
(Video: President Authorizes Air Strikes) U.S. Considering Air Drops, Air Strikes, Other Options to Help Iraq’s Minorities
[icopyright one button toolbar] Update III: The President has just authorized "targeted air strikes" to protect our troops and humanitarian efforts in Iraq. Watch video below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFZHI01-oLs UpdateII: CNN reports that U.S. humanitarian air drops have begun over Iraq. Update I: The New York Times says that Kurdish officials … [Read more...] about (Video: President Authorizes Air Strikes) U.S. Considering Air Drops, Air Strikes, Other Options to Help Iraq’s Minorities
Do the Democrats Fear Rand Paul Will be the 2016 Republican Presidential Nominee?
Do the Democrats fear Rand Paul could be the 2016 Republican Presidential nominee because he could be a far different kind of Republican that could redefine the national Republican brand and make inroads into their constituencies? The Daily Beast's Olivia Nuzzi, in a well-sourced report, suggests the Dems are starting to aim their political fire at Rand Paul because, yes, they … [Read more...] about Do the Democrats Fear Rand Paul Will be the 2016 Republican Presidential Nominee?
(Update) Sue Congress, an Idea Whose Time Has Come
[icopyright one button toolbar] Update: While 41 percent of Americans approve of the job Mr. Obama is doing as president and 50 percent disapprove, just 15 percent approve of the job Congress are doing, while 78 percent disapprove. Furthermore, more Americans disapprove (54 percent) than approve (37 percent) of the lawsuit against Mr. Obama authorized by … [Read more...] about (Update) Sue Congress, an Idea Whose Time Has Come
Tiny Head’s Up from TMV
Hi there, Dr. E here... I wrote Tyrone, our great IT guy, several days ago asking that edit function be added for our commenters since our recent site redesign. As of yesterday, our commenters have this function available to them to edit their own comments. Just so you know. There you go. Thanks Tyrone! As always, you're the best of the IT wizard tribe. … [Read more...] about Tiny Head’s Up from TMV
‘Successful’ Russia Sanctions Would be West’s Worst Nightmare (Gazeta, Russia)
This column by Gazeta columnist Georgy Bovt, while providing an unassailable argument for why Western sanctions on Russia are doomed to fail, also serves as a powerful indictment of the Putin years. Beyond his explanation of why there is no likelihood of sanctions working, or of an opposition emerging that is capable of challenging the Putin regime, Bovt lays out why, if … [Read more...] about ‘Successful’ Russia Sanctions Would be West’s Worst Nightmare (Gazeta, Russia)
Atlas did the dishes, then watched the news
Here's the biggest scare headline I can remember since 1983's TIME cover: Herpes the New Scarlet Letter*. Has the ‘Libertarian Moment’ Finally Arrived? Robert Draper / New York Times “Let’s say Ron Paul is Nirvana,” said Kennedy, the television personality and former MTV host, by way of explaining the sort of politician who excites libertarians like herself. “Like, the … [Read more...] about Atlas did the dishes, then watched the news
Sugar Coated History
I love history but straight history can often be a bit dry. [icopyright one button toolbar] James Michener was a perhaps the the first to sugar coat history with well researched fiction. His novels were turned into Broadway plays, movies and TV mini series. Another author of that genre is Edward Rutherford. His first novel, Sarum, covered 10,000 years of history of the … [Read more...] about Sugar Coated History
Decreased Highway Fatalities In Colorado After Legalization Of Marijuana
Conservatives have used scare stories of high drivers as reasons to oppose both legalization of marijuana and even use of medical marijuana. As with a recent study on prostitution reducing the risk of rape and sexually transmitted diseases, eliminating laws against victimless crimes may be beneficial, and at least typically does not do the harm claimed by conservatives. Since … [Read more...] about Decreased Highway Fatalities In Colorado After Legalization Of Marijuana
Plain vanilla bipartisanship
WASHINGTON -- When does Congress become so embarrassed by its laughably low approval ratings that its leaders decide to pass laws to make our country a modestly better place? Is there a plain vanilla agenda that might pass muster across party lines? If you thought attitudes about Congress couldn't get any worse, consider the Washington Post/ABC News poll's finding this … [Read more...] about Plain vanilla bipartisanship