May is graduation month and, along with high school, college and university graduations, come the traditional, memorable or forgettable, interesting or boring, sometimes controversial, sometimes funny, often motivating, rarely short enough (for the anxious graduates), but always unavoidable -- if you want to personally collect your diploma -- commencement speeches. Many of … [Read more...] about 2014 Commencement Addresses – A ‘Military Perspective’
‘Envy of the Gods’: Obama ‘Unfit to Lead’ a Great Power (Izvestia, Russia)
Has the United States intentionally undermined the dream of a 'single economic apace from Lisbon to Vladivostok' by creating turmoil in Ukraine? For Izvestia, columnist Vladimir Zharkhin accuses an 'envious' United States with doing everything it can to keep itself from being sidelined by stoking tensions between Europe and Russia - and President Obama with being overcome by … [Read more...] about ‘Envy of the Gods’: Obama ‘Unfit to Lead’ a Great Power (Izvestia, Russia)
Liberals Were Wrong About The VA, But Conservatives Remain Wrong About Health Care Coverage
James Taranto of The Wall Street Journal, demonstrating what they say about a broken watch, is right on one point. His column carries the subheading of "Not long ago, the left raved about the VA." While this is widely true about the left, there was at least one exception (myself). A few years back, many on the left were exclaiming about the quality of the VA system based upon … [Read more...] about Liberals Were Wrong About The VA, But Conservatives Remain Wrong About Health Care Coverage
Why Should Poland Thank Putin? Let Us Count the Ways (Rzeczpospolita, Poland)
Once again, unlike much of the commentary coming out of Europe, a Polish columnist seems almost pleased that the Ukraine crisis has erupted, bringing with it a renewed sense of urgency from their NATO partners. For Poland's Rzeczpospolita, columnist Michal Kobosko writes that Vladimir Putin has forced a new narrative on the world, and explains why that is largely a very good … [Read more...] about Why Should Poland Thank Putin? Let Us Count the Ways (Rzeczpospolita, Poland)
A Never-Ending Tail
From The Don't Tell Richard Gere Dept. Tokyo Goes Gaga For Hamster Butts View From The Virgin Islands By John McCarthy TMV Columnist This column went away for a few days as I tried to wrap my head around the Japanese fab fad of “hamuketsu.” Jean Michel Basquiat became famous as a graffiti artist by writing “Plush safe, he think” all over Manhattan in the … [Read more...] about A Never-Ending Tail
Report: Shelly Sterling to negotiate Los Angeles Clippers Sale
According to a report from ESPN, disgraced I'm-no-racist (but he has pretty much confirmed he is) Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling has authorized his wife Shelly to negotiate a sale of the team: Disgraced Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling has agreed to allow his wife, Shelly, to negotiate a forced sale of the team, sources with knowledge of the … [Read more...] about Report: Shelly Sterling to negotiate Los Angeles Clippers Sale
Will Putin try to gobble up Moldova next?
As Russian President Vladimir Putin continues what increasingly seems to be a policy of expansion couched in a (barely) cocoon of plausible deniability, the question become: after he gets Ukraine, what next? And The Daily Beast's Josh Rogin has an answer: keep your eye on Moldva, since there are signs Putin is already starting to tinker: After Sunday’s elections in … [Read more...] about Will Putin try to gobble up Moldova next?
Tea Party = Right Wing Id?
Brian Beutler assesses the state of the GOP's internal struggle in The New Republic. But the real issue isn't whether the "Tea Party," now vanquished, has been a liability for the Republican Party, but whether the Republican electorate is fractious and reactionary, and has thus kept the Senate out of reach for Republicans two cycles in a row. The answer is yes. … [Read more...] about Tea Party = Right Wing Id?
This Is Not Your Ordinary Memorial Day Poem, But Then This Is Not An Ordinary Memorial Day
I have seen over 40 Memorial Days come and go since I was discharged from the Army. Barely at that, because I had a one-day growth of beard and a lifer wasn't going to allow this lowly sergeant to board a Freedom Bird until I shaved. Having grown a pair while serving our country, I stared him down, he relented, and I flew home. Except for regular trims, I have not shaved … [Read more...] about This Is Not Your Ordinary Memorial Day Poem, But Then This Is Not An Ordinary Memorial Day
Casual Racism vs Institutionalized Racism
Casual Racism vs Institutionalized Racism by Tina Dupuy We as a nation have become really good at punishing casual racism. You know, using the N-word or saying overtly cruel things about black people in the presence of a recording device. Robert Copeland, an 82-year-old town police commissioner in New Hampshire, resigned this week after he unapologetically described … [Read more...] about Casual Racism vs Institutionalized Racism
Maui’s dolphin faces extinction unless action is taken now
Maui's dolphin faces extinction unless action is taken now (via World Wildlife Fund) The world's rarest marine dolphin faces imminent extinction unless urgent action is taken to protect them, says WWF. WWF is urging the New Zealand government to heed the advice of the world's leading scientists and ensure the survival of the critically… … [Read more...] about Maui’s dolphin faces extinction unless action is taken now
Will Obama act alone on immigration reform?
Will President Barack Obama move to act alone on immigration reform? It certainly sounds that way. Even though a slew of analysts (including yours truly) have long predicted that the GOP would have to join forces with the Democrats to get some kind of immigration reform through Congress, most signs now point to GOPers putting off any action on it until after the 2014 elections. … [Read more...] about Will Obama act alone on immigration reform?
Pat Sajak in Damage Control Mode
The hits started Tuesday afternoon, overwhelming my traffic and leaving a giant spike in my bloggy seismograph. I tracked it back to this--although the number one search term driving traffic to my blog was (I kid you not): "PAT SAJAK IS AN ASS***." From the Washington Post: click to enlarge Yup. Seems old Mr. Game Show Host is deep into rightie politics. And that's what … [Read more...] about Pat Sajak in Damage Control Mode
Mexican Coca Cola
Remember "New Coke" a few decades ago. What was "New Coke" all about? In reality it was about the switch from cane or beet sugar to high fructose corn syrup. It is thought by many medical researchers that high fructose corn syrup is in part responsible for the obesity epidemic in the United States. Glucose makes you feel full fructose does not. There would not be a big gulp … [Read more...] about Mexican Coca Cola
The Tainted Beef Recall (Mike Peters Guest Cartoon)
The Tainted Beef Recall by Mike Peters OF RELATED INTEREST: --Stores may have received tainted beef --BEEF RECALL: Stuart Deli & Florida Stores May Have Received Tainted Beef --Illinois among states could have received tainted beef --Nearly 2 Million Pounds of Tainted Ground Beef Recalled Mike Peters is recognized as one of our nation's most prominent cartoon … [Read more...] about The Tainted Beef Recall (Mike Peters Guest Cartoon)
The scary return of a radical, far-right Europe and what it means
The scary return of a radical, far-right Europe and what it means (via GlobalPost) HENIN-BEAUMONT, France — This former coal-mining town of 26,000 languishing in the economic badlands along the border with Belgium is about as far as you can get from the postcard image of this country as a land of wine and romance. Street after street… … [Read more...] about The scary return of a radical, far-right Europe and what it means
It’s now official: Thailand gets its 12th coup in 82 years
In Thailand, yet another civilian government has bit the dust. After first denying it was a coup, it's now official: the civilian government has been overthrown. This is the 12 military coup in Thailand since 1932. The last coup was in 2006. The scene was first set two days ago when the government declared martial law. CNN reported that "the army's decision to take control … [Read more...] about It’s now official: Thailand gets its 12th coup in 82 years
Netflix Expands Its Empire to 6 More European Countries
It’s no secret that Netflix is incredibly popular in the United States. Whether you’re looking to spend your Saturday night in with a movie or binge-watch your favorite show, Netflix is a cheap and easy way for doing so. Everyone seems to have, or share, a Netflix account so it’s little wonder the company turns a pretty hefty profit each year. According to Reuters, Netflix … [Read more...] about Netflix Expands Its Empire to 6 More European Countries
Moderate Style vs. Policy
Seth D. Daniels offers a provocative piece on moderate style vs. policy on Talking Points Memo. They put forth a set of policy positions, call them “moderate,” and carefully use voters’ self-description as “moderate” to seem like an endorsement of their policy beliefs — even when those policy beliefs, like their deep desire to cut Social Security and Medicare, are held by very … [Read more...] about Moderate Style vs. Policy
Nuclear winter in Kentucky politics
. LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Anyone with a weak stomach and refined sensibilities should stay out of Kentucky for the next six months. From the mountains to the gentle bluegrass, this normally civilized state was transformed on Tuesday night into the staging ground for a merciless war over everything that has gone wrong in American politics during the last five and … [Read more...] about Nuclear winter in Kentucky politics