Recalling MLK who was murdered 46 years ago on April 4 by Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — The National Civil Rights Museum, built on the site of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, and visited by 200,000 people every year, re-opened last weekend. A remarkable renovation, joining history to our moral future, has been completed in conjunction with the 46th anniversary of … [Read more...] about Recalling MLK who was murdered 46 years ago on April 4 (Guest Voice)
A GREAT World Cruise Part 4
Editor’s Note: Cruises that go terribly or tragically wrong are always in the news, starting with the Titanic. But what about the many, many cruises that are sheer joy? Two years ago retired French professor Jeffry Foster went on a world voyage. We are presenting his diary in several parts. Here’s Part 4: Tuesday, February 28 Fremantle It's a return to Fremantle /Perth as … [Read more...] about A GREAT World Cruise Part 4
Putin’s Masterful Ukraine Subversion
Russian President Vladimir Putin is achieving his goals in the Ukraine. Marc Ambider, writing in The Week, notes how Putin is right on track and playing a long game: Don't be surprised that Russian special forces and military intelligence are stirring up resistance in eastern Ukraine. When acute conflicts seem to simmer, Americans lull themselves into a false nap of … [Read more...] about Putin’s Masterful Ukraine Subversion
Pat Robertson Says Jews Are Too Busy Polishing Diamonds To Fix Their Cars (UPDATED)
Editor’s Note: The Christian Broadcasting Network, in comment below the following story, says Pat Robertson was quoting Daniel Lapin’s book, and not voicing his own opinion. Televangelist Pat Robertson has struck again, this time saying Jews never fix their cars because they're too busy polishing diamonds. Note that Robertson often comes under fire when he makes … [Read more...] about Pat Robertson Says Jews Are Too Busy Polishing Diamonds To Fix Their Cars (UPDATED)
Globalizing Dignity
This is the sixteenth part of the serialization of All Rise: Somebodies, Nobodies, and the Politics of Dignity (Berrett-Koehler, 2006). The ideas in this book are further developed in my recent novel The Rowan Tree. CHAPTER 10: GLOBALIZING DIGNITY It is excellent to have a giant’s strength; but it is tyrannous to use it like a giant. –William Shakespeare, Measure for … [Read more...] about Globalizing Dignity
Wages And Gender
One of the topics of debate in the news today is the gender gap and as I ponder the issue I can't help wondering about the story behind the story. I assume it goes without saying that if two people are doing the same job for the same time with the same performance they should get the same pay. If John and Mary are hired the same week and work for 3 yrs and are both pretty … [Read more...] about Wages And Gender
Republicans Had To Hide Support For Fix To Affordable Care Act To Limit Attacks From The Right
The "doc fix" has become a strange legislative tradition as Congress regularly votes to stop the automatic cuts in physician payment called for under the flawed Sustainable Growth Rate formula. As I discussed in March, this time there were a couple of new twists which were known, but in addition it turns out that another item hidden in the bill reveals a lot about the … [Read more...] about Republicans Had To Hide Support For Fix To Affordable Care Act To Limit Attacks From The Right
Standardized Jobs (Cartoon)
https://politicalgraffiti.wordpress.com/2014/04/08/standardized-job-market/ Copyright 2014 David Donar. All rights reserved. Copyright Donar, Political Graffiti … [Read more...] about Standardized Jobs (Cartoon)
Are You XPerienced?
Well, if not, the operating system is dead to Microsoft, as of today. XP X-its Only problem? 20-30% of all PCs still run it. (Forgive the writer below) The BBC reports: Windows XP users face end to Microsoft support By Mark Ward 7 April 2014 Support for the venerable Windows XP operating system ends this Tuesday. It means that there will be no more official security … [Read more...] about Are You XPerienced?
How Does a NATO Buildup Amount to Victory for Russia? (Yezhednevniy Zhurnal, Russia)
Here is another dissenting voice from Russia on the issue of Crimea's annexation. Swimming against the popular tide for Russia's Yezhednevniy Zhurnal, columnist Alexander Goltz wonders how Putin's actions in Ukraine can be considered a victory, when the very things he has been working to prevent for decades are now happening as a direct result. For the Yezhednevniy Zhurnal, … [Read more...] about How Does a NATO Buildup Amount to Victory for Russia? (Yezhednevniy Zhurnal, Russia)
The Downside of Democracy (4)
It can be considered axiomatic that newly established democratic governments often develop into autocracies unless particular conditions are present. Among the requirements that act as safeguards are a previous tradition of democracy by the state at some point in its history, other strongly democratic nations in the geographic vicinity, the failure of autocratic rule in the … [Read more...] about The Downside of Democracy (4)
Obama Delivers “The Best Medicine” To Ted Cruz, John Boehner, and Michele Bachmann
Barry Blitt said this about the above cover for The New Yorker: “This whole enterprise was just an elaborate excuse. I enjoyed drawing Ted Cruz, John Boehner, and Michele Bachmann as petulant children—and I especially wanted to draw an open-mouthed Mitch McConnell being spoon-fed his meds.” Obama is certainly delivering the "medicine" as news comes in showing that enrollment … [Read more...] about Obama Delivers “The Best Medicine” To Ted Cruz, John Boehner, and Michele Bachmann
2014: Turbulence ahead for the Democrats
2014: Turbulence ahead for the Democrats by Richard Barry Well, here's some bad news for Democrats, according to an Associated Press-GfK poll conducted between March 20-24: Thirty-seven percent in the poll last month chose Republicans, compared to 36 percent who said they would rather see Democrats in charge, with the November general elections seven months … [Read more...] about 2014: Turbulence ahead for the Democrats
Power to the Plutocracy (Cartoon)
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 Power to the Plutocracy (Cartoon)
G Is For Gilligan
The letter for today is G and after considering several options I settled on G for Gilligan, our favorite friend from the three hour tour. I first came to know the series as a child, like many of us watching it on afternoon TV (usually one of the UHF channels). Even at that age I could see the show was campy and the plots full of holes. But that didn't seem to matter in … [Read more...] about G Is For Gilligan
Share the torture report
WASHINGTON -- Torture is immoral, illegal and irreconcilable with this nation's most cherished values. If defenders of the CIA's "enhanced interrogation" program disagree, they should come out and say so. Instead, they blow smoke. Sexist smoke, at that: Former CIA Director Michael Hayden said Sunday that Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., is being "emotional" rather than … [Read more...] about Share the torture report
‘I Wake Up To The Sound Of Music . . . Speaking Words Of Wisdom, Let It Be’
Neither of my parents were particularly musical, although my father had a lovely singing voice and was a great whistler. My mother not so much. I vaguely recall big band music played on a staticy, low-fi AM radio when I was really little, but it wasn't until we got an FM -- a hulking Philco in a Bakelite case -- that I became aware of the ability of music to transport me, … [Read more...] about ‘I Wake Up To The Sound Of Music . . . Speaking Words Of Wisdom, Let It Be’
Esiason’s foot in mouth (Guest Cartoonist Cartoon)
Esiason's foot in mouth by Mike Peters OF RELATED INTEREST: --Boomer Esiason’s apology to Daniel Murphy is right move, but what’s next step in world of Gasbags? --Boomer Esiason Apologizes For Comments On Murphy’s Paternity Leave --Boomer Esiason rips Mets infielder for taking paternity leave --The Lesson From Baseball's Paternity Leave Controversy: Paternity Leave Is … [Read more...] about Esiason’s foot in mouth (Guest Cartoonist Cartoon)
Here’s your guide to every major 2016 presidential contender
Here’s your guide to every major 2016 presidential contender (via PBS News Hour) 2014 is a year of auditioning, positioning, networking and just plain hard work for people who might run for president in 2016. There’s plenty to do, and the pace has quickened since The Associated Press last took a broad look at preparations for… … [Read more...] about Here’s your guide to every major 2016 presidential contender
Video shows Republican Congressman McAllister kissing staffer
Any day, now, an updated poem of the old kids' chant will start. Such as: Vance and a woman in an office that's free k-i-s-s-i-n-g, First comes love, he's married, of course, Better act quick or there could be divorce. The Vance is freshman GOP Rep. Vance McAllister (La.), who ran as a conservative Christian. He now has to explain away why he was caught on video in … [Read more...] about Video shows Republican Congressman McAllister kissing staffer