Glasswipes Raging Moderate by Will Durst A tsunami of tech is engulfing our nation, and in the process, redecorating communities like a family of grizzly bears locked in a Volkswagen van. A family of obscenely paid bespectacled grizzly bears with a taste for artisanal toast. Remember back in high school when the freaks and geeks and nerds were ostracized and used as … [Read more...] about Glasswipes
Republicans love comparing everything to slavery
It's often noted that in the heat of passion partisans of both parties use comparisons to Nazi Germany, which usually instantly undermines someone's own argument unless the comparison can stand up. But John Perr of Perrspectives notes that Republicans are now facing another danger: they seemingly continuously compare any policy or government action they don't like to slavery. … [Read more...] about Republicans love comparing everything to slavery
NBA: Clippers, other stars, outraged at Clipper owner Sterling’s racial remarks
NBA: Clippers, other stars, outraged at racial remarks (via AFP) LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and other NBA stars joined the Los Angeles Clippers in outrage at racist comments purportedly from Clippers owner Donald Sterling that came out Saturday. Sterling was allegedly the speaker on an audio recording posted on TMZ… … [Read more...] about NBA: Clippers, other stars, outraged at Clipper owner Sterling’s racial remarks
Military Week in Photos
This week, we’ll start with the announcement by President Obama that Former Army Sgt. Kyle Jerome White (above) will receive the Medal of Honor during a May 13 ceremony at the White House. The 27-year-old Seattle native will become the seventh living recipient of the nation's highest military decoration for conspicuous gallantry and valor during actions in Iraq or … [Read more...] about Military Week in Photos
Federal Land In The West
Steven Taylor has an excellent post over at OTB on The Basics of Federal Land Ownership in the west. Most of the western US (indeed, south-central as well, i.e., from the current border of Louisiana westward across Texas) used to be part of Mexico. East Texas became independent after the Texas Revolution of 1836 (as did, theoretically, the disputed area on the map above). … [Read more...] about Federal Land In The West
The GOP and Bundy
A reader of Andrew Sullivan's blog The Daily Dish weighs in on Bundy and the GOP. I live in a very pro-agriculture and ranching area of the country, and I am friends with a quite a few Republicans who are part-time ranchers/farmers, some of whom teach at our local state U, a land grant university that has the biggest Agriculture and Natural Resources programs in the … [Read more...] about The GOP and Bundy
NBA Owner Under Investigation for Racially Charged Comments
The Los Angeles Clippers of the NBA are in the middle of the playoffs and have a chance to be a title team. But their owner, Donald Sterling is in the news for other reasons. TMZ released an almost ten minute tape of a telephone conversations said to be between Sterling and his girlfriend. "The remarks heard on the recording are disturbing and offensive, but at this … [Read more...] about NBA Owner Under Investigation for Racially Charged Comments
A Closer Look At Insurance Cancellations Under The Affordable Care Act
Last fall opponents of the Affordable Care Act made noise way out of proportion to its actual meaning when insurance companies sent out cancellation letters to policy holders whose policies were not compliant with the law. A combination of the initial failings of healthcare.gov and exaggerated reports on cancellations led to much of the negative publicity about the Affordable … [Read more...] about A Closer Look At Insurance Cancellations Under The Affordable Care Act
W Is For Wanting
Recently I stopped by my local barber for my regular haircut and as often happens I got into discussions with the others in the shop. I have to admit that this is one thing i really like about going to a regular old barber (in my case the same guy since I was a little kid) because it allows you to have these conversations. It’s not something that you get to do in some of the … [Read more...] about W Is For Wanting
Putin is Losing Eastern European Energy Gamble
Putin is Losing Eastern European Energy Gamble By Daniel J. Graeber of Oilprice.com Russian President Vladimir Putin said he doesn't think the European community can do without the natural gas it gets from energy monopoly Gazprom. With a Russian economy starting to decline, however, it may be Gazprom that's too strongly interconnected to the European market to break … [Read more...] about Putin is Losing Eastern European Energy Gamble
Thomas Piketty and Karl Marx
The number one best seller on Amazon is a book that has the conservatives really worried, Capital in the Twenty-first Century by Thomas Piketty. The hard copy version is sold out at Amazon but I just downloaded it to my Kindle. Piketty doesn't think that Karl Marx was right but also doesn't think he was entirely wrong. As Paul Krugman points out the popularity of book has … [Read more...] about Thomas Piketty and Karl Marx
This Week in Hillary-World: The Stupid, The Sensational, The Sexist!
This Week in Hillary-World: The Stupid, The Sensational, The Sexist! by Nikki Gloudeman Each week, Ravishly.com explores Hillary Clinton's universe, gleaning insights from rumor-mongers, pundits, pollsters, political writers and more. Yes, the election is still a bazillion years away, but when it comes to the story of the potential first female president ever (!!), it's … [Read more...] about This Week in Hillary-World: The Stupid, The Sensational, The Sexist!
Is GOP Willingness To Move On Immigration Related To Success Of Obamacare
Over the past week, a startling number of conservative Republicans have been making a public case for the House of Representatives to back legal status for undocumented immigrants. They would like to see that as part of a broader package of immigration reform measures of which getting to the house floor is half the battle. You'll pardon my cynicism but I must wonder if that's a … [Read more...] about Is GOP Willingness To Move On Immigration Related To Success Of Obamacare
Cartoon: Bundy and Fox and Friends (Guest Cartoonist)
Bundy and Fox and Friends by Mike Peters OF RELATED INTEREST: --Fox News flip-flop: Sean Hannity backs away from Cliven Bundy the racist rancher --Stephen Colbert Slams Fox News’ Sean Hannity Over Cliven Bundy Story: Video --Cliven Bundy Destroys Fox News and Sean Hannity By Claiming They Support His Racism --CNN scores Bundy interview because Fox News ‘didn’t … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Bundy and Fox and Friends (Guest Cartoonist)
Bundy: It’s All MLK’s Fault
Our Editor-in-Chief, Joe Gandelman, often uses the image above when writing about some personality, typically a politician, who puts his or her foot in his or her mouth, respectively. Republican hero and patriot-turned-racist Cliven Bundy has done exactly that a couple of times already when first referring to African-Americans as being better off as slaves, picking cotton, … [Read more...] about Bundy: It’s All MLK’s Fault
Republican Extremism Gives Democrats The Edge
Jonathan Chait looked at demographic and political trends to consider whether the trend towards the Democratic Party is likely to continue. Much of what he wrote is a recap of the conventional wisdom these days, with some disagreeing. He considered multiple factors including the tendency of the young and minorities to vote Democratic. To some degree this could be offset by an … [Read more...] about Republican Extremism Gives Democrats The Edge
Supreme Court Allows Affirmative-Action Ban in Higher Education
Do you think race alone should be part of what determines whether you get into college? If you don't, the Supreme Court agrees with you. Earlier this week, it upheld the 2006 Michigan decision which stated race could not be required as a determining factor in college admissions. In the Michigan higher-education system, this signifies the end of controversial affirmative-action … [Read more...] about Supreme Court Allows Affirmative-Action Ban in Higher Education
Pledge your vote to my campaign and we’ll give you a Smith & Wesson M&P15 rifle
A Republican candidate in Colorado sponsored a sweepstake, a wide net cast for more votes. The lure? The M&P 15. The Republicans and the NRA have concocted a great way to get votes for their candidates: promise a nice, powerful gun. How about an AR 15? The South Carolina Republicans' offer is the same but slightly different. In a Republican primary, there are … [Read more...] about Pledge your vote to my campaign and we’ll give you a Smith & Wesson M&P15 rifle
Ukraine accuses Russia of seeking ‘third world war’
Ukraine accuses Russia of seeking 'third world war' (via AFP) Kiev accused Moscow on Friday of seeking to trigger a "third world war" as military tensions soared in east Ukraine and US President Barack Obama led a diplomatic charge against Russia. A rocket-propelled grenade blew up a Ukrainian military helicopter… … [Read more...] about Ukraine accuses Russia of seeking ‘third world war’
The Boy Who Would Be Lama
In China "DL" stands for more than "Disabled list": Amber Alert is nearly 20 yars old on the Panchen Lama The View from the Virgin Islands By John F. McCarthy TMV Columnist Ever wonder why you see those “Free Tibet” bumper stickers on peoples’ cars? We have a few of them here – in St. Croix, the U.S. Virgin Islands – where I live. For Liberals it … [Read more...] about The Boy Who Would Be Lama