Maybe this should be filmed as an ad to counter all those dishonest ads with fake horror stories being put out by the right wing. Kaiser Health News has a comic from a freelancer on her experiences in buying health insurance under the Affordable Care Act following her experiences in buying health insurance on the individual market in the past. The above portion gives an example … [Read more...] about An Experience With Obamacare
Government to Release Web-Based Climate App
Do you wish there was more data about climate change readily available? If so, you may be pleased with a new web-based app to be developed by the federal government. Recently, President Obama unveiled a Climate Data Initiative, which will compile masses of climate change data and make it available to users at climate.data.gov. Visitors won’t just be reading facts and … [Read more...] about Government to Release Web-Based Climate App
Whining About the Koch Brothers is a Losing Strategy (Guest Voice)
Whining About the Koch Brothers is a Losing Strategy By Dick Polman Democratic leaders are understandably worried that their liberal base will be AWOL in the congressional midterm elections. But they're nuts to think that turnout can be stoked by a campaign to demonize the Koch brothers. Yet, at least for now, that seems to be the plan. Various Democratic senatorial … [Read more...] about Whining About the Koch Brothers is a Losing Strategy (Guest Voice)
Into the Twilight Zone
WASHINGTON -- Let me go out on a limb: The Malaysian airliner did not get sucked into a black hole, vanish over the Indian Ocean equivalent of the Bermuda Triangle or crash-land on the spooky island from "Lost." Those "theories" were actually discussed on CNN this week. Host Don Lemon dismissed them as "preposterous" before asking one of his assembled "expert" guests -- … [Read more...] about Into the Twilight Zone
Humans can detect one trillion smells: study
Humans can detect one trillion smells: study (via AFP) The human nose can distinguish at least one trillion different odors, millions more than previously estimated, US researchers said Thursday. For decades, scientists accepted that humans could detect only 10,000 scents, putting the sense of smell well… … [Read more...] about Humans can detect one trillion smells: study
Right Wing Lies About Obamacare
Sahil Kapur reports on conservative attacks on Obamacare flunking fact-checks on Talking Points Memo. Americans For Prosperity is struggling to find a way to attack Obamacare that fits the facts. The Koch-funded conservative activist group is spending millions of dollars on TV ads aimed at undermining the Affordable Care Act and unseating Democratic senators who voted for it … [Read more...] about Right Wing Lies About Obamacare
Between Russian and the West: Ukraine’s Insurmountable Task (Rzeczpospolita, Poland)
Is there any hope whatsoever that Ukraine's young government, born out of the fire of revolt against Russia-friendly President Viktor Yanukovitch, will survive the apparent loss of Crimea to Russia? For Poland's Rzeczpospolita, columnist Jedrzej Bielecki paints an intimidating picture for interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, who leads a nation deep in debt, comprised of … [Read more...] about Between Russian and the West: Ukraine’s Insurmountable Task (Rzeczpospolita, Poland)
Commentary: Ukraine crisis signals our 25-year break from history is over
Commentary: Ukraine crisis signals our 25-year break from history is over (via PBS News Hour) A new Cold War is not upon us. Probably the only country that could afford one is China, and even it has some regime-threatening problems at home, such as the air its citizens breathe every minute, that require some very expensive fixes. What is upon… … [Read more...] about Commentary: Ukraine crisis signals our 25-year break from history is over
Russia Today and European Video Coverage of the Ukraine Crisis for March 20, 2014
Worldmeets.US has been putting these together most days since the Ukraine crisis broke: VIDEOS: European Video Coverage of Ukraine Crisis for Mar. 20 from Russia Today, Deutsche Welle, Euronews, France 24, and the BBC. First, a roundup of segments from Russia Today on the Ukraine crisis for March 20: First up, this is the latest episode of the program World's Apart … [Read more...] about Russia Today and European Video Coverage of the Ukraine Crisis for March 20, 2014
Fred Phelps Dies But Let’s Focus on Mr. Rogers
Fred Phelps has died and as I've said before I think one of the best things we can do is ignore him. As it happens today is also Mr. Rogers birthday. I suggest that in his spirit we should spend the day doing kindness to others rather than waste time on Phelps. And letting go of him is a kindness to yourself … [Read more...] about Fred Phelps Dies But Let’s Focus on Mr. Rogers
Rep. John Boehner and Sen. John McCain Among US Lawmakers Sanctioned by Russia
President Obama stepped up sanctions against Russia over its "illegal" annexation of Crimea from the Ukraine, to include a key bank, Rossiya, which will be "frozen out of the dollar," and more members of President Vladimir Putin's inner circle. Here's the list from the Treasury Department of the Russians banned in latest round of US sanctions. The Russians also released a … [Read more...] about Rep. John Boehner and Sen. John McCain Among US Lawmakers Sanctioned by Russia
‘Screams’ of Fukushima Must Not Be Ignored Like Those of Okinawa (Chunichi Shimbun, Japan)
Three years after the Fukushima earthquake and nuclear catastrophe, it appears that people who lived near the disaster zone are being ignored by Japan's government, as it rushes to declare the region safe again. This editorial from Japan's Chunichi Shimbun compares the victims of Fukushima to the survivors of the Battle of Okinawa in terms of the damage done and the way they … [Read more...] about ‘Screams’ of Fukushima Must Not Be Ignored Like Those of Okinawa (Chunichi Shimbun, Japan)
Angela Merkel: Buh-bye G8
Buh bye G8. The group formed in 1975 for the leaders of eight key industrialized countries is for now dead, and it doesn't look as if it'll be back very soon: The European Union is set to impose further sanctions on Russia following its decision to annex Crimea as German Chancellor Angela Merkel today declared the G8 'is dead'. EU leaders are set to meet in Brussels … [Read more...] about Angela Merkel: Buh-bye G8
Poll: Russians who feel their country is “great” hits 15 year high
More evidence that we're heading into a new Cold War? A new poll finds Russians who feel their country is "great" has hit a 15 year high -- and the United States is viewed more negatively than at any time since 1990: Things haven’t been going so well for the average Russian lately. Last year, the economy only grew 1.3 percent — its poorest showing since the economic … [Read more...] about Poll: Russians who feel their country is “great” hits 15 year high
Is this IT? Two objects spotted possibly related to MH370: Australia
Australia investigates 'possible' MH370 debris (via AFP) Australia said Thursday that two objects -- one estimated at 24 metres (79 feet) long -- had been spotted in the Indian Ocean, the "best lead we have" in the search for a Malaysian passenger jet. Four search aircraft had been dispatched to the remote… … [Read more...] about Is this IT? Two objects spotted possibly related to MH370: Australia
Japan’s version of amazon.com gets reamed for selling illegal ivory and whale products
Japan's version of amazon.com gets reamed for selling illegal ivory and whale products (via GlobalPost) The internet is abuzz this week with news that Rakuten, Japan's Amazon.com, is the world's leading online retailer of elephant ivory and whale products. This news came in the form of a new report, "Blood e-commerce: Rakuten's profits from the slaughter… … [Read more...] about Japan’s version of amazon.com gets reamed for selling illegal ivory and whale products
Tar babies and slurs: Virginia state senator apologizes
Context is everything. Virginia state Sen. Frank Ruff (R) had to apologize for painting Obamacare with a "tar baby" brush. Ruff opposes using federal money to extending the state portion of the Affordable Care Act. And he said so publicly this week. Ruff reputedly compared reliance on promised funds to provide health insurance for thousands of low-income Virginians to … [Read more...] about Tar babies and slurs: Virginia state senator apologizes
Random Musings On The Spring Equinox
I cannot remember being so anxious for spring to spring as this spring. Not that I have forgotten about the winter of 1977-78, when our wood stove ran nonstop from Thanksgiving to Saint Patrick's Day and the last of the snow didn't disappear until early April. But this winter just passed was worse in that I had spent two weeks camping in the Florida Keys in February 1978 … [Read more...] about Random Musings On The Spring Equinox
Will Putin bring us together?
WASHINGTON -- Vladimir Putin's grab of Crimea has exposed the paradoxes in American attitudes toward foreign policy. Congress has been unusually united in condemning the Russian leader's aggression and calling for his isolation. His belligerent offensive has been denounced by such liberals as Sens. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and by many … [Read more...] about Will Putin bring us together?
15 Things You Didn’t Know About the Muppets
15 Things You Didn't Know About the Muppets (via Fandango Movie Blog) By: Kris Hurst on March 18, 2014 at 9:51AM With Muppets Most Wanted in theaters this week, we give you some factoids you might not have known about these furry friends. 1. Kermit the lizard? Before he was a famous amphibian, Kermit began life… … [Read more...] about 15 Things You Didn’t Know About the Muppets