Harvard students insensitive to terror victims By Stephen M. Flatow/JNS.org The controversy over the Harvard University students who recently posed, smiling, at Yasser Arafat’s grave sent a shot of pain through every one of us who has lost a loved one in the terrorist attacks that Arafat and his allies have waged over the years. But it must have been particularly awful … [Read more...] about Harvard students insensitive to terror victims (Guest Voice)
20 hurt in mass stabbing at US high school
20 hurt in mass stabbing at US high school (via AFP) An American student stabbed 19 teenagers and a security guard in a bloody 30-minute rampage in the classrooms and hallways of a Pennsylvania high school on Wednesday, officials said. At least four students were critically injured in the shocking assault… … [Read more...] about 20 hurt in mass stabbing at US high school
The More Things Change
Old School Is The New School In TV: An Unblinkered Look At The Future: The View From The Virgin Islands By John McCarthy TMV Columnist In the movie “Truth or Dare” we got a glimpse into the future of TV. Only we didn’t realize it when we were watching it in real time. “There's nothing to say off camera," Warren Beatty complains in the 1991 film. … [Read more...] about The More Things Change
Letterman, Hillary and Jeb: 21st Century Symbols (with BONUS Ernie Kovacs videos)
Yes, it's a new century. Just look at David Letterman, Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush. They're all symbols of a new era. Letterman surprised the entertainment biz by suddenly announcing he intends to retire from CBS's "Late Show," as soon as next year. His late-night-nemesis Jay Leno gave up his NBC "Tonight Show" throne last month. In making his decision, Letterman proved … [Read more...] about Letterman, Hillary and Jeb: 21st Century Symbols (with BONUS Ernie Kovacs videos)
Hagel Must Be Told: China is Not Russia (Huanqiu, China)
Is part of America's 'Asia Pivot' to use China's territorial disputes with Japan and the Philippines to gain leverage over Beijing? This editorial from China's state-run Huanqiu exhorts Chinese officials not to be too polite with Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, who is now in China after stopping in Japan. According to the government mouthpiece, it must be made abundantly clear … [Read more...] about Hagel Must Be Told: China is Not Russia (Huanqiu, China)
Obama Administration Announced Increase In Payments To Medicare Advantage Plans
Presumably in response to Republican scare stories about Medicare cuts to Medicare Advantage plans and insurance company lobbying, on Monday CMS announced an increase in payments of 0.4% in 2015, in place of the expected 1.9% rate cut as of February. This negates a distorted Republican attack that Obama is cutting payments to Medicare. The proposed cuts were to what is … [Read more...] about Obama Administration Announced Increase In Payments To Medicare Advantage Plans
H Is For Happy
"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." Dr. Seuss Today we find ourselves at the letter H. As with previous days I found myself considering a number of options. At one point I was going to try for Haiku but decided that would be a bit too ambitious given my work schedule. In fact today's post will be a bit on the short side, but I hope no less insightful … [Read more...] about H Is For Happy
Change your passwords: the Heartbleed bug
UPDATED: About two-thirds of the Internet's web servers are running software which may have exposed your passwords or other sensitive (read, encrypted) information. Make no mistake about it. The OpenSSL Heartbleed security hole is as serious for Internet security as a stage four cancer diagnosis would be for you. - Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols UPDATE 8:40 am … [Read more...] about Change your passwords: the Heartbleed bug
Recalling MLK who was murdered 46 years ago on April 4 (Guest Voice)
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