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
How Rand Paul can win the 2016 presidential nomination
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) recently reinforced his emerging status as a legit 2016 contender, electrifying the base at the Conservative Political Action Conference and for the second time winning the CPAC straw poll. And like another freshman senator who came from nowhere to secure his party's presidential nomination in 2008, Paul is poised to make a strong run at the … [Read more...] about How Rand Paul can win the 2016 presidential nomination
Pastry Chef Quitting Headlines a lot of Baloney
Yesterday I saw the stories about White House pastry chef Bill Yosses quitting -- stories with headlines suggesting he was leaving because he was weary of restrictions due to first lady Michelle Obama's anti-obesity campaign. Some of the headlines seemed political and I decided I skip yet one more incident in American life that becomes part of the 24/7 ideological war. But … [Read more...] about Pastry Chef Quitting Headlines a lot of Baloney
CNN’s Ratings Sharply Rise With Missing Airline Coverage
What are the signs that CNN has hit on a good business thing in its often overkill coverage of the mystery of Flight 370? Here are three. SIGN ONE: Bill O'Reilly (in the ultimate irony for a Fox News personality) talks about another network "corrupting the news biz." SIGN TWO: CNN keeps doing more of it throwing out all possible speculative scenarios even supernatural … [Read more...] about CNN’s Ratings Sharply Rise With Missing Airline Coverage
The Medal of Honor: ‘Setting the Record Straight’
President Barack Obama recognizes Medal of Honor honorees, from left, Staff Sergeant Melvin Morris, Sergeant First Class Jose Rodela, and Specialist Four Santiago J. Erevia, during the Medal of Honor ceremony in the East Room of the White House, March 18, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) A month ago, the White House announced that, in a rare and historical … [Read more...] about The Medal of Honor: ‘Setting the Record Straight’
Chairman Issa Gets the Last Word (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 Chairman Issa Gets the Last Word (Cartoon)
Breaking: Report of Russian Troops In Moldova and Near Romania
An anonymous source in Moldova has reached out to inform me that, beyond current reports that Russia might be taking Moldova, in point of fact Russian troops are already there, near the city of Cahul, and only about 3 kilometers from the Romanian border. I can only release these photos asking that readers believe me when I say my source is reliable. It very much appears that … [Read more...] about Breaking: Report of Russian Troops In Moldova and Near Romania
Are Obamacare premiums about to skyrocket? (Most likely NOT) REVISED
Are Obamcare premiums about to skyrocket? And, if so, will overall healthcare costs go up due to treating Democrats who have heart attacks or strokes if they see the premiums skyrocket during an election year in which it now appears the Demo could suffer huge losses and maybe lose the Senate? According to The Hill, rates may soon go up bigtime. But wait! The original … [Read more...] about Are Obamacare premiums about to skyrocket? (Most likely NOT) REVISED
Pro-Russian militias seize Ukraine’s Crimean navy HQ
Pro-Russian militias seize Ukraine's Crimean navy HQ (via AFP) Pro-Russian forces captured Ukraine's naval commander after seizing his headquarters in Crimea on Wednesday as Moscow's grip tightened on the peninsula despite Western warnings its "annexation" would not go unpunished. Kiev said it was dispatching its… … [Read more...] about Pro-Russian militias seize Ukraine’s Crimean navy HQ
Douthat on Obama
Conservative columnist Ross Douthat comments on inaccurate criticism of the President in the New York Times. Q: Name three conservative criticisms of President Obama that you think are unfair. 1) The claim that he’s a Marxist radical, or some variation on that theme. If there’s anything that should be clear after six years of this presidency, it’s just Obama is … [Read more...] about Douthat on Obama
The Attempted Typecasting of Ronan Farrow
It's always fascinating to follow typecasting. An actor gets a role and makes such a big splash that he becomes a "type," so casting directors look for others with a similar "look" or style to fill future roles. Or an actor becomes so famous in a role that he can never get any other parts, and the role of a lifetime becomes the curse of a career. So it's fascinating to see … [Read more...] about The Attempted Typecasting of Ronan Farrow