Our military may be involved in helping the Russians make the Winter Olympics Games at Sochi safe, but they certainly will be participating in them and, hopefully, will be bringing home the gold. For those who are interested in what our military do -- especially in the field of sports -- I’ll be updating this story frequently. Just look for the lead image above (courtesy … [Read more...] about Our Military at Sochi – The Games
Obama’s push for Syria peace is not hopeless, yet
At first glance, the Syrian peace talks seem condemned to failure because of the apparently irreconcilable positions stated heatedly today at Montreux, Switzerland. US Secretary of State John Kerry clashed with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov while the Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem brushed aside the US-backed Syrian opposition as terrorists. Both Moallem … [Read more...] about Obama’s push for Syria peace is not hopeless, yet
Court To Website: Reveal Commenter’s ID’s
This story comes out of Louisiana. NOLA.com/Times-Picayune has been ordered to reveal the identities of commenters to its site. The case grows out of the prosecution of an individual accused of self dealing with funding following Hurricane Katrina, but the issue with commenters arose out of a case involving five police officers and their conduct in the aftermath of the … [Read more...] about Court To Website: Reveal Commenter’s ID’s
“Knockout game” victim: Well-known New Orleans musician in coma (with videos)
Has the "knock out game" -- a "game" where young males pick someone at random and suddenly knock them out for "fun" -- claimed another victim? And is it soon to claim that victim's life? It certainly sounds that way as "the game" is apparently still being played, something that'll continue for a while until the courts make examples of "players" but sentencing them to the … [Read more...] about “Knockout game” victim: Well-known New Orleans musician in coma (with videos)
Afghanistan: Lest We Forget
We are no longer losing them by the dozen every day We are not even losing them every day They do not make the headlines But we are still losing them Every one, one too many The drip-drip continues In Afghanistan -.- The latest: DOD Identifies Army Casualty 01/22/2014 07:42 AM CST ________________________________________ IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. … [Read more...] about Afghanistan: Lest We Forget
The Chris Christie Florida Travel-Log: The weather is fine and expected to get even hotter in New Jersey
The Chris Christie Florida Travel-Log: The weather is fine and expected to get even hotter in New Jersey The view from the Virgin Islands by John. F. McCarthy TMV Columnist Is there a smoking traffic cone in Bridgegate? The taint of a brown burn mark on the bright orange plastic yet? And if there is - will it hurt Chris Christie's chances to be elected President … [Read more...] about The Chris Christie Florida Travel-Log: The weather is fine and expected to get even hotter in New Jersey
Governors Gone Wild: States Vie for Crazy
Mediawise, running a state used to be a boring job. Mostly signing papers and posing at the opening of small town rec centers. But no more. On the heels of the Christie circus comes word that Sen. David Vitter wants to go back and govern Louisiana. Surely you remember Vitter: Since being outed seven years ago as a frequent flier on the DC Madam’s joy circuit, he has been … [Read more...] about Governors Gone Wild: States Vie for Crazy
What Happened To Our Republic ??
For most of us our first introduction to the American Republic comes in grade school when we learn about our founding fathers and the freedoms they fought for. We are told that ours is the great experiment in which great leaders engage in a noble discourse of ideas. Elections are one of the centerpieces of this great freedom, where Lincoln and Douglas eloquently debate the … [Read more...] about What Happened To Our Republic ??
Christie now seen as damaged goods
Among people who have heard of the scandal, the new survey found 58 percent don't believe Christie's claim that he was duped by treacherous aides. And while Americans have learned more about the governor, they don't like what they see. Christie's favorability rating is essentially unchanged from a year ago – dropping from 40 percent to 38 percent – but many who previously had … [Read more...] about Christie now seen as damaged goods
Springtime for Hitler?
Is it springtime for Hitler in the 21st century? From eBooks, to Google Maps, to political polemics, to cafes, one of the biggest mass murderers in world history seems to be on many people's minds. But one thing seems to elude their thoughts: the almost incomprehensible barbarity of one of history's worst mass murders who snuffed out men, women, children and infants -- and … [Read more...] about Springtime for Hitler?
Report on Syrian torture horrifies U.S. and UN
Shock. Disgust. Those are just two of the adjectives that describe the reported reaction of American and United Nations officials to a new UN report that details torture by the Syrian regime. And the report is graphic. With photos. The US and UN have reacted with "horror" to allegations in a new report that Syria has systematically tortured and executed about 11,000 … [Read more...] about Report on Syrian torture horrifies U.S. and UN
Chris Christie’s Deepening Crisis (Guest Cartoonist Cartoon)
Chris Christie's Deepening Crisis by Mike Peters OF RELATED INTEREST: --Prominent Republican calls for Christie to give up job as chairman of the Republican Governor's Association. More HERE. --Here's The First Truly Brutal Poll For Chris Christie In The Wake Of Bridgegate --Olympian Carl Lewis Says Chris Christie Tried to Intimidate Him --Bashing the liberal media … [Read more...] about Chris Christie’s Deepening Crisis (Guest Cartoonist Cartoon)
Possible U.S. – Russian Military Cooperation at Sochi
“Two tankers who as young men could have squared off against each other on the East German border sat in the Russian Embassy [in Brussels] today and talked about ways their two nations could cooperate.” We are talking about U.S. Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his Russian counterpart, Gen. Valery V. Gerasimov. They met in … [Read more...] about Possible U.S. – Russian Military Cooperation at Sochi
Purdue University Shooter Cody Cousins Surrenders for Allegedly Killing Andrew Boldt
COLLEGE SHOOTING: Cody Cousins has been identified as the gunman in the Purdue University shooting that claimed the life of Andrew Boldt, 21, in the university's college of engineering who now is "booked on a preliminary charge of murder." Purdue's police chief said Cousins, a student in the college of engineering, targeted Andrew Boldt. He left the building right after the … [Read more...] about Purdue University Shooter Cody Cousins Surrenders for Allegedly Killing Andrew Boldt
Ezra Klein is out at the Washington Post
Ezra Klein, the longtime power-blogger who became The Washington Post highly visible -- and respected -- blogger and columnist, is now out at The Washington Post. He basically made The Washington Post an offer they could refuse and so he's parting company with them to start his own media venture with money from another source. It's a big loss to The Post, a loss of a "safe" … [Read more...] about Ezra Klein is out at the Washington Post
Models of Dignity (Part 2)
This is the sixth 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 3: MODELS OF DIGNITY (Part 2) Models Are Commonplace The notion of model building can sound technical at first, perhaps even esoteric. To make it … [Read more...] about Models of Dignity (Part 2)
One quarter of sharks and rays could vanish within decades
First we heard that elephants could be gone within 12 years. Then we learned the Western Black Rhino has been declared extinct. And now here's some more disheartening news: within decades a quarter of the world's sharks and rays could be gone. The saga of a world that will be far different future generations continues: A quarter of the world’s sharks and rays are … [Read more...] about One quarter of sharks and rays could vanish within decades
China’s Pollution: Just this one planet for now, no escape
It seems a bit weird and even creepy when this part of Texas gets hit with air full of sand stirred up by weather in the Sahara, but there it is. Trouble travels. Pollution from China travels in large quantities across the Pacific Ocean to the United States, a new study has found, making environmental and health problems unexpected side effects of US demand for cheap … [Read more...] about China’s Pollution: Just this one planet for now, no escape
(Updated) More Obamacare Converts – in West Virginia
Update: Greg Sargent, referring to Sabrina Tavernise’s piece “Law’s Expanded Medicaid Coverage Brings a Surge in Sign-Ups” in West Virginia” (see below), asks “how would the GOP Senate candidate in West Virginia, Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, respond if asked directly if she would take insurance away from all these people?” Capito, a gung-ho supporter of Obamacare repeal, … [Read more...] about (Updated) More Obamacare Converts – in West Virginia
Those Pesky Forwarded E-mails
I recently received a forwarded political e-mail from my aunt. The fact-check websites weigh in: hit delete without reading. Politifact.com: So PolitiFact has put together this handy guide to chain e-mails and other viral messages. Hide it under the green bean casserole and you can pull it out if your uncle brings up the chain e-mails...PolitiFact has checked 131 claims … [Read more...] about Those Pesky Forwarded E-mails