USA down Russia in hockey shootout thriller (via AFP) T.J. Oshie scored the shootout winner as the United States defeated Russia 3-2 in a nail-biting Sochi Olympic hockey clash on Saturday in the latest chapter of the two giants' historic rivalry. Oshie took six of eight shots for the Americans in the… … [Read more...] about Big USA Olympic Victory: USA down Russia in hockey shootout thriller
Our Military: A Time to Help and a Time to Dance
From Georgia to Maine, through the Carolinas and Maryland, people were reeling this week under another crippling snow and ice storm. As usual, the U.S. military was there to help out folks in distress: Lead photo: Air Force Staff Sgt. Matthew Wainwright, foreground, and Air Force Master Sgt. Jorge Chavez secure a child into a Humvee during a mission to evacuate a … [Read more...] about Our Military: A Time to Help and a Time to Dance
Blizzards of Misinformation, NY and DC
Cable news crawls about the worst storm ever are as accurate as their political hyberbole, that is not at all, at least for New York and its environs. The Great Blizzard of 1947, which brought the Northeast to a standstill, dumped 26.4 inches of snow on Manhattan during Christmas week. Plows stacked up piles as high as ten feet, some of which did not melt for months. It was … [Read more...] about Blizzards of Misinformation, NY and DC
Legitimizing Rape (Guest Voice)
Legitimizing Rape By Tina Dupuy The charge of rape is a successful way to smear your enemy. When political agitator Andrew Breitbart was met with Occupy protestors one year at the Conservative Political Action Conference, he started screeching, "Behave yourselves and stop raping people!" Russian President Vladimir Putin used this slander brilliantly when asked if gay … [Read more...] about Legitimizing Rape (Guest Voice)
Wealthy to Get More Votes?
Billionaire venture capitalist Tom Perkins thinks the right to vote should be based on paying taxes as Catherine Thompson reports on Talking Points Memo. "The Tom Perkins system is: You don't get to vote unless you pay a dollar of taxes," he responded, as quoted by CNNMoney. "But what I really think is, it should be like a corporation. You pay a million dollars in taxes, you … [Read more...] about Wealthy to Get More Votes?
Italy’s JFK is poised to take power
Italy's JFK is poised to take power (via GlobalPost) BRUSSELS, Belgium — "A Shakespearean drama, with daggers in the back and all that," was one Rome-based ambassador's verdict on the political machinations that led to Thursday's removal of Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta. He was kicked out in a… … [Read more...] about Italy’s JFK is poised to take power
Rare Historical Photos In Color (Photo video and colorized comedies videos)
I beg to differ. Over the years I've had many exchanges with people who detest the idea of colorized historical photos, or the colorization of black and white films. I think its one of the more fascinating scientific advances. Yes, I understand the artistic arguments with leaving the images and performances in pristine black and white. But the reality is that colorization … [Read more...] about Rare Historical Photos In Color (Photo video and colorized comedies videos)
Military Chaplains – A Tribute
"Chaplains assigned to those units found themselves spending far more time comforting the wounded and praying for the fallen—and trying to evade capture— than they did in ministering to the living." - Mark W. Johnson, Ph.D. Branch Historian, U.S. Army Chaplain Corps in “Under Fire: Army Chaplains in Korea, 1950” The lead image of a recent column by a fellow contributor is … [Read more...] about Military Chaplains – A Tribute
With Success, Obamacare Problems Are Quickly Turning Into Meaningless Old Memories
With enrollment picking up under the Affordable Care Act, there is increasing attention being paid to the make up of those newly enrolled in insurance plans. Eugene Robinson at The Washington Post looked at this: Oh dear. The Republican Party’s worst nightmare is coming true. Obamacare is working. The news that nearly 1.2 million people signed up last month for insurance … [Read more...] about With Success, Obamacare Problems Are Quickly Turning Into Meaningless Old Memories
Olympics update (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 Olympics update (Cartoon)
The Sixth Extinction
I have just started reading The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History by Elizabeth Kolbert. There have been five previous massive extinctions in the past. Over at the Wonk Blog they have an interview with the author. I have read chapter 1 and it concerns the extinction of amphibians world wide. The fact that amphibians were disappearing was noted more than a decade ago. … [Read more...] about The Sixth Extinction
Kansas bill allowing refusal of service to same-sex couples: final nail in Republican rebranding coffin?
Quick. Schedule an autopsy for the Republican political autopsy. Republican rebranding is now virtually dead. The final nail is now in its coffin, and if the coffin isn't totally now totally closed, another nail to make sure it never opens up (no action on immigration reform) will be pounded in in due course. Republican rebranding was doomed from the start due to the … [Read more...] about Kansas bill allowing refusal of service to same-sex couples: final nail in Republican rebranding coffin?
Sexuality Continues to Be a Hot Topic at the Sochi Olympics
No one can say that the Sochi Winter Olympics has been without controversy. From the threat of terrorism to the questionable accommodations given to guests and journalists, this Olympics has been one of the more controversial in recent memory. Perhaps the most hot-button topic of the games has been the Russian government's attitude towards gays. Russia recently passed a law … [Read more...] about Sexuality Continues to Be a Hot Topic at the Sochi Olympics
1 in 4 Americans unaware that Earth circles Sun
1 in 4 Americans unaware that Earth circles Sun (via AFP) Americans are enthusiastic about the promise of science but lack basic knowledge of it, with one in four unaware that the Earth revolves around the Sun, said a poll out Friday. The survey included more than 2,200 people in the United States and was… … [Read more...] about 1 in 4 Americans unaware that Earth circles Sun
Valentines Day
I'm almost 68 and my last Valentine passed away over 10 years ago so this can be a lonely day. I still wear my wedding ring after all these years. That does not mean I can't love and be happy. I both took the photograph and grew the tomato. So a happy Valentine's day to you all! … [Read more...] about Valentines Day
The Winter Of Our (Well, My) Discontent
It was the final meteorological indignity in a winter full of meteorological indignities. Not the fact that there have been only a few hours of temperatures above freezing since New Year's Day. (The afternoon of January 31; ah, I remember it well.) Not the half-assed job the highway department has done in keeping the road past the mountain retreat open. … [Read more...] about The Winter Of Our (Well, My) Discontent
Magic Mike: What not to watch this Valentine’s Day
If you asked people who know me to describe me in just one word, I am pretty sure the majority of the adjectives would not be flattering. One word that I doubt would come up is ‘jealous’ and this is because, for better or for worse, I am a very self-assured guy. This misplaced bravado pretty much took a running jump once I watched the film Magic Mike. For background, Mrs … [Read more...] about Magic Mike: What not to watch this Valentine’s Day
Santana Video Mania: Songs with legs (and bellies) (Videos)
[buzz] Santana made music song with "legs." And bellies. Here's a remix of Laurel and Hardy's famous "Way Out West" dance where the boys are dancing to Santana: And a longtime friend in New Delhi has sent me this: a belly dancer doing "Black Magic Woman": … [Read more...] about Santana Video Mania: Songs with legs (and bellies) (Videos)
The GOP’s health crisis
WASHINGTON -- Oh dear. The Republican Party's worst nightmare is coming true. Obamacare is working. The news that nearly 1.2 million people signed up last month for insurance through the Affordable Care Act exchanges is highly inconvenient for GOP candidates nationwide. It looks as if the party's two-word strategy for the fall election -- bash Obamacare -- will need to … [Read more...] about The GOP’s health crisis
Chris Christie loses weight (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 Chris Christie loses weight (Cartoon)