Actress Shirley Temple dead at 85 (via AFP) Shirley Temple Black, the Hollywood child star who melted hearts in Depression-era America with her trademark blond ringlets and dimpled smile, has died at the age of 85, her family said Tuesday. She died of natural causes on Monday night in her California… … [Read more...] about Actress Shirley Temple dead at 85
The out-of-step GOP
WASHINGTON -- The Republican Party was supposed to be getting its act together for the midterm election. Instead, judging from the disarray on immigration reform, things may be getting even messier. I'm referring to House Speaker John Boehner's embarrassing climb-down. After vowing for months that the House would finally take action on immigration, last week he … [Read more...] about The out-of-step GOP
Subway: Eat Fresh Plastic (Guest Voice)
Subway: Eat Fresh Plastic Raging Moderate by Will Durst No matter who you are or where you live or what you drive or whether you thought "The English Patient" or "Anchorman 2" the funnier movie, it is time to take a stand on plastic bread. Here's a hint: most of us are against it. Formaldehyde rinsed coffee beans? Not big fans. Flame retardants in our cupcakes? That's a big … [Read more...] about Subway: Eat Fresh Plastic (Guest Voice)
The Boy Who Would Be Lama
In China "DL" stands for more than "Disabled list": Ambert Alert is nearly 20 yars old on the Panchen Lama The View from the Virgin Islands By John F. McCarthy TMV Columnist Ever wonder why you see those “Free Tibet” bumper stickers on peoples’ cars? We have a few of them here – in St. Croix, the U.S. Virgin Islands – where I live. For Liberals … [Read more...] about The Boy Who Would Be Lama
“Do This Don’t Do That … Can’t You Read The Sign?”
A physician friend of mine passed on some sage comments by Abigail Zuger, MD. My young friend had just finished the last months of his medical training. He had faced down many multiple-choice tests and triumphed over them all. Starting with the S.A.T.s and ending with a series of medical licensing exams, including all the prep courses and practice exams, he probably had … [Read more...] about “Do This Don’t Do That … Can’t You Read The Sign?”
Scientists: Earth’s mass extinction happened fast
Mass extinction happened fast (via AFP) Something wiped out nearly all life on Earth more than 250 million years ago, and whatever unleashed this mass die-off acted much faster than previously thought, scientists said Monday. Based on an analysis of rocks in China, the end-Permian extinction… … [Read more...] about Scientists: Earth’s mass extinction happened fast
The road to paralysis (Guest Voice)
WASHINGTON -- One of my favorite moments during the 2012 Republican presidential contest came when Ron Paul, fresh from his strong showing in Iowa, triumphantly told his supporters: "We're all Austrians now!" I imagined many Americans scratching their heads and wondering: Why do we want to be Austrians? They live in a nice country with stunning mountains and all that, … [Read more...] about The road to paralysis (Guest Voice)
White House Postpones Employer Mandate For Medium Sized Employers (UPDATED)
White House Postpones Employer Mandate For Medium Sized Employers by Ron Chusid Republicans have been trying to blame everything on the Affordable Care Act including long standing health care issues, unemployment, the poor performance of Denver in the Super Bowl, and Justin Beiber's recent antics. Okay, I'm exaggerating a little, but to blame Obamacare for any of these … [Read more...] about White House Postpones Employer Mandate For Medium Sized Employers (UPDATED)
Would-Be Suicide Bombers Killed in Training Accident in Iraq
While the sectarian and religious violence, and the bombing, and the killings -- and the suicide bombings -- continue unabated in Iraq and in neighboring countries, what happened on Monday north of Baghdad will probably be viewed by many as an irony, by some with schadenfreude while others may claim that these (would-be) terrorists got their "just deserts" -- and everything … [Read more...] about Would-Be Suicide Bombers Killed in Training Accident in Iraq
Today’s Economy And Downton Abbey
I think most of us could agree that the economy is in transition. As they remind us over at the Wonk Blog this is certainly not the first transition. If you have been watching Downton Abbey you are aware that in post World War One the English economy was undergoing a major transition. The old estates had been mismanaged for centuries and Downton Abbey was no exception. Lord … [Read more...] about Today’s Economy And Downton Abbey
Sochi 2014 (Cartoon)
https://politicalgraffiti.wordpress.com/2014/02/10/sochi-2014/ Copyright 2014 David Donar. All rights reserved. Copyright Donar, Political Graffiti … [Read more...] about Sochi 2014 (Cartoon)
NFL Prospect Comes Out
Andrew Sullivan on the public coming out of NFL draft prospect Michael Sam on The Daily Dish. A “man’s-man game.” What’s interesting to me is how that assessment of football is used to exclude homosexuals! But that’s simply a function of ignorance. That formulation equates homosexuality with femininity, but it’s a much more complicated and diverse phenomenon than that. There … [Read more...] about NFL Prospect Comes Out
Centrist Michael Smerconish Gets New Weekly CNN Show
Here's good news for centrists, moderates, independent voters and those who believe political talk can center on ideas rather than lash-out polemics: centrist talk show host Michael Smerconish is getting a new weekly show on CNN. A cable show of his own is long overdue for Smerconish, a truly independent voice and thinker who seriously tackles issues and doesn't deal in … [Read more...] about Centrist Michael Smerconish Gets New Weekly CNN Show
Can Conservatives React Thoughtfully to Hillary Clinton?
Can conservatives react thoughtfully to Hillary Clinton? Without using the dreaded "m-word" (moderate), Thoughts on Liberty's Aunt Merryweather issues a "challenge" to conservative media: moderate your rhetoric and react more thoughtfully and keep in mind the impact of words on the image of conserservatives if Hillary Clinton gets the Democratic Presidential nod in … [Read more...] about Can Conservatives React Thoughtfully to Hillary Clinton?
Obama ‘Deals Blow’ to Dream of Latin American Integration (El Mundo, Colombia)
Has the United States ceded ground in Latin America to opponents of freedom and liberal democracy? This editorial from Colombia's El Mundo laments the fact that President Obama failed to even mention South America in his State of the Union speech, and that with Washington showing little or no interest in what was once called its 'backyard,' leaders opposed to U.S. influence are … [Read more...] about Obama ‘Deals Blow’ to Dream of Latin American Integration (El Mundo, Colombia)
Colonoscopy footage set to music (Video)
Here it is: a scientific video through the colon during a colonoscopy set to relaxing music. Digest this one: … [Read more...] about Colonoscopy footage set to music (Video)
2 Guns: Have you ever seen a bad Denzel performance?
Have you ever seen a bad Denzel Washington performance? Think about that question for a minute. Although I’ve seen films featuring Denzel which are poor, I don’t think I have ever seen a sub-par Washington performance. This thought came to me when I was watching 2 Guns. This film should have been an awful, damn near unsaveable piece of toilet cinema but somehow I finished … [Read more...] about 2 Guns: Have you ever seen a bad Denzel performance?
Has The Republican Party Secretly Given Up On Taking Back The White House?
As anyone with even rudimentary math skills can figure out, the Republican Party's chances of retaking the White House, at least by honest means, continue to diminish. Two recent developments -- the refusal of Senate Republicans to approve a modest extension of unemployment benefits for the long-term unemployed and the House Republican leadership's announcement that it … [Read more...] about Has The Republican Party Secretly Given Up On Taking Back The White House?
The Past Week In Conservative Stupidity (Guest Voice)
The Past Week In Conservative Stupidity by Ron Chusid Over a year ago Bobby Jindal warned that Republicans "must stop being the stupid party." They have not been doing particularly well at following his advice. To extrapolate this to the conservative movement, this week provided two more examples of what can only be labeled as stupidity dominating conservative … [Read more...] about The Past Week In Conservative Stupidity (Guest Voice)
Michael Sam — openly gay and the NFL
Thank goodness we are headed to a new normal. One of the very best college players in football got ahead of his own story and is controlling his truth. My view, pro athletes are at least as or more accepting of other gay athletes than most of the rest of America. Michael Sam, an All-American defensive lineman from Missouri Tigers and the Associated Press' SEC Defensive … [Read more...] about Michael Sam — openly gay and the NFL