Trouble ahead for William Rockefeller, the engineer of the Metro North train that derailed on Sunday killing four and leaving 63 injured. The word is that he was asleep at the time of the deadly accident, DNAInfo New York reports. Veteran engineer William Rockefeller all but admitted he was falling asleep as the train came roaring to a curved section of track north of Spuyten … [Read more...] about Report: Metro North Motorman ‘Dozed’ Moments Before Derailment
The Certainty of Tea Party Train Wrecks to Come
A commuter train derails in the Bronx, killing four and injuring scores, while Congress squabbles over health care reform. No connection? Only for those who were politically asleep for the past three years while the GOP in Washington brutally stripped budgets that might have allowed states and municipalities to perform minimum maintenance on a crumbling American … [Read more...] about The Certainty of Tea Party Train Wrecks to Come
The Republican War on the Impoverished
In March of 1964, in a message to Congress, Lyndon Johnson proposed legislation labeled the Economic Opportunity Act to conquer poverty in the United States as part of his “Great Society” initiative. This became known as the “War on Poverty” because of its objective of helping the poorest Americans escape poverty through federal programs. Though its goals were laudable, it was … [Read more...] about The Republican War on the Impoverished
The Catholic Doctrine and Catholic Hospitals
Now this is just scary: Tamesha Means was 18 weeks pregnant when her water broke. Means, then 27 and the mother of two, knew something was wrong. So she called a friend to take her to the one hospital within a half-hour's drive, Mercy Health Partners. During that trip to the hospital--and two return trips, one later that night and then again the next morning--Means says she … [Read more...] about The Catholic Doctrine and Catholic Hospitals
Black Friday weekend sales disappoint. Can retailers recover?
Black Friday weekend sales disappoint. Can retailers recover? (via The Christian Science Monitor) People shop at a Target store in Colma, Calif. on Thanksgiving. Black Friday weekend sales fell for the first time since 2009, a bad sign for retailers' holiday season. (Jeff Chiu/AP/File) Americans had to slog nearly to the very end of November to… … [Read more...] about Black Friday weekend sales disappoint. Can retailers recover?
The heart of Francis’ mission
WASHINGTON -- Christianity has often been used over the centuries to prop up the powerful. But from the beginning, the Christian message has been subversive of political systems, judgmental toward those at the top, and demanding of all who take it seriously. Pope Francis has surprised the world because he embraces the Christian calling to destabilize and to challenge. … [Read more...] about The heart of Francis’ mission
Syria war crimes evidence implicates Assad
Syria war crimes evidence implicates Assad (via AFP) Evidence has been uncovered in Syria that implicates President Bashar al-Assad and members of his inner circle in war crimes and crimes against humanity, a top UN official said Monday. Syrian rebels including jihadists, meanwhile, have moved into the… … [Read more...] about Syria war crimes evidence implicates Assad
Democrats admit Obama needs stronger White House team
This needs to be filed in your Department of No Duh file: Former administration officials and Democratic operatives say President Obama is ill-served by his current White House staff and must reboot his second term team following the disastrous ObamaCare rollout. First-term insiders argue the White House’s weakness was defined by a lack of preparedness, messaging … [Read more...] about Democrats admit Obama needs stronger White House team
A U.S.-Russia-China Alliance Offers Iran and Israel a Way Out (Izvestia, Russia)
Is there any chance that the U.S., Russia and China could join forces to guarantee the security of both Iran and Israel, thus defusing not only the Iran nuclear crisis, but the Syria civil war, the Israel-Palestinian peace process, and any number of other confounding problems? For Russia's Izvestia, columnist Kiril Benediktov writes that if Israel's hawks in and out of … [Read more...] about A U.S.-Russia-China Alliance Offers Iran and Israel a Way Out (Izvestia, Russia)
Free Market Created Health Care Mess
Paul Waldman on health care for CNN.com. For all the difficulties of the Affordable Care Act's rollout, Americans are more patient than you might think: A new poll shows a majority expressing optimism that the problems are going to be ironed out. Not only that, a majority continues to support the law or think it didn't go far enough. Nevertheless, the conservatives rooting for … [Read more...] about Free Market Created Health Care Mess
The Supreme Court Episode 5: Burt v. Titlow
This is the 5th in the series, I hope that readers are finding it informative and helpful in giving them some insight into cases before the highest court. This case is Burt v. Titlow. It was argued before the Justices on October 8th (one of the first cases they heard) and is a 6th amendment case. It deals with the issue of sixth amendment ineffective counsel case which … [Read more...] about The Supreme Court Episode 5: Burt v. Titlow
Clinton vs. Christie 2016: Bookies Lay the Odds
Never mind the talking heads, consider the opinions of people who put money where their mouths are. If you consult leading bookies, Hillary Clinton and Chris Christie will vie for the Presidency three years from now, and the winner will be...Mrs. Clinton. Those who believe the former First Lady will reoccupy the White House after 2016 can bet on her against odds of only 2-1. … [Read more...] about Clinton vs. Christie 2016: Bookies Lay the Odds
The GOP attempts to hide behind Rosa Parks’ apron strings
Check out the headline: GOP Credits Rosa Parks For ‘Ending Racism’ BY IGOR VOLSKY ON DECEMBER 1, 2013 AT 12:10 PM ThinkProgress The Republican National Committee celebrated the 58th anniversary of Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama, by proclaiming in a tweet that racism has ended: Racism, of course, hasn’t ended and … [Read more...] about The GOP attempts to hide behind Rosa Parks’ apron strings
European Reporter Battles for U.S.-Style Magnitsky Act (Le Figaro, France)
Despite the doom and gloom that appears to be all around us these days, are we entering a 'new era' for the enforcement of human rights? For Le Figaro, columnist Jean-Sebastien Stehli writes that a book by Russian-French investigative reporter Elena Servettaz called, Why Europe Needs a Magnitsky Law, may trigger major changes, making it impossible for human rights violators to … [Read more...] about European Reporter Battles for U.S.-Style Magnitsky Act (Le Figaro, France)
GOP FAIL: RNC Tweets Congratulations to Rosa Parks for Role in ‘Ending Racism’ in America
RNC Tweet Backfires: Once again, the Republican National Committee is trying to rewrite history. In a poorly worded tweet meant to honor the mother of the Civil Rights movement, Rosa Parks, on the anniversary of her refusal to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus to a white passenger, the RNC lauded her for "her role in ending racism." Um, I didn't realize racism … [Read more...] about GOP FAIL: RNC Tweets Congratulations to Rosa Parks for Role in ‘Ending Racism’ in America
New York train derails: crash kills four
New York train derails killing four, 67 injured (via AFP) A train hurtled off the tracks in a New York suburb Sunday, killing at least four people, injuring 67 and coming perilously close to ploughing into a freezing river. New York emergency services launched a major rescue operation after the train careered… … [Read more...] about New York train derails: crash kills four
What’s Making American Life a Contact Sport?
Holiday shopping and eating call up thoughts about styles of day-to-day living as a key to human happiness. Two days before Thanksgiving, I had a harrowing time in a large supermarket that normally provides a satisfying experience of leisurely food shopping for the son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren I live with now, bringing home their favorite foods as an expression of … [Read more...] about What’s Making American Life a Contact Sport?
Attacks on scientific consensus on climate change mirror tactics of tobacco industry (Guest Voice)
Attacks on scientific consensus on climate change mirror tactics of tobacco industry (via Skeptical Science) Posted on 29 November 2013 by John Cook The importance of public perception of scientific consensus has been established in a number of studies (e.g., here, here and here). Perhaps nothing underscores its importance as much as the effort that opponents… … [Read more...] about Attacks on scientific consensus on climate change mirror tactics of tobacco industry (Guest Voice)
Black Friday Stun Gun Fight in Pennsylvania mall (Video)
You have to look at these videos of Americans battling seemingly to the death over getting big bargains on Black Friday and wonder if they're fake -- actually produced by the United States' enemies abroad. They can't be real. But they are -- and the latest new twist is women getting into a stun gun fight in a mall in Pennsylvania: Some details: Black Friday shopping can … [Read more...] about Black Friday Stun Gun Fight in Pennsylvania mall (Video)
Actor Paul Walker Reported Dead In Car Accident At Age 40
UPDATE: Death Confirmed by Reuters Reuters) - Actor Paul Walker, best known for his roles in the "Fast and the Furious" action movies, died on Saturday in a car crash in Southern California, his publicist said. Walker, 40, who was in five of the six films about illegal street racing and heists, died as a passenger in a friend's car while attending a charity event, … [Read more...] about Actor Paul Walker Reported Dead In Car Accident At Age 40