I felt like a child tonight. Well, not a child, exactly, but certainly not my age. Perched on an out-of-the-way ''love bench" at the Seattle Waterfront Marriott like a quiet wall flower, I was waiting for Mike and people-watching. The happy hour prior to the Companis 20th anniversary celebratory dinner grew louder and more crowded as the clock ticked towards dinner. I … [Read more...] about A toast to serendipity
Hazing Leads to Fraternity Pledge Losing Testicle
Talk has gone on for sooooooooo many years about the dangers of fraternity hazing but the news stories don't stop. And the latest one is utterly disgusting. The Smoking Gun: Ohio cops are investigating a college fraternity hazing incident that left a 19-year-old pledge short one testicle, records show. When I was in college at Colgate University I knew many people … [Read more...] about Hazing Leads to Fraternity Pledge Losing Testicle
Christie is the GOP’s best hope for reinvention: Guest Editorial (New Jersey)
Christie is the GOP's best hope for reinvention: Editorial (via NJ.com) Gov. Chris Christie’s landslide victory this week says a lot more about his political savvy than it does about his actual record here in New Jersey. It certainly wasn’t an endorsement of the GOP platform. Policy-wise, Christie has rarely been on… … [Read more...] about Christie is the GOP’s best hope for reinvention: Guest Editorial (New Jersey)
President Obama Apologizes for Americans Losing Health Insurance Coverage Due to Obamacare
I am an Obama supporter, but I am hard-pressed right now to justify my stance based on his apology for Americans losing their current health insurance plans due to Obamacare (Affordable Care Act), despite his promise that no one would have to give up a plan they liked. President Obama told NBC News, "I am sorry that they are finding themselves in this situation based on … [Read more...] about President Obama Apologizes for Americans Losing Health Insurance Coverage Due to Obamacare
BREAKING: Obama apologizes to Americans hurt by Health Care Glitches (“I’m sorry…”)
President Barack Obama has been under a lot of criticism from both sides of the political aisle for the disastrous roll out of the "Obamacare" website and the fact that some Americans are finding themselves losing their existing "junk insurance" health care plans despite assurances from him that they could keep their doctors and insurance plans. So now, in an interview on NBC … [Read more...] about BREAKING: Obama apologizes to Americans hurt by Health Care Glitches (“I’m sorry…”)
Military ‘Drones’: The History and People Behind Them
Call them Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAV), Remotely Piloted Vehicles (RPV), Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA), call them military drones, call them whatever good or bad name you wish, these aircraft -- love them or hate them -- exist and are flown, operated and maintained by skilled, dedicated military personnel and there is a history behind them. They are not only used in … [Read more...] about Military ‘Drones’: The History and People Behind Them
GOP adopts hope and change
They've changed a lot of district boundaries to get more votes. But will they be able to throw out the tea party if they change nominating procedures? Well, they'd like to give it a try. Leaders of the Republican establishment, alarmed by the emergence of far-right and often unpredictable Tea Party candidates, are pushing their party to rethink how it chooses … [Read more...] about GOP adopts hope and change
Do The Right Thing Speaker Boehner
Earlier today the US Senate voted 64-32 to approve the Employment Non Discrimination Act. This legislation would prohibit employers from discriminating based on sexual orientation. The law was crafted carefully to provide protections for religious organizations and really does nothing more than insure everyone is treated equally. It is a law that I strongly support. It seems … [Read more...] about Do The Right Thing Speaker Boehner
Governing by anecdote (Guest Columnist)
Governing by anecdote by Dana Milbank Washington Post Writers Group Writers Group 6:23 AM (5 hours ago) WASHINGTON -- It did not sound good for Sen. Pat Toomey. "I'm a two-time breast cancer survivor and I'm facing the loss of insurance," the Pennsylvania Republican declared Wednesday at a Senate Finance Committee hearing on the health care … [Read more...] about Governing by anecdote (Guest Columnist)
Breaking: Senate Passes Gay Rights Bill
The Senate has just passed, in a 64 to 32 bipartisan vote, historic legislation that would bar discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in the workplace. This is another victory for the gay rights movement that has been gaining favor in the courts and electoral politics, according to the Washington Post. But don’t celebrate yet. The bill still faces a … [Read more...] about Breaking: Senate Passes Gay Rights Bill
Quote of the Day: Professor Larry Sabato on Rand Paul’s Plagiarism
For the news cycles, the plagiarism scandal involving Republican Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul is the gift that keeps on giving -- and a story with legs. It's being kept alive as more revelations about how Paul used whole chunks of work for others without attribution in his speeches and books. Rather than just say this was unfortunate staff work (he most likely does not write every … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Professor Larry Sabato on Rand Paul’s Plagiarism
Senate Passes Employment Non Discrimination Act
In a victory for LBGT rights the US Senate has voted by a margin of 64-32 to pass the Employment Non Discrimination Act, a law which would prohibit employers from discriminating against employees based on sexual orientation. The law provides exceptions for religious organizations and gained bipartisan support Unfortunately the House is unlikely to take up the bill. … [Read more...] about Senate Passes Employment Non Discrimination Act
Middle East Nuclear Armageddon
Now this is really scary: Saudi nuclear weapons 'on order' from Pakistan Saudi Arabia has invested in Pakistani nuclear weapons projects, and believes it could obtain atomic bombs at will, a variety of sources have told BBC Newsnight. While the kingdom's quest has often been set in the context of countering Iran's atomic programme, it is now possible that the Saudis … [Read more...] about Middle East Nuclear Armageddon
GOP Senate Candidate Owen Hill Jokes About Obama Being from Kenya
Colorado state Sen. Owen Hill, who is vying to unseat Sen. Mark Udall, went birther at the Denver County Republican Party's First Friday Breakfast Nov. 1: “You spend time out there [in a Kenyan slum] and little kids are running around barefoot in these kinds of streets and you ask them what they want to be, they want to be an astronaut, they want to be a physicist, a marine … [Read more...] about GOP Senate Candidate Owen Hill Jokes About Obama Being from Kenya
Are You a Musician? Why Not Audition for the Paris Métro?
Unlike in New York, in Paris you have to audition to perform in the subway. In fact, the city has an office to oversee arts in its Métro. Antoine Naso, current artistic director of the Paris Métro, holds yearly auditions for subway permits. These permits allow musicians and other artists to perform just about anywhere they want in the Métro. Many aspiring artists view a Métro … [Read more...] about Are You a Musician? Why Not Audition for the Paris Métro?
Time Magazine’s fat joke Chris Christie cover
You could tell Time Magazine (like many bloggers) just could not resist an obvious snark line for the cover of the magazine with a big profile of newly re-elected Republican Gov. Chris Christie. NOTE TO GOV. CHRISTIE: Get ready, because you just know that if you don't take the immediate lead on a big issue you'll see a headline: "CHRISTIE LEADING FROM BIG BEHIND." … [Read more...] about Time Magazine’s fat joke Chris Christie cover
NFL Player Welfare (Cartoon)
Copyright 2013 David Donar. All rights reserved. Copyright Donar, Political Graffiti … [Read more...] about NFL Player Welfare (Cartoon)
Real Winners: Elected to Long Hours and No Pay
We won Tuesday night. Not a governor’s mansion or a mayor’s chair, but a seat on the school board. My daughter-in-law’s reelection will keep her in a job that pays nothing and requires long evenings away from her children and husband. Headlines will report triumphs of Chris Christie, Terry McAuliffe and Bill de Blasio, but across the country many more men and women were … [Read more...] about Real Winners: Elected to Long Hours and No Pay
Christie Can Outdo Mitt But Will It Be Enough?
Election morning, the New Jersey governor talked about poundage. “I sleep better,” he said. “I didn’t realize how badly I was sleeping being that much overweight.” Now that the returns are in, Chris Christie must be resting even easier as he stands tall in the runty Republican field of 2016 contenders among the likes of Ted Cruz, Rand Paul and Marco Rubio. One thing is … [Read more...] about Christie Can Outdo Mitt But Will It Be Enough?
The Costs Of Food
With all of the debate over the tight economy and potential reduction in food stamp costs I have been pondering the stories about people having trouble surviving on $ 1.40 or 1.50 per meal so I decided to run the math and see if it works and discovered that at least for me it seems to work Here is the menu I put together for a week For Breakfast: I’m not much of a … [Read more...] about The Costs Of Food