New TV channel Fusion aims at US Hispanics, in English (via AFP) A new cable television channel aimed at US Hispanics in English, dubbed Fusion, was set to debut Monday, snagging an interview with President Barack Obama for its first day. Fusion describes itself as a "news, pop culture and satire TV and digital network… … [Read more...] about New TV channel Fusion aims at US Hispanics, in English
Marco Rubio distances himself from his OWN immigration bill (UPDATED)
If JFK's book "Profiles in Courage" has a sequel called "Profiles in Cowardice," this is likely to be the first chapter. The case of Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio. Once upon a time, immigration reform advocates felt they had a strong voice in Rubio who had steadfastly proposed meaningful immigration reform that went beyond a perfunctory legislative action. But then … [Read more...] about Marco Rubio distances himself from his OWN immigration bill (UPDATED)
Why do politicians gerrymander? (Guest Voice)
Why do politicians gerrymander? (via The Economist) IN 1812, the governor of Massachusetts enacted a measure redrawing district lines to give his party, the Democratic-Republicans (then one of America's two major political parties) an electoral advantage. One particularly oddly-shaped district resembled… … [Read more...] about Why do politicians gerrymander? (Guest Voice)
US denies Obama aware of Merkel spying as scandal spreads
US denies Obama aware of Merkel spying as scandal spreads (via AFP) Transatlantic tensions reached boiling point Monday as Washington sharply denied reports President Barack Obama knew US spies were tapping German Chancellor Angela Merkel, but fresh allegations emerged of mass snooping in Spain. As outrage over secret… … [Read more...] about US denies Obama aware of Merkel spying as scandal spreads
SNL Opening mocks Kathleen Sebelius and Obama Healthcare Website Problems
SNL's Kate McKinnon portrayed U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius giving reassurances to Americans on something that has now created a bipartisan consensus: the fizzle of the trouble Affordable Heathcare Act website. As usual, it's a masterful SNL sketch which will probably further shape the perception that "Obamacare" is off to a rocky start since it … [Read more...] about SNL Opening mocks Kathleen Sebelius and Obama Healthcare Website Problems
How Massive Disrespect Has Changed Obama
What the President is going through now recalls a life lesson I learned in World War II and never forgot. Barack Obama’s run of apparent incompetence—-on attacking Syria, rolling out health care, over-surveillance —-may be rooted, at least in part, on five years of being publicly pounded by criticism and hatred. No matter how intelligent, skilled and capable one is, constant … [Read more...] about How Massive Disrespect Has Changed Obama
Frustrations with President Obama on International Stage Go Beyond NSA Spying Scandal
World anger at President Obama and his administration goes beyond the National Security Agency's spying scandal. I guess Hillary Clinton jumped ship at the right time. Thanks to fugitive leaker Edward Snowden, the world has turned on the very country he claims he loves. President Obama should stop apologizing for what the NSA has done and fix the problem. That might be a tall … [Read more...] about Frustrations with President Obama on International Stage Go Beyond NSA Spying Scandal
First, admit the problem
WASHINGTON -- Here's the mistake made by President Obama and the Democrats that nobody is talking about: They have been too fearful of confronting our country's three-year obsession with the wrong problem. And here is the tea party's greatest victory: It has made the wrong problem the center of policymaking. The wrong problem is the deficit. The right problem is … [Read more...] about First, admit the problem
Irish Pubs Face Last Call in Ireland
Irish pubs face last call (via GlobalPost) Enlarge ATHENRY, Ireland — Inside Ray Glynn’s looks much like any Irish pub you’d find in Thailand, Uganda or Dubai. There’s Guinness on tap, Jameson behind the bar and sports on a flat-screen television. However, the photographs of landscapes… … [Read more...] about Irish Pubs Face Last Call in Ireland
Syria’s suffering civilians: UN report
There are about 2,000 armed opposition groups in Syria and their fierce fighting has cut off many of the access routes needed to deliver humanitarian aid. One result is that some 2.5 million people in Syria have not been reached for almost a year because they are trapped in hard to reach and besieged areas. Another 2.3 million people, including 1.8 million in rebel held … [Read more...] about Syria’s suffering civilians: UN report
I challenged hackers to investigate me and what they found out is chilling (Guest Voice)
I challenged hackers to investigate me and what they found out is chilling (via Pando Daily) By Adam L. Penenberg On October 26, 2013It’s my first class of the semester at New York University. I’m discussing the evils of plagiarism and falsifying sources with 11 graduate journalism students when, without warning, my computer freezes. I… … [Read more...] about I challenged hackers to investigate me and what they found out is chilling (Guest Voice)
Dick Cheney says Enzi lied about their relationship
Former Vice President Dick Cheney helped usher in the Cheneyization of the Republican Party, and now it's clear he'll pull out all stops to get his daughter elected to the Senate. Even calling someone who by most media accounts had been his friend a liar: the person his daughter's running against: Former Vice President Dick Cheney said Sunday that Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) … [Read more...] about Dick Cheney says Enzi lied about their relationship
Singer, songwriter Lou Reed dead at 71
Singer, songwriter Lou Reed dead at 71 (via AFP) American singer-songwriter Lou Reed, a pioneer who melded folk music's lyricism with punk rock's energy and darkness died Sunday of complications following liver surgery. Reed's literary agent Andrew Wylie confirmed news reports of his client's sudden… … [Read more...] about Singer, songwriter Lou Reed dead at 71
Healthcare.gov and LSCITS
We are all familiar with the failure of the ACA's website - the politics won't allow us not to be. But is this just an example of our future. About 12 years ago before I retired I was an engineer for a multinational manufacturing company. I was on the team to introduce and new Enterprise Software System. We spent well over a year testing and tweaking the system but when we … [Read more...] about Healthcare.gov and LSCITS
Europe’s ‘NSA Envy’ (Rzeczpospolita, Poland)
Are European leaders, and the leaders of Brazil, Mexico and others, angry about the morality of NSA mass surveillance, or is there something else sticking under their collective craw? For Poland's Rzeczpospolita, columnist Bartosz Weglarczyk 'guarantees' to his readers that the only thing bothering them is that the NSA has so outstripped the capabilities of their own … [Read more...] about Europe’s ‘NSA Envy’ (Rzeczpospolita, Poland)
Read More Than This Headline (Guest Voice)
Read More Than This Headline By Tina Dupuy If you've fallen into the Internet Age tendency of skimming headlines and tweets instead of reading the entire article, you'd understandably think the new pope is a hippie and the new president of Iran, Hassan Rouhani, is a peacenik. (Also: chocolate detects cancer, Oreos are akin to cocaine, and Elizabeth Warren has plans to … [Read more...] about Read More Than This Headline (Guest Voice)
Simpsons’ voice actress of ‘Mrs Krabappel’ dies
'Simpsons' voice actress of 'Mrs Krabappel' dies (via AFP) Marcia Wallace, the voice of Edna Krabappel -- Bart Simpson's jaded, chain-smoking schoolteacher on the animated show "The Simpsons" -- has died, the show producers said Saturday. She was 70. Wallace died in Los Angeles of complications from pneumonia… … [Read more...] about Simpsons’ voice actress of ‘Mrs Krabappel’ dies
NSA Blackmail of Obama Himself is Not Far-Fetched (Die Zeit, Germany)
Given all that we now know about the scale of NSA spying and the lack of oversight of the agency, isn't it possible that even President Obama could fall victim to it? For Germany's Die Zeit, columnist Martin Klingst raises perhaps one of the most disturbing aspects of NSA mass surveillance: in the wrong hands, it would amount to a gigantic blackmailing machine. For Die … [Read more...] about NSA Blackmail of Obama Himself is Not Far-Fetched (Die Zeit, Germany)
Forty Years in Print
Hey hey, my my. Today is my fortieth anniversary in print. Which I wrote about earlier this week: As I Enter My Fifth Decade as a Writer TCU Daily Skiff 10-26-73 (click to enlarge) It is also the fortieth anniversary of the release of this album. Probably appropriately. … [Read more...] about Forty Years in Print
Hail to the Washingtons
WASHINGTON -- I'm a bit late to the topic, but the Washington, D.C., professional football team really ought to change its name. As encouragement for the franchise's stubborn owner, we should just stop saying the offensive word. The term "redskins" -- it's hard to write a column about a word without using it, I'm afraid -- is a racial slur. Fans of the team, myself … [Read more...] about Hail to the Washingtons