Arab leaders 'tacitly back Egypt crackdown' (via AFP) Most Arab leaders tacitly support Egypt's deadly crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood, fearing the group's growing regional influence since the Arab Spring threatens their own power, analysts say. Egypt's army, directly or indirectly in power since 1952… … [Read more...] about Arab leaders ‘tacitly back Egypt crackdown’
The Psychology Of Gas Prices
With summer travel season nearing peak capacity we are treated to stories of misery at the gas pump and the usual complaining about prices. Don't get me wrong, I am not happy with high prices but the psychology of the reaction to gas prices is interesting to me. Assume an average family of 4 drives roughly 3,000 miles a month between work and personal driving. Taking … [Read more...] about The Psychology Of Gas Prices
Common-sense justice (Guest Voice)
Common-sense justice by Ruth Marcus Washington Post Writers Group WASHINGTON -- A healthy criminal justice system -- one that is simultaneously effective and fair -- demands neither too much discretion nor too little. Monday's welcome news about stop-and-frisk searches and mandatory minimum drug sentences illuminates both aspects of that moral imperative. On … [Read more...] about Common-sense justice (Guest Voice)
Earth is the center of the solar system, it is flat, and voter ID laws do not suppress votes (Guest Voice)
Earth is the center of the solar system, it is flat, and voter ID laws do not suppress votes by Pete Johnson Something we all should be concerned about, simply because we are citizens in a Democratic and free society is the way new voter IDs—usually requiring a photo, are being peddled almost exclusively by Republican controlled States, with Republican Governors—under the … [Read more...] about Earth is the center of the solar system, it is flat, and voter ID laws do not suppress votes (Guest Voice)
To The Good Egyptian People: We Are So Sorry To Know Your Great Suffering
Many of us from the Americas have met, befriended, been cared about, read about, learned with in school, persons who are from Egypt. Sometimes we were adults when we met. Like myself, some of us were children when we met a soul from Egypt. I was in San Jose; there was a tiny wayside museum. I was 12, there were other car-vacation families there, hot, sweating, rumpled, … [Read more...] about To The Good Egyptian People: We Are So Sorry To Know Your Great Suffering
Egypt braces for ‘Friday of anger’ after bloody crackdown
Egypt braces for 'Friday of anger' after bloody crackdown (via AFP) Egypt's Islamists called for a "Friday of anger" in Cairo after nearly 600 people were killed following a crackdown on their protest camps, as the UN urged "maximum restraint" from all sides. "Anti-coup rallies... will depart from all mosques of Cairo… … [Read more...] about Egypt braces for ‘Friday of anger’ after bloody crackdown
Low Back Pain Series, Part 1
by Dr. Kevin Purcell, D.C. For some, low back discomfort is a chronic, long lasting issue; perhaps part of your daily life. At times it is completely debilitating. At other times it is like a headache and lowers the quality of life. I am going to write a series of three articles that address some of the reasons for low back pain, proper diagnosis of the issue(s) and some … [Read more...] about Low Back Pain Series, Part 1
President Barack Obama’s Statement on Egypt (Video and Full Text)
President Barack Obama is coming under fire from many quarters -- including from some political allies -- for U.S. foreign policy that many feel has at least enabled the current political breakdown and bloodshed in Egypt. Here's the video of his comments today and the full text so you can judge for yourself: Here's the full text as provided to The Washington Post and other … [Read more...] about President Barack Obama’s Statement on Egypt (Video and Full Text)
Quote of the Day: no on compromise and bipartisanship
Our political Quote of the Day comes a coalition of Tea Party groups that shows why the Tea Party has become anathema to many non-Republicans, independent voters, and moderates. While Tea Partiers will love this quote, many of the other Americans will react by shaking their heads and vowing to vote against candidates that support or enable people who are so openly pitching this … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: no on compromise and bipartisanship
Missouri legislator files suit to be exempted from contraception mandate in state health plan
Another Republican politician decides to waste court time with a challenge to a facet to the ACA. This Missouri state representative involved wants to claim that unless he and his family are personally exempted from having to have coverage that would even allow for the possibility of contraceptives being covered it violates his First Amendment right to freedom of religion. He … [Read more...] about Missouri legislator files suit to be exempted from contraception mandate in state health plan
Russell Simmons Apologizes for Video Disparaging Abolitionist Harriet Tubman
Russell Simmons is trending on Twitter today for all the wrong reasons.He managed to piss off a whole lot of people with a video parodying abolitionist heroine Harriet Tubman, with a "sex tape" video. Kinda makes Don Lemon's scathing rebuke of him on-point. I have never found Russell Simmons, who helped to create the gangsta culture, credible on matters of race. He let his own … [Read more...] about Russell Simmons Apologizes for Video Disparaging Abolitionist Harriet Tubman
How to lose Independent voters and non-conservative Republicans
Oh, please GIVE ME A BREAK(!). … [Read more...] about How to lose Independent voters and non-conservative Republicans
Christie criticizes GOP rivals: gets good establishment response
Has New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie now positioned himself as the candidate of pragmatism who wants to win -- read that as "expand the Republican base" -- and in effect defend the Republican establishment that talk radio and Tea Party types attack? It sounds that way and, as usual, he is not mincing words: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie planted himself firmly in the … [Read more...] about Christie criticizes GOP rivals: gets good establishment response
Unearned blessings
WASHINGTON -- In thinking about inequality, we tend to focus on practical remedies such as raising minimum wages or supplementing the incomes of the working poor. We have far more trouble affecting that ineffable thing we call luck. You do not get to choose your parents or where you are born, and no government program can guarantee that you'll benefit from acts of … [Read more...] about Unearned blessings
Number 16: Great-grandmother accuses San Diego Mayor Bob Filner of sexual harassment
The body count is steadily inceasing for San Diego Mayor Bob "I-will-not-resign" Filner, who now has 16 women accusing him in often graphic detail of sexual harrassment. The latest is a great grandmother: A great-grandmother will hold a news conference with attorney Gloria Allred Thursday afternoon, alleging she is a sexual harassment victim of Mayor Bob Filner. A news … [Read more...] about Number 16: Great-grandmother accuses San Diego Mayor Bob Filner of sexual harassment
Baseball and Politics: Looking for a Level Playing Field
Friends and family in Westport, Connecticut are agog over a bunch of 12-year-old boys playing baseball in the Little League World Series starting tonight in Williamsport, Pa. and televised on national TV. While Big League counterparts are mired in steroid scandals, these pre-teens symbolize the purity that the national pastime used to signify in more naïve times, a reminder … [Read more...] about Baseball and Politics: Looking for a Level Playing Field
New Mammal Species Discovered
New Mammal Species Discovered (via Planetsave) A small carnivorous mammal in the raccoon family has been discovered to be a unique species. Using DNA analysis, scientists distinguished the new olinguito from olingos. Both eat meat and are native to Central and South America. There is also a close… … [Read more...] about New Mammal Species Discovered
Obama cancels US exercises, but not aid, with Egypt
Obama cancels US exercises, but not aid, with Egypt (via AFP) US President Barack Obama on Thursday canceled exercises with Egypt's military to protest the killing of hundreds of protesters but stopped short of suspending $1.3 billion in annual aid. Obama urged Egypt's army-installed authorities to lift a state… … [Read more...] about Obama cancels US exercises, but not aid, with Egypt
Warning to Non-Gardeners: Beware Zucchini Bandits
Never turn your back on a home garden in August. Years ago my family came back from a week’s vacation to find scores of zucchini the size of Little League bats. Since I devoutly disapprove of wasting food, we packed a large plastic bag of the overgrown squash and took them to a Sunday brunch that would be attended mostly by gardenless weekenders. Into each unlocked car, we … [Read more...] about Warning to Non-Gardeners: Beware Zucchini Bandits
Egypt’s darkest day (Guest Voice)
Egypt's darkest day (via GlobalPost) CAIRO, Egypt — Egypt’s military-backed government imposed a month-long nighttime curfew in nearly half the country’s provinces Wednesday night, following a day of nationwide violence that was striking in its brutality and that marked one of the… … [Read more...] about Egypt’s darkest day (Guest Voice)