Getting away with it by Peter Johnson We live in a country which is often regarded to be an Iconic Democracy, so we can never be too indifferent about our Constitutional rights and protecting their sanctity. However, investigative journalist like Greg Palast, have recently provided disturbing evidence that we are far from forming a “more perfect union.” Mr. Palast has … [Read more...] about Getting away with it (Guest Voice)
Vermont nuclear power plant to shut down in 2014 (Guest Voice)
Vermont nuclear power plant to shut down in 2014 by Courtney Gordner The State of Vermont versus the Vermont Yankee power plant was an ongoing battle that continued for years over the closure of the power plant. The battle began shortly after the Louisiana-based Entergy bought the plant in 2002 from a New England company. State officials made it clear that they did not want … [Read more...] about Vermont nuclear power plant to shut down in 2014 (Guest Voice)
Scientists grow “mini human brains” from stem cells
Maybe this will eventually be able to help improve the quality of left and right talk show hosts: for the first time ever, scientists say they've been able to grow "mini-brains in a laboratory-- the first time the brain tissue has been been created by humans in three dimensions. This has enormous medical and scientific potential: Scientists have grown the first mini … [Read more...] about Scientists grow “mini human brains” from stem cells
Hypocrisy 101 continued
Why some of us won't belong to parties...HERE. … [Read more...] about Hypocrisy 101 continued
France’s Hollande seems shaky on striking Syria
French President Francois Hollande, who was the loudest voice for punishing Syria’s alleged use of chemical weapons, may have to settle for a compromise with those who say it is too late for missile strikes. Ahead of a debate in French Parliament tomorrow (Wednesday), the argument gaining ground is that the only military choice now available to the West is preventing … [Read more...] about France’s Hollande seems shaky on striking Syria
Polls: No on Syria
Just say no. That's the prevailing view of Americans in two new polls on American intervention in Syria. And details also show a gender gap: more women oppose getting involved then men. The polls make the debate now unfolding in Congress even more difficult: members of Congress will have to decide if the arguments made by the Obama administration convincingly show there is a … [Read more...] about Polls: No on Syria
America – and Obama – must be ready to act alone in strike against Assad, Syria (Guest Voice)
America – and Obama – must be ready to act alone in strike against Assad, Syria (via The Christian Science Monitor) Speaker of the House John Boehner sits next to President Obama at a meeting with bipartisan congressional leaders at the White House to discuss a military response to Syria Sept. 3. Op-ed contributor Jonathan Zimmerman says America 'must call … [Read more...] about America – and Obama – must be ready to act alone in strike against Assad, Syria (Guest Voice)
Top Republicans back Obama on Syria as refugee tide swells
Top Republicans back Obama on Syria as refugee tide swells (via AFP) President Barack Obama won firm backing from key Republican leaders Tuesday for "proportional" strikes on Syria, as Washington closed ranks to warn Damascus that chemical attacks would not be tolerated. The dramatic developments in Washington came as… … [Read more...] about Top Republicans back Obama on Syria as refugee tide swells
Microsoft to buy Nokia phone unit
[Updated] In 2001, I was a usability tester for a Windows Phone. I don't remember the details very much, but I do remember that it was hard to use. This, of course, was pre-smart phone but not pre-mobile-phones-connected-to-the-Net. Flash forward 13 years later. The Microsoft mobile global market share during the first quarter 2013 was only 3.2%. But that was enough to … [Read more...] about Microsoft to buy Nokia phone unit
New life for labor
WASHINGTON -- Could this Labor Day mark the comeback of movements for workers' rights and a turn toward innovation and a new militancy on behalf of wage-earners? Suggesting this is not the same as a foolish and romantic optimism that foresees an instant union revival. What's actually happening is more interesting. Precisely because no one in organized labor … [Read more...] about New life for labor
Send a message to Syria (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized use without licensing from Cagle Cartoons is strictly prohibited. … [Read more...] about Send a message to Syria (Cartoon)
Castro: ‘Who Was Paid to Lie’ about Snowden Being Allowed in Cuba? (Cuba Debate, Cuba)
Who told the Russian newspaper Kommersant that Cuba, buckling under pressure from the United States, had decided to forbid Edward Snowden from landing in Havana? Quoted around the media over the weekend, this is the entire column by former Cuba dictator Fidel Castro, who has written a rare op-ed to correct the record, saying that after 54 years of unflinching defiance of the … [Read more...] about Castro: ‘Who Was Paid to Lie’ about Snowden Being Allowed in Cuba? (Cuba Debate, Cuba)
A not very dangerous precedent (Guest Voice)
A not very dangerous precedent (via The Economist) LIKE Jonathan Bernstein, I think John McCain is wrong when he says that it would set a "catastrophic" precedent for congress to vote down Barack Obama's request for authorisation of the use of military force in Syria. As Mr Bernstein says, "Congress… … [Read more...] about A not very dangerous precedent (Guest Voice)
White House Presses Congress on Syria Authorization Vote
The White House has begun a full-court press on Congress to get approval for limited military action against Syria -- amid signs that the issue is accentuating fissures in both political parties. Over the next week divisions that were in a kind of political suspended animation between the Democrats and Republicans will be on full display. Before the meeting, Obama underscored … [Read more...] about White House Presses Congress on Syria Authorization Vote
The Last Train to Auschwitz (Revisited)
As Rosh Hashanah -- sometimes referred to as the "day of judgment" -- starts tomorrow evening and as we continue to debate the atrocious gassing of the innocent in Syria, events of seven decades ago ghastly come to my mind. In particular, the departure of a train out of the Nazi transit camp of Westerbork in the Netherlands exactly 69 years ago to the day. It would be the … [Read more...] about The Last Train to Auschwitz (Revisited)
Not in the national interest
WASHINGTON -- Are we really going to do this? Are we going to wade into a struggle we don't really want to fight? Are we going to mire ourselves in a senseless, grinding conflict whose possible outcomes range from bad to worse? I'm talking about the upcoming budget battles in Washington, of course. (What, you thought I meant something else?) Incredibly, Congress … [Read more...] about Not in the national interest
Could Tim Tebow cut it in Canada or the Arena league?
Could Tim Tebow cut it in Canada or the Arena league? (+video) (via The Christian Science Monitor) New England Patriots quarterback Tim Tebow throws a pass against the Philadelphia Eagles during the fourth quarter of their NFL preseason football game in Philadelphia last month. The Patriots cut Tebow Saturday. (Tim Shaffer/Reuters/File) Tim Tebow… … [Read more...] about Could Tim Tebow cut it in Canada or the Arena league?
Breitbart and Friends Miss the Point Again
Breitbart.com claims that the West Coast longshoreman union is leaving the AFL-CIO, which is true, but claim that Obamacare and immigration reform are important reasons which exaggerates wildly. Of course such conservative sites as Michelle Malkin cite Breitbart's article in a delirium of joy that the evil ObamaCare is being rejected by the conservative boogeyman, Big … [Read more...] about Breitbart and Friends Miss the Point Again
Russia to send delegation to US Congress for Syria talks
Russia to send delegation to US Congress for Syria talks (via AFP) Russian authorities are planning to send a parliamentary delegation to the United States for talks with the Congress over Syria, in a move publicly endorsed Monday by President Vladimir Putin. "The initiative is very timely and correct," Putin told… … [Read more...] about Russia to send delegation to US Congress for Syria talks
The image Harry Truman wouldn’t want you to see (Guest Voice)
The image Harry Truman wouldn't want you to see By Richard K. Barry The Daily Mail has an absurd headline today that reads, "The image John Kerry WON'T want you to see: U.S. Secretary of State pictured dining with Assad and his wife at Damascus restaurant before war broke out in Syria." The Mail writes that, "[t]he picture is believed to have been taken in February … [Read more...] about The image Harry Truman wouldn’t want you to see (Guest Voice)