Historic Quote: "A nuclear-power plant is infinitely safer than eating because 300 people choke to death on food every year." Dixy Lee Ray in one of her many "Dixyisms.' There was once a frank, female Governor from the northwest who surprised pundits by winning her primary, antagonized the senior Senator and powerful Appropriator of her party, who often quarreled with the … [Read more...] about Ray, Washington’s First Female Governor, Known for Blunt, Idiosyncracies
Snowden granted refugee status by Russia, leaves Moscow airport
Edward Snowden is granted refugee status, leaves Moscow airport (via The Inquirer) NSA PRISM WHISTLEBLOWER Edward Snowden has been granted refugee status by Russia and is allowed to leave the Moscow airport. The news of his exit is just breaking. Wikileaks, an organisation that has supported Snowden throughout his flight from the… … [Read more...] about Snowden granted refugee status by Russia, leaves Moscow airport
Weiner Is Disgusting But Clinton Did Real Damage
Can the past help make sense of the Clintons and Weiners today? Breaking up is hard to do, sang Neil Sadaka half a century ago, but go back further to Karl Marx, “History repeats itself first as tragedy, then as farce.” Or as Hillary and Bill try to distance themselves, the more apt Marx may be Groucho: “I don’t want to belong to any club that takes people like me as … [Read more...] about Weiner Is Disgusting But Clinton Did Real Damage
Mind and Body – Dealing with Stress by Kevin Purcell ,DC
Stress presents itself in various ways through our lives. Work, finance, relationships and health challenges can all contribute varying degrees of stress in my life. You may see that as well. But it’s a good life and we prefer to keep most of what it has to offer day to day. So we need to find ways to release stress and view experiences in a way that allows us to avoid … [Read more...] about Mind and Body – Dealing with Stress by Kevin Purcell ,DC
Anthony Weiner drama gets worse. Why we follow such shallow things
Anthony Weiner drama gets worse. Why we follow such shallow things. (via The Christian Science Monitor) Copyright ImageClick to View New York City mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner and spokeswoman Barbara Morgan exit a building during a tour of superstorm Sandy victims on Staten Island in New York last week. Morgan went on an expletive-laced tirade about… … [Read more...] about Anthony Weiner drama gets worse. Why we follow such shallow things
Energy drink makers on defensive at US Senate hearing
Energy drink makers on defensive at US Senate hearing (via AFP) The multi-billion-dollar global energy drink industry joined forces on Capitol Hill to fight off growing claims that their caffeine-rich products are hazardous to young people's health. Senior executives from Monster Beverage, Red Bull and Rockstar… … [Read more...] about Energy drink makers on defensive at US Senate hearing
A Shattered GOP Dithers on Direction
The Pew Research Center for the People & the Press comes out with the raw numbers: Whither the GOP? Republicans Want Change, But Split over Party's Direction — Ryan Has Broader Appeal in GOP than Paul, Rubio or Christie Pew Research Center for the People & the Press OVERVIEW — Coming off of two consecutive presidential election defeats, most Republican voters … [Read more...] about A Shattered GOP Dithers on Direction
Glenn Greenwald’s NSA Hearing Cancelled As Obama Set to Meet with House Democrats
Glenn Greenwald's NSA hearing has been cancelled as President Obama seems to have a renewed interest in House Democrats. But Greenwald now tells POLITICO that the hearing has been canceled due to Obama's decision to meet with House Democrats. "Obama developed a sudden and newfound interest in House Democrats and scheduled a meeting with them for that same time," he wrote … [Read more...] about Glenn Greenwald’s NSA Hearing Cancelled As Obama Set to Meet with House Democrats
Republicans are planning a destructive (and farcical) Augus
They've got a "planning kit" for the month, with an "exceptionally detailed" survival guide, according to Steve Benen. ...The "planning kit" focuses on, among other things, a "fierce hatred of all things Washington." I'm no political strategist, but wouldn't this be a more effective tactic if, say, Republicans weren't the majority party in the House of … [Read more...] about Republicans are planning a destructive (and farcical) Augus
Change is Like an Old Building
SARGENT, Neb. -- They thought it was dead, but now it's coming back. The little theater, a dancehall named Oscar's Palladium on North Second Street in Sargent, Neb., had once been the scene of shows on a Midwest vaudeville circuit, then dances featuring big bands such as Tommy Dorsey's, then early rockers. And then it closed. Now it's back featuring country western acts and … [Read more...] about Change is Like an Old Building
Return Of Wolves To Yellowstone Has Benefitted Grizzly Bears, Research Finds — Berries Becoming Abundant Again Thanks To Return Of Wolf
Return Of Wolves To Yellowstone Has Benefitted Grizzly Bears, Research Finds — Berries Becoming Abundant Again Thanks To Return Of Wolf (via Planetsave) The return of wolves to Yellowstone National Park is having an interesting — though not surprising — effect on the larger ecosystem, affecting everything from grizzly bears to elk to berry bushes, according to new … [Read more...] about Return Of Wolves To Yellowstone Has Benefitted Grizzly Bears, Research Finds — Berries Becoming Abundant Again Thanks To Return Of Wolf
Images of our Troops at War
Disclaimer: War is not glamorous, war is not beautiful, war is not romantic. War, as defined by Clausewitz “is an act of violence to compel our opponent to fulfill our will.” Therefore, war is brutal, ugly, cruel, repulsive -- add your own descriptor. We have seen too many stomach-turning images of our casualties of war. A Foreign Policy “photo essay” shows what war -- … [Read more...] about Images of our Troops at War
CBC Recommends Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee for Homeland Security Secretary
Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee for Department of Homeland Security Secretary? No, it's not a joke. The Congressional Black Caucus is recommending that President Obama nominate Jackson-Lee to replace outgoing secretary Janet Napolitano. A letter dated July 25 and signed by CBC Chairwoman Rep. Marcia Fudge, an Ohio Democrat, urges President Barack Obama to consider Jackson Lee for the … [Read more...] about CBC Recommends Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee for Homeland Security Secretary
Amnesty International: Bradley Manning Case Shows U.S. Government Priorities Upside Down
Wikileaks tweets Bradley Manning's conviction on espionage charges is a "very serious new precedent for supplying information to the press." Wikileaks, which served as a conduit for Manning to spill U.S. secrets, characterized the conviction as "dangerous national security extremism from the Obama administration." Wikileaks' response to Bradley Manning's … [Read more...] about Amnesty International: Bradley Manning Case Shows U.S. Government Priorities Upside Down
Bradley Manning Found Not Guilty Of Aiding Enemy, Convicted On Other Charges
Bradley Manning has been found not guilty of aiding the enemy but was convicted of other charges, including several that he already had admitted guilt on. This means he will not face life in prison but he almost certainly will do jail time. This is I think a reasonable verdict since it was difficult at best to determine whether the information he released actually … [Read more...] about Bradley Manning Found Not Guilty Of Aiding Enemy, Convicted On Other Charges
GUILTY and NOT GUILTY: BREAKING UPDATES: Manning Verdict Announced
Update II: The maximum sentence that could be handed down to Manning for all the charges of which he was found guilty is 150 years. The sentencing phase of the trial at Fort Meade will begin tomorrow, Wednesday. Edited to clarify the sentencing phase. --- Note: For further updates, please go to to the Washington Post UPDATE I: Culminating a court … [Read more...] about GUILTY and NOT GUILTY: BREAKING UPDATES: Manning Verdict Announced
Let’s NOT Focus On Job Creation And Expanding The Economy
Pick up a newspaper. Listen to the radio. Watch TV. Catch the latest fixed wisdom from a pol of any stripe talking about helping the middle class and improving American living standards. The rap these days is always the same. The emphasis is always the same. Proclaimed endlessly. We have to focus on job creation and expanding the economy. Really? Why? We're already … [Read more...] about Let’s NOT Focus On Job Creation And Expanding The Economy
Senate Republicans Predict Tea Party Disaster
You can’t hold your breath and say no forever. As the President turns his back on Congressional tantrums, some sane Republicans are starting to gasp for breath. The national political debate is slowly shifting from Tea Party vs. Obama to an internal GOP rift over avoiding defeat in 2014 and 2016. Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn predicts that shutting down government to block … [Read more...] about Senate Republicans Predict Tea Party Disaster
Conservatives Unleash Usual ‘Outrage’ Over President Obama’s Martha’s Vineyard Trip
Get ready for the conservatives to attack President Obama on his upcoming vacation on Martha's Vineyard. The fact is liberals have also gone after Republican presidents for their pricey vacations, but it seems that President Obama, probably more than others have been attacked for his 'elitist' taste: The Massachusetts island of Martha’s Vineyard, the exclusive playground for … [Read more...] about Conservatives Unleash Usual ‘Outrage’ Over President Obama’s Martha’s Vineyard Trip
We should thank Edward Snowden
WASHINGTON -- Edward Snowden's renegade decision to reveal the jaw-dropping scope of the National Security Agency's electronic surveillance is being vindicated -- even as Snowden himself is being vilified. Intelligence officials in the Obama administration and their allies on Capitol Hill paint the fugitive analyst as nothing but a traitor who wants to harm the United … [Read more...] about We should thank Edward Snowden