Edward Snowden has been receiving a lot of mail recently. I have no idea if Snowden has been receiving “regular” mail at his Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport transit zone lounge address, and I would assume he has received a lot of e-mail on any of his four laptops if he is a Wi-Fi hotspot area. I am talking about several “open letters” that have been written to him in various … [Read more...] about Ed, You’ve Got Mail
Abu Ghraib breakout is a warning
The bold jihadist assault that freed over 500 convicts from Iraq’s infamous Abu Ghraib and Taji prisons, including al Qaeda terrorists, today is a warning that the proxy Sunni-Shia war in Syria is spilling across borders. Another sign is today’s European Union decision to blacklist Hezbollah, a Shiite militia, despite pleas from Lebanon’s President Michel Suleiman who … [Read more...] about Abu Ghraib breakout is a warning
It’s a boy for Britain’s William and Kate
Baby boy for Britain's William and Kate (via AFP) Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate were celebrating on Monday after she gave birth to a baby boy, providing the world's most famous royal family with a future king. Cheering crowds rushed towards the gates of Buckingham Palace as it was announced… … [Read more...] about It’s a boy for Britain’s William and Kate
Scientists sound new warning for arsenic in rice
Scientists sound new warning for arsenic in rice (via AFP) Rice tainted with high levels of arsenic has been linked to genetic damage that heightens the risk of cancer, a study published on Monday said. Naturally-occurring arsenic in drinking water is a long-known health hazard, especially in Bangladesh, where… … [Read more...] about Scientists sound new warning for arsenic in rice
Scarborough blasts Hannity on Martin comments: may I say “Ditto”?
Morning Joe's Joe Scarborough has lambasted conservative talker Sean Hannity for his comments immediately following President Barack Obama's talk on race. I heard Hannity's comments while driving and my reaction was: this is so typical of what is chasing many independent voters, members of increasingly important demographic groups such as Latinos and African Americans, and … [Read more...] about Scarborough blasts Hannity on Martin comments: may I say “Ditto”?
George Zimmerman Helps Rescue Family Trapped in Overturned SUV (Guest Voice)
George Zimmerman Helps Rescue Family Trapped in Overturned SUV (via DCXposed) Sanford Police Department Capt. Jim McAuliffe said that crash victims along a Florida highway who were pulled from an overturned vehicle told firefighters that it was George Zimmerman who stopped and helped them escape the wreckage. According to Seminole… … [Read more...] about George Zimmerman Helps Rescue Family Trapped in Overturned SUV (Guest Voice)
Gallup Poll: Obama Approval Dips to 47.9% in 18th Quarter in Office
Signs of the "second term curse" afflicting President Barack Obama continue to mount: President Obama's job approval rating averaged 47.9% during his 18th quarter in office. His quarterly average has declined in each of the last two quarters after showing improvement in each of the five previous quarters, culminating with his re-election. The results are based on Gallup … [Read more...] about Gallup Poll: Obama Approval Dips to 47.9% in 18th Quarter in Office
Royal Baby: It’s A Boy
News just breaking that the new royal baby is a boy. graphic via shutterstock.com … [Read more...] about Royal Baby: It’s A Boy
Dennis Farnia Dies At 69
Actor Dennis Farina has died at the age of 69. No more details yet … [Read more...] about Dennis Farnia Dies At 69
Patent Trolls Aren’t the Problem, Patents Are
As Republican obstruction kills immigration reform, the next problem Congress and the president will try and fail to fix is the patent system. Specifically, they’ll target “patent trolls,” companies that buy patents and use them to create endless litigation. But the larger problem they fail to see is that America’s patent regime is based upon a flawed model of innovation and … [Read more...] about Patent Trolls Aren’t the Problem, Patents Are
Royal Baby On The Way
The big news in the UK today is that the royal baby is on the way. … [Read more...] about Royal Baby On The Way
(Update) Watch the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group Leave Port
Update: Since the video of the HST CSG's departure is still not available, here is a photo of the carrier’s departure. Some more photos here. In the meantime, the Navy ‘Livestream’ below is still interesting to watch. Families of Sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) watch as the ship departs its homeport of Naval Station Norfolk. … [Read more...] about (Update) Watch the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group Leave Port
The painful paradoxes of race
WASHINGTON -- "In the jewelry store, they lock the case when I walk in," the young African-American man wrote. "In the shoe store, they help the white man who walks in after me. In the shopping mall they follow me. ... Black male: Guilty until proven innocent." "I have lost control of my emotions," he declared. "Rage, Frustration, Anguish, Despondency, Fatigue, … [Read more...] about The painful paradoxes of race
Standing My Ground (Cartoon)
See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about Standing My Ground (Cartoon)
Obama/Putin: Schoolyard Spat Over Snowden
Barack Obama is the most powerful man in the world, Vladimir Putin is not far behind. Why are they straining their relationship in a schoolyard spat over a 30-year-old in a Moscow air terminal? Now the White House threatens to cancel a September summit over the Edward Snowden impasse and snipes at the Russian justice system in an escalating war of words that has no bearing … [Read more...] about Obama/Putin: Schoolyard Spat Over Snowden
Banks + Commodities + Manipulation = Profits
The naïve among us may have believed that with the recent financial meltdown, the major banks and their activities that affect the general economy would have been subjected to more scrutiny by federal regulatory agencies. We may have also believed that risky speculation by these institutions and manipulation of derivatives, financial instruments, and commodities for their own … [Read more...] about Banks + Commodities + Manipulation = Profits
Art and Politics
I am a big fan of science fiction. I am a big fan of the works of Orson Scott Card. He is a social conservative and I agree with him on virtually nothing. But his Sci Fi is damned good and I have read and enjoyed his work. I have read every book Ender series more than once. It's great fiction that addresses many social and political issues. That is why this upset me. The … [Read more...] about Art and Politics
Indian politician sparks outrage with anti-English remarks
Indian politician sparks outrage with anti-English remarks (via AFP) The chief of India's main opposition party has stirred controversy by saying the English language is hurting the country and its rich culture. Rajnath Singh, president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said widespread use of English has stymied growth… … [Read more...] about Indian politician sparks outrage with anti-English remarks
CNN’s Don Lemon Blasts Conservative Talker Ben Ferguson Over Racial Profiling: ‘Who Are You To Tell Us We’re Not Having That Experience?’
I was a talking head (part of an independent voter analyst panel) on Don Lemon's CNN show about a dozen times from 2010 - 2012. He was always a straight shooter and I've written often that even before I was on his panels I had concluded that he is from the "old school" of broadcast journalism in terms of the way he conducts his interviews. But he will also call out his guest … [Read more...] about CNN’s Don Lemon Blasts Conservative Talker Ben Ferguson Over Racial Profiling: ‘Who Are You To Tell Us We’re Not Having That Experience?’
The Final Confirmation: Geraldo Rivera can never be taken seriously
Geraldo Rivera's career is a sad story, especially for those of us baby boomers who were in college when he was an up and coming investigative broadcast reporter. (When I attended the Medill School of Journalism 1972-1973 for my masters, Rivera seemed to be the wave of the future). If you need any confirmation now that he is not to be taken seriously and has squandered his … [Read more...] about The Final Confirmation: Geraldo Rivera can never be taken seriously