WASHINGTON -- President Obama's message about the government's massive electronic surveillance programs came through loud and clear: Get over it. The president used more soothing words in his pre-vacation news conference Friday, but that was the gist. With perhaps the application of a fig leaf here and a sheen of legalistic mumbo jumbo there, the snooping will continue. … [Read more...] about What NSA reforms?
I’ll See Your NSA And Raise You A TSA
Did you know that the Transportation Security Administration, TSA, has nearly quadrupled the number of mobile security squads it employs outside of airports? Oh, Wait. Let’s back up. Did you know that TSA is using mobile security squads in locations outside of airports? Yes, that’s the same no-belt-no-shoes-empty-your-pockets-pat-down TSA that you encounter at the airport. … [Read more...] about I’ll See Your NSA And Raise You A TSA
DNI James Clapper to Pick Intelligence Review Panel Despite Lying to Congress
It seems that President Obama is sending the fox to guard the hen house, as in the case of James Clapper, the director of National Intelligence, picking a panel of 'independent experts' to review the government's surveillance programs. The members on the panel will also report to Clapper, the Washington Post reports. Excuse me for my lack of faith in this process and the … [Read more...] about DNI James Clapper to Pick Intelligence Review Panel Despite Lying to Congress
Elon Musk vs. The Downers
Over on Memeorandum there's only a couple of articles on this subject and I thought they missed one of the best. Molly Wood on CNet pushes back against the naysayers in "Hyperloop: Why can't we believe in the big ideas?". I have to admit that I've wondered that myself when looking at the reaction to ideas that I would love to see come to fruition someday as a long time SF fan … [Read more...] about Elon Musk vs. The Downers
And She Called Her Son Messiah – Until The Judge Forced A Name Change
This story came out over the weekend and is beginning to gain wider attention. It's another example of people using their positions of power to project their religious views on others and why things like the First Amendment, including free expression and separation of church and state, matter. The place is Cocke County Tennessee. That’s in the Appalachian foothills. … [Read more...] about And She Called Her Son Messiah – Until The Judge Forced A Name Change
Deep Down, Sparkman and Hill Not Anti Civil Rights, Just Political Cowards
As Civil Rights legislation was clearing Congress in the 1960s, the Southern caucus would prove stubborn holdouts. Members who signed the “Southern Manifesto” fought tooth and nail against any and all legislation designed to advance racial progress. But evidence exists that at least a couple of those Senators didn’t really believe what they were preaching, that they were simply … [Read more...] about Deep Down, Sparkman and Hill Not Anti Civil Rights, Just Political Cowards
(Video Parody): Filner Blurred Lines video musical parody urging him to resign
My former employer the San Diego Union Tribune offers on its U-T TV website this musical video parody about the clamor to have San Diego Mayor Bob Filner resign after 14 women have come forward (and this number could be going up in coming days) to accuse him in often graphic deal of sexual harrassing or groping them: Read my take and summary on the Filner controversy … [Read more...] about (Video Parody): Filner Blurred Lines video musical parody urging him to resign
Republicans and the Environment
If you need a measuring stick to see just how far Republicans have moved to the right since the terms of Nixon and Reagan, it’s staring you in the face in a recent OpEd article written by four former Republican heads of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (http://goo.gl/6N5QvE) For those conservatives who are burdened with selective amnesia, they should remember that the … [Read more...] about Republicans and the Environment
Sexual Harassment: A Less Politically Correct Look
Feminist icons like Gloria Steinem and the late Betty Friedan, who were long-time colleagues and friends of mine, might see this as “blaming the victim,” but that is 180 degrees from what I have in mind. I spent decades editing women’s magazines, hiring generations of bright, ambitious young women. As years went by, it was like standing at the stern of an ocean liner, … [Read more...] about Sexual Harassment: A Less Politically Correct Look
California ‘Hyperloop’ fast transport design unveiled
California 'Hyperloop' fast transport design unveiled (via AFP) A design for a super-fast transport system dubbed "Hyperloop" -- carrying passengers in pressurized tubes at near-supersonic speeds -- has been unveiled by inventor and entrepreneur Elon Musk. Musk, who heads electric carmaker Tesla Motors and private… … [Read more...] about California ‘Hyperloop’ fast transport design unveiled
Yet Another Shining Example of Scientific Illiteracy in the House
So Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) has shown himself to be one of the far too many Republicans who are not content to simply make foolish and inaccurate statements about climate change, but to make the claim that the entire idea is a fraud pushed by his political opponents for political reasons. He cries fraud when presented with the idea that human activity can affect climate. … [Read more...] about Yet Another Shining Example of Scientific Illiteracy in the House
NOT Fair: Missouri Rodeo Clown Dons Obama Mask While Others Wobble Its Lips
A little bit of background here. In my non-writing incarnation I do lots of events including fairs. And it is a DEFINITE FACT that fairs are places where people of all ages, races, colors and political persuasions go for fun. Fairs don't take editorial positions on politics or have entertainers act out what they've seen on their favorite political TV show or heard on their … [Read more...] about NOT Fair: Missouri Rodeo Clown Dons Obama Mask While Others Wobble Its Lips
Snowden: Kremlin Tool for Reducing U.S. Web Dominance (Yezhednevniy Zhurnal, Russia)
In light of the scale of NSA surveillance against other countries, both friend and foe, is it time to take control of the Worldwide Web away from the United States? For Russia's Yezhednevniy Zhurnal, columnists Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan write that after squeezing the affair for every drop of propaganda value while Edward Snowden was trapped in Sheremetyevo Airport, the … [Read more...] about Snowden: Kremlin Tool for Reducing U.S. Web Dominance (Yezhednevniy Zhurnal, Russia)
Japanese Must Continue to Lead ‘Battle’ to Abolish War (Nara Shimbun, Japan)
Should the world fear that Japan, after championing nuclear non-proliferation and asserting the inhumanity of war for almost 70 years, is returning to its imperial ways? On the 68th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima - and days before the anniversary of Japan's surrender to allied forces, this editorial from Japan's Nara Shimbun is a warning to readers … [Read more...] about Japanese Must Continue to Lead ‘Battle’ to Abolish War (Nara Shimbun, Japan)
A senior’s take on E-Books
At 67 I am officially a senior. A tech savvy senior, I have been writing code for 40 years and have been an IS administrator. I resisted the Kindle and e-books until recently however. About a year ago there was a book I wanted to read that was only available as an e-book so I put the Kindle app on my PC. Reading it on my PC was not easy but it was better than not reading it … [Read more...] about A senior’s take on E-Books
What ‘Breaking Bad’ Teaches Us About World Politics
The first of the final episodes of AMC's Breaking Bad aired last night -- and series creator/executive producer Vince Gilligan in interviews such as this has suggested that the chemistry teacher who he once indicated would go from Mr. Chips to Scarface is not going to escape without consquences. And don't look for an ambiguous The Sopranos style ending, either. “We often … [Read more...] about What ‘Breaking Bad’ Teaches Us About World Politics
Attorney General Eric Holder Outlines Changes to Drug Sentencing Guidelines for Low-Level Offenses
CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORMS: U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is set to unveil a major overhaul of the criminal justice system to ease overcrowding in federal prisons by ordering prosecutors to omit listing quantities of illegal drugs in indictments of low-level drug cases. This will change the way sentences are handed down for such offenses. Attorney General Eric H. Holder … [Read more...] about Attorney General Eric Holder Outlines Changes to Drug Sentencing Guidelines for Low-Level Offenses
GOP Infighting (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 GOP Infighting (Cartoon)
Obama takes a vacation, critics jerk their knees (Guest Voice)
Obama takes a vacation, critics jerk their knees (via NewsWorks) National Interest Dick [email protected] August 12, 2013 By Dick Polman It happens every August. Tomatoes peak in flavor, gardenias peak in fragrance, and presidents get stupidly abused for going on vacation. As soon as Barack Obama… … [Read more...] about Obama takes a vacation, critics jerk their knees (Guest Voice)
Whitey Bulger Guilty
A jury has found mobster Whitey Bulger guilty of... well being a mobster. One hopes they have good life insurance. … [Read more...] about Whitey Bulger Guilty