On the occasion of the anniversary of our nation's Independence, I generally try to post something patriotic, something real Americana. This year, I would like to tell you about what some American individuals and organizations do -- not just on the Fourth of July, but all year long, year after year. Something that is perhaps more indicative of the American character, of our … [Read more...] about One ‘Heart Gift’ at a Time
UN opposes arms to Syria
The United Nations is opposing President Barack Obama’s move to send weapons to anti-government forces in Syria. A UN statement today said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon “calls again for stopping the supply of arms to all sides and appeals to the parties in Syria and their supporters to focus instead on the search for a political solution that remains the only way out of this … [Read more...] about UN opposes arms to Syria
Bolivian President Evo Morales’ Plane Rerouted to Austria Over Fears Edward Snowden Aboard
BREAKING NEWS: Bolivian President Evo Morales' plane was rerouted to Austria on suspicion NSA leaker Edward Snowden was onboard. David Choquehuanca has denied that Snowden was on the plane, saying "we don't know who invented this lie, but we want to denounce to the international community this injustice with the plane of President Evo Morales." Bolivia's foreign minister … [Read more...] about Bolivian President Evo Morales’ Plane Rerouted to Austria Over Fears Edward Snowden Aboard
John Roberts Rules: 25 Years of Chaos?
Barack Obama and John Boehner are stars of today’s Washington’s mess, but John Roberts is the game’s Mariano Rivera. The President will be gone in four years, the Speaker likely sooner but the Chief Justice has an actuarial chance of presiding for another quarter of a century. In “The Real John Roberts Emerges,” Court watcher Linda Greenhouse reports that his distrust of all … [Read more...] about John Roberts Rules: 25 Years of Chaos?
Mission Unaccomplished- Bush’s Mideast Legacy
Prior to his initial election in 2000, President George W. Bush opposed a U.S. role in “nation building,” believing that the task was next to impossible and the cost would outweigh any benefits we might attain. Then after 9/11, Bush claimed that a tie existed between Saddam Hussein’s Iraq and Al Qaeda, and that Iraq was supposedly building weapons of mass destruction. He used … [Read more...] about Mission Unaccomplished- Bush’s Mideast Legacy
John Roberts Court Revives Southern Strategy (Guest Voice)
John Roberts Court Revives Southern Strategy (via LA Progressive) The federal government takes decisive action to reverse many years of vicious racial injustice. As a result, the country moves closer to making real for African Americans those “self-evident” truths about equality in the Declaration of Independence… … [Read more...] about John Roberts Court Revives Southern Strategy (Guest Voice)
Arizona Wildfire (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed by Cagle Cartoons to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited. … [Read more...] about Arizona Wildfire (Cartoon)
Could nuclear weapons save the elephants?
Could nuclear weapons save the elephants? (via The Christian Science Monitor) Researchers have come upon a new tool in the fight against poaching of elephants, rhinos, hippos, and other endangered wildlife: nuclear weapons. No, they're not launching nuclear missiles at the poachers, a tactic that even the most passionate conservationists… … [Read more...] about Could nuclear weapons save the elephants?
Snowden awaits asylum decisions, drops Russia bid
Snowden awaits asylum decisions, drops Russia bid (via AFP) US fugitive Edward Snowden has abandoned his request for political asylum in Russia after learning he would have to stop leaking intelligence reports, the Kremlin said Tuesday, as the American awaited asylum decisions from 20 other countries. Snowden… … [Read more...] about Snowden awaits asylum decisions, drops Russia bid
Egypt’s presidency rejects army ultimatum
Egypt's presidency rejects army ultimatum (via AFP) Egypt's presidency on Tuesday rejected an army ultimatum threatening to intervene if Islamist President Mohamed Morsi did not meet the demands of the people, raising the stakes in the country's political crisis. The army statement, read out on television… … [Read more...] about Egypt’s presidency rejects army ultimatum
Snivel Disobedience
Snowdon, assured that he's a "hero" for what he's done, brays through Wikileaks [it's all about HIM, you know]: Statement from Edward Snowden in Moscow Monday July 1, 21:40 UTC One week ago I left Hong Kong after it became clear that my freedom and safety were under threat for revealing the truth. My continued liberty has been owed to the efforts of friends new and … [Read more...] about Snivel Disobedience
Priest in Streets of Black Bedford Stuy: Paula Deen and Right Conduct
...not opining from his comfy computer or flying a desk as we say in the Air Force, but from ground soldier in the streets status: in the midst of 'n' word contro re Paula Deen, and what Father Jim O'Shea sees as the real deal where it actually matters today. All the Good People, by Father Jim I spend my days in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn working with young African … [Read more...] about Priest in Streets of Black Bedford Stuy: Paula Deen and Right Conduct
Snowden applies for political asylum in Russia
Snowden applies for political asylum in Russia (via AFP) US leaker Edward Snowden has applied for asylum in Russia and President Vladimir Putin said on Monday he was welcome to stay as long as he stopped leaking US intelligence reports. On Sunday night, Snowden applied for political asylum at the consulate… … [Read more...] about Snowden applies for political asylum in Russia
Thousands rally in Austin to protest anti-abortion special session
[11:30 am Pacific - update 12:15 pm Pacific] Although the news reports out of Austin are thin, the Tweets are hot and heavy. There are three livestream, live blogging and reports of 5,000 gathered on the stops of the capitol: Huge crowd massing outside Texas Capitol to protest special session on abortion. #standwithTXwomen #TXlege pic.twitter.com/CPfbeRvfaI— ACLU … [Read more...] about Thousands rally in Austin to protest anti-abortion special session
Egypt army issues Morsi 48-hour ultimatum
Egypt army issues Morsi 48-hour ultimatum (via AFP) Egypt's armed forces gave President Mohamed Morsi 48 hours to meet the demands of the people or it would intervene with a roadmap, after millions took to the streets to demand the Islamist leader step down. In a statement read out on state television… … [Read more...] about Egypt army issues Morsi 48-hour ultimatum
American’s Awful, Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Prison System
The United States prison system is a blight for the country. The International Center for Prison Studies estimates that America imprisons 716 people per 100,000 citizens (of any age). That compares (unfavorably) with Russia (484), China (121) and Iran (284). Over two and a half million American children have a parent behind bars. A whopping 60% percent of those incarcerated in … [Read more...] about American’s Awful, Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Prison System
Billions of waves: The evolution of wireless communication in 3 graphics
Billions of waves: The evolution of wireless communication in 3 charts (via Pando Daily) By David Holmes On July 1, 2013When people think of radio waves they think of, well, the radio; AM and FM tuners of days gone by. But in fact there are more radio waves floating through the air than ever before. The signals created by cell phones, television… … [Read more...] about Billions of waves: The evolution of wireless communication in 3 graphics
The original conservative reformer
WASHINGTON -- Let's praise a struggling conservative reform movement seeking to disentangle the right's cause from extremism and to make its ideas more compelling to a younger and broader swath of Americans. It's a movement of diverse strands and competing motives. Some conservatives are looking for a much larger dose of reform than others. The … [Read more...] about The original conservative reformer
Egypt opposition gives Morsi a day to quit
Egypt opposition gives Morsi a day to quit (via AFP) Egypt's opposition Monday gave Islamist Mohamed Morsi a day to quit or face civil disobedience after deadly protests demanded the country's first democratically elected president step down after just a year in office. "We give Mohamed Morsi until 5:… … [Read more...] about Egypt opposition gives Morsi a day to quit
Obama Plan to Save Planet is (Snooze Alert) So Boring
Now that the Supreme Court has shut down the big tent, the news carnival is back to telling us more than we want to know about the trivial and ephemeral. Killjoy that he is, however, Barack Obama devotes his Weekly Address to explaining plans to (snooze alert) reduce carbon pollution and protect our country from the effects of climate change such as “more extreme droughts, … [Read more...] about Obama Plan to Save Planet is (Snooze Alert) So Boring