In the fog surrounding disasters [disaster fog: hundreds if not thousands of clear reports, but also conflicting reportages by citizens, the press, law enforcement, health and hospital, and more], there has to be time for the smoke to clear to see what is truly so, about whom, what, where, how, and why. It is easy in that fog that comes from literally thousands of souls on … [Read more...] about Law Enforcement and Media not always on same page
When We Were Young We Used to Play Together
When I was a child, slip-n-slides were fastened to lawns with large boulders. Consequently, the definition of summer fun was sliding headfirst between 10 pound rocks, at breakneck speeds, on a moistened strip of plastic runway. Currently, this activity is more commonly categorized as child endangerment. The use of boulders built a natural time limit into our wet and wild … [Read more...] about When We Were Young We Used to Play Together
NRCC Pulls the Plug on Mark Sanford After Ex-Wife’s Trespassing Accusation
The Republicans are ready to pull the plug on South Carolina congressional candidate Mark Sanford after his ex-wife accused him of trespassing, violating their divorce agreement. According to the AP, Jenny Sanford’s attorney filed a lawsuit on Feb. 4 alleging that she confronted Mark Sanford at her home the previous day, where he had been using his cellphone as a light. … [Read more...] about NRCC Pulls the Plug on Mark Sanford After Ex-Wife’s Trespassing Accusation
Quote of the Day: On Gun Control’s Failure
Our political Quote of the Day comes from Andrew Sullivan on gun control's failure (again): Never under-estimate the power of the major lobby groups in DC: from the NRA to AIPAC and the AARP and the Cuba lobby, they are all designed prevent change. Even if that change is trivial. It’s enough to make the average voter a little cynical, don’t you think? And I find myself … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: On Gun Control’s Failure
CNN Now Pulling Back Report that Suspect Arrested in Boston Marathon Terrorist Bombings
UPDATE: CNN is now reporting that sources tell them their earlier report was not correct: there has been no arrest. Several CNN reporters are now nixing earlier reports that they had a suspect in custody. CNN has removed the lower screen scrawl about an arrest to one now saying "conflicting reports." But most reports they are now getting is that their earlier report was wrong. … [Read more...] about CNN Now Pulling Back Report that Suspect Arrested in Boston Marathon Terrorist Bombings
Cartoonists Look at the Boston Marathon Terrorist Bombings
Here's a cross section of world cartoonists' takes on the Boston Marathon terrroist bombings: Boston Marathon: Boston Marathon Memeorial: Boston Tragedy: Boston Bombing: Good Wins in Boston: Boston: False Flag: Tears of Sorrow: … [Read more...] about Cartoonists Look at the Boston Marathon Terrorist Bombings
Poison Letter Sent to President Barack Obama
Clearly, terrorism (undetermined yet if it's domestic, foreign or now a mixture of both) has returned to centerstage in the United States: a poison letter has been sent to President Barack Obama: Authorities have intercepted a letter to the White House that tested positive for ricin poison, according to multiple media reports. The Secret Service has acknowledged the … [Read more...] about Poison Letter Sent to President Barack Obama
Manchin: Gun Control Background Check Vote Will Fail Today (UPDATE)
Just as victims murdered in mass shoots have seemingly become collateral damage in the issue of gun control, he highly-touted bipartisan compromise on background checks looks as if it will become political collateral damage -- due to immigration reform. The bipartisan effort to expand background checks will not have the votes to advance in the Senate today, according to … [Read more...] about Manchin: Gun Control Background Check Vote Will Fail Today (UPDATE)
Yes Alex Jones, You Are An Idiot
I was driving home today when I had the misfortune to listen to a few minutes of Alex Jones. For those who don't know Alex he is a far right whack job who thinks that everything that happens is a government conspiracy. Everything from 9/11 to the Boston Marathon attack is not real to him but a big secret government (or guvmint) conspiracy to trick us and turn the world over … [Read more...] about Yes Alex Jones, You Are An Idiot
Boston Marathon Bombings, Safe Havens and Evil
Once again it happens with sickening suddenness -- a jolting shock that alters and cruelly mocks our assumption of "normalcy." On a weekend when the news cycle focused on North Korea's rising threat, the struggle to enact gun control and a dumb written comment about the -murdered-by-the-Nazis Anne Frank by self-absorbed teen singer Justin Bieber, the venerable Boston … [Read more...] about Boston Marathon Bombings, Safe Havens and Evil
Deep in the reeds on genes
Deep in the Reeds by Dana Milbank Washington Post Writers Group WASHINGTON -- Mitt Romney had it wrong. Corporations aren't people -- corporations own people. The Supreme Court on Monday took up the unusual question of whether corporations control our genetic material -- specifically, whether a Utah-based company called Myriad Genetics has valid patents on the … [Read more...] about Deep in the reeds on genes
Ricin found in letter to US Senator’s office
Ricin found in letter to US Senator's office (via AFP) US federal authorities intercepted a letter that contained the deadly poison ricin and was bound for the Washington office of Senator Roger Wicker, officials said. The letter was detected during a routine mail inspection at an off-site facility and did not reach the US Capitol or Wicker's office, a… … [Read more...] about Ricin found in letter to US Senator’s office
When the Interior West Was Won-By Democrats: Church,Moss,and McGee
Historic Tidbit: After it became clear that Frank Church would not be his party's presidential nominee in 1976, he began actively campaigning for the number two spot. When Carter ultimately picked Mondale, he told reporters that he had known he wouldn't be the pick because lightening had just stricken his Bethesda, Maryland home. And lightening, he said, "never strikes twice." … [Read more...] about When the Interior West Was Won-By Democrats: Church,Moss,and McGee
NY Post Still Running “Saudi” Headline On Boston Story; He’s Not A Suspect Nor Is He In Custody
Do News Corp and The Far Right Have No Shame? Maybe if I lived in New York I'd be more sanguine. Pandering is a kind adjective to describe the editorial management at the New York Post, the 13th-oldest and seventh-most-widely circulated newspaper in the U.S. and one that is owned by News Corp. And losing money. If you get your news from the NY Post, you'd be forgiven … [Read more...] about NY Post Still Running “Saudi” Headline On Boston Story; He’s Not A Suspect Nor Is He In Custody
Why are bombings so rare in America?
Why are bombings so rare in America? Andrew Sullivan has a roundup with some thoughts about why. I suspect it's a combination of citizens, businesses and law enforcement having their eyes peeled, plus there's little prospect here -- unlike in some countries -- where it's going to generate anything but utter revulsion on the part of the populace. I lived in Spain from May … [Read more...] about Why are bombings so rare in America?
The challenge in the Boston Marathon bombing
The challenge in the Boston Marathon bombing (via The Christian Science Monitor) Copyright ImageClick to View Medical workers and others aid injured people at the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon following a bomb explosion April 15.(AP Photo) The identity of the Boston Marathon bomber remains unknown, but that should not dampen the many efforts to challenge the … [Read more...] about The challenge in the Boston Marathon bombing
Boston Bombs Prompt Twitter Toxicity (Guest Voice)
Boston Bombs Prompt Twitter Toxicity By Dick Polman Shortly after Boston's annual idyll devolved into mayhem, I posted a tweet. "Worst thing: People died...Second worst thing: The upcoming blame game." And sure enough, it was game on. I get it that we're all upset. The urge to lash out is strong, and we're only human. But way too often, pundits and armchair … [Read more...] about Boston Bombs Prompt Twitter Toxicity (Guest Voice)
Heartbreaking Photo of Martin Richard, 8, Killed in Boston Marathon Bombing
It's a photo that has "gone viral" -- but, more importantly, it will be forever seen as a quintessentially haunting photo. The photo of Martin Richard, 8, who was proudly greeting his Dad at the Boston Marathon's finish line. He wrote the sign "No more hurting people. Peace" a year before he died when one of two bombs went off as he waited for his Dad. And his family? … [Read more...] about Heartbreaking Photo of Martin Richard, 8, Killed in Boston Marathon Bombing
Will Americans Learn the Right Lesson from Boston Bombings? (Sotal Iraq, Iraq)
Is American use of Wahhabi terrorists as a foreign policy tool behind the Boston Marathon bombings? For Iraq's Sotal Iraq, columnist Ahmad Kazem sees the attacks as a fork in the road for the United States, and worries that the American people are so caught up in 'petty soap operas and mind-numbing television talk shows', they are easy to convince that they are in danger, and … [Read more...] about Will Americans Learn the Right Lesson from Boston Bombings? (Sotal Iraq, Iraq)
Being Found
Being Found by Doug Bursch Let me be alone first... unencumbered by the demands of the crowd, or the systems, or the groups, or the other than expectations. Let me be alone, left alone... detached from the strings and pulleys, pried loose from the rebar, the mooring, the foundations and expectations of others. Let me be isolated... unable to connect or … [Read more...] about Being Found