FBI: Minn. raid disrupts 'localized terror attack' (via The Star-News) MINNEAPOLIS - The FBI believes authorities disrupted a terrorism attack that was being planned in a small western Minnesota city when they arrested a man after converging on a mobile home that contained Molotov cocktails, suspected pipe bombs and firearms, the agency said Monday. Buford Rogers, 24,… … [Read more...] about FBI: Minn. raid disrupts ‘localized terror attack’
NRA Convention: Man Sells Torsos of Obama Likeness: Bleed When Shot.
Many who are aware of how threats are handled against the President of the US as a Class D felony under US Code Title 18, Section 871, wonder if [see story here]: the seller is advocating murder of a duly elected President, or if the seller might claim he is a comedian. Viz: When President Wilson was threatened by a man with these words in writing: "President Wilson … [Read more...] about NRA Convention: Man Sells Torsos of Obama Likeness: Bleed When Shot.
Mediaite: Vast Majority of National Advertisers Won’t Advertise on Rush Limbaugh’s Show
What you are seeing now apparently is a)spin control at work, b)the "marketplace" at work. We earlier ran this post about conservative talk show titan (and some say de facto strategist and polemical riff creator for today's Republican Party) Rush Limbaugh threatening to leave Cumulus Media because he's irked over how the CEO has blamed him for the company's big ad loss … [Read more...] about Mediaite: Vast Majority of National Advertisers Won’t Advertise on Rush Limbaugh’s Show
Gov. Rick Perry Equates Rejecting LGBT Community to Fighting Slavery Over Boy Scouts Anti-Gay Policy
Texas Gov. Rick Perry (Mr. Oops) is equating rejecting the LGBT community to fighting slavery during the pre-Civil War days. Gov. Perry appeared on the Family Research Council's program "Stand With Scouts Sunday," and urged the Boys Scouts to stand firm against any drive to change its policy on gays. “The fact is, this is a private organization,” Perry said of the Boy Scouts. … [Read more...] about Gov. Rick Perry Equates Rejecting LGBT Community to Fighting Slavery Over Boy Scouts Anti-Gay Policy
(UPDATES) Air Force ‘Stratotanker’ Crashes in Kyrgyzstan
UPDATE IV: The Stars and Stripes has published additional details on the three Air Force crew members who were killed Friday in the crash of the KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft in the rugged mountains of Kyrgyzstan. The Stripes also provided different hometowns for two of the three crew members than were provided yesterday by DOD (marked with an asterisk*) Capt. Mark … [Read more...] about (UPDATES) Air Force ‘Stratotanker’ Crashes in Kyrgyzstan
Germany arrests ‘Auschwitz guard’ on murder charges
Germany arrests 'Auschwitz guard' on murder charges (via AFP) German authorities arrested Monday a 93-year-old alleged former guard at the Nazi death camp Auschwitz on charges of complicity in the mass murder of prisoners. Prosecutors in the southwestern state of Baden-Wuerttemberg said the man was believed to have worked at the camp between autumn 1941 and its… … [Read more...] about Germany arrests ‘Auschwitz guard’ on murder charges
New Airport Security Threat? 3 D Plastic Guns
The good news: modern technology has advanced to a point where someone can use a 3 D printer and make something out of plastic. The bad news: modern technology has advanced to a point where someone can sue a 3 D printer and make a gun out of plastic, which could pose a security threat a places like airport. A Texas company is set to release blueprints for making a … [Read more...] about New Airport Security Threat? 3 D Plastic Guns
Ecuador’s El Oriente: A Paradise Still in Peril
About two years ago, I wrote about the idyllic weeks and months I spent as a child in Ecuador’s “el Oriente.” El Oriente is Ecuador's magnificent jungle region on the East side of the majestic Andes Mountains. It is the beginning of the Amazon rain forest basin -- some parts still pristine -- and one of the most biologically diverse regions on earth, an ecological … [Read more...] about Ecuador’s El Oriente: A Paradise Still in Peril
Obama’s Wake Up Call
WASHINGTON -- President Obama got roughed up by the pundit class last week. The question is what lessons he draws from the going-over. Here's one he should take: The nation's political conversation has grown stale and many Americans have lost the sense of what he is doing to improve their lives. You can argue that this perception isn't fair. The Affordable Care Act, if … [Read more...] about Obama’s Wake Up Call
Report: Rush Limbaugh may leave Cumulus Due to CEO Blaming Fluke Comments for Ad Loss
Are we on the verge of a major media story that could shake up talk radio? Or will this report be one that sparks a new round of (sigh) left and right skirmishing? Or will it turn out to be merely a contract negotiating ploy? According to The Politico, conservative talk show host king (and in many ways the de facto strategist of the Republican Party, if you look at how the … [Read more...] about Report: Rush Limbaugh may leave Cumulus Due to CEO Blaming Fluke Comments for Ad Loss
“We’re Number 17! We’re Number 17!” America’s Hellbent Race To The Bottom
The United States was once an indisputably great country, and in some respects perhaps the greatest country. I speak not of American Exceptionalism, the belief of neoconservatives and some fundamentalist Christians that God made this nation to spread liberty and democracy to the unwashed masses, in the case of the Iraq War at point of gun. I speak of a nation where … [Read more...] about “We’re Number 17! We’re Number 17!” America’s Hellbent Race To The Bottom
Howard Kurtz Apologizes on CNN for Jason Collins Mistake
Earlier this week, The Daily Beast and Howard Kurtz "parted" ways in the wake of his erroneous report about NBA star Jason Collins and a correction that some felt fell short of the mark. Today on his "Reliable Sources" CNN show he formally apologized and definitively retraced the erroneous part of his on CNN, hoping his viewers and readers will give him a second … [Read more...] about Howard Kurtz Apologizes on CNN for Jason Collins Mistake
Major Stumble on Syria by Barack Obama?
Did President Barack Obama stumble bigtime in his comments about Syria, locking himself into a position he might not otherwise take? The New York Times reports: Confronted with evidence that chemical weapons have been used in Syria, President Obama now finds himself in a geopolitical box, his credibility at stake with frustratingly few good options. The origins of this … [Read more...] about Major Stumble on Syria by Barack Obama?
How To Reform The Democratic Party — A Primer
I had an opinion piece in today's Philadelphia Inquirer. Here's the link: http://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/inquirer/20130505_A_tea_party_for_progressives.html Here's its basic idea. Economically, the Democratic Party has been taken over by Wall Street and other big buck interests. It's the Party of Charlie Schumer, Erskine Bowles, Robert Rubin. et. al. Its basic … [Read more...] about How To Reform The Democratic Party — A Primer
U.S. Suicide Rate Up Especially Among Baby Boomers
Is it the economy or what? America's suicide rate is up -- especially among Baby Boomers. And more people now die of suicide than car accidents: More people now die of suicide than in car accidents, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which published the findings in Friday’s issue of its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. In 2010 there were … [Read more...] about U.S. Suicide Rate Up Especially Among Baby Boomers
BREAKING — Syria: Israeli Missiles Hit a Research Center near Damascus
The BBC reports that Syria is claiming that Israeli rockets have hit a research center near Damascus. The BBC: Witnesses heard huge explosions near the Jamraya facility, which Western officials have suggested is involved in chemical weapons research. Residents told the BBC that nearby military positions were also hit. Israel has not confirmed the strike, but … [Read more...] about BREAKING — Syria: Israeli Missiles Hit a Research Center near Damascus
Suffer The Little Children to Come To Me: Babies Aren’t “Anchors”
They are just children who carry great gifts, depending on what the culture and their families support them with or burden them with. One wonders where this idea of including some and excluding others really comes from. As a start, I'd offer... A very famous man writes about immigrants in America: They are, he says... "...generally of the most ignorant stupid sort of … [Read more...] about Suffer The Little Children to Come To Me: Babies Aren’t “Anchors”
Who killed the prosecutor investigating Benazir Bhutto’s assassination?
Who killed the prosecutor investigating Benazir Bhutto's assassination? The mystery widens , or does it? … [Read more...] about Who killed the prosecutor investigating Benazir Bhutto’s assassination?
Republican Group Pushes to Limit Citizenship to Babies of Illegal Immigrants Born in U.S.
If the Republican Party is serious about trying to win over more of Hispanic voters then it will face a major rebranding problem in coming months: a GOP group is seeking to stop giving U.S. citizenship to babies of illegal immigrants born in the U.S. One author of the proposed new law: a key author of the controversial Arizona immigration law. The Arizona … [Read more...] about Republican Group Pushes to Limit Citizenship to Babies of Illegal Immigrants Born in U.S.
Emotions Play a Major Role in the Course of History (Guest Voice)
Emotions Play a Major Role in the Course of History (Society’s Actions are Motivated through Emotions) By Dale Schlundt Humans are emotional beings, an aspect that we all can agree on, since most of us are aware of our feelings on a daily basis. However, do we realize how driven we are by them? While beginning discussing World War II with my students, with the highly … [Read more...] about Emotions Play a Major Role in the Course of History (Guest Voice)