Cuts to Social Security? What Obama is proposing. (via The Christian Science Monitor) Copyright ImageClick to View This 2005 photo shows rolls of blank social security checks at the U.S. Treasury's Financial Management services facility in Philadelphia. (Bradley C Bower/AP/File) President Obama is embracing some controversial entitlement reforms in an effort to reach a … [Read more...] about Cuts to Social Security? What Obama is proposing
Quote of the Day: Sean Hannity Defends Mike Rice
Our Quote of the Day comes from Fox News' Sean Hannity who defended fired Rutger's basketball coach Mike Rice for getting rough with his players -- something caught on video that has also now led to the resignation of Rutger's athletic director: “Maybe we need a little more discipline in society. Maybe we don’t have to be a bunch of wimps for the rest of our lives,” he … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Sean Hannity Defends Mike Rice
Charity and Coffee: Tracking A Facebook Meme
You may have seen the photo in your Facebook newsfeed: a down-on-his luck older man, sipping a cup of coffee. Accompanying the photo, a poignant story about paying-it-forward by buying coffee that someone else - someone in need - can drink ("suspended coffee"). The acts of charity reportedly began in post-War Naples and took off like wild fire in poverty-stricken … [Read more...] about Charity and Coffee: Tracking A Facebook Meme
Tim Pernetti resigns as Rutgers athletic director in wake of basketball scandal
Tim Pernetti resigns as Rutgers athletic director in wake of basketball scandal (via NJ.com) By Ted Sherman and Kelly Heyboer/The Star-Ledger NEW BRUNSWICK — Rutgers athletic director Tim Pernetti, who hired and then opted not to fire the coach at the center of the growing scandal that has all but engulfed Rutgers University, was forced to resign today. Saying he did so … [Read more...] about Tim Pernetti resigns as Rutgers athletic director in wake of basketball scandal
Obama angers left by proposing Social Security Cuts
Uh oh, are we seeing here the ground work for some Democrats to (again) decide to teach their party a lesson and stay home and ensure a nice, big Republican victory at the polls in 2014 (and then complain about the Republicans winning so big)? Why do I get a sense of deja vu starting to rear its ugly repetitive head? Liberals are mounting strong criticisms of President … [Read more...] about Obama angers left by proposing Social Security Cuts
Using My Love of”The Platters”To Urge End of Sequestration
I am a big fan of the 1950?s group, “The Platters.” And as the sequester enters it second month, I can honestly say “It Isn’t Right” that the American people are being forced to bear such consequences. When it comes to Congress and the President, they are by no means “Enchanted.” And surely, they don’t think “You’ve Got The Magic Touch.” The damage to many Americans in just … [Read more...] about Using My Love of”The Platters”To Urge End of Sequestration
The ‘Vic Mathias’ Honor Flight: Be On It
For those who like to skip the verbiage and get to the bottom-line fast: An “Honor Flight” with 34 World War II veterans aboard will fly to our nation’s capital from Austin, Texas, on April 26 so that these members of the Greatest Generation can visit the World War II Memorial built in their honor. On the return flight home, a “mail call” will be held to distribute notes and … [Read more...] about The ‘Vic Mathias’ Honor Flight: Be On It
For Peace, U.S. Must Pledge Not to Topple Pyongyang Regime (Huanqiu, People’s Republic of China)
What are the preconditions for an end to the North Korea crisis? While most Western observers would say a regime change in Pyongyang is the key, Beijing warns just the opposite. According to this editorial from China's state-run Huanqiu, only a 'guarantee of DPRK national and regime security' coupled with a 'normalization of North Korea's economy' will bring an end to the … [Read more...] about For Peace, U.S. Must Pledge Not to Topple Pyongyang Regime (Huanqiu, People’s Republic of China)
Through the Eyes and from the Hearts of America’s Military Children (Update)
UPDATE: The April issue of “Airman,” the official magazine of the United States Air Force has a very interesting article that tells the story of military children who move frequently -- including to overseas assignments -- and the special challenges they face. For example, read about Brent who lived in 10 different states, as well as three years in … [Read more...] about Through the Eyes and from the Hearts of America’s Military Children (Update)
All the Tasty Horses (Horse Meat Infographic)
I've written on the furor over horse meat showing up in supposed beef in Europe - including in my syndicated Cagle Cartoons column. Here's an infographic from topmastersinpublichealth.com: Image compliments of Top Masters in Public Health Degrees … [Read more...] about All the Tasty Horses (Horse Meat Infographic)
Rutgers basketball coach Mike Rice and the evolution of ‘tough love
Rutgers basketball coach Mike Rice and the evolution of 'tough love' (+video) (via The Christian Science Monitor) Copyright ImageClick to View In this four-image combo taken from an ESPN video, Rutgers men's basketball coach Mike Rice kicks, shoves, and throws balls at his players during NCAA college basketball practices in Piscataway, N.J. Fueled by outrage from … [Read more...] about Rutgers basketball coach Mike Rice and the evolution of ‘tough love
Is this the best the GOP can come up with?
WASHINGTON -- I think I've figured it out. Republicans must be staging some kind of fiendishly clever plot to lure Democrats into a false sense of security. That's the only possible explanation for some of the weirdness we're seeing and hearing from the GOP. The party must be waiting to come out with its real candidates and policy positions at a moment when unsuspecting … [Read more...] about Is this the best the GOP can come up with?
Spain welcomes move to name princess in graft case
Spain welcomes move to name princess in graft case (via AFP) Spanish media on Thursday hailed the decision to name King Juan Carlos's daughter Princess Cristina as a suspect in a corruption case, saying the unprecedented moved showed that nobody was above the law. "If the decision to summon the princess had not been taken, the idea would arise of an attempt… … [Read more...] about Spain welcomes move to name princess in graft case
This Is Your Brain On Propaganda. Got It?
A majority of Americans now support the legalization of marijuana. What's interesting to me is just how effective the whole "JUST SAY NO/WAR ON DRUGS propaganda war was. Look at the minimum tolerance year on the graph. (And I think it's insulting to call the post World War II generation the "silent." ) Majority Now Supports Legalizing Marijuana Numbers / Pew Research … [Read more...] about This Is Your Brain On Propaganda. Got It?
Majority Of Senate Now Backs Marriage Equality
Florida Senator Bill Nelson (D) has become the 51st senator to come out in favor of marriage equality (and repeal of DOMA). 49 Democrats and 2 Republicans now support repeal of the law. Of course it takes 60 to break a filibuster and the House is not yet there, but it is pretty amazing progress. … [Read more...] about Majority Of Senate Now Backs Marriage Equality
Roger Ebert, RIP
Film critic Roger Ebert has died. As someone who came of age in the 1980s in the Chicago area, I remember him and Gene Siskel being the first regular movie critics I ever watched on television. To be honest I more often disagreed with Ebert than I did his late cohost Siskel, and sometimes I felt Ebert let his politics intrude too deeply into his views of various movies--but … [Read more...] about Roger Ebert, RIP
Thursday Night T.V. Sucks. Watch This Instead.
See the video here. Intelligence Squared is a moderate's best friend. Each debate includes top experts in the relevant field, and you generally discover by the end where the acceptable range of disagreement is. The debate on drones is no exception. The new "Versus" debates conspicuously use Google's Hangout technology, which leads to some troubles, most notably with the … [Read more...] about Thursday Night T.V. Sucks. Watch This Instead.
James Carville Signs on with pro-Hillary Super PAC
The big political news is that (1)a pro-Hillary Super PAC has been created to get former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in to the 2016 Democratic race and (2) legendary Clintonista political consultant and TV talking head James Carville has now signed on with the PAC. How much closer can you get to it being HIGHLY likely Hillary Clinton will run for President in 2016 and … [Read more...] about James Carville Signs on with pro-Hillary Super PAC
‘Ready for Hillary’ supporters launch website
'Ready for Hillary' supporters launch website (via AFP) Supporters of former secretary of state Hillary Clinton are laying the groundwork for a possible 2016 White House bid, officially launching a website Tuesday that features photos of the would-be candidate and plenty of praise. The site -- www.readyforhillary.com -- belongs to the Ready for Hillary… … [Read more...] about ‘Ready for Hillary’ supporters launch website
The State Of The Climate Change Battle: Science-Based Warnings Vs. The Politician’s Caution (Guest Voice)
The State Of The Climate Change Battle: Science-Based Warnings Vs. The Politician’s Caution. (via Planetsave) During a ten-day period last month, two very different views about climate change were presented to the public from two very different bodies of influence. The two conflicting perspectives illustrate well the chasm which now exists between mainstream science and … [Read more...] about The State Of The Climate Change Battle: Science-Based Warnings Vs. The Politician’s Caution (Guest Voice)