WASHINGTON -- It is time to acknowledge that the fashionable theory of school reform -- requiring that pay and job security for teachers, principals and administrators depend on their students' standardized test scores -- is at best a well-intentioned mistake, and at worst nothing but a racket. I mean that literally. Beverly Hall, the former superintendent of the … [Read more...] about The Test Score Racket
China President Xi Jinping, Obama and Li’l Kim (Cartoon)
LEGAL NOTICE ON CARTOON: This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Reproduction elsewhere without licensing is strictly prohibited. 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 China President Xi Jinping, Obama and Li’l Kim (Cartoon)
Interview with Stewart “Buz” Eisenberg
Interview with Stewart "Buz" Eisenberg by The Talking Dog Stewart "Buz" Eisenberg is an attorney in Greenfield, Massachusetts, and together with co-counsel, represents two men currently detained at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, both of whom have been "cleared for transfer" by unanimous consent of President Obama's inter-agency task force, but nonetheless remain held in indefinite … [Read more...] about Interview with Stewart “Buz” Eisenberg
N. Korea Approves Nuclear Strike on United States
N. Korea approves nuclear strike on United States (via AFP) North Korea dramatically escalated its warlike rhetoric on Thursday, warning that it had authorised plans for nuclear strikes on targets in the United States. "The moment of explosion is approaching fast," the North Korean military said, warning that war could break out "today or tomorrow". Pyongyang… … [Read more...] about N. Korea Approves Nuclear Strike on United States
(UPDATE) Deployment of Missile System to Guam. Other North Korea Updates
U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, right center, meets with South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se at the Pentagon, April 3, 2013. Hagel congratulated Byung-se on his appointment as foreign minister, and discussed the United States' commitment to its alliance with South Korea. Photo:DOD UPDATE: On Thursday, Korea time, North Korea dramatically ratcheted up its … [Read more...] about (UPDATE) Deployment of Missile System to Guam. Other North Korea Updates
Rutgers’ Mike Rice had to go: (Guest Editorial)
Rutgers' Mike Rice had to go: Editorial (via NJ.com) Jim O'Connor/USA TODAY The evidence against Mike Rice was too damning, too vile, too extreme for him to spend one more day on the Rutgers University payroll. That he remained employed this long – long after a line of Rutgers officials that winds all the way to the president’s office had watched… … [Read more...] about Rutgers’ Mike Rice had to go: (Guest Editorial)
Four African Teenage Girls Create a Pee-Powered Generator
If you're pissed off at power prices, this may be a natural: In the past week or so since Hurricane Sandy devastated a large portion of the East Coast, we've seen people get creative about ways to harness power. From sharing outlets on the street, to using bikes as generators, people have come up with innovative ways to charge their cell phones and other items necessary … [Read more...] about Four African Teenage Girls Create a Pee-Powered Generator
China Cannot Afford North Korean Fukushima (Global Times, People’s Republic of China)
In order to put the North Korean nuclear genie back in its bottle, should China protect Pyongyang under its nuclear umbrella while forcing the regime to give up its nuclear program? For China's state-run Global Times, columnist Zhu Zhangping offers some suggestions that may give Beijing a way out of its unquestioned backing of North Korea, and asserts that whatever benefit … [Read more...] about China Cannot Afford North Korean Fukushima (Global Times, People’s Republic of China)
It’s Official: Fallon to Replace Leno in 2014
It was all but official given the news reports and Jay Leno's pointed monologue jabs. Now it is official: Jimmy Fallon will replace Leno in 2014. … [Read more...] about It’s Official: Fallon to Replace Leno in 2014
It’s Jim Carrey Versus Fox News
Traditionally it's the Hollywood celebrities with a cause who seem way out there, and the pundits discussing their verbal excesses who seem more thoughtful. Not so in the rage fest between Canadian-born star Jim Carrey and talk-show-model-born Fox News. The catalyst was a comedy-political video showing actor Jim Carrey in a "Hee Haw" satire portraying the late NRA bigwig and … [Read more...] about It’s Jim Carrey Versus Fox News
An Arab Summit Without Syria? … Ridiculous! (Thawra Al Wehda, Syria)
Is the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad so integral to the Arab world, that holding an Arab League Summit without it is absurd? According to columnist Dr. Issa al-Shummas of Syria's state-run Thawra Al Wehda, the League has given Syria's seat to 'the illegitimate child of Qatar and the CIA,' and blocking the Syrian regime's involvement would be like depriving a body of its … [Read more...] about An Arab Summit Without Syria? … Ridiculous! (Thawra Al Wehda, Syria)
Rutgers fires coach Mike Rice Amid Backlash Over Abuse of Players (Video)
Many an pro ball player -- or a middle-aged former athlete -- will talk fondly of the great coaches who helped nurture them, challenge them, and bring out the best in them. But you don't hear many stories of players who talk fondly about a coach who shoved them, threw a ball at their head or called them a name that would end a politician's career and lead a celebrity or star … [Read more...] about Rutgers fires coach Mike Rice Amid Backlash Over Abuse of Players (Video)
North Carolina Lays Groundwork To Establish State Religion
And you thought it couldn’t get any crazier. A group of legislators in North Carolina, disgruntled over a federal court ruling prohibiting expressly Christian prayer to open meetings of public bodies, have introduced legislation that would…oh, here it is; read it for yourself from House Bill 494: "The Constitution of the United States does not grant the federal … [Read more...] about North Carolina Lays Groundwork To Establish State Religion
Prime Minister Abe to Humiliate Okinawa with ‘Restoration of Sovereignty Day’ (Ryukyu Shimpo Shimbun, Japan)
Do the people of Okinawa, who host 75 percent of America's military presence in Japan, have a right to be angry that the central government wants to celebrate the day that all of Japan - except for Okinawa - had its sovereignty restored? With North Korea's nuclear misbehavior and a sovereignty dispute with China as a backdrop, this angry editorial from Okinawa's Ryukyu Shimpo … [Read more...] about Prime Minister Abe to Humiliate Okinawa with ‘Restoration of Sovereignty Day’ (Ryukyu Shimpo Shimbun, Japan)
Obstacles to a Centrist Third Party
Given the state of affairs in Washington, where the two parties are constantly stalemated and little gets accomplished, it seems surprising there has not been more impetus for the formation of a third party of the center to change the political dynamic. However, the obstacles placed in the way of establishing a third party makes it a daunting process that savvy citizens are … [Read more...] about Obstacles to a Centrist Third Party
Interview with Patricia Bronte (Guest Voice)
Interview with Patricia Bronte by The Talking Dog Patricia Bronte is a civil rights attorney in Chicago, and represents two Guantanamo detainees (Musa’ab al Madhwani and Saad al Qahtani). She is also one of the signatories to a recent letter by dozens of habeas lawyers to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, asking for his intervention concerning the recent events at … [Read more...] about Interview with Patricia Bronte (Guest Voice)
Research Finds Drier Climate Will Spread Diarrhea
Research Finds Drier Climate Will Spread Diarrhea (via Climate Central) By Alex Kirby, Climate News Network Diarrhea, which kills 1.5 million children annually, is likely to become more prevalent in many developing countries as the climate changes, a report says. But the authors found an unexpected twist in the way the climate is likely to affect the disease. Kathleen… … [Read more...] about Research Finds Drier Climate Will Spread Diarrhea
Obama Don’t Care (Cartoon)
LEGAL NOTICE ON CARTOON: This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Reproduction elsewhere without licensing is strictly prohibited. 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 Obama Don’t Care (Cartoon)
US vows to defend itself, allies amid N. Korea crisis
US vows to defend itself, allies amid N. Korea crisis (via AFP) The United States vowed to defend itself and its regional allies Tuesday after North Korea again stepped up its warlike rhetoric and the UN warned that the crisis could spin out of control. Standing side-by-side with counterpart South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se, US Secretary of State John… … [Read more...] about US vows to defend itself, allies amid N. Korea crisis
Blame (Cartoon)
LEGAL NOTICE ON CARTOON: This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Reproduction elsewhere without licensing is strictly prohibited. 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 Blame (Cartoon)