Hey, Is That Butterfly Spying On You? Tyrades! By Danny Tyree Salon.com recently ran excerpts of Emily Anthes's book "Frankenstein's Cat: Cuddling Up To Biotech's Brave New Beasts," and I may never look at national security the same way again. Emboldened by breakthroughs in genetic engineering and advances in the miniaturization of microprocessors, receivers and … [Read more...] about Hey, Is That Butterfly Spying On You? (Guest Voice)
How the Chicago Cubs could surprise everyone this season
Here's how the Chicago Cubs could surprise everyone this season. … [Read more...] about How the Chicago Cubs could surprise everyone this season
3000 Gun Deaths Since New Town (Guest Cartoonist)
3000 Gun Deaths Since New Town by Mike Peters OF RELATED INTEREST: --Connecticut lawmakers agree on tough gun control bill --Firearms advocates target gun-control measures --Many American White Men Worship Guns Because of Sexual Insecurity, Entitlement, and Profit --The NRA's Next Assault on Gun Control --Brazil Govt: Homicide Rate Dips After Gun Control Mike … [Read more...] about 3000 Gun Deaths Since New Town (Guest Cartoonist)
Caroline Kennedy to be US ambassador to Japan? Why it makes sense now.
Caroline Kennedy to be US ambassador to Japan? Why it makes sense now. (via The Christian Science Monitor) Caroline Kennedy, seen here promoting her new poetry anthology, "Poems to Learn by Heart," in Brookline, Mass., is reportedly being vetted as potential ambassador to Japan. (Joanne Ciccarello/Staff) Caroline Kennedy, daughter of the late President Kennedy, may be on her … [Read more...] about Caroline Kennedy to be US ambassador to Japan? Why it makes sense now.
April Fools (Guest Voice)
April Fools by Peter Funt The calendar says Monday is April first, but lately it seems that foolishness occurs year-round. As one who devoted much of his life to the family business of pranking people, I'm often asked if folks are more difficult to trick today than six decades ago when my dad, Allen Funt, invented "Candid Camera." After all, we're now so dialed in and … [Read more...] about April Fools (Guest Voice)
US sends destroyer off Korea coast: official
US sends destroyer off Korea coast: official (via AFP) The United States has positioned near North Korea a destroyer capable of shooting down missiles in the latest military move amid a showdown with the communist state, an official said Monday. The USS Fitzgerald, which had sailed to South Korea as part of recent exercises, has been sent off the southwestern… … [Read more...] about US sends destroyer off Korea coast: official
Stockton Wins Round One Of Bankruptcy Battle, Dozens To Go
A federal judge has ruled in favor of the city of Stockton, California allowing the city to enter bankruptcy. This is pretty much round one of dozens though. The city's creditors were asking the judge to throw the case out on the grounds that the city was either not bankrupt or had failed to negotiate in good faith with creditors in trying to avoid bankruptcy. It is quite … [Read more...] about Stockton Wins Round One Of Bankruptcy Battle, Dozens To Go
Entire Cast of Downton Abbey Killed Off in Season 4
Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes confirmed today that the entire cast of Downton Abbey will be killed off in Season 4. Fellowes stated, “It’s something we do really well, we feel like it’s our niche. You know...creating a character you grow to love, respect and trust and then killing ‘em off. It’s like our thing.” Fellowes added, “You know how the Fonz said ‘Hey’ a lot, … [Read more...] about Entire Cast of Downton Abbey Killed Off in Season 4
GA Republican Party Chairwoman Sue Everhart Says Legalizing Same Sex Marriage Could Lead to Fraud
The Republican Party is still deaf when it comes to what the public wants. They haven't noticed that gay marriage is more widely accepted than before. Here's what Georgia Republican Party Chairwoman Sue Everhart had to say about same sex marriage: “Lord, I’m going to get in trouble over this, but it is not natural for two women or two men to be married,” Everhart said. “If it … [Read more...] about GA Republican Party Chairwoman Sue Everhart Says Legalizing Same Sex Marriage Could Lead to Fraud
Michele Bachmann’s sideshow is hurting the GOP
Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann is a monkey wrench thrown into the GOP's rebranding efforts. I explain why in my column for The Week Online: Attention, GOP: Your rebranding attempts are being undercut by a segment of your party getting big headlines and lots of airtime — a segment symbolized by the Minnesota quote-machine, Rep. Michele Bachmann. Due to a series of … [Read more...] about Michele Bachmann’s sideshow is hurting the GOP
Disrespect for Mao Exposes Truth about U.S. ‘Free Speech’ (Huanqiu, People’s Republic of China)
Beijing is angry today with the U.S. Department of Education. The Department's infraction?: Removing a quote of China's late leader Mao Zedung from its Web site. According to this editorial from China's state-run Huanqiu, the knee-jerk removal of the quote, at the behest of Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, shows that far from being the world's leading advocate of free expression, … [Read more...] about Disrespect for Mao Exposes Truth about U.S. ‘Free Speech’ (Huanqiu, People’s Republic of China)
Rebranding Problems: Gallup Poll Finds Americans Believe GOP “Unwilling to Compromise”
Republican rebranding will not be easy. A new Gallup Poll finds a wide range of voters -- even rank-and-file Republicans -- believe Republicans are unwilling to compromise. The Democrats remain saddled with the longtime criticism, that they spend too much. But this suggests a rockier road ahead for GOPes then Dems: As Republican leaders openly scrutinize their party after … [Read more...] about Rebranding Problems: Gallup Poll Finds Americans Believe GOP “Unwilling to Compromise”
North Korea Wants to Have Its (Nuclear) Cake and Eat It Too
This is no cruel April Fools joke. One of the world’s poorest and least developed countries, a nation where, according to the U.N., two-thirds of its people face regular food shortages and a nation that, nevertheless, spends an inordinate percentage of its Gross National Product on its military -- in particular in the development of nuclear weapons and the means to deliver … [Read more...] about North Korea Wants to Have Its (Nuclear) Cake and Eat It Too
Occupy Wall Street And The Tea Party — Coming Together at Last?
Senator Bernie Sanders, a progressive senator from Vermont, is introducing a bill this week that would break up the Too-Big-To-Fail banks. It would require Treasury Secretary Lew to compile a list of these institutions within 90 days, and after that a year to actually cut them down to a size small enough so that their failures would not require the government to once again bail … [Read more...] about Occupy Wall Street And The Tea Party — Coming Together at Last?
Daily papers transform Myanmar news stands
Daily papers transform Myanmar news stands (via AFP) Privately owned daily newspapers hit Myanmar's streets Monday for the first time in decades under new freedoms that represent a revolution for a media industry which was shackled under military rule. Four Burmese-language titles -- The Voice, The Golden Fresh Land, The Union and The Standard Time --… … [Read more...] about Daily papers transform Myanmar news stands
The War on Victoria’s Secret
Mothers and fathers across America are declaring war on Victoria's Secret. Cindy Chafin, leader of the Mommy Lobby said, "We really want [our daughters] to be innocent and young as long as possible… and [Victoria’s Secret is] not helping that.” Last week a the internet was ablaze with an open letter written by a pastor who fears that a new line of undergarments from Victoria’s … [Read more...] about The War on Victoria’s Secret
Stockman’s Nightmare
David Stockman is in the Slough of Despond. Writing in this weekend's New York Times, Ronald Reagan's former budget chief argued that it was Sundown in America: So the Main Street economy is failing while Washington is piling a soaring debt burden on our descendants, unable to rein in either the warfare state or the welfare state or raise the taxes needed to pay the … [Read more...] about Stockman’s Nightmare
Bitter Scalia Leaves U.S.
Breaking News via investigative reporter Andrew Borowitz: WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—Justice Antonin Scalia dropped a bombshell on the Supreme Court today, announcing his decision to resign from the Court “effective immediately” and leave the United States forever. Calling this week “by far the worst week of my life,” Justice Scalia lashed out at his … [Read more...] about Bitter Scalia Leaves U.S.
Hope’s Opening Day
WASHINGTON -- The obligations of religious toleration and pluralism require all who care not a bit about baseball to accept that Opening Day is more than the beginning of a sports season. It is a great religious festival. It can't be an accident that baseball always starts around the time of both Easter and Passover and thus "elicits a sense of renewal." For the … [Read more...] about Hope’s Opening Day
Google takes Easter heat over Cesar Chavez doodle
Google takes Easter heat over Cesar Chavez doodle (via The Christian Science Monitor) Cesar Chavez Google doodle. Critics say the image Sunday should have had something to do with Easter.(Google) Google is taking heat for its Easter Sunday doodle – that cartoon modification of its logo that changes from day to day. Today, the middle letter is a round portrait of the late … [Read more...] about Google takes Easter heat over Cesar Chavez doodle