UPDATE: Karen Parrish at the American Forces Press Service provides an excellent update. Here are parts. For the full article please click here. Military members and retirees with same-sex partners will qualify for up to 24 new benefits under policy changes Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta announced today. Two of the new benefits are available at the service … [Read more...] about Breaking: Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta Extends Benefits to Same-Sex Partners (Updated)
Papal Frontrunners Include Two Africans And One Canadian
With the surprise resignation of Pope Benedict the speculation has already turned to who will be chosen to replace him. According to the latest reports the frontrunner is 80 year old Francis Arizne of Nigeria. He would make history as the first non white Pope and the first from outside Europe. However his age would mean a relatively short tenure in office. The … [Read more...] about Papal Frontrunners Include Two Africans And One Canadian
Pope’s Brother Knew of Planned Resignation
Pope's brother knew of planned resignation (via AFP) The pope's brother said on Monday he has known "for a few months" that Benedict XVI was planning to resign and confirmed that the 85-year-old pontiff was "feeling the burden of his age". Georg Ratzinger told AFP: "The reason for his resignation is indeed that he is feeling the burden of his age...… … [Read more...] about Pope’s Brother Knew of Planned Resignation
Pope Resigns (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 Pope Resigns (Cartoon)
Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation: Live Report
Pope Benedict XVI's resignation: Live Report (via AFP) 1600 GMT: Celebrities have also taken to Twitter to respond to the pope's resignation. CNN talk show host Piers Morgan compares Benedict XVI's tenure unfavourably with that of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II: "The Queen's a year older than The Pope. Can't see her ever resigning because she's tired. … [Read more...] about Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation: Live Report
Pope Benedict Resigns (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 Pope Benedict Resigns (Cartoon)
Tales of the Blackberry’s Demise
...appear to be greatly exaggerated. And as Ewan Spence of Forbes notes, all this talk of "market share" is misplaced. If Blackberry kept only 5% of the total market share (and it's got more than that right now), that would be 35 million phones. Just as Apple never needed more than a small percentage of the PC market to be profitable, so too with Blackberry: they don't need … [Read more...] about Tales of the Blackberry’s Demise
Marching To Oblivion
Republicans must be furious with David Frum. The man who wrote George W. Bush's "axis of evil" speech is increasingly at odds with his party. On Saturday he wrote that the economy of the United States is far from full recovery: A new survey by Rutgers University finds that 23% of Americans have lost a job (whether full-time or part-time) at some point in the past … [Read more...] about Marching To Oblivion
Pope Benedict XVI Resigns (UDATE 2 with ROUNDUP)
Sources including the Wall Street Journal report that the Pope is resigning, which has observers around the world all atwitter. The news is fascinating on multiple levels. While I'm not looking forward to the inevitable avalanche of Catholic-bashing (which is in vogue today now more than ever in my life it seems), other interesting things to observe will be: This is not … [Read more...] about Pope Benedict XVI Resigns (UDATE 2 with ROUNDUP)
Dead Eye Barack (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 Dead Eye Barack (Cartoon)
Nothing Self-Made About Me
WASHINGTON -- I disagreed with former President George W. Bush on many things. But on one issue, I admired him greatly: He was wise enough to marry a teacher and a librarian. I'm unabashedly biased about this, since my late mom was also a teacher and a librarian. I have been thinking a good deal about her because she would have turned 100 on Friday. She died in 1995, … [Read more...] about Nothing Self-Made About Me
Just say no to Buzzfeed photo galleries
BuzzFeed is (in)famous for its photo gallery stories. A guaranteed click-through machine, but what about the ethics (and legality) of the practice? Last month, in an article about copyright and photos for PBS MediaShift, I wrote: In a sponsored post from 2010, BuzzFeed appropriated a copyrighted photo published first on The Daily Mail. The photo on BuzzFeed was cropped to … [Read more...] about Just say no to Buzzfeed photo galleries
Grammys: Live Report
Grammys: Live Report (via AFP) 0100: And the official 55th annual Grammy awards are off! The ceremony begins immediately with a mad hatter-inspired performance by Taylor Swift who is herself a six-time Grammy winner before tonight. She sings "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," for which she is nominated for record of the… … [Read more...] about Grammys: Live Report
Lindsey Graham, Devoted Friend of al Qaeda
Back when I was debating in Texas, I became aware of a fascinating aspect of Southern Culture, of which I had not yet been aware: the ability of a good Southern politician to speak the most monstrous, batcrap crazy lunacy in that sort of Foghorn Leghorn charming manner that makes the unthinkable seem almost thinkable: Ah say Ah say Ah say.... Which was the first thought I … [Read more...] about Lindsey Graham, Devoted Friend of al Qaeda
GOP Moderates Rap about GOP’s Political Failure
Via Cult Comedy Pictures, song parody video...a rap of GOP moderates concerned over the GOP's political failure. A political parody of Bell Biv Devoe's "Poison". Featuring (a fake) former RNC chairman Michael Steele: … [Read more...] about GOP Moderates Rap about GOP’s Political Failure
You REALLY Want To Help The Middle Class, Mr. Obama, Fight To Change Bankruptcy Laws
In his State of the Union address, President Obama is expected to focus on the middle class and how to improve its prospects. Alas, it's doubtful that he will suggest what would really improve the prospects of middle class Americans, or keep them from falling still further into more difficult economic straits. Here's what has to happen to give real help the middle class. … [Read more...] about You REALLY Want To Help The Middle Class, Mr. Obama, Fight To Change Bankruptcy Laws
Partisans Can Be So Transparently Partisan and Tiresome
Partisans can be so transparently partisan and tiresome. Especially this guy.. … [Read more...] about Partisans Can Be So Transparently Partisan and Tiresome
Those People You’ve Never Heard Of That Changed Your Life
We have all heard of Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell but there are many people who changed our lives that we have never heard of. A few years ago I wrote about Hiro Moriyasu who developed the digital oscilloscope and the first desktop computer, the Tektronix 4051. He certainly changed our lives but few have heard of him. Today where hear about another such … [Read more...] about Those People You’ve Never Heard Of That Changed Your Life
Cheney Strikes Again: Cheney Says Obama Risking National Security by Nominating “Second-Rate” Cabinet Members
Former Vice President Dick Cheney, who will likely be treated unkindly by history despite his 100 percent self confidence that he has always been and will be right (in more ways than one), is now providing a classic example of a pot calling a pot a pot: Former Vice President Dick Cheney said Saturday night that President Barack Obama has jeopardized U.S. national security … [Read more...] about Cheney Strikes Again: Cheney Says Obama Risking National Security by Nominating “Second-Rate” Cabinet Members
Horsemeat Scandal Spreads as French Retailers Pull Foods
Horsemeat scandal spreads as French retailers pull foods (via AFP) The Europe-wide scandal over horsemeat sold as beef spread Sunday as six French retailers pulled products from their shelves and France promised to have the results of an urgent inquiry within days. A senior British lawmaker meanwhile upped the stakes by calling for a temporary ban on importing … [Read more...] about Horsemeat Scandal Spreads as French Retailers Pull Foods