If you haven't seen or heard this yet, just wait -- it's making its way around Facebook. The quick answer is "no." Read on to see how the meme got started. In an interview with ABC's Diane Sawyer, former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and former astronaut Mark Kelly, her husband, spoke out on gun violence. Kelly said, according to the ABC transcript at midnight … [Read more...] about Meme-Busting: Do 85% of the children who die from gun violence live in the US?
“Can You Limit Your Sitting and Sleeping to Just 23-1/2 Hours a Day?”
That's the question Dr. Mike Evans asks at the end of this 9-1/2 minute video which, in a compelling, fun, and content-rich format, gives us all plenty of "food" for thought and may incite us to get off our duffs to walk for a half-hour a day. Watching the video is required for members of the insurance plan to which clergy who wish to get some health discounts. (Good idea, … [Read more...] about “Can You Limit Your Sitting and Sleeping to Just 23-1/2 Hours a Day?”
Since When Is Sanity News? Since When Is News Sane?
“Never try to teach a pig to sing; it wastes your time and it annoys the pig.” ~ Robert Heinlein What's all this then? I will stipulate that the closest they come to sanity in our Modern World is Sean Hannity, and that connection is only by rhyme. But, in a week that has been astonishingly snarky, I suppose that this qualifies as "news": Gingrey speaks out on the issue of … [Read more...] about Since When Is Sanity News? Since When Is News Sane?
Armed Janitors, Teachers in Wake of US Shooting
Armed janitors, teachers in wake of US shooting (via AFP) A rural Ohio school district which has asked its janitors to carry handguns has become the latest to push for armed staff members in the wake of a horrific school shooting last month. The United States has been embroiled in a debate over gun control and the best way to protect children after an … [Read more...] about Armed Janitors, Teachers in Wake of US Shooting
National Conference of Independents: Grassroots Independents to Converge on NYC Feb. 16 at NYU Skirball Center
For every other of the past 14 years, grassroots leaders of the independent movement who are organizing independents from across America come together to talk to each other, listen to each other, and appreciate the hard work and gutsy-ness of a growing movement of nonpartisan, non-ideological, non-box-ified, outsider political cultural change agents. It's called the National … [Read more...] about National Conference of Independents: Grassroots Independents to Converge on NYC Feb. 16 at NYU Skirball Center
OB-GYN Phil Gingrey U-HVE2B-KIDDING: Says Todd Akin “Partially Right” on Legitimate Rape
F. Fitzgerald said there "are are no second acts in American lives" -- but there apparently are second acts in conservative ideologues who wish to flaunt their studity. An so I submit to you one Rep. Phil Gringley: U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.) said that former Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) was “partly right” regarding Akin’s remarks — which were proven untrue by doctors — about … [Read more...] about OB-GYN Phil Gingrey U-HVE2B-KIDDING: Says Todd Akin “Partially Right” on Legitimate Rape
Army Veteran to Be Awarded Medal of Honor for Heroism in Afghanistan (Updated)
UPDATE: We learn some more details about the actions for which Sgt. Romesha is being awarded the Medal of Honor from Jennifer Hlad at the Stars and Stripes with contributions by Leo Shane: According to written accounts by military historian Richard S. Lowry, enemy fighters launched an assault against the post, attacking from three sides and coming close to … [Read more...] about Army Veteran to Be Awarded Medal of Honor for Heroism in Afghanistan (Updated)
Downton Abbey Economics
Downton Abbey is a soap opera in period dress featuring an appealing cast of easily recognizable stock characters involved in absurd relationships set against a background of cartoonish social mores. The show is a hoot. I love it. I find the underlying economics of the show's Crawley family especially fascinating. The Crawleys live in their ancestral home, a monstrous … [Read more...] about Downton Abbey Economics
Senator Rockefeller To Retire, Possible GOP Pickup in 2014
West Virginia Senator Jay Rockefeller has announced that he will not run for re-election in 2014. Although West Virginia has traditionally been a blue state the GOP has been making gains in recent years and this is now seen as a prime target for them in 2014. They already have a strong candidate in Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito and assuming she makes it through the … [Read more...] about Senator Rockefeller To Retire, Possible GOP Pickup in 2014
China and Japan One Step Closer to War
China and Japan one step closer to war (via GlobalPost) A longstanding territorial dispute over the resource-rich Senkaku islands prompts China and Japan to step up their air force presence in the region. Robert Johnson, Business Insider After repeatedly flying surveillance aircraft into disputed airspace with Japan, prompting Tokyo to scramble F-15s in… … [Read more...] about China and Japan One Step Closer to War
The Chuck Hagel Smears: Fighting Back with Bagels
Right-wing neoconservatives -- including Bill Kristol, Eliott Abrams, Jennifer Rubin and many others -- are wasting no time in launching a swiftboat-reminiscent campaign to besmirch Hagel's reputation and derail his nomination. One organization is fighting back in an interesting and innovative way. J Street, “the political home for pro-Israel, pro-peace Americans,” in an … [Read more...] about The Chuck Hagel Smears: Fighting Back with Bagels
Venezuela’s Future Uncertain Amid Chavez Absence
Venezuela's future uncertain amid Chavez absence (via AFP) Venezuela faced an uncertain future without its ailing President Hugo Chavez on Friday, a day after a giant rally in support of the cancer-striken leader on the day he was to have been sworn in for another term. Thousands of Chavez supporters fervently swore "absolute loyalty" on Thursday to the … [Read more...] about Venezuela’s Future Uncertain Amid Chavez Absence
On Men’s Rights Activism
Some readers of my blog Dean's World have (politely) complained that I seem to be writing a lot of late on men's and boys' issues over the last year and feeling a little lost because in many cases they aren't sure what I'm talking about. Some comments I've seen here and elsewhere seem to suggest that this is something new. I find this odd only inasmuch as from the earliest days … [Read more...] about On Men’s Rights Activism
Platinum …or Blink?
If it's going to come down to a trillion-dollar platinum coin, we might as well understand what it is and isn't. I see it as that moment in the movies when the priest, dealing with the devil incarnate, holds up his little cross. The devil then evaporates or melts or something else that costs about a trillion in special effects and makes little boys incredibly excited. The … [Read more...] about Platinum …or Blink?
Three Symbolic Bibles for Obama’s New Oath
“The arc of the moral universe is long,” Martin Luther King said in 1965, “but it bends toward justice." On January 21, the federal holiday commemorating the slain civil rights leader’s birthday, Barack Obama will take his second oath as President of the United States on a Bible of Dr. King’s as well as one owned by Abraham Lincoln, which was used in 2009 for his first … [Read more...] about Three Symbolic Bibles for Obama’s New Oath
Restaurant Owner Gives Critical Letter To Lesbian Couple (After Taking Their Money)
I disagree with his analysis but he is entitled to his views. and I respect that. However if he felt that strongly the letter should have been presented upon entry or the meal comped. If he finds them so bad they he should not take their money. … [Read more...] about Restaurant Owner Gives Critical Letter To Lesbian Couple (After Taking Their Money)
Poll: Christie Would Do Well in 2016 General Election But Have a Hard Time in GOP Primary
Poll: Christie would do well in 2016 general election but have a hard time in GOP primary (via NJ.com) Gov. Chris Christie would be a strong contender in the 2016 general election for president but may have a hard time in the Republican primary, according to a new poll. John O'Boyle/The Star-Ledger TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie would be a strong contender in the … [Read more...] about Poll: Christie Would Do Well in 2016 General Election But Have a Hard Time in GOP Primary
Left and Right are Not Opposite Equals (Guest Voice)
Left and Right are Not Opposite Equals by Tina Dupuy Are the left and the right in this country pretty much the same except for ideology? Are liberals and conservatives basically two sides of the same coin? One side you have one opinion, the other side an opposing view. Are the parties in America symmetrical? Only the right wing will say yes. It's a go-to (think lazy) … [Read more...] about Left and Right are Not Opposite Equals (Guest Voice)
A Shmo Calls Joe Scarborough “The Morning Shmo”
Australia Scorches In Record Heatwave As Warming Trends Bite (Guest Voice)
Australia Scorches In Record Heatwave As Warming Trends Bite (via Desmogblog) AUSTRALIA is baking in a heatwave which has broken all historical records for its geographical size and sheer number of extremes. For seven days straight, the country's average maximum temperature has been above 39C (102F), beating a previous run of just four days of such temperatures … [Read more...] about Australia Scorches In Record Heatwave As Warming Trends Bite (Guest Voice)