Incredibly, a Thai magazine editor was sentenced to 11 years in prison today for the crime of lese-majesty against the king. In an unusual reaction for an international diplomat, UN Human Rights chief Navi Pillay called the sentence “extremely harsh” and a setback for human rights in Thailand. Earlier, a UN Group branded the detention as arbitrary and asked the Thai … [Read more...] about Human rights: Harsh Penalty from a Bygone Age
Gary The Goat Acquitted
This just in from half way around the globe. Gary the Goat has been cleared of all felony and misdemeanor charges following an August rampage outside a government facility. After months of facing an angry constabulary, the mostly white/gray goat got a reprieve as the judge dropped all charges against the ovine malfeasor. I think goats are ovine, but I'm certain someone will … [Read more...] about Gary The Goat Acquitted
Breaking News: Pentagon to Lift Rule Excluding Women From Combat (Updates)
UPDATE II: Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will conduct a news conference on "defense-related topics” starting at 1:30 p.m. EST.on the Pentagon Channel. UPDATE I: While details on this groundbreaking decision are not yet available from the Pentagon, the New York Times provides the … [Read more...] about Breaking News: Pentagon to Lift Rule Excluding Women From Combat (Updates)
Senate Benghazi Theatrics — Part of It
I am sure thousands of Americans watched the entire, long-awaited appearance and testimony of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. I watched -- some of it. I watched and listened carefully to the Secretary’s opening statement. A statement wherein the Secretary: • Provided the “sobering facts” that since 1988, there have … [Read more...] about Senate Benghazi Theatrics — Part of It
Hillary Clinton Squelches Republican Sen. Ron Johnson Over Benghazi Attack (Video)
The tone of some of the Republicans questioning Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the Seante on Benghazi today unofficially gave the hearing the title: "Bitter Partisan Questioning on Parade." The highlight came when Clinton squelched Republican Sen. Ron Johnson when he attacked the Obama administration over its truthfulness on Benghazi, a favorite issue that Fox News, … [Read more...] about Hillary Clinton Squelches Republican Sen. Ron Johnson Over Benghazi Attack (Video)
NRA Thinks Shark Jumping Is An Olympic Sport
The National Rifle Association is at it again. This time in the form of a rebuttal to the president's inauguration speech. Some may recall that the president said we cannot mistake absolutism for principal. The NRA apparently disagrees. Executive vice president Wayne LaPierre took the occasion yesterday to set out the NRA's position. Among other things, LaPierre insisted … [Read more...] about NRA Thinks Shark Jumping Is An Olympic Sport
We Could Always Try “No Taxation Without Representation”
I don' t know about you, but I don't think the House represents us, do you? We could try something new. Well, not new exactly but more useful and germane than anything we've seen from the Republican dominated House. Let's stop paying taxes. The President seems to be on the right track. President Obama’s aggressive Inaugural Address on Monday presented … [Read more...] about We Could Always Try “No Taxation Without Representation”
ClintonTestimony on Benghazi Today: a Final Bow to US lawmakers
Clinton in final bow to US lawmakers (via AFP) Hillary Clinton will be grilled by Republican lawmakers as she testifies Wednesday on a militant attack on a US diplomatic mission in Libya, in one of her her last major appearances as secretary of state. Despite keeping a low profile after a long period of ill health in her final weeks in office,… … [Read more...] about ClintonTestimony on Benghazi Today: a Final Bow to US lawmakers
Latin America Takes Action to Decriminalize Abortion
Latin America takes action to decriminalize abortion (via GlobalPost) Roe v. Wade provides framework for progressing past restrictive laws. Mandy Van Deven This month is the 40th anniversary of one of the most important legal decisions of our time: Roe v. Wade. This legislative victory changed the course of history for women not only in the United States, but … [Read more...] about Latin America Takes Action to Decriminalize Abortion
Netanyahu Leads Israel Vote, but Centrists Win Big
Netanyahu leads Israel vote, but centrists win big (via AFP) Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu Wednesday emerged from hard-fought elections weakened but still best placed to form a new government and likely to reach out to centrist parties strengthened by the vote. In results that defied expectations, the centrist Yesh Atid became Israel's second … [Read more...] about Netanyahu Leads Israel Vote, but Centrists Win Big
Will a More Aggressive Obama and a Resurgent ‘Mighty Middle’ Reshape America?
Say a prayer. Put up a tombstone that reads "R.I.P." for three prevailing political conventional wisdoms that seem to be quickly biting the dust. The first is that President Barack Obama will always go along to get along, will in the end inevitably choose a mediated, moderate course to gain partial victories. That conventional wisdom is on life support as the more … [Read more...] about Will a More Aggressive Obama and a Resurgent ‘Mighty Middle’ Reshape America?
The Constitution For Us
Too often when we see discussions in the news of the Constitution they try to make it sound like some complicated subject that only intellectuals can examine. In truth it is written for us, for the regular people, for the citizens of this nation and it should be examined as such. With that in mind I am pleased to announce the launch of a new web site which will feature a … [Read more...] about The Constitution For Us
Team Obama Mastered the Science of Mass Persuasion — And Won (Guest Voice)
Team Obama Mastered the Science of Mass Persuasion -- And Won by Eric Siegel, Ph.D., Founder of Predictive Analytics World and author of Predictive Analytics: The Power to Predict Who Will Click, Buy, Lie, or Die Last October, a colleague and I speculated on how a special, powerful form of predictive analytics would revolutionize presidential campaigning -- and, if … [Read more...] about Team Obama Mastered the Science of Mass Persuasion — And Won (Guest Voice)
What is the Debt Ceiling, Should it be a Problem and What is the Deal with This Platinum Coin? (Guest Voice)
What is the debt ceiling, should it be a problem and what is the deal with this platinum coin? by Contributing Columnist Robert P. Coutinho Now that the fiscal [banned word rhyming with stiff] has gone by, what is all the new talk about? Sit down; have a strong drink; smack yourself in the head as needed and read the sad story of a dysfunctional system from the … [Read more...] about What is the Debt Ceiling, Should it be a Problem and What is the Deal with This Platinum Coin? (Guest Voice)
T-Shirt Leads To Airplane Controversy
Ok folks chime in with your quotes Unless you are the one person who has never seen the movie Careful what you wear on a plane. Wynand Mullins of New Zealand told Stuff Magazine that he was asked to remove his T-shirt because other airline passengers found it intimidating. And, yes, we suppose if one weren't familiar with "The Princess Bride," seeing a shirt that … [Read more...] about T-Shirt Leads To Airplane Controversy
The 57th Presidential Inauguration: Our Military March and Dance
The U.S. Marine Corps Band, known as "The President's Own," performs during the 57th Inauguration Day swearing-in at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Jan. 21, 2013. If you enjoyed reading about and seeing the photographs of the roles our military played in the 57th U.S. Presidential Inauguration, you might also like the following photographs. They show various … [Read more...] about The 57th Presidential Inauguration: Our Military March and Dance
Any Thoughts on This Ad?
Let me know in the comments. … [Read more...] about Any Thoughts on This Ad?
McDonalds Sued For Allegedly Not Making Halal Food
Sigh... what happened to common sense. McDonald's and one of its franchise owners agreed to pay $700,000 to members of the Muslim community to settle allegations a Detroit-area restaurant falsely advertised its food as being prepared according to Islamic dietary law. McDonald's and Finley's Management Co. agreed Friday to the tentative settlement, with that money … [Read more...] about McDonalds Sued For Allegedly Not Making Halal Food
Refugees: a Painful and Deepening Wound
Refugees from the Syrian war have swelled to about 664,000 since the uprising began in 2011 while some 147,000 persons have become refugees from Mali since the crisis started in 2012, the UN Refugee Agency estimated today. The outflow from Mali has increased in recent days and could turn into a huge and costly long-term problem like in Syria as the French-led war in Mali … [Read more...] about Refugees: a Painful and Deepening Wound
Influence-Flush U.S. Latinos Must ‘Exploit Unprecedented Moment’ (El Universal, Mexico)
With President Obama at the height of his political and personal power - and his debt to Latinos fresh in everyone's minds, is it time for Mexicans to press the case of the undocumented? This editorial from Mexico's El Universal urges U.S. Latinos, and especially Mexicans, to press for an amnesty for undocumented immigrants now, before the people of the United States forget how … [Read more...] about Influence-Flush U.S. Latinos Must ‘Exploit Unprecedented Moment’ (El Universal, Mexico)