Leprosy: an ancient disease thrives in 21st century (via AFP) It has been called the world's oldest recorded disease, an evil that humans have known for more than 3,500 years, as papyri from ancient Egypt testify. Yet drugs to cure leprosy are cheap, plentiful and effective. So why is this biblical curse still around? Doctors speaking ahead of World Leprosy … [Read more...] about Leprosy: An Ancient Disease Thrives in 21st Century
Aaron Swartz and Motel Caswell: Book Ends to Prosecutorial Reform?
Aaron Swartz and Motel Caswell: Book ends to prosecutorial reform? (via The Christian Science Monitor) A judge this week struck down a US government scheme to seize a Tewksbury, Mass., motel because it had become a haven for drug dealers, bolstering concerns about whether US prosecutors in some cases have too much power. The decision in the long-running forfeiture … [Read more...] about Aaron Swartz and Motel Caswell: Book Ends to Prosecutorial Reform?
Senior Senate Democrat Harkin to Retire
Senior US Senate Democrat Harkin to retire (via AFP) Fifth-term Democratic US Senator Tom Harkin said Saturday he will not seek re-election next year, setting the stage for a key mid-term election that could help Republicans retake the Senate. The veteran senator, who wrote landmark legislation that expanded the rights of the disabled and who fought… … [Read more...] about Senior Senate Democrat Harkin to Retire
Obama Vows to Watch US Financial Industry
Obama vows to watch US financial industry (via AFP) President Barack Obama promised Saturday to watch the US financial industry to prevent what he called "irresponsible behavior" as he defended his nominations to key financial watchdog agencies. The comments came after Obama nominated Mary Jo White to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission and… … [Read more...] about Obama Vows to Watch US Financial Industry
French-led Troops in Mali Seize Airport at Islamist Bastion
French-led troops in Mali seize airport at Islamist bastion (via AFP) French-led troops Saturday seized the airport and a key bridge serving the Islamist stronghold of Gao in a stunning boost to a 16-day-old offensive on Al Qaeda-linked rebels holding Mali's vast desert north. In a parallel pincer-like movement, battle-hardened troops from Chad and soldiers from … [Read more...] about French-led Troops in Mali Seize Airport at Islamist Bastion
Infographic: The Facts About Assault Weapons in America
Infographic: The Facts About Assault Weapons in America: Image created by Criminal Justice Degree Schools … [Read more...] about Infographic: The Facts About Assault Weapons in America
Women in Combat (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 Women in Combat (Cartoon)
Immigration Reform: White House Says Promised Push Begins Next Week
Immigration reform: White House says promised push begins next week (via The Christian Science Monitor) President Obama will begin his push for sweeping reform of the nation’s immigration laws – a major campaign promise that was embraced by Latino voters in November – on Tuesday in Las Vegas, the White House announced on Friday. The announcement that Mr. Obama … [Read more...] about Immigration Reform: White House Says Promised Push Begins Next Week
Online Gambling Could Save Atlantic City, Analyst Says
Online gambling could save Atlantic City, analyst says (via NJ.com) A bill that would legalize online gambling anywhere in New Jersey could saveÂ? the struggling resort town, a securities analyst said today, urging Gov. Chris Christie to approve the measure. Some had bet the the new Revel, seen here, would give a boost to the city when it opened last … [Read more...] about Online Gambling Could Save Atlantic City, Analyst Says
Sarah Palin Is Out At Fox News: No New Contract
To those of us who follow media and politics closely, it was a story we expected and/or predicted: former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin won't get a new contract to continue her (lucrative) gig at Fox News -- the network that once perceived her as a must-have-hot-political-property commentator, so much so that they built a studio in her Alaska home. Initial reports suggested Palin … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin Is Out At Fox News: No New Contract
Women in Combat: The Services Respond
Combat medics Spcs. Aimee Collver and Vanessa Bolognese, 25th Infantry Division, pull security during a mission in Amerli, Iraq, July 11. (Photo U.S. Army)** On Thursday, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, signed a groundbreaking memorandum to lift the ban on women in military combat operations. The … [Read more...] about Women in Combat: The Services Respond
Contemplating Lance Armstrong: Views from the Swiss and the Dutch
What does Lance Armstrong's earth-shattering sports crimes and confessions have to do with postmodernism - one of the most influential veins of philosophy in today's world? In an article headlined Lance Armstrong and Diederik Stapel: Laying Waste to Postmodernism, Dutch columnist Sebastien Valkenberg exhaustively examines why the misdeeds of Armstrong, notorious Dutch academic … [Read more...] about Contemplating Lance Armstrong: Views from the Swiss and the Dutch
The Tim Geithner Story: Wall Street Man Meets Rube Goldberg World Economy
There are different opinions floating around these days concerning the tenure of Tim Geithner as Secretary of the Treasury. The official view of the Obama Administration, in which Geithner has been a part, is that his prudence, wisdom, and incisiveness helped save the world financial system from going into free fall after the 2007 market plunge. The view of critics on both … [Read more...] about The Tim Geithner Story: Wall Street Man Meets Rube Goldberg World Economy
U.S. Air Force Transports French Troops to Mali
French soldiers march to a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III in Istres, France, Jan. 21, 2013. The United States agreed to airlift French troops and equipment into the African nation of Mali. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman James Richardson) Although temporarily off the U.S. front pages because of the Algerian hostage crisis, the French military intervention in … [Read more...] about U.S. Air Force Transports French Troops to Mali
The People Egypt’s Revolution Left Behind (Guest Voice)
The people Egypt's revolution left behind (via The Christian Science Monitor) For a video of an Egyptian activist describing his own experience of the revolution and the two years since, please scroll to bottom of the story. Amr Esmat guides his tuk tuk through a rutted dirt street between brick buildings so close together that they almost entirely block the … [Read more...] about The People Egypt’s Revolution Left Behind (Guest Voice)
Egypt Protesters Torch Brotherhood Party HQ: AFP
Egypt protesters torch Brotherhood party HQ: AFP (via AFP) Egyptian protesters on Friday set fire to the Muslim Brotherhood party headquarters in the canal city of Ismailiya, an AFP reporter said. Black smoke could be seen coming out of the windows of the apartment housing the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) offices, as Egyptians staged nationwide rallies… … [Read more...] about Egypt Protesters Torch Brotherhood Party HQ: AFP
Why VAWA must be rewritten
Child advocate Laurie A. Couture has a must-read article on why the so-called "Violence Against Women Act" is a grievous piece of legislation that desperately needs to be rewritten from the ground up. To quote some of the more salient parts: I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, a children’s rights advocate and former social worker. I have worked with children of all … [Read more...] about Why VAWA must be rewritten
The ‘Active-Shooter’ Phenomenon
A team of 50th Security Forces Squadron Airmen clears a room in the shoot house during an active-shooter response live training scenario, as part of its annual training program. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Julius Delos Reyes) It is a sad sign of the times that in America, people -- even children -- have to worry about being caught in a situation where a person … [Read more...] about The ‘Active-Shooter’ Phenomenon
Bad Ballad: Battle of Labor Board Appointments
Recess appointments declared unconstitutional by a federal appeals court unanimously agreeing on a law point, that Prez Obama violated the Constitution last year by appointing three members to the National Labor Relations Board while the Senate not 'technically' in recess, allegedly circumventing Senate Republicans who had held up his picks for months. Likely to cause new … [Read more...] about Bad Ballad: Battle of Labor Board Appointments
Appeals Court: President Obama’s Labor Panel Appointments Unconstitutional
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D. C. Circuit ruled that President Obama violated the Constitution when he bypassed the Senate to fill vacancies on the National Labor Relations Board last year. Obama claims he acted properly because the Senate was away for the holidays. But the court says the Senate technically stayed in session when lawmakers gaveled in and out every few … [Read more...] about Appeals Court: President Obama’s Labor Panel Appointments Unconstitutional