WASHINGTON - Christmas season is always a new opportunity for adventure, which includes food and drink, but especially sparkling wines and Champagnes, new and rediscovered. Consider this a polite nudge to encourage you to sample some bubbly. Robert Parker, I am not, but I have proven to have an accurately savvy palate that has confounded several sommeliers in my time. It … [Read more...] about A Guide for Champagne and Sparkling Wine Lovers
North Korea Launches Rocket, Outcome Unclear
The good old DPRK has launched a rocket in defiance of the international community. It is unclear at this point if the launch succeeded, a similar launch in April failed. … [Read more...] about North Korea Launches Rocket, Outcome Unclear
Another Shooter, This Time Portland – 3 Dead Including Shooter – Updated
It has happened again. Another shooter has taken the lives - and innocence - of the unsuspecting. The scene this time is the Clackamas Town Center Mall in suburban Portland, Oregon. The weapon? Reportedly an assault rifle. The victims? Unknown to the shooter. Two believed dead. Where in the mall did it happen? Somewhere near Macy's according to a live witness who … [Read more...] about Another Shooter, This Time Portland – 3 Dead Including Shooter – Updated
Cut But Don’t Cut My Stuff
Nothing new here but... There's Not A Single Spending Cut That Republican Voters Support We have seen this in every poll - Republicans say they want to cut government spending but there isn't anything they actually want to cut. A look at what Republicans oppose: By 47-37, letting the Obama payroll tax cut expire. By 68-26, cutting spending for Medicare. By … [Read more...] about Cut But Don’t Cut My Stuff
Republicans and Obama Clash Bigtime Over Financial Cliff Spending Cuts
Republicans open spending front in 'cliff' row (via AFP) US President Barack Obama and Republicans waged a new spat over spending cuts Tuesday, as time ran short and little progress was evident towards ending a vexing year-end austerity and tax crisis. After days dueling over Obama's demand for higher taxes on the rich, each side accused the other of … [Read more...] about Republicans and Obama Clash Bigtime Over Financial Cliff Spending Cuts
Mass Protest as Michigan Curbs Union Rights
Mass protest as Michigan curbs union rights (via AFP) Thousands of protesters descended on Michigan's legislature Tuesday as Republican lawmakers passed union-curbing "right-to-work" bills in a state seen as the heart of the labor movement. Once signed into law by Republican Governor Rick Snyder, the two measures will weaken unions by allowing public… … [Read more...] about Mass Protest as Michigan Curbs Union Rights
Right-To-Work Laws And Job Creation — The Truth, By The Numbers
The Governor of Michigan is set to sign a new Right-To-Work law making Michigan the 24th state to have such a law on its books,. Proponents of these laws say they increase employment within a state by attracting businesses there. True or false? To check this out, I simply went on line and got a list of the 23 states that already have such laws on their books and compared … [Read more...] about Right-To-Work Laws And Job Creation — The Truth, By The Numbers
Progress on Judicial Nominees But Grassley Still Being Iowa Stubborn
By Scott Crass When I first contemplated writing this piece last week, my tone was going to be one of amazement, befuddlement, and even anger. The fact that Senate Republicans were still hell bent on preventing President Obama's non-controversial Judicial nominees from reaching a vote even after the President won re-election was something I had neither envisioned, nor seen … [Read more...] about Progress on Judicial Nominees But Grassley Still Being Iowa Stubborn
Blaming DJ’s Prank Call for Nurse’s Suicide is Wrong
WASHINGTON - Has the world gone mad? Saldhana took the two radio presenters’ call to King Edward VII Hospital last Tuesday and, believing them to be the British monarch and her son, patched the pair through to another nurse, who revealed details of Middleton’s condition. On Friday, Saldhana was found unconscious and then declared dead at her apartment around the corner … [Read more...] about Blaming DJ’s Prank Call for Nurse’s Suicide is Wrong
The Enduring Myth of American Exceptionalism
A belief in American exceptionalism has been in the nation’s DNA since its birth, fostered by the Founding Fathers and foreign visitors like de Toqueville. Indeed, the reality of a republican form of government, with free men able to elect their own leaders, was alien to the rest of the world when the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were written and America … [Read more...] about The Enduring Myth of American Exceptionalism
Dave Brubeck: A love affair
Editor's Note: We had trouble getting up the proper byline so this was very briefly on the site with two other bylines. We regret the glitch. WASHINGTON -- It was a conversation representative of the era: Somewhere around 1969 or 1970, my dear, conservative Uncle Ray asked his son and me why we liked music by Jimi Hendrix and the Doors but we never listened to Dave … [Read more...] about Dave Brubeck: A love affair
US Report Faults Pakistan Over Afghan War
US report faults Pakistan over Afghan war (via AFP) Despite an easing of tensions with the United States, Pakistan is persistently undermining security in Afghanistan by permitting safe havens for insurgents, a Pentagon report said. In a biannual war assessment mandated by Congress, the Defense Department said that the 68,000 US troops in Afghanistan… … [Read more...] about US Report Faults Pakistan Over Afghan War
The Responsibility of Speech
The Australian radio DJs have been weeping on TV all day long. Some of the video is included along with this article: Royal Hoax Tragedy: Australian Radio Station Has a History of Pranks Gone Wrong By JENNIFER ABBEY and CECILIA VEGADec. 10, 2012 The Australian radio station 2Day FM that pulled the prank call on Kate Middleton's hospital last week has come under fire before … [Read more...] about The Responsibility of Speech
Corrupt Prosecutor Mary Kellett Going Down?
A prosecutor who appears to have made her career pursuing false rape and domestic violence charges in order to make money for her office is in serious trouble, reports Maine Public Broadcasting Network on Mary Kellett. Those of us who support equal rights under the law have reason to rejoice tonight. … [Read more...] about Corrupt Prosecutor Mary Kellett Going Down?
Obama Stands Firm on Tax after Boehner Talks
Obama stands firm on tax after Boehner talks (via AFP) US President Barack Obama said Monday he was ready to compromise "a little bit" to head off a tax and austerity crisis, but warned he would not budge on making the rich pay more. Obama took his campaign to hike rates on the wealthy to a factory floor in Michigan, a day after he met House Speaker John… … [Read more...] about Obama Stands Firm on Tax after Boehner Talks
Homelessness Among Veterans Falling
Our minds have always been “aware” of the homelessness “problem” in America. Many of us become more “aware” of it during the Christmas season as our hearts, too, become “aware” of the true spirit of the holiday season. I became especially “aware” of homelessness in America when my wife and I, one Saturday morning in May 2011, volunteered at a local church to serve … [Read more...] about Homelessness Among Veterans Falling
Breaking: Member of Special Operations Forces Killed in Rescue of American in Afghanistan (Updated)
Petty Officer 1st Class Nicolas D. Checque in an undated family photo. (U.S. Navy photo) Update: In a short release the U.S. Navy announced its latest casualty in the Afghanistan War: WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Department of Defense announced Nov. 10 the death of a Sailor who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Petty Officer 1st Class Nicolas D. Checque, … [Read more...] about Breaking: Member of Special Operations Forces Killed in Rescue of American in Afghanistan (Updated)
The Perils for Latin America of Obama’s Fear-Inspired Re-Election (Opera Mundi, Brazil)
Before this first Worldmeets.US post since Hurricane Sandy struck our offices in Rockaway Park, I want to thank everyone who sent words of support and expressed concern after the disaster, not only for us, but for people across the region who have been impacted by the most powerful storm in our lifetimes. Since then, we have been working diligently to get back up and running, … [Read more...] about The Perils for Latin America of Obama’s Fear-Inspired Re-Election (Opera Mundi, Brazil)
Obama Uses Campaign Apparatus to Press Congress for Higher Taxes on Rich
There had been some doubt among many whether -- despite their assures they would not -- Team Obama was going to make the same mistake it made after the 2008 elections and not use its impressive campaign apparatus linked up via email with millions of supporters to clamor and fight for Obama's positions. Now there is no doubt they won't make the same mistake: Stephanie Cutter, … [Read more...] about Obama Uses Campaign Apparatus to Press Congress for Higher Taxes on Rich
Egypt’s Morsi Overplayed His Hand: Analysts
Egypt's Morsi overplayed his hand: analysts (via AFP) Egypt's Islamist president, Mohamed Morsi, overreached by giving himself broad powers and trying to ram through a new constitution without sufficient consultation, analysts say. His abrupt annulment on the weekend of a November decree putting himself above judicial review -- after weeks of sometimes… … [Read more...] about Egypt’s Morsi Overplayed His Hand: Analysts