KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- When Mayor Bobby J. Hopewell talks about the importance of manufacturing to this friendly Michigan town with a name that lends itself to song, he doesn't reel off the usual list of heavy industries typically associated with the word "factory." He speaks of Kalsec, the Kalamazoo Spice Extraction Company founded in 1958 that produces and markets … [Read more...] about The Heartland Election
Evacuations Begin as US Braces for Huge Storm: Hurricane Sandy
Evacuations begin as US braces for huge storm (via AFP) New York authorities ordered the evacuation of 375,000 people from low-lying coastal areas as the imminent arrival of Hurricane Sandy forced the entire eastern seaboard into lockdown mode. More than 7,400 flights out of east coast hubs were cancelled and ground transport was due to grind to a halt… … [Read more...] about Evacuations Begin as US Braces for Huge Storm: Hurricane Sandy
Hurricane Sandy is Already Setting Records
Hurricane Sandy is already setting records (+video) (via The Christian Science Monitor) Hurricane Sandy is working its way up the US East Coast, yet even before it moves ashore it's a storm for the record books. The storm already has surpassed Hurricane Lili in 1996 as the second largest Atlantic storm in 24 years of storm-size record keeping. Using … [Read more...] about Hurricane Sandy is Already Setting Records
Key Developments as Mega-Storm Approaches US
Key developments as mega-storm approaches US (via AFP) Here are the key developments as the US East Coast braces for the potentially devastating impact of Hurricane Sandy: -- Sandy takes aim for the Eastern Seaboard after claiming 66 lives in the Caribbean -- President Barack Obama urges Americans to take the storm "very seriously" -- Hundreds of thousands… … [Read more...] about Key Developments as Mega-Storm Approaches US
Women for Romney (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 for Romney (Cartoon)
Anti-Democrat Violence in Texas
[Note: The author of this post lives in Texas.] An email just came in from the chairman of the Texas Democratic Party detailing the latest vandalism and violence in Lubbock. On Tuesday night, just mere hours after I addressed Democratic supporters at an Early Vote rally in Lubbock County, a local Democrat was assaulted by four men vandalizing Democratic and Obama yard … [Read more...] about Anti-Democrat Violence in Texas
The Kingdom of God and the Politics of Christianity
I was raised by godly Christian parents who taught me from an early age to differentiate between Christianity and culture. They told me it was dangerous, even immoral, to mix the Gospel with political partisanship or patriotic nationalism. They warned me against confusing Christianity with capitalism or even democracy. That taught me that human systems are hopelessly marred … [Read more...] about The Kingdom of God and the Politics of Christianity
The Dangers of Excessive Alcohol Intake Among Teens (Guest Voice)
The Dangers of Excessive Alcohol Intake Among Teens (via 21C Woman) Alcohol is a very powerful and addictive drug that a lot of adults enjoy in low dosage; however, it can be damaging and even be lethal when consumed in high dosage. Most adults above the age of 21 know how to drink moderately and safely. Boys Start Drinking at 11 Years of Age It is alarming to … [Read more...] about The Dangers of Excessive Alcohol Intake Among Teens (Guest Voice)
Spain’s Empty Highways Lead to Bankruptcy
Spain's empty highways lead to bankruptcy (via AFP) At the Leganes toll booth outside Madrid, the workers scan the horizon for cars. In Spain's recession, the stream of paying drivers has slowed to a trickle and the toll road is all but bankrupt. Like the housing bubble, pumped up until it burst in 2008, and its speculation-funded phantom airports,… … [Read more...] about Spain’s Empty Highways Lead to Bankruptcy
Obama Campaign Fears Impact of Hurricane Sandy
Obama campaign fears impact of Hurricane Sandy (via AFP) A top aide to Barack Obama voiced fears Sunday that Hurricane Sandy could hurt the president's re-election chances by reducing turnout, as the impending storm forced both candidates to cancel campaign stops. Republican challenger Mitt Romney received good news in two key swing states, winning the … [Read more...] about Obama Campaign Fears Impact of Hurricane Sandy
Continuing Planetary Reaction to U.S. Presidential Election (Germany, Russia, Kenya and Pakistan)
With Election Day just over a week away, the U.S. presidential race is understandably one of the leading topics of discussion around the planet. Here is some of what Worldmeets.US has dug up in the past 48 hours. For Germany's Die Tageszeitung, in a column headlined Planet 'Paralyzed' Before Power Shifts in Washington and Beijing, columnist Dominic Johnson writes that until … [Read more...] about Continuing Planetary Reaction to U.S. Presidential Election (Germany, Russia, Kenya and Pakistan)
Atlanta Megachurch Pastor Charles Stanley’s “Pray That the President Would” List Shameful Smear Against President Obama
Dr. Charles Stanley, one of the leading pastors in the Atlanta area, is dabbling in politics again, with his "Pray that the President Would" list. Some time ago he made the assertion that we were heading for Socialism in America. Pastor Stanley leads the First Baptist Church of Atlanta and In Touch Ministries. His list is in keeping with the right wing evangelical rhetoric that … [Read more...] about Atlanta Megachurch Pastor Charles Stanley’s “Pray That the President Would” List Shameful Smear Against President Obama
Daily Beast’s Andrew Sullivan: “If Virginia and Florida Go Back to Republicans, it’s The Confederacy”
Daily Beast writer Andrew Sullivan appeared on "This Week," saying that if Mitt Romney wins back Florida and Virginia in the Nov. 6th presidential elections, it will be due to the white vote and the South's electoral map will look exactly as it did during the pro-slavery Confederacy during the Civil War. Sullivan made this observation when host George Stephanopoulos said the … [Read more...] about Daily Beast’s Andrew Sullivan: “If Virginia and Florida Go Back to Republicans, it’s The Confederacy”
Voters Renting Their Heads to Romney
Metaphor for the day: An Indiana man auctions off space to have Mitt Romney’s campaign logo tattooed in a 5-by-2-inch space on the side of his head. The winning bid is $15,000. Without compensation, millions of other voters have been renting their heads to the Republican candidate’s drumbeat of brainless stump speeches and campaign ads, which nine days from now will leave … [Read more...] about Voters Renting Their Heads to Romney
Russell Means Reminded the World of the Real America (Izvestia, Russia)
The death this week of Native American activist Russell Means is a monumental loss to indigenous peoples around the world, and as this article by Russian journalist Orhan Jemal shows, for non-indigenous people as well. For Russia's Izvestia, Jemal details some of the highlights of Means' remarkable career, and explains why in his mind, this Native American hero symbolized … [Read more...] about Russell Means Reminded the World of the Real America (Izvestia, Russia)
What America Will We Pick?
WASHINGTON -- This election is only tangentially a fight over policy. It is also a fight about meaning and identity -- and that's one reason why voters are so polarized. It's about who we are and who we aspire to be. President Obama enters the final days of the campaign with a substantial lead among women -- about 15 points, according to the latest Washington Post/ABC … [Read more...] about What America Will We Pick?
The U.S. Navy: More than Just Aircraft Carriers (Updated)
The guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65) flies the battle ensign during maneuvers off the coast of Kauai as part of maritime exercise Koa Kai 12-2. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel Barker) UPDATE: The faces of sailors shown below are but a few of the more than 322,000 men and women proudly serving in the U.S. Navy. If you have … [Read more...] about The U.S. Navy: More than Just Aircraft Carriers (Updated)
“Frankenstorm” Inspired by Frankenstein (Two Videos)
They call it "Frankenstorm" -- and the inspiration is the name "Frankenstein." Two tidbits to view: The moment in the 1931 classic movie "Frankenstein" when the monster comes alive: The 1910, 13 minute Thomas Edison version of the story. Some scenes in this are very well preserved so watch it all. … [Read more...] about “Frankenstorm” Inspired by Frankenstein (Two Videos)
Romney v. Romney (Guest Voice)
Romney v. Romney by Tina Dupuy There's a myth in the right-wing-o-sphere that President Obama was never fully vetted. "We don't know ANYTHING about this guy!" they'll say, and in the same breath make fun of the fact he wrote two autobiographies. My answer to this is always: "He ran against a Clinton." Any skeletons, dirt, deal killers or weaknesses were dug up, dragged out … [Read more...] about Romney v. Romney (Guest Voice)
Hermit Crabs Only Socialize To Team Up And Steal Larger Homes From Larger Crabs
Hermit Crabs Only Socialize To Team Up And Steal Larger Homes From Larger Crabs (via Planetsave) Typically ‘social’ animals gather together for reasons to do with sex, food, or safety, but there are other reasons to, as some new research on hermit crabs has shown. In the new research, terrestrial hermit crabs have been observed grouping together to ‘evict’ a … [Read more...] about Hermit Crabs Only Socialize To Team Up And Steal Larger Homes From Larger Crabs