The largest wildfire in Colorado is near Ft. Collins and is now reportedly 50 percent contained, after burning for 10 days. But how big is this fire, jumpstarted by lightning? Nationally, last June the average acres burned per fire was 204.8, according to NOAA. In 2002, it was 284.2 acres. In Colorado, the average acres burned per fire from 2000-2009 (pdf) was … [Read more...] about Colorado Fire One For The Record Books
Mr. Rogers Still Inspires
Just before lunch Tuesday, at the Emerging Media Conference in Seattle, I met the Mr. Rogers Remix, courtesy of Pascal Schuback (@Schuback): I'm an oddity among folks my age: I did not watch Mr. Rogers growing up. I know who he is, of course, but neither he or his show is going to accompany me on a memory lane jaunt. But I found this video not only charming and warm … [Read more...] about Mr. Rogers Still Inspires
The Reporter Interrupting Obama: Lowering the Bar Again
If a reporter from an ideologically-anchored publication interrupts a President by shouting out questions right in the middle of his statement and it's unprecedented, will some partisans immediately rush to his side to defend him and claim this is the way real, respectable, professional journalists operate? Yep. Will all his fellow partisans defend him? Happily: Nope. But … [Read more...] about The Reporter Interrupting Obama: Lowering the Bar Again
Sheldon Adelson as Dr. Evil
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Poll: Americans Favor Obama’s New Immigration Policy 2 to 1
If you didn't think President Barack Obama's new immigration policy would be well received by most Americans, think again. And if you didn't think it now creates a shaky tightrope for all-but-certain-Republican nominee Mitt Romney, think again -- twice. A new Bloomberg poll finds its getting 2 to 1 support: President Obama appears to have boosted himself politically with … [Read more...] about Poll: Americans Favor Obama’s New Immigration Policy 2 to 1
Obama and Putin turn frosty in warm Mexico
President Barack Obama’s relationship with Russia’s Vladimir Putin turned frostier at their first summit since Putin’s return as President, signaling the start of longer term tensions between the two military giants. It also places hurdles for a British-French initiative launched in May to work more closely with Moscow to win its cooperation in pressuring Syria’s Bashar al … [Read more...] about Obama and Putin turn frosty in warm Mexico
President Obama Makes Two Decisions Worth Applauding (La Jornada, Mexico)
Perhaps not surprisingly, President Obama's executive order to end deportations of undocumented children brought to the U.S. by their parents is proving popular in Mexico. For La Jornada, columnist Arturo Balderas Rodríguez applauds the president's actions over stiff Republican resistance, and sees it as a sign that Obama is finally returning to the 'path' of fulfilling his … [Read more...] about President Obama Makes Two Decisions Worth Applauding (La Jornada, Mexico)
Romney’s Scary and Stupid Foreign Policy
If you don't read Daniel Larison you should. He is all over Willard Romney's foolish and scary foreign policy which has been constructed by old cold war warriors and neo-cons. Today we have this: When Romney Calls for “Resolve and Strength,” He Is Endorsing Recklessness and Aggression Mitt Romney is still harping on the 2009 missile … [Read more...] about Romney’s Scary and Stupid Foreign Policy
The Reviews Begin: Assessing Secretary Clinton
"It was a standoff," [Secretary Clinton] told me, "for 24 difficult hours." - Old-Fashioned Diplomacy in the Twitter Age, by Susan B. Glasser WASHINGTON - "Head of State" aptly describes Hillary Rodham Clinton's power and position, an interview conducted in the days after a diplomatic crisis was averted. The quote at the very top is a perfect example of Pres. Obama's … [Read more...] about The Reviews Begin: Assessing Secretary Clinton
Hosni Mubarak Reported “Clinically Dead”
According to news reports out of Cairo, former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is "clinically dead" at the age of 84. The reports state that he suffered a stroke and cardiac arrest and was rushed to the hospital. News reports from the region can sometimes be inaccurate (indeed there are some reports denying this report but admitting the heart attack or stroke) but it … [Read more...] about Hosni Mubarak Reported “Clinically Dead”
President Obama’s Real ‘Kill List’
The New York Times piece on Obama's terrorist "kill list" got a lot of attention. It listed the names of those chosen for execution by CIA and Pentagon drones outside the conventional battlefield. The names not listed on the kill list are those innocents in other countries killed by the strikes. But they are dead all the same. The anti war protests have gone silent. Although I … [Read more...] about President Obama’s Real ‘Kill List’
Who Will Be the 3,000th American Soldier to Die in the Afghanistan War?
The announcement always starts this way, “DOD Identifies …” It is then followed by the name of the Military Service our latest warrior to die in Afghanistan served in. That is how the death of our 2,000th soldier in Afghanistan was officially announced to the nation. Simply: DOD Identifies Marine … [Read more...] about Who Will Be the 3,000th American Soldier to Die in the Afghanistan War?
Without A Vision A People, A Country, And A President Are Lost
Twenty years ago the largest gathering of world leaders in history came together in Rio de Janeiro to discuss how to address the world's environmental problems. At the same time in another Brazilian city, Sao Paulo, there was a huge trade show featuring green technologies that would both protect the environment and spawn economic changes that could be the basis of jobs, … [Read more...] about Without A Vision A People, A Country, And A President Are Lost
Student Loan Indebtedness Tradeoffs
Another Bloomberg article on the education bubble. This one by Richard Vedder, director of the Center for College Affordability and Productivity, and an economics professor at Ohio University. Vedder points out an incongruity about the economy and educational situation in the United States that has bothered me for years. U.S. employers complain that they can’t find enough … [Read more...] about Student Loan Indebtedness Tradeoffs
A Viable Libertarian Candidate?
It looks like the Libertarian Party's Presidential candidate is possibly going to be a real factor in November: he's New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson, who has broad appeal in certain parts of the country and certain segments of the electorate. I see him as more likely to act as a spoiler for Mitt Romney than anything else. Since I am broadly sympathetic to him on many of the … [Read more...] about A Viable Libertarian Candidate?
Senators Regret Confirmation of John Roberts
Many of us are noting that the current Supreme Court, thanks in large part to its heavy-handed right and its lyin'-cheatin' chief justice, is losing Congress' confidence. Finally. Like it or not, today is when the court may "revisit" Citizens United. Not reverse their decision or anything satisfactory like that, just "revisit." And today we read that "meanwhile, the … [Read more...] about Senators Regret Confirmation of John Roberts
Romney’s Unmaid Mind
WASHINGTON -- Sí, se puede. Yes, it can be done. President Obama showed last week that it's possible to find a reasonable, humane solution for at least 800,000 young people who were illegally brought into this country as children. All you need is a moral compass and a heart. Seems to me that Obama's unilateral decision to let these noncitizens remain here … [Read more...] about Romney’s Unmaid Mind
Campaign Cash
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U.S. Says Uribe Security Chief Worked for Drug Cartels, Paramilitaries (El Espectador, Colombia)
It's a Colombian bombshell: According to this news item from El Espectador, the former security chief of drug-fighting President Alvaro Uribe has been indicted in U.S. federal court for, among other things, taking bribes from both drug cartels and paramilitary groups, trafficking in cocaine and betraying the names of drug informants who were later hunted down and murdered. … [Read more...] about U.S. Says Uribe Security Chief Worked for Drug Cartels, Paramilitaries (El Espectador, Colombia)
VIDEO of the Day: CNN’s Don Lemon Witheringly Skewers Tucker Carlson and Daily Caller Reporter Who Heckled Obama
MUST VIEWING: CNN's Don Lemon has done what to this former fulltime journalist (me) is the definitive take on the sad - -and hopefully not trend-setting -- saga of Neil Monro, The Daily Caller reporter who interrupted President Barack Obama in the middle of an official statement and of his boss Tucker Carlson, a one-time but no longer serious and respected up and coming … [Read more...] about VIDEO of the Day: CNN’s Don Lemon Witheringly Skewers Tucker Carlson and Daily Caller Reporter Who Heckled Obama