UPDATE: Today in the New York Times: In the Syrian capital, Damascus, on Sunday, some of the heaviest fighting yet experienced there erupted in a neighborhood about a 20-minute drive southwest of the city center, with activists calling it the first time government forces have shelled rebel holdouts in the capital. With continual fighting across Syria, replacing … [Read more...] about Damascus: Shades of Tripoli? (Updated)
Texas Health Care and ‘Gun Talk’
By now we are all very familiar with Rick Perry’s disdain for “ObamaCare” and with his “gun-to-the-head” refusal to expand Medicaid in a state that already ranks first in the nation when it comes to the rate of uninsured people and last in the nation when it comes to quality of health care. Thus, any reasonable person would think that health care in Texas can only go in … [Read more...] about Texas Health Care and ‘Gun Talk’
George Stoney, Documentary Filmmaker, Mentor, Dies at 96
A longtime personal friend, mentor and teacher, he lived a long, full, rich life. Among his 50 documentaries, All My Babies (1953) for the Georgia Department of Public Health included a live birth to educate black midwives working in rural poverty in the deeply segregated south. I was privileged to travel with George to visit the family of Mary Coley, the midwife featured in … [Read more...] about George Stoney, Documentary Filmmaker, Mentor, Dies at 96
New Pipeline Could Trigger Biggest Changes in Gulf Since 1930s
A short oil pipeline inaugurated today in the Arabian Gulf is the start of changes that could strengthen US influence in the region and alter local power relationships in a fundamental manner for the first time since the 1930s. Iran would be the big loser. Ironically, its theocrats are the cause of the shift because the pipeline is a reaction to their threats to close the … [Read more...] about New Pipeline Could Trigger Biggest Changes in Gulf Since 1930s
Like Hiroshima, Palestine and Arafat will Endure (Al-Hayat Al-Jadidah, Palestinian Terroritories)
It has emerged that PLO founder and former Palestinian President Yasser Arafat was likely murdered with a quite exotic radioactive poison: polonium. Columnist Ali Sadek of the Palestinian newspaper Al-Hayat Al-Jadidah writes that the likely perpetrators - the Israelis, Americans, complicit Arab leaders, or some combination of the three - were trying to break the spirit of … [Read more...] about Like Hiroshima, Palestine and Arafat will Endure (Al-Hayat Al-Jadidah, Palestinian Terroritories)
Romney’s Bain Issue Like Frank Sinatra Song
As I watch the Bain Capital issue unfold and see the damage it inflicts on Mitt Romney campaign, the ruthlessness of the Obama campaign's use of it against him, and the often unconvincing spin from Camp Romney, it made me realize: The issue is like the lyrics of this Frank Sinatra song (one of his less famous but I think is his best). Listen to the song and read the lyrics … [Read more...] about Romney’s Bain Issue Like Frank Sinatra Song
Finding Bookers Place
In 1965 a producer for NBC news went to Mississippi to film a documentary about how the state was dealing with the civil rights movement and segregation. At the time the producer did not plan to interview any blacks, knowing that doing so could place them in danger, instead he planned to interview whites and present a view of how they saw the world. But along the way he was … [Read more...] about Finding Bookers Place
Banksters Take Us to the Brink
Banksters Take Us to the Brink by Bill Moyers and Michael Winship Every day brings more reminders of the terrible unfairness that besets our country, the tragic reversal of fortune experienced by millions who once had good lives and steady jobs, now gone. An article in the current issue of Rolling Stone chronicles “The Fallen: The Sharp, Sudden Decline of … [Read more...] about Banksters Take Us to the Brink
A NEW Romney Camp Explanation on Bain Capital: Romney’s “Retroactive Retirement” (UPDATED)
File this one in your Verbal Gymnastics or Stunning Spin files. Senior Mitt Romney campaign adviser Ed Gillespie has now issued an explanation for the timeline of Romney's heading Bain Capital -- one that was not offered in this way days ago when the story broke. It seems that this explanation was overlooked until today. Let's cut away the talking points in the quote and get … [Read more...] about A NEW Romney Camp Explanation on Bain Capital: Romney’s “Retroactive Retirement” (UPDATED)
Anthony Weiner Rides Again?
Disgraced former Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner may again stick his...neck...out and present himself for public office. The New York Post reports he's seriously eying a run for mayor. (I wonder if he'll announced it by text message?) Leno and Letterman must be opening the champagne now.. … [Read more...] about Anthony Weiner Rides Again?
Seeds of Greed. And Global Domination.
Scientist and philosopher Vandana Shiva has made a name for herself as a thinker and fighter in the global battle over genetically modified seeds. Her prime target: Monsanto is privatizing the seed. They control 95 percent of the cotton in India, 90 percent of the soy in this country. They've taken over most of the seed companies of the world [and] everything begins a seed. … [Read more...] about Seeds of Greed. And Global Domination.
Bain Is The Bane Of The Romney Campaign
One must be fair to Mitt Romney. Without doubt, he was the pick of the litter among those running in the Republican primaries. Stacked up against Michele the Swiss Miss, I'm-righter-than-thou Rick, Herman the pizza mogul motivator, and Newt the...(but let's not go there, this is a family-oriented web site), Romney appeared a virtual Lincoln. Still, he's a strangely credentialed … [Read more...] about Bain Is The Bane Of The Romney Campaign
Out of Syria (Updates)
UPDATE II: (additional update at bottom) We can now put a name and a face to "Syria’s ambassador to Iraq” who recently defected and who is now in Qatar “seeking refuge.” His name is Nawaf Fares and he is a former Syrian regime hardliner and security chief with 35 years of “loyal service” to the regime. Fares gave an exclusive interview to The Sunday Telegraph … [Read more...] about Out of Syria (Updates)
Is Anyone Enlightened?
[This is the 11th in the series Religion and Science: A Beautiful Friendship.] In the aftermath of movement politics, California was teeming with seekers after truth. More than a few political activists had replaced their concerns about social justice with a quest for personal enlightenment. I was skeptical but intrigued by rumors of a state of consciousness promising … [Read more...] about Is Anyone Enlightened?
(VIDEO) Tough New Obama Campaign Ad Pounds Romney
If Team Obama is saving the toughest, then this campaign will be even more brutal than my earlier prediction. Its latest anti-Romney ad leaves little out. In a short time frame, it absolutely pounds Romney: … [Read more...] about (VIDEO) Tough New Obama Campaign Ad Pounds Romney
Joe Paterno’s Big Penn State Cash Out Payday
Penn State is already facing some big legal and image problems due to the scandal involving now-convicted former assistant football coach's Jerry Sandusky's sexual assault of a host of young boys. But this New York Times report spells more trouble. The bottom line: boy, oh, boy (pardon the expression) did Joe Paterno get a big farewell cash-out from Penn State: In January … [Read more...] about Joe Paterno’s Big Penn State Cash Out Payday
Penn State Parenting Lessons
A Casablanca moment leaves Americans “shocked, shocked” about gambling in the casino, even as Joe Paterno, in his last interview, claims to have been “shocked and saddened” by revelations of child abuse and cover-ups at Penn State. At the same time, a scathing report details the university’s “slavish devotion” to its own needs that overrode “everything, including the law, … [Read more...] about Penn State Parenting Lessons
Expanding Waistlines: Shrinking Sodas is a Start (Guest Voice)
Expanding Waistlines: Shrinking Sodas is a Start by Tina Dupuy Freedom is under attack! In the largest city of our giant country—the liberty to drink over 16 ounces of sugar syrup is in the crosshairs of the "gubmint." New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has proposed (and will most likely implement) the nation's first prohibition on over-sized soda at public venues. Now the … [Read more...] about Expanding Waistlines: Shrinking Sodas is a Start (Guest Voice)
Woodie Guthrie at 100
Woodie Guthrie at 100. A copyrighted cartoon by Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune: 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 … [Read more...] about Woodie Guthrie at 100
“Joe Paterno was a liar”
That's how Sally Jenkins leads her story on Joe Paterno in the wake of Thursday's release of ex FBI-director Louis Freeh’s report (pdf). She writes: In a news conference Thursday, Freeh charged that Paterno, along with athletic director Timothy Curley, university president Graham Spanier and vice president Gary Schultz, engaged in a cover-up, “an active agreement of … [Read more...] about “Joe Paterno was a liar”