Trayvon Martin murder: Rev. Jesse Jackson told the Sanford City Commission yesterday, "the whole world is watching Sanford." "The whole world is watching Florida today," in his demand that they city commissioners do their part to ensure shooter George Zimmerman is arrested. Then a line of speakers, including U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX), echoed his sentiments. Sheila … [Read more...] about Trayvon Martin Murder: Inflammatory Rhetoric by Rev. Jesse Jackson, Others and Leaks Threaten to Take Focus Off Crucial Issues
Individual Freedom Mandate to Not Buy Health Insurance
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VIDEO: How a Blind Abandoned Dog Got a Second Lease On Life
It's something many of us animal loves have felt for years. Don't easily give up on a sick, or ailing or older pet. There are times when you need to face reality -- but you have to correctly define reality. Here's how a blind, abandoned dog in LA got a second lease on life. And restored vision: video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player … [Read more...] about VIDEO: How a Blind Abandoned Dog Got a Second Lease On Life
Athena and the Jurists
Any astrologer worth her salt would tell you that there is not a lot of good that you can expect from a grand Supreme Court argument over the future of health care, held on a day when Mercury is retrograde, Saturn is retrograde, and Mars is retrograde. And, since, like global warming, astrology is easily refuted, except by observation, allow me to make this observation on the … [Read more...] about Athena and the Jurists
Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit Seizes Servers In PA and IL
On Friday, Microsoft seized web servers in Pennsylvania and Indiana under a civil action authorized by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Two financial industry associations -- the Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center and the National Automated Clearing House Association -- were part of the civil action. According to the NY … [Read more...] about Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit Seizes Servers In PA and IL
Repeal the ‘Stand Your Ground’ Laws
WASHINGTON -- The "Stand Your Ground" laws in Florida and other states should all be repealed. At best, they are redundant. At worst, as in the Trayvon Martin killing, they are nothing but a license to kill. Police in Sanford, Fla., cited the statute as grounds for their decision not to file charges against Martin's killer, George Zimmerman. Martin, 17, was strolling … [Read more...] about Repeal the ‘Stand Your Ground’ Laws
Georgia’s Anti-Abortion Bill Derailed; One In A Long Line Around The Country
Georgia's HB954, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, hit a snag in the state Senate on Monday. The Georgia bill, introduced by Rep. Doug McKillip (R-Athens), was "all but gutted" by a bi-partisan coalition, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The Senate bill would provide an exception to the 20-week rule: In a major shift, the Senate adopted a … [Read more...] about Georgia’s Anti-Abortion Bill Derailed; One In A Long Line Around The Country
Etch-a-Sketch Support for Romney
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When Will the Republican Fat Lady Sing for Santorum and Gingrich?
From “the spark is gone” to the “walking dead” is quite a jump, but the latter is how Chris Cillizza at the Washington Post characterizes the present phase of the Republican primary. In today’s The Fix, a daily political weblog at the Post website, Cillizza begins with: ”This is how primary campaigns end — not with a bang but with a whimper. Or, more accurately, a whine,” … [Read more...] about When Will the Republican Fat Lady Sing for Santorum and Gingrich?
Led by Dreams. . .
Dream woke me up this morning. Dream said, "better follow me today." I said "Why?" Dream paused and smiled, "You know why Doug. I made you, I formed you, you are hopelessly mine." I said to dream, "Are you God?" Dream grabbed my hand and led me forward, "No Doug, I am not God. . . but I am the breath of God. But you already knew that." So dream and I are … [Read more...] about Led by Dreams. . .
What Exactly Happened With Trayvon Martin?
Friends have asked me why I haven't commented on the killing of Trayvon Martin. The reason is because I (usually) try not to comment on hot news stories when they first break, especially when it's an emotional subject like a suspected racially-motivated killing. I figure it's best to wait until all the facts are in before drawing conclusions. I didn't look at it over this … [Read more...] about What Exactly Happened With Trayvon Martin?
Will The Supreme Court Punt The Ball
Amid all of the discussion and debate over how the Supreme Court might rule on the validity of the Affordable Care Act there is one topic that has gotten minimal coverage, the possibility that the court might just do.... nothing. Much of the discussion today will center on a law called the Tax Anti Injunction Act (or TAIA). The law was passed in 1867 and basically says that … [Read more...] about Will The Supreme Court Punt The Ball
Book Review – We Heard the Heavens Then: A Memoir of Iran
I receive several opportunities a month to do book reviews. I turn most of them down in spite of the fact it means I won't get a free book. I almost decided against reviewing We Heard the Heavens Then: A Memoir of Iran but eventually agreed. After reading the first few pages I knew I had made the right decision. We Heard The Heavens Then by Aria Minu-Sepher is the story … [Read more...] about Book Review – We Heard the Heavens Then: A Memoir of Iran
The Swing Vote
The Swing Vote is the title of a recent book by Linda Killian that laments the lack of power independents have in Washington and their impotence in determining government policy. It is a strong affirmation of the need for independents to get involved in politics to bring about change. The percentage of Americans who self-label themselves as independents already constitutes the … [Read more...] about The Swing Vote
Time To Put Another Herbert Hoover In The White House?
Mitt Romney claims his business background qualifies him for the presidency. Well, I don't know. "Business background" is a broad descriptive brush. I'm in the poetry business, for example. Does that qualify me for the Oval Office? Many people (perhaps most) would say it doesn't. Romney's own "business background," his claimed primary qualifier for this country's top elected … [Read more...] about Time To Put Another Herbert Hoover In The White House?
Shining A Light On ALEC
Paul Krugman writes that one of the consequences of the Trayvon Martin shooting is that people are beginning to focus on so called Stand Your Ground Laws and the people behind them. What we're discovering is that the people behind these laws have gathered under the acronym ALEC. And the truth is they are "the usual suspects:" What is ALEC? Despite claims that it’s … [Read more...] about Shining A Light On ALEC
GOP Presidential Primaries: The Spark Is Gone (UPDATED)
UPDATE II: See the New York Times version of the sparks flying here UPDATE I: Apparently the spark is not gone -- at least not with Santorum. Santorum generated quite a few sparks on Sunday in a mini-confrontation with New York Times reporter Jeff Zeleni. When asked by Zeleni, "You said Mitt Romney is the worst Republican in the country. Is that true?" a sparkly … [Read more...] about GOP Presidential Primaries: The Spark Is Gone (UPDATED)
If Supreme Court Nixes Health Care Reform Will It Doom Obama’s Re-election?
Today the focus turns to the Supreme Court as it begins a challenge to President Barack Obama's signature health care reform act. Few pundits are willing to predict what will happen but it's clear some Supreme Court members will not be fans of the act. The question then becomes: if the court nixes health care reform how will it impact Obama's re-election? CNN's Jeffrey Tobin … [Read more...] about If Supreme Court Nixes Health Care Reform Will It Doom Obama’s Re-election?
The Right’s Etch a Sketch Imperative
WASHINGTON -- Clarifying moments are rare in politics. They are the times when previously muddled issues are suddenly cast into sharp relief and citizens are given a look behind the curtains of spin and obfuscation. Over the last week, Americans were blessed with three separate clarifying moments. Rep. Paul Ryan made absolutely clear that he is not now and … [Read more...] about The Right’s Etch a Sketch Imperative
Job Description of a 911 Dispatcher: A Complicated Job, Far More than Answering Phone
I think well trained Dispatchers are in fact, multi-talented people who know about de-escalating situations when possible, and getting the stock rolling to help whenever possible. I just bolded aspects of the job I found interesting, or hadnt known about or understood before. Yours might be similar or different... The Job The Emergency Dispatcher receives complaints … [Read more...] about Job Description of a 911 Dispatcher: A Complicated Job, Far More than Answering Phone