At 12:56 this morning Cal Brown died in Walla Walla, Washington. He was 52 and had been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder. It isn’t remarkable that he is dead, nor is it remarkable that his was the first execution in the state of Washington since 2001. It isn’t even remarkable that his insanity defense was rejected despite his diagnosis, nor that the U. S. Supreme Court, the … [Read more...] about Cal Brown Is Dead
First Living Medal of Honor Recipient for Heroism in Iraq and Afghanistan
I have often lamented the dearth of Medals of Honor awarded to our heroes of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, including the fact that none of the very few Medals of Honor for heroism in those wars has been awarded to a living hero. Well, that is about to change. The Washington Post has just reported that President Obama will be awarding the Medal of Honor to a living … [Read more...] about First Living Medal of Honor Recipient for Heroism in Iraq and Afghanistan
Why Did the Media Make Such a Big Deal About Burning the Koran
What is the president of the United States, the Attorney General, our top military commander, and an icon of the right doing giving their opinion on the threat to burn a Koran by a storefront preacher with 50 followers that no one had ever heard of and who will likely be forgotten once the brouhaha has passed? As far as straight news value, this story ranks somewhere between … [Read more...] about Why Did the Media Make Such a Big Deal About Burning the Koran
Net Neutrality: A Crucial Issue With a Lame Name (Guest Voice)
Net Neutrality: A Crucial Issue With a Lame Name by Tina Dupuy The term “net neutrality” has the magical property of making most people’s eyes glaze over. First, it sounds like a gambling term. “I have a system and net neutrality – I can’t lose!” Second, no one using the Internet calls it “the net” anymore. Just like no one in San Francisco calls it “Frisco.” So the term … [Read more...] about Net Neutrality: A Crucial Issue With a Lame Name (Guest Voice)
Koran Burning Pastor
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9-11, In Remembrance and Healing Over Our 3,557 Souls Lost: A Muslim Prayer-Poem
ACT GREAT by the Persian poet Muhammad Hafez What is the key To untie the knot of your mind’s suffering? What is the 'secret' secret To slay the crazed one whom each of us Did wed And who can ruin Our heart’s and eye’s exquisitely tender Landscape? Hafez has found Two emerald words that Restored Me That I now cling to these two words as I would … [Read more...] about 9-11, In Remembrance and Healing Over Our 3,557 Souls Lost: A Muslim Prayer-Poem
Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Is Unconstitutional
A federal judge has ruled that the military policy of Don't Ask Don't Tell is unconstitutional because it violates the 1st amendment rights of servicemembers. Judge Virginia Phillps (a Clinton appointee to federal bench but a GOP appointee to state bench) ruled that the law is unconstitutional on its face and issued an injunction. I presume this will be appealed, … [Read more...] about Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Is Unconstitutional
Judge Says the Military’s Ban on Gays is Unconstitutional
Breaking News: Various media sources are reporting that a federal judge in Southern California has declared the U.S. military's ban on openly gay service members unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips today granted a request for an injunction halting the government's "don't ask, don't tell" policy for gays in the military. The judge says that the … [Read more...] about Judge Says the Military’s Ban on Gays is Unconstitutional
HOW TO SOLVE THE QURAN BURNING ISSUE
There is a mentally unbalanced Protestant Preacher and his congregation of some 50 people in Florida who have gleefully, malignantly and insultingly announced their intention to burn Qurans this Saturday, 9/11/10. They plan to exercise their First Amendment Rights within the relatively safe and tolerant bastion of the United States – a country that has a long history of … [Read more...] about HOW TO SOLVE THE QURAN BURNING ISSUE
Pastor Jones Takes Journalists for a Ride: Folha, Brazil
To worldwide relief, Pastor Terry Jones has called off his plans to burn Qurans on September 11. But how is it that a man as misguided and unimportant as this can so easily get the planet's attention? According to columnist Clovis Rossi of Brazil's Folha, TV broadcasters are only too willing to cover a 'show' that warrants no one's serious attention. For Folha, Clovis Rossi … [Read more...] about Pastor Jones Takes Journalists for a Ride: Folha, Brazil
No this Stump Speech Isn’t A Scene from Saturday Live or The Office
No, this video below from the Huffington Post is not part of a Saturday Night skit or someone auditioning to replace Steve Carrell on The Office -- although ultimately unsuccessful Phil Davison of Minerva, Ohio, seemed like he could win that part due to his stump speech featured below as he attempted to convince Stark County GOPers to let him run for county treasurer. Taegan … [Read more...] about No this Stump Speech Isn’t A Scene from Saturday Live or The Office
Update 3: 12.25 AM : Qur’an Burning On “Hold”
12.25 AM: "We have now put a temporary hold on our planned event." The BBC has a video interview with Terry Jones, who claims that Imam Muhammad Musri "clearly, clearly lied to us." Mr Musri, from the Islamic Society of Central Florida, said Mr Jones had "stretched his words", and that he had only agreed to fly to New York with Mr Jones on Saturday and speak with the … [Read more...] about Update 3: 12.25 AM : Qur’an Burning On “Hold”
New York Times Publisher Admits: The Times Will Eventually Stop Printing
What more evidence do you need that the era when news was distributed on paper printed from cut down trees is winding down: the New York Times' venerable publisher Arthur Sulzberger has candidly admitted that the Times' printed days are numbered -- and it's likely to be sooner than much later: The publisher of the New York Times acknowledged Wednesday that the newspaper … [Read more...] about New York Times Publisher Admits: The Times Will Eventually Stop Printing
Burning The Qur’an, Literally and Figuratively, Take Two
My head is spinning. Almost a month ago, I wrote about the link between the then-infant "Burn The Qur'an Day" and the faux "NYC Mosque" controversy, a link that I described as the rhetoric of hate as I tried to understand how the speakers could have actually read the words of Christ as shared in The New Testament: Tell me, please, how to get from this message of … [Read more...] about Burning The Qur’an, Literally and Figuratively, Take Two
Maryland’s Trojan Horse – Doug Gansler
This year, the Maryland Republican Party could not find a candidate to run for Attorney General. This means that the incumbent, Doug Gansler has no opposition on the ballot in November. Unfortunately, this will leave him free to meddle in competitive races across Maryland. Today, Politico reports the first salvo of the Gansler crusade to clean up elections. The ban on … [Read more...] about Maryland’s Trojan Horse – Doug Gansler
Nine Years After 9/11: Are We Still ‘One’?
For nine years we have been remembering, commemorating, reflecting upon the tragic events that took away more than 3,000 Americans, that took away our innocence, that changed our nation on a sunny Tuesday morning. This Saturday, we will still solemnly remember and shed many tears. We always will. However, one thing will be missing, and it has been missing for several … [Read more...] about Nine Years After 9/11: Are We Still ‘One’?
Android Exposes The Underbelly Of “Open”
This has got to be one of the best headlines on the Net today: Android Is As Open As The Clenched Fist I’d Like To Punch The Carriers With. I expected it to be link bait, but it's not. ... the so-called open system is quickly revealing itself to be anything but... the carriers may actually be able to exploit this “openness” to create a closed system that may leave you … [Read more...] about Android Exposes The Underbelly Of “Open”
Citizens United Impact: Super PAC’s, Big Money
The U. S. Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. FEC opened the door to unlimited spending by corporations and unions to advocate for, or against, specific candidates. The early results of the decision are beginning to show. The FEC reports 25 Super PAC’s taking advantage of the removal of restrictions to raise money for independent candidate advocacy. The … [Read more...] about Citizens United Impact: Super PAC’s, Big Money
Party Time for bin Laden
Al Qaeda's Class of 2001 has much to celebrate this weekend on the anniversary of its biggest hits, not least of which is the fear and panic that has not only persisted but grown as a result of its 9/11 attacks. Nine years later, Americans are divided by headline bigotry over building a mosque near Ground Zero while an ecclesiastical moron with a flock of fifty plans to mark … [Read more...] about Party Time for bin Laden
Definition of Insanity
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