Suspending the priest at the center of a German church sex-abuse scandal more than 30 years after the church first heard of the child molestation allegations hardly ends the scandal that is enveloping Pope Benedict XVI: In 1980, Benedict, then archbishop there, approved Father Hullermann’s move to Munich after he was accused of sexually abusing boys in the Diocese of Essen, … [Read more...] about The Pope And The Ever-Widening European Priest Sex-Abuse Scandals
An Interesting Hypothetical For Dog Lovers
I was listening to my morning radio show (Armstrong and Getty) today when an interesting hypothetical came up. The discussion began when the hosts were talking about the fact that one of them had just become a father last week. He and his wife are big dog lovers and have a couple at home. One of the dogs was adopted from a shelter pretty much hours before he was set to be … [Read more...] about An Interesting Hypothetical For Dog Lovers
We Wouldn’t Dare What Congress Did
The next time you hear a politician rail about Social Security and Medicare going broke, you have my permission to throw your shoe at him/her/it. Since the Reagan administration, both parties in power have robbed the entitlement program trust funds as a kid breaking his piggy bank and paying it back in worthless IOUs. Folks, that's not much of a stretch. Here's why. If … [Read more...] about We Wouldn’t Dare What Congress Did
Obama’s Greek Tragedy
If he signs a health care bill into law this month, in his heart of hearts, the President will be haunted by the ancient plaint of King Pyrrhus, "Another such victory, and I am undone." How did 21st century America fall into Greek tragedy while fighting to spread the benefits of civilization to its people? How did rational debate deteriorate into the ancient ritual of a … [Read more...] about Obama’s Greek Tragedy
You Say Tea Party, I say Coffee Party, Tea Party, Coffee Party … Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off
Things have come to a pretty pass Our romance is growing flat, For you like this and the other While I go for this and that, Goodness knows what the end will be Oh I don't know where I'm at It looks as if we two will never be one Something must be done (from Let's Call the Whole Thing Off by George & Ira Gershwin) If the Tea Party is a conservative element seeking to … [Read more...] about You Say Tea Party, I say Coffee Party, Tea Party, Coffee Party … Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off
Good News for Independents on Prop 14 Ballot Wording Fight
More commentary this weekend on California's Proposition 14 "top two" open primary referendum after Judge Allen Sumner's ballot wording ruling on Friday. The ruling was seen as a win for independent voters by attorney Harry Kresky of IndependentVoting and by Californians for an Open Primary/Yes on 14... Meanwhile, state Rep. Hunter Greene, a Republican who chairs the state … [Read more...] about Good News for Independents on Prop 14 Ballot Wording Fight
Your IRS At Work
Good to know that our IRS is on the job. They have gone after a "major tax cheat" in the form of Harv's Metro Car Wash. His offense ? Underpaying his taxes by 4 cents. Of course with interest and penalties it's now over $ 200. Good to know they aren't wasting their time with one of those million dollar tax cheats.... … [Read more...] about Your IRS At Work
Double Standard In Gay Bashing Case
I'd like you to imagine for a moment what would happen if a group of conservative Christians had been arrested for driving around shooting gay men with a BB gun and filming the shootings. Do you think the reaction would be muted or would there be a mild outcry ? Do you think the prosecuting attorney would keep quiet about the story or would go public to condemn the attacks … [Read more...] about Double Standard In Gay Bashing Case
View of Google from China
Jianping Fan, Guangzhou, China This cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about View of Google from China
Ask the Chamber of Commerce: Why Is Too Much Not Enough? (Guest Voice)
Ask the Chamber of Commerce: Why Is Too Much Not Enough? by Bill Moyers and Michael Winship Living in these United States, there comes a point at which you throw your hands up in exasperation and despair and ask a fundamental question or two: how much excess profit does corporate America really need? How much bigger do executive salaries and bonuses have to be, how many … [Read more...] about Ask the Chamber of Commerce: Why Is Too Much Not Enough? (Guest Voice)
How Quick They Forget: A Short History of U.S. Policy and Israeli Construction in East Jerusalem (Guest Voice)
How Quick They Forget: A Short History of U.S. Policy and Israeli Construction in East Jerusalem by Barry Rubin For more than four months the U.S. government has been celebrating Israel agreeing to stop construction on settlements in the West Bank while continuing building in east Jerusalem as a great step forward and Israeli concession deserving a reward. Suddenly, all of … [Read more...] about How Quick They Forget: A Short History of U.S. Policy and Israeli Construction in East Jerusalem (Guest Voice)
Rove’s revisionism on Iraq
Peter Feaver has a very interesting post up about the assertion in Karl Rove's new book that "if the administration had known the true extent of Iraq's WMD stockpile and programs it would not have pushed the use of force resolution in October 2002 and invaded in 2003." In other words, if our intelligence were right, there would've been no invasion of Iraq. As Peter points … [Read more...] about Rove’s revisionism on Iraq
Beware the Ides of March
Beware the Ides of March she said, Or we shall have to tell The way you died A strange demise On your way to rot in hell That was the opening stanza of a poem I composed more than three decades ago, back in 1973, for a high school English class assignment. (And I still have a copy of it today.) I not only received an "F" on the project but my parents were called in for a … [Read more...] about Beware the Ides of March
U.S. Cities In 43 States Vying For Google Fiber
More than 100 cities and counties in 43 states have official and unofficial efforts to develop a pitch for Google's fiber contest by 26 March. Apparently missing: Delaware, Maine, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island and Wyoming. But there's an unofficial Facebook page for Washington, DC. On 10 February, Google announced that it was "planning to build and … [Read more...] about U.S. Cities In 43 States Vying For Google Fiber
Israel Uses ‘Diplomatic Terrorism’ Against the United States: Alhayat Aljadeeda, Palestinian Territories
Reflecting the deep sense of Palestinian frustration, columnist Adli Sadek of Alhayat Aljadeeda, a newspaper in the Palestinian territories, writes that the Israeli government is playing Washington like a harp, by using the trumped-up threat of an Iranian bomb to force it to back off on Israeli-Palestinian talks and the formation of a Palestinian state. Sadek goes on to … [Read more...] about Israel Uses ‘Diplomatic Terrorism’ Against the United States: Alhayat Aljadeeda, Palestinian Territories
Thou Shall Mostly Tell The Truth
Thou shall not bear false witness. . . unless your false witness is in the form of an email. In that case, feel free to forward your lies to everyone in your address book. For although God is truth and His followers must walk in truth, it’s really not a big deal to pass on an email that might not be completely true. I mean most of it is probably true and anyway, it does a … [Read more...] about Thou Shall Mostly Tell The Truth
RIP Peter Graves
The *real* Jim Phelps has passed away. Rest in Peace Captain Over. … [Read more...] about RIP Peter Graves
Making Sense of Privacy and Publicity
The title is from danah boyd's SXSW Keynote yesterday. "One of the the world's foremost authorities on social networks," Boyd is a social media researcher at Microsoft Research New England and a Fellow at Harvard's Berkman Center for Internet and Society. Known for her academic work and commentary on teens and social networking sites, she posted today: My talk was about … [Read more...] about Making Sense of Privacy and Publicity
Joe Biden’s Trip to Israel: The Backstory
The press has been full of stories about the shabby way in which Vice-President Joe Biden was treated on his recent trip to Israel and his confrontation with P.M. Benjamin Netanyahu over the unexpected (to the United States) news that Israel was going ahead with the construction of 1,600 new housing units in East Jerusalem. … [Read more...] about Joe Biden’s Trip to Israel: The Backstory
Ulysses S. Grant, new Founding Father?
Are liberals and conservatives coming together to add President Grant to our pantheon of heroes? This morning, Princeton historian Sean Wilentz argues in the Times,Although slandered since his death, Grant, as general and as president, stood second only to Abraham Lincoln as the vindicator of [American] principles in the Civil War era.The occasion for Wilentz's op-ed is a … [Read more...] about Ulysses S. Grant, new Founding Father?