Here. I would say, "Everybody's a critic," but truth is the government's dislike of the festival has nothing to do with music and everything with the Methodist Church's opposition to the coup which brought the government to power. [Sort of crossposted on my personal blog.] … [Read more...] about Fijian Government Silences Methodist Choral Festival
The IG Report on Torture and Related Subjects
Despite the CIA's delaying tactics, which have been going on for months now, the much-anticipated Inspector-General's Report on the CIA's Bush-era interrogation program came out yesterday, as promised the last time the release date was postponed. Also yesterday, Attorney-General Eric Holder announced his intent to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate "cases of abuse … [Read more...] about The IG Report on Torture and Related Subjects
The West’s ‘Profound Hypocrisy’ Over Lockerbie ‘Suspect’s’ Release: Le Quotidien d’Oran, Algeria
Is it possible that Western officials were surprised by the welcome given by Libyan despot Mouammar Qadaffi to Lockerbie bombing convict Abdels al-Megrahi? Or could it be that their outrage stems from the embarrassment they feel over the way the story has been covered by the Western media? Reflecting a swath of Muslim reaction to the story, K. Selim of Algeria's Le Quotidien … [Read more...] about The West’s ‘Profound Hypocrisy’ Over Lockerbie ‘Suspect’s’ Release: Le Quotidien d’Oran, Algeria
The Gathering Storm: H1N1
WaPo: Swine flu could infect half the U.S. population this fall and winter, hospitalizing up to 1.8 million people and causing as many as 90,000 deaths -- more than double the number that occur in an average flu season, according to an estimate from a presidential panel released Monday. That panel, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), … [Read more...] about The Gathering Storm: H1N1
Shuttle Launch Scrubbed (Deja Vu)
Tuesday evening/Wednesday morning and we've got another scrub. In this case it was an equipment issue with the failure of a Liquid Hydrogen valve to report proper closing. Obviously when it comes to Liquid Hydrogen you do NOT want to mess around with possible problems. Having volatile fuels leaking out at launch leads to some very messy outcomes. Right now they are on a … [Read more...] about Shuttle Launch Scrubbed (Deja Vu)
Little League Is Awesome, Despite The Hype
As I write this, Chula Vista, Calif., is about to play San Antonio in a preliminary round of undefeated teams in the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Penn. The Chula Vista all-star team is the equivalent of the 1927 Yankees. They slugged 46 home runs in their last eight games and shutout their first two World Series opponents 29-0. Sally Jenkins, the … [Read more...] about Little League Is Awesome, Despite The Hype
Birthers: Beyond Obama’s Deep Pockets
It you're unhappy with the info and facts presented so far on President Barack Obama being born in the United States, why not start a new debate about...his foreskin? h/T Hinessight … [Read more...] about Birthers: Beyond Obama’s Deep Pockets
In Defense of the GOP
It's almost funny. In a post yesterday, I suggested we seek to be the type of citizens described by Mark Slouka in Harper's; citizens who are ... capable of humility in the face of complexity ... formed through questioning and therefore unlikely to cede that right ... resistant to coercion, to manipulation and demagoguery in all their forms. Almost immediately, a … [Read more...] about In Defense of the GOP
Political Torture Wars: It’s Cheney Versus Obama Again (Cheney Vindicated Or Not?)
Former Vice President Dick Cheney issued a statement today that is yet one more chapter in the ongoing battle of Cheney versus the Obama Administration -- and precision accuracy -- again. The issue: the administration's decision to appoint a Special Prospector to look into specific allegations of torture under the Bush administration. The second issue: the release of CIA … [Read more...] about Political Torture Wars: It’s Cheney Versus Obama Again (Cheney Vindicated Or Not?)
Veterans Push Back Against Big Oil
Guest post by Frankie Sturm Frankie Sturm is communications director at the Truman National Security Project and a freelance journalist. Ed. note: As part of our ongoing relationship with the Truman National Security Project, I'm pleased to announce that we'll be cross-posting some pieces from Operation FREE, a new initiative that seeks to raise awareness about the links … [Read more...] about Veterans Push Back Against Big Oil
Wires Suck: Eric Giler Demos Witricity
Ted Talks: Eric Giler wants to untangle our wired lives with cable-free electric power. Here, he covers what this sci-fi tech offers, and demos MIT's breakthrough version, WiTricity [Wikipedia entry] -- a near-to-market invention that may soon recharge your cell phone, car, pacemaker. Endgadget: What started out as an MIT project two years ago has now progressed into a … [Read more...] about Wires Suck: Eric Giler Demos Witricity
Guest Book Review: The Day We Found The Universe
Guest Book Review: The Day We Found The Universe by Marcia Bartusiak Reviewed by Ron Beasley Astrology began to morph into astronomy in 1543 with the publication of Nicolaus Copernicus' “On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres.” It was here, much to the dismay of theologians, the Earth lost its place as the center of the universe. The transformation was complete … [Read more...] about Guest Book Review: The Day We Found The Universe
Stinky Health Care and Spending
Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. … [Read more...] about Stinky Health Care and Spending
Happy Blogiversary, Kevin!
It's been seven years now that Kevin Drum's been blogging. His story says something great about the blogosphere. Some of the early bloggers were grad students in their pajamas. (Why is everyone looking at me?!?!?) In contrast, Kevin had a successful career in business, then decided to try his hand at blogging in his free time. His good nature, command of details and … [Read more...] about Happy Blogiversary, Kevin!
Are We Now The Soviets In Afghanistan?
Matt Yglesias asks:If you read accounts of the Soviet war in Afghanistan in the 1980s, people generally always seem to think that American and Saudi and Pakistani support for the Mujahedeen was an important factor. I don’t see anyone saying “it was all a big waste of time and the same stuff would have happened anyway.”Ask and ye shall receive! Two days after Matt put up his … [Read more...] about Are We Now The Soviets In Afghanistan?
So Can Anyone Actually Do Anything About Global Warming?
The new issue of Foreign Affairs is hot off the presses. Its cover package includes three articles about global warming that are well worth reading. The focus here is entirely on how to solve the problem. This is a discussion of the politics, not the scientific debate behind it. First up is Michael Levi, who provides a very sobering look at how hard it will be for this … [Read more...] about So Can Anyone Actually Do Anything About Global Warming?
UBS America Turned Into a ‘Criminal Organization’: Nachrichten, Switzerland
Now that Swiss authorities have done the unthinkable: admitted to wrongdoing and handed U.S. authorities the data on over 4,000 of its American clients - how are the people of Switzerland reacting? If the comments of Nachrichten columnist Patrik Etschmayer are anything to go by, there's going to be hell to pay in Geneva. For Switzerland's Nachrichten newspaper, Patrik … [Read more...] about UBS America Turned Into a ‘Criminal Organization’: Nachrichten, Switzerland
Mirror Neurons: How Porn Works
Jonah Lehrer is a fascinating fellow. A contributing editor at Wired, he's the author of Proust Was A Neuroscientist and How We Decide. I became familiar with him through his work on WNYC's Radio Lab. Today he got to thinking about mirror neurons: Mirror neurons are a classic illustration of a scientific idea that's so elegant and intriguing our theories get ahead of the … [Read more...] about Mirror Neurons: How Porn Works
Two Health Care Plans Republicans Should Support
Whenever health care reform is talked about, Republicans respond in an almost Pavlov-style manner. Immediately we start talking about the evils of the Canadian and British healthcare systems and about the loss of American freedoms. Some even go a step further and claim as blogger John Vecchione writes in a recent post, that there is no health care crisis and when nations make … [Read more...] about Two Health Care Plans Republicans Should Support
Beck Bile
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. . All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Beck Bile