President Obama said he invited Prof. Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Sgt. James Crowley to the White House for a beer, presumably to have a laugh about this racial and/or class flare-up about wrongful arrest and hissyfittedness in Cambridge. The more important question than whether this will result in some racial breakthrough, for beer connoisseurs at least, is: What Kind of Beer … [Read more...] about What’s The Perfect Beer For Racial Reconciliation At The White House? (UPDATED)
Obama Regrets The Stupid Comment
I sure do give him credit. That guy sees just about everything as a teachable moment! He just is not willing to let this stupid (er, did I say "stupid"?) issue get in the way of things: President Obama said Friday that he “could have calibrated” his words more carefully in the controversy over the arrest of a black Harvard professor by a white police officer, but added that … [Read more...] about Obama Regrets The Stupid Comment
A Sequel — Happy Times Are Here Again
It pays not to always believe health care providers when they say "no" to paying for services. On Tuesday I lamented my case in which California's MediCal system because of budget cutbacks no longer paid for my test strips used to monitor my blood glucose which for a diabetic is essential as breathing. Today I struck gold. After 45 minutes plowing through the automated phone … [Read more...] about A Sequel — Happy Times Are Here Again
Was Gates Incident A More A Class Issue Than Race ?
I've been thinking about this whole thing and wondering, is it really a race issue or is it a class issue ? I don't know the background of the officer involved, but if he's a Boston area police officer the odds are he grew up in a middle or working class home, probably a blue collar neighborhood. He probably did not grow up in an upper class family. This is not to look down … [Read more...] about Was Gates Incident A More A Class Issue Than Race ?
PIGS, WONDERFUL PIGS
I do not eat kosher but I learned to cook kosher for friends and family when I was younger. I personally enjoy cooking and eating roast pork, barbequed baby-back ribs, pork sausages, pork chops and even bacon or prosciutto. (I’m not going to prepare a luncheon anytime soon for Temple Beth Israel.) About once a week I’ll eat some form of pig meat. I also eat a variety of … [Read more...] about PIGS, WONDERFUL PIGS
Is Obama Snubbing the King of Morocco?: Le Quotidien d’Oran of Algeria
King Mohammed VI of Morocco One of the things we try to do at WORLDMEETS.US is bring to the attention of the American people stories and news sources rarely touched on by U.S. media - but that involve our nation. The situation in the Western Sahara is one such story, demonstrating once again that in all kinds of situations, what an American president says and does results … [Read more...] about Is Obama Snubbing the King of Morocco?: Le Quotidien d’Oran of Algeria
Harbingers Of The Next Market Bust
I'm not a professional historian. Neither are you probably. But there isn't anyone reading this who does not remember the bubble in the stock market during 2005, 2006, and early 2007. And since virtually everyone has these first-hand memories, it should be abundantly clear what we should have learned from them. In those earlier years, market movers on Wall Street were making … [Read more...] about Harbingers Of The Next Market Bust
California Budget Update
The California budget package has passed through the State Senate and is currently heading has passed through the State Assembly, with passage expected later today. But as Sacramento Bee columnist Dan Walters points out, this is only a short term solution as California is now on a 5 or 6 month budget cycle. Some parts of the deal that took money from local governments was … [Read more...] about California Budget Update
The Franking Commission Digs Own Grave
When exactly did the Franking Commission become part of the Democratic Party? Somehow, though the tradition of "franking" dates back to the English House of Commons, I don't think very many people saw this coming. First they shut down the mailing of a graphic with a flow chart about health care on it, and now Rep. John Carter of Texas has been informed that he can't record a … [Read more...] about The Franking Commission Digs Own Grave
Compassion Is the Key to Lowering Health Care Costs
This is the theme of Paul Krugman's column today: … [Read more...] about Compassion Is the Key to Lowering Health Care Costs
Racial Politics, Hot and Cool
In saying a policeman acted "stupidly" in arresting Henry Louis Gates Jr., President Obama has uncharacteristically inflamed a minor incident and revived last year's idiotic debate about whether or not he is "black enough" to suit African-Americans or, on the other hand, too black for those who see the world primarily in racial terms. Until Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. became a … [Read more...] about Racial Politics, Hot and Cool
Hispanics Keep Out
Azle,Texas is a small town, about 10 miles northwest of Fort Worth, with a population of about 12,000---about 93 percent white and 4 percent Hispanic. It is suddenly in the national news. The reason: one of its residents has posted a "Hispanics Keep Out" sign on the front of his or her home. Reportedly the sign has been up for months. According to khou.com, "Many … [Read more...] about Hispanics Keep Out
A Breather on Health Care Reform Might Be Good
That is Nate Silver's assessment right now -- for two main reasons: … [Read more...] about A Breather on Health Care Reform Might Be Good
A.P. Cracks Down On Web Use Of Its Content
This will likely ricochet around the blogosphere today: Taking a new hard line that news articles should not turn up on search engines and Web sites without permission, The Associated Press said Thursday that it would add software to each article that shows what limits apply to the rights to use it, and that notifies The A.P. about how the article is used. Tom Curley, The … [Read more...] about A.P. Cracks Down On Web Use Of Its Content
Palin Popularity Plummets While Packing
In entry number 752 of my ongoing, 4,000 part series of baseless and despicable attacks on Sarah Palin and her family, we find the soon to be ex-governor's popularity heading for non viability as she packs her bags to evacuate the Alaska executive mansion. A new Washington Post - ABC poll seems to indicate a definite pattern in changing views towards Mrs. Palin, and they're all … [Read more...] about Palin Popularity Plummets While Packing
Amazon’s Bezos Apologizes For Orwellian Kindle Moment
An apology from Amazon: Jeffrey P. Bezos says: This is an apology for the way we previously handled illegally sold copies of 1984 and other novels on Kindle. Our "solution" to the problem was stupid, thoughtless, and painfully out of line with our principles. It is wholly self-inflicted, and we deserve the criticism we've received. We will use the scar tissue from this … [Read more...] about Amazon’s Bezos Apologizes For Orwellian Kindle Moment
Germany Goes on the Offensive in Afghanistan
Believe it or not, Germany is getting tough at the Hindu Kush. The German armed forces are undergoing its biggest operation yet in Afghanistan. The Bundeswehr is supporting the Afghan Army with around 300 members of the Quick Reaction Force (QRF) in operation "Eagle" against insurgents near Kundus. For the first time, infantry fighting vehicles with heavy firepower have been … [Read more...] about Germany Goes on the Offensive in Afghanistan
Hugs and High School (Guest Voice)
Editor's note: Sometimes writers and readers on the Internet get so bogged down in partisan warfare, angry posts, and outraged comments that we lose sight of the things that really matter. Brian Blum not only doesn't, but he dutifully records some of the ones he sees in his normal life with his family in Israel. Here is a gem cross posted from his largely non-political blog … [Read more...] about Hugs and High School (Guest Voice)
Single Payer Healthcare Would Be Better (Guest Voice)
Single Payer Healthcare Would Be Better by Jim Bell Thinking that we can solve our health care problems with one bill is wishful thinking at best, and is no where near realistic. Initially, the bills in the House and Senate are taking the approach that the Government should enter the health insurance business and offer health coverage that would ultimately make it all but … [Read more...] about Single Payer Healthcare Would Be Better (Guest Voice)
One More Fallen Hero to Receive The Medal of Honor
According to The Daily News Tribune: Janet Monti was home nursing a cold when the call came in. At first, she thought it was a joke. A person who claimed to be a White House aide asked if she would be around for the next half hour. Ten minutes later, she was on the phone with the President. “He said, ‘I hear you’re a little under the weather,’” she recalled … [Read more...] about One More Fallen Hero to Receive The Medal of Honor