On the surface, it is extremely suspicious the New York Times news pages are working in concert with the Obama Administration's initial steps towards immigration reform: A kinder, gentler approach in stark contrast to those employee raids conducted by the junior George Bush. I'll use the link to the story and you can decide for yourself. What I do know is that Obama's … [Read more...] about Road To A More Sensible Immigration Policy
The Dreaded Double Dip
After plunging in 2008 and early this year, since March the Dow soared some 36 percent. In the last two weeks, however, it has taken another nasty slide. Could this a signal we are about to experience.... The Dreaded Double Dip There are few worse fears among the seers who give guidance to The Street, Than an upward turn they claimed to discern that … [Read more...] about The Dreaded Double Dip
Michael Jackson: Symbol of a Near-Dead Music Industry – Nachrichten of Switzerland
Is Michael Jackson - and along with him U2 and Madonna - the last vestige of a music industry in its death throes? For Switzerland's Nachrichten newspaper, Patrik Etschmayer writes in part: "Ever since Michael Jackson, King of Pop, extra-terrestrial, and whatever else he was dubbed, shuffled off this mortal coil, commentators around the world have absolutely flipped. … [Read more...] about Michael Jackson: Symbol of a Near-Dead Music Industry – Nachrichten of Switzerland
Happy Motoring, America; Shafted Again
A rogue oil commodities broker was caught manipulating a spike in world oil prices forcing his company to eat $10 million in losses. The disclosure occurred Tuesday when the price of crude oil reached a year's high $73.50 a barrel at a time when the U.S. posts its highest demand on gasoline for the summer vacation season. By Thursday oil prices fell to $66.50 a barrel, down … [Read more...] about Happy Motoring, America; Shafted Again
More News from Mother Nature
Being socked in by repeating lines of storm fronts, I find myself with more time for those pesky internets than I might have liked. Today's exhibit in photography is an interesting effect found when rain clouds totally swamp a set of mountain peaks, with ghostly tendrils hanging down from the main cloud body like moss on a tree. There's an entire line of mountain peaks beyond … [Read more...] about More News from Mother Nature
Judge Overturns Guilty Verdicts in MySpace Suicide
Wired: A federal judge on Thursday overturned guilty verdicts against Lori Drew, issuing a directed acquittal on three misdemeanor charges. Drew, 50, was accused of participating in a cyberbullying scheme against 13-year-old Megan Meier who later committed suicide. The case against Drew hinged on the government’s novel argument that violating MySpace’s terms of service was … [Read more...] about Judge Overturns Guilty Verdicts in MySpace Suicide
Quote of the Day: On Republican Opposition to Sonia Sotomayor
Our political Quote of the Day comes from Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt, on GOP opposition to President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor: Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which will begin confirmation hearings July 13, shrugged off the GOP concerns being raised about Sotomayor, saying some in the GOP were going to oppose … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: On Republican Opposition to Sonia Sotomayor
Mark Sanford, Mental Case?
I've written a lot already on the whole Mark Sanford saga and I don't intend to write too much more on it this morning. Let me just say this: Is it really necessary to delve into the man's psyche, and specifically to do so without actually examining him, and, what's more, so publicly? He does seem to be going through some sort of adolescent mid-life crisis. And he does … [Read more...] about Mark Sanford, Mental Case?
Recession Fizzles Fireworks Displays (Or Not?)
With America mired in a recession, and the latest job numbers worse than expected, it's a natural "hook" for a story about fireworks throughout the country. Is the recession causing fireworks displays to fizzle? There are some contradictory reports. For instance, NBC News reports that financial crisis has caused many communities to either eliminate fireworks, cut back or … [Read more...] about Recession Fizzles Fireworks Displays (Or Not?)
Michael Jackson – Now it starts
The headline says it all: LAPD Under Scrutiny After Jackson's Death Let the speculation and creation of conspiracy theories begin... --- Cross-posted between Random Fate and The Moderate Voice. --- Technorati : LAPD, Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson death Del.icio.us : LAPD, Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson death Zooomr : LAPD, Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson death … [Read more...] about Michael Jackson – Now it starts
For Those Lost To Us In These Last Many Days
THE LITTLEST LAZARUS How can you have died? No, no. 'Tooo young, tooo young,' hoot the owls in the night pines... How can you have died with your wings spread out so beautifully, two little silver-gray fans with vanes perfectly aligned, literally zipped shut so as to make your feathers air-tight, impervious to being split by wind... All so you could fly. So you could … [Read more...] about For Those Lost To Us In These Last Many Days
Honduras: Set the bar high for democracy in the Americas
With US support, the Organization of American States has threatened to expel Honduras. The Pentagon has cut off military ties. Our Secretary of State wants the actions of the Honduran government to be "condemned by all". Kathy describes this situation as one of regional democracy at work. Personally, I am more inclined to James Kirchick's view that it is extremely strange … [Read more...] about Honduras: Set the bar high for democracy in the Americas
Bombs-Away Bolton Urges Israel to Strike Iran
Here he is, heaving and gasping, ecstasy contorting his face as he fantasizes: … [Read more...] about Bombs-Away Bolton Urges Israel to Strike Iran
Gays In The Military Now!
This week, both the editorial columns in both the New Republic and the New Yorker are demanding that Barack Obama demonstrate his commitment to gay rights by revoking "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" so that gay men and women can serve openly in the US military. The editors at both publications seem to have forgotten the conventional wisdom of just a few months ago: Don't make the … [Read more...] about Gays In The Military Now!
“We Were All Ahmadinejads Then”
Hooman Majd in TNR: One Mousavi campaign manager was asked about the brutality of [the regime], way back, when [Mousavi] was prime minister in the 1980s. The staffer answered, "We were all Ahmadinejads then." After 6/12, we Iranians are all Mousavis now, even those who voted for Ahmadinejad, whether they know it yet or not.Cross-posted at Conventional Folly … [Read more...] about “We Were All Ahmadinejads Then”
Government Refinancing Available For Up To 125% Of Home Value
I don't have much to add to the news that Fannie/Freddie are allowing homeowners to refinance for amounts up to 125% of their home value that Yves doesn't cover. The intention of the program is very clear: it's meant to allow people to stay in their homes/have more money for consumption (or other debt payments) in circumstances when they should most likely just throw in the … [Read more...] about Government Refinancing Available For Up To 125% Of Home Value
Obama Can Kiss Iranian Help in Afghanistan Goodbye: Kayhan, Islamic Republic of Iran
With the White House launching the U.S. military into its first big offensive in Afghanistan since President Obama took office, this angry and sarcastic article from Iran's state-controlled Kayhan newspaper cannot be good news. Writing for Kayhan, Kian Mokhtari writes in part: "On Saturday, Obama rather swiftly brushed off a call by President Ahmadinejad for an apology … [Read more...] about Obama Can Kiss Iranian Help in Afghanistan Goodbye: Kayhan, Islamic Republic of Iran
Washington Post Newspaper Sh— In Its Own Mess Kit
Please excuse me, I'm a military USAF wife for twenty-one years, and I've heard all cuss words, even those not yet invented. I rarely swear... except when something is so outrageous that only the Saxon mean can tell it like it is. In military talk, we say about stump stupid acts; Never, ever sh-- where you eat, and especially, Do not sh-- in your mess kit. But today the … [Read more...] about Washington Post Newspaper Sh— In Its Own Mess Kit
Neverland Was Never Forever: Folha, Brazil
The planetary Rorschach test that is Michael Jackson's death continues with this article from Brazil's Folha newspaper. For Folha, Joao Pereira Coutinho delves into the inevitable conspiracy theories surrounding Jackson's death - and how the singer failed to grasp the myths he himself adopted and altered for his own purposes. Joao Pereira Coutinho writes in part: "Poor … [Read more...] about Neverland Was Never Forever: Folha, Brazil
The Tragedy and Narcissism of Mark Sanford
Simply, the tide is rising against him. His Argentine mistress was his "soul mate," he claims, but he wants to reconcile with his wife? Okay, but what does his wife think of that? "This was a whole lot more than a simple affair, this was a love story. A forbidden one, a tragic one, but a love story at the end of the day." Sure, I get that. And, in a way, I feel for him -- … [Read more...] about The Tragedy and Narcissism of Mark Sanford