In internet time this is old news. But the irony that earlier on the very day that the NY Assembly voted a bill to legalize gay marriage still more photos of Carrie Prejean were revealed makes it too hard to resist. That last batch -- taken when "Carrie was the ripe ol' LEGAL age of 20" -- came after she was the featured event in a press conference held by The Donald in the … [Read more...] about Carrie Keeps Her Crown
Why USA Overlooks Pakistan’s Nuclear Plans?
In the annals of diplomacy, and now the war-on-terror, the USA's continued overlooking of Pakistan's dangerous role in proliferating nuclear arms within the country, and among rogue states, would remain a great mystery. A recent MSNBC report details more alarming news. "Without any public U.S. reproach, Pakistan is building two of the developing world’s largest plutonium … [Read more...] about Why USA Overlooks Pakistan’s Nuclear Plans?
McCain and Gitmo: Which side is he on?
John McCain also promised, if he were elected president, to shut down the Guantanamo Bay detention facility. So now that Republicans are attacking Barack Obama for closing Gitmo, which side will McCain be on? That was the question Sunday morning STEPHANOPOULOS: Let me also ask you about Guantanamo. You saw that [Gen. Jones] and I talked about that. And you and President … [Read more...] about McCain and Gitmo: Which side is he on?
NY State Assembly Passes Gay Marriage Bill
NYTimes: The State Assembly approved legislation on Tuesday night that would make New York the sixth state to allow same-sex marriage — a pivotal vote that shifts the debate to the State Senate, where gay rights advocates and conservative groups alike are redoubling their efforts. In a sign of how opinion in Albany has shifted on the issue, several members of the Assembly … [Read more...] about NY State Assembly Passes Gay Marriage Bill
In Central Asia, the U.S. ‘Reaps Fruits’ of its Prior Policies: Novosti of Russia
This article from Russia seethes with irony and contains a good dose of what Germans call 'shadenfreuder.' This is a word that means 'to take pleasure in the pain of others.' As most people know - the United States recruited, paid and supplied Islamic mujaheddin to dislodge the Soviet Union from Afghanistan during the Carter and Reagan Administrations. According to this … [Read more...] about In Central Asia, the U.S. ‘Reaps Fruits’ of its Prior Policies: Novosti of Russia
Internal Iranian Report Reveals Tehran’s ‘Fear’ of Western Media: Die Welt, Germany
The release of American journalist Roxana Saberi from an Iranian prison highlights an urgent question that the Tehran regime is struggling to address: How should Iran deal with the inevitability of Western media infiltration? According to this analysis by Dr. Wahied Wahdat-Hagh of Germany's Die Welt, the investigative arm of Iran's parliament [the Majlis] has just completed … [Read more...] about Internal Iranian Report Reveals Tehran’s ‘Fear’ of Western Media: Die Welt, Germany
More Evidence Lenders Were Bad Guys
I can't remember what I did yesterday. But I can recall a scenario in which the Clinton administration and in its early stages the Bush White House promoting home ownership for all Americans. Clinton got his folks in Congress to soften lending standards at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. A housing market bubble ballooned for several years, aided by Bush's penchant for … [Read more...] about More Evidence Lenders Were Bad Guys
The Quality of Empathy Is Not Strained
Dahlia Lithwick on "the GOP's misguided and confusing campaign against judicial empathy" (emphasis mine): One is surely entitled to say that President Obama's repeated claim that he seeks "empathy" in a replacement for Justice David Souter is something less than a crisp constitutional standard. But the Republican war on empathy has started to border on the deranged, and you … [Read more...] about The Quality of Empathy Is Not Strained
RIAA: Well It Depends on What the Meaning of “New Case” Is…
The Chronicle's Wired Campus had a nice wrap-up of the goings on in the supposed post-mass-lawsuit era at the RIAA: Ray Beckerman, a lawyer in New York who writes the blog Recording Industry vs. the People, went looking for new lawsuits against alleged illegal file-sharers, found three, and called the Recording Industry Association of America’s stated end of its … [Read more...] about RIAA: Well It Depends on What the Meaning of “New Case” Is…
Trifecta of Stories on Dearth of GOP Female Officeholders
Two days ago, I flagged and wrote about Politico's story on this topic. Two more articles about this slap on the forehead today. First, from US News & World Report we have, "Republicans reject women when they shed moderates." Highlight, which echoes my reaction at the end of my post yesterday: The Republican National Committee says it's running a grass-roots recruiting … [Read more...] about Trifecta of Stories on Dearth of GOP Female Officeholders
Where Are You Stephen Colbert ??
Comedy Central host Stephen Colbert has been working over the past few months to correct oversights by various organizations who have failed to properly honor him. He recently succeeded in getting NASA to name an exercise bike on the space station after him but is still working on the Pulitzer Prize committee. However there is a saying about people in glass houses and in … [Read more...] about Where Are You Stephen Colbert ??
Star Trek Torture
Nate Beeler, The Washington Examiner This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Star Trek Torture
Fudging A Blood Test The Geithner Way
The market went down yesterday because people are getting a little nervous about those bank stress test results. Specifically, about the fact that the banks had a chance to negotiate the findings of government auditors and fudged test results in ways that better suited their own interests. Banks with better looking books can raise capital in the market from private investors, … [Read more...] about Fudging A Blood Test The Geithner Way
Cool Map
Sen. McCaskill (D-MO) plots Missouri stimulus projects via her Senate office Web site. I don't see anything similar on the Web site for Sen. Bond (R-MO). Not surprising, I suppose, considering his "no" vote on the stimulus bill. Do either of your U.S. Senators offer a resource similar to McCaskill's? Also, while we can probably guess the answer, I'll ask the question … [Read more...] about Cool Map
Healthcare Crisis: Step 1 Get the States Out
The government is beginning again on its long and to date ill-fated trek into the world of healthcare. We have all heard the cries about rising costs, the aging population and millions of uninsured. The task is daunting and I like the consensus building that President Obama is beginning prior to crafting an ultimate strategy. Competition has a bad name these days, but it is … [Read more...] about Healthcare Crisis: Step 1 Get the States Out
UPDATED Rooting for Charlie Crist in 2010
I am. Here's why. And while his race for the GOP nom may not be an easy one -- I wouldn't bet against him given the endorsements he has already lined up. … [Read more...] about UPDATED Rooting for Charlie Crist in 2010
Vote for Your Favorite Google Doodle
Doodle 4 Google is a competition where Google invited K-12 students to play around with their homepage logo. This year's theme what "What I Wish for the World." It's time to vote for your favorite: [W]e're pleased to announce the approximately 400 state finalists and the 40 regional winners. They were chosen by a panel of independent judges, all experts in design, but now it's … [Read more...] about Vote for Your Favorite Google Doodle
Hitting Home: Postman Accused Of Stealing And Selling Stamps
A former co-worker of mine has landed himself into some serious legal trouble. It's quite depressing because he was (is) a good guy. Lots of laughs and did his job well. But apparently his financial situation (impending foreclosure) caused him to engage in criminal activities: Postman Accused of Stealing, Selling Stamps WXYZ.COM (Detroit)/Associated Press DETROIT (AP) … [Read more...] about Hitting Home: Postman Accused Of Stealing And Selling Stamps
On Dickens, Bookaneers & Copyfighters
Remember that 1897 NYTimes story on music industry complaints that revenues had fallen fifty percent because "Canadian pirates" were flooding the market with "spurious editions" of copyrighted music? Well in that context it's worth remembering that the United States has quite a pirate history of its own. Over the weekend All Things Considered interviewed Matthew Pearl about … [Read more...] about On Dickens, Bookaneers & Copyfighters
Health Care: Life-and-Death Games
The health-care finals started in Washington this week with the Obama home team hosting the all-stars who have made the American medical system one of the most expensive and least effective in the world. The name of the game is cooperation as insurers, drug makers, hospitals et al come to the White House reportedly to announce "a voluntary plan to hold costs down, which … [Read more...] about Health Care: Life-and-Death Games