A research team from Vanderbilt University has released the findings of a new study which seems to indicate that humans are pre-programmed to recognize unfair, unjust situations and are prone toward a finding of guilt and punishment of the perpetrators. (They should have enough material to draw upon. Some archaeologists in England announced this week that they found the oldest … [Read more...] about Are We “Hard-Wired” for Justice? Ask Your Brain
Just For a Moment, Rest and Remember Yourself
Dick Cheney’s “So?” Revisited
This week's TIME issue, "The List Issue," takes an interesting and comprehensive look back at 2008 through a "collection of serious and not-so-serious Top 10 lists." The list includes: *Top 10 under-reported stories *Top 10 medical breakthroughs *Top 10 green stories *Top 10 political lines *Top 10 movies *Top 10 books Of course, also the … [Read more...] about Dick Cheney’s “So?” Revisited
Senate UAW Screw
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune … [Read more...] about Senate UAW Screw
U.S. Senators and Japanese, German and Korean Automobile Manufacturers
What do the following U.S. Senators have in common? *Bob Corker , Tennessee *Richard Shelby, Alabama *Jim DeMint, South Carolina *Mitch McConnell, Kentucky 1. They are all Republicans 2. They all have Japanese, German, or Korean auto plants in their states 3. They all (except Kentucky) have "right-to-work" laws. 4. They all detest the United … [Read more...] about U.S. Senators and Japanese, German and Korean Automobile Manufacturers
Downwind Of Bush Rule No. ?
The Bush administration has sneaked another rule into the deregulation books. This one definitely passes the smell test. The rule: Poultry and livestock farmers no longer have to report emissions from animal waste. The Environmental Protection Agency said the rule change would "enable authorities to better focus their attention on hazardous substance releases that … [Read more...] about Downwind Of Bush Rule No. ?
Education as Business
Malcolm Gladwell -- the freaky-haired author of smart, nonfiction bestsellers -- tackles the challenge of identifying good teachers. (Don't be fooled by the first part of the article, where Gladwell focuses on football and quarterbacks; it's only a set up for the rest of the article.) In examining the good-teacher question, Gladwell offers this: Eric Hanushek, an … [Read more...] about Education as Business
Financial Crisis for Dummies
In case you missed it in the December 2008 issue of The Atlantic, Henry Blodget offers a remarkably accessible analysis of the mess in which we currently find ourselves. In fact, it's the clearest, cleanest such analysis I've seen so far. If you take time to read it, I highly recommend you print it first, or pick up a copy of the magazine at a newsstand. An easy read -- … [Read more...] about Financial Crisis for Dummies
Mr. Gates’ Difficult Transition
So far, it appears that Defense Secretary Robert Gates will be the only Republican holdover from the Bush cabinet who will serve with the Obama administration. I have always considered Gates to be a good and capable person and applaud Obama's decision to keep him on, especially in a position and in an environment that requires common sense, levelheadedness and that quality … [Read more...] about Mr. Gates’ Difficult Transition
Confederate Senators From Japan
In killing the Detroit bailout this week, Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Toyota joined his colleagues Dick Shelby of Honda and Bob Corker of Nissan in upholding a basic American principle: Blame all economic woes on greedy unions. After shoveling billions out the door for Wall Street bastions of free enterprise, McConnell expressed the worry that “a government big … [Read more...] about Confederate Senators From Japan
Operation Michigani Freedom
Put away your pencils and calculators. Lock up the accountants and economists in a closet. The solution to the auto industry's woes has been found and it comes to us courtesy of John Cole. (Hat tip to James Joyner for pointing the way and providing additional snark.) We have been repeatedly reminded - generally by Republican congressmen - that Iraq is shaping up quite nicely, … [Read more...] about Operation Michigani Freedom
Are They Two Different People?
Or are they one and the same? I mean him and him. We'll know for sure if, in a surprising twist, Samwise Gamgee is appointed to Barack Obama's vacant US Senate seat. [This bit of blog trivia was crossposted at my otherwise depthy personal blog.] … [Read more...] about Are They Two Different People?
Mugabe Government Claims UK Caused Cholera Epidemic
Talk about whoppers! This one would make Rod Blagojevich blush. A day after Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe claimed that the cholera outbreak in his country had been thwarted, in spite of confirmation from numerous sources it was claiming more victims, a member of the Mugabe regime claimed that cholera had been planted by Britain: Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu … [Read more...] about Mugabe Government Claims UK Caused Cholera Epidemic
Bush Exhorts Graduates While Senators Excoriate Bush & Co.
While president Bush was delivering a commencement address to Texas A & M graduates, exhorting the graduates to "develop a set of principles to live by---convictions and ideals to guide your course" and emphasizing character, conscience and role models, Washington Post readers were staring at an article with the following lead paragraph: A bipartisan panel of senators … [Read more...] about Bush Exhorts Graduates While Senators Excoriate Bush & Co.
Gorbachev and Bush Confess their Sins: Argumenty i Facty, Russia
In an odd coincidence, Mikhail Gorbachev, the last general secretary of the Soviet Union, confessed to regrets to V. Pozner of Russia's Channel 1 on the same day, on December 1, that our own George W. Bush did so, during an interview with ABC's Charlie Gibson. Readers of the Moderate Voice are no doubt aware of Bush's 'confession' - in which he admits to regretting, 'the … [Read more...] about Gorbachev and Bush Confess their Sins: Argumenty i Facty, Russia
Obama and Blagojevich
John Cole, The Scranton Times-Tribune … [Read more...] about Obama and Blagojevich
The Moon Tonight: We Are Part of the Magnitude, the Mystery
From The Times December 12, 2008 Look up tonight for a spectacular treat in the sky Biggest full moon for years enhanced by shooting stars Paul Simons If the full moon tonight looks unusually large, it is not your imagination – it is the biggest and brightest full moon to be seen for 15 years. Each month the Moon makes a full orbit around the Earth in a slightly … [Read more...] about The Moon Tonight: We Are Part of the Magnitude, the Mystery
Jesse Jackson, Jr.
Bob Englehart, The Hartford Courant … [Read more...] about Jesse Jackson, Jr.
Coleman-Franken: This Just In
TPM Election Central is reporting "Al Franken's chances of winning the Minnesota recount may have just gone up astronomically," because the state canvassing board just voted unanimously that absentee ballots that were initially rejected because of clerical errors should be counted. Reportedly, there could be nearly 1,600 of these ballots. This has been one of the biggest … [Read more...] about Coleman-Franken: This Just In
Why Strategy Is So Important For Combating The Economic Crisis
Pete made a very important point about how public relations is about spin and not public relationships. I'm going to be cynical and say that politics for the most part has become largely about PR, with all sides believing that if only they could control the message and do what they want, then things would be OK. The problem is that now, more than ever, the "right" thing to … [Read more...] about Why Strategy Is So Important For Combating The Economic Crisis