I wrote on TMV about Taslima, a poet and doctor, against whom a fatwa to behead her had been called ....for she dared to write poetry about "honor killings"; she was imprisoned for writing about women taken to the stadium and stoned to death while the mullahs present were laughing. Read on TMV May 18, 2007: Four Arrested In Honor Killing and a New Call for Beheading Taslima … [Read more...] about Taslima Nasreen, Poet, Attacked in India: Men Attack Her; Other Men Try to Sheild Her
Since I am Back
As you all know, I spent almost four weeks in Turkey this summer. Today, after 26 great days in Turkey, I landed in Amsterdam. Today, you ask, I thought yesterday? Well, I would have arrived yesterday, except for one thing? the airliner, corendon, changed the time. The original plan was 9 August, back at 12 PM Dutch time, they changed it into 4.10 on August the 10th. I only … [Read more...] about Since I am Back
Canada’s President
Barack Obama believes that NAFTA should be amended. If he were president, he said, he would call the president of Mexico and the president of Canada, "to try to amend NAFTA, because I think that we can get labor agreements in that agreement right now." The only problem? Canada does not have a president. As David Frum points out, this is "the kind of misstep that would … [Read more...] about Canada’s President
The Military & The Monetary (*)
Were These Sheep Taliban? As the war in Iraq has degenerated and with operations in Afghanistan not looking too good either, I have cut way back on blogging about collateral damage -- the unfortunate instances in which civilians are bombed by mistake. It's quite simple: I have a deep empathy for the boots on the ground, if not the knuckleheads in Washington, and don't … [Read more...] about The Military & The Monetary (*)
An Unamusing Musing On Stu ‘Oops! I’ve Done It Again’ Bykofsky
Stu Bykofsky, a columnist for the Philadelphia Daily News (note to copy editors: only Daily News is italicized) has set off a sh*tstorm by writing that he is hoping for another 9/11 terrorist attack because it would bring Americans together again. Before I address the particulars of Stu’s column, which as Joe notes in a post below is beyond the pale, I would like to note … [Read more...] about An Unamusing Musing On Stu ‘Oops! I’ve Done It Again’ Bykofsky
This Is Not About Scott Beauchamp
As I have written early and often, the mainstream media has been painfully slow to embrace the Internet and even slower to come around to the blog as a way to leaven its loaf, attract new readers or (gasp!) even win back readers it has lost. Joe Gandelman, Robert Stein, Alan Mutter and Yours Truly are examples of Dead Tree Era journalists who quit or retired from the biz and … [Read more...] about This Is Not About Scott Beauchamp
Columnist Wishes For Another 911
Yes, someone has finally written it. And we just KNEW this day would come...didn't we? A columnist is opening wishing for another 911 to unite Americans (what about the innocent lives that would cost). The link is HERE. And yes, yours truly agrees with the column writer that it is indeed a "sick" sentiment -- no matter what the intellectual (or non-intellectual) … [Read more...] about Columnist Wishes For Another 911
Hillary Clinton’s Development As A Campaigner
One of the most fascinating aspects about this never ending 2008 Presidential campaign is the growth of Senator Hillary Clinton as a political campaigner. She started out more wooden than some of the characters that I use in my show. But she is blossoming by the month. Look at her response below to when Senator John Edwards took a dig at her for appearing on the cover of … [Read more...] about Hillary Clinton’s Development As A Campaigner
Poll: U.S. Public Distrusts Mainstream News Media More Than Ever
As if a shrinking news hole in newspapers, diminishing advertising, and sinking readership isn't enough...as if broadcast and cable networks pulling out all stops to survive in the ratings-dependent dog-eat-dog world of broadcast/cable journalism isn't enough...now there's a new poll that shows Americans distrust the mainstream news media more than ever: More than half of … [Read more...] about Poll: U.S. Public Distrusts Mainstream News Media More Than Ever
Infrastructure
Mike Keefe, The Denver Post … [Read more...] about Infrastructure
Live-Blogging the LOGO Gay Issues Debate
My friend and fellow Carletonian Matt Cole has everything you need to know at The Social Report. … [Read more...] about Live-Blogging the LOGO Gay Issues Debate
Attack Of The Political Attack Websites
No, we're not talking about weblogs (although they do qualify at times). We're talking about a website that pops up and makes a statement about a candidate. Sometime it can be an intelligent one. But sometimes a website is so off the wall that it's out of the house. Read Ed Morrissey HERE who not only writes about one but he did some Internet investigative reporting. You … [Read more...] about Attack Of The Political Attack Websites
Sign Of Uncertain Times: Fewer Mexicans Send Money Home
It's a sign of political uncertainty. A sign that an angry debate is being heard. It's a sign of the times: This year a smaller percentage of Mexican immigrants in the United States sent money back to their homeland than in 2006, according to a report released yesterday by the Inter-American Development Bank. The bank said the reduction had left at least two million people … [Read more...] about Sign Of Uncertain Times: Fewer Mexicans Send Money Home
Better Racist Than Gay
Co-blogger Shaun already mentioned Florida State Senator Bob Allen's (R) weird defense of his offer to give oral sex to an undercover cop ("He was big and Black!"). What I find odd is that Allen's defense effectively boils down to "I'd rather be called racist than gay." Again, I'm no optimist on race issues, but I still think that by and large, "racist" is more harmful to one's … [Read more...] about Better Racist Than Gay
Bush Press Conference: It’s All Good
In response to criticism that I'm picking on President Bush, I'd like to praise him in providing these morsels from his pre-vacation news conference today: * In a gesture of empathy to the residents of Minneapolis where a major interstate highway bridge collapsed last week, he dismissed dealing with the nation’s 70,000 structurally deficient bridges until Congress changes … [Read more...] about Bush Press Conference: It’s All Good
GOP Hall of Closeted Pols Nominees
Time to ask yet again why it is that Republican politicians seem to get caught doing naughty things much more than Democrats? That's tough to answer, but two new cases appear to be examples of closeted gays in a party that officially loathes them. The latest nominees to the GOP Hall of Closeted Pols are Glenn Murphy Jr. and Bob Allen, with a special kudo to Michael Flory, … [Read more...] about GOP Hall of Closeted Pols Nominees
Bonds 756
Mike Lester, The Rome News-Tribune … [Read more...] about Bonds 756
The Beauchamp Controversy Under The Microscope
Cathy Young puts the ongoing Beauchamp controversy under the microscope in a must read post: The Scott Thomas Beauchamp brouhaha is a proverbial tempest in a teapot. The claims Beauchamp made (as the barely pseudonymous "Scott Thomas") in his "Baghdad Diarist" New Republic article about American soldiers behaving badly are fairly trivial; the war in Iraq does not stand or … [Read more...] about The Beauchamp Controversy Under The Microscope
Romney Accused Of Hypocrisy For Blasting Giuliani On Illegal Alien Issue
More bad publicity is hitting GOP Presidential contender Mitt Romney today -- just when he was trying to go on the offensive. Romney is accusing New York City under Mayor Rudy Giuliani of being a haven for illegal immigration and is blasting his stance on this issue. But then now ABC News has come up with an absolutely DEVASTATING piece of fact-checking reporting that … [Read more...] about Romney Accused Of Hypocrisy For Blasting Giuliani On Illegal Alien Issue
Center of Attention
A round up of recent posts by a few centrist, moderate, and independent bloggers. Patrick Joubert Conlon celebrates another space shuttle launch and then asks: "Who gutted our space exploration program?" Daniel DiRito revisits the subject of the 190,000 lost weapons. Justin Gardner thinks Saturday may be Ron Paul's make-or-break day. Two posts from McQ ... One … [Read more...] about Center of Attention