This blog and many other blogs and websites reported last year that then-Majority Leader Bill Frist was being investigated on insider-trading charges. It's now over and Frist has been cleared, the Washington Post reports: Ending an investigation that clouded the tenure of former Senate majority leader Bill Frist, federal prosecutors have decided not to file insider-trading … [Read more...] about Former Majority Leader Bill Frist Cleared Of Stock Wrongdoing
Life of Jews in ‘Islamic’ Iran
(Photo courtesy Ramin Farahani, who has made a film on Iranian Jews.) The Iranian Jews make up the largest community of Jews in the Middle East outside Israel. But despite what appears to be a dwindling minority under constant threat of persecution, Iranian Jews say they live in relative freedom in the Islamic Republic (of Iran), remain loyal to the land of their birth, … [Read more...] about Life of Jews in ‘Islamic’ Iran
David Broder and Warren Spahn
I have been reluctant to join the David Broder lynching party. First, the guy obviously has lost a step or two and is in the twilight of a distinguished career. Second, I never thought that he was as important as he is given credit for, but that’s because "Dean of the Washington press corps" is about the same as "Dean of a Midwestern cow college" to me. But I’ve been … [Read more...] about David Broder and Warren Spahn
A Strange Case of a Nigerian Lesbian
A leaflet given out to wedding guests on Sunday as a souvenir showing Aunty Maiduguri in the centre surrounded by her four 'brides'. A Nigerian lesbian who 'married' four women last weekend in Kano State has gone into hiding from the Islamic police, with her partners, says BBC. "Eyewitnesses say there was a large turnout for the marriage and guests were given leaflets as … [Read more...] about A Strange Case of a Nigerian Lesbian
George Tenet: ‘Al Qaeda is in USA Waiting to Strike’
When top Intelligence officials start penning down books containing highly uncomfortable secrets about the on-going top-priority issues, there is usually a public and media outcry. However, a plethora of shocking revelations about President Bush & Co's policy and conduct with regard to the Iraq tragedy/fiasco, seems to have no effect on the present US power coterie. And the … [Read more...] about George Tenet: ‘Al Qaeda is in USA Waiting to Strike’
Iraq Chaos
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune … [Read more...] about Iraq Chaos
Rush Limbaugh Runs Obama Race Song Parody In Wake Of Imus Firing (UPDATED)
So much for all the talk about how talk radio and American culture entered into a more respectful era when it comes to racial sensitivies. The talk about how times had changed already seem quaint since the New Era lasted not even two weeks. Rush Limbaugh is now embroiled in a new controversy involving literally playing the comedy race card about a Democrat named Barack … [Read more...] about Rush Limbaugh Runs Obama Race Song Parody In Wake Of Imus Firing (UPDATED)
Rostropovich: ‘Magnificent Maestro’ Passes Away
(Photo courtesy Pierre Verdy -- AFP/Getty Images) The celebrated Russian cellist and conductor Mstislav Rostropovich, affectionately known as "Slava", has died at the age of 80, reports BBC. James Jolly, editor-in-chief of Gramophone magazine, looks back at his musical legacy. "With the death of Mstislav Rostropovich, the musical world has lost not just one of its … [Read more...] about Rostropovich: ‘Magnificent Maestro’ Passes Away
Writing (for Blogs, etc.): And How Not to Bore Readers
(Photo Courtesy N. Ram -- The Hindu) Writing is a an art and a craft. Some are born with it. Others have to struggle to become good writers through hard work and perseverance. To put it in a bit of Shakespearean language: 'It blesseth him that writes...and blesseth him that reads...' Many people do not realise but an invisible relation/bond develops between the writer … [Read more...] about Writing (for Blogs, etc.): And How Not to Bore Readers
The French Connection
In the 20th century, many public Black figures (James Baldwin, Josephine Baker) moved to France to escape rampant discrimination in America. Today, many conservatives support a color-blind ideology that has found its purest manifestation in France and French law. Recent scholarship has explored the difference between contemporary American racial policy, which has grudgingly … [Read more...] about The French Connection
Meet the Congressman
He supports public financing for campaigns for the typical reasons: to encourage more people to run and limit the influence of special interest groups. That, plus ... "I hate fundraising," he admitted on the plane ride we shared Thursday night from DC to St. Louis. "It takes too much time away from the job I was sent to Washington to do." He gets frustrated when he … [Read more...] about Meet the Congressman
Run off for French Presidency
Paresh Nath, National Herald, India … [Read more...] about Run off for French Presidency
Gordon Brown Liability for Labor
It seems that Gordon Brown "is becoming a growing electoral liability to the Labor Party." He is, in the polls, falling further and further behind David Cameron. The poll points to Labour's worst local election performance in two decades, with the party poised to lose hundreds of seats in England and Wales. Labour is also facing a catastrophic loss of power to the nationalists … [Read more...] about Gordon Brown Liability for Labor
Tag-clouding the Democratic ‘Debate’
I did not watch the Democratic presidential wannabe gabfest last night because (a.) It was meaningless to me, (b.) It had no meaning for me, and (c.) I'm jealous of John Edwards' haircut. But Andrew Sullivan hipped his readers to a neat tag-clouding exercise by Janet Harris. Tag-clouding, in this case off of Hilary Rodham Clinton's remarks, is weighting words based on the … [Read more...] about Tag-clouding the Democratic ‘Debate’
The Chocolate War
Washington Post: Lines Drawn Over Cocoa Butter Proposed FDA change in what can be defined as chocolate has purists up in arms.NPR: An Argument Against 'Healthy' ChocolateThe Food and Drug Administration considers changing the ingredients in one favorite diet buster: chocolate. A recent proposal by the FDA that would allow manufacturers to replace the cocoa butter found in … [Read more...] about The Chocolate War
That’s My Country
Yes Chris, we take global warming very seriously: It's the new climate change dilemma: finding alternatives for oil and gas without doing more harm than good. In the rush to develop biofuels, forests are burned in Asia to clear land for palm oil, and swaths of the Amazon are stripped of diverse vegetation for soya and sugar plantations for ethanol. On Friday, a Dutch … [Read more...] about That’s My Country
Iraq – Out – No!
Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com … [Read more...] about Iraq – Out – No!
Prince Harry: For King or For Country?
The lie that the U.K. is drawing down its forces in Basra and will be out of Iraq altogether in the not too distant future because the area has been stabilized has had an unexpectedly serious consequence that has a name: Henry Charles Albert David Wales, who is better known as Harry Prince of Wales. Prince Harry, the dashingly handsome (handsomely dashing?) 22-year-old … [Read more...] about Prince Harry: For King or For Country?
Bangladesh’s Interim Government Gives Two ‘Begums’ A Reprieve
Restrictions imposed on two former Prime Ministers of Bangladesh, Begum (lady) Khaleda Zia and Begum Sheikh Hasina Wazed, have been removed, says The Independent. "Last weekend, Sheikh Hasina, who ran Bangladesh as prime minister between 1996-2001, found herself marooned in London after the caretaker government issued a note to all airlines forbidding them from allowing her … [Read more...] about Bangladesh’s Interim Government Gives Two ‘Begums’ A Reprieve
A New Crime Wave
Just watch this (WARNING: Some adult language): … [Read more...] about A New Crime Wave