That's what Alan Stewart Carl is asking today, given the pointless "English is America's language" bills the Senate passed yesterday. And that's right. They actually passed two bills on this. Find out more here. … [Read more...] about Se Hable Ingles?

In a vote that's sure to generate much debate outside of Congress, the U.S. Senate has voted to make English the United States' "National Language." Question: will it matter? And, if so, how much? The Washington Post:After an emotional debate fraught with symbolism, the Senate yesterday voted to make English the "national language" of the United States, declaring that no one … [Read more...] about Senate Votes For English As USA’s “National Language”

Iranian law would force Jews and other religious minorities to wear identifying badges. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad seems determined to provoke as many Hitler comparisons as possible. UPDATE: There are now questions about whether this story is true. Some even wonder whether it's disinformation. … [Read more...] about This Sounds Vaguely Familiar

It has been 31 years since Teamsters boss Jimmy Hoffa disappeared — and the hunt goes on. Only this time, FBI officials sound quite hopeful as they act on the latest tip in a story where the tidbits known so far sound like a "whack" right out of HBO's The Sopranos. The Detroit News:The FBI is mounting one of its biggest searches to date for the remains of former … [Read more...] about FBI Hopeful In New Jimmy Hoffa Hunt

As I commented earlier about DaVinci Code: "It's very interesting that many Christians are far more upset about this movie than they were about Mel Gibson's "The Passion," a film which grossly misrepresented the origins of both Christianity and Rabbinic Judaism." I have seen some opinion articles which see Anti-Semitic Conspiracy Theories ala Protocols of the Elders of Zion in … [Read more...] about A Tale of Two Movies

Jerusalem Post: Plot to down El Al jet in Geneva foiled Islamic terrorists planned to shoot down plane using RPG missile. … [Read more...] about Terrorists Foiled, Thank God!

(Victory cartwheel in Kathmandu - photo by KIRAN PANDAY) It is celebration time at Himal Southasian magazine in Nepal. Over the years this monthly magazine has evolved as a truly South Asian magazine. The May-June issue of Himal has not gone overboard about the historical changes in Nepal. Even its editor, Kanak Mani Dixit, who was in detention for defying the royal regime … [Read more...] about Nepal’s “Himal” celebrates People’s Victory

I'm basically out of pocket since I am staying in bed most of the time. If I can tomorrow, I'll offer some short pointer posts. I'm hoping to be back to normal by Sat or Sunday latest.' Pleas check back since our bloggers will likely have some things to day. UPDATE: I may try to do a few short ones today since I am at least able to get out of bed today (so far). … [Read more...] about TMV Unable To Post Today And Possibly Tomorrow

Mayor tapped water customers for sex. I love how "tapped" has at least three reference/meanings here. … [Read more...] about Great Headline Alert

A racial harassment plaintiff named Candy? And she's White. And she's right. And she's wrong too. Oy vey, this one's causing a headache already. … [Read more...] about A Porcupine Named Fluffy?

Yale Law School has just hired away Tracy Meares from the University of Chicago law school. Congratulations to Professor Meares. 62 years after Brown v. Board, she is Yale's first female Black law professor. … [Read more...] about Chicago Professor Tracy Meares To Yale Law School

Two photos of King Gyanendra of Nepal Nepal’s powerful Shah dynasty’s powers ended on Thursday (May 18) with Parliament unanimously okaying a proposal by the government to axe the king’s prerogatives, bring him under law, select his heir and transform the world’s only Hindu kingdom into a secular state, says India's The Economic Times This change would affect … [Read more...] about Nepal King’s Political Powers Taken Away

People are getting helped, but it's either "too little too late" or "not even close to being enough." Read some sad stories here and then take action. … [Read more...] about For Those Whom FEMA Has Left Behind

The Da Vinci Code was on Thursday (May 18) cleared by the India's film censor board without any cuts and will be screened only for adult audiences with disclaimers meant to assuage Christian groups that had opposed its release. The censor clearance came after Christian leaders, who watched the movie with India's Broadcasting Minister Dasmunsi on Thursday, suggested that … [Read more...] about The Da Vinci Code is for Adults in India!!!

The Globe and Mail has the breaking news: A motion to extend Canada's mission in Afghanistan narrowly passed in the House of Commons Wednesday night despite a lack of support from the NDP and the Bloc Québécois. The motion, which squeaked through 149-145, called for the support of the House in extending the military mission by two-years, after its current commitment expires … [Read more...] about Canada to stay in Afghanistan

The Pentagon, according to MSNBC, has launched a "probe into the death of Iraqi civilians last November in the Iraqi city of Haditha". Locals claim that "U.S. Marines deliberately killed 15 unarmed Iraqi civilians, including seven women and three children". Unbelievable? Rep. John Murtha, the widely respected veteran and Pennsylvania Democrat who last year called for the … [Read more...] about In cold blood (in Iraq)

Since Joe is apparently still sleeping, I would like to draw your attention to today's George Will column in the Washington Post: Who Isn't A 'Values Voter'? An aggressively annoying new phrase in America's political lexicon is "values voters." It is used proudly by social conservatives, and carelessly by the media to denote such conservatives. This phrase diminishes our … [Read more...] about George Will on So-Called ‘Values Voters’

The Washington Post is reporting this: More than a decade after U.S. troops withdrew from Somalia following a disastrous military intervention, officials of Somalia's interim government and some U.S. analysts of Africa policy say the United States has returned to the African country, secretly supporting secular warlords who have been waging fierce battles against Islamic groups … [Read more...] about Back in Somalia

Ah, the wonders of modern technology. CQPolitics has released a really neat 2006 Election Forecast Map, which takes a look at House, Senate and gubernatorial races for the fall and offers stats, news, and projections for each. If they can keep this updated in a reasonably timely fashion, it will be a very handy tool in a couple months. Check it out. … [Read more...] about Cool Link

Seattle Public Schools are defining emphasis on "individualism" over "collective ideologies" as a form of racism. I'll be the first to say that blind adherence to individuals will result in racist actions being overlooked. But merely "emphasizing" it hardly qualifies as racist in my book. … [Read more...] about Mission Drift