England's Prime Minister Tony Blair has taken a swipe at the kind of faith-based politics he sees in the United States, the must-read international press watchdog site Watching America reports. Watching America links to a Guardian article and here are the relevant quotes: Tony Blair chose a faith audience in south London yesterday to proclaim his belief that he was opposed to … [Read more...] about Britian’s PM Tony Blair: Thumbs Down On U.S. Faith-Style Politics

Demonstrators in yet another part of the former Soviet Union are moving swiftly to throw the rascals out: March 24 (Bloomberg) — Protesters in Kyrgyzstan today occupied the offices of President Askar Akayev in an effort to force him to resign over allegations of election fraud, according to television footage. Akayev left the capital by helicopter, Interfax reported. … [Read more...] about More Political Upheaval In Yet Another Part Of The Former Soviet Union

This just in from investigative reporter Andy Borowitz: IN BEARISH SIGN, GREENSPAN RUNS OUT ON CHECK AT SIZZLER Analysts See Fed Chief's Move Signaling Troubled Economy The stock market, which has been trading sideways for months amid soaring oil prices and bulging budget deficits, received another body-blow today when it was revealed that Federal Reserve Board Chairman … [Read more...] about ECONOMIC NEWS BULLETIN: This Just In

Unless something changes, Tom DeLay and George Bush should know that the day they leave public office they can make a lot of money in a new career: as engineers in train demolition derbies. Because yet another poll indicates their decision to shove the Terri Schiavo controversy into Congress, abruptly change hundreds of years of democratic checks and balances, and do it in a … [Read more...] about This Unfavorable Poll Must Also Be “Biased,” Right?

Most of our posts will start after 7 a.m. today. Last night TMV drove to Orange County, did a show, and drove back...and injured his back in the process. Back problems are grave in his family so he got in a tub last night, then right into bed. Check back here since there WILL be posts today on a variety of subjects. … [Read more...] about Posts Will Start After 7 a.m. PST

All we can say on this is "hmmmmmm": Republican media adviser R. Gregory Stevens, who was found dead in the Beverly Hills, Calif., home of actress Carrie Fisher on Feb. 26, died of an overdose of cocaine and the painkiller OxyContin, according to the Los Angeles County coroner's office. A spokeswoman at the coroner's office read to The Washington Times portions of the … [Read more...] about Why Didn’t He ‘Just Say No’?

How much research and how many horror stories do people need to get the message? From Daily News Central: Unless the current suntanning trend is reversed, today's youth could be three times more at risk of eventually acquiring malignant melanoma — the deadliest form of skin cancer — than their grandparents were. This stark assessment came as Professor Brian … [Read more...] about The Sun: (Young) People Don’t Get It

We are living in exciting scientific times: Astronomers have announced that for the first time, they've detected the light of two planets hundreds of light years away. The scientists say the development paves the way for the discovery of earth-like planets outside our solar system. Since 1995, astronomers have been able to detect planets beyond our solar system through … [Read more...] about A Major Scientific Advancement

In the election of 2004, the apparent external threat of terrorism put a final nail in the coffin for the accidental wisdom of the citizens of the United States in keeping control of the Presidency and the Congress in the hands of different parties. Has that presented a new, greater internal threat of tyranny by pandering to the minority and contemptuous circumvention of our … [Read more...] about Undivided government, separation of powers negated?

If justices of the U.S. Supreme Court seem surly today it's because they have just been tossed a hot POLITICAL potato — the Terri Schiavo case which has turned into a political skirmish that could end in the Republican party emerging with a lot less political support than what it had before it began. The event: an appeals court in Atlanta gave thumbs down on Terri … [Read more...] about Appeals Court Nixes Reinstating Schiavo Tube So It Goes To The Supreme Court

Brace yourself. Visit your church or synagogue. Go into intense prayer, and if you are an atheist just make a wish that this event does not take place. Make sure you are nowhere where it can impact you. And make sure your kids never see it: Ben Affleck is about to direct. Is there no mercy in the universe? It's been so long since the words "Ben Affleck" and "hit" have … [Read more...] about The Most Catacylsmic Event Of The 20th And 21st Centuries?

...at Mike's Blog Roundup. It's actually a part of the highly addicting video blogger blog Crooks and Liars. But it's a stand-alone page of the blog that gives you an excellent daily roundup of some items on various blogs — and is a great way for new bloggers to get noticed (send them a post you feel good about) since it's always looking for new material, especially … [Read more...] about Take A Peek…..

If you hear a weird noise tonight, it could be the sound of conservative icons Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan turning over in their graves. Senator Rick Santorium basically now suggests the judge wasted his time ruling on the Terri Schiavo case since unless he had ruled the way Congress wanted, he was "defying" Congress. Sanatorium's new argument is that if Congress passes … [Read more...] about Barry Goldwater And Ronald Reagan Are Turning Over In Their Graves

And all along the world thought Yassir Arafat died of natural causes. But you know those crafty, insidious Jews: COLOMBO, March 19 (Bernama) — Attallah Quiba, the Palestinian ambassador in Sri Lanka, believes that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was killed by unnamed Israelis using advanced technology, the Island newspaper said. Responding to questions at a media … [Read more...] about The Twight Zone, Palestinian Style

...but perhaps not the kind you think! In light of recent female-only clubs forming at public schools, I took a closer look at the arguments behind single-sex classrooms and programs. And no, it isn't just the fact that I'm a teenage boy that causes me to oppose these ridiculous segregations. … [Read more...] about Segregation in Public Schools

Here is GOOD NEWS from Iraq -- this time from the New York Times rather than the ever-thorough Arthur Chrenkoff: ordinary Iraqis had enough and went after the "insurgents" on their own. SOMETHING is happening in Iraq that is good news for the U.S.: Ordinary Iraqis rarely strike back at the insurgents who terrorize their country. But just before noon today, a carpenter named … [Read more...] about A Turning Point In Iraq?

The Washington Times has the first comprehensive story I've seen looking back at the fight between Michael Schiavo and his in-laws over his brain-damaged wife. It's quite fair to him, frankly a little too sympathetic, but kudos to a news outlet usually derided for its ownership for bending over backwards to be fair. I'm hoping it gives some impetus to other news organizations … [Read more...] about History lesson

At the risk of biting the hand that blogs me, I'll have to express my skepticism about the poll that Joe linked showing 63 percent support for the removal of Terri Schiavo's feeding tube. If this were a "normal" case pitting a husband against parents, fighting over a mentally disabled woman, that wouldn't be all that surprising. Everyone has parents that they wish would butt … [Read more...] about Poll vaulting

The federal judge who received the political hot potato of deciding whether to restore Terri Schiavo's feeding tube — tossed to him by a special law passed by Congress and President George Bush rushing back from Texas to sign it — today nixed the idea..moving the issue now to another court for an appeal. It will now be interesting to see how this is framed … [Read more...] about Judge Nixes Restoring Terri Schiavo’s Feeding Tube

Right now the most miserable job in the world belongs to federal U.S. District Judge James Whittemore who is deciding on whether to order a feeding tube put back into Terri Schiavo, who has become a symbol of an ethical dilemma for some and seemingly a political football for others. What more can you say about a case where the Congress meets to pass a law to apply … [Read more...] about Fear, Loathing & Determination In The Terri Schiavo Case