NEW YORK -- There will never be another politician like Mario Cuomo, a man shaped by a different age. Yet he taught lessons about racial reconciliation, the role of religion in politics, the purposes of politics itself and -- oddly for a politician -- humility that will always be fresh. Cuomo, who died New Year's Day, was brilliant and engaging but also irascible and … [Read more...] about The Conscience of Mario Cuomo
When an ass defines a “dork”: Sportscaster Jim Rome apologizes for calling marching band members “dorks”
[icopyright one button toolbar] Sportscaster Jim Rome faced a firestorm on social media and media in general when he did a tweet calling marching band musicians "dorks." And -- yes, you guessed it -- he later apologized. On my Facebook page, I didn't mince words --- and I'm offering it here: May I be VERY BLUNT? What an absolute JERK. Jim Rome calls young people … [Read more...] about When an ass defines a “dork”: Sportscaster Jim Rome apologizes for calling marching band members “dorks”
Fast Food Is Still The Worst
The fast food industry has been making an effort to include healthier options on its menus since 1996, but a new study from Tufts University suggests they should try harder. Tufts’ researchers surveyed the nutrition content of cheeseburgers, French fries, grilled chicken sandwiches, and soda (all popular items) to see what kind of change, if any,… … [Read more...] about Fast Food Is Still The Worst
Jeb Bush walks the yellow line
Jeb seems to be shedding all possible labels. Money man? Corporatist? Naw! Conservative? Not Jeb. No way! Or at least, not that kind of conservative. Likely 2016 presidential candidate Jeb Bush has declined an invitation to speak at a conservative summit in Iowa hosted by Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa.), a sometimes controversial figure in the GOP. A Bush aide told The … [Read more...] about Jeb Bush walks the yellow line
Sony Gets the Last Laugh
Sony Gets the Last Laugh By Peter Funt The Sony hacking story is the gift that keeps on giving. It's got it all: cyber crime, international intrigue, political posturing — plus a tantalizing trove of corporate and celebrity gossip. But most remarkable is how all of the above combine to make "The Interview," a silly little film once destined for mediocre reviews and … [Read more...] about Sony Gets the Last Laugh
Dining with your dog now legal in California
Dining with your dog now legal in California By Miriam Raftery SACRAMENTO—“I wish everyone bone-appetit,” quipped Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada, author of a bill signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown that now makes it legal for restaurants to allow patrons to bring their dogs for dining on outdoor patios, effective January 1st of this year. The bill doesn’t require a … [Read more...] about Dining with your dog now legal in California
NYPD Back-Turning Protests Continue at Funeral for Slain Officer
NYPD Back-Turning Protests Continue at Funeral for Slain Officer Thousands of law enforcement officers, family members, politicians and onlookers convened in Brooklyn on a drizzly Sunday morning to mourn the death of Wenjian Liu, 32, one of two New York City police officers murdered in late December by a gunman who said he was trying to kill police officers. Liu, who had been … [Read more...] about NYPD Back-Turning Protests Continue at Funeral for Slain Officer
Republican State Governments Expected To Renew The Culture Wars And Promote Conservative Pseudo-Science On Abortion
Democrats made a tremendous tactical mistake in the 2014 midterms. As the key Senate battles were in red states, Democrats ran as Republican-lite and Obama stayed quiet. As a consequence, turn out was at historic lows as Democratic voters saw no reason to turn out across the country, giving Republicans increased control in both Congress nationally along with in many state … [Read more...] about Republican State Governments Expected To Renew The Culture Wars And Promote Conservative Pseudo-Science On Abortion
The Gifts They Should’ve Gotten
The Gifts They Should've Gotten Raging Moderate by Will Durst Hey guys. Did this whole crazy holy daze madcap bedlam thing sneak up on you in 2014, making the world speed up like a maglev Bullet Train going downhill lit by a strobe, like it did us? There's a perfectly reasonable explanation. In 2014, Thanksgiving fell on November 27th: making it a mere 28 days between … [Read more...] about The Gifts They Should’ve Gotten
Mike Huckabee ends Fox show to weigh 2016 presidential run
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said Saturday he would end his Fox News Channel show to consider a 2016 presidential run, the latest possible GOP candidate to emerge in a race that could include Gov. Chris Christie. In a message on his Facebook page, Huckabee said he wouldn't make a final decision about running until spring… … [Read more...] about Mike Huckabee ends Fox show to weigh 2016 presidential run
The ‘Ebola Fighters’ TIME Forgot
[icopyright one button toolbar] TIME Magazine selected the "Ebola Fighters" as their 2014 “Person of the Year.” In explaining the choice, TIME Editor Nancy Gibbs evokes the proverb that says, “Not the glittering weapon fights the fight, but rather the hero’s heart.” And, indeed, “the people in the field, the special forces of Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans … [Read more...] about The ‘Ebola Fighters’ TIME Forgot
Mike Peters Cartoon: Sony and North Korea
OF RELATED INTEREST: --Is 'The Interview' a success for Sony? --'The Interview' lands on iTunes as Sony's best-selling online movie ever --Sony says 'The Interview' has already raked in $15 million online --Obama sanctions North Korea for movie hacking Mike Peters is recognized as one of our nation’s most prominent cartoon artists for his outstanding work as both a … [Read more...] about Mike Peters Cartoon: Sony and North Korea
Benefits From Decreased Arrests By New York Police
Police have come under increased criticism lately, from increased concerns over killings of minorities, sometimes in response to petty offenses, to abuse of police powers to raise money. This creates difficult problems to solve. Virtually nobody questions the need to have police, but there is no simple solution to stopping the excessive use of police power. In some cases the … [Read more...] about Benefits From Decreased Arrests By New York Police
2014’s dubious achievements
Long ago, my honored predecessor and friend John Hartl (who's been reviewing movies for Seattle Times readers for 48 years) began a tradition of wrapping up the movie year with a list of "Dubious Achievements." Following once more in his footsteps, here we go, for 2014: Best performance in a lost cause: Kevin Kline in "The… … [Read more...] about 2014’s dubious achievements
13 species we might have to say goodbye to in 2015
13 species we might have to say goodbye to in 2015 British broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough once asked: “Are we happy to suppose that our grandchildren may never be able to see an elephant except in a picture book?” This year marked the 100th anniversary of the death of the last passenger pigeon, Martha, who managed to survive only 14 years in captivity after … [Read more...] about 13 species we might have to say goodbye to in 2015
Stages of GOP Obamacare Grief
Dylan Scott outlines the five stages of Republican grief over the Affordable Care Act on Talking Points Memo. 1) We Have Our Own Health Care Plan! 2014 was the year of the disappearing GOP promise to propose a plan to replace the Affordable Care Act. It was the only way that they could plausibly keep telling their base that they would repeal the thing...The … [Read more...] about Stages of GOP Obamacare Grief
Setting America’s Priorities for 2015
Marci Rosenberg, a senior speech language pathologist at the University of Michigan, earns about $73,000 a year. Desmond Patton, who studies the problems of gang violence, is a professor at the University of Michigan. He earns about $80,000 a year. Patricia Reuter-Lorenz, who works with cerebral palsy children, is a professor at the University of Michigan. She earns … [Read more...] about Setting America’s Priorities for 2015
Does Watching Fox News Make You Vote Republican?
Watching the Fox News Channel or MSNBC can persuade viewers to lean Republican or Democrat, economists have found. While most viewers know both these cable channels have certain political tendencies, the authors of a working paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research in Cambridge, Massachusetts, have found that watching their broadcasts can actually change… … [Read more...] about Does Watching Fox News Make You Vote Republican?
Drum on Oil Prices
Kevin Drum analyses the recent drop in oil prices in Mother Jones. Keep in mind that US shale oil production has been growing steadily for the past five years, and during most of that time oil prices have been going up. It's only in the past six months that oil prices have collapsed. Obviously there's more going on than just shale. James Hamilton, who knows as … [Read more...] about Drum on Oil Prices
Ideological Republican Legislatures Blocking Attempts At Expanding Medicaid By More Pragmatic GOP Governors
Governors are often more pragmatic than other politicians, having to actually run the state government and consider fiscal realities. Accepting Medicaid expansion is an obvious decision for governors, as long as they consider economic factors rather than Republican ideology, as the federal government picks up most of the cost. The federal government pays 100 percent of the cost … [Read more...] about Ideological Republican Legislatures Blocking Attempts At Expanding Medicaid By More Pragmatic GOP Governors