[icopyright one button toolbar] UPDATE II: After having been down or severely degraded for about nine hours, North Korea’s internet is coming back to life. The New York Times: But when the sun rose in North Korea on Tuesday morning, the few connections to the outside world — available only to the elite, the military, and North Korea’s prodigious … [Read more...] about UPDATES: North Korea’s Internet Coming Back
For Cuba and America, Time May Heal All (Guest Voice)
For Cuba and America, Time May Heal All by Chris Jennewein HAVANA, Cuba — Time heals all wounds, maybe even the ones that have festered for half a century between Cuba and the United States. Quite by coincidence, my wife and I landed in Havana last Wednesday morning for a long-planned, six-day cultural tour of Cuba. As we exited Jose Marti Airport, our tour guides were … [Read more...] about For Cuba and America, Time May Heal All (Guest Voice)
SciFi Weekend: Ascension; Person of Interest; Daredevil; Orphan Black; Hannibal; Fargo; Doctor Who Easter Eggs On Gracepoint; The Newsroom; The Fall; The Interview
Ascension was billed as Syfy's big attempt to return to outer space based, hard science fiction, including the return of Tricia Helfer of Battlestar Galactica. It didn't exactly do that, but despite some flaws it was mostly a success. Major spoilers here if you plan to watch this at a later date. The show was billed as sort of Mad Men in space with the advertised premise … [Read more...] about SciFi Weekend: Ascension; Person of Interest; Daredevil; Orphan Black; Hannibal; Fargo; Doctor Who Easter Eggs On Gracepoint; The Newsroom; The Fall; The Interview
Joe Cocker, Heartbroken Singer, Passes. RIP
http://www.southbendtribune.com/entertainment/inthebend/entertainmentnews/british-singer-joe-cocker-dead-at/article_b1802f8a-8a12-11e4-a6f0-873ff18480ff.html many will remember his brokenhearted songs and his fullbody expression while he sang that resembled sometimes a giant raptor flapping wings, and other times as though he was carried away by a drumbeat only he could hear … [Read more...] about Joe Cocker, Heartbroken Singer, Passes. RIP
‘Operation Christmas Drop’ – An Island Holiday Tradition
[icopyright one button toolbar] Do you know where Micronesia is? I am sure you do. It is a sub region of Oceania way out in the Western Pacific consisting of thousands of small and smaller islands. You probably also know that within the “Micronesia Region” there is now the Federated States of Micronesia, in turn consisting of four main island groups -- one of them the … [Read more...] about ‘Operation Christmas Drop’ – An Island Holiday Tradition
Wind Company that Sued to Block Release of Bird Death Data Pleads Guilty to Killing Birds in Wyoming
Wind Company that Sued to Block Release of Bird Death Data Pleads Guilty to Killing Birds in Wyoming By Miriam Raftery December 19, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – Pacificorp pled guilty this week in U.S. District Court in Wyoming to violating the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) in connection with the deaths of protected birds, including golden eagles, at two of … [Read more...] about Wind Company that Sued to Block Release of Bird Death Data Pleads Guilty to Killing Birds in Wyoming
Chuck Schumer: Take two
WASHINGTON -- Sen. Charles Schumer gave Democrats a talking-to about their obligation to stand up for government's role in helping struggling middle-income Americans -- and his message got swallowed up by a few paragraphs on health care. If you heard anything about his speech late last month at the National Press Club, you know he said Democrats "blew the opportunity … [Read more...] about Chuck Schumer: Take two
Best and worst television shows of 2014
A pall hung over the TV bazaar this year. There were passings both major (James Garner, Joan Rivers, Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) and minor (Pugsley from The Addams Family, Reuben from The Partridge Family, the Professor from Gilligan's Island). The medium's Dowager Countess, Barbara Walters, stepped down from The View. Here Comes Honey Boo Boo was yanked… … [Read more...] about Best and worst television shows of 2014
America’s Drug Trade Imports More Than Just Addiction
America's Drug Trade Imports More Than Just Addiction by Daniel Faris Drug use has been a hot topic in the U.S. for some time now. Washington and Colorado legalized recreational marijuana, and Washington, D.C. is going head-to-head with Congress over the city voters' decision to legalize. But what isn't often mentioned in the current national debates over drug trade … [Read more...] about America’s Drug Trade Imports More Than Just Addiction
Blame Game
Kevin Drum calls Rudy Guiliani on blaming the NYPD killings on Obama, Holder and Sharpton on Mother Jones. But I assume this means we can blame Bill O'Reilly for his 28 episodes of invective against "Tiller the Baby Killer" that eventually ended in the murder of Wichita abortion provider George Tiller by anti-abortion activist Scott Roeder. We can blame conservative talk radio … [Read more...] about Blame Game
Newsweek Staff’s Favorite Films of 2014
Life in an increasingly digitized world means, among other things, that you can stream practically any film you want online or through providers like Netflix; more and more, cinema is designed to be viewed from the comfort of your La-Z-Boy recliner. Still, the convenience is no substitute for sitting in a dark movie theater, electrified by… … [Read more...] about Newsweek Staff’s Favorite Films of 2014
Despite Problems, Santa Still on Schedule
[icopyright one button toolbar] Fortunately, no matter the myriad of problems the world faces during what should be a season of joy and peace, NORAD has informed the Defense Department that “every indication is that Santa Claus will arrive on time this year to deliver presents to the world’s estimated 1.9 billion children.” As reported here, NORAD has gone Hi-Tech, using … [Read more...] about Despite Problems, Santa Still on Schedule
Time for a convention of the states?
[icopyright one button toolbar] I see some Conservatives are echoing some Liberals who've been saying it's time to hold a Constitutional Convention. Since I have for some time now believed our Constitution is functionally broken, with just about every exploitable part of the thing exploited, I think it's a fine idea. On the other hand, this group appears to only be using … [Read more...] about Time for a convention of the states?
Techies Join Other Liberals Who Are Not Ready For Hillary
[icopyright one button toolbar] Hillary Clinton continues to look like a strong favorite to win the 2016 Democratic nomination, but there continues to be many Democrats who hope that the party decides upon a liberal nominee. This includes the techies who helped Obama to beat her in 2008. Politico reports: Scores of the Democratic techies who helped Barack Obama defeat … [Read more...] about Techies Join Other Liberals Who Are Not Ready For Hillary
The AP’s top 10 movies of the year
The top 10 films of 2014, according to AP Film Writer Jake Coyle: 1. "Ida" - Where did this perfect little gem come from? Its director, Pawel Pawlikowski, wasn't previously a major name in international cinema. Yet at a time when most filmmakers can't keep their movies under two hours, Pawlikowksi plunges into Polish history and… … [Read more...] about The AP’s top 10 movies of the year
Cartoon: Clinton/Bush 2 C
See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Clinton/Bush 2 C
Slain NYPD Officers Celebrated Recent Birthday, Marriage
Slain NYPD Officers Celebrated Recent Birthday, Marriage New York Police Commissioner Bill Bratton, center, spoke at WoodHull Hospital after two NYPD officers were shot and killed. Reuters Murdered New York Police Department officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos were both celebrating milestones in their lives at the time of their deaths. Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said … [Read more...] about Slain NYPD Officers Celebrated Recent Birthday, Marriage
Thank Ted Cruz for the Surgeon General the NRA Hates
Thank Ted Cruz for the Surgeon General the NRA Hates By Dick Polman For 500 days, President Obama's Surgeon General nominee had languished in limbo, and with Republicans set to take over, it appeared that well-credentialed Dr. Vivek Murthy would never get confirmed. Until Ted Cruz came to the rescue! Cruz guy is so addicted to grandstanding that he has no clue how to … [Read more...] about Thank Ted Cruz for the Surgeon General the NRA Hates
5 Ways Marijuana Won In 2014
In 2013, the U.S. polling group Gallup found that for the first time ever, the majority of Americans approved the full legalization of marijuana. Today, that rate of 58 percent has fallen to a slimmer majority of 51 percent, but the legalization boom has picked up even more steam. New Year’s Day marked the first day… … [Read more...] about 5 Ways Marijuana Won In 2014
Right Wing Blames President Obama, Bill de Blasio, Eric Holder for Assassination of NYPD Cops
[icopyright one button toolbar] It's a sad commentary when the rights of people to peacefully demonstrate against a perceived injustice have come under fire because of the actions of one person. NYPD officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos were killed execution style by a POS named Ismaaiyl Brinsley, while they sat in their patrol car outside the Tompkins Houses in Brooklyn … [Read more...] about Right Wing Blames President Obama, Bill de Blasio, Eric Holder for Assassination of NYPD Cops