Hostages Held in Sydney Cafe Updated | Several people have been taken hostage in a Lindt Chocolate store in Sydney, Australia, according to local media reports. A Lindt Australia executive said there were about 10 staff working at a cafe in Sydney where hostages are being held, Sky Business reported on Monday, and possibly as many as 30 customers, Reuters reported.… … [Read more...] about Gunman IS DEAD along with 2 Hostages: takes hostages in Sydney, Australia cafe: Islamic flag displayed
SciFi Weekend: Mid-Season Finales For Arrow (Is Oliver Dead?), The Flash, and Agents of SHIELD; Agent Carter; Spider-Man; Continuum Renewed; The Office In Middle Earth; Krypton; The Newsroom; Fargo
Arrow, The Flash, and Agents of SHIELD all had major revelations in the midseason finales aired last week. Needless to say, there are major spoilers following. Besides revealing who killed the Black Canary, Arrow had the biggest cliffhanger, except the lead character actually was shown falling off the cliff after getting killed by Ra’s al Ghul. Stephen Amell even played along … [Read more...] about SciFi Weekend: Mid-Season Finales For Arrow (Is Oliver Dead?), The Flash, and Agents of SHIELD; Agent Carter; Spider-Man; Continuum Renewed; The Office In Middle Earth; Krypton; The Newsroom; Fargo
On Torture: Cheney’s Fortitude
[icopyright one button toolbar] As I watched former Vice President Dick Cheney this morning tell NBC’s “Meet the Press” Chuck Todd how good he felt about the torture that was done in his name -- and don’t forget, “that the president authorized” -- my heart swelled with good ole American pride. I love the Vice-President’s certitude, bravado and machismo. He may have had … [Read more...] about On Torture: Cheney’s Fortitude
Wreaths Across America
[icopyright one button toolbar] A reader reminded me yesterday of a beautiful tradition that has been taking place every December for 23 years. It is National Wreaths Across America Day. I have written about the event and the organization, Wreaths Across America, which every year organizes and supports the laying of thousands of wreaths at hundreds of cemeteries in … [Read more...] about Wreaths Across America
In Praise of the U.S. Senate’s CIA Torture Report (News, Switzerland)
Whatever difficulties it presents for George W. Bush or Dick Cheney, and however uncomfortable it makes the people involved, columnist Patrik Etschmayer of Switzerland's News writes that the report on torture released by the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence is a refutation of those who use terrorism to justify mass surveillance and proves that in Western … [Read more...] about In Praise of the U.S. Senate’s CIA Torture Report (News, Switzerland)
Fit yourself with a personal GPS system (Guest Voice)
Fit yourself with a personal GPS system By Michael Mantell, PhD SAN DIEGO — A client recently bought an expensive new car. He hasn’t been the same since. He’s been ranting about how expensive it is, how he shouldn’t have spent so much, and on and on. I asked him about what type of options he put into it and he angrily spewed, “A very expensive navi system!” A navigation … [Read more...] about Fit yourself with a personal GPS system (Guest Voice)
Cartoon: Dinnertime at Guantanamo
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: Dinnertime at Guantanamo
Ways In Which Obamacare Saves Consumers Money Which You Might Not Have Been Aware Of
In our highly polarized country there are two general reactions to the Affordable Care Act, repeating the same lies no matter how often debunked and engaging in ridiculous attempts at blocking the law on the right, versus those in the reality-based side of the political spectrum who have been documenting the many benefits of the law. Many of the major benefits, including … [Read more...] about Ways In Which Obamacare Saves Consumers Money Which You Might Not Have Been Aware Of
Pop Goes the Week: Kirk Cameron makes terrible movies and Jessica Simpson loves carpet
Kirk Cameron's Saving Christmas has been rated the worst movie ever on IMDB ...and it's not just because paganjoy666, yulesticegirl and Satankitten voted more times than allowed. Coldplay's next album could possibly be their last Guess I'll have to give Ambien another try. Azealia Banks tweets "VEGANS ... GO AWAY! not everyone wants to wear paper… … [Read more...] about Pop Goes the Week: Kirk Cameron makes terrible movies and Jessica Simpson loves carpet
Ted Cruz is up against solid opposition
Ted Cruz is up against solid opposition: They really don't like this guy. His own colleagues are turning their back on him or simple condemning his politics. A vast majority of the Senate disagreed with Sen. Ted Cruz’s (R-Texas) assertion that President Obama’s executive order on immigration is unconstitutional. Cruz raised a constitutional point of order against … [Read more...] about Ted Cruz is up against solid opposition
We’re a Nation of Laws
We're a Nation of Laws By Tina Dupuy Torture is illegal. Period. End of debate. There is no legal, moral or probable justification for torture. It's against the Bill of Rights; it's against the Geneva Convention; it's against United Nations Convention Against Torture (ratified by the U.S. in 1994); it's against every state statute from every modern constitutional … [Read more...] about We’re a Nation of Laws
How Three ‘Old Men’ View Torture
[icopyright one button toolbar] It isn’t anymore about whether what the CIA so clinically and technically calls enhanced interrogation techniques is torture or not. That was settled a long time ago when Americans first heard and read about waterboarding, dark cages, black sites and all. Nor is it about whether torture is illegal and immoral. That has been settled … [Read more...] about How Three ‘Old Men’ View Torture
Senate Averts Government Shutdown — Until Wednesday
Senate Averts Government Shutdown -- Until Wednesday The Senate approved a short-term spending bill during a rare Saturday session that will give lawmakers four more days to agree on a $1.1 trillion funding measure that will keep the government running through September. The House passed the bill Thursday and left town. Congressional leaders have been fighting to prevent a … [Read more...] about Senate Averts Government Shutdown — Until Wednesday
24 And Torture
[icopyright one button toolbar] Matt Bai has discussed the "24 Effect" on how terrorism is viewed: In a sense, “24” became a kind of virtual universe in which all of us could role-play — even if we happened to know more about the roles than the actors did. I recall a conversation with Bill Clinton in 2007 during which he brought up the show and spent the better part of a … [Read more...] about 24 And Torture
Mississippi Pastor Dresses Horse in Wedding Dress to Protest Same-Sex Marriage
[icopyright one button toolbar] SMH: Mississippi pastor Edward James dressed a horse in a wedding dress and stood outside the federal courthouse to protest same sex marriage. Um, I didn't realize a horse can consent to marriage in the same way as a gay or straight couple. WJTV reports Pastor James, of Bertha Chapel Missionary Baptist Church of Charlotte, thought of this … [Read more...] about Mississippi Pastor Dresses Horse in Wedding Dress to Protest Same-Sex Marriage
Cartoon: The USA and Torture
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: The USA and Torture
Idiotic behavior: Study shows one gender clearly wins
We are here to discuss idiotic behavior. Not those who tailgate and pass on the right to advance one car-length. That’s being a jerk. Not those who are blind to obvious reality, such as those who thought the Jets really had a chance this year. They’re fanatics. Not those who invested their hard-earned money in a… … [Read more...] about Idiotic behavior: Study shows one gender clearly wins
Ted Cruz Strikes Again (at the GOP Congressional Leadership)
[icopyright one button toolbar] He's clearly off and running. For President. But, in the meantime, if all the world isn't (yet) his stage, his stage is the Senate floor. And he's using it. Texas's Republicqan Sen. Ted Cruz has struck again -- at the GOP's Congressional leadership: Sen. Ted Cruz, the firebrand conservative freshman from Texas, has blown up the … [Read more...] about Ted Cruz Strikes Again (at the GOP Congressional Leadership)
Letter to the Next Generation
Letter to the Next Generation By Jason Stanford Dear boys, Dad here. I want to tell you about something that happened to me yesterday. A friend of mine at the office, a black woman, asked me to join her at a protest about that unarmed 18-year-old who was shot by that police officer in Missouri. I felt a little funny about going, as if a white, 40-something dad had no … [Read more...] about Letter to the Next Generation
Cartoon: After the Torture Report
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: After the Torture Report