Satire, clueless sharing, and digital literacy Once-upon-a-time, satire was (pretty) clearly marked: think Mad Magazine, for example. Then along came The Onion. Today there are innumerable satirical news sites, some that make it very clear that they are farcical -- such as having a statement on each page saying "satire!" -- and some that do not. This is a post about one … [Read more...] about There is no new eyewitness report about Jesus
The Ebola Crisis: Concern, But Also Acts of Kindness and Courage
[icopyright one button toolbar] As the news of Thomas Duncan’s death -- the first and first fatal case of Ebola diagnosed in the United States -- sinks in, I am struck by the words in the New York Times announcing this tragic and disturbing turn of events: Mr. Duncan had been a driver at a cargo company in Monrovia, the Liberian capital, living alone in a small room … [Read more...] about The Ebola Crisis: Concern, But Also Acts of Kindness and Courage
Bill Maher Reconsidering Idea Of Voting For Rand Paul Due To His Denial Of Climate Change
Bill Maher has previously said he might consider voting for Rand Paul if he were to run against Hillary Clinton for president in 2016. It is certainly understandable why someone might give this a thought in light of Clinton’s hawkish foreign policy views but this idea breaks down with a closer look at Rand Paul. Maher found that Paul is not as anti-war as he would prefer, but … [Read more...] about Bill Maher Reconsidering Idea Of Voting For Rand Paul Due To His Denial Of Climate Change
Just Agree to Agree
Just Agree to Agree By Tina Dupuy In February 2007, in a Democrat-controlled Congress, 10 senators—half Republican and half Democrat—sent the then-President Bush a letter on the urgent issue of health care. It read in part: "We would like to work with you and your Administration to pass legislation in this Congress that would: 1) Ensure that all Americans would have … [Read more...] about Just Agree to Agree
Battle of Kobani turns into street-to-street combat as Kurds desperately try to stop an ISIS massacre
MURSITPINAR, Turkey - The desperate fight to prevent Kobani becoming the latest ISIS stronghold began before daybreak. It was 4 a.m. Tuesday when the first American air strike targeted jihadist positions encircling the strategically vital northern Syrian border town, which has been under an intensifying siege for more than a fortnight. Lefteris Pitarakis / Associated Press… … [Read more...] about Battle of Kobani turns into street-to-street combat as Kurds desperately try to stop an ISIS massacre
Logistical TMV posting delay today
There is a logistical posting delay on posts for today's TMV of features normally on this site. Check back later in a few hours when things will be back to normal. … [Read more...] about Logistical TMV posting delay today
Remembering ‘Aussie’ Vera Palmer
[icopyright one button toolbar] When we met her at her cozy home in Canberra, Australia, last October, she was a young 98. As we chatted about Australian history and immigration, my eyes caught a white, blue and silver metallic torch on top of a cabinet in her living room, very similar to an Olympic Torch. And lo and behold, it was an Olympic Torch -- a 2000 Sydney … [Read more...] about Remembering ‘Aussie’ Vera Palmer
In Not Hearing Case, Supreme Court Puts United States On A Path Towards Marriage Equality
By deciding to allow appeals court rulings in five states stand, the Supreme Court has essentially put the United States on a path to make this legal in most, if not all, of the United States. While same-sex marriage only directly affects a small percentage of the country, it has become a litmus test to distinguish left from right, and demonstrate the emptiness of Republican … [Read more...] about In Not Hearing Case, Supreme Court Puts United States On A Path Towards Marriage Equality
“How to win when you don’t have the votes – A Tale of Two Kochs (Guest Voice)
"How to win when you don’t have the votes – A Tale of Two Kochs by Slamfu [icopyright one button toolbar] So there has been an ever growing list of Republican shenanigans as they try to twist the voting process to counter the fact that in a lot of areas, they simply don’t have the votes. There are a few ways you can go about fixing that. Coming up with newer, better … [Read more...] about “How to win when you don’t have the votes – A Tale of Two Kochs (Guest Voice)
Inside Kurdistan’s Refugee Camps: A Report from Rescue Task Force
Rescue Task Force, a nonprofit international rescue organization that started in East County, now has a team in Kurdistan/Iraq assisting the refugees there. It has been difficult even for major international media to get reports from inside this region, since many news organizations have pulled out their correspondents after the beheading of two journalists by ISIS terrorists … [Read more...] about Inside Kurdistan’s Refugee Camps: A Report from Rescue Task Force
Cartoon: Gays Ruin Marriage
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: Gays Ruin Marriage
Privacy and Democracy
Privacy is not a concern for citizens in totalitarian states where autocrats or the ruling group want to be all knowing. Those in power try to eliminate private thoughts or communications, their goal being to prevent their overthrow by the people or other groups in opposition. Invasion of citizens’ privacy by government surveillance and various high tech corporations in … [Read more...] about Privacy and Democracy
Surrender to the inevitable
WASHINGTON -- By deciding not to decide, the Supreme Court may have decided: If history is a guide, same-sex marriage will soon be the law of the land. The court's refusal to take up cases brought by five states seeking to overturn appellate court rulings in favor of gay marriage -- Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin -- was a surprise. It does not mean that … [Read more...] about Surrender to the inevitable
Nothing ‘tacit’ about this victory
United States Supreme Court building, Public Domain This is a good Omen for the First Monday in October: Supreme Court Hands Gay Marriage a Tacit Victory Adam Liptak / New York Times WASHINGTON — In a move that may signal the inevitability of a nationwide right to same-sex marriage, the Supreme Court on Monday let stand appeals court rulings allowing such unions in five … [Read more...] about Nothing ‘tacit’ about this victory
Naomi Wolf Suggests ISIS Beheading Videos May Have Been Staged
[icopyright one button toolbar] How uttery silly and impulse-control-challenged has our political discussion gotten? This silly and impulse-control-challenged : former Bill Clinton and Al Gore political consultant and author Naomi Wolf has suggested the ISIS beheading videos might have been staged. Which shows you that the afflication that causes some to suggest Barack … [Read more...] about Naomi Wolf Suggests ISIS Beheading Videos May Have Been Staged
Cartoon: Gay Marriage
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: Gay Marriage
Tremors from Hong Kong: Are protests over China’s broken promise doomed to end in violence?
I was in Hong Kong in July 1997 when Britain transferred its sovereignty to China in return for promises to slowly democratize the former colony. There was excitement in the air, and gigantic fireworks displays for two evenings. But the anxiety was palpable the day after celebrations when we all woke up to Chinese tanks and… … [Read more...] about Tremors from Hong Kong: Are protests over China’s broken promise doomed to end in violence?
Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Obama and the Secret Service
Obama and the Secret Service by Mike Peters OF RELATED INTEREST: --Ex-Agent Cites 'Progressive Down Slide' In Morale At Secret Service --Have '2nd-term blues' hit the Secret Service? --The Problem With the Secret Service --Why Julia Pierson Resigned 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 Guest Cartoon: Obama and the Secret Service
The End Of Lotus 123
One of my first experiences with PC programs was Lotus 123. As a scientist and engineer it was a blessing. Originally I used it on a pre-Windows DOS PC and was often a pain in the you know what but it still made my job much easier. I can say the same for the pre - Windows word processor WordPerfect. Well 123 is on it's way to the software grave yard.[icopyright one button … [Read more...] about The End Of Lotus 123
Krugman on GOP Voodoo Economics
Paul Krugman predicts the institutionalization of G.H.W. Bush's aptly named "voodoo economics" should Republicans gain a Senate majority in The New York Times. During his failed bid for the 1980 Republican presidential nomination George H. W. Bush famously described Ronald Reagan’s “supply side” doctrine — the claim that cutting taxes on high incomes would lead to spectacular … [Read more...] about Krugman on GOP Voodoo Economics