- Vertical Smart Slide 1
- SCOTUS and consumers
- Posted 12 hours ago
Today the United States Supreme Court ruled in a 5-3 vote that agreements between the companies that make name-brand and generic drugs to delay the generics' availability can be illegal.…
- G8 Summit
- Posted 17 hours ago
The 39th G8 summit is being held in the United Kingdom today and tomorrow.
Representing approximately 15 percent of the world's population, 65 percent of the global gross domestic product and two thirds of international…
- Still Nazis Among Us?
- Posted 18 hours ago
An Associated Press report that 94-year-old Minneapolis retired construction worker Michael Karkoc was allegedly an officer in a Nazi-affiliated Ukrainian militia accused of war crimes during World War II has…
- Father’s Day
- Posted 2 days ago
It's Father's Day, the day to celebrate paternal bonds and honour the men in our lives who are there either by blood or by choice. Today we celebrate fatherhood and…
Quick News Bites
Busy day for the SCOTUS – good day for consumers
Today the United States Supreme Court ruled in a 5-3 vote that agreements between the companies that make name-brand and generic drugs to delay the generics' availability can … [Read More...]
U.S. Army Celebrates its 238th Anniversary
Two hundred thirty-eight years ago the leaders of the United States established what was then known as the Continental Army. Since then, the US Army has defended the nation … [Read More...]
It hasn’t been that long: Loving vs. Virginia #MarriageEquality
As the US Supreme Court prepares to decide on marriage equality cases, taking a look back to one of the first cases fighting for the right to marry becomes all the more … [Read More...]
Immigration Reform on the Table – What Will Congress Decide?
The full Senate will soon hold its first immigration vote this week. Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) has noted that he sees Congress completing an immigration … [Read More...]
The BK Dame Says
Hey, Taxpayers…Got Food?
Last year when the nation was in the throes of discussions about the ‘Fiscal Cliff‘ which then segued into budget sequestration, the not so aptly named Farm Bill was yet another political hurdle to overcome.
Let’s refresh your memory about the actions of the 112th Congress and what the Farm Bill contains:
Remember when our incredibly ineffective, lazy and divisive Congress allowed the Farm Bill to expire?… [Read more]
American Cancer Society: 100 Years Old Today
It would seem rather strange to say, “Happy birthday, American Cancer Society!” on the day that it turns 100 years old. As other not-for-profit organisations of all stripes fall by the wayside, it’s simultaneously an accomplishment to have lasted this long to carry out its mission, and disheartening to see that far too many of us are still touched by cancer, thereby warranting the need for an organisation such as this to exist at all.… [Read more]
Memorial Day
Memorial Day 2013. Formerly known as Decoration Day — originally created and celebrated by former African-American slaves — and meant to commemorate and honour all men and women who have died in military service for this nation, the day officially became known as Memorial Day after World War II. Since 1971, Memorial Day has been recognised as a federal holiday observed on the last Monday in May.… [Read more]
Transcending Borders
G8 Summit: Avoidance of Discussions about the Environment
The 39th G8 summit is being held in the United Kingdom today and tomorrow.
Representing approximately 15 percent of the world’s population, 65 percent of the global gross domestic product and two thirds of international trade, the G8 is an informal group of advanced economies that meets once a year at a Summit of Heads of State and Government.… [Read more]
Father’s Day 2013
It’s Father’s Day, the day to celebrate paternal bonds and honour the men in our lives who are there either by blood or by choice. Today we celebrate fatherhood and its powerful influence.
Not all fathers are cut from the same cloth; some are actively involved in the lives of their children and some, perhaps due to extenuating circumstances, are not.… [Read more]
We Say This
Still Nazis Among Us?
An Associated Press report that 94-year-old Minneapolis retired construction worker Michael Karkoc was allegedly an officer in a Nazi-affiliated Ukrainian militia accused of war crimes during World War II has neighbors stunned and criminal justice agencies in Europe and the United States launching an investigation.
Many crimes are subject to a statute of limitation years after alleged commission given that reliable evidence may no longer be available, and that memories of witnesses fade with time.… [Read more]
Funny business: “If you’ve done nothing wrong…”
The Brits have the best expressions, and events this past week on both sides of the world’s longest undefended border confirming the harsh truths of democracy in the Age of Terror recall a good one – “funny peculiar, or funny ha-ha?” The sinister synchronicity observed between sanctioned NSA snoops and the secret spy directives issued by the Honourable Peter MacKay, our Minister of Defence working his inner Big Brother should scare the bejeezus out of any intelligent democrat.… [Read more]
Another Day, Another Massacre
A week ago another lunatic armed to the teeth descended on the town of Santa Monica, California and the Santa Monica City College killing 5 innocent people and wounding scores of others. The gunman, wearing an assault style military uniform, carried an AR 15 assault rifle with over 1800 rounds of ammunition. He killed his father, brother and three innocent random people, shooting indiscriminately at drivers of cars and a city bus before he entered the school where he fired on anyone he saw.… [Read more]
Blame Mom!
It seems I can’t win. Apparently if I am not screwing up education as a teacher, I’m doing it by being a working mom.
This past week, in a forum hosted by The Washington Post, Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant announced that all the problems in education can be tracked back to women joining the work force.… [Read more]
Friday News Roundup
Those of you familiar with this scribe know that I follow the news diligently. Some stories in particular caught my attention this week so I now present to you Patrick’s Friday News Roundup. Authorities rescued a 7-foot alligator found in an Ohio man’s basement. The alligator is malnourished, has bone disease from a lack of sun for 15 years and, thanks to teenagers taunting him, hates teenagers.… [Read more]
Spies Like Us
Despite all the Ludlum-Jason Bourne film genre adaptations, Americans are pretty “Johnny-Come-Lately” lame for the snoopery schtick. For all the hype over the exposé from The Guardian (a newspaper NOT yet owned by “Rupert From Oz” Murdoch) over National Security Agency snooping of your Verizon call information, Guardian reporter Glenn Greenwald is a bit too tidy for Hollywood’s typecast scruffy, twenty-something Brit journalist with a hipster messenger bag meme getting snuffed by a Central Intelligence Agency hitman in London’s Victoria Station for his scoop.… [Read more]
In the Spotlight
Edward Snowdon – Patriot or Traitor?
Ah, the Edward Snowdon affair. We seen a lot of material passing through cyberspace and landing on our computer screens (via Twitter) about Edward. I’m going to run through some tweets I found about Edward that I hope you will find interesting.
The National Journal says, Breathe, People: We Shouldn’t Rush to Judgment About Edward Snowden.… [Read more]
Social Change
Do Politicians Care About Our Youth?
I question the commitment of our politicians when it comes to the education of our young people.
Educating young minds takes more than classroom instruction and standardized exams. It requires a commitment to nurture students and expose them to a myriad of educational and cultural opportunities. How can this happen if one of the first things on the chopping block during budget discussions is funding for after-school programs and the arts?… [Read more]
Abe Akie Wants You To “Like” Her Husband
In a nation where we’re constantly bombarded online with targeted political messaging (think back to the Obama For President 2012 5-a-day email bomb), it might be easy to forget how charming that kind of attention used to be.
As hyper-connected to technology as Japan is, it has mostly been through traditional channels that politicians have tried to reach voters.… [Read more]
Finance
Fifty years and counting for paycheck fairness
Fifty years ago, President John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act of 1963 as part of his New Frontier program. The federal law amended the Fair Labor Standards Act that was directed at abolishing wage disparity based on gender.
Today, 50 years to the day, President Obama marked the anniversary of the Equal Pay Act.… [Read more]
Flogging the Taxman Redux
Congressional Republicans are trying to keep alleged White House “scandals” simmering well past al dente doneness. As facts unfold, it’s more like vainly trying to keep a wave upon the sandy beach.
Let’s remember last year’s GOP presidential primaries. Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) made a seemingly intoxicated tirade about a tax return the size of a postcard.… [Read more]
Technology
Storm Chasers
We lost three veteran storm chasers — Tim Samaras, his son Paul, and Carl Young — near Reno, Oklahoma last Friday night when an EF3 tornado turned into them. That same storm swept a Weather Channel vehicle 200 yards off the road. Fortunately, none of the occupants was seriously injured.
Chasing tornados is a dangerous business, one I don’t care for.… [Read more]
History 101—One way WWII had a positive impact for women
In my spare time {groan} I’ve been reading Tom Brokaw’s The Greatest Generation. I enjoy reading about and studying history, and WWII is one of my favorite subjects. You remember WWII , you know, that war we fought to clean up the mess from WWI. You remember WWI, the ‘war to end all wars’. As the men went to war, women went to the workplace and, even though they were ‘fired’ at the end of the war, their presence in the workplace created more opportunities for women.… [Read more]
WTLF*?!?
On Rape: Lindy West, Don’t Speak For Me
Oh, Lindy West…you assumptive, condescending, bitter woman, trying to speak for me. Stop.
Stop using words like “victim” and “trivializing” in your high-pitched “Oh-Em-Gee” voice. Granted, you’re upset about rape, and the social commentary that goes along with the harsh, stark reality that some men (and some women) cannot control their sexual urges, allow their inner treachery to surface and, in turn, physically harm others.… [Read more]
Keystone XL Pipeline—Boom or Bust?
I have to confess that the first time I heard about the Keystone XL pipeline I didn’t know a thing about it. All I heard was a quick blurb on the evening news mentioning that the president might not approve it. (However, I believe this was before the election and I think he conveniently changed his mind after he was re-elected.) All the newsperson reported was that the president might not approve it.… [Read more]
Wrap-Up
Children and guns…a post about a post
I recently wrote a post on Sulia titled Kids start playing with a loaded gun at home, 10 year-old boy is dead, shot in the chest. The post pulled in numerous comments that spoke to gun safety, parental negligence, the National Rifle Association, firearm education, stockpiling weapons, and alcohol and drugs. I believe that the comments are so good that they need their own post; hence this.… [Read more]
Lifestyle
Ask Mrs. Vera: Is it possible that Americans have come to think well of George W. Bush?
Dear Mrs. Vera,
A recent poll reveals that for the first time since 2005, more Americans have a favorable view of George W. Bush than an unfavorable view. How is this possible?
Regards,
Dwight D. Eisenhower, dec’d.
Dear Dirty “I Is In The Shower”,
You are very naughty, indeed, if you think Mrs. Vera will be so easily fooled by such a transparent letter just because I answered a dead man’s question last week.… [Read more]
Surviving the Summer Holidays
The summer holidays are on us again. School is out and the kids are free to run wild. It need not be all chaos at your household this summer as there are many different activities which you can do with your children to occupy their time meaningfully.
- Sign them up for art camps, or do painting/drawing at home: It would be great for them to capture their surroundings down in print using different mediums in art.
Say It In Song
Still Our Only Home
This week’s “Say It In Song” pick is one that comes to us courtesy of Jeff Beck and the Hammer Group.
Much will be discussed about the environment this week; despite the fact that climate change will not be discussed at this year’s G8 Summit at which global leaders will meet to discuss topics of international importance, activism will remain a local, grassroots issue.… [Read more]
