Daily Headlines
As I look ahead to this coming year, a number of thoughts come to mind. First and foremost, against an enormous amount of corporate media noise and distraction, it is imperative that we not lose sight of what is most important and the vision that we stand for. We have got to stay focused on those issues that impact the lives of tens of millions of Americans who struggle every day to keep their heads above water economically,
Today the Russian government no longer has any illusion that Europe is capable of an independent foreign policy. Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated publicly that Russia has learned that diplomacy with Europe is pointless, because European politicians represent Washington's interest, not Europe's.
Mike Gravel: I took a risk so that Americans knew what our government did in Vietnam. Today's elected representatives should do the same for Iraq and Afghanistan.
By Eric Zuesse
Ukraine's War 'is a prelude to World War III' Says Former Ukrainian U.S. Ambassador
All the "WW III" talk is no mere hyperbole; it's a real possibility now.
Ukraine's War 'is a prelude to World War III' Says Former Ukrainian U.S. Ambassador
All the "WW III" talk is no mere hyperbole; it's a real possibility now.
Milton Friedman's doctrine about the "social responsibility" of corporate management unconsciously laid bare the absurdity at the heart of American-style capitalism. It confuses ends with means by subordinating the constitutional goals of government (incl. justice, the general welfare) to the derivative and conditional value of enriching investors. This subordination is irrational and corrupts our political life.
As always, Putin takes the most moderate position, that is, that Washington and the Saudis may be in cahoots, but that droopy prices might simply be a sign of over-supply and weakening demand. In other words, there could be a plot, but then again, maybe not. Putin is a man who avoids passing judgment without sufficient evidence.
New York is different from the city it was in the late 1960s, just as it is different from the city it was in the 1990s. The media landscape has changed, as has the political landscape. And de Blasio is different in many ways from his predecessors. But that does not mean that this mayor cannot, or will not, learn the lessons of the past and apply them in the future.
Torture may not have any use in obtaining intellignce from military personnel, but it does have a long list of other uses. This column discusses the principal ones.
George W. Bush inherited a budget surplus from Bill Clinton but then slashed taxes, mostly on the rich. The CBO found that the Bush tax cuts reduced revenues by $3 trillion. Yet Republicans don't want to admit supply-side economics is hokum. As a result, they've never had much love for the truth-tellers at the Congressional Budget Office.
If you are a public-school teacher in the state of Kentucky, you should be aware that the state has a memorandum in place for you: You have no right to know the details of the investments being made with your retirement savings, how they are being managed, by whom and why. Your investments and contributions to your pension funds for your retirement are now controlled by the Wall Street financial cabal.
Passion is a concept that's talked about a lot these days. Business and leadership experts talk about employee engagement. Coaching and career development folks talk about finding a calling. Educators talks about passion-based learning. And couples talk about keeping the spark alive.
In the not too distant future, consumers will be able to run on-the-spot tests for environmental toxins, GMOs, pesticides, food safety and more with their smart devices. "Modern biological research is also allowing an extension of laboratory devices on to small computer chips to detect biological information within DNA sequences," said biotech specialist Dr. Marek Banaszewski. "Bioinformatic algorithms within programs will aid the identification of transgenes, promoters, and other functional elements of DNA, making detection of genetically modified foods on-the-spot and real-time without transportation to a laboratory."
As troubling as the recent headlines have been, these lamentations need a second look. It's hard to believe we are in greater danger today than we were during the two world wars, or during other perils such as the periodic nuclear confrontations during the Cold War, the numerous conflicts in Africa and Asia that each claimed millions of lives, or the eight-year war between Iran and Iraq that threatened to choke the flow of oil through the Persian Gulf and cripple the world's economy.
"Somebody hacked into the Sony Pictures Entertainment computer network in Hollywood, and released to the public a treasure trove of confidential information. This is an embarrassment.... It may be a violation of intellectual property rights, and personal privacy rights, and common courtesy. It may be condemnable on any of those grounds. But it is not 'terrorism' or 'cyberwar.' It's a hack."
A Google Gentrification Fight That Doesn't Involve San Francisco. This story could be written about many American cities that are being overtaken by developers, intent on expanding their wealth at the expense of the middle class citizens who built the cities they now want.
"The Interview" is a more effective lampoon of U.S. culture, politics, and the CIA than indictment of North Korea. Could it be that Sony's CEO is a double agent?
It's a time to rejoice. A deeply cherished vicarious thrill can now be experienced without a smidgen of guilt. In October, the Fox News Channel celebrated its 18th year of offering hope to those prone to flights of revisionist fantasy. Now, beating up on Fox can no longer be considered an act of child abuse. It's time to raise a glass to honor the transition into adulthood for Fox News. Who'll join me?
Recovery teams pulled wreckage and bodies from the sea off Indonesia on Tuesday after an intensive three-day search finally yielded the grim fate of a missing passenger jet that plunged from storm-laced skies with 162 people aboard. As night fell Tuesday, it was unclear how many bodies had been spotted. At least three were recovered and placed on an Indonesian warship, said the rescue operations chief Soelistyo.
New York State should now move to 100% clean renewable energy by 2030 after refusing to allow fracking for natural gas.
Rep. Michael Grimm has decided to resign from Congress in the wake of his guilty plea on a felony tax evasion charge, sources told the Daily News Monday night. Grimm (R-S.I.) said after he entered his plea last week that he planned to continue serving in the House. But he reversed course after speaking Monday to House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), who has taken a hard line on GOPers facing ethics charges.
The United States said on Monday it did not support a draft statehood resolution that the Palestinians plan to introduce at the United Nations, saying it would not advance the goal of peace or address Israel's security needs. "We don't think this resolution is constructive," State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke said. "Further, we think that the resolution fails to account for Israel's legitimate security needs, and the satisfaction of those needs, of course, integral to a sustainable settlement."
The Failure of Republican Economics
"According to reports, one of the first acts of the Republican congress will be to fire Doug Elmendorf, current director of the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, because he won't use '"dynamic scoring' for his economic projections.
"According to reports, one of the first acts of the Republican congress will be to fire Doug Elmendorf, current director of the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, because he won't use '"dynamic scoring' for his economic projections.
Good cops versus psycho cops protected by the system.
Sen. Mark Udall has called for the full release of the Senate Intelligence Committee's report on torture. However, as a still-sitting member of Congress, he has a constitutional protection to read most of the still-secret report on the Senate floor -- and a group of intelligence veterans urges him to do just that.
The historic change in relations between the U.S. and Cuba created expectations among many in Algeria that the U.S. would adopt a tougher stance on its staunch ally Morocco, pressuring Morocco to comply with United Nations mandates to end its illegal occupation of the 'Last Colony' in Africa - the Western Sahara.
By Elayne Clift
Who Will Tell the Stories of Missing Girls & Captured Women?
Why don't we hear the voices and stories of the women and girls captured by Boka Haram and ISIS? Are they less newsworthy than counting drone attacks and the usual war stories?
Who Will Tell the Stories of Missing Girls & Captured Women?
Why don't we hear the voices and stories of the women and girls captured by Boka Haram and ISIS? Are they less newsworthy than counting drone attacks and the usual war stories?
Latest Articles
The Trans-Pacific Partnership is a disastrous trade agreement designed to protect the interests of the largest multi-national corporations at the expense of workers, consumers, the environment and the foundations of American democracy. It will also negatively impact some of the poorest people in the world. Petition: Another Trade Deal 'Disaster'
Happy New Year 2015
2014, The street can be seen, People are seen, Friends are seen, Families are seen,
2014, The street can be seen, People are seen, Friends are seen, Families are seen,
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John McCain says the US should abandon its strict schedule for the troops withdrawal from Afghanistan. Obama has secretly signed an order that allows the remaining 10,000 US troops to be involved in combat operations in Afghanistan throughout 2015, according to The New York Times. The order will authorize American forces to continue their missions against the Taliban and other militant groups in the Asian country. The new authorization will also let US jets, bombers, and drones be used to aid ground troops.
Reporter Chris Hedges says he was barred from speaking at a University of Pennsylvania conference on the prospects for peace in the Middle East after he compared Israel's founding fathers to ISIS radicals. He was abruptly told he was not welcome after he published a controversial article in the Truthdig.com site, where he is now a columnist. Hedges says he is not surprised that his views on Israel have caused controversy. He says anyone who challenges pro-Israel orthodoxy risks being ostracized. He called such efforts to stamp out opposing voices a "sign of Israel's desperation."
