January 19, 2008 archive

Weekend News Digest

Weekend News Digest is an Open Thread

1 Why does Johnny come marching homeless?

By ERIN McCLAM, AP National Writer

57 minutes ago

LEEDS, Mass. – Peter Mohan traces the path from the Iraqi battlefield to this lifeless conference room, where he sits in a kilt and a Camp Kill Yourself T-shirt and calmly describes how he became a sad cliche: a homeless veteran.

There was a happy homecoming, but then an accident – car crash, broken collarbone. And then a move east, close to his wife’s new job but away from his best friends.

And then self-destruction: He would gun his motorcycle to 100 mph and try to stand on the seat. He would wait for his wife to leave in the morning, draw the blinds and open up whatever bottle of booze was closest.

Why A New Orleans Debate Is Necessary

Tuesday night, Brian Williams, or, as HuffPo’s Rachel Sklar says he’s called behind his back, “BriWi,” moderated the Democrats’ debate in Las Vegas. Had I been out there among the gamblers before the debate, I would have bet that BriWi would do the same as he had in the two previous debates he moderated and not bring up New Orleans or Katrina. It would have been a sure thing and I’d probably be rich this morning.

His performance as a moderator was pathetic….

Greed, Arrogance and War Profitteering are Not Charities

char·i·ty

noun, plural ties.

1. generous actions or donations to aid the poor, ill, or helpless: to devote one’s life to charity.

2. something given to a person or persons in need; alms: She asked for work, not charity.

3. a charitable act or work.

4. a charitable fund, foundation, or institution: He left his estate to a charity.

5. benevolent feeling, esp. toward those in need or in disfavor: She looked so poor that we fed her out of charity.

6. leniency in judging others; forbearance: She was inclined to view our selfish behavior with charity.

7. Christian love; agape.

char·i·ty

n. pl. char·i·ties

1Provision of help or relief to the poor; almsgiving.

2Something given to help the needy; alms.

3An institution, organization, or fund established to help the needy.

4Benevolence or generosity toward others or toward humanity.

5Indulgence or forbearance in judging others. See Synonyms at mercy.

6often Charity Christianity The theological virtue defined as love directed first toward God but also toward oneself and one’s neighbors as objects of God’s love.

Charity

(1 Cor. 13), the rendering in the Authorized Version of the word which properly denotes love, and is frequently so rendered (always so in the Revised Version). It is spoken of as the greatest of the three Christian graces (1 Cor. 12:31-13:13).

Easton’s 1897 Bible Dictionary

Challenges

Thursday was first day of classes, Day #2.  School actually started on Wednesday, but of course we only met the students and teachers in our classes that meet on Wednesdays.

So I walked into my morning class…Computer Literacy at 10 am…and watched as my students slowly arrived, making myself useful by passing our syllabi.

I was not expecting anything out of the ordinary…such as, for example, all the students to show up on that first day of class.  I was hoping for something bigger than 50%.  In fact, ever single student registered for the class was in class and seated by 10:05.

The students helped me up from where I had fainted from surprise (no, not really).  Then one of them called me over to her computer station and informed me of a problem.  “I am visually impaired,”  she said.  “So am I,” I said.  “What can I do to help?”

Challenges

Thursday was first day of classes, Day #2.  School actually started on Wednesday, but of course we only met the students and teachers in our classes that meet on Wednesdays.

So I walked into my morning class…Computer Literacy at 10 am…and watched as my students slowly arrived, making myself useful by passing our syllabi.

I was not expecting anything out of the ordinary…such as, for example, all the students to show up on that first day of class.  I was hoping for something bigger than 50%.  In fact, ever single student registered for the class was in class and seated by 10:05.

The students helped me up from where I had fainted from surprise (no, not really).  Then one of them called me over to her computer station and informed me of a problem.  “I am visually impaired,”  she said.  “So am I,” I said.  “What can I do to help?”

An Eye On The News: A Quick Ref of Current ePluribus Media Pieces

I thought it might be useful for folks if I took a moment to briefly highlight a few of the recent articles on ePluribus Media that may prove interesting and relevant to ongoing discussions.

So, make the jump for a quick check-in, and leave comments here (or there, or both) if you’d like to share your own thoughts.

Thank you. 🙂

A World Without Republicans

Ah, a little fantasy on a Saturday morning!

Photobucket

The last twelve or so years of our national discussion have been marred by what amounts to a belligerent drunk at a cocktail party. Not JUST George…and I am not making a crack about his drinking. But the whole Republican Party of the last twelve years. A belligerent drunk at a cocktail party that had 50 million friends who were backing him up….until he got TOO far out of hand, and they had to slowly peel away from supporting him….and now are as eager to see him leave as everybody else.

Well….except for 25 million of his less observant friends who are also still drunk on whatever they it is they put in that Kool-aid. But now the vast majority of people at the party are tired of his antics, his schtick and his general obnoxiousness and just wish he would leave.

So here is todays question….what would, what WILL our country be like when the belligerent drunk has left the party? What would our political world be like with a cowed and defeated and marginalized Republican Party?

I’m just sayin’…

Consider the following:

A 46 year old man is running for President.  He has some good solid experience, but being that he is only 46, that experience is derided as “not enough”, or that it “doesn’t count as much because of the background behind that experience”.  

His policies and “successes” prior to his running for President are, by no stretch, “far left wing”, rather they turned out to be relatively middle of the road – liberal on some, not as much on others.  And even though the success stories were based on policies that were not against some conservative ideals (i.e., job growth, economic policy), he was derided by the right wing nonetheless as being a lightweight or too liberal.

When running for President, he had used a message of “hope” and used his personal story of coming from a less-than-stellar childhood or background to overcome the obstacles placed before him and rise to political prominence.

“Dead Indian Creek” & Cultural Hegemony

Why say “Dead Warrior Creek,” when racism fuels cultural hegemony so well?


Source

The official name now is Dead Warrior Lake, ending for some a controversy over the lake’s name that has been going on for almost a decade.

– snip –

The first settlers in the area came up with the name after discovering a Cheyenne burial site. Cottonwoods that lined the creek made for a perfect burial site near the tribe’s winter camp.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

New Hampshire Recount Day 3: 1st 100 Vote Difference and Totals w/poll

Day three of the New Hampshire Democratic Recount, called for and paid for the the Dennis Kucinich campaign, has some interesting anomalies.  We have our first 100 vote change in a ward for a candidate.  We also have the running totals for the candidates!

Docudharma Times Saturday January 19

This is an Open Thread: Nothing is sealed in plastic

Saturday’s Headlines: Democrats duel to the end in Nevada: Kids killing kids tests justice system: Iraq on alert for Shia festival: Captain of protest vessel claims spy trawler is shadowing him: Kidnap victims found dead after Mexico gunfight: Exile: the price for defying Putin

Economists Debate Efficacy of Stimulus Measures

In trying to assemble a bipartisan package to jolt the slumping economy, the White House and Congress have turned to familiar tools that experts say have worked in the past. But there is also a lively debate among economists about which measures will best accomplish the goal.

The favorite template for addressing recession fears is a set of tax measures and spending initiatives passed in 2001 and 2002, including a personal income tax rebate in the summer of 2001 that amounted to $300 to $600 per household and a tax incentive the following year aimed at encouraging businesses to invest in new plants and equipment.

President Bush highlighted both those basic approaches on Friday in setting out his principles for a deal with Congress to address the current downturn. Democrats are also likely to seek increased spending for programs like unemployment insurance or to funnel more money to states, an approach that Mr. Bush signaled he would oppose.

It Comes Out At Night

A “professional avenger” who performed acts of retribution for cash was arrested along with a client for handing out pamphlets defaming a housewife in Aichi Prefecture.

I wonder if he’s Batman’s cousin?

Weddings for pregnant brides, known as the Omedeta-kon Plan, have become increasingly popular in recent years in Japan. Please pass the shotgun.

Leave all Samurai swords at home. Thank you.

Japan’s first female governor, Osaka’s scandal-hit Fusae Ohta, decided not to seek a third term. She first took over the job when Knock Yokoyama was forced out over a sexual-harassment scandal.

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