Welcome to The Breakfast Club! We’re a disorganized group of rebel lefties who hang out and chat if and when we’re not too hungover we’ve been bailed out we’re not too exhausted from last night’s (CENSORED) the caffeine kicks in. Join us every weekday morning at 9am (ET) and weekend morning at 10:30am (ET) to talk about current news and our boring lives and to make fun of LaEscapee! If we are ever running late, it’s PhilJD’s fault.
This Day in History
FDR wins unprecedented third term in the White House; Richard Nixon elected President; Former President Reagan says he has Alzheimer’s; George Foreman sets boxing record; Pianist Vladimir Horowitz dies.
Breakfast Tunes
Something to Think about over Coffee Prozac
That which is not good for the bee-hive cannot be good for the bees. Marcus Aurelius
Breakfast News
Edward Snowden has outlined his opposition to the British government’s investigatory powers bill, arguing that Conservative politicians were “taking notes on how to defend the indefensible”.
The former National Security Agency (NSA) whistleblower, whose disclosure of top-secret documents ultimately led to the home secretary, Theresa May, proposing the bill, made a series of tweets on Wednesday warning that the communications data covered by the legislation was “the activity log of your life”.
‘Iron-ass’ Cheney and ‘arrogant’ Rumsfeld damaged America, says George Bush Sr
Former US president George HW Bush has hit out at Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld, two of the most senior figures in his son’s administration, labelling them too “hardline” and “arrogant” in their handling of the September 11 attacks.
A new biography of the 41st president – Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey Of George Herbert Walker Bush – reveals that Bush Sr held Cheney and Rumsfeld responsible for the hawkish stance that “hurt” his son’s administration, Fox News reported on Wednesday.
Adidas to help high schools drop Native American mascots
Adidas has announced an initiative to help high schools nationwide drop Native American mascots.
The German company said it will offer free design resources to schools looking to shelve Native American mascots, nicknames, imagery or symbolism. Adidas also pledged to provide financial support to ensure the cost of changing is not prohibitive.
Adidas announced the initiative in conjunction with the White House Tribal Nations Conference on Thursday in Washington. Adidas executives were among those attending the conference, which includes leaders from the 567 federally recognized tribes.
Last US Sumatran rhino joins Indonesian reserve in effort to save species
A US-born Sumatran rhino ate leaves and wallowed in mud at an Indonesian sanctuary, as the US formally handed over the animal on Thursday in hopes he will have offspring and help save his critically endangered species from extinction.
The eight-year-old rhino is now in quarantine at Way Kambas national park after traveling more than 10,000 miles (16,000km) from a zoo in Cincinnati, Ohio, to the Indonesian capital, Jakarta.
Scientists attempt to breed ‘super coral’ to save threatened reefs
Scientists at a research centre on Hawaii’s Coconut Island have embarked on an experiment to grow “super coral” that they hope can withstand the hotter and more acidic oceans that are expected with global warming.
The quest to grow the hearty coral comes at a time when researchers are warning about the dire health of the world’s reefs, which create habitats for marine life, protect shorelines and drive tourist economies.
Must Read Blog Posts
Maybe We Should Stop Sending Weapons Where We Can’t Keep Track of Them Charles Pierce, Esquire Politics
Médecins Sans Frontières in Kunduz Treated 2 Higher Ranking Taliban before Attack emptywheel aka Marcy Wheeler, emptywheel
2nd Amendment fanatics are just this desperate: How wing-nuts with guns are trying to hijack the Constitution Heather Digby Parton, Salon
The GOP Has a Much Bigger Problem Than the Debates Joan Walsh, The Nation
Comcast’s Christmas Present To Broadband Users: More Usage Caps In More Places Karl Bode, Techdirt