About those US embassy closures in the Middle East: they make the US look like a wimp. The United States is still the world’s primary superpower, for better or worse, and it has the potential to influence the world in both positive and negative ways. At one extreme, its unique geopolitical position allows it to […]
How we lost our Constitution somewhere in Iraq and came back without it to Try Manning (van Buren)
Peter Van Buren writes at Tomdispatch.com On July 30, 1778, the Continental Congress created the first whistleblower protection law, stating “that it is the duty of all persons in the service of the United States to give the earliest information to Congress or other proper authority of any misconduct, frauds, or misdemeanors committed by any […]
The New Neros: The Koch Bros Profit from Burning the World Up (Halperin Infographic)
Courtesy Grist
Top 10 reasons to welcome departure of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: Only the Neocons will miss Him
Since he won the Iranian presidential election in 2005, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been an object of fear, vilification and ridicule in Washington DC. I said from the beginning that there was no evidence Iran had a nuclear weapons program under his presidency, and 8 years later he went out of office without one. I was […]
Tens of Thousands Rally to support Fundamentalist Government in Tunisia
Since the assassination of leftist leader Mohamed Brahmi of the Popular Front on July 25, Tunisia has been thrown into a new round of political turmoil. Thousands have gone to the streets to demonstrate against the center-right, religiously inflected government Ali Larayedh for not cracking down hard enough on Muslim extremists. The left and the […]
“Capturing football fields” of power – Offshore Wind-Wave Energy Farms in Japan and California
For the real-world project, look to Japan: “The world’s first hybrid power generation system is due to be installed off the coast of western Japan later this year. The offshore facility is designed to draw power from the wind and waves.” Here’s the video on the Japan Wind-Wave facility: And, for the theoretical basis for […]
Oil Spills blacken Today’s Environment from Alberta to Thailand: Wind and Solar are Way Better!
1. High pressure steam injection as a technique of getting oil out of the ground has gone very wrong in Canada: Canadian First Nations protest massive Alberta oil spill (CBC): 2. A leaking pipeline in Thailand is the 4th worst oil spill in that nations history. ITN reports: “The oil spill from a leaked pipeline […]
The Burka Avenger stands up to Male Chauvinist Taliban on Pakistani TV
The Burka Avenger is a children’s cartoon about a mild-mannered female school teacher in Pakistan who has an alter ego. As the black-clad Burka Avenger, she takes on oppressive and intolerant Taliban types with the power of education and books. The concept, by rock star Haroon, is full of reversals and appropriations. Thus, the full […]
How a Bill Becomes Law (George Carlin)
George Carlin explains how the United States really works. Warning: some profanity (as is appropriate to the subject). The Clip
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