Culture

AJ+ | (Video report) | – – “While fireworks are a common sight in many countries for New Year’s, some parts of the world celebrate in a more traditional manner.” AJ+: “Strange New Year’s Eve Celebrations From Around The World”

Entertainment

British Muslim Family Not Allowed To Board Plane To Visit Disneyland: Are US visa officials Islamophobes?

Juan Cole

AJ+ | (Video Report) | – – “On a family trip to Disneyland, one British Muslim family wasn’t allowed to get on the plane. No reason was given. And they’re not the only ones. Their MP has taken their case to Prime Minister David Cameron, and the Council on American–Islamic Relations has called for an […]

Humor

George W. Bush Cold Open – Saturday Night Live

contributors

Will Ferrell | (Saturday Night Live Video Spoof) | – – “President George W. Bush (Will Ferrell) announces he’s entering the presidential race and assesses the current crop of GOP candidates.” George W. Bush Cold Open – SNL

Republican Party

Jeb Bush Wants A Time Machine To murder a Baby — Hitler

contributors

Cenk Uygur | (The Young Turks) | – – “Jeb Bush has been trying to prove he’s a tough guy. He said he eats nails before breakfast. He recently proclaimed he would kill baby Hitler if he had a time machine. Cenk Uygur, host of the The Young Turks, breaks it down. “Have you ever […]

Entertainment

In ‘Spectre,’ James Bond becomes Edward Snowden

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The latest entry in the Daniel Craig reboot of the James Bond film franchise, Spectre , turns Bond into more muscular version of Edward Snowden, as he takes down a vast 9-nation attempt at electronic surveillance and information-sharing that would also benefit a criminal cartel. Tooling […]

art and photography

War is Beautiful: How Newspapers’ War Photography Conceals the Hideous Reality

contributors

By David Shields | (Informed Comment) | – – The following is an excerpt from War Is Beautiful by David Shields: For decades, upon opening the New York Times every morning and contemplating the front page, I was entranced by the war photographs. My attraction to the photographs evolved into a mixture of rapture, bafflement, […]

Books

Big Win For Fair Use In Google Books Lawsuit

contributors

By Corynne McSherry | (Electronic Freedom Foundation) | – – In a long-anticipated ruling, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals handed Google a clear victory today, soundly rejecting the Authors Guild’s claim that the Google Books Project infringes copyright. In the process, the Court also confirmed what we’ve always known: fair use promotes “copyright’s very […]

Entertainment

” ‘Homeland’ is Racist”: Showtime hijacked by Egyptian graffiti artists:

contributors

Ian Lee | (CNN Video News Report) | – – “Egyptian graffiti artists, who were asked to add authenticity to the show “Homeland,” managed to sneak in some mocking Arabic slogans. CNN’s Ian Lee reports.” CNN: “‘Homeland’ hijacked by Egyptian graffiti artists”

Culture

Andrew Garfield of Spiderman: Trump ‘has a lot,’ Unwelcoming of those with Little

contributors

Popsugar Entertainment | (Video Interview with Andrew Garfield) | – – “Andrew Garfield spent hours with families who’d lost their homes in the foreclosure crisis to prepare for his role as a single dad fighting to stay afloat in 99 Homes. While those stories may have faded from the daily news cycle, he says they’re […]