Obama's WWII Links

Previously, little was known about the WWII service of President Obama's grandfather, Stanley Dunham. However, extensive research by the AP and other news outlets is starting to bring those years to light.

30 May 2009

The Physiology of Politics

A friend sent me the link to a fascinating New York Times column about the discovery that the way our brains are wired may play a greater role that one might think in determining whether we are liberal or conservative. Who knew we had a "disgust" gene?

28 May 2009

Hoof Hearted

And, following my dancing bear, I might as well go "all in" with fart jokes. Well, it is sort of a fart joke, anyway.

28 May 2009

Funny Dancing Bear

A friend sent me this link. It's funnier to watch with the sound on. I'm including it because, well, why not? :-)

28 May 2009

Views on Gay Marriage

Two op-eds about gay marriage caught my eye today over at The Huffington Post. One is by Alec Baldwin, who is a frequent contributor, and the other is by Rob Thomas, the singer and song writer. And yes, I find the odds of me linking to these two on the same page a bit long, too. LOL Anyway, they come at the issue a bit differently, but both make valid points.

28 May 2009

Addition: I wanted to flag a particular passage from Mr. Thomas' writing that I found particularly interesting.

I've heard it said before, many times, that if two men or two women are allowed to join into a civil union together, why can't they be happy with that and why is it so important that they call it marriage? In essence, what's in a name?

A civil union has to do with death. It's essentially a document that gives you lower taxes and the right to let your faux spouse collect your insurance when you pass away. A marriage is about life. It's about a commitment. And this argument is about allowing people to have the right to make that commitment, even if it doesn't make sense to you. Anything else falls under the category of "separate but equal" and we know how that works out.

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Don't Ask. Don't Tell. Don't Think.

Great story over at The Huffington Post about the Air Force discharging a fighter pilot in whom we have invested $25 million in training because he is gay. Stuff like this makes me wonder whether or not those in power really think we are pressed by terrorism or military threats. They certainly aren't acting like it in this case, or really any time this policy is enforced.

20 May 2009

The Death of My Credit Card?

The New York Times had a disturbing story yesterday detailing changes coming to the world of credit cards. With Congress moving to protect credit card users from many of the deceptive practices of the industry, it would seem that banks are planning to target those who pursue good credit by paying off their credit card balances in full each month. Credit cards that were previously free will now come with an annual fee and interest on purchases will be charged immediately rather than after a grace period of weeks. Moreover, so-called "points programs" that include frequent flier miles and cash-back will be cut back or eliminated altogether.

I am one of these people. I have always seen my credit cards as a convenient way not only to make purchases, but to receive an interest-free loan for several weeks each month, a loan that was always paid back in full and on time. Should the changes outlined above go into effect, there will be little reason for me to use a credit card in most cases. I would likely cut back to owning only one that would be used little if at all most months. Or, even more likely, I would use a check card, something that has previously made no sense to me.

19 May 2009

Addition: The New York Times has additional information today, both on the House and Senate versions of the credit card bill and on what it may also mean for those of us pay off our balances every month.

Is Organic Better?

The Huffington Post has a nice little piece on the question of whether food specifically noted as being organic is always better than an alternative. This does a nice job, in an introductory fashion, of detailing why that isn't always -- or even often -- true.

16 May 2009

The Dollar: Almighty No More

Economist Nouriel Roubini explains today in a New York Times op-ed exactly why the dollar will likely no longer be the major reserve currency of the world in only a decade or two... and what exactly that will mean for our country. If you are unfamiliar with this concept, it is a good, clear, concise read on the subject and why what will unfold isn't pretty for us.

14 May 2009

Meg Whitman for CA Governor?

If you live in California, you probably know that Meg Whitman is running for governor. This piece by Chris Kelly at The Huffington Post might get voters thinking about just what that might mean.

14 May 2009

Dick Cheney's Credibility

Paul Begala wrote a great piece on Huffington Post regarding just how little credibility the former vice president has on the subjects of protecting American generally and the use of torture specifically. That amount is "zero." Of course, with the full court press the Cheney's are putting out, you need to include his daughter Liz in this, too.

14 May 2009

Addition: I'm going to link this piece by Bob Cesca, too. It deals more with the concept of Cheney bringing his daughter in to front for him.

Torture & the NY Times as Bush Puppet

Andrew Sullivan lays out a case for the NY Times being a puppet of the Bush Administration in the face of America torturing people. This has long been a chink in the Times' armor and it is one I don't see them mending any time soon.

8 May 2009

Pork & the DoD Bill

President Obama is trying to shift our focus in defense spending (as opposed to cutting it, btw). Congress, including members of both parties, is opposed not on defense grounds, but on political grounds. They want the pork of defense spending in their districts and will fight tooth and nail to prevent anything being cut. This has to change, both because we can't afford defense programs that are not needed and because we have to fully fund those that are in need in a changing world. You can lend your voice to this cause here.

8 May 2009

Gore on the Court

Hendrik Hertzberg dreams of Al Gore being on the Supreme Court in The New Yorker.

8 May 2009

Love, Maine Style

Gay marriage has -- legally! -- come to Maine. Hazzah!

8 May 2009

Gaming the Stress Tests

The results of the banking industry "stress tests" have been released and the picture painted is bruised at best. Unfortunately, whatever good can be seen in the results isn't a true picture. The banking industry -- unsurprisingly -- put pressure on the government to cook the books in their favor... and the goverment did so. Don't believe the hype.

8 May 2009

Addition: More from Arianna Huffington on why the stress tests don't pass "the smell test."

Addition 2: More from The Huffington Post. This has good links to other sources.