Monthly Archives: August 2011

San Francisco’s BART system made it impossible for people to use cellphones in some of its stations for three hours yesterday to disrupt planned demonstrations over a police shooting. BART officials say that that it’s illegal to demonstrate on platforms … Continue reading →

UK Prime Minister David has actually said it and ordered it be done: “Everyone watching these horrific actions [rioting and looting] will be struck by how they were organized via social media. … Free flow of information can be used … Continue reading →

While the West generally celebrates how Twitter and other “social media” are enabling protests against authoritarians, it’s odd when politicians in a great democracy say those tools are undermining peace in their midst. With riots in London gaining momentum, David … Continue reading →

A 101-year-old woman in Richmond was shot and wounded as she tried to break up a fight between two grandsons last week.  The bullet hit her in the neck.  She survived. The incident occurred just a couple miles from the … Continue reading →

Speaking in the regal first-person plural pronoun, the governor of Texas said at a prayer meeting with 20,000 of people of similar political faith:  “Our heart breaks for America.  We see discord at home. We see fear in the marketplace. … Continue reading →

Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich explains in plain English why the current Obama-Republican tack will lead to failure: He recently wrote:  “The Fed has proven that almost-zero interest rates, even coupled with ‘quantitative easing,’ has little effect. … Big corporations … Continue reading →

UNESCO has reported the following numbers of students pursuing advanced degrees abroad: China:  441,000  (1.7% of student population) South Korea:  113,000  (3.5%) Brazil:  currently about 30,000; planned 100,000 (1%) USA:  51,000 (0.3%) Mexico:  26,000 (1%) As the world “globalizes,” we … Continue reading →

Former Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Dennis Blair won’t get credit — because he didn’t always play by Washington’s go-along to get-along rules — but he knew what intelligence was and how to prioritize efforts. In the Aspen conference last … Continue reading →

As the Sun-Gazette has reported, “The staff at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel is no doubt flush with excitement, as the hotel has been named a finalist in the 2011 “Best Restroom” competition, sponsored by Cintas Corp.” The finalist … Continue reading →

The Washington Post has documented the appropriation of the term “feminist” by evangelical Christians. According to “Belief Watch” commentator (and former WSJ reporter) Lisa Miller, these people say “a ‘feminist’ is a fiscally conservative, pro-life butt-kicker in public, a cooperative … Continue reading →