New CIA director Hayden plans massive expansion of spying on Americans - "Now that he is officially sworn in as the new head of the Central Intelligence Agency, Gen. Michael Hayden plans to build a vast domestic spying network that will pry into the lives of most Americans around the clock."
101 People Who Are Really Screwing America - "As we read through "101 People," we kept thinking, "and there's plenty more where they came from." It's like the book version of "The Invasion of the Body Snatchers." You keep thinking, all these people should be shunned by society. But, instead, they are at the pinnacle of power.How did that happen?"
The Clownification of America - "When I saw this Kunstler quote a couple of weeks ago, I thought it a bit harsh. Then I picked up my morning paper -- and, all at once, I got it. There, in 120-point bold headline type, above the fold, the lead story of the day, was the "news" that: In less than 24 hours, singer Taylor Hicks would battle singer Katharine McPhee for the title of American Idol! Clowns. We have indeed become a nation of frivolous, self-indulgent, overweight, undereducated, unserious, clowns. When an event of such monumental unimportance wins precious front-page status, what other conclusion can be reached? ... Aren't you embarrassed? Well damn it, you oughta be."
U.S. orders 'values training' for troops in Iraq - "The U.S. military chief in Iraq on Thursday ordered troops to undergo fresh training in legal, moral and ethical standards for the battlefield."
Ancient Scroll May Yield Religious Secrets - "A collection of charred scraps kept in a Greek museum's storerooms are all that remains of what archaeologists say is Europe's oldest surviving book _ which may hold a key to understanding early monotheistic beliefs."
Yet again we cave into religious bigots. And this time they're Hindus - "The Satanic Verses, Behzti, Theo van Gogh's Submission, Jerry Springer: The Opera, the Danish cartoons of Muhammad ... now we can add the London exhibition of the work of Maqbool Fida Husain to the rapidly expanding list of works of art and satire targeted by militant religion."
Tyranny of the Christian Right - "The mass movement I've described aims to supplant Enlightenment rationalism with what it calls the "Christian worldview." The phrase is based on the conviction that true Christianity must govern every aspect of public and private life, and that all -- government, science, history and culture -- must be understood according to the dictates of scripture. There are biblically correct positions on every issue, from gay marriage to income tax rates, and only those with the right worldview can discern them. This is Christianity as a total ideology -- I call it Christian nationalism. It's an ideology adhered to by millions of Americans, some of whom are very powerful. It's what drives a great many of the fights over religion, science, sex and pluralism now dividing communities all over the country."
U.S. men place high value on being dads - "A federal report released yesterday found that 47 percent of American men without a high-school diploma have fathered a child out of wedlock, compared with about 6 percent of college graduates." -- This speaks volumes about the state of this country.
Most college graduates in debt - "Nearly two of every three undergraduate students are going into debt to go to college, owing an average of more than $19,000, most often to the government." -- And I believe that is by design.
Panel: N.C. should pay for 1898 race riot - "A state-appointed commission is urging North Carolina to provide reparations for the 1898 racial violence that sparked an exodus of more than 2,000 black residents from Wilmington."
FCC plans relaxation of media ownership rules, watchdogs say - "The Federal Communications Commission is poised to propose new media ownership rules that will allow media companies to own newspapers, television and radio stations in the same city, according to media watchdog groups. The proposed rule would dissolve a longstanding policy that prohibited corporations from owning a television station and a daily newspaper in the same market. The "cross ownership" rule, promulgated in 1975, was enacted to ensure media diversity."
Studies Portray Tropical Arctic in Distant Past - "The first detailed analysis of an extraordinary climatic and biological record from the seabed near the North Pole shows that 55 million years ago the Arctic Ocean was much warmer than scientists imagined — a Floridian year-round average of 74 degrees."
Quote of the Day
"When the autopsy of our democracy is performed, it is my belief that media silence will be given as the primary cause of death."
~ Jonathan Simon, Editor, Tribune Media Services
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