Category Archives: In the news

Deficits aren't the biggest limit

Posted on February 2, 2010 by Ampersand

The New York Times, in a story on the US’s large projected deficits in today’s paper, writes: For Mr. Obama and his successors, the effect of those projections is clear: Unless miraculous growth, or miraculous political compromises, creates some unforeseen … Continue reading →

Posted in In the news | 3 Comments

The Election In Massachusetts Today

Posted on January 19, 2010 by Ampersand

I assume everyone is watching Massachusetts as anxiously as I am? I’m somewhat desperately — is “desperately” too strong? Maybe. But maybe not — hoping that Martha Coakley wins the election today, because although the Democrats certainly can pass health … Continue reading →

Posted in Elections and politics, In the news | 49 Comments

The UN's Loss

Posted on January 14, 2010 by Jeff Fecke

It is fashionable in many quarters to bash the United Nations, and lets face it, there are many good reasons to; as an organization made up of the various governments of the world, the UN operates at the level of … Continue reading →

Posted in In the news, International issues | 2 Comments

Haiti

Posted on January 12, 2010 by Jeff Fecke

There’s never much that can be said in the first few hours of a natural disaster, other than that the disaster has happened, and that help will be needed. Well, disaster has happened. A magnitude 7.0 earthquake hit Haiti, right … Continue reading →

Posted in In the news, International issues | 4 Comments

Harry Reid's Negro Comment

Posted on January 10, 2010 by Ampersand

A new gossip book about the 2008 election has been getting lots of press for this report about Harry Reid: He was wowed by Obama’s oratorical gifts and believed that the country was ready to embrace a black presidential candidate, … Continue reading →

Posted in In the news, Race, racism and related issues | 47 Comments

After 14 Years, Abused Woman Finally Granted Asylum

Posted on December 28, 2009 by Ampersand

Rody Alvarado, whose case was blogged about on Alas multiple times a few years ago (such as here and here), has finally been granted asylum in the US. In order to demonstrate a valid asylum claim, an asylum seeker must … Continue reading →

Posted in Immigration, Migrant Rights, etc, In the news, Rape, intimate violence, & related issues | 2 Comments

The Jokes Just Write Themselves

Posted on December 25, 2009 by Jeff Fecke

So there was a failed terror attack today, and while that’s kind of scary and all, really, in this case, it’s mostly hilarious: Per Ed Henry on CNN: This administration has expressed skepticism of the color chart alert system. They’re … Continue reading →

Posted in In the news, International issues | 18 Comments

Proposal to pay for the Afghan War

Posted on November 24, 2009 by Ampersand

Some leading Democrats have been proposing that the Afghanistan war, like Health Care, should be deficit-neutral. The tax applies to all Americans earning $30,000 or more (although there are exemptions for “anyone who has served in Iraq or Afghanistan since … Continue reading →

Posted in Afghanistan, Economics and the like, In the news | 25 Comments

Let the Sun Shine In

Posted on November 5, 2009 by Jeff Fecke

I don’t have anything to say right now. Awful is awful, and we’ll have time to dissect which particular flavor of awful this is soon enough. For now, keep the dead and wounded in your thoughts. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. … Continue reading →

Posted in In the news, International issues | 10 Comments

The Abuse of the Western Children of Misogynist Attention-Seekers

Posted on October 19, 2009 by Jeff Fecke

One of the more bizarre sub-plots from the bizarre story that is the faked balloon voyage of Falcon Heene is the YouTube video in which Falcon and his brothers claimed to be “not pussified.” It’s a lovely video about how … Continue reading →

Posted in Anti-feminists and their pals, Feminism, sexism, etc, In the news, Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans and Queer issues | 35 Comments