Category Archives: In the news

Shakesville's Melissa on Ted Kennedy

Posted on August 28, 2009 by Ampersand

I wanted to point out this excellent remembrance of Ted Kennedy, which is particularly relevant to some of the discussion that’s been going on here at “Alas” recently. Melissa writes: Senator Edward Kennedy was a tough guy. He was smart, … Continue reading →

Posted in In the news | 6 Comments

Edward Kennedy, 1932-2009

Posted on August 26, 2009 by Jeff Fecke

In many ways, Ted Kennedy was the most consequential of all the Kennedy brothers. His older brother Jack was president, of course, and his older brother Bobby was Attorney General, and perhaps would have been president had he not been … Continue reading →

Posted in Elections and politics, In the news | 68 Comments

More Gatesgate links (including Obama's commentary on the arrest)

Posted on July 22, 2009 by Ampersand

It’s not even midnight and everyone at my sister’s house (where I’m visiting this week) is asleep. Guess I’ll post some links. Professor Gates’ version of the story. This is a must-read if you’re interested in this story. I guess … Continue reading →

Posted in In the news, Race, racism and related issues | Comments Off on More Gatesgate links (including Obama's commentary on the arrest)

Supreme Court Rules That Strip-Search of Teen Was Unconstitutional

Posted on June 25, 2009 by Ampersand

From the NYT: In a ruling of interest to educators, parents and students across the country, the Supreme Court ruled, 8 to 1, on Thursday that the strip search of a 13-year-old Arizona girl by school officials who were looking … Continue reading →

Posted in In the news, Supreme Court Issues | 24 Comments

NYC Teachers Paid To Do Nothing

Posted on June 25, 2009 by Ampersand

The AP has a story about the New York City school system’s “rubber rooms” — the places where hundreds of teachers facing disciplinary hearings wait, doing no work but drawing full salaries. Sometimes this can go on for years. Because … Continue reading →

Posted in In the news | 5 Comments

Obama DOJ to same-sex couples: Go fuck yourselves

Posted on June 13, 2009 by Ampersand

So the Obama Department of Justice decided to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Stonewall — and the 42nd anniversary of Loving vs. Virginia — by filing a brief in a same-sex marriage case that repeats a slew of anti-gay canards, … Continue reading →

Posted in In the news, Same-Sex Marriage | 56 Comments

Ahmadinejad Declared Victor In Iran's Elections…

Posted on June 13, 2009 by Richard Jeffrey Newman

…but Moussavi is protesting and charging fraud, the NY Times reports. I don’t have much to say about this right now, except the obvious, and that my heart goes out to those, inside Iran and out, who were hoping this … Continue reading →

Posted in In the news, Iran | 1 Comment

Great Pictures of the Elections Going on In Iran

Posted on June 12, 2009 by Richard Jeffrey Newman

Check out this photo essay on The Boston Globe’s website. Great pictures. It’s an exciting time over there, and a tense one. A lot hangs on this election.

Posted in In the news, Iran | 1 Comment

Your Friendly Neighborhood Terrorist

Posted on June 10, 2009 by Jeff Fecke

So the guy who shot up the Holocaust Museum is James W. von Brunn, Holocaust denier, neo-Nazi, and generally swell guy: James W. von Brunn holds a BachSci Journalism degree from a mid-Western university where he was president of SAE … Continue reading →

Posted in Anti-Semitism, Elections and politics, In the news, Jews and Judaism | 70 Comments

California Court upholds Prop. 8 but rules existing same sex marriages stand.

Posted on May 26, 2009 by Ampersand

Just reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. This is exactly the decision that everyone expected them to make, but it’s still a little disappointing. UPDATE: But on the bright side, it’s wonderful that the same-sex marriages that have already happened … Continue reading →

Posted in In the news, Same-Sex Marriage | 6 Comments