DEMOGRAFICA LATINA
There are now more Puerto Ricans living in the 50 United States than on the island itself. Puerto Ricans are the second-largest population of Hispanic origin residing in the United States, accounting for 9.1% of the U.S. Hispanic population in 2007. Mexicans constituted 29.2 million, or 64.3%, of the Hispanic population.
(PEW RESEARCH, suggested by LA TIMES)
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Health Care for America NOW! | Senator Grassley: Why can't we have health care as good as you?
GET A JOB
Chuck Grassley, the Republican taking the lead for his party on health care in the U.S. Senate, was asked by a constituent at a town hall meeting in Iowa why everyone can't have health care benefits as good as Grassley gets. His answer? Get a job like his.
Chuck Grassley, the Republican taking the lead for his party on health care in the U.S. Senate, was asked by a constituent at a town hall meeting in Iowa why everyone can't have health care benefits as good as Grassley gets. His answer? Get a job like his.
SEE THE VIDEO
(HEALTH CARE FOR AMERICA NOW)
Saturday, July 11, 2009
‘Religion’ billboard brings debate | TuscaloosaNews.com | The Tuscaloosa News | Tuscaloosa, AL
1ST AMENDMENT NOT A TWO-WAY STREET
A billboard that was put up by the Alabama Freethought Association is causing debate, with some saying the sign reading "Imagine No Religion" is offensive and should be removed. The billboard along Interstate 20 near Pell City was placed there by the association as part of a national campaign by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. The background of the sign is of a stained glass window with the words by John Lennon from the song "Imagine" on top.
(TUSCALOOSA NEWS)
A billboard that was put up by the Alabama Freethought Association is causing debate, with some saying the sign reading "Imagine No Religion" is offensive and should be removed. The billboard along Interstate 20 near Pell City was placed there by the association as part of a national campaign by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. The background of the sign is of a stained glass window with the words by John Lennon from the song "Imagine" on top.
(TUSCALOOSA NEWS)
Friday, July 10, 2009
New York Movies - Sacha Baron Cohen in Queerface for Brüno, Mumblecore Boys in Bed for Humpday - page 1
HE'S HERE, HE'S QUEER - OR IS IT ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE?
As the primitive Asiatic "other" Borat (at once crypto Jew and rabid anti-Semite), Baron Cohen articulated a violent antipathy, inciting the unwary to agree with him. As the sophisticated, though stupid, European "other" Brüno (at once narcissistic celeb and frantic wannabe), Baron Cohen courts that antipathy himself. In both cases, he confounds his audience, creating a persona we hate to love. Is Brüno a minstrel show? Co-opting gay culture? Evidence of new tolerance or ineradicable prejudice? Or is it just using queer-ness to talk about something else?
(VILLAGE VOICE)
As the primitive Asiatic "other" Borat (at once crypto Jew and rabid anti-Semite), Baron Cohen articulated a violent antipathy, inciting the unwary to agree with him. As the sophisticated, though stupid, European "other" Brüno (at once narcissistic celeb and frantic wannabe), Baron Cohen courts that antipathy himself. In both cases, he confounds his audience, creating a persona we hate to love. Is Brüno a minstrel show? Co-opting gay culture? Evidence of new tolerance or ineradicable prejudice? Or is it just using queer-ness to talk about something else?
(VILLAGE VOICE)
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
PHILADELPHIA PENNSYLVANIA (NOT MISSISSIPPI)
More than 60 young black children from Philadelphia were turned away from a private swim club where their organization had paid to swim as part of summer camp. The explanation they got was either dishearteningly honest or poorly worded: "There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion … and the atmosphere of the club," John Duesler, President of The Valley Swim Club said in a statement.
(NBC)
More than 60 young black children from Philadelphia were turned away from a private swim club where their organization had paid to swim as part of summer camp. The explanation they got was either dishearteningly honest or poorly worded: "There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion … and the atmosphere of the club," John Duesler, President of The Valley Swim Club said in a statement.
(NBC)
The Patriot's Guide to Legalization | Mother Jones
THE "SKINNY" ON MARY JANE
Marijuana will probably not become legal. The United States, along with virtually every other country in the world, is a signatory to the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (and its 1988 successor), which flatly prohibits its legalization. Add to that the fact that there's virtually no political appetite for legalizing cannabis even though public opinion has made steady strides. The real action in cannabis legalization is at the state level. More than a dozen states now have effective medical marijuana laws, most notably California. MAKE SURE YOU CHECK OUT ALL OF THE SIDEBARS IN THIS Patriot's Guide To Legalization SECTION IN MOTHER JONES
(MOTHER JONES)
Marijuana will probably not become legal. The United States, along with virtually every other country in the world, is a signatory to the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (and its 1988 successor), which flatly prohibits its legalization. Add to that the fact that there's virtually no political appetite for legalizing cannabis even though public opinion has made steady strides. The real action in cannabis legalization is at the state level. More than a dozen states now have effective medical marijuana laws, most notably California. MAKE SURE YOU CHECK OUT ALL OF THE SIDEBARS IN THIS Patriot's Guide To Legalization SECTION IN MOTHER JONES
(MOTHER JONES)
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
IN THEIR BOOTS
We've come a long way in our attitudes in this country and the military is changing right along with us, albeit a little more haltingly. When I was in the service the military had a lot of prohibitions that were justified with old saws, things like long hair or women in combat zones. We'd point to the Israelis or the Dutch, but no matter, they were in charge and that was how it was. This is a post from Veterans For America, which means that not only is the military changing, maybe even the vet organizations are too.
There's a lot that people don't talk about regarding "Don't Ask, Don't Tell": If a gay servicemember is killed in action, his/her partner won't be notified; Partners of gays serving in the military have to be careful about writing "I Love You" on letters or cards sent to their partners; and can't say it on the phone. This episode of In Their Boots brings it all to light.
(BRAVE NEW FILMS, suggested by VETERANS FOR AMERICA)
We've come a long way in our attitudes in this country and the military is changing right along with us, albeit a little more haltingly. When I was in the service the military had a lot of prohibitions that were justified with old saws, things like long hair or women in combat zones. We'd point to the Israelis or the Dutch, but no matter, they were in charge and that was how it was. This is a post from Veterans For America, which means that not only is the military changing, maybe even the vet organizations are too.
There's a lot that people don't talk about regarding "Don't Ask, Don't Tell": If a gay servicemember is killed in action, his/her partner won't be notified; Partners of gays serving in the military have to be careful about writing "I Love You" on letters or cards sent to their partners; and can't say it on the phone. This episode of In Their Boots brings it all to light.
(BRAVE NEW FILMS, suggested by VETERANS FOR AMERICA)
Friday, July 03, 2009
Reagan Was Wrong | Newsweek Politics | Newsweek.com
REAGAN AND FAUX CONSERVATISM
Tax-cutting regulation-haters weren't the only false conservatives in the Reagan coalition, Fairlie argued: the bedroom-snooping, morality--legislating social conservatives were just as misguided. He was no libertarian, but he thought that much of the social agenda of the American political right (then and now) consisted of things that were nobody's business: "Let one homosexual, coke-snorting student bum get hold of two food stamps, and the whole apparatus of government is brought into play," he wrote.
(NEWSWEEK)
Tax-cutting regulation-haters weren't the only false conservatives in the Reagan coalition, Fairlie argued: the bedroom-snooping, morality--legislating social conservatives were just as misguided. He was no libertarian, but he thought that much of the social agenda of the American political right (then and now) consisted of things that were nobody's business: "Let one homosexual, coke-snorting student bum get hold of two food stamps, and the whole apparatus of government is brought into play," he wrote.
(NEWSWEEK)
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Use your Twitter to confuse Iranian censors
SEEDING THE FALSE DATA CLOUD
Prior to the recent Iranian elections, facebook and other social networks were being used as an organizing tool. Censors quickly jumped on this trend and blocked Facebook’s site from the entire country. The election protests were organized and publicized on Twitter, which the bureaucracy failed to block in time. Iranian censors are now combing the twitter network for dissidents in a Savak-like fashion. But folks around the world are trying to help the Iranian Resistance. This may or may not help, but it's worth a try.
(Suggested by ELIJAH EL BEZE)
Prior to the recent Iranian elections, facebook and other social networks were being used as an organizing tool. Censors quickly jumped on this trend and blocked Facebook’s site from the entire country. The election protests were organized and publicized on Twitter, which the bureaucracy failed to block in time. Iranian censors are now combing the twitter network for dissidents in a Savak-like fashion. But folks around the world are trying to help the Iranian Resistance. This may or may not help, but it's worth a try.
(Suggested by ELIJAH EL BEZE)
Stabler and me | TuscaloosaNews.com | The Tuscaloosa News | Tuscaloosa, AL
THE GREAT GULF SHORES DUST UP
The last time Bob Padecky had asked Kenny Stabler a question, he responded by using an action verb and the second-person personal pronoun and then walked straight past him on the Raiders' practice field behind El Rancho Motel in Santa Rosa. Of course, that was 30 years ago and times change, people change, events change people. The dust-up he and Stabler had in southern Alabama is ancient history for most people and he was now was curious if it would be the same for Stabler. I mean, after all, Padecky was the one thrown in jail, not Stabler.
(TUSCALOOSA NEWS)
The last time Bob Padecky had asked Kenny Stabler a question, he responded by using an action verb and the second-person personal pronoun and then walked straight past him on the Raiders' practice field behind El Rancho Motel in Santa Rosa. Of course, that was 30 years ago and times change, people change, events change people. The dust-up he and Stabler had in southern Alabama is ancient history for most people and he was now was curious if it would be the same for Stabler. I mean, after all, Padecky was the one thrown in jail, not Stabler.
(TUSCALOOSA NEWS)
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
WHAT IS DPI?
European telecom companies have helped the Iranian regime develope one of the world's most sophisticated mechanisms for controlling and censoring the Internet. Deep Packet Inspection enables authorities to monitor and gather information about individuals, as well as alter it for disinformation purposes.
European telecom companies have helped the Iranian regime develope one of the world's most sophisticated mechanisms for controlling and censoring the Internet. Deep Packet Inspection enables authorities to monitor and gather information about individuals, as well as alter it for disinformation purposes.
REMEMBER CARNIVORE?
(MEDIA REFORM DAILY and link suggestions from Chris Fuchs and Tony Hines)
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Twitter Unleashes Deluge of Sarcasm on Republican Congressman -- Daily Intel -- New York News Blog -
GOP/IRAN MEME
I must be the last person in the world who doesn't tweet. But this may get me to sign up. If you missed Jon Stewart's parody of this, it's bound to be on the Comedy Central website and is worth a quick peek. But it seems some congressperson's tweets comparing the GOP's travails to those of the Iranian dissidents has provoked the proverbial sandstorm of parody. The Twitter community, deeply immersed in the Iranian conflict, was appalled and the mocking began. A new blog devoted to the meme has already sprung up. Here are just a few:
I must be the last person in the world who doesn't tweet. But this may get me to sign up. If you missed Jon Stewart's parody of this, it's bound to be on the Comedy Central website and is worth a quick peek. But it seems some congressperson's tweets comparing the GOP's travails to those of the Iranian dissidents has provoked the proverbial sandstorm of parody. The Twitter community, deeply immersed in the Iranian conflict, was appalled and the mocking began. A new blog devoted to the meme has already sprung up. Here are just a few:
I got a sunburn last weekend. Makes me think of Hiroshima;
my softball game was rained out today. Now I know what Hurricane Katrina felt like;
fell off my surfboard in Malibu today, now I know what D-day felt like;
someone walked in on me while I was in the bathroom. Reminded me of Pearl Harbor.
(NEW YORK MAGAZINE, suggested by LEE-ANN WATERRS CAMP)
Friday, June 19, 2009
VIRTUAL WALLS AND GREEN TSUNAMIS
It's The Matrix, but real. A hearty group of freedom fighters parrying a formidable machine, living by their wits and besting the evil menace though their ubber-techno abilities. On one side is a powerful monolith firing bullets and on the other side are young protesters firing "tweets". What's not to love? This piece touches on a real question that the media has left largely unexplained, how the hell are the Iranian dissidents doing it? Can we help? Despite the Iranian government's efforts to curtail it, a secret Internet lifeline remains, and it’s a tribute to the crazy, globalized world we live in that the lifeline was designed by dissident Chinese computer engineers whose mission it is to battle against the Great China Virtual Wall in their homeland.
It's The Matrix, but real. A hearty group of freedom fighters parrying a formidable machine, living by their wits and besting the evil menace though their ubber-techno abilities. On one side is a powerful monolith firing bullets and on the other side are young protesters firing "tweets". What's not to love? This piece touches on a real question that the media has left largely unexplained, how the hell are the Iranian dissidents doing it? Can we help? Despite the Iranian government's efforts to curtail it, a secret Internet lifeline remains, and it’s a tribute to the crazy, globalized world we live in that the lifeline was designed by dissident Chinese computer engineers whose mission it is to battle against the Great China Virtual Wall in their homeland.
Be sure to check out the GLOBAL INTERNET FREEDOM CONSORTIUM mentioned in this piece. Geeks will especially love their white papers.
(NEW YORK TIMES, suggested by JOHN FURMAN)
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
World | AlterNet
SOLIDARITY
The stars of Iran’s soccer team wore green wristbands in support of the anti-government protesters, during a game broadcast live on Iranian state TV yesterday. “State television, which has been broadcasting Mr Ahmadi-Nejad’s competing rallies, has steered clear of images of Mr Moussavi’s protests,” the Financial Times notes. “But given the popularity of football in Iran, keeping the match off the air would not have been an option."
(ALTERNET)
The stars of Iran’s soccer team wore green wristbands in support of the anti-government protesters, during a game broadcast live on Iranian state TV yesterday. “State television, which has been broadcasting Mr Ahmadi-Nejad’s competing rallies, has steered clear of images of Mr Moussavi’s protests,” the Financial Times notes. “But given the popularity of football in Iran, keeping the match off the air would not have been an option."
(ALTERNET)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)