Introducing the Oprah of Afghanistan: Mozhdah!

Introducing the Oprah of Afghanistan: Mozhdah!Bravo to this brave and committed young woman. I hope she continues in her quest and her popularity without some offended fundamentalist doing her harm.

Recipe for Longevity: No Smoking, Lots of Friends

Recipe for Longevity: No Smoking, Lots of FriendsThis is fascinating. We all know that we are happier and feel better when we are in contact with people we care about, but this study takes that even farther . . we are healthier, too. What interesting creatures we humans are!

Deep Underground, Miles of Hidden Wildfires Rage

Deep Underground, Miles of Hidden Wildfires RageNot only an environmental catastrophy but a horrible waste, yet no one seems to have a clue how to stop it. We hear about oil spills, but this? I knew there were coal fires but I had no idea they were this bad, this prevalent, lasted so many years, or had so many environmental effects.

In the "Damned if you do, damned if you don't" department

It struck me today after seeing more critical complaining on the "news" about various politicians, and reading the Newsweek article about Charlie Crist, that neither the news media or the public can quite make up their minds about how politicians should behave.

If they change their policies based on polls, they are accused of doing or saying anything people want just to get elected, but if the DON'T change to go along with the polls, they are accused of not listening to the voters.

Hmmmmmmm

Charlie Crist has been liberated

The rise of Charlie Crist as an independent politician is exciting and reassuring. It's a healthy sign that people in Florida (and probably in the rest of our country) are more interested in reality than ideology, more interested in practicality than dogma. Go Charlie! Here's the Newsweek article about his "resurrection" after the Republicans dumped him.

Sarah Palin in '12? Why She's for Real

Sarah Palin in '12? Why She's for RealShe's attractive; she knows how to manipulate people with emotion; she knows how to play to the media. . . . but for President? That's a scary thought. Let's hope it's not true that a country gets the government it deserves if we vote her in.

Washington's Revolving Door: How Oil Oversight Failed

Washington's Revolving Door: How Oil Oversight FailedSo what else is new? So much of our government and regulation is really buy corporate influence, not voter choice. It's a money and experience game. Who else knows enough about the oil industry but those IN it??? As usual, it's like asking the fox to guard the chicken house.

Are Liberal Judges Really 'Judicial Activists'?

Are Liberal Judges Really 'Judicial Activists'?Important and timely article on why all judicial decisions, particularly Supreme Court decisions, require interpreting the law.

Bob Herbert writes "An Absence of Class"

Bob Herbert in the The New York Times writes on Republican Party tactics in "An Absence of Class."

Truth in Advertising

How is it that a purported "news" organization that calls itself "fair and balanced" can get away with spending so much of it's time openly CAMPAIGNING politically? The way I learned it, journalism isn't supposed to be a 24-hour a day campaign for a particular point of view or against a particular party. It's supposed to REPORT, and make an attempt to be unbiased.

There have always been political commentators, but they were open about their partisanship and didn't insist that they were "fair and balanced."

Fox has freedom of speech, but they should be registered as a political organization, not a news channel, and they should be subject of the rules of truth in advertising. "Fair and balanced" should be abolished from their vocabulary. That's rather like a tobacco company advertising it's cigarettes as "air purifying and healthful."