June 2009
Zombie Economy →
If the world’s biggest pop star only made $25 million a year in total, something’s very, very wrong. Where’s the rest of the money? Why can’t a resource as scarce as the King of Pop capture more value? The world’s top hedge fund “managers” regularly pull in hundreds of millions. That’s an order of magnitude difference. No wonder everyone wants to be...
“The challenge of the 21st Century is how to create a global economy of low...”
– Kruse Kronicle
“There is no credible evidence against Jawad, and his torture-induced confession...”
– Bob Herbert
“While a lot of the media hype today focuses on the U.S....”
– Jeremy Scahill
Firefox 3.5 released, ready to "upgrade" the Web →
Mozilla has officially released Firefox 3.5, the next major version of its popular open source Web browser. Ars takes a close look at the new version and evaluates its enhancements. Support for HTML 5 video and other important emerging Web standards make this one of the most significant Firefox releases ever.
The Fallacy of a Guest Worker Program Returns →
As I have said before, guest worker programs institutionalize a second-class labor market in which temporary workers are exploited and cannot look for other jobs. They are basically bound to unscrupulous employers. Guest workers’ vulnerability in the workplace weakens conditions and lowers wages for all workers.
Any kind of guest worker program will hurt foreign and native-born workers.
“Instead of hating the people you think are war-makers, hate the appetites and...”
– Thomas Merton
slaverymap.org →
The Attitude That Will Change Nothing →
In May, 12 people were indicted for allegedly bringing several immigrants to Missouri for construction projects, allowing them to overstay their work visas and threatening them with deportation if they questioned their bosses. One of the suspects is reported to have resided in Arizona. In a piece for The Phoenix New Times, Ray Stern marvels at how few cases of human trafficking have been exposed...
“But this is a quite common affliction in our political discourse. There are many...”
– Glenn Greenwald
“For long centuries, God perfected the animal form which was to become the...”
– CS Lewis
Mocking Christian Protests →
When the culture creates a parody protest from Christians, isn’t that a huge indicator that the real ones they’re making fun of, don’t work? Maybe it’s time Christians created a new engagement strategy.
“The Honduran military is effectively a subsidiary of the United States...”
– Greg Grandin
“Like the USA, Michael Jackson was a has-been. He hadn’t recorded a song...”
– James Howard Kunstler
“History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with...”
– Maya Angelou
Betraying the Planet →
And as I watched the deniers make their arguments, I couldn’t help thinking that I was watching a form of treason — treason against the planet.
To fully appreciate the irresponsibility and immorality of climate-change denial, you need to know about the grim turn taken by the latest climate research.
The fact is that the planet is changing faster than even pessimists expected: ice caps are...
Brain Rules →
he book follows a simple format - each chapter is a “Brain Rule.” Medina begins by defining what we know about a particular aspect of the brain, and then suggests strategies based on that knowledge that will help our everyday lives. For example, Brain Rule #7 is “Sleep Well, Think Well.” Medina describes findings on the deleterious effects of sleep deprivation (30% drop in cognitive ability from...
“The modern world, as Kafka predicted, has become a world where the irrational...”
– Chris Hedges
“And after watching a series of scandals unfold, I’ve come to the conclusion that...”
– Paul Krugman
“I’m not really any sadder about Michael Jackson’s death than I...”
– Bob Rossney
The coming age of internet censorship →
In Internet history, 1994-2004 was the era of the pioneers. 2004-2007 was the era of the merchants. Now we’re entering the era of the bullies. Everywhere in the world, sites are going dark, arrests are increasing, more people are going to prison. The Web just celebrated its 20th birthday. Nobody used to take it seriously, but those days are gone.
“Maniacal flag-waving is a well-known symptom of decline in great nations, from...”
– David Brin
“Suppose the Night at the Museum had featured a character in the movie named...”
– Tim Giago
Hate mail-apalooza →
dear socialist fuckstick,
i am well awear of the fact that liberals are immune to logic and reason, but allow me to try to prove to you that you are communist scum thrugh something called the scientific method:
“He [George Will] hasn’t addressed two very obvious objections to this: (1)...”
– John Casey
“Of all the enemies to public liberty, war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded,...”
– James Madison
“I expect the Republicans to throw money at the Military Industrial Complex. Yet,...”
– Marie Marchand
The Health Care Industry vs. Health Reform →
As an industry spokesman, I was expected to put a positive spin on this trend that the industry created and euphemistically refers to as “consumerism” and to promote so-called “consumer-driven” health plans. I ultimately reached the point of feeling like a huckster.
I thought I could live with being a well-paid huckster and hang in there a few more years until I could...
“Today is an historic opportunity to pass truly meaningful legislation to limit...”
– Al Gore
Dreaming of Nonsense: The Evolutionary Enigma of... →
“A government that will give you a trial before imprisoning you only where it...”
– Glenn Greenwald
The "Piece Church" →
Pagano says he wants to start a dialogue, that he just wants to “promote responsible gun ownership,” that he is open to considering other approaches. Then again, who would want to “dialogue” with someone toting a semi-automatic machine gun?
I wonder too about the fears driving this. We’ve heard about horrible shootings in churches lately. The solution isn’t...
“The most important component of the policy package shorthanded as “The...”
– Sic Semper Tyrannis
How the Food Makers Captured Our Brains →
During his time at the Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Kessler maintained a high profile, streamlining the agency, pushing for faster approval of drugs and overseeing the creation of the standardized nutrition label on food packaging. But Dr. Kessler is perhaps best known for his efforts to investigate and regulate the tobacco industry, and his accusation that cigarette makers intentionally...
“Charity is commendable; everyone should be charitable. But justice aims to...”
– Bill Moyers
The Prurient Trap →
And this kind of hypocrisy isn’t confined to the politicians. It permeates the electorate. While conservatives fight to “defend” marriage from gays, they can’t keep theirs together. According to the Census Bureau’s Statistical Abstract, states that went Republican in November accounted for eight of the 10 states with the highest divorce rates in 2006.
Conservatives touted abstinence-only...
“The new reality is here, and has been since 1973, the last year American workers...”
– Joe Bageant
Loyal ‘Simpsons’ Fans Fetch Higher Ad Rates on Web →
Television programs such as “The Simpsons” and “CSI” are for the first time commanding higher advertising rates at Web sites including Hulu.com and TV.com than on prime-time TV.