Oh, that Annie Jacobsen

So there’s a new book out: Area 51: an Uncensored History of America’s Top Secret Military Base, by Annie Jacobsen. On Tuesday, May 17, Annie discussed her book with Jon Stewart on The Daily Show. Naturally, I watched. You can watch too, if you wish: Most of what Annie had to say about Area 51 […]

Bubble Boy Takes to the Air

Last week Jon Stewart weighed in on the Republican/Fox News hissy fit over the White House inviting the rapper Common to a poetry reading.  Stewart’s segment — especially his  masterful takedown of the deeply stupid Sean Hannity — was brilliant.  If you missed it, here’s a link to the video. Then, last night, MSNBC’s Ed […]

Full Steam Ahead on DADT Repeal

First some background, from a post I wrote on 30 November 2010: Yesterday, listening to an NPR report on the DoD’s Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell survey of military personnel, it hit me that if gays are permitted to openly serve, the thorny issue of same-sex marriage will soon follow. I probably don’t know what I’m talking […]

New Deal? Why Not?

In the wake of bin Laden’s death, political pressure is mounting for a quick withdrawal from Afghanistan.  We were leaving anyway: Obama announced months ago that we are going to draw down force levels there, and we’re already in the process of bringing troops home from Iraq. What happens when the troops come home?  Unless […]

Dittoheads

Here’s a Facebook exchange from this morning.  Everyone involved (including me) is from Cape Girardeau, Missouri, home town of local hero Rush Limbaugh. Apparently, this is how the folks in AM radio country are going to denigrate Obama’s leadership and great victory: We got Osama because George W. Bush put Afghanistan on the back burner […]

Undeniably and Reliably Dead

The news began to come in around 7:30 last night.  I was losing interest in a violent, depressing prison movie, so I picked up my smart phone to skim the latest on Twitter.  A few informed people, mostly news types, were just beginning to tweet about Osama bin Laden’s possible death.  Over the next half […]

Ham & Circuses: Friday Festivities

From the news desk of the Democratic Peoples’ Republic of Korea Central News Agency: Dancing Parties of Youth and Students Held Pyongyang, April 25 (KCNA) Dancing parties of youth and students took place in different parts of the country Monday on the army day. They began to the tune of “Long Live Generalissimo Kim Il […]

The More You Back Down, the Easier it Gets

I took my last US Air Force physical this morning.  No, I’m no longer on active duty, but for the last 13 years I’ve gotten my medical care from USAF doctors at the Davis-Monthan AFB clinic here in Tucson.  When I turn 65 later this year, I’ll go on Medicare like everyone else and will […]