m, p, & g s

Interval

2012-01-25T19:49:00.000-05:00

A shot from 6:30 this morning (because I liked the lights' reflections in the pond)

Pre-SOTU '12

2012-01-24T15:53:00.007-05:00

I hadn't really planned on tuning into the State of the Union tonight (it's not that I'm apathetic; I'm pretty disgusted with the current Congress for a number reasons--gridlock, smug finger-pointing, juvenile tribalism, etc. etc.), but Andrew Sullivan, having received a heads-up about the speech's details, posts that we "should get some caffeine ready." It's pretty ambiguous (the address's

Howdy

2012-01-23T20:05:00.004-05:00

Wow. It's been a year since my last post. More than a year even.Briefly: I have moved closer to the action; e.g., I am now on the east coast.Thanks for the emails and good wishes I've received in the past year. I've only just now accessed them (for various reasons, including said move--during which I managed to misplace certain passwords--I've been unable to check in here.I am well. After the

Seconded

2010-12-11T15:56:00.003-05:00

John Cole's response to the "Firebaggers"--the ideologically liberal purists who've complained incessantly about the President's inability to achieve the agenda he campaigned (while ignoring or underplaying Congress' role in such "failures")--is delightful. Cole aims his criticism at a specific few commentators at Balloon Juice, but it's applicable to the larger group of ideological purists:"My

Fuck Cancer

2010-10-17T15:54:00.003-04:00

This month bring the anniversary of my late husband's passing. I've made the best of things, and I am surrounded by caring, supportive friends and family, but this has been an experience I wouldn't wish on my worst possible enemy.Cherish your loved ones.Fuck cancer.

U.S., U.K. Far Right Hook Up?

2010-10-11T12:51:00.003-04:00

According to a story in The Guardian, The English Defence League, a far-right, anti-Muslim group, is joining forces with Tea Party figures in the U.S.A. The English are concerned that Tea Party-funding would find its way to the EDL, thereby facilitating "wider recruitment and activism." Because the EDL is often associated with violent activity, England's unease is understandable. But why is

Crybaby Culture

2010-10-10T18:32:00.002-04:00

I missed this, but a few weeks ago This American Life dedicated an episode to revealing the current trend of public whining in America.The show, available online, includes contributions by Dave Weigel (on the politics of victimhood), Adam Davidson (on bankers' complaints after they've benefited from government largess), Alex Bumberg (on basketball's "the flop"), Alex MacInnis (on folks who make a

Unsafe . . . sticking

2010-10-10T14:56:00.003-04:00

At Slate, an article on malware-infected USB drives warns "Don't Stick it In."Just a rec.

Oh, Those Quirky Doctors

2010-10-04T02:20:00.000-04:00

The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, a group "formed in 1943 as an alternative to the American Medical Association, which some conservative doctors didn’t think was protecting their rights,"has some rather--interesting--ideas.According to an article by Joseph Gerth in the Louisville, Kentucky Courier-Journal, the group has published within the pages of its journal claims that HIV

The Paranoid Style--Redux

2010-10-03T12:23:00.004-04:00

"the spokesman of the paranoid style finds [the hostile and conspiratorial world] directed against a nation, a culture, a way of life whose fate affects not himself alone but millions of others." -- Richard HofstadterIn The National Journal, Paul Starobin explores the re-emergence of an arch-conservatism akin to The John Birch Society (famously, the leader of that group asserted that Dwight D.

"October"

2010-10-02T17:49:00.004-04:00

O hushed October morning mild,Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;Tomorrow's wind, if it be wild,Should waste them all.The crows above the forest call;Tomorrow they may form and go.O hushed October morning mild,Begin the hours of this day slow.Make the day seem to us less brief.Hearts not averse to being beguiled,Beguile us in the way you know.Release one leaf at break of day;At noon release

It Took Germany How Long?

2010-10-02T06:07:00.000-04:00

The BBC presents an excellent summary explaining why it took Germany nearly a hundred years to pay off its World War One reparations. The final payment is due on Sunday, which is also the 20th anniversary of German reunification.

Autumn, and Keats.

2010-09-22T02:25:00.002-04:00

Happy first day of the new season."Ode to Autumn"Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun; Conspiring with him how to load and bless With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eaves run; To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees, And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core; To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells With a sweet

Tea Party Unity Convention Canceled on the QT

2010-09-19T16:42:00.010-04:00

Remember Tea Party Nation's National Tea Party Unity Convention? The one that was originally scheduled for mid-July in Las Vegas? Three weeks prior to Convention's kick-off, organizers announced that they'd postponed it as they wished to avoid the intense heat of a Vegas summer and because "it would more advantageous to hold the convention in the middle of October just prior to the November

A Petty Quibble

2010-09-19T02:00:00.001-04:00

While reading arguments over who has experienced worse treatment at the hands of America's political partisans, George W. Bush or Barack Obama (a fairly childish argument in and of itself), I commonly see references to a "snuff film," a "liberal assassination fantasy" about President Bush, with the implication that American leftists were responsible for it. Not so.That film, titled Death of a

Venting Anger vs. Fixing What's Broken

2010-09-18T20:12:00.004-04:00

At Slate, Jacob Weisberg posts an article musing on how the Tea Party is analogous to the New Left of the 1960s. In "The Right's New Left," he suggests that the major similarity rests in the party's "streak of anarchism—its antagonism toward any authority, its belligerent style of self-expression, and its lack of any coherent program or alternative to the policies it condemns." On the other hand,

Freak Out for Freedom

2010-09-18T00:00:00.006-04:00

Oh yeah.If I could be just about anywhere on Saturday, 10/30/10, it would be in Washington DC. Although ostensibly a "spoof" of the Restoring Honor Rally on the National Mall, Jon Stewart's message seems sincere (remember his 2005 Crossfire appearance?). People need to chill the heck out--craziness does not legitimize an argument.Obviously, my poliblogging has been sporadic at best; largely, it

D'Amato: "You Are a Nasty Racist"

2010-09-17T21:13:00.005-04:00

Former Senator Al D'Amato (R-NY) let loose on Jack Burkman, a Republican strategist, during an appearance on FBN's Money Rocks on Thursday. Burkman's repeated, unnecessary references to Nigerian cab drivers and postal workers prompted D'Amato to shout "bullshit" (repeatedly), order Burkman to "shut up," and denounce him as racist. It's an impressive display of D'Amato passion.I am having problems

Seems Timely . . . .

2010-09-15T02:30:00.002-04:00

"A Poison Tree"I was angry with my friend:I told my wrath, my wrath did end.I was angry with my foe:I told it not, my wrath did grow.And I watered it in fears,Night & morning with my tears;And I sunned it with smiles,And with soft deceitful wiles.And it grew both day and night,Till it bore an apple bright.And my foe beheld it shine,And he knew that it was mine,And into my garden stole,When the

Just Tactless, or . . . . ?

2010-05-21T18:34:00.000-04:00

A personal aside.During the celebration of my late spouse's life, which was held one week after he passed, an acquaintance questioned me about my marriage--saying that he wanted to "understand" it (thereby implying that it was somehow abnormal). I asked him to specify what he meant, but he could--or would--not.Further, he notified me that someone, whom I'd only just met, told him that I "wasn't a

Birther to be Court Martialed?

2010-04-13T21:12:00.010-04:00

An Army doctor, Lieutenant Colonel Terry Lakin, rejected his orders for deployment to Afghanistan because he believes the Commander in Chief is illegally president. After heading for the Pentagon (when he should have been shipping out), his brigade Commander, Col. Gordon Roberts, told him "that he could face court martial, and [Lakin's] Pentagon building pass and government laptop computer were

Paul: "Obama is not a Socialist"

2010-04-11T16:37:00.000-04:00

According to Rand Paul, the President is a "Corporatist" rather than an economic Socialist. Go figure. But then the Pauls aren't noted for holding to the Right's narrative.

A Break

2010-04-11T14:33:00.001-04:00

From politics and emotional drama. The Daily Beast has a lovely gallery of photographs from the Henri Cartier-Bresson retrospective at MOMA. Have a look.

Palin - Bachman 2012

2010-04-08T12:57:00.000-04:00

I'm with Rumproast. . . .

Shame on Itawamba

2010-04-07T08:58:00.005-04:00

So parents of Fulton, MS, you're so worried about a lesbian couple attending prom that you set up a fake prom for "undesirables" while the rest of the student body parties at an undisclosed location? How very adult of you.Ridiculous. And unspeakably cruel. But hey, it's all about convictions, right? After all, WWJD?

Smoothing the Hallers

2010-04-06T17:23:00.000-04:00

Thank you, Tom Coburn. Amidst the outrage over health care reform and hysteria about armed IRS agents comin' to getcha, the Senator urged town hall attendees towards civility and consideration of more than one news source on a given issue (e.g., "don't just rely on the folks who agree with you").

Netflix coming to iPhone

2010-04-06T13:19:00.002-04:00

Sure enough, after introducing "Netflix for iPad," Netflix announced that a similar app is in the works for iPhone and iPod Touch. Streaming movies in the palm of your hand!And David Lynch's head explodes.

Political Purging

2010-04-05T21:06:00.003-04:00

Over at FrumForum, Chris Currey details "How the GOP Purged Me." A lifelong Republican--a religious, free market, social conservative (who originally opposed Medicaid and Medicare)--Currey apparently began reconsidering in the 1990s, when,The leaders of the GOP grew belligerent. They became too religious, almost zealots. They became intolerant. They began searching for purity in Republican

Poem Time

2010-04-05T15:48:00.000-04:00

It's seldom gets better than G M Hopkins:"God's Grandeur"The world is charged with the grandeur of God. It will flame out, like shining from shook foil; It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oilCrushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod?Generations have trod, have trod, have trod; And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil; And wears man's smudge &

He Can't Be Bothered

2010-04-04T13:01:00.004-04:00

We've all heard about the Florida doctor who taped a sign in a window directing people who voted for Obama should "seek urologic help elsewhere" (noting cleverly that "Changes to your healthcare begin right now, not in four years"). The good doctor, of course, is free to do as he likes, and I certainly take no issue with him critiquing health care reform, nor with his "warning off" patients. What

Holidays

2010-04-04T00:10:00.001-04:00

Happy Easter, Happy Passover

Teabonics

2010-04-04T00:00:00.000-04:00

A little late to this party, but behold: a plethora of signage from Tea Party events. Some (ahem) language issues--as in usage--are on display.

An Opportunity to Kvetch

2010-04-03T18:06:00.003-04:00

That, apparently, is what Courage and Consequence is all about.I'm not planning on reading Karl Rove's memoir (seriously, I'm just not interested), and, according to David Frum, there's a reason to avoid it: Rove either rewrites history or evades it. Frum tries to be generous to Rove but ultimately decides that he's still "Waiting for Rove's Memoir."

I Got Mine; You Sod Off

2010-04-03T15:28:00.001-04:00

Just passing this along . . . .The Washington Monthly has been noting some curious contradictions amongst certain Tea Party adherents who suffer a serious disconnect between professed beliefs and actual practice: namely, enjoying federal programs while decrying said federal programs. As noted in The New York Times, such folks "do not see any contradictions in their arguments for smaller

R.I.P. Jon Swift

2010-03-03T19:13:00.001-05:00

The great Jon Swift, blogger and satirist, passed away on 27 February.Thank you, "Jon." May angels sing thee to thy rest.

Interim

2010-02-02T00:30:00.004-05:00

Been away.Much seclusion, introspection, and little posting. I do seem to be growing interested in the world outside my doors again--gradually. I've become obsessive about being at work from 8:00 until 5:00, and, although I dread going home to an empty place, I am slowly growing more used to it (granted, I've morphed into the stereotypical figure who, immediately upon coming home, thrusts a

Pinch and a Punch. . . .

2010-02-01T00:00:00.000-05:00

. . . .first of the month. Happy February.

Yardsticks

2010-01-04T14:53:00.000-05:00

Greg Sargent's question of the day:If there continues to be a lack of a successful terrorist attack, at what point does the refusal by conservatives to credit Obama for it enter the media narrative, given that this is precisely the yardstick they use to extoll Bush’s counter-terror record?Will the media simply ignore this double standard, or will conservatives redefine what makes for successful

Black Shirts and Flared Skirts

2010-01-03T13:21:00.002-05:00

The BBC has up a fascinating, but too brief, article on women and fascism in pre-World War II Britain.The first fascist party in England--the British Fascisti--was founded in 1923 by a woman, Rotha Lintorn-Orman, and females flocked to Oswald Mosely's British Union of Fascists in the 1930s. Like Lady Diana Mitford, Mosely's wife, many of these female Blackshirts--along with the male fascists--

Breakdown

2010-01-02T16:20:00.003-05:00

Newsweek offers an overview of Stanford professor Morris Fiorina’s book, Disconnect: The Breakdown of Representation in American Politics, which argues that although political parties are becoming more fiercely partisan, the majority of Americans remain firmly in the ideological center. This might seem a questionable assertion, given the media emphasis on ultra-vocal ideologues. However, as

Wishes

2010-01-01T15:08:00.001-05:00

Here's to a new year, a new decade, and a renewal.

Panarin, Panarin, where do you Roam?

2009-11-29T20:25:00.005-05:00

In Texas, apparently.It seems that American Conservatives are entranced with the theories espoused by a Russian academic, Igor Panarin, who is a professor at Russia's Diplomatic Academy, which is associated with the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry. He is also a former member of the KGB.Professor Panarin predicts that by this time next year the USA will consist of six disparate regions, each of

Obama Did Sweet F A in Asia

2009-11-28T12:16:00.004-05:00

That's the MSM's meme, right?With the recent rush of positive news stories out of China, in which China has agreed to certain US policies and requests (or has become remarkably more amenable to them), there's a lot of egg on a lot of faces, as Andrew Sullivan points out.For even more in the "let the facts shame the 'journalists' who completely missed what actually happened," see James Fallow's

The War on Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T19:41:00.002-05:00

Time to gear up for the culture warriors' annual complaints about a "secular war on Christmas," but were you aware that there's a similar "secular war on Thanksgiving"? AlterNet has the details.

Six Weeks

2009-11-25T23:14:00.004-05:00

I so not want to turn this into a widow's blog, a place where I would log on to vent, rage, and communicate something like anguish; however, I do want to note that, as of today, my husband has been gone for six weeks.Grief is inexplicable. I'll be fine for a day, maybe two, but then I'm overpowered by this misery that appears out of nowhere. I do understand it will lessen, and I understand that

Mao Beck

2009-11-22T12:46:00.003-05:00

So Glenn Beck wishes to "start thinking like the Chinese" and develop a "100 year plan for America." Kind of a cultural revolution? Who does that sound like?

Loss and Absence

2009-10-31T22:12:00.003-04:00

I've not posted here for some time; in fact, my posts have decreased markedly since December 2008. The reason for this: my beloved, who was treated for colorectal cancer in 2003, suffered a resurgence of the disease late last summer. The doctors were optimistic about treatment, at the time, for it seemed that only a single vertebrae was affected. In December, however, we learned that the disease

Words Fail

2009-09-03T00:09:00.001-04:00

Sometimes you come across things so callous, you don't know how to respond. For example, see RNC Chairman Michael Steele's response to a young woman, Amanda Duzak, whose mother passed away from cancer six months ago. Following Steele's dismissal of Duzak as someone wanting a television moment, the woman was escorted from the event by security.

Ex-Cigna Executive on Health Care Rationing

2009-08-29T12:59:00.009-04:00

Wendell Potter enjoyed a 20 year career with health insurance corporations, such as Humana and Cigna. At Cigna, he was Head of Corporate Communications; he retired from this post last year.In June this year, he testified before a Senate committee investigating insurance (see his testimony here [pdf]). Before the committee, Potter asserted that,companies routinely drop seriously ill policyholders

John McCain: "Be Respectful"

2009-08-25T17:28:00.000-04:00

You can disagree with a person, but you can still acknowledge that person as a human being and treat that person with courtesy and respect. John McCain showed us how it's done today.Think back to his campaign, and when his audience would boo or shout when then-Senator Obama's name came up. Senator McCain would chastize his audience and insist on Obama's decency.Today, Senator McCain held a town

UPS Stops Advertising on Fox News

2009-08-24T21:16:00.006-04:00

Well, that call for a boycott against Glenn Beck's FNC show really backfired, didn't it?33 companies have removed advertising from Glenn Beck's show or have requested Fox that ads run elsewhere in the day. This isn't really news, as it's been posted and discussed everywhere.What is news? UPS "has temporarily halted buying ads on Fox News Channel as a whole" (AP). UPS's spokesman declines to say

M, Ph.D., & G S

2009-08-13T18:13:00.008-04:00

Please excuse the trumpet blowing, but The Project is completed (excepting some minor fine tuning), an official "title" has been granted, and a newly-minted Ph.D. ventures into the job market.And this newly-minted doctor of philosophy doesn't come from "the elite," the moneyed, the influential. I come from the working class--laborers, miners, and factory workers.My great-grandmother was born and

Rumor Central: Obamacare (Updated)

2009-08-11T16:50:00.003-04:00

Taking a break from The Project to post some links regarding the plethora of rumors on health care reform.1. For seniors concerned about Medicare and the fears of the government controlling "life and death decisions": the AARP has a page on "Myths vs. Facts"2. "Health Insurance Reform Reality Check" addresses the claims that health insurance reform will:-lead to a "government takeover"

Hiatus, Interrupted

2009-07-30T22:22:00.003-04:00

Focusing on The Project; consequently, very little time spent on m, p, & g s (or even following the news as closely as desired). Once The Project concludes, expect regular updates and some (possibly) striking revelations.But first, some oddities:--many hits on an old post about Stephen King and the highbrow/lowbrow divide, thanks to visitors from The Seated View.--Lots of hits on the post about

Hawaii Reaffirms Obama Legitimacy

2009-07-28T11:25:00.006-04:00

For the second time (the first was in October 2008), Hawaii's Director of Health, Dr. Chiyome Fukino, verifies that President Obama was, indeed, born in Hawaii, per The Honolulu Advertiser.The Honolulu Advertiser story also offers details on how the state deals with vital records, including who is, or isn't, permitted to view the original versions of items such as birth certificates, and how the

McCain's Camp Checked Out Birther Claims

2009-07-24T18:36:00.003-04:00

And came up with nada.David Weigel reveals that lawyers working with the McCain Campaign's general counsel "monitered" the Birther lawsuits. They did a little investigating of their own as well: While they ruled out any chance of the ‘birther’ lawsuits holding up in court, lawyers for the McCain campaign did check into the rumors about Obama’s birth and the assertions made by Berg and others. “To

FBI: No Palin Investigation

2009-07-05T02:11:00.005-04:00

There's been a flurry of speculation over Palin's decision to resign her office. One supposition might now be struck off: an FBI agent flat out denies any investigation into the Governor's dealings:the FBI's Alaska spokesman said the bureau had no investigation into Palin for her activities as governor, as mayor or in any other capacity."There is absolutely no truth to those rumors that we're

Iran: "Ahmadinejad's useful idiots"

2009-06-25T23:49:00.004-04:00

Salon offers a compelling interview with Hooman Majd, an Iranian-American whose father was an Iranian diplomat and whose grandfather was an ayatollah. Last year sawe the publication of Majd's study of contemporary Iran, The Ayatollah Begs to Differ: The Paradox of Modern Iran. The book examines Iran as,a country that is fiercely proud of its Persian heritage, mystified by its outsider status, and

Iran: The Heir

2009-06-25T00:32:00.005-04:00

The L A Times has published an article on Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the Supreme Leader, and the would-be heir to Ayatollah Khamenei's position when he passes away. Analysts have conjectured that Supreme Leader Khamenei's insistence on Ahmadinejad's re-election has everything to do with the planned succession: allegedly, the Khameneis are not "popular in Qom," amongst the men who choose Iran's

AWOL in Argentina

2009-06-24T16:25:00.008-04:00

Four days after he'd vanished into thin air, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford contacted people to let them know he was fine. He was hiking. After staying away for a few more days, Sanford returned to explain that he'd been visiting the woman with whom he's having an affair.The media is focusing on the story's salacious elements (not only did he cheat, but he was cheating on Father's Day, etc.

The Downing Street Memo: No One-Off

2009-06-24T04:58:00.005-04:00

It emerged over the weekend (but largely missed because of media coverage of the Iran crisis), but it seems that the infamous "Downing Street Memo," which alluded to the manufacturing of the Iraq, has a successor, which pretty much confirms that the war was manufactured. A second secret memo has been released that must have both Bush and Blair cringing, for it further clarifies how the men, and

Ed McMahon, 1923-2009

2009-06-23T12:30:00.004-04:00

Ed MacMahon died in hospital this morning. He'd had a hard time since Johnny left The Tonight Show, but he always seems to retain the nation's affection. His last years were hard--much misfortune--but others rallied 'round. He will be missed.(I could continue about how, when staying over at my late grandmother's house, I had to sleep on the sofa in the living room. Every weekday night, she'd sit

Iran: Rafsanjani Set to "Outflank" Khamenei

2009-06-22T21:49:00.002-04:00

This, if true, is huge news. According to EurasiaNet, Iran's hardliners sense "that a shoe is about to drop."Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani -- Iran’s savviest political operator and an arch-enemy of Ayatollah Khamenei’s -- has kept out of the public spotlight since the rigged June 12 presidential election triggered the political crisis. The widespread belief is that Rafsanjani has been in the holy

Iran: Global Protest Thursday

2009-06-22T17:51:00.002-04:00

From NiacINsight:Mousavi’s facebook page just announced that they want to hold global solidarity demonstrations on Thursday “for the martyrs that have been lost so far in our fight for justice.” In Tehran, the demonstration will be held at Imam Khomeini Shrine, according to the announcement.Considering the number of rallies in support of the opposition movement, there ought be no problems

Iran: National Strike Tuesday, 23 June (& Weds, Thurs)

2009-06-22T17:44:00.005-04:00

It's been confirmed by several sources in Iran:NATIONAL STRIKE TOMORROW (TUESDAY) in objection to the attacks & killings & the coup(someone else adds: "People - no business in Iran TUESDAY - sorry we are all on STRIKE").Added: extension of the strike to last throughout the week: MOUSAVI Declares ALL IRAN STRIKE TUESDAY & Rest of Week! Do NOT WORK! STAY HOME OR PROTEST! Close ALL Bazaars!

Getting Medieval at 3 A.M.

2009-06-22T02:52:00.006-04:00

So I'm at the OED online looking up "medieval" as an adjective to check its usage history (for a project), and I find this: b. U.S. to get medieval: to use violence or extreme measures on, to become aggressive. 1994 Q. TARANTINO<

Chatham House's Iran Election Report (and Guardian Council Begins to 'Fess Up)

2009-06-21T16:00:00.003-04:00

The Royal Institute for International Affairs has released its report on the recent elections in Iran.From the Institute's site, Chatham House:Working from the province by province breakdowns of the 2009 and 2005 results, released by the Iranian Ministry of Interior, and from the 2006 census as published by the official Statistical Centre of Iran, this paper offers some observations about the

Iran: Saturday Rally

2009-06-20T00:00:00.005-04:00

Mousavi has not died, has not been injured, has not been arrested, and has not canceled the rally. From a reliable, credible source in Iran:confirmed - Mousavi - SATURDAY 4pm Enghelab Sq - HISTORY will be watching us Update: News reports, inside and outside of Iran, confirm that the government cracked down with tear gas, batons, and chains. Other sources claim that guns and unknown chemical

Mousavi NOT Arrested (Updated)

2009-06-19T21:19:00.014-04:00

Interesting how Twitter is quickly acting to turn misinformation into "real" news (because people are unable or unwilling to vet sources), and how eager some young Americans are to engage themselves in the Iran protests, but who get so caught up with revolutionary fever that they forget to think. Even well-intentioned misinformation remains misinformation, and in a situations as impassioned as

Iran: Friday Opposition Events

2009-06-19T01:54:00.003-04:00

News about Friday's events in Iran have been in something of a flux: it looks as though someone has been sending misleading information about the opposition leaders' plans for Fridays. Mir-Hossein Mousavi's website appears to have been hacked earlier today, and someone has been tweeting and retweeting misinformation over Twitter. The best I can ascertain :People should attend Friday

Ohio Man Attacked. . .By Iran?

2009-06-18T23:49:00.000-04:00

Here's a potentially frightening scenario--Iranians in the USA assaulting Americans sympathetic to the opposition.Someone who has been truly helpful at helping Iranians with proxies announced on Twitter that he'd been on his way to university in Ohio was attacked by "Iranian or Lebanese" men. This appeared on one Twitter feed:Leaving for college now. Not sure if I'll be permitted to tweet from

Fresh Air on Conspiracy Theories, Extremism, Racism, Violence

2009-06-18T17:04:00.007-04:00

On the Fresh Air broadcast for 18 June, Terry Gross interviews Chip Berlet, a senior analyst at Political Research Associates who "has studied extremism, conspiracy theories and hate groups for more than 25 years." (NPR). The broadcast focuses on the links between conspiracy theories, extremism, and violence.According to Berlet, there have been nine murders linked to white supremacist groups and

Iran: Fights in Parliament Over Attacks on Protesters

2009-06-18T15:14:00.004-04:00

Etemaad.ir, a Farsi news site, recently posted an item describing an altercation that broke out in Iran's Parliament this week. The MP's had been discussing Basiji attacks on students. Nico Pitney has posted a translation of the story at The Huffington Post (see his update at 2:33 PM ET [6/19]). Excerpt:After Ansari [MP], Abutorabi [Parliament Secretary] took the floor again and continued

Iran: Fax & Post Service

2009-06-17T23:49:00.006-04:00

A new service for the Iranian opposition members who can't access the Internet! From Nico Pitney's update at The Huffington Post:The revolution will be faxed. A valuable service being organized by Eric Purdy and his crew at the University of Chicago: We have set up a website to receive faxes from Iran, which we will post online. Hopefully this will be another way for information about what's

Iran: Thursday Rallies (Updated)

2009-06-17T23:29:00.004-04:00

From a reliable Iranian Twitter feed:Events for Thursday(conf by Mousavi) at 14:00 Pasdaran, Shahrzad Blvd UN Building,17:00 Emam Khomeini Sq.Updated: There's a change in plans:Today's protest is ONLY in Toopkhaneh Sq at 4pm according to Kalameh. Mousavi is going to be there

The State Department & Twitter

2009-06-17T22:18:00.009-04:00

This is kind of petty, but the State Department's claim of contacting Twitter about postponing its downtime irritates me. Here's why:1) Monday, June 15, Twitter announcesWe will have 90 minutes of maintenance starting tonight at 9:45p Pacific [8:15 AM Tehran]. Critical network upgrades will be performed during this time.2) Immediately after the announcement appeared, people began to flood Twitter

Iran Wednesday

2009-06-17T11:07:00.007-04:00

This morning, as ever, Nico Pitney has some fascinating entries on his Iran liveblog--go here to read up on the Iranian soccer team's show of support, Iranian authorities' threats against 'bloggers, and Rafsanjani's (alleged) emergency meeting with the Assembly of Experts (which, if true, is a huge deal), and a concrete example of how the army is protecting pro-Mousavi protesters from

Iran: Rallies Planned for Weds and Thurs

2009-06-17T01:29:00.003-04:00

From Tehran Bureau's Twitter feed:Tehran Rallies confirmed-Wed jun17. 5pm SILENT PROTEST 7 Tir Square . Tehran - Thursday jun18. 2pm bolvare sharzad sazmane melal

Keep It Classy, GOP

2009-06-17T00:23:00.004-04:00

After a solid week of hearing about David Letterman's incredibly tasteless joke about a Palin daughter, we've got more bad comedy to talk about, and all of it involves race. Moreover, all of it came forth from Republicans. Anyway...Mike Green, a GOP political operative in South Carolina, decided to Tweet a racist Obama joke over the weekend (the "aspirin" joke, which is kind of tiresome). TPM

Khamenei Fast Tracks Voting Fraud Investigation

2009-06-16T14:06:00.006-04:00

An Iranian Tweeter reports: "Khamenei LIVE say he is re-confirming #iranelection was A'nejad win"Everyone saw this coming. But it's important to note that Mousavi declined a recount and stated that only a re-vote could settle the matter.In other news: Khamenei tries to discredit the protests by blaming any unrest on West--Obama played it right.

BBC Goes Green

2009-06-16T13:51:00.001-04:00

Iranian protesters take this as a sign of support.(I don't recall the BBC site's typical colors--it might always be green--but folks are taking its current shade as a gesture).

Iran: Rally and Counter-Rally

2009-06-16T11:01:00.008-04:00

Shortly after the massive Mousavi rally in Tehran on Monday, people protesting the Iran election results arranged for a second rally on Tuesday. In response, the government arranged its own rally against the "revolutionaries"--a counter-protest--to begin in the same location and just shortly before the Mousavi rally was scheduled to begin. Many Twitterers wondered if the government hoped for

Clerics Reject Ahmadinejad?

2009-06-16T01:16:00.003-04:00

Now this doesn't look good for Ahmadinejad. The Wall Street Journal records this bit from Monday's pro-Mousavi rally:A young cleric from the Shiite holy city of Qom addressed the crowd. "I have come to bring you a message from Qom," he said. "Without a doubt, all clerical scholars are against the current situation. The only person acceptable to them is Mr. Mousavi, they have rejected Mr.

Iran: Revolutionary Guards Arrested?

2009-06-16T00:08:00.003-04:00

Okay no solid confirmation, but the following has cropped up on various sites--including The Washington Times--that "16 senior members of the Revolutionary Guard" were arrested Tuesday morning, and "these commanders have been in contact with members of the Iranian army to join the people's movement." They are now in an undisclosed location in Tehran.The story's source is the Cyrus News Agency,

Iran: Twitter Down Tonight (Updated)

2009-06-15T16:46:00.015-04:00

The timing is pretty gobsmacking, but Twitter has scheduled a 90 minute outage for tonight.Maintenance window tonight, 9:45p Pacific 16 minutes agoWe will have 90 minutes of maintenance starting tonight at 9:45p Pacific. Critical network upgrades will be performed during this time. The information was posted around 4:30 PM EDT today (Monday).Surely the folks at Twitter are aware of how crucial

Iran: General Strike on Tuesday

2009-06-15T16:40:00.006-04:00

Added: A source in Iran confirms that a second national strike will occur on Tuesday, 23 June:NATIONAL STRIKE TOMORROW (TUESDAY) in objection to the attacks & killings & the coup. -----Iran's protesters have planned a nation-wide strike for Tuesday, 16 June.Another rally is in the works for Tuesday evening: 5:00 pm Valiasr Square

Iran: Monday Updates

2009-06-15T15:54:00.007-04:00

The Iranian people have taken to their rooftops again to shout "Allah Akbar" and "death to the dictator."The militia are targeting the students again: Madyer Tweets that two dormitories are under siege: Tarasht and Shiraz.StopAhmadi Tweets that sources in Rasht claim that authories are wiretapping phone calls, while others report that citizens are leaving their gates and doors unlocked so that

Iran: Where's Obama?

2009-06-15T14:40:00.009-04:00

He's being smart.Some are demanding that President Obama issue a statement of support for the protesters in Iran. I'm inclined to back off on Obama for a bit. He's smart enough to observe and consider prior to making crucial statements that will ultimately impact foreign policy.I'm guessing that he does stand with the Iranian protesters philosophically and emotionally. Pragmatically, however,

Iran: Post-Rally

2009-06-15T13:52:00.007-04:00

Despite the rumors, the misinformation, and the threats, they did it. Thousands and thousands of them. And Mousavi attended. Sadly, violence erupted, and one protester was killed. But the Iranian people stood their ground [see The Huffington Post, Tehran Bureau or niacINsight for more].Tonight, they refuse to back off. PersianKiwi confirms that "karbaschi and karoubi heading to Tajreesh sq

Khamenei threatens Mousavi and Supporters

2009-06-15T05:47:00.003-04:00

Tweeters, including PersianKiwi, IranElection09, are reporting that on live television Supreme Leader Khamenei threatened Mousavi and his supporters. From PersianKiwi:if Moussavi does not retreat he will be dealt with according to law.No additional details at the moment.The government is panicking. And Mousavi's supporters aren't backing down. They're still marching.

Khamenei to Mousavi: Pursue Complaints Legally

2009-06-15T05:18:00.005-04:00

Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei has agreed to investigate allegations of voter fraud. Well, that's how it's being spun. According to AFP, as reported by Iran state television on Sunday, he told Mousavi "to pursue his complaints over the election through legal means."It's looking like the government is panicking over the people's responses to Ahmadinejad's "victory." The announcement of an

Iran: Rally Misinformation?

2009-06-15T04:39:00.008-04:00

Apparently a load of rumors have cropped up announcing that Mousavi or one of his spokesmen has canceled Monday's rallies. At this point, there's been no solid confirmation one way or the other (despite a BBC story which states that the organization "understands" that the marches have been canceled. The BBC neglects to name its source for the assertion, so people remain a bit uncertain). As the

Mousavi's Message & Monday's Protest Rallies

2009-06-15T00:00:00.004-04:00

Per Andrew Sullivan:Mir Hossein Mousavi delivered the following phone message to the BBC:I AM UNDER EXTREME PRESSURE TO ACCEPT THE RESULTS OF THE SHAM ELECTION. THEY HAVE CUT ME OFF FROM ANY COMMUNICATION WITH PEOPLE AND AM UNDER SURVEILLANCE. I ASK THE PEOPLE TO STAY IN THE STREETS BUT AVOID VIOLENCEThe exhortation to "stay in the streets" suggests that Monday's protests, scheduled to begin at

Iran: The Whole World is Watching

2009-06-14T20:28:00.009-04:00

They're attacking students in their dorms.Last night, vigilantes burst into a dorm at Isfahan Technical University. Tonight, a similar group has blocked any and all access to dorms at Tehran University. Students can't get out, and help can't get in. "Change_for_Iran", a Twitterer who claims to be in dorm at Tehran University writes that the forces aren't military or police--they'e Ansar-Hezbolah

Iran: "It Was a Coup"

2009-06-14T18:45:00.004-04:00

Mir Hossein Mousavi's spokesman, Mohsen Makhbalbaf, calls the election a political coup. He provides details of the drama immeidately following the election here. Also, for The Times's account on the brutality shown to protesters, please see here.

Iran: News Sources

2009-06-14T16:12:00.010-04:00

Reports from Iran are slipping though.Andrew Sullivan has regular updates from Iranian readers and links to commentary. The Tehran Bureau is a solid source, as is The New York Times' Lede Blog, which offers regular updates. The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting has updates (albeit irregularly), and The Huffington Post is "liveblogging the uprising."Perhaps most importantly, there is Twitter.

Iran: News Coverage

2009-06-14T15:36:00.008-04:00

Initially I thought the US media was just being lazy and avoiding coverage of what's happening in Iran, but it looks as though the Iranian government is blocking foreign news agencies from reporting the angry reaction to the election. Spanish reporters have had tapes confiscated, Al-Aribiya has been ordered to cease reportage for a week, one German journalist seems to be under house arrest--he's

And The Rumor Mill Keeps A-goin'

2009-06-12T14:00:00.002-04:00

Salon has compiled a useful list of myths about Obama--from the truly whacked out to the snoringly mundane.Each entry details a rumor, who introduced / spread the story, and how well the story reflects reality (which isn't often). The list includes everything from Nostradamus "predicting" our President and "Obama is the Anti-Christ" to "Obama targeted Republican-owned car dealerships"and "Obama

Match Up

2009-06-11T23:25:00.005-04:00

News quiz: who said what?A) “the Jewish vote, the A-I-P-A-C vote, that’s controlling him"B) "Obama was created by Jews. Obama does what Jew owners tell him to do."Yes, context is everything. A, Reverend Jeremiah Wright claimed initially that "them Jews" prevent communication with Obama, and then tried to walk that back by claiming he meant that Obama, being a politician, needs to cater to the

Memorium

2009-06-11T21:37:00.005-04:00

My deepest condolences to the family of Stephen Tyrone Johns, a hero by any definition of the word. I can't imagine the horror his loved ones must be living through. My heart also goes out to those at the Holocaust Museum yesterday who witnessed the madman's assault.