SHOCKING PROTEST VIDEO NUGGET!!
Bahrain Protester Shot Point Blank In Shocking Video from Huffington Post
"A shocking video of the point-blank killing of a protester has emerged from Bahrain."
The Bahraini leadership seem to be taking their queues from the Czar Nicholas II school of crowd control. Talk about being a demonstration on how to lose legitimacy and spark a revolution! What a DUMB move! My guess: they're listening to the Saudis now. Gives you some hint as to what protesters in Saudi might expect if their movement there ever goes anywhere.
U.S. Calls Radiation ‘Extremely High;’ Sees Japan Nuclear Crisis Worsening from the New York Times
"Amid widening alarm in the United States and elsewhere about Japan’s nuclear crisis, police at the country’s stricken power station abandoned an attempt on Thursday to spray cooling water on spent fuel rods, forced back by high levels of radiation, the NHK broadcaster said."
In Japan, Rupture in Containment Vessel Feared from the Japan Times [in English]
"Smoke, fires wreak new havoc at ground zero."
U.S. Officials Alarmed By Japanese Handling of Nuclear Crisis from ABC News
"U.S. officials are alarmed at how the Japanese are handling the escalating nuclear reactor crisis and fear that if they do not get control of the plants within the next 24 to 48 hours they could have a situation that will be "deadly for decades.""
I'm not clear if ABC might be over-hyping the danger. By their reporting this morning, the situation is extremely bad.
Scientists Project Path of Radiation Plume from the New York Times
"A United Nations forecast of the possible movement of the radioactive plume coming from crippled Japanese reactors shows it churning across the Pacific, and touching the Aleutian Islands on Thursday before hitting Southern California late Friday."
Why Japan Embraced Nuclear Power After Suffering the Atomic Bomb from the Globe and Mail [of Toronto]
"Japan has been there before. And that’s what makes the growing radiation threat from the Fukushima Daiichi plant as mysterious as it is disturbing: Why did a country that suffered the utter horror of Hiroshima and Nagasaki so willingly give itself over to nuclear power?"
The Chinese Cozy Up to the Pakistanis from the National Interest
"Beijing is understandably challenging a century of U.S. dominance in the Pacific and the South China Sea immediately adjacent to its shores. … Washington is being replaced as Islamabad's paramour du jour. More war for South Asia."
This is clearly the direction China wants to take the world in the 21st century: dictatorships of the world: UNITE! Considering the latest nonsense we see from the Saudis, Chavez of Venezuela, and the African Union, what we're seeing is an emerging, informal alliance of dictatorships around the world committed not just to opposing democracy in the Middle East -- but opposing it anywhere else it might emerge. THIS may end up being the defining feature of China's emerging global leadership. The question comes quickly: how can democracy survive in Egypt, Tunisia, or elsewhere over there if neighbors like Saudi, Libya, or the African Union adamantly works to subvert it?
Pakistan Court Acquits Davis of Murders from the Financial Times [of the UK]
"Raymond Davis, a CIA contractor, was acquitted of two murder charges and released by a Pakistani court on Wednesday after a deal was reached to pay “blood money” to the victims’ families."
I'll have to say -- I thought Davis was toast. On first blush, it seems to me it took some courage on the part of SOME Pakistani officials to give this deal the green light. I suspect both the US and the current gov't there is going to pay more than just this "blood money" for what's gone down.
US Rustbelt Recovery from the Economist [of London]
"Against all the odds, American factories are coming back to life. Thank the rest of the world for that."
House Ag Committee: Cut Food Stamps, not Farm Aid from Time Magazine
"it's little surprise to see Republicans on the House Agriculture Committee urging Budget Chairman Paul Ryan not to make substantial cuts to federal farm programs. But this time there's a twist: Lest those Republicans appear profligate, they have proposed one area for cuts--food stamps."
Ohio Town Sees Public Job as Only Route to Middle Class from the New York Times
"Now, as Ohio’s legislature moves toward final approval of a bill that would chip away at public-sector unions, those workers say they see it as the opening bell in a race to the bottom. At stake, they say, is what little they have that makes them middle class."
Colleges Hire Firms To Court Foreign Students (Sheryl Rich-Kern) from NPR's Morning Edition
"Some public colleges are hiring for-profit companies to recruit international students. It's a controversial strategy but with shrinking state budgets, every tuition dollar is critical. The Universities of Massachusetts and New Hampshire are working with a company called Navitas to bring in foreign students."
Make NO MISTAKE: this item gives you one (1) vision of the future for our state colleges and universities. In PA, the governor just proposed a 50% cut in funding for state universities. Well, as most college presidents will tell you, the US currently has a WORLD-CLASS system of universities … on top of a MEDIOCRE system of public schools. Well, with these cuts (which we see to a lesser but still substantial extent in other states), state university presidents WILL DO WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO to maintain high-quality institutions! The answer here: recruit foreign students who are willing to pay the full shot. What this points to is a US college system that will become a GLOBALIZED university system. The best (and wealthiest) students will get in -- and state residents will be largely priced out of our own state university system. Crazy, you might say. It is a measure of just how much conservatives simply OPPOSE GOV'T -- no matter what the clear benefits may be for society.
The Neocon Hazing of Robert Gates (Jacob Heilbrunn) from the National Interest
"Kristol says good riddance to Gates, but the SecDef deserves applause, not brickbats."
About the Supposed Republican Recall Efforts in Wisconsin... from Daily Kos
"We all know about progressive efforts to recall the eight Republican state senators currently eligible for recall. We've been a bit obsessed over those efforts here at Daily Kos. But did you know that Republicans are attempting to recall at least five of the eight Democratic state senators also eligible for recall? You wouldn't be faulted if you missed it"
Conservatives: We Are Being Outworked And Out-Organized In Wisconsin Recall Campaigns (Sam Stein) from Huffington Post
"Both national and Wisconsin-based Republican operatives tell the Huffington Post the party is being dramatically outworked and out-organized by Democrats in the recall campaigns being launched against state Senators."
Daily Kos has some further analysis HERE.
Boehner's Weakened Hand from Politico
"Tuesday’s breakdown in Republican discipline weakens Speaker John Boehner’s hand in White House budget talks and raises the chances of a government shutdown next month unless he and President Barack Obama greatly step up their game."
Some in GOP Grow Tired of Right Wing from Politico
"Some veteran Republican House members are pushing back against conservative deficit hawks who are pushing for endlessly deep spending cuts, saying the right wing of the party is creating unnecessary divisions for the GOP majority."
Tired!? Go take a nap. We'll wake you in 2013.
Seems to be a common theme here. This from the conservative Daily Caller:
GOP Leaders, Mainline Caucus Fume at Conservative ‘No’ Votes on Three-week CR from the Daily Caller
"GOP leaders and much of the mainline party caucus that voted for a three-week continuing resolution Tuesday are fuming at the 54 conservative Republicans who voted no — and the right-wing activists who cheered them on."
NV-Sen: GOP Braces for Sharron Angle’s Encore Run from Politico
"After unceremoniously crashing the Nevada Senate race last year — raising record amounts of money and becoming a headache for establishment Republicans while also endearing herself to tea party activists nationwide — Sharron Angle is returning for an encore performance with a run for the U.S. House."
OH GOOD! One of those gifts that just keeps on giving!
LOCAL ENVIRONMENT NUGGET!!
What The Frack: Ohio Gov. John Kasich Wants To Open Up State Parks For Oil And Gas Exploration from Think Progress
"Due to the documented water contamination issues surrounding hydraulic fracturing, both New York and New Jersey have imposed bans on fracking in their states. But the public health risk doesn’t seem to bother Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) and state Republicans. The Ohio House introduced a bill early this month that would create a panel to open any state-owned land for oil and gas exploration to the highest bidder."
WORLD WAR I NUGGET!!
World War I Submarine Found Off Dutch Coast from Huffington Post
"The Dutch navy says it has discovered the sunken wreck of a German World War I submarine off the island of Terschelling and will designate it a war grave."
A war grave?! But I want to see it!! Maybe I can find some photos of it somewhere online.
WILD ANIMAL NUGGET [1] !!
In the Animal Kingdom, Leaders Improve with Age from Discovery News
"Older elephants and other animals are better at making crucial decisions in times of danger."
WILD ANIMAL NUGGET [2]!!
Back to the Harbor: Seals Return to New York (Ian Frazier) from the New Yorker (Subscription required for full text)
"Twenty years ago, you almost never saw a seal in New York City waters. Now, a boat can charge twenty-four dollars apiece for a three-hour seal-watching cruise…"
This is such GREAT news. New York harbor has been a dumping ground for most of the last 300 years. This bodes well for the return of other wildlife to the area. Something to look forward to.
BEAR VIDEO NUGGET!!
Hibernating Bears Get Relocated from ABC News
Talk about a RUDE awakening!
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