Series of big quakes mean more on the way?

Reprinted from the Seattle Times of Saturday, April 17:

First came 2004's killer quake and tsunami off Sumatra. Then a year ago, Chile was rocked almost as hard. Now Japan is reeling from its biggest quake in recorded history. The juxtaposition of three of the world's most powerful earthquakes within a span of seven years has some scientists asking the question: Are we in an age of megaquakes? Entire article here.

France's Burqua Ban Goes Into Effect

Is the Libya Mission Really Limited?

Did Obama sugarcoat what is really a more aggressive operation to overthrow the Qaddafi?

NewsHour Extra: News for Students | March 29, 2011 | PBS

NewsHour Extra: Political and Social Unrest Escalates to Violence in Middle East | March 29, 2011 | PBS:

What is the Exit Plan for Libya?

Gadhafi's Exit Remains Central to U.S., Coalition Strategy in Libya: "

Listen to the Audio

"

Obama's Speech on Libya Highlights pt 1

From CBS News

Obama Speech on Libya Highlights - pt 2

From CBS News

Obama Speech on Libya Highlights - Pt 3

From CBS News

CNN - Unions in the Crosshairs

Video from CNN

Airstrikes on Libyan Government Forces Continue

From the NewsHour on PBS

Watch the full episode. See more PBS NewsHour.

Hearings on Radicalization of Muslim Americans

I'm with Congressman Keith Ellison on this one - what do you think? BTW, it was uncovered today, that Congressman Peter King, the chairman of this committee that is calling for these hearings supported the IRA in the 1980's!

Ghadhafi continues the fight; exaggerates his victories

The warring in Libya continues to create tragedy, most of the violence seems to be provoked by Qaddafi's supporters. The following clip is from Anderson Cooper 360 weighs the claims by him.
Which of his claims appear to be false?

CNN doing special reports on modern slavery

CNN is doing a series on modern slavery in today's world.

Below is a segment that aired this week on forced labor (slavery) in India:

Gadhafi's Insanity Continues for Another Day

I hope the international community can muster the cooperation necessary to rid the Libyan people of this man soon.

Who is Moammar Gadhafi?

In my opinion, one of the worst leaders in the world, and he has shown this week that he is willing to slaughter Libyan civilians to keep control of the nation. He gave a really ugly speech early in the week calling on his supporters to attack the protesters. I don't see how he gets out of this mess alive, but how many people will he take down with him in the process.

It seems that if he wasn't mad decades ago, he certainly gone completely mad at this point.

A short profile from PBS:

The New Egypt

From NBC News:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Egypt Protests - Day 17

One of the young leaders of the protest movement had been jailed and released and has begun to get attention from the media. Wael Ghonim, has emerged as an engaging spokesperson for a group, according to the New York Times that includes about 15 other leaders of the so-called youth movement. A video of ____________ and the NY Times has a video of an interview with another protest leader.

In the meanwhile the Mubarak regime is threatening a more violent crackdown, and the Egyptian Vice-President is making a lot of statements that the U.S. and many protesters are interpreting as signs that they are not serious about reforming the political system and making meaningful changes to Egypt's constitution.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Pro and Anti Mubarak Protests

From PBS NewsHour

Clashes Today in Egypt

From the New York Times:

MIllions March, Mubarak Says He Will Not Run Again

It isn't everything the Egyptian protesters want, but after a meeting with a chief U.S. diplomat, Hosni Mubarak, President of Egypt since 1981, has promised not to run in the Presidential election that will take place in late 2011.

This is a good report from PBS, I think the images in the last three minutes or so of the street protesters is something amazing to watch.

Way to Tick Mom Off, Dude....

This sort of parenting, I think we can all agree, is a bit extreme.

In Egypt, Who Does the U.S. Support?

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks on CNN:

Protests in Egypt

A short CNN report dealing with the events of the weekend, and what might happen next:

Colbert's Nazi-Ometer

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Nazi-ometer
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog</a> Video Archive

$10 Million Dollar Settlement Reached

In the case of the plain clothes police officer shoving this guy and injuring him for life. Details at the Seattle Times website.

State of the Union Preview

To be delivered tonight at 6:00 p.m PST.

Protests in Tunisia

The President/Dictator has been overthrown, but the people want more change.

A step toward reforming our criminal justice system

Sometimes ideas that sound good at first, can have a lot of troublesome unintended consequences. Such is the case with our "Three Strikes and You're Out" law.

Local News | Seattle lawmaker's bill would soften '3 strikes' | Seattle Times Newspaper

Disaster averted at MLK event in Spokane?

It is still early in the investigation on this one...

Local News | Backpack bomb found at MLK event rattles Spokane | Seattle Times Newspaper

Local News | Gregoire: Lawmakers need to be 'bold' | Seattle Times Newspaper

Local News | Gregoire: Lawmakers need to be 'bold' | Seattle Times Newspaper: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

Federal judge upholds Wash. top 2 primary system | Seattle Times Newspaper

Local News | Federal judge upholds Wash. top 2 primary system | Seattle Times Newspaper:

The Shooter

From NBC's Today Show:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Rhetoric Tangled Up with Tragedy

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

911 Tapes Capture Horror of Shooting

From NBC News

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Update on Congresswoman Giffords

Brain Trauma & Surgical procedures explained on CBS News

Editorials | Seattle police should welcome federal civil-rights probe | Seattle Times Newspaper

Editorials | Seattle police should welcome federal civil-rights probe | Seattle Times Newspaper

Update on the "lame-duck" Congress

Ah, Congress, let's see what you've been up to:

Nation & World | Add-ons turn tax cut bill into 'Christmas tree' | Seattle Times Newspaper

Unfinished Business - Handy interactive about what is happening with the major bills being considered in the "lame-duck" session of Congress.

A chair and a photo stand in for Liu Xiaobo at Nobel peace prize ceremony

A chair and a photo stand in for Liu Xiaobo at Nobel peace prize ceremony | World news | The Guardian

Clinton Gets Comfortable At White House Podium

Clinton Gets Comfortable At White House Podium

President Obama enlisted the support of Bill Clinton to sell his tax-cut deal Friday. After meeting for two hours, the two presidents spoke to the press in the White House briefing room. It was supposed to be brief, but after 10 minutes Obama excused himself. His predecessor carried on for another 20 minutes. Guy Raz talks with NPR's Don Gonyea, who watched the briefing.

Jobless benefits end for 2 million

Well, it's come to things like this. The Republicans and conservatives in Congress are blocking an extension of unemployment insurance for those that have been out of work more than 99 weeks. Opponents of extending benefits say they don't want to add to the deficit, it will create severe hardships for many (1st article) and could hurt the overall economy as well.

It seems to me that Congress is failing to do what is needed at this difficult economic time.

Holidays about survival as jobless benefits end

Cutting back unemployment benefits would hurt the economy, too

Constitutionality of Taser Use in Hands of Court

Jayzel Mattos, a 39 year-old mother, was shot with a Taser gun by police during a domestic disturbance call.

According to the story published first in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser:

Mattos' will get another hearing on her lawsuit alleging that shooting her with a Taser constituted excessive force in violation of her constitutional rights could help establish standards over the increasing use of the electronic gun by law enforcement here and in other states.

A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals held that Mattos' rights weren't violated, but in a rare move will rehear her case and another involving a Seattle woman who was seven months pregnant when she was stunned by the electronic gun during a traffic stop.

You can read more of the at:
National Constitution Center: News Feed

Controversy over New Airport Security

Have U.S. fliers finally had enough with airport security? Well, at least some are complaining loudly about the newest security measures the Travel Safety Administration (TSA) is implementing.

The focus of the debate is over full-body scanners (which render a semi-nude image of the passenger) and "enhanced pat-downs" .

First a report on the controversy: Pat-Downs at Airports Prompt Complaints

A report in the Nov. 23rd Washington Post claims that despite protests, many are okay with the scanners: Poll: Nearly two-thirds of Americans support full-body scanners at airports.

NPR did some reports you can listen to that I found informative:

TSA Critics Call For Day Of Protest

The head of the TSA says he will reconsider the passenger screening procedures that have created a public backlash, but he warned the public not to expect changes anytime soon. Critics of the new procedures are planning a protest on Wednesday that could lengthen lines and disrupt holiday travel schedules.

TSA Is 'Far Behind The Curve' On Security, Lawmaker Says

Pat-downs and body scans of travelers might catch some of the would-be bombers of past years, says Rep. John Mica (R-FL), but won't stop terrorists intent on putting bombs on cargo planes.

Speech and Harm - NYTimes.com

Speech and Harm - NYTimes.com

Statistics on Poverty that are a national & international embarassment

BBC News - More US households short of food

BBC News - Number of Americans living in poverty 'increases by 4m'

BBC News - Hunger index shows one billion without enough food

The Release of Aung San Suu Kyi - and the story behind it

She is simply one of the great heroes of freedom, democracy, and human rights in the world today. She has won the Nobel Peace Prize for her leadership for non-violent change in Burma/Myanmar even though she has been imprisoned for most of the last two decades.

First, the latest on what the newly freed democracy leader has communicated to her followers:
Suu Kyi tells supporters to work with her for change - CNN.com

Some background on her story:

Suu Kyi: Symbol of hope

updated Sat November 13, 2010

She is small but only in physical stature. Aung San Suu Kyi is the very embodiment of Myanmar's long struggle for democracy.

Another background story from the BBC: BBC News - Profile: Aung San Suu Kyi

An interactive time-line of the troubled nation and the military dictatorship that has ruled the country with an iron fist:
Myanmar's recent history

updated Mon November 8, 2010

Myanmar, which is also known as Burma, has been under military rule since 1962.

The Supreme Court Considers Free Speech and Violent Video Games

Are video games that have extreme depictions of violence subject to 1st Amendment protection or should the government be able to regulate the amount of violence displayed in such games? The Supreme Court took up this case in November. I'd love to know what images they were shown in the Court briefings.

Anyhow, I found a few stories on this case:

The Supreme Court Considers Free Speech and Violent Video Games: A First Step Into the Brave New World of Virtual Reality?

Here is the opinion of one game designer, that thinks such games deserve to be protected by the First Amendment: Why the Supreme Court should rule that violent video games are free speech

For Germans, a good day and a bad day

A horrific attack upon Jews and the fall of the Berlin Wall both came on a November 9th although separated by many decades. How do Germans feel about remembrances on this date? of Nazi Germany are

In Berlin, Recalling Kristallnacht and the Wall - NYTimes.com

Myanmar Votes in Election Controlled by Military

Myanmar Votes in Election Controlled by Military: "Polling places appeared nearly empty as the rest of the city went about its business in the first election in this tightly controlled nation in 20 years.

"

5 reasons Murray bucked trend, got re-elected

The Seattle Times offered these reasons for why Patty Murray was able to win in a year that favored Republicans. Some of this is speculation and some based on hard data, but they all seem like pretty reasonable factors in her election.

Finally, I would add, that as far as politicians go, Patty Murray isn't exciting, but she is a likable sort of person, and her brand of liberalism is a very good fit with western WA.

Local News | 5 reasons Murray bucked trend, got re-elected | Seattle Times Newspaper:

Election worsens WA State's budget problems

Well now what? Is this what voters really wanted in rejecting various tax initiatives?

Part of the problem is that few voters seem to know what kind of government services and programs will be cut when they vote against tax measures.

Take a look and see what you think:

Election worsens state's budget pain | Seattle Times Newspaper: