Week In The News: Immigration, Israel-Palestine And NSA Spying (Tom Ashbrook, On Point)

National anxiety this week, moral angst, political fireworks, over the flood of immigrant children at the border.  An incoming tide of kids, up from Central America, a thousand miles from home, and nobody knows what to do.  Near chaos.  In Israel and the Gaza Strip, rockets and bombs and a hundred  Palestinians dead.  Edge of war.  In Germany, the CIA station chief told to leave in a new American spy scandal.  In Brazil, an epic soccer loss for Brazilians.  And in a cardboard box in closet in Maryland – smallpox.  This hour On Point:  our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines. / Tom Ashbrook

Interview:
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2014/07/11/israel-palestine-iraq-immigration-nsa

Friday News Roundup - Domestic (Diane Rehm Show)

President Barack Obama asks Congress for nearly $4 billion to address the border crisis. The House and Senate move to renew the Highway Trust Fund. And recreational marijuana sales begin in Washington state. Diane and a panel of journalists discuss the week's top U.S. news.
 

Interview:

http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2014-07-11/friday-news-roundup-domestic

 

 

Friday News Roundup - International (Diane Rehm Show)

Fighting escalates between Israel and Hamas. Politicians in Baghdad delay forming a new government. And U.S.-German relations sour over spying allegations. A panel of journalists joins Diane for analysis of the week's top international news stories.

 Interview:

http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2014-07-11/friday-news-roundup-international

 

 

RWW News: Klingenschmitt Says Atheists Are Blind To The Fact They're Demon Possessed

Gordon Klingenschmitt confusingly argues that atheists do not realize they are possessed by the Devil because the Devil blinds them to the fact that they're possessed by the Devil.

http://youtu.be/SzoqZ2xew_Y

RWW News: LaBarbera: Homophobes Are Born That Way

 Peter LaBarbera says homophobia is innate.

http://youtu.be/EpO3N2sKP4E

Real Time with Bill Maher: New Rule - Fill in the Crank (HBO)

http://youtu.be/5ch7U_MWEFU

Judge Rules Florida Illegally Redrew Districts To Benefit GOP

A circuit court judge ruled late Thursday that the Florida legislature illegally redrew the state's congressional districts in 2012 to benefit Republi... Read 

US Records $71 Billion Budget Surplus in June

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. government ran a monthly budget surplus in June, putting it on course to record the lowest annual deficit since 2008. The ... Read more

Union Pulls Support After College Accepts Koch Gift

A powerful government workers' union will end its support for the United Negro College Fund after the group accepted $25 million fro... Read more

A river flows beneath the storm in Iceland. Photo by Aleksandar Gospić. xpost from /r/Island. [1150x770]

Read more

My brother's camp requires the kids write a letter home after the first week

Read more

Global Solar Module Prices Just Reached A Record Low

Spot prices for solar modules around the world hit 63 cents per watt in 2014's second quarter.The post Global Solar Module ... Read more

TRACCI: Six steps to end the border crisis

Congress must use its appropriations power to secure the border.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jul/11/tracci-six-steps-to-end-the-border-crisis/

Guys - What If?

... Read more

Fox's Kelly Allows Breitbrat Shapiro To Attack Obama Administration As 'Jew-Hating'

I'm not sure how much more one-sided the Obama administration would have to be with their support of Israel in the wake of the escalating violence in ... Read more

Judge Invalidates Florida's Congressional Districts Gerrymandered By GOP

The case is expected to be appealed and ultimately decided at the Florida Supreme Court.

... Read more

American Atheists to Launch World's First Atheist TV Channel; Promises 'Superstition-Free Programming'

"There are hundreds of TV channels dedicated to religious programming, but nothing like this has ever existed before for atheists, and yet the demand is overwhelming. For the first time, atheist video content—from firebrand speeches, to stand-up comedy, to documentaries, to real science-based educational programming, and more—is now available to atheists worldwide, on the air and all in one place. Atheist TV brings consistent, quality, superstition-free programming for children and adults, on the air and on-demand, right from your regular television. This is an idea whose time has come and we're celebrating."

http://m.global.christianpost.com/news/american-atheists-to-launch-worlds-first-atheist-tv-channel-promises-superstition-free-programming--123057/

Evangelical Christian clubs coming to Portland-area public schools, opposition says curriculum is 'hardcore fundamentalist indoctrination'

"Hundreds of Portland-area residents are organizing to stop a network of Christian clubs from proselytizing to children on public school campuses.

The Good News Club has been controversial around the country, but Portland may be the first city to organize on such a large scale against the group..."

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2014/07/good_news_club.html

Booklet on Anti-Gay Propaganda a Useful Resource in 'Culture War'

You can read an embedded copy of How They See Us directly on the Scribd site or go to this second site where you can download an Adobe Acrobat copy.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alvin-mcewen/booklet-on-antigay-propag_b_5572329.html

Researchers: 'Ritual' Atheists and Agnostics Could Be Sitting Next to You in Church

"...Those who fall into this category, according to the researchers, are nonbelievers who may have a philosophical appreciation for certain religious teachings, who like being part of a community, who want to stay in touch with their ethnic identity or who simply find beauty in certain religious traditions, symbols or rituals...."

http://m.christianpost.com/news/researchers-ritual-atheists-and-agnostics-could-be-sitting-next-to-you-in-church--99373/

California pastor, 2 others admit they tortured 13-year-old, forced him to dig own grave

The thuggish pastor of a small Southern California church and two of his parishioners tortured a 13-year-old boy who lived at a church-run group home, savagely beating him, grinding salt into his raw wounds and forcing him to dig his own grave.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/calif-pastor-2-plead-guilty-savage-torture-13-year-old-boy-article-1.1858546

Senator Sanders on Republican Obstruction

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) says its time for the U.S. Senate to return to a simple majority to pass any legislation.

http://youtu.be/wwwgVZUhIyI

... And They'll Know We Are Christians When We Sue

Both in opposing gay marriage and in the Obamacare debates, some Christian groups have taken the position of oppressed minority, often casting themselves as helpless victims of state action while they try to deny liberty to others. This is an unappealing Christianity at best, centered on an insistence that others follow the dictates of a certain kind of theology. In the public arena this worldview falls flat in the face of the bare fact that our government and public institutions are dominated by Christians. ... Read more

Americans Are Too Stupid For GMO Labeling, Congressional Panel Says

People who oppose GMOs or want them labeled so that consumers can know what they're eating are alarmists who thrive on fear and ignorance, the panel agreed. Labeling GMO foods would only stoke those fears, and harm a beneficial thing, so it should not be allowed, the lawmakers and witnesses agreed.

... Read more

Lousy Lesson: Atlanta Biology Teacher Faces Backlash Over Offensive Creationist Cartoon

Public school biology students are there to learn sound science. They are not there to receive the opinions of creationists like Anquinette Jones. If Jones can’t – or won’t – do her job, Grady High may soon be in need of a new freshman biology teacher.
... Read more

What Lies Beneath: New Study Bolsters Concerns Over Implications Of Hobby Lobby Ruling

The conclusions aren’t really much of a surprise: the study’s authors found that negative attitudes toward women’s sexual behaviors were inextricably connected to discomfort over the economic independence of women.
... Read more

Deluded Duo: Wisc. and La. Governors Defend ‘School Choice’ Schemes Against Discrimination Charges

Have Walker and Jindal ever stopped to think about why vouchers are always under fire? If the programs were really as great as the two governors claim, then they wouldn’t constantly have to defend them.
... Read more

Study: Anti-Obamacare Ads Might Have Actually Increased Enrollment

"...The millions of dollars being spent in televisions ads that criticize Obamacare might have actually backfired and led to increased enrollment under the health care reform law, according to a study published Wednesday by the Brookings Institution...."
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/brookings-anti-obamacare-ads-enrollment?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews

Survey: Most Republicans Who Bought Obamacare Coverage Like Their Plans

About three-quarters of Republicans who obtained health insurance under Obamacare are satisfied with their coverage, according to a survey published T... Read more

D'Souza: Progressives Pretend To Attack The 1 Percent But Really Attack Immigrants

Dinesh D'Souza, conservative author and filmmaker, on Thursday argued that while progressives seem to attack the wealthiest one percent of Americans, ... Read more

TIL of a new birth control method for men that has had a 100% success rate in test subjects so far.

Developed by an Indian doctor, it works similar to an 'on off' switch, and would afford countless families across the globe an incredibly cheap method to control the size of their families.
Read more

The Toronto skyline submerged in fog

Read more

Isle of Skye , Scotland [OC] (960x720)

Read more

Japan just debuted the world's largest indoor farm

...using LED lights that emit wavelengths optimal for plant growth; The upshot: grows 2.5x faster than outdoors; reduces produce loss from 50% to just 10% and cuts water usage to just 1%
Read more

Sheep Grazing at Torr Head - Northern Ireland [2048x1356] (OC)

Read more

Free Speech Is Whatever These Senators Say It Is

 Several of those who object to any limits on political speech have themselves been long-time supporters of a constitutional ... Read more

People Who Work For Tips Are Twice As Likely To Live In Poverty

Tipped workers can be paid as little as $2.13 an hour and end up making less than the rest of the workforce.The post People Who ... Read more

No, There Are Still No WMDs In Iraq

Despite the headlines, the militant group ISIS hasn't captured usable chemical weapons or nuclear bomb materials.The post No, ... Read more

Ted Cruz Launches Senate Fight To Auction Off America’s Public Lands

Cruz's amendment would require the federal government to transfer excess land to the states or sell it to the highest ... Read more

Health Care Mythbusters

The latest research takes a close, scientific look at the before and after of the first enrollment period and offers a lot of ... Read more

Parents Blast Climate Denial In Schools: ‘You Have To Teach Real Science’

Lawmakers in several states have tried to undermine new national standards for teaching science in schools, largely due to the ... Read more

House Republicans Will Sue Obama Because He’s Not Implementing Obamacare Fast Enough

Republicans did not initially question the legality of the administration's decision to postpone the employer mandate. The post ... Read more

New Internet speed record blows past Google Fiber

"... With speeds of 10 gigabits per second, Bell Labs' technology proved to be 1,000 times faster than traditional broadband speeds. It is even 10 times faster than Google (GOOGL, Tech30) Fiber, which offers the fastest broadband available to consumers..."
Read more

Uninsured rate plummets under Obamacare

Read more

Todd Akin Takes Back Apology For ‘Legitimate Rape’ Comments In New Book

Todd Akin's back and the excerpts from his book were so awful that Joe Scarborough couldn't even bring himself to read all of them aloud in the segmen... Read more

Real Cause of the Border Crisis: Following the Law - A 2008 bill paved the way for this issue

One can’t call the president and his administration lawless on the one hand, then blame them for proper law enforcement on the other.

http://www.newser.com/story/190755/real-cause-of-the-border-crisis-following-the-law.html

Mother and Daughter Claim Christian Sex Ed Classes in Edmonton Public School District Infringe Upon Their Rights

… Emily texted her [mother Kathy] to say the “sex ed” class was being taught by an anti-abortion activist, from the American-based Pregnancy Care Centre.

…

“She did a lot of slut-shaming to the women, and pointed out the guys as horn-dogs,” Emily says. “She really ridiculed single-parent families, she made it sound like they all give birth to juvenile delinquents.”

One classmate, Emily claims, asked about same-sex relationships.

“All those questions were shut down right way. She just said, ‘We’re not here to discuss that.’”

…

The Dawsons’ complaints allege the presenter taught students that 60 per cent of boys carry the HPV sexually transmitted infection under their fingernails, that gonorrhea can kill you in three days, that girls should dress modestly to avoid inflaming boys. The allegations have not been proven.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2014/07/10/mother-and-daughter-claim-christian-sex-ed-classes-in-edmonton-public-school-district-infringe-upon-their-rights/

Supposedly Narrow SCOTUS Hobby Lobby decision getting wide fast

"WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Five Catholic Men who decided the Hobby Lobby case in the Supreme Court assured the country theirs was a “narrow” ruling, one that would only ever apply to closely-held corporations and insurance coverage for female contraception.  Justice Kennedy went so far as to issue a separate concurring opinion just to stress “that the Court’s opinion does not have the breadth and sweep ascribed to it by the respectful and powerful dissent.”
It sure isn’t playing out that way a mere week later. The Court itself has issued another ruling, albeit temporary, related to its Hobby Lobby decision. And arguments about the collision of a newly expanded idea of religious liberty versus other rights are breaking out all over the place..."

http://www.abc2news.com/decodedc/supposedly-narrow-scotus-hobby-lobby-decision-getting-wide-fast

Why Patty Murray is leading the fight to undo birth-control ruling

"WASHINGTON — Taking up advice from the chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., is pushing a legislative fix to override a court decision that blocks access to free contraceptives for some women..."

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2024026881_contraceptivescongressxml.html

What’s the 2014 election really about? Religious vs. women’s rights

"Religious rights versus women’s rights. That’s about as fundamental a clash as you can get in U.S. politics. It’s now at the core of the 2014 election campaign, with both parties girding for battle..."

http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2014/07/10/prepare-for-a-clash-of-fundamentals-in-the-2014-election/

 

With religious exemption, conservatives demand something for nothing

"Should religious organizations be permitted to engage in discriminatory hiring? Historically, the federal government’s default answer to this question has been a pretty firm “no.” Now, in the wake of Hobby Lobby, certain religious leaders are requesting that the default answer be changed to “yes.” And as with Hobby Lobby, the argument for making this change violates conservative principles..."

http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/religious-exemption-conservative-hypocrisy

Roberto Unger: Free Classical Social Theory from Illusions of False Necessity

http://youtu.be/yYOOwNRFTcY

7 Questions About Gay Marriage

"1.

How many judges have to rule in favor of marriage equality before conservative Christians stop referring to their actions as "judicial activism"?

2.

How large of a majority of Americans need to support gay marriage before conservatives stop saying it's the "will of the people" to ban it?

3.

Since when does the Will of the People matter in a court decision anyway? The whole point of the court system is that it's not supposed to be influenced by popular opinion.

4.

How many same-sex couples need to get married before evangelicals change their tune and admit that marriage doesn't need to be restricted to one man and one woman (and that the Bible supports their newfound revelation)?

5.

How many Republican-supported-and-appointed judges have to vote against you before you realize the law isn't on your side?

6.

What other rights do you think people should be allowed to vote on?

7.

Do you think it's fair to impeach every judge who makes a decision you don't agree with? Because if you want to impeach John Roberts because of the Affordable Care Act decision, I'm all for it."

http://youtu.be/O27m5ZOE7Lk

Can You Trust Your Ears? (Audio Illusions)

Should you believe your ears and the things they hear?

http://youtu.be/kzo45hWXRWU

Governors Who Reject Obamacare Will Kill Thousands

obam"On Monday, though, a beautiful study was published in Annals of Internal Medicine that provides some of the best data we have connecting health coverage to saved lives. It's changed my thinking, too. I'm more confident than I was last week that the ACA will save many thousands of lives every year.


Ironically, the study examined the impact of the bipartisan insurance expansion enacted in Massachusetts in 2006—a.k.a. "RomneyCare," which provided the basic model for the ACA. Three of the best researchers in the business—Benjamin Sommers, Sharon Long and Katherine Baicker examined a decade's worth of mortality data in Massachusetts counties, comparing trends to those found in carefully chosen comparison counties in other states. This wasn't a randomized trial, but it was the next best thing, tracking the experiences of hundreds of thousands of people for years before and after the enactment of Massachusetts' reforms.

Here's their bottom-line result: Insurance coverage reduced mortality rates by about 30 percent."

http://youtu.be/ySCxoTcNLYw

What is the World Wide Web? - Twila Camp

The World Wide Web is used every day by millions of people for everything from checking the weather to sharing cat videos. But what is it exactly? Twila Camp describes this interconnected information system as a virtual city that everyone owns and explains how it's organized in a way that mimics our brain's natural way of thinking.

http://youtu.be/J8hzJxb0rpc

Bread and Roses

A free-thinking, taboo-breaking political-social TV magazine in Persian and English broadcast across Iran and the Middle East via illegal satellite dishes.

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/bread-and-roses--2

David Boies & Theodore Olson: "Redeeming the Dream: The Case for Marriage Equality" (Diane Rehm Show)

In 2008, voters in California approved Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment restricting marriage to a man and a woman. Proponents of the law argued it was necessary to protect traditional marriage, while critics believed it violated the civil rights of gay and lesbian people. The legal battle to overturn Proposition 8 was waged by an unlikely pairing: David Boies and Ted Olson, on opposite sides in the Bush v. Gore case, came together in the fight for marriage equality. A behind-the-scenes look at the legal struggle to overturn Proposition 8 and what that victory has meant for same-sex marriage laws around the country.
 

Interview:

http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2014-06-24/david-boies-theodore-olson-redeeming-dream-case-marriage-equality

 

 

Readers' Review: "The Fault In Our Stars" by John Green (Diane Rehm Show)

When Hazel Grace Lancaster meets Augustus Waters there’s an immediate connection. Not only do the two seem perfectly suited for one another -- they also seem like perfectly well-rounded high school kids. But Hazel and Augustus, the main characters in the young adult novel “The Fault In Our Stars,” are not your average teens. They both have cancer and, for their age, spend a lot of time thinking about big life questions like mortality and how their deaths may impact those who love them. It’s heavy stuff but the book has been massively successful with young adults -- and adults alike. For this month’s Readers’ Review guest host Katty Kay discusses the best seller “The Fault In Our Stars” with our panel of experts.
 

Interview:

http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2014-06-25/readers-review-fault-our-stars-john-green

 

 

Bipartisan Efforts to Reduce Government Gridlock and Reform Money in Politics (Diane Rehm Show)

Political gridlock has doubled since the 1950s, and a recent poll shows public approval of Congress is just 16%--an all-time low for a midterm year. This week, a bipartisan commission made up of former state and federal officials, business and academic leaders is out with more than sixty recommendations for how to fix the political process. The commission calls for holding one national primary, instituting a five-day workweek for Congress and appointing independent redistricting commissions to prevent gerrymandering. But critics say the recommendations don’t go far enough to address serious, campaign finance problems. Guest host Susan Page and a panel discuss new bipartisan efforts to reduce government gridlock and the influence of big donors.
 

Interview:

http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2014-06-26/bipartisan-efforts-reduce-government-gridlock-and-reform-money-politics

 

 

America’s Diabetes Surge (Tom Ashbrook, On Point)

If diabetes were an infectious disease, the media would be going crazy over it.  Twenty-nine million American adults affected.  The numbers surging, up another nine percent since 2010.  Terrible risks:  stroke, blindness, kidney failure, amputation.  Cost to the US economy – nearly $250 billion a year.  But diabetes isn’t infectious.  Type 1, just five percent of cases, comes on in childhood.  Type 2 – the big numbers – is practically a lifestyle disease.  Poor diet, obesity, lack of exercise – and millions are at risk.  This hour On Point:  America’s diabetes boom, and what to do about it. /Tom Ashbrook

Interview:
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2014/06/18/type-1-diabetes-type-2-artificial-pancreas

The 'Invisible' Workers Keeping Our World Running (tom Ashbrook, On Point)

Everybody’s a personal “brand-builder” these days.  Working social media.  Tending the Facebook page.  Hitting Twitter.  Well, not everybody.  We can’t all be celebrities – and some don’t want to be self-promoters.  My guest this hour David Zweig is writing about what he calls the “invisibles.”  If that sounds like superheroes, maybe they are.  But they’re not looking for public recognition.  They’re the engineers and anesthesiologists, craftsmen and women, techs and tuners who make everything work.  For the love of the work, not fame.  This hour On Point:  unsung heroes – the “invisibles.” /Tom Ashbrook

Interview:
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2014/06/17/invisible-anonymous-workers-fact-checkers

The Rise Of Robots In Our Everyday Lives (Tom Ashbrook, On Point)

Human imagination got so far out front, so fast, on robots that robot reality has been vaguely disappointing for a long time.  Isaac Asimov and “WALL-E” and the Terminator put our real robots to shame.  They still do.  But things are changing.  Sensors and chips and AI and mechanics and “the cloud” are coming together to push robot dreams and reality into new terrain.  There is need – we have aging societies that could use the help.  There is risk – talk of jobs lost to robots and “killer robots.”  And there is reality – they’re moving in.  This hour On Point:  the rise of the robots. / Tom Ashbrook

Interview:
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2014/06/18/robots-emotions-ai-killer-robots

Amazon's Fire Phone Enters The Smartphone Wars (Tom Ashbrook, On Point)

Amazon, out with its Fire phone last week. Six cameras. A 3D-ish screen. And above all, designed to let you shop ‘til you drop. Point this camera at just about any product or movie or let it hear any song and it will identify and sell you that product, pretty much instantly. If that’s what you want in a smartphone, Amazon is ready to deliver. Of course, Apple and Google and Samsung and more have their own dreams for your smartphone. And they’re all about a lot more than phone calls. This hour On Point: smartphones and mobile computing taking over the world.

Interview:
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2014/06/23/amazon-fire-smartphone

Private Stocks And 'Dark Pools' In American Finance (Tom Ashbrook, On Point)

We don’t want to be “shocked, shocked” that the US stock market is not kindergarten.  That just maybe not everything is perfectly fair and clean and open at every moment.  We get that.  On the other hand, Wall Street is supposed to be the great engine of American investment.  And it is where an awful lot of people’s savings – one way or another – end up.  College savings.  Retirements.  And they expect the system not to be rigged.  But maybe it is.  Everybody’s talking “dark pools” these days.  This hour On Point:  Wall Street’s “dark pools” – where you don’t know what’s going on. / Tom Ashbrook

Interview:
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2014/06/26/sec-dark-pools-high-speed-trading

Religious Trauma Syndrome - Episode 71 (Living After Faith)

Dr. Marlene Winell joins us for a discussion of Religious Trauma Syndrome and PTSD.

Interview:
http://livingafterfaith.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-intensity-of-rose-cross-episode-71.html