DN Speak: 1/4/15

Saturday, January 10, 2015

After Surprising Defeat, House GOP Vows To Make A Second Run At Relaxing Wall Street Reform

WASHINGTON -- House Republicans, dealt a surprising defeat Wednesday evening in their effort to roll back Wall Street reform, decided Thursday to make... Read more

Yes, It’s Cold. Global Warming Is Still Real.

The most meaningful thing that this U.S. cold snap proves is that it is winter.The post Yes, It's Cold. Global Warming Is ... Read more

George Will Gets It Exactly Backward On Climate Change

There are two types of George Will columns. The first are simply wrong. The second manage to get things exactly backwards. ... Read more

Less Than 2 Percent Of Terrorist Attacks In The E.U. Are Religiously Motivated

Despite the fact that religiously motivated attacks are a tiny fraction of all the terrorist attacks carried out, they are ... Read more

Two Infants Too Young For Vaccinations Contract Measles From Unvaccinated People At Disneyland

Nine cases of the highly contagious virus have been confirmed so far in people who recently visited the tourist destination -- ... Read more

Marco Rubio Slams Florida Court For Permitting Marriage Equality

According to Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), the court's job is to agree with him.The post Marco Rubio Slams Florida Court For ... Read more

The many superpowers of Apple's Preview app, part 2

Last week's Creaticity column revealed several superpowers of Apple's free Preview app, such as removing an image's ... Read more

Elizabeth Warren: "America's Middle Class Is In Deep Trouble."

Elizabeth Warren gave a barnstormer of a speech this morning at the AFL-CIO's National Summit on Raising Wages, and brought the crowd to their feet: ... Read more

How Jesus Became God, with guest Bart D. Ehrman (Reasonable Doubts)

How did Jesus, an apocalyptic prophet from Galilee, come to be regarded as a God by his followers? Bart D. Ehrman (Professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill) joins us on the show to discuss his new book How Jesus Became God, which traces the historical evolution of early Christian thought about the nature and identity of Jesus.
Interview:
http://freethoughtblogs.com/reasonabledoubts/2014/07/25/episode-130-how-jesus-became-god-with-guest-bart-d-ehrman/

New GOP Congress Launches First Missile At Social Security

Here we go, folks! First stop, gutting Social Security. You knew it was coming, and Republicans just set out the carving knives. TPM: The incoming G... Read more

Why many Americans hold false beliefs about WMDs in Iraq and Obama's birth place

Some 61 percent of American voters surveyed believe in at least one political conspiracy theory, according to a Fairleigh Dickinson University poll. W... Read more

An iceberg off the coast of Kulusuk, Greenland

Penn and Teller - "Bullshit - Holier than Thou"

Penn and Teller take on the lives of folks such as Gandhi, Dalai Lama, and Mother Teresa.
Interview:
http://youtu.be/o6voAW_Go5Y

Mother Teresa: Hell's Angel [1994] (Christopher Hitchens)

In 1994, three years before her death, journalist Christopher Hitchens made this documentary asking if Mother Teresa's reputation was deserved. Interview:
http://youtu.be/76_qL6fiyDw

A foggy morning during our hike of The Long Trail in Vermont [OC] [3107x1864]

Inside The GOP's Long Game To Ignite A New Battle Over Social Security

"Our follow up inside look at the GOP's new long game to manufacture a funding crisis over Social Security. A big, big deal..." Read more

The Birth Control Evangelists Who Want To Talk To You About Their IUDs

Why more people are having public conversations about one of the most effective forms of contraception out there.The post The ... Read more

Anonymous declares war over Charlie Hebdo attack

In a video posted on YouTube, the group of hackers said they would track down websites and social media networks linked to terrorists, and take them down...
Read more

Record Number Of Americans Identified As Liberal In 2014

Twenty-four percent of Americans now consider themselves liberal, although that number still lags behind conservatives. The ... Read more

Friday, January 9, 2015

Week In The News: French Terror Attack, A New Congress, Extreme Winter (Tom Ashbrook, On Point)

The agony of France, above all in the news this week. Massacre in the heart of Paris. Of cartoonists and more. Alleged roots in al Qaeda. Manhunt, fear and defiance. In Washington, a Republican majority holds all of Congress now, House and Senate. John Boehner crushes a challenge. Mitch McConnell looks at the Keystone pipeline, immigration, spending, and presidential veto threats. In New York, police turn their backs on a mayor and arrest numbers plummet. And it is cold all over. Big chill. This hour On Point: our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines. / Tom Ashbrook
Interview:
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2015/01/09/charlie-hebdo-winter-weather-gop-congress

Friday News Roundup – Domestic (Diane Rehm Show)

The jobless rate in the U.S. falls to the lowest level since June 2008 as the economy added 252,000 jobs last month. The White House threatens to veto top priority legislation of the new Republican controlled Congress, including the Keystone XL pipeline. The House passes a measure to change the Affordable Care Act. President Obama announces plans for tuition-free community college. Jeb Bush ramps up a political operation for a possible 2016 presidential run. And U.S. reaction to the Paris terror attack. A panel of journalists joins Diane for analysis of the week’s top national news stories.
Interview:
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2015-01-09/friday_news_roundup_domestic

Friday News Roundup – International (Diane Rehm Show)

France mourns the deaths of 12 people killed in a terrorist attack at a satirical weekly. French authorities seek to piece together what led to the killings and the extent, if any, of outside involvement. There are growing concerns over the economic health of the Eurozone nations. Mexico’s president makes an official call on the White House for talks on immigration, drug violence and trade. Iran’s supreme leader warns that the U.S. cannot be trusted to lift sanctions in a nuclear deal. And the FBI’s director says there’s little doubt North Korea was behind the hacking of Sony. A panel of journalists joins Diane for analysis of the week’s top international news stories.
Interview:
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2015-01-09/friday_news_roundup_international

No Shirt, No Shoes, No Gays: Virginia Law Would Allow Businesses to Discriminate

"...if a Virginia barber doesn’t want to cut a gay person’s hair, it would be totally fine. It would also be legal for a doctor to refuse to treat a lesbian patient because she’s in a same-sex relationship. Businesses could put up signs prohibiting gay customers, and college professors would be allowed to refuse to teach gay students, according to Greg Nevins, a lawyer for the LGBT rights organization Lambda Legal, who fought Virginia’s same-sex marriage ban last year..."
http://www.takepart.com/article/2015/01/08/no-gays-allowed-virginia-law-would-make-it-legal-almost-all-businesses

Religious Freedom Day event on hold in dispute over Satanic coloring book

"ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — In about a week, students in Orange County high schools could have been picking up Bibles or pamphlets about atheism on nationally recognized Religious Freedom Day, but it’s all on hold for now because of concerns fueled by a coloring book from the Satanic Temple..."
http://www.news965.com/news/news/local/religious-freedom-day-event-hold-orange-county-hig/njjpN/#__federated=1

Atheist parents take on Christian ‘Good News Club’ with ‘Better News Club’

"A group of atheists in Rochester, N.Y., has bad news for the Good News Club, a Christian after-school club for children.

The group, consisting of atheists, humanists and skeptics, announced its own after-school program: a Young Skeptics club featuring science, logic and learning activities..."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/atheist-parents-take-on-christian-good-news-club-with-better-news-club/2015/01/08/3487b884-9766-11e4-8385-866293322c2f_story.html

Republicans Introduce Five Anti-Abortion Bills In First Days Of New Congress

"The Republican Congress is like Groundhog's Day," said Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America. "Just as they did in 2010, anti-choice Republicans hid their agenda on the campaign trail by promising to work to address the economy or the numerous other issues. But the Republican leadership can only hide their true colors and real priorities for a nanosecond once Congress convenes."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/08/republicans-abortion_n_6438522.html

Catholic Cardinal: Feminism Ruined The Church, And Boys Need To Tell Priests Self-Pleasure Stories

This former St. Louis Archbishop wants women to know that their demand for "rights" is destroying the Catholic Church, and ... Read more

Thursday, January 8, 2015

The Damn Commandments

"Dennis Prager's "university" made another video wherein he says a whole lot of things that are just laughably wrong. It is bad enough that he thinks the ten commandments are real and significant, but then he said that no one could determine anything by evidence; we need 'authorities' instead. But when he started talking about what atheists acknowledged or needed to admit, I couldn't help myself anymore; I had to post a reply."
http://youtu.be/8u3z69YpLx0

Why Won't the Media Call Out Republicans?

http://youtu.be/7OX_S2x5HyI

Dems Respond To McConnell Taking Credit For Economic Growth: 'Hahahahahahahahahahaha'

The way Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) sees it, recent good news on the American economy is directly linked to the fact that there's a ... Read more

VIDEO: Republican Governor Caught On Tape Demolishing The Legal Case Against Obamacare

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) spent "nearly two years" studying the Affordable Care Act. What he discovered was that the ... Read more

Congress Introduces A National Abortion Ban On Its Very First Day Back

Republicans are wasting no time following through on the anti-abortion agenda the GOP laid out after winning significant gains ... Read more

Republican Congress Launches With Back-Door Attack On Social Security Benefits

A showdown over Social Security is almost inevitable after Republicans used their first day in Congress to prohibit a routine ... Read more

Denmark Sets World Record For Wind Power Production

In 2014 Denmark got 39.1 percent of its overall electricity from wind. The post Denmark Sets World Record For Wind Power ... Read more

What Muslims Really Believe About Cartoons Of Muhammad

"...Obviously much of religion is an exercise in interpretation, but the decision to brutally murder journalists over a cartoon flies in the face of most historical interpretations of Islam..." Read more

Where Is The 24-Hour News Cycle On The Bomb At A Colorado NAACP?

A ThinkProgress search found that of the three major cable news networks, only CNN made a passing mention of a bomb at NAACP's ... Read more

Senator Credits Day-Old Republican Congress With Last Year’s Economic Growth

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell claims the economic uptick coincides with the anticipation of a newly elected Republican ... Read more

Coal Companies Are Selling Coal To Themselves To Get More Government Subsidies

It's being described as a fundamental shift in how the coal industry does business.The post Coal Companies Are Selling Coal To ... Read more

Elizabeth Warren: 8 ways to restore the middle class

Ronald Reagan's trickle down economic theory -- that a growing economy would benefit all -- has failed the middle class, she told the crowd. Since 1980, 90% of Americans saw zero income growth...
Read more

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Republican-led House to vote on diluting financial regulations - One America News Network

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The House of Representatives expects to vote Wednesday on legislation retooling a series of financial regulations, an early sign that Republican leaders will attack President Barack Obama’s Wall Street reforms this year.

http://www.oann.com/republican-led-house-to-vote-on-diluting-financial-regulations/

5 Easy Ways You Can Advocate for Trans Rights Right Now

Following the awful suicide of teenager Leelah Alcorn, seemingly because her family would not accept her trans identity, we’re all asking ourselves how we can make life better for trans teens. Fellow Care2 writers have already had some great thoughts on this, but I wanted to contribute some specific actions we can take today that are easy and could lead to meaningful change.
http://www.care2.com/causes/5-easy-ways-you-can-advocate-for-trans-rights-right-now.html

How I help transgender teens become who they want to be

Puberty is an awkward time for just about everybody, but for transgender teens it can be a nightmare, as they grow overnight into bodies they aren't comfortable with. In a heartfelt talk, endocrinologist Norman Spack tells a personal story of how he became one of the few doctors in the US to treat minors with hormone replacement therapy. By staving off the effects of puberty, Spack gives trans teens the time they need. (Filmed at TEDxBeaconStreet.)
https://www.ted.com/talks/norman_spack_how_i_help_transgender_teens_become_who_they_want_to_be?language=en

The Christian Beheading Conveniently Ignored by Fox News

Apparently, without a Muslim suspect under arrest for the beheading, Fox News wasn't interested. ... Read more

Republicans Fight High-Speed Rail

http://youtu.be/iW4celm3GtA

The New Republican Attack on Social Security Starts Now!

"Republican opponents of Social Security have not wasted even a single day in their plan to dismantle Social Security brick by brick. What should be a dry, mundane exercise -- the adoption of new rules by the newly convening House of Representatives -- has turned into a stealth attack on America's working families..."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nancy-altman/the-new-republican-attack_b_6425380.html

Dominionist 'Passion' Cult Seeks More Publicity On Fox News

Dominionist Millennials want coverage of their stadium-sized, cult gatherings. These are the breeding grounds of future Gohmerts and Bachmanns.
Read more

"Governor Ultrasound Is Prison Bound!" by Old Fart Rants

http://youtu.be/K4NCje7rbdo

The Republicans’ Sneaky Plan To Make It Much Easier To Pass Massive Tax Cuts For The Rich

If a vote to use "dynamic scoring" passes, it could pave the way for big tax cuts that don't have to be paid for.The post The ... Read more

Scientists Say 77 Ohio Earthquakes Were Caused By Fracking

This is the first time a study has linked an earthquake large enough to be felt by humans to fracking.The post Scientists Say ... Read more

Conservatives Admit The Truth On Indiana ‘Religious Liberty’ Bill

It's no secret that Indiana lawmakers want to make anti-LGBT discrimination legal across the state.The post Conservatives Admit ... Read more

Conservatives Realize Their Proposed Obamacare ‘Fixes’ Won’t Actually Fix Anything

The latest GOP effort to amend Obamacare is getting some unexpected pushback from the right.The post Conservatives Realize ... Read more

Four Finder timesavers every smart Mac user should know | Macworld

For some users, “organizing files” in the Finder begins and ends with creating folders and moving files into them. But there are a bunch of other things you can do to manage your files in OS X that, whatever your workflow, will make things way easier.
http://www.macworld.com/article/2461480/four-finder-timesavers-every-smart-mac-user-should-know.html

Top tips for working with the Mac's menu bar

To start out your new year I thought I'd remind you of (or, possible reveal, if this is new to you) a handful of menu bar ... Read more

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Legal Scholar Calls for ‘Fetal Rescue Programs’ to End Abortion Debate

...That solution, as he sees it, is what he calls a “fetal rescue” program, in which the state bears the burden and expenses of gestating the terminated pregnancy, including the burden and expense related to caring for any live birth that results. Here’s Giles’ proposal:

It [fetal rescue program] puts the woman in what we might call the gestate-or-relinquish dilemma: carry the fetus to term or relinquish it to the state prior to viability for attempted rescue via AW [artificial womb]. The gestate-or-relinquish dilemma can best be characterized as a pre-viability, pre-natal version of the raise-or-relinquish dilemma. Like its post-natal analogue, it frustrates the woman’s interest in ensuring the death of the fetus. If she opts not to carry the fetus to term, she must relinquish it to the state, and if AW succeeds, her biological child will be raised by others.

http://rhrealitycheck.org/article/2015/01/05/legal-scholar-calls-fetal-rescue-programs-end-abortion-debate/