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Obama Quietly Backs Renewing Patriot Act Surveillance Provisions

IPS News. November 24, 2009.
Three contentious provisions are scheduled to expire next month; opponents of these sections have been pushing to roll them back. But Obama seems ready to renew them.

Obama Will Announce 34,000-Troop Escalation in Afghanistan 'Within Days'

Agence France Presse. November 24, 2009.
Obama faces a U.S. public sharply divided on the war and calls from some Democratic allies to set a flexible timetable for withdrawal.

Did American Commandos Slaughter Afghan Civilians in Bala Murghab? Residents Say Yes.

Institute for War and Peace Reporting. November 24, 2009.
Residents of Takht-e-Bazaar say U.S. commandos landed in their area on November 6 and began shooting indiscriminately during a search for missing U.S. troops.

Why Can't We Look Away From Sarah Palin?

AlterNet. November 24, 2009.
She's an incompetent has-been. Yet she keeps getting our attention. Is it that she embodies a set of contradictions that many women grapple with?

Blackwater's Secret War in Pakistan Revealed

The Nation. November 24, 2009.
An elite division of Blackwater plans targeted assassinations of suspected Taliban and Al Qaeda operatives in Pakistan. And everyone's denying it.

10 Tips for a Sustainable Thanksgiving

Takepart. November 24, 2009.
Here's what you need to know, from tips on a meatless meal to options for a humanely raised turkey to having diversity on your actual dinner table.

Is the House's Health Bill Really Worse than Nothing?

AlterNet. November 24, 2009.
Some progressive opponents of the health care bill say it's so bad, we may as well drop it. That analysis ignores the millions of Americans who stand to get coverage.

Feeling Nervous? 3,000 Behavior Detection Officers Will Be Watching You at the Airport This Thanksgiving

AlterNet. November 24, 2009.
Nearly 100,000 passengers were pulled aside by TSA behavior watchers last year, and it remains to be proven whether you can spot terrorists by the looks on their faces.

The Obama Speech America Is Dying to Hear: "This Administration Ended, Rather Than Extended, Two Wars"

Tomdispatch.com. November 23, 2009.
Any day now, Obama will make an announcement about the number of soldiers he wants in Afghanistan. Here's the speech he should give.

Are We Really 'Withdrawing' from Bush's Wars? Quietly, US Constructs Even More Bases in the Mideast

Tomdispatch.com. November 23, 2009.
The news is focused on a future U.S. withdrawal from Iraq -- but the withdrawal isn't to send the military presence home -- it's into bases across the Persian Gulf.

Why the New Breast Cancer Guidelines Are Racist

The Loop. November 23, 2009.
Black women get breast cancer at younger ages, but the new breast-cancer guidelines entirely ignore that fact. This is the very definition of institutionalized racism.

The Story of 500 Years of Global Greed and Misery

IPS News. November 23, 2009.
"The End of Poverty?", a documentary by Philippe Diaz, paints a lurid picture of globalization's role in the First World/Third World rift.

What Denying Unauthorized Immigrants Health Insurance Will Cost You

AlterNet. November 23, 2009.
Call it a "nativist tax."

Labor Against the War Shifting Sights to Afghanistan Occupation

Labor Notes. November 23, 2009.
Because of domestic issues like health care reform, many unions have remained silent about Afghanistan. That's about to change.

Why Is Malcolm Gladwell So Successful?

The Nation. November 23, 2009.
Good writing succeeds or fails on the strength of its ability to engage you, to make you think, to give you a glimpse into someone else's head.

Just When You Thought It Was Safe: 3 Potential Obstacles to Health-Care Reform

AlterNet. November 23, 2009.
Harry Reid may have gotten the Senate to move his health-care bill forward, but a handful of conservative Democrats could still keep the bill from getting a final vote.

Why Do Conservatives Love Sarah Palin? Because She Never Stops Whining

True/Slant. November 23, 2009.
Sarah Palin constantly complains about the imaginary injustices done to her person. And our country loves whiners.

5 Bad Things That Immediately Happen to Your Body When You Eat Sugary Junk

Divine Caroline. November 23, 2009.
Sugary food tastes great going down, but the effects it has on our insides are far less appetizing.

Will There Be Justice for the Victims of El Salvador's Jesuit Massacre?

AlterNet. November 23, 2009.
El Salvador's President Funes has affirmed his commitment to seeking the full truth of the military's role in the massacre.

The War on Weed: Marijuana Is Basically Harmless -- The Monumentally Stupid Drug War Is Not

Hightower Lowdown. November 23, 2009.
The war on marijuana is insane; our officials keep sacrificing tax dollars, lives, civil liberties, and their own credibility in this misguided and losing effort.

Barbara Ehrenreich: Our Maniacal Optimism Is Ruining the World

In These Times. November 23, 2009.
Many people are not getting by. The human species faces dire ecological threats. Pretending everything will be OK helped get us into this mess, and it won't get us out.

The Memory Scrub About Why Ft. Hood Happened Is Almost Complete ... If It Weren't for Archives

AlterNet. November 23, 2009.
That Maj. Hasan tried to get a military discharge before the massacre is largely being erased -- we're supposed to keep focusing on the Muslim part.

When Sex Hurts, and No One Can Tell You Why: The Mysterious Condition Called Vulvodynia

AlterNet. November 22, 2009.
Imagine a choice between no intercourse or sex with unbearable pain. Then imagine that no doctor knows how to fix it. That's the world occupied by women with vulvodynia.

Hot Mormon Muffins and Models for Jesus: What's With All the Sexy Christians?

SeXis Magazine. November 22, 2009.
The weaving of assertive sexuality and assertive spirituality is bizarre, untried terrain. Is it hypocritical for Christians to flaunt their assets in a flirtatious way?

15 Signs American Society Is Coming Apart at the Seams

Amped Status. November 21, 2009.
Are we nearing a tipping point as rapacious elites push a heavily armed populace too far?

Naomi Klein: 'No Logo' Revisited

Picador Press. November 21, 2009.
In the new introduction to the re-release of her classic book, 'No Logo,' Klein explores how ad culture has thrived and adapted in the past decade.

Is Right-Wing Media Hustler Trying to "Blackmail" Obama's Attorney General over ACORN Videos?

Raw Story. November 21, 2009.
Andew Breitbart appears to be threatening to release more ACORN smear videos to avoid a serious DOJ investigation.

Dobbs' Resignation Was Long Overdue

AlterNet. November 21, 2009.
My problems with Dobbs surfaced more than two years ago, during the debate over the last version of immigration reform.

The War on Soy: Why the 'Miracle Food' May Be a Health Risk and Environmental Nightmare

AlterNet. November 21, 2009.
Vegetarians aren't the only ones who should be concerned; there's soy in just about everything you eat these days -- including hamburgers, mac 'n cheese and salad dressing.

20 Weird, Crazy Ideas for Helping the Earth

WebEcoist. November 21, 2009.
Many ideas for stemming environmental catastrophe have turned out to be impossible, dangerous, or just … ridiculous.

Army Sends Mom to Afghanistan, Infant to Protective Services

AlterNet. November 21, 2009.
"This would do irreparable harm to her child. I think they are doing this to punish her."

Maddow: Anti-Muslim 'McCarthyism' Making Us Less Safe

Raw Story. November 20, 2009.
Wave of prejudice among Republican politicians may actually be frustrating anti-terrorism efforts Maddow says.

New Right-Wing Craze: Using Bible Quote to Pray That Obama’s 'Days Be Few'

Think Progress. November 20, 2009.
A new slogan is making its way onto t-shirts and even teddy bears: 'Pray for Obama: Psalm 109:8,' which reads, 'Let his days be few; and let another take his office.”

'The Things We Do to Make It Home' -- Novel Takes Us Back to Soldiers' Horrors of Vietnam

AlterNet. November 20, 2009.
Author Beverly Gologorsky explores the tragic, scarring experiences for Vietnam vets in her new novel, and discusses the parallels she sees in Iraq and Afghanistan.

What if People Actually Treated Religion as Just a Metaphor (Like Trekkies and Secular Jews)?

AlterNet. November 20, 2009.
It's possible to keep the good parts of religion -- like the music, rituals and pageantry -- and get rid of the sex-hating dogma, the belief in god and other troublesome aspects.

Reagan Didn't End the Cold War -- Leftist Intellectuals Did

AlterNet. November 20, 2009.
Reagan was inspirational, but to claim he defeated Communism is a disservice to the millions of Eastern Europeans who struggled against great odds for their freedom.

Hey Guys, Don't Want Kids? A Vasectomy Is Probably the Way to Go

RH Reality Check. November 20, 2009.
Historically, the burden of family planning has almost always fallen on women. Isn't it about time for that to change?

Why Is Congress Demonizing an Investigation of Israel's War Crimes in Gaza?

Bill Moyers Journal. November 20, 2009.
Recognition of human rights expert Richard Goldston's investigation is essential to the peace process in Israel and Palestine -- and the Congress is trying to demonize it.

Pharmaceutical Giant Paid $500,000 to Psychiatrist Who Used Chicago's Poor as Guinea Pigs

ProPublica. November 20, 2009.
Dr. Michael Reinstein reaped a cool half million off his patients' misery.

Economic Crisis Is Getting Bloody -- Violent Deaths Are Now Following Evictions, Foreclosures and Job Losses

AlterNet. November 20, 2009.
Despite ever rosier economic predictions and a surging stock market, the body count from the economic crisis is destined only to grow in the weeks and months ahead.

8 Steps Obama Could Take to Save Food

AlterNet. November 19, 2009.
No longer are our families guaranteed a healthy livelihood, not in the face of the current rates of cancer, diabetes, obesity, Alzheimers and allergies. We need a new food system.

Is Obama's Latest Agriculture Nominee a Textbook Pesticide-Pusher?

Mother Jones. November 19, 2009.
Obama recently tapped as chief agricultural negotiator for the office of the US Trade Representative a senior executive from one of the pesticide industry's main trade groups.

Organizers Fire up Grassroots for Immigration Reform Fight Ahead

AlterNet. November 19, 2009.
Organizers are putting together a series of “house parties” after the White House said it was preparing to push Congress on immigration reform early in 2010.

Iraq Throws Obama a Curve Ball, Key 2010 Elections in Peril

AlterNet. November 19, 2009.
Obama has muddied the waters in his response to the current election crisis.

Forty Years After Its First Episode, Sesame Street Is Still Saving the World

Miller-McCune.com. November 19, 2009.
Thanks to lots of research (and, of course, to Jim Henson's genius), Sesame Street continues to aid in early childhood development.

Poseidon's Financial Shell Game: Why Is a Private Desalination Plant Asking for Public Money?

Pacific Institute. November 19, 2009.
After years of claiming that they needed no public support to build this plant, this claim has finally been proven false.

Rachel Maddow Interview with Former Evangelist Frank Schaeffer: Christian Right Is 'Trolling for Assassins'

AlterNet. November 19, 2009.
Schaeffer: "There is a crazy fringe [receiving] messages that have been pouring out of FOX News ... talking about doing away with Obama, asking God to kill him."

Do Yearly Mammograms Save Women's Lives?

Health Beat. November 19, 2009.
Controversial new recommendations on breast cancer prevention have caused a stir in the women's health community. But do yearly mammograms really change death rates?

How Limousine Liberals, Water Oligarchs and Even Sean Hannity Are Hijacking Our Water Supply

AlterNet. November 19, 2009.
A group of water oligarchs engineered a disastrous privatization scheme to make a fortune out of California's most precious natural resource.

Modern Life Is Probably Screwed by Peak Oil, But It's Not Too Late to Avoid Mass Starvation

Monbiot.com. November 19, 2009.
The challenge of feeding 7 or 8 billion people while oil supplies are falling is stupefying. It'll be even greater if governments keep pretending that it isn't going to happen.

World's Biggest Polluters Strike a Deal: U.S. and China Agree to Comprehensive Clean Energy and Climate Plan

Climate Progress. November 18, 2009.
The overall plan is much more ambitious in scope and depth than anticipated.

Thanks to GM, People Are Being Displaced So Their Forests Can Become Offsets for SUVs

Mother Jones. November 18, 2009.
Should we focus on industries paying to preserve distant trees rather than reducing emissions closer to home? It's the question of the day in Washington and Copenhagen.

Is House Health Care Bill a Threat to Our Constitution?

Americans United for Separation of Church and State. November 18, 2009.
The House health-care bill isn't just a threat to women's rights; with the Stupak amendment, it's a breach of the Constitution.

Is California's New Water Legislation Better Than Nothing?

Pacific Institute. November 18, 2009.
Despite the happy face being put on by some of the bill's supporters, including Governor Schwarzenegger, I doubt anyone is truly happy with the end result.

Mystery of World's Worst Mass Arsenic Poisoning Finally Solved

AFP. November 18, 2009.
The culprit are tens of thousands of man-made ponds excavated to provide soil for flood protection.

Fresh Food From Small Spaces: A Beginner's Guide to Urban Farming

Chelsea Green Publishing. November 18, 2009.
You don't need a red barn and rolling wheat fields. Urbanites, too, can grow their own food indoors, in cramped spaces, and without access to land! For real.

Pick the Most Influential Progressives. Fill Out Our Survey. Maybe Win a Prize!

AlterNet. November 18, 2009.
We're eager to hear what you love, and what you might want to change about AlterNet.

Hightower: Obscenely Rich Bankers Claim to Do God's Work -- They Can Go to Hell

AlterNet. November 18, 2009.
Top executives were initially hurt by the public's moral outrage. But their sense of entitlement quickly kicked in, and now they claim they're the good guys.

An Inside Look at Nepotism and Corruption in Karzai's Afghanistan

Tomdispatch.com. November 18, 2009.
An eye-opening inside look at how the system of nepotism and corruption in Afghanistan actually works.

Still No Justice for Priests in Notorious El Salvador Massacre 20 Years Later

AlterNet. November 18, 2009.
In 1989, six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her daughter, were brutally murdered in El Salvador. Two decades later, the extent of U.S. complicity remains largely unspoken.

Anti-Abortion Group to Protest Palin

Mother Jones Online. November 18, 2009.
To liberals, she epitomizes the anti-choice far right of the GOP. But to American Right to Life, Sarah Palin is not pure enough.

U.S. Immigration Policies: Still Racist After All These Years

ColorLines RaceWire. November 18, 2009.
We can argue about the nuances of immigration reform all we want. But the real conversation begins when -- and only when -- we acknowledge elements of structural racism.

U.S. Christian Right Activists Pushing Death Penalty for Homosexuals in Poor African State

IPS News. November 18, 2009.
Some believe a slew of new, homophobic laws are an attempt to preserve Uganda's shaky patriarchy.

A Year After the 2008 Election Galvanized Young Voters and Organizers, Where Are They Now?

The Nation. November 17, 2009.
Getting to the bottom of who the "Yes We Can" generation really is.

When It’s Crunch Time at College, Students Turn to Adderall

Miller-McCune.com. November 17, 2009.
Can ADHD stimulants like Adderall be the answer for college students looking to increase academic performance? They think so.

NYC 9/11 Trial Will Shine the Lights on the Roots of Terrorism

Consortium News. November 17, 2009.
As Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and the other alleged 9/11 conspirators go to trial, the corporate media's embargo on the truth about the Bush years will be under great strain.

An Open Letter to Harry Reid: Here's How to Cut Health Care Costs

Robert Reich's Blog. November 17, 2009.
Nobody said this would be easy. But passing the health reform that America deserves involves a little political muscle.

For 12-Year-Old Without an Arm, Insurance Has Run Out

The Huffington Post Investigative Fund. November 17, 2009.
12 year old Benjamin French lives in one of 33 states where insurance companies are allowed to set annual and lifetime caps on prosthetic coverage.

Why Can't Prosecutors Even Come Close to Taking Down Wall Street Thugs?

Too Much: A Commentary on Excess and Inequality. November 17, 2009.
As the big bank bonus grab shifts into overdrive, doing "God's work" has never seemed so lucrative.

Passive Solar Technique: Let Nature Heat Your Home

Chelsea Green Publishing. November 17, 2009.
Solar saves money, benefits the planet and makes for a comfortable house that requires little in the name of back-up fuel.

Supremes Hear Case Hinging on Immigrants' Right to Get Cases Reviewed in Fed Courts

Immigration Impact. November 17, 2009.
The case may hinge on a technical matter, but the case highlights an important legal principle.

Is BPA, a Chemical Commonly Found in Food Containers, Ruining Your Sex Life?

AlterNet. November 17, 2009.
Erectile dysfunction and ejaculation problems were two side effects in a recent study of men exposed to high levels of bisphenol A, or BPA.

Does Racism Drive Opposition to Health Reform?

Miller-McCune.com. November 17, 2009.
In a recent study, prejudiced people were more likely to support the health plan when it was linked to Bill Clinton, than when it was linked to Obama.

What Makes a Young Person Embrace Death and Murder? Former Jihadists Speak Out

Independent UK. November 17, 2009.
Former radical Islamists share their tales of why they turned to extremism, and why they repented.

Why Won't Obama Give You a Job?

AlterNet. November 17, 2009.
Wall Street's raking in massive profits and paying its execs and traders record bonuses, thanks in part to government cash. What about ordinary Americans?

Why I'll Never Buy a Kindle

AlterNet. November 17, 2009.
Fancy new book readers save lots of trees, yes, but I'll pass.

Companies Kill 16 Workers A Day

November 16, 2009.
Sixteen workers are killed a day in the United States because of reckless negligence on the part of their employers.

Top 4 Energy and Environmental Lies in Sarah Palin's 'Going Rogue'

TreeHugger. November 16, 2009.
Her book is hardly out the gates, and it's already facing a torrent of criticism from mainstream news sources for including various untruths and flat out lies.

A Very Good Week for the World's Rivers and a Bad Week for Dams

Huffington Post. November 16, 2009.
Thanks to grassroots advocacy and new legislation, important ecosystems across the globe will be guarded from harmful damming projects.

Rebellious Teens Should Have Rebellious Diets

Takepart. November 16, 2009.
Kids are obsessed with self-expression. So why are their food choices so monotonous?

Why I Drink Raw Milk (That's Sold Illegally)

Chelsea Green Publishing. November 16, 2009.
The local heritage food movement -- the raw milk movement -- is all about respecting and honoring indigenous wisdom.

Copenhagen: An Anti-Globalization Movement Comes of Age

The Nation. November 16, 2009.
Ten years after the Seattle protests, climate activists are poised to make the U.N. climate change summit their "growing up party."

Exposed: How Businesses Are Undermining Efforts on U.S. Climate Committments

The Center for Public Integrity. November 16, 2009.
Obama's negotiators have worked to lower expectations for what the world can expect from a nation where coal-fired, energy-gobbling industries dominate the political scene.

Obama Signs Military Basing Deal with Colombia -- Could Set Stage for Expeditionary Warfare

AlterNet. November 16, 2009.
One of the principal concerns of the pending agreement had been the possibility of the bases’ use for aggression against neighboring countries.

Did LSD Make a Baseball Pitcher's No-Hitter Possible?

No Mas. November 16, 2009.
Perhaps the greatest athletic achievement while on a psychedelic journey, No Mas and artist James Blagden proudly present the animated tale of Dock Ellis' legendary LSD no-hitter.

American Youth in the 21st Century: Pathologized, Criminalized and Disposable

AlterNet. November 16, 2009.
Young people today face imprisonment, the prescription of psychotropic drugs, psychiatric confinement, and zero tolerance policies that model schools after prisons.

Decision to Try Terror Suspects in New York Draws Praise from Human Rights Activists

IPS News. November 16, 2009.
At the same time, the Justice Department is being strongly criticized for keeping the military commissions in place to try some suspects.

The New York Times Embraces 'Douche' as the Television Dirty Word of the Moment

AlterNet. November 16, 2009.
The NY Times has just discovered that "douche" is used as an insult in mainstream media. Why do they seem to see the spread of a term derogatory to women as progress?

America Is One Big Clunker and No Amount of Cash Will Buy Us a New One

Kunstler.com. November 16, 2009.
We continue to be childishly delusional about our dark economic and environmental prospects. Unfortunately, reality isn't amenable to lies and spin.

Obama's Strongest Supporters Suffering the Most in Recession, While Elites Thrive

The New York Times. November 16, 2009.
The young, the black and the poor are among those who are being hammered unmercifully in this long and cruel economic downturn that the financial elites are telling us is over.

Sarah Palin Rules the GOP -- And She Will Destroy It

Tomdispatch.com. November 16, 2009.
Palin's influence on a party largely devoid of leadership is expanding. If she doesn't become the GOP's future queen, she may be its future king-maker -- and its destroyer.

Immigration Hardliners Gearing Up to Kill Pragmatic Reform Once Again

America's Voice. November 16, 2009.
Organized anti-immigrant groups range from extremist neo-Nazi organizations to respected Washington, D.C.-based think tanks.

Catholic Bishops Put Sex Obsession Ahead of Mission to the Sick and the Poor

AlterNet. November 16, 2009.
First they threatened to take down health-care reform over abortion coverage. Now they're threatening services to the sick and poor of Washington, D.C., over same-sex marriage.

Napolitano Signals Reform to Come in First Major Discussion of Immigration

Immigration Impact. November 15, 2009.
Napolitano challenged Congress to do its share, to be brave enough to give her the tools she needs to enforce and transform our immigration laws.

Lou Dobbs Is History at CNN ... Now What?

New America Media. November 14, 2009.
Will we be seeing more Latino executives, anchors, commentators, contributors, and producers at CNN?

Sarah Palin's Poison: The Secret of Her Right-Wing Success

The Nation. November 14, 2009.
Some may secretly relish the embarrassing spectacle that is Sarah Palin. But she's dangerous; the more we chuckle, the more indignant her army becomes.

In Historic Shift, the American Medical Association Sees Value in Marijuana

Drug War Chronicle. November 14, 2009.
The country's largest physician group, the AMA, has reversed its long-held position that marijuana has no medical worth.

The Relentless War on Drug Users Is Escalating Violence in the US: It's Time for Harm Reduction

AlterNet. November 14, 2009.
Hundreds gather in Albuquerque to celebrate a new dawn of wider acceptance of drug reform, while still feeling a little nervous about the path ahead.

Don't You Think It's Time to Reinstate the Laws That Would Have Prevented the Financial Crash?

AlterNet. November 14, 2009.
It's been 10 years since Washington repealed the Glass-Steagall Act, the moment we got royally screwed by the banking system -- and we're still paying the price.

Memo to the Tea-Baggers: God and Country Aren't with You

Locust Forks News-Journal. November 14, 2009.
You don't appear to know what "freedom" means.

The Democratic Party: Whose Team Is It, Anyway?

The Nation. November 14, 2009.
In the wake of the passage by Democrats of a radical anti-abortion measure, Democratic women are asking, "Whose party is this?"

What Should a Feminist Man Look Like?

The American Prospect. November 14, 2009.
Many young men reject the trappings of traditional, sexist masculinity. But what's the alternative?

Those Stories About Religious Groups Taking Over the World with Birth Rates Are for Suckers

AlterNet. November 14, 2009.
Many have fallen sway to demographically data about cultural or religious birth rates -- here's why it's a fool's game.

Did Big Oil Win the War in Iraq?

AlterNet. November 14, 2009.
As U.S. and British oil companies sign contracts with the Iraqi government, is it time to declare Big Oil the "victor" in the bloody venture?

Stealing Money, Selling Heroin and Raping Boys -- The Very Dark Side of the Afghan Occupation

CounterPunch. November 13, 2009.
One reason Afghan villagers prefer dealing with the Taliban than govt. security forces is that the latter have a habit of seizing their sons at checkpoints and sodomizing them.

Single Payer Now!

November 13, 2009.
In my view, the real solution to the problem of how to reform health care in this country is a Medicare-for-all, single-payer system.

California's Water Crisis Is Just the Beginning for Water Woes in the U.S.

AlterNet. November 13, 2009.
The thirst for water in California, and across the country, has only just begun.

The Pentagon's Long-Term Plan to Get Back on Campus

AlterNet. November 13, 2009.
The military wants to integrate itself into campus life and therefore gain routine access to rank-and file students to recruit regular soldiers

Berlin Wall: Worst Anniversary Celebration Ever

AlterNet. November 13, 2009.
Would-be revelers divided by a fake Berlin Wall shuffled along in the rain looking for a way out of a festival of freedom.

How Right-Wing Cult Leader Sun Myung Moon Bought Washington

RoryOConnor.org. November 13, 2009.
With money, media and promotion of a conservative political agenda, a self-styled Messiah and convicted felon became a frequent guest at the White House.

9/11 Plotters Will Be Tried in New York

Agence France Presse. November 13, 2009.
The trial will be held not far from Ground Zero, once the site of the World Trade Center destroyed by two hijacked planes in the September 11 attacks.

There's No Such Thing As a Kinder, Gentler War In Afghanistan

AlterNet. November 13, 2009.
Fine-tuning the U.S. war in Afghanistan is no substitute for acknowledging -- with words and with policy -- that there will be no military solution.

15 Awful Things Republicans Would Do If They Had the Chance

The Smirking Chimp. November 13, 2009.
The GOP's agenda, if fully implemented, would prove catastrophic. Here's what an unfettered Republican Party would do "for" America.

What Obama Can Learn from Gorbachev

Truthdig. November 13, 2009.
On the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, it's worthwhile to remember that ending a stupid, harmful war is the most admirable thing a great leader can do.

The Top One Reason Religion Is Harmful

AlterNet. November 13, 2009.
Religion is uniquely armored against anything that might stop it from spinning into extreme absurdity, extreme denial of reality and extreme, grotesque immorality.

Why the Catholic Bishops Who Pushed Through the Stupak Amendment Are Hypocrites

AlterNet. November 13, 2009.
The same language the bishops thought too weak to truly ban public funding for abortion maintains their charities' own access to public money.

How the U.S. Funds the Taliban

The Nation. November 13, 2009.
The U.S. government is funding the very forces its troops are fighting -- funds that add up to a huge amount of money for the Taliban.

Lab-Grown Meat: The Answer to Animal Cruelty and Environmental Ruin From Feedlots?

AlterNet. November 13, 2009.
If and when lab-grown meat begins filling the processed-food troughs of the masses, will the Oscar Mayer wiener-eaters of the world even notice?

How Abstinence-Only Programs Perpetuate Dangerous Stereotypes

RH Reality Check. November 12, 2009.
It's bad enough the media teaches my daughter harmful gender stereotypes. Does she have to get it at school, too?

Relentless Pressure from Progressive Groups Pushes Hatemonger Lou Dobbs Out of CNN

AlterNet. November 12, 2009.
Groups like BastaDobbs have done in Dobbs, who used his media platform to stir up racist, anti-immigrant hysteria for years.

Two More Legal Residents Caught in the Maw of our Immigration-Security-State

Immigration Impact. November 12, 2009.
Opponents of reform say the system's fine as it is ... are they serious?

Muslim-Americans Have Good Reason to Fear Fort Hood Backlash

New America Media. November 12, 2009.
Though anti-Muslim hysteria has leveled off somewhat since September 11, Muslims still routinely get the blame for anything that even remotely smacks of a terrorist act.

Whistleblower: There’s a Lot Less Oil Than We Think and U.S. Has Been Trying to Cover It Up

The Guardian. November 12, 2009.
Warning of a deliberate underplay at the International Energy Agency of a looming shortage for fear of triggering panic buying.

Drug Policy Alliance Conference Comes at a Crucial Moment for Drug Reform

AlterNet. November 12, 2009.
More people than ever grasp the need to shift from criminalization to a public health model -- the Drug Policy Alliance's conference leads the way on this discussion.

Introducing ChristianChirp, the Evangelical Right's Alternative to Twitter

AlterNet. November 12, 2009.
ChristianChirp.com, which promises to be a "family friendly" site, was founded by a man who claims to have been banned from Twitter for defending Rush Limbaugh.

Real Recovery Is Easy to Spell: J-O-B-S

AlterNet. November 12, 2009.
The latest job numbers mock the smiley-faced claims of economists and polticos that the Great Recession is over.

How Catholic Bishops Threw the Health Care Debate into Turmoil with Anti-Abortion Maneuver

AlterNet. November 12, 2009.
It took a virulently anti-choice measure to pass the House's health care reform legislation. Progressives are strategizing how to keep it from the final bill.

The Ft. Hood Massacre Is George Bush's Fault

The Smirking Chimp. November 11, 2009.
If Al Gore (or even Ralph Nader) had been President in 2001, the Ft. Hood massacre almost certainly wouldn't have happened. Because George W. Bush was president, it did.

Quitting Meat Is a Process -- Almost Impossible to Do All at Once

AlterNet. November 11, 2009.
When it comes to meat, change is almost always cast as an absolute. You are a vegetarian or you are not. It's a strange formulation, and it's distracting.

Rachel Maddow: Corporations Are "Child Labor-Endorsing, Pro-Slavery Freaks" for Trying to Skirt Trade Laws

AlterNet. November 11, 2009.
"How will the corporations save themselves from that onerous rule that you can‘t use slaves and prisoners and children to make your products"?

Whistleblowers Say Oil Reserve Numbers Deliberately Inflated to Avoid Panic, Appease the US

TreeHugger. November 11, 2009.
Apparently the IEA was concerned that reporting the true reserve numbers would trigger a buying panic.

VIDEO: Stand With the Vets, Say No to Obama

November 11, 2009.
News reports indicate that in the next few weeks, President Obama plans to announce his decision to send up to 40,000 more troops to Afghanistan.

Immigrants and Health-Care: What Part of LEGAL Doesn't Washington Understand?

New America Media. November 11, 2009.
Congress inexplicably restricts low-income legal immigrants from the federal Medicaid and Medicare programs, which provide a modicum of security for the most vulnerable.

Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh Stoking GOP Civil War

Media Matters for America. November 11, 2009.
The right-wing media are trying to play "king-maker." But they are incapable of picking winners and stand poised to rip the Republican Party apart.

Why Are We Locking Up Traumatized Veterans for Their Addictions Instead of Offering Them Treatment?

AlterNet. November 11, 2009.
This Veterans Day, let's get past the bunting and ribbons and look at our returning troops' real needs.

Feds Wanted Private Data on All Visitors to Liberal News Site

Raw Story. November 11, 2009.
A Justice Department subpoena requesting information on visitors to an independent news site is raising serious privacy concerns.

AlterNet Audience Breaks Funding Records, Again: Continues to Buck the Trend

AlterNet. November 11, 2009.
We broke all of our fundraising records. Thank you for showing us you care about strong, independent journalism.

Afghanistan Is Worse Off Than Ever, Thanks to the Sham Army We're Propping Up

Truthdig. November 11, 2009.
Cultural barriers and naked corruption have rendered the Afghan National Army completely inept.

Ugly Truth: Most U.S. Kids Sentenced to Die In Prison Are Black

AlterNet. November 11, 2009.
The U.S. stands alone in the world in condemning thousands of juveniles to life without parole. And race is a huge factor. Will the Supreme Court even consider it?

'Precious': How a Film About an Obese Harlem Teenager Turned the Tables on Hollywood

The Women's Media Center. November 10, 2009.
The success of this harrowing new movie undermines the conventional wisdom about what audiences want to watch.

Radioactive Wastewater in New York Raises More Concerns About Oil Drilling

ProPublica. November 10, 2009.
In a state hardly equipped to deal with such materials, drilling advocates have yet to explain where the water will go.

What Obama Is Up Against in His Own Branch of Government

TruthOut.org. November 10, 2009.
Americans harbor a quaint belief a new president takes charge of a govt. eagerly awaiting his orders. But there are huge power centers that have their own agendas.

Egyptian Marine: Soldiers Often 'Racialize' the Enemy to Cope With Stress

New America Media. November 10, 2009.
NAM Editor Aaron Glantz spoke to former Marine Corps Cpl. Dave Hassan, who served in Iraq. Hassan said that while he was there, racist language was so pervasive he used it himself.

Recent Democratic Victories May Grease the Wheels for Immigration Reform in Congress

New America Media. November 10, 2009.
The House's shift is modest. But it might be just what's needed to enact meaningful changes to our immigration policy.

What Can the Morass of the 1970s Tell Us About the Current Economic Crisis?

Dollars and Sense. November 10, 2009.
Whether the gears of a capitalist economy mesh or not depends on the institutional framework in which capitalist companies operate.

Does the House Bill's Public Option Kill Off the Senate's?

Booman Tribune. November 10, 2009.
Why the health care reform act has a very long and very difficult road ahead.

"Women Are Being Killed All Over the World": One Reporter's Fight Against So-Called "Honor Killings"

The Brooklyn Rail. November 10, 2009.
A new book tells the story of so-called "honor killings" in Jordan. Author Rana Husseini discusses the growing movement against this deadly form of violence against women.

How the Stupak Amendment Radically Undermines Women's Rights

Mother Jones Online. November 10, 2009.
Bart Stupak's last-minute amendment to the health care bill is even more dangerous than you think.

9 Silly Things People Say When They Hear You Don't Want Kids (And Ways to Counter Them)

AlterNet. November 10, 2009.
Wanting kids isn't just the social norm, it's said to be a biological imperative, the only supposed "duh" of evolution. But yet, some of us choose not to -- and for good reason.

Is Blind Faith in God and the Bible a Modern Invention?

Daily Kos. November 10, 2009.
A new book points out that the ancient Christians -- and even early Americans -- did not share the blind faith of today's fundamentalists.

Soda Helps Make Americans Unhealthy and Fat -- Will Soda Tax Prevail Despite Pushback by Beverage Industry?

The Huffington Post Investigative Fund. November 10, 2009.
Soft drink makers, supermarket companies, agriculture and the fast-food business have poured millions into campaigning against taxes on sweetened beverages.

Who's Paying for the Recession Most of All? Young Workers

The Nation. November 10, 2009.
Young people have lost 2.5 million jobs to the crisis, making them the hardest-hit age group.

10 Suicides This Year at Ft. Hood -- War Stress Is Taking Soldiers to the Brink

Asia Times. November 10, 2009.
The shooting tragedy at Fort Hood on Friday points to a much larger problem of combat stress and overdeployment in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Why Max Baucus' 'No' Vote on the Climate Bill May Really Help Its Passage

True/Slant. November 9, 2009.
By appearing to oppose the bill, Baucus may be masterfully (and manipulatively) staging its passage.

Do We Really Want to Enshrine Insurance Monopoly into Law? This and 5 Other Complaints About the Health Bill

The Nation. November 9, 2009.
Informed and engaged progressives aren't entirely enthusiastic about the measure. Here are some of the most serious complaints.

4 Ways the Stupak Amendment Deprives Women of Access to Abortion

The Wonk Room. November 9, 2009.
The health-care bill passed by the House will expand access to health care. But millions of women are about to lose coverage they currently have and need.

Study Claims Even the Most Sophisticated News Readers Can Be Manipulated

Miller-McCune.com. November 9, 2009.
Revelations from a european study effort reveal that biased news can have a "time bomb" effect.

Nobel Laureate Slams the Bible, Calls It "A Catalogue of Cruelties"

IPS News. November 9, 2009.
The holy book is a "manual of bad morals," according to José Saramago.

Why the End May Be Coming for Coal

E Magazine. November 9, 2009.
Momentum is building to block new coal-fired power plants and end mountaintop removal mining. Is there enough political will to make the break?

Lies About Marijuana Drive People to a Much More Harmful Drug -- Booze

AlterNet. November 9, 2009.
Anti-pot propaganda drives most people to drink alcohol instead. But booze is far more dangerous than marijuana.

Atheists, It's Time to Stand Up to Jesus

Comment Is Free. November 9, 2009.
Civility has its uses, but atheists should not be afraid to mock faith to undermine religious power.

Pentagon Pouring Your Money Into Afghanistan: Are They Preparing for a Very Long War?

Tomdispatch.com. November 9, 2009.
Forget the "debates" in Washington over Afghan War policy. Construction activity and the flow of money suggests that the Pentagon plans to be there for a long, long time.

Tea Partiers' New Hero: Ex-KGB Agent Who Thinks U.S. Will Collapse Next Year

Mother Jones Online. November 9, 2009.
Igor Panarin warns that the U.S. will splinter into separate states controlled by foreign powers in 2010. Conservative activists think he may be on to something.

Young Conservatives Ashamed of GOP

The Nation. November 9, 2009.
Many college-aged conservatives are turned off by the Bible-thumping intolerance of much of the Republican Party.

As Foreclosure Nightmares Increase, Will More Homeowners Pay Off Their Bankers in Violence?

AlterNet. November 9, 2009.
The economic crisis revealed late-capitalism's central offense: Human beings are being transparently treated if they were mere transactions. And they're going postal over it.

Despite Censorship By Beef Magnate, Michael Pollan Spreads Message About the Real Price of Cheap Food

AlterNet. November 9, 2009.
Pollan took on Big Ag and cheap food in a panel discussion, after the protests of a meat industry chairman led to his speech at a University being canceled.

With Unemployment at 40 Percent, Afghan Teens Enlist in Army, Police

IPS News. November 7, 2009.
In a matter of weeks, Afghanistan's boys can go from high school students, to uniformed soldiers.

New York May Stop Heartless Health Insurers from Dropping Coverage When It Stops Being Profitable

Washington Times. November 7, 2009.
The proposed Ian's law, named after a victim of muscular dystrophy who requires an electronic device to speak would protect the most vulnerable from losing coverage.

What Michelle and Barack's Marriage Has in Common with 56 Million Other Ones

AlterNet. November 7, 2009.
The first couple has tried to preserve their "date night tradition." So have my husband and I.

Obama's First Year: It Ain't No Crystal Staircase

Campaign for America's Future. November 7, 2009.
Obama will increasingly have to choose -- whether to hold to his vision and raise the stakes, or compromise his vision to cut the deal.

Instant Sex: Has the Digital Age Destroyed Relationships or Made Them Better?

AlterNet. November 7, 2009.
Digitally-enabled mating culture has opened up the mate-finding process while also generating a whole new set of dating anxieties.

10 of the Nuttiest Statements Elected Officials Have Made in the Health Care Battle

AlterNet. November 7, 2009.
Wild, over-the-top rhetoric and bizarre conspiracy theories about health reform aren't just coming from the right-wing blogs and talk-radio loudmouths.

The Raw Milk Revolution: Behind America's Emerging Battle Over Food Rights

TreeHugger. November 7, 2009.
Because of its health benefits, many more people are turning to raw milk. But there's one hitch: Raw milk is illegal.

Why We Need Bees and More People Becoming Organic Beekeepers

Chelsea Green Publishing. November 6, 2009.
Bees teach us how to live our life in a way that by taking what we need from the world around us, we leave the world better than we found it.

The Victims At Fort Hood Are Casualties of War: Why Won't the Government Count Them Among the Dead?

New America Media. November 6, 2009.
Perhaps the most depressing aspect of Thursday's shoot-out at Fort Hood is that none of the people who died will be counted as casualties of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Falwell Power Play: Jerry's Liberty University Students Grease the Partisan Political Machine in Virginia

Church and State. November 6, 2009.
Falwell spent months developing the students at his university into a Republican voting bloc. But was what he did legal?

Stop U.S. Meddling; Support Afghan Women at the Table

CODEPINK Women for Peace: Action Blog. November 6, 2009.
Meddling in Afghanistan’s elections and U.S. failure at every turn to deliver security and justice is increasing the potency of the Taliban.

Focusing on Fort Hood Killer's Beliefs Is an Easy Out to Avoid the Deeper Reasons for the Massacre

AlterNet. November 6, 2009.
That alleged killer Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan is a Muslim is not enough to explain the attacks.

Claim: CIA Sent Prisoners Abroad to Be Boiled Alive and 'Raped with Broken Bottles'

Raw Story. November 6, 2009.
Former British ambassador alleges CIA relied on intelligence based on torture in prisons in Uzbekistan.

Thousands of Right-Wingers Rally at Capitol to Hear Lies About Health Care Reform, Courtesy of Bachmann and GOP Leaders

AlterNet. November 6, 2009.
Days before a health bill is expected to pass the House, Republicans rallied their flock with the help of Fox News, Michele Bachmann and leading conservative groups.

If You Say the Taliban = 9/11 Often Enough, Maybe Someone Will Believe It?

GregPalast.com. November 6, 2009.
It's the latest hit from the same crew that brought you Saddam = 9/11 and its twin chant, Saddam = WMD.

Why Congress' Health Care Bills Are Better Than You Think

Health Beat. November 6, 2009.
The health care bills wending through Congress are getting a bad rap. And the major culprit is the Congressional Budget Office, and its chief, Doug Elmendorf.

How a Public Jobs Program Could Put America Back on Track

The Progressive. November 6, 2009.
The same nation that created a Works Progress Administration in the 1930s should create another one in the 21st century.

How an Entire Town Leveled By a Tornado Is Rebuilding Green

E Magazine. November 6, 2009.
While the rest of rural America is being hit hard with the economic downturn, Greensburg's emphasis on green living has given the town a buffer.

Why Natural Gas Is Not a Clean Energy Panacea

AlterNet. November 5, 2009.
Natural gas is "clean" only in contrast to coal -- just as a bacon cheeseburger can only be regarded as healthful compared with a double bacon cheeseburger.

For Glenn Beck, SEIU Is 'Radical, Marxist,' Except When Its Nurses Treat Him for Emergency Abdominal Pains

AlterNet. November 5, 2009.
Beck described SEIU nurse care as "amazing" after his inflamed appendix was removed.

Fort Hood Shootings: 12 Dead, 31 Injured On Texas Military Base (VIDEO)

AlterNet. November 5, 2009.
Army psychiatrist suspected of massacre survived return fire from authorities and is in custody and hospitalized in stable condition.

Obama, It's Time to Lead on Climate Change in Copenhagen

AlterNet. November 5, 2009.
What we need Obama to do now is direct his administration to negotiate a just, binding, and effective deal in Copenhagen.

Former Worker's Confession: "I Was Hired to Stand in the Way of Health Care Reform"

Sick for Profit. November 5, 2009.
Hi, I'm Andy Cobb and I did all the damage I could being a spokesjerk for Blue Cross Blue Shield.

We're Literally Blowing Up Our Clean Energy Future

AlterNet. November 5, 2009.
Coal River Mountain can be a wind farm that provides 85,000 households with electricity, creates 700 long-term green jobs but inside it is being dynamited.

Three Gorges Dam: The World's Largest Boondoggle to Be Completed

Huffington Post. November 5, 2009.
After 27 million cubic meters of concrete have been poured, 1.3 million people have been displaced and up to $88 billion have been spent, it is now time to take stock.

Who's to Blame for All the Dithering on Climate Legislation?

The Progress Report. November 5, 2009.
Yes, Inhofe is behind much of it, but he's only part of the problem.

Republicans and Democrats Come Together to Launch Unprecedented Attack on International Law

AlterNet. November 5, 2009.
This is George W. Bush's foreign policy legacy, which — through this resolution — the Democrats, no less than their Republican counterparts, have now eagerly embraced.

30 Hours Clashing with Corporate Lobbyists on a White House Committee Showed Me How Hard "Change" Really Is

Foreign Policy in Focus. November 5, 2009.
The "cow-boy" model of capitalism has failed dramatically, but corporate America still wants to roam the planet free of regulation.

Former CIA Agent Once Played by George Clooney Explains Why He Quit DC and Is Holing Up in the Rockies

CounterPunch. November 5, 2009.
The whistleblowing agent depicted in "Syriana," Bob Baer is back in Silverton, Colo, where "people who messed up in some other life and come here to be nobody."

Want to Save Our Economy from Almighty Greed? Here Are 10 Crucial Fights and Key Fighters to Watch

AlterNet. November 5, 2009.
If the economic crisis taught us anything, it's that bringing to heel the whiz kids of finance is a top priority.

Is the Right-Wing Tea Party Kettle Starting to Losing Its Steam?

Mother Jones. November 5, 2009.
What if they gave a Tea Party and nobody came? Michele Bachmann and company promised a barrage of protest calls to the Capitol but, so far, things are kind of quiet.

7 Diseases That Big, Juicy Steaks Could Give You

Planet Green. November 5, 2009.
We know meat isn't necessarily the most healthy dietary choice; it could also be a fatal one.

"My Kids Want to Hide Their Identity; They're Scared Someone Will Attack Us": U.S. Muslims Being Targeted

Indypendent. November 5, 2009.
American Muslims, especially those who wear religious clothing such as hijabs, are often targets of hate crimes.

Why Unemployment Is More Important Than Health-Care Reform

Robert Reich's Blog. November 5, 2009.
Has Obama spent too much political capital on health-care reform, and not enough on keeping families afloat in a flailing economy?

NYC Marathon Raises Question of Who Is American Enough?

Imagine 2050. November 4, 2009.
Who gets to choose who is American or American enough? And how will they choose?

Gorbachev on His Legacy, and Obama's Chance to Lead an American Perestroika

The Nation. November 4, 2009.
The former Soviet leader on his push for a peaceful dissolution of the Russian empire, and his idea that the US should follow suit.

Nothing But Bad Policy Options for Obama in Afghanistan

Tomdispatch.com. November 4, 2009.
Can we avoid an approach to Afghanistan where impending disaster is seen as an invitation to make things even worse?

A Call for Clarity on the War in Afghanistan

Foreign Policy in Focus. November 4, 2009.
It will take time and complexity, as well as trial and error, to help rebuild Afghanistan for ordinary Afghans, and by extension make Americans safer.

23 CIA Agents Convicted in Italy for Kidnapping Egyptian Cleric

Agence France Presse. November 4, 2009.
The CIA's Milan station chief at the time, Robert Seldon Lady, was sentenced to eight years in prison and othersto five years, all in their absence in the landmark trial.

Many Still Believe That Saddam Hussein Was Behind 9/11, and Now We Have Some Idea Why

Miller-McCune.com. November 4, 2009.
Researchers looking at beliefs about al-Qaeda and Saddam Hussein have made some surprising discoveries about why peopl

New Remarkable Numbers Released: Water Use in the US Has Dropped Per Person by 30 Percent Since 1975

Pacific Institute. November 4, 2009.
It is possible to improve the efficiency of water use and such improvements eliminate the need for expensive and environmentally damaging new supply.

What If You and Your Neighbors Owned Your Local Sports Teams?

AlterNet. November 4, 2009.
Sports franchises shouldn't necessarily be in the hands of private parties.

Letting the Science, Not the Politicians, Decide About Marijuana

AlterNet. November 4, 2009.
The federal govt. is still blocking the process that would allow the marijuana plant to be brought to market as a prescription medicine.

How State-Owned Banks Can Help Americans (And Stick It to Wall Street, Too)

TruthOut.org. November 4, 2009.
With its populist business model, the Bank of North Dakota provides a template for sustainable fiscal policy at the state level.

"Pro-Israel" Group's Money Trail Veers Hard Right

IPS News. November 4, 2009.
StandWithUs, a pro-Israel group known for challenging the credentials of more moderate Israel lobbyists, has accepted contributions from a slew of hard-right beneficiaries.

Who Is Stealing California's Water?

Pacific Institute. November 4, 2009.
We must stop pretending that water is free and unlimited, available to anyone who can put a siphon in a river or drill another groundwater well.

Why Can't the Corporate Media Just Tell the Truth About Iraq & Afghanistan?

MediaChannel.org. November 4, 2009.
One NY Times reporter finally 'fesses up that the invasion of Iraq wasn't presented truthfully by the big media outlets. It's still not too late to tell the truth.

It's Time to Rebuild Our Passenger Railroad System

Chelsea Green Publishing. November 4, 2009.
Restoring the American railroad system is an excellent place to start recovering our sense of national purpose and faith in collective enterprise.

Are Some Airlines Just Too Dangerous to Fly?

Miller-McCune.com. November 4, 2009.
A new study calls for standardizing aircraft maintenance across the globe, but until then, the answer just might be yes.

Barbara Ehrenreich: Why Your Children May Not Get a Swine Flu Shot Before They Need It

Tomdispatch.com. November 4, 2009.
Too much faith in private enterprise has left us open to a flu epidemic.

Jonathan Safran Foer's 'Eating Animals' Book Will Fundamentally Change the Way You Think About Food

AlterNet. November 4, 2009.
"He is the Michael Pollan of a younger generation: grittier and more daring, more insightful and decisive."

Iraq Movie, 'The Hurt Locker' Is Generating Oscar Buzz: But Does It Deserve It?

AlterNet. November 4, 2009.
Critics have praised the film as a realistic, Academy Award-worthy piece of filmmaking. But is there really anything realistic about it?

U.S. Troops in Afghanistan Are Burning Copies of the Koran? Are We Really That Stupid?

Asia Times. November 4, 2009.
According to villagers, several U.S. soldiers burned Korans when they couldn't locate insurgents they believed had blown up part of their convoy.

The Execution of a Potentially Innocent Man Less Scandalous Than an Affair?

The American Prospect. November 4, 2009.
There's something really rotten in the state of Texas.

Water, Forests and Farms in New York State Threatened by Oil and Gas Drilling

Earth Island Journal. November 3, 2009.
The future of this ecologically rich area is now in the hands of oil and gas companies that have leased thousands of acres to drill in the Marcellus Shale.

Ten Things You Can Do to Reduce Incarceration

The Nation. November 3, 2009.
Come out of the closet about your drug use; hire a formerly incarcerated person; vote for politicians who are smart on crime.

An All-Out War Rages in Brazil's Slums

IPS News. November 3, 2009.
Despite a spike in drug-related violence, Brazilian authorities have insufficient resources to halt gang confrontations.

A Broken Immigration System Marks a Disastrous Failure of Government Response

Immigration Impact. November 3, 2009.
It's a matter of priorities -- every dollar spent on the deportation iss a dollar not spent on improving immigration services and processing applications quickly and efficiently.

Have the Very Wealthy Achieved Victory in Their Class-War?

Dollars and Sense. November 3, 2009.
We don’t want our tax dollars aiding companies that increase social inequalities. So why do we let our tax dollars help companies that increase economic inequality?

A Heartbeat and a Guitar: Johnny Cash's Political Roots

Global Comment. November 3, 2009.
Antonino D'Ambrosio, the author of "A Heartbeat and a Guitar: Johnny Cash and the Making of "Bitter Tears," " talks about the intersections of politics and pop.

What You Should Be Watching For This Election

Air America Media. November 3, 2009.
From the battle between moderate Republicans and the teabaggers, to marriage equality legislation, there is hot political action in the voting booths this year.

In Afghanistan, Victory For a Crooked, Corrupt, and Discredited Government

Independent UK. November 3, 2009.
The election in Afghanistan has turned into a disaster for all who promoted it.

Baghdad Bombing Atrocity Threatens Iraqi Elections

Institute for War and Peace Reporting. November 3, 2009.
Concerns that violence could deter voters in upcoming polls come amid widespread anger at government’s security failings.

5 Key Fights We Face Against the Insurance Industry in the Push for Better Health Care

AlterNet. November 3, 2009.
There's momentum to repair our fractured health care system -- but activism is desperately needed to keep the process honest.

Our Produce-or-Die Culture Is Killing Us -- And We're Idiotically Grinning and Bearing It

JoeBageant.com. November 3, 2009.
We've been reduced to "human assets" in a relentless economic machine. And we can't even complain: appearing cheerful is vital when all of life is monitored by an employer.

"Restless Vagina Syndrome": Big Pharma's Newest Fake Disease

In These Times. November 3, 2009.
The pharmaceutical industry wants you to think that if you don't have sex like a porn star, you're in need of their drugs.

Fetus-Shaped Potatoes? Going Undercover Inside the Weird World of Right-Wing Abortion Foes

AlterNet. November 3, 2009.
I went undercover to a Pro-Life Federation conference. What I found there was not "middle America" or even conservative America. It was fringe America.

Is Adultery Good for Women? In Defense of Ashley Madison, the Cheaters' Website

Your Tango. November 3, 2009.
Despite criticism, Ashley Madison -- a website that facilitates affairs between married men and women -- attracts an unprecedented percentage of female users. Why?

Are the "New Atheists" As Bad as Christian Fundamentalists?

AlterNet. November 3, 2009.
The most aggressive members of the "New Atheism" movement have quite a bit in common with religious extremists like Pat Robertson and Ted Haggard.

Six Uighurs Released From Gitmo; Seven Remain Locked Up

Andy Worthington's Blog. November 2, 2009.
This latest release still leaves seven Uighurs in Guantánamo -- not to mention the 60 or so other prisoners who have been cleared for release

We Need Smart Solutions to Our Long Jobs Crisis

AlterNet. November 2, 2009.
All the projections show that the unemployment rate is likely to continue to rising for the immediate future and remain high for years to come.

Chaos In Afghanistan as Abdullah Abdullah Pulls Out of Election

Independent UK. November 2, 2009.
The much-anticipated runoff vote in Afghanistan has become a one-horse race for President Hamid Karzai.

Bill Moyers and James Galbraith: Our Free Market Makes Economic Collapse Inevitable

Bill Moyers Journal. November 2, 2009.
Until we realize that our system itself is untenable, we'll be doomed to economic meltdowns.

Sarah Palin and the Tea Party Movement Are at War With the GOP

AlterNet. November 2, 2009.
Just as the GOP candidate has for more than 100 years, Dede Scozzafava was supposed to win the congressional seat in New York's 23rd district. Then Palin stepped in.

Who's Really Behind Organic Food Brands Like Amy's and Odwalla?

EcoSalon. November 2, 2009.
Over the past decade many small organic food brands have been snapped up by giant corporations. Clearly, this can be bad for standards and quality.

Why It's Not Smart to Call Women Conservatives 'Whores'

AlterNet. November 2, 2009.
Conservative women should be strongly criticized. But using gendered language to attack them doesn't help progressives.

Deported to a "Homeland" that He Never Knew

ColorLines. November 2, 2009.
After growing up in the U.S., Calvin James was separated from his family by and sent by immigration authorities to an alien "homeland."

Boobs to Die For

Nerve.com. November 1, 2009.
I love my boobs. I'm going to use them every day until they start to kill me.