As David Remnick insisted several times during the Opening Ceremony, you can't separate politics from the Olympics. Be that as it may, I think that politics frequently get pushed to the back burner during the figure skating competition. The wonderful thing about figure skating fans is that they not only recognize a good performance, they ( Read more... )

Please stop telling me that I'm being spied on. I KNOW that I'm being spied on. I'm being spied on by NSA and apparently it is completely legal for them to do so. Thanks again for nothing, ex-President W ( Read more... )

Apparently reporting unscrupulous and noncompliant telemarketers isn't "necessary to protect life and property." Good to know ( Read more... )

RANDOM GUY IN GROCERY STORE: The government sucks ( Read more... )

Apparently, George W. Bush thinks that Edward Snowden caused harm to America by blowing the whistle on the PRISM program--which, it is important to remember, was implemented under Bush's administration. So in other words, it doesn't hurt the American people to have their own government spy on them; what hurts them is the KNOWLEDGE that the ( Read more... )

You may have noticed that lately my "Year of Bert & Ernie" project has become more of an Ernie-and-Cookie-Monster project, and I must confess that that was entirely by design. There is a precedent of Bert-and-Ernie material being misinterpreted in the context of Pride Week, and while I try to respect everyone's right to an individual ( Read more... )

Look ... am I upset about recent revelations about NSA surveillance of American citizens? Yes, very much so. Am I disappointed in President Obama for not putting a stop to it, and for even defending it? AbsolutelyBut let's place the blame for this squarely where it belongs. This has been going on for seven years, well before President Obama ( Read more... )

That's how her name appeared in my inbox, anyway, and I think it's oddly appropriate.

( Noem's response )

I am simultaneously terrified and relieved. Terrified of what the end of the day may bring, but relieved that at least now the bombardment will stop. After today, the counterintuitive1 internet ads will stop (at least the political ones), the flyers in the mail will stop, the signs and billboards will come down, and the harrassing phone calls ( Read more... )

(I sent this as a letter/e-mail to the president and my congresspeople, but it can't hurt to post it here too ( Read more... )