kpete
kpete's JournalThere Are Two Americas, And One Is Better Than The Other
There Are Two Americas, And One Is Better Than The Other
JOSH BARRO
.........
In one America, it's O.K. to say this of gays and lesbians: "They’re full of murder, envy, strife, hatred. They are insolent, arrogant, God-haters. They are heartless, they are faithless, they are senseless, they are ruthless. They invent ways of doing evil." In the other America, you're not supposed to say that.
There's one America where it's O.K. to say this about black people in the Jim Crow-era South: "Pre-entitlement, pre-welfare, you say: Were they happy? They were godly; they were happy; no one was singing the blues." There's another America where that statement is considered to reflect ignorance and insensitivity.
In one America, it's O.K. to attribute the Pearl Harbor attacks to Shinto Buddhists' failure to accept Jesus. In the other America, that is not O.K.
There are two Americas, one of which is better than the other. And it's instructive who's sticking up for the worse America.
the rest:
http://www.businessinsider.com/phil-robertson-duck-dynasty-two-americas-2013-12
"ankchous"?
tee hee, hee:
http://www.balloon-juice.com/2013/12/20/poemobile/#comments
Pope Francis Gives Christmas Presents To 2,000 Immigrants
Two thousand immigrants at the Dono di Maria shelter near the Vatican were thrilled to receive Christmas presents from none other than Pope Francis. He sent them useful gift packages to allow them to connect with family over the holiday season, including a Christmas card signed by the Pope, postage stamps, a pre-paid international calling card, and a free day-pass for the Rome metro, reports Catholic News Agency.
Papal almoner Archbishop Konrad Krajewski personally helped the sisters of the Missionaries of Charity hand out the gifts. Sister Michelle told CNA that "the immigrants received the presents with love and were thankful for the opportunity to call and write their loved ones during the Christmas season."
As an advocate for the poor and marginalized, Pope Francis has specifically spoken out on behalf of immigrants. On the World Day of Migrants and Refugees in September he condemned "slave labor" and human trafficking. "Migrants and refugees are not pawns on the chessboard of humanity," he said. "They are children, women and men who leave or who are forced to leave their homes for various reasons, who share a legitimate desire for knowing and having, but above all for being more."
The Dono di Maria home was founded by Mother Teresa 25 years ago under Pope John Paul II's blessing, according to Patheos.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/19/pope-francis-christmas-immigrants-_n_4473273.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009
"NONE of this would have happened without the revelations by Edward J. Snowden"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/12/20/the-morning-plum-immigration-reform-coming-in-2014/
................
The administration expects to accept “a good number” of the advisory group recommendations, the official said, and will “perhaps reject others.”
While few in the White House want to admit as much in public, none of this would have happened without the revelations by Edward J. Snowden, the former N.S.A. contractor now in asylum in Russia. While Mr. Obama has said he welcomes the debate about the proper limits on the N.S.A., it is not one he engaged in publicly until the Snowden revelations began. Now the president has little choice — this week alone a constellation of forces is pushing for change: A federal judge called the bulk-collection program “almost Orwellian,” while some in Congress, many of his allies and Silicon Valley executives demanded change.
Those represent very different pressures. Mr. Obama has already said that bulk collection of telephone records should continue. The unresolved question is whether he agrees with the advisory committee that the records should remain in private hands — either the telecommunications companies or a private consortium — and that individual court authorizations should be required for every use of metadata.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/20/us/politics/obama-weighing-security-and-privacy-in-deciding-on-spy-program-limits.html?_r=0&adxnnl=1&ref=politics&adxnnlx=1387541046-IlGXO4baQjvltwCEZM0Vvg
Mr. Putin Prepares Russian Athletes For The Olympics & Unveils New Mascot
with xlnt discussion here:
http://www.balloon-juice.com/2013/12/20/lurching-forward-towards-sochi/
and Luckovich unveils the new mascot for the Olympics.
http://blogs.ajc.com/mike-luckovich/2013/12/19/1220-luckovich-cartoon-just-ducky/
Who Owns Congress?
http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2013/12/who-owns-congress-2/#more-112948
President Obama: 'I've Got 3 Opinionated, Strong, Tall Women'
People: ‘I’ve Got 3 Opinionated, Strong, Tall Women’
Sitting down for their annual interview with PEOPLE, President and Mrs. Obama reflect on the year’s difficulties, both in the political arena and the smaller challenges he encounters at home.
“I’ve got three opinionated, strong, tall women,” says President Obama. “If they get together, they can have fun about my ears or being too loud, or how I dress.”
…. The Obamas reveal that daughters Sasha, 12, and Malia, 15, weigh in on Mom’s fashion choices and have tutored Dad in using Instagram and Vine. And, like any kids, they are occasionally embarrassed by their parents.
“Malia had friends over, and there was a question about whether she was going to even introduce them (to her dad), because sometimes he gets a little formal, asking them about school and interests,” the First Lady tells PEOPLE. “She says, ‘I don’t know if my friends can handle that.’” Then she turns to her husband and says, “But she said that you actually did quite well.”
“I acquitted myself well,” notes the President. “I did not embarrass her.”
MORE:
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20767223,00.html
Target confirms massive credit-card data breach (Began Black Friday thru Dec. 15)
Target confirms massive credit-card data breach
Target says that its stores have been hit by a major credit-card attack involving up to 40 million accounts.
Chief Executive Officer Greg Steinhafel confirmed Thursday morning earlier reports that a brazen data breach had taken place. In a statement, Steinhafel said: "Target is working closely with law enforcement and financial institutions, and has identified and resolved the issue."
The retailer said that the unlawful access to customer information took place between Nov. 27 and Dec.15.
Earlier, the Secret Service confirmed to USA TODAY that it is investigating the massive data violation involving shoppers' personal credit-card information
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/12/18/secret-service-target-data-breach/4119337/
ZERO.
Dan Froomkin @froomkin
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Report concludes bulk telephone metadata collection was responsible for preventing exactly zero terrorist plots.
2:05 PM - 18 Dec 2013
https://twitter.com/froomkin/status/413429823986733057/photo/1
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