Your tax dollars at work…

Filed at 7:47 am, Thursday August 19th 2010
by Arlen Parsa

This little “national anthem trailer” was created by the Department of Defense. It’s actually hard to believe it’s not a parody, it’s that over the top.

Former Senator Ted Stevens lobbied against aircraft safety regulations for his state

Filed at 5:07 pm, Sunday August 15th 2010
by Arlen Parsa

The irony here is, perhaps literally, killer:

The National Transportation Safety Board warned 15 years ago that Alaska suffers too many air accidents from flying under conditions like those in which a De Havilland floatplane crashed on Monday, killing former Alaska senator Ted Stevens and four other passengers. The 1995 report found that a significant share […]

So, I saw the president this week (pics & video)

Filed at 4:59 pm, Saturday August 07th 2010
by Arlen Parsa

On Thursday as I was walking from work to the subway here in Chicago, I noticed on the CBS2 jumbotron in Daley Plaza that President Obama was at the Chicago Cultural Center. That’s only a block or two past the L station I was heading to, so I just kept going to see what was […]

Stay classy, BP

Filed at 7:07 am, Friday August 06th 2010
by Arlen Parsa

This item hit store shelves in 1970. Hat tip - Trav.

A great ruling from the Librarian of Congress

Filed at 6:32 am, Wednesday July 28th 2010
by Arlen Parsa

I am encouraged to read the recent statement made by the Librarian of Congress bolstering and clarifying the fair use doctrine (which lays out exemptions from US copyright law in certain instances).
This is great news for consumers and documentary filmmakers alike. Instead of the overgrown American copyright lobby (MPAA, RIAA, etc) influencing this strengthening clarification, […]

Video- Michael Steele’s Greatest Hits

Filed at 4:18 pm, Sunday July 11th 2010
by Arlen Parsa

Rip - Senator Robert Byrd

Filed at 6:35 am, Monday June 28th 2010
by Arlen Parsa

From the NYT obit:

In 2007, at the unveiling of a portrait of Mr. Byrd in the Old Senate Chamber, former Senator Paul S. Sarbanes of Maryland, a colleague of 30 years, recalled that Mr. Byrd had taught him how to answer when a constituent asked, “How many presidents have you served under?”
“None,” was Mr. Byrd’s […]

Good news: Viacom loses epic battle with YouTube

Filed at 6:19 am, Thursday June 24th 2010
by Arlen Parsa

Especially after this stunning development in the trial, and the fact that Viacom only intiated its lawsuit against YouTube after it failed to buy it, the news that Viacom has lost their lawsuit is indeed good news.
Naturally, they’ll appeal, but c’est la vie with corporate lawsuits.

Heh, heh, heh

Filed at 6:08 am, Wednesday June 16th 2010
by Arlen Parsa

No comment needed. Hat tip- Trav.

BP’s CEO to testify before Congress on Thursday

Filed at 6:00 pm, Monday June 14th 2010
by Arlen Parsa

Tony Hayward will face a stiff line of questioning from Bart Stupak’s subcommittee on investigations and oversight this Thursday, especially considering the revelations outlined in this letter sent to him by Stupak and Henry Waxman. Should be interesting viewing.

Obama on spill: “ass to kick”

Filed at 6:34 am, Tuesday June 08th 2010
by Arlen Parsa

For somebody who often pauses to choose the right words, this was obviously planned. Oliver Willis opines:

I understand why President Obama is doing this, but I sure don’t like it. The press, the opposition and many in his own corner have been pushing the “get angry” meme. I mostly think when politicians do this they’re […]

Stupid, stupid bigots

Filed at 6:50 am, Friday May 28th 2010
by Arlen Parsa

Well, I must say it’s encouraging to see Congress taking steps in the direction of a repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. The latest move towards repeal is the House voting to allow military commanders to repeal the ban themselves, 60 days after the Pentagon completes its review process in December. Seems like a bit […]

From the department of strange juxtapositions…

Filed at 6:22 am, Wednesday May 26th 2010
by Arlen Parsa

Hat tip- Oliver Willis.

Rand Paul on Racism: Like Father, Like Son

Filed at 6:41 am, Friday May 21st 2010
by Arlen Parsa

In light of all the hubbub over Republican Senate candidate Rand Paul’s permissive views on racism, I thought I’d link to a series of posts I wrote when his father Ron Paul was running for the Republican presidential nomination. Like father like son, their views and tone-deafness create breathing room for racism.
Racism in Ron Paul’s […]

Heh, guess who I ran into yesterday

Filed at 6:54 am, Saturday May 15th 2010
by Arlen Parsa

So, on my walk from the el train to work yesterday, I did a double take while walking into my building. Standing right in front was none other than Alexi Giannoulias, the probably ill-fated* Democratic nominee for Obama’s old senate seat here in Illinois (pictured above, in between a staffer wearing a white shirt and […]



Asides


 # Every progressive blogger ought to read Chris Bowers post on building a bigger carrot.

 # Obama formally announces Tim Kaine as the new DNC Chair.

 # Eugene Robinson eviscerates McCain on the economy

 # McCain & Palin are lying about their crowd sizes