What should the White House do? Panic! - CNN.com

What should the White House do? Panic! - CNN.com: "As I watch the Republican debates, I realize that we are on the brink of a crazy person running our nation. I sit in front of the television and shudder at the thought of one of these creationism-loving, global-warming-denying, immigration-bashing, Social-Security-cutting, clean-air-hating, mortality-fascinated, Wall-Street-protecting Republicans running my country."

'via Blog this'

S&P downgrades US credit rating - The Hill's On The Money

S&P downgrades US credit rating - The Hill's On The Money: "The United States has suffered its first downgrade to its credit rating in history, as Standard & Poor's has reduced the nation's rating from AAA to AA+."

John Boehner Rejects Obama's Grand Bargain On Debt Ceiling

John Boehner Rejects Obama's Grand Bargain On Debt Ceiling:

"House Speaker John Boehner is rejecting President Obama's offer to make historic cuts to the federal government and the social safety net, saying in a statement Saturday evening that he can not agree to the tax increases Democrats insisted on as part of the bargain."

In debt talks, Obama offers Social Security cuts - The Washington Post

In debt talks, Obama offers Social Security cuts - The Washington Post:

"President Obama is pressing congressional leaders to consider a far-reaching debt-reduction plan that would force Democrats to accept major changes to Social Security and Medicare in exchange for Republican support for fresh tax revenue."

Warming Ocean Could Melt Ice Faster Than Thought

Warming Ocean Could Melt Ice Faster Than Thought:

"WASHINGTON — Warming air from climate change isn't the only thing that will speed ice melting near the poles – so will the warming water beneath the ice, a new study points out.

Increased melting of ice in Greenland and parts of Antarctica has been reported as a consequence of global warming, potentially raising sea levels. But little attention has been paid to the impact of warmer water beneath the ice."

LGBT Data Now Included In National Health Interview Survey

LGBT Data Now Included In National Health Interview Survey:

"For the first time, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender populations will be included in the National Health Interview Survey -- one of the key sources used to gauge the health of Americans. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Wednesday morning that it will add questions on sexual orientation to the survey by 2013 and begin efforts to collect data on gender identity."

I was wrong about same-sex marriage - CNN.com

I was wrong about same-sex marriage - CNN.com:

"Washington (CNN) -- I was a strong opponent of same-sex marriage. Fourteen years ago, Andrew Sullivan and I forcefully debated the issue at length online (at a time when online debate was a brand new thing).

Yet I find myself strangely untroubled by New York state's vote to authorize same-sex marriage -- a vote that probably signals that most of 'blue' states will follow within the next 10 years.

I don't think I'm alone in my reaction either. Most conservatives have reacted with calm -- if not outright approval -- to New York's dramatic decision."

Afghan Girl Was Tricked Into Carrying Bomb, Officials Say - NYTimes.com

Afghan Girl Was Tricked Into Carrying Bomb, Officials Say - NYTimes.com:

"KABUL, Afghanistan — Insurgents tricked an 8-year-old girl in a remote area of central Afghanistan into carrying a bomb wrapped in cloth that they detonated remotely when she was close to a police vehicle, the Afghan authorities said Sunday."

Gay Marriage Approved by New York Senate - NYTimes.com

Gay Marriage Approved by New York Senate - NYTimes.com:

"ALBANY — Lawmakers voted late Friday to legalize same-sex marriage, making New York the largest state where gay and lesbian couples will be able to wed and giving the national gay-rights movement new momentum from the state where it was born."

Gay Marriage Bill Passes In New York: Senate Passes Bill Allowing Same Sex Marriage

Gay Marriage Bill Passes In New York:

Senate Passes Bill Allowing Same Sex Marriage: "Gay couples and proponents of gay rights have a reason to celebrate tonight, as the New York State Senate has passed a bill that allows same sex marriage.

New York will be the sixth, and largest, state in the union to adopt gay marriage. The bill will take effect 30 days after governor Andrew Cuomo signs it into law."

Batesville Daily Guard Takes Back Apology, Insults Survivor | GLAADBlog.org

Batesville Daily Guard Takes Back Apology, Insults Survivor | GLAADBlog.org:

"The Batesville Daily Guard is now retracting commitments made yesterday to GLAAD by its spokesman to revisit its policies and to apologize to Terrance James, the gay man whom it had edited out of his partner’s obituary, and instead has insulted him by issuing a highly defamatory editorial in today’s paper."

from Huffingtonpost

Eric Cantor Pulls Out Of Debt Ceiling Talks

Eric Cantor Pulls Out Of Debt Ceiling Talks:

"WASHINGTON -- House Majority Leader Eric Cantor pulled out of bipartisan negotiations to raise the nation's debt limit Thursday, and the Senate Republican number two is expected to follow, according to multiple reports."

U.N. Gay Rights Protection Resolution Passes, Hailed As 'Historic Moment'

U.N. Gay Rights Protection Resolution Passes, Hailed As 'Historic Moment': "The United Nations issued its first condemnation of discrimination against gays, lesbians and transgender people on Friday in a cautiously worded declaration hailed by supporters including the United States as a historic moment.

Members of the U.N. Human Rights Council narrowly voted in favor of the resolution put forward by South Africa, against strong opposition from African and Islamic countries."

DCCC Demands GOP Condemn What Could Be Most Racist/Sexist Ad Ever

DCCC Demands GOP Condemn What Could Be Most Racist/Sexist Ad Ever

Drug War Has Failed And Governments Should Explore Legalizing Marijuana, Says Report

Drug War Has Failed And Governments Should Explore Legalizing Marijuana, Says Report: "The global war on drugs has failed and governments should explore legalizing marijuana and other controlled substances, according to a commission that includes former heads of state, a former U.N. secretary-general and a business mogul."

Crack Cocaine 'Fair Sentencing Act' Should Be Retroactive, Holder Says : The Two-Way : NPR

Crack Cocaine 'Fair Sentencing Act' Should Be Retroactive, Holder Says : The Two-Way : NPR: "Saying that the Fair Sentencing Act that narrowed the disparity between penalties for crack and power cocaine offenses has been 'a historic step forward,' Attorney Gen. Eric Holder pushed today for retroactively applying the lighter crack penalties to some offenders now serving time."

Syria Death Toll From Violence Tops 900

Syria Death Toll From Violence Tops 900: "Syrian security forces opened fire on a funeral procession for slain anti-government protesters Saturday, pushing the number of people reported killed in a two-month uprising to more than 900 and making it one of the deadliest of the Arab Spring."

ThinkProgress » TX GOP Slashes Funding For Agency Battling Wildfires, While Also Blasting Obama For Not Spending More

ThinkProgress » TX GOP Slashes Funding For Agency Battling Wildfires, While Also Blasting Obama For Not Spending More: "For months, Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) has berated President Obama and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for not giving the state more federal money to combat historic wildfires that have so far burned 2.5 million acres"

32 Pictures You Need To See Before You Die Tomorrow: Pics, Videos, Links, News - StumbleUpon

32 Pictures You Need To See Before You Die Tomorrow: Pics, Videos, Links, News - StumbleUpon

Gladewater to start charging for fire services - Longview News-Journal: Local News

Gladewater to start charging for fire services - Longview News-Journal: Local News: "The Gladewater City Council hopes a new ordinance will help the city collect fees for some services provided by the fire department.

City Manager Sean Pate said the ordinance will allow the city to recoup costs associated with hazardous materials spills, large-scale wrecks and commercial fires where excessive manpower, equipment and supplies are used."

Are Politicians Especially Prone To Affairs? : NPR

Are Politicians Especially Prone To Affairs? : NPR: "Normal people — plumbers, stockbrokers — certainly have affairs. But politicians sometimes seem especially susceptible to them.

Tuesday's revelation that former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger sired a child out of wedlock a decade ago comes two days after the arrest on sexual assault charges of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund and erstwhile front-runner in next year's presidential election in France."

Rick Hanson, Ph.D.: How to Take Things Less Personally

Rick Hanson, Ph.D.: How to Take Things Less Personally:


"Is it about you?

The practice: don't take it personally.

Why?

Here's an updated parable from the ancient Taoist teacher Chuang-Tzu: Imagine that you are floating in a canoe on a slow-moving river, having a Sunday picnic with a friend. Suddenly there is a loud thump on the side of the canoe, and it rolls over. You come up sputtering, and what do you see? Somebody has snuck up on your canoe, flipped it over for a joke, and is laughing at you. How do you feel?"