Why We Are Liberals

Absit Omen

Red Fish, Blue Fish - Old Fish, New Fish

On Stimulating The Future, Or, "It's The Ytterbium, Stupid!"
We're diving deep into "geek world" today with a story that combines economic hardball, the periodic table of the elements, and a barely noticed provision of the Defense Authorization Act that seeks to break a monopoly which today gives China near-absolute control over the materials that make cell phones, electric cars, wind turbines, and pretty much every other tool of modern life possible. If we successfully break the monopoly, we'll be able to create millions of new manufacturing jobs in this country-and if we don't, somebody else owns the 21st Century. Ironically, the global warming we're trying to fight with new green technologies might be an ally in our efforts to make those ver

Why doesn't Obama consider Diplomacy in Afghanistan?
This Tuesday Obama is supposed to announce his decision on troops and Afghanistan (the last guess I heard was 30,000 as opposed to the 40,000 the General asked for) and we will once again see our middle-east  battle commitment increase. But is there a reason why the President didn't turn the problem over to the State Department for a negotiated solution? Sherwood Ross in OpEdNews writes an extended article on why diplomacy wasn't even considered. here's a clip: Afghanistan is valued today for the oil and gas pipelines the U.S. wants built there, no matter

Black Friday
Today is Black Friday. It has only been in the last couple of years that stores gave actually referred to "Black Friday" in their post-Thanksgiving-sale ads... There was a time that they didn't really want nyou to know that it was the point on the fiscal calendar when they went into the Black...or started to earn a profit, as opposed to being in the Red, or losing money. Once upon a time the retailers did not want you to know how tenuous their existence was... it would be more like begging than selling. This year's Black Friday is supposed to have an increase dnumber of shoppers from last year, but it is not likely that they will actually make an increase in sales... and it is pos

On Giving Thanks The European Way, Or, Freedom: It's The New Black!
I have a Thanksgiving story for your consumption that has nothing to do with turkeys or pumpkin pie or crazy uncles. Instead, in an effort to remind you what this holiday can really stand for, we'll meet some people who are thankful today for simply being free. It's a short story today, but an especially touching one, so follow along and we'll take a little hop across the Atlantic for a trip you should not miss. It is 20 years now since a series of events began in Europe that culminated in the fall of the Soviet Union and the dictatorial governments in numerous other neighboring countries, and the European Commission has produced a series of eleven three-minute films to mark t

Afghanistan, now!
Again, modified from e-mail and other information. Please consider action.... Today, we have much news to share about our Afghanistan peace campaign and an opportunity for action. First, thank you all for your calls to the White House last week -- and for your photos and comments on our Facebook Postcards to Obama initiative. This week, we are redoubling our efforts. Peace and justice groups are joining together in calling for White House Call-in Days, Monday through Wednesday. We need your help. Last week, the White House held three meetings to reach out to academics and peace activists, development agencies, and representatives from faith communities to elicit their views on A