Read a little. Learn a lot. • Tightly-written news, views and stuff • Follow us on Twitter • Be a Facebook Fan • Tumble us!

20 Jun 2011 10:25

tags

World: Syria’s Assad makes baby steps towards reform in major speech

  • We meet today in a defining moment in the history of our country, a moment we wish to be a turning point from a yesterday when innocent blood was shed to a tomorrow when we restore the picture of serenity, freedom, integrity and solidarity. We have seen many grave hours; we have paid a grave price.
  • Syrian President Bashar Assad • During a somewhat rambling 70-minute speech — his first in two months —where he promised to allow for political parties in the country, but offered none of the concrete reforms that many hoped for. The speech was occasionally conspiratorial in nature, but less so than many of the president’s previous speeches. Large protests reportedly followed the speech in cities throughout the country. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

25 Apr 2011 10:59

tags

World: Syria: Bashar Al-Assad has a contradictory legacy to shake

  • This is the moment of truth for Bashar al-Assad. He has potentially the ability to impose reforms on his own Baath Party, but has he the will to do so?
  • Columbia University visiting professor Jean-Pierre Filiu • Describing the situation the controversial Syrian leader currently has to deal with. It’s not clear what he’ll do — enact reforms against the party that gives him power or let them keep doing what they’re doing, both putting him at risk of losing his power — but his history suggests a cycle of giving diplomats hopes that he’ll enact real change, but failing to follow through. A tough legacy to shake, and one that has strong implications for the Middle East. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

05 Oct 2010 12:45

tags

Culture: Forgotten legacy: Edward R. Murrow High School cuts TV budget

First rule of Edward R. Murrow High School: Don’t shut down the TV studios. Second rule: Don’t break the first rule. Oh crap. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

12 Feb 2010 10:32

tags

U.S.: Patrick Kennedy willingly gives up a legacy of Kennedys in Congress

  • 54
    years     the amount of time a Kennedy has been in Congress in some way, shape or form
  • early
    2011     the period when that’s probably going to end; blame Ted’s kid, Patrick, for this source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

30 Nov 2009 20:56

tags

Politics: Daily Poll: Mike Huckabee’s ghost of Maurice Clemmons’ clemency


Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

04 Sep 2009 14:52

tags

Sports: Daily Poll: Why do you think Ernie Harwell is a great baseball icon?

Posted by Ernie Smith • 1 Comment • Permalink

03 Sep 2009 11:12

tags

U.S.: Ted Kennedy’s memoir: From his brothers to his biggest mistake

  • As I think back to my three brothers, and about what they had accomplished before I was even out of my childhood, it sometimes has occurred to me that my entire life has been a constant state of catching up.
  • Ted Kennedy • In his soon-to-be-released memoir, “True Compass,” about his legacy in comparison to his famous brothers. Kennedy goes over a bunch of other things in the book – most notably that he expresses incredible amounts of remorse over the Chappaquiddick crash, which killed Mary Jo Kopechne and haunted the rest of his political career. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

04 Jul 2009 18:24

tags

Sports: As a black quarterback, Steve McNair was a pioneer in the NFL

  • He paved a path many QBs have gone down since. Vince Young? Donovan McNabb? Michael Vick? All three of them owe much to their success of Steve McNair, a black quarterback in an era where most of them were white. The 13-year NFL star, who retired last year, was an icon to many. Former Baltimore Ravens teammate Derrick Mason had this to say about his thrower last year: “When he came out in ’95, not many people were taking a chance on a lot of quarterbacks that played at small schools, much less a black quarterback back when there were so many stereotypes about African-American quarterbacks.” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

02 Jul 2009 21:59

tags

U.S.: Who’s to blame for California’s IOU budget crisis, Ahnold or the Dems?

  • Ahnold sez the Democrats Gov. Arnold Schwartzenegger isn’t very happy that the state’s budget situation has gotten so bad that they have to hand out IOUs. “We don’t have the money to pay our bills,” he said. “It’s a sad story.” The Governator blames the Democrats in the legislature for hewing too closely to labor interests at the cost of the state. source
  • Ahnold sez the Democrats Gov. Arnold Schwartzenegger isn’t very happy that the state’s budget situation has gotten so bad that they have to hand out IOUs. “We don’t have the money to pay our bills,” he said. “It’s a sad story.” The Governator blames the Democrats in the legislature for hewing too closely to labor interests at the cost of the state.
  • The Democrats say Ahnold On the other hand, the lefties that the man who once was pregnant in a movie is blaming claim that his demand that the budget be fixed all at once caused the crisis. “I think the first priority is fixing the deficit,” said Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, “and it seems the governor’s first priority now is fixing his legacy.” Ouch! source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
 
top tags