Lt. Dan Choi testified in his own defense yesterday for over three hours, arguing that his arrest for protesting Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell on the White House fence was a form of censorship. Today, his attorney Robert Feldman will question Randy Myers, assistant solicitor general at the Department of Interior, why he advised U.S. Park Police to pursue federal charges against Choi. The prosecution apparently made Choi an offer Friday to delay the trial four months and dismiss it if Choi avoids arrest in that time. Choi laughed and said no — at least not without an apology from Myers or a higher official.
Rep. Allen West (R-FL) criticized his fellow Tea Party Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) today over her call for oil drilling in the Florida Everglades. In an interview with the AP this weekend, Bachmann said we should look for new sources of domestic oil, offering the Everglades as a possible location. West rebuffed that suggestion at a town hall in Palm Beach Gardens today, calling it “an incredible faux pas,” the Palm Beach Post reports. “When I see her next week, I’ll straighten her out about that,” he added. West is a member of Bachmann’s Tea Party Caucus.
The protests against the sludge-oil-carrying Keystone Pipeline is growing. More arrests occurred today outside the White House, including actress Darryl Hannah this time, and protests sprung up in Minneapolis. NBC News (my emphasis): "Sometimes it's necessary to sacrifice your freedom for a greater freedom," Hannah said in Lafayette Park before her arrest. "And we want to be free from the horrible death and destruction that fossil fuels cause, and have a clean energy future." With dozens of others, Hannah sat on the sidewalk in front of the White House and refused three requests from the Park Police to move. The group organizing the protest, Tar Sands Action, has said the Keystone pipeline -- which will stretch from Canada to the Gulf -- is among the most important environmental decisions that confront the president.
"Sometimes it's necessary to sacrifice your freedom for a greater freedom," Hannah said in Lafayette Park before her arrest. "And we want to be free from the horrible death and destruction that fossil fuels cause, and have a clean energy future." With dozens of others, Hannah sat on the sidewalk in front of the White House and refused three requests from the Park Police to move. The group organizing the protest, Tar Sands Action, has said the Keystone pipeline -- which will stretch from Canada to the Gulf -- is among the most important environmental decisions that confront the president.
With dozens of others, Hannah sat on the sidewalk in front of the White House and refused three requests from the Park Police to move.
The group organizing the protest, Tar Sands Action, has said the Keystone pipeline -- which will stretch from Canada to the Gulf -- is among the most important environmental decisions that confront the president.
"Dancing With the Stars" aims for provocative casts, and Chaz Bono joining the show this week has already yielded strong reaction -- some of it ugly. [...] Among the other comments: "Chaz Bono How low can this show sink. Well you have certainly addressed the gay commuity. Guess this will not be a family show any longer!!!! Lost my family!" "YOUR choice to bring Chaz Bono into the mix goes too far. I am not about to risk the potential for on screen dialogue about sex changes and gender confusion while my 7 and 9 year old are watching. If you want the 'anything goes' hippy culture, then soon that is all you will get. You've lost us. In case any of you are wondering ... no, we are NOT tolerant. We are not tolerant to allow any and all influences to come unfiltered into our home and especially to our children.
Among the other comments:
"Chaz Bono How low can this show sink. Well you have certainly addressed the gay commuity. Guess this will not be a family show any longer!!!! Lost my family!"
"YOUR choice to bring Chaz Bono into the mix goes too far. I am not about to risk the potential for on screen dialogue about sex changes and gender confusion while my 7 and 9 year old are watching. If you want the 'anything goes' hippy culture, then soon that is all you will get. You've lost us. In case any of you are wondering ... no, we are NOT tolerant. We are not tolerant to allow any and all influences to come unfiltered into our home and especially to our children.
Rachel Figueroa-Levin has a dog, three cats, five fish, a snake, a turtle, a parakeet, a gecko (“like the Geico lizard,” she explained) and two sugar gliders (picture little flying opossums). The gliders’ cage sits beside a screen that streams “Sesame Street” videos for her 9-month-old daughter, Adiella, whose playpen and bouncer are strategically arranged by the living room’s centerpiece: a Macintosh computer where Ms. Figueroa-Levin blogs, posts messages on Twitter, and writes about, well, anything. It was there, on Saturday morning, that @ElBloombito was born. Hurricane Irene was bearing down on New York City, and Ms. Figueroa-Levin was chuckling about Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s heavy American accent and prolific mispronunciations when he delivered warnings in Spanish about the storm during a news conference the previous night.
It was there, on Saturday morning, that @ElBloombito was born. Hurricane Irene was bearing down on New York City, and Ms. Figueroa-Levin was chuckling about Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s heavy American accent and prolific mispronunciations when he delivered warnings in Spanish about the storm during a news conference the previous night.
Vines creep across Tomioka's empty streets, its prim gardens overgrown with waist-high weeds and meadow flowers. Dead cows rot where they were left to starve in their pens. Chicken coops writhe with maggots, a sickening stench hanging in the air. This once-thriving community of 16,000 people now has a population of one. In this nuclear no-man's land poisoned by radiation from a disaster-battered power plant, rice farmer Naoto Matsumura refuses to leave despite government orders. He says he has thought about the possibility of getting cancer but prefers to stay - with a skinny dog named Aki his constant companion.
This once-thriving community of 16,000 people now has a population of one.
In this nuclear no-man's land poisoned by radiation from a disaster-battered power plant, rice farmer Naoto Matsumura refuses to leave despite government orders. He says he has thought about the possibility of getting cancer but prefers to stay - with a skinny dog named Aki his constant companion.
“This funding transfer will rapidly accelerate the progress of American companies currently developing innovative crew and cargo transport vehicles here in the United States – all of which are based in or have significant and expanding operations in Texas,” said TXA’s Rick Tumlinson. “These companies; SpaceX, Boeing, Sierra Nevada, and Blue Origin are leading a revolution, and they need to see our legislators fighting for them – not against them.”