INTERESTING TIMES

This 60 minutes program is from last November, but it's a good overview of what's happening.
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7054210n

I've been using medscape to keep abreast of medical news...for a while now. They're good. Anyway, here's the swine flu alert center. I ran across an article that mentioned Medscape as possibly a good stock investment, too.

--4/28/09
--state and public health agencies authorized to widen the use of precise diagnostic test
--they want to find out for sure where this flu is and how fast it is spreading!
( more notes on swine influenza A (H1N1) )

Lots of entertaining images to be found on this site!
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I've been blaming our situation on a complacent and comfortable populace. As long as we are fat and happy, we aren't likely to start a revolution. But this editorial (behind cut) proposes that there is an inherent weakness and timidity among liberals---an unwillingness to grasp power and use it.

I think they're right, but I don't understand. Why are liberals like this? What is wrong with wielding power?

Pelosi's statement that impeachment is off the table is a prime example of someone who is in a position of power but doesn't want to appear to want the power. She should be saying "Look out guys, we'll remove you and I'll take over if you don't start flying right". It is exactly her responsbility as Speaker of the House to take that power if needed. I pick on Pelosi but we have an entire congress of wimpy representatives who would rather say "bad boy" than to take the stick away from the bullies and use it themselves to enforce proper behavior.

Even the timid and the shy can break out of old habits and become outspoken proponents of truth. Each of us so-called Americans who do not actively participate in guiding our representatives needs to break out and take action too. My pen is greased: lots of congressmen and senators are hearing from me. It's time for all of us to take our responsibility to this nation seriously.

Democracy requires an educated and involved populace, or it will fall. Ours is making whistling noises, it's falling so fast.

( Read the Editorial from Buzzflash about How and Why the Democrats Are Weak )

This is a brilliantly and exhaustively argued piece, well worth
reading in its entirety. (Thanks to Dr Magid for sending the article).
( Bush gives the American People the Finger (So much for the rule of law.) )

I've been learning history from listening to the tributes to President Ford after his death. I was a child when he served. Now I understand more about him and I am grateful that he was a president of this nation. It is widely believed that he was not re-elected because he pardoned Nixon. Lots of people have something to say about that decision. It isn't possible to know the true content of his thoughts when he made that decision, but I find myself among those who think that perhaps it was not the right choice.
( on Cheney, Nixon, impeachment, the natural lifetime of democracy, and more )