View of Jolly Harbour on the coast of Antigua
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN? DOWNLOADING ZERO DARK THIRTY FOR LESS THAN A DOLLAR.
Government of Antigua is accused by government of the United States of operating a form of “state sponsored piracy” by setting up a website from which users can download Hollywood movies and music industry songs at extremely cheap rates, even though the World Trade Organization has indicated approval of the Antiguan policy as perhaps a legitimate form of “retaliation” against U.S. free trade agreements that have been inimical to Antigua’s and other Caribbean countries’ economies.
(Eurasia Review)
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BRINGING IRAQ “BACK INTO THE STONE AGE.”
This threat of a U.S. Secretary of State to an Iraqi head of state in 1991 has seen a near-fulfillment of that threat after more than two decades that included devastating sanctions, a scorched earth bombing campaign, an all-out invasion and a promotion of the sectarian strife that now afflicts the country. What much beyond “stone age” conditions can you say of a country that now has 4.5 million orphans, 70% of whom lost their parents to one of the foreign “Operations” against the country?
(Asia Times)
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“BURN THAT FUCKING HOUSE DOWN!”
This utterance by a San Bernadino, California deputy was among the numerous “twitter” entries that recorded the speech and behavior of “law enforcement” officials as they supposedly attempted to capture alleged cop-killer Christopher Dorner and either set or allowed to burn out the fire that incinerated his body. News media collaborated in this unacknowledged police action of taking extra-judicial revenge for the murder of “one of their own.” But for the internet and especially Twitter perhaps none of this would have become general public knowledge.
(Alternet)
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INSULT TO INJURY: STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS TAXPAYERS GET A DOUBLE DOSE OF COST OF MISMANAGEMENT OF STATE’S WELFARE SYSTEM PAYMENTS.
A “glitch” in that system led to the dispensing of millions of dollars to people who were not entitled to them. The “insult” to this fiscal injury came when the state spent more millions for overtime pay for state workers given the task of “fixing” the glitch as welfare clients had to be “recertified.”
(Boston Herald)
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MAYBE “THE BEST-READ PIECE EVER IN AN ALTERNATIVE WEEKLY NEWSPAPER.”
Columnist for Miami New Times suggests that accolade for investigative reporting of the baseball steroids scandal in south Florida, focused on Biogensis company in Coral Gables. The author asks “what next?” may come in the investigation, and suggests the paper might embark on some kind of “crusade” to bring the culprits to justice.
(Miami New Times)
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Quote of the day…
(President Obama in his State of the Union address) boasted about Race to the Top, which has been a nightmare, and said he now wanted to “redesign America’s high schools” so they can give students “the skills today’s employers are looking for.” What about giving students the skills to be engaged learners or thoughtful citizens?
Matthew Rothschild on the “lukewarm liberalism” of the SOTU address.
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