Idiolexicon

Saturday Morning (Journalism) Quarterback

noreply@blogger.com (Patrick) — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 13:40:00 +0000

The top-five stories worth reading from this week in worth-reading stories

Democracy in America may be over. The problem isn't the law - it's the supreme court and it's conservative "re-write the constitution" mentality.

One big step to getting jobs back in America: fixing the manufacturing policy.

Ancient hominids may have sailed the seas.

66 years later, celebrating Roosevelt's call for economic rights.

Factory farms are pumping Americans full of bacteria and deadly pathogens.

Saturday Morning (Journalism) Quarterback

noreply@blogger.com (Patrick) — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 15:49:00 +0000

The top-five stories worth reading from this week in worth-reading stories

Are progressives too depressed, comfortable or broken to actually produce social change?

Serial catastrophes threaten to derail Obama's Afghan strategy.

Speaking of which - did U.S. forces execute children?

Privatized war has its price.

Adjusted for inflation, DOW investments only return under 1% per year.

Saturday Morning (Journalism) Quarterback

noreply@blogger.com (Patrick) — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 14:03:00 +0000

The top-five stories worth reading from this week in worth-reading stories

High-fructose corn syrup has proven to cause human obesity.

Science Daily counts down the most controversial stories from Science! in 2009.

What happened to the hominids who were smarter than us?

Monopoly capitalism is the root of almost all of America's problems.

The 00's were were a lost decade for Americans with zero net job creation.

Saturday Morning (Journalism) Quarterback

noreply@blogger.com (Patrick) — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 19:03:00 +0000

Boxing Day edition! The top-five stories worth reading from this week in worth-reading stories

Why can't Democrats do a damn thing right?

Here in America, we sight "terrorism" as the reason we do almost everything, but never do we consider what our own actions abroad impact.

In a related story, Israel admitted this week to illegal organ harvesting.

It's time to end Wall Street's accountability deficit.

NPR has a great story on how a bone disease was invented by marketing.

Saturday Morning (Journalism) Quarterback

noreply@blogger.com (Patrick) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 13:37:00 +0000

The top-five stories worth reading from this week in worth-reading stories

Paul Krugman discusses disaster and denial.

According to Glenn Greenwald's spot-on analysis, we're fighting in Afghanistan for reasons other than what our government tells us. We're also spending $58,000 a MINUTE to occupy that country.

The debate in Copenhagen this week is also a debate about colonialism and the Industrial Revolution. Alternet lists eight things climate change will force us to kiss goodbye.

Restoring Glass-Steagall won't be as easy as common sense dictates.

Finally this week, an important division is beginning to show within the "center-left" community, as articulated on Salon and The New Republic.

Saturday Morning (Journalism) Quarterback

noreply@blogger.com (Patrick) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 14:29:00 +0000

The top-five stories worth reading from this week in worth-reading stories

Liberals are pathetic.

The New Republic profiles the man tasked with saving U.S. manufacturing. Also, John Nichols reports that Obama is finally moving on job creation.

A classic case of swiftboating: how the right-wing noise machine manufactured climategate.

The Supreme Court's ruling on Citizens United vs. the FEC could open the door to foreign corporations donating without limits to U.S. elections.

Finally, it's time to break up Monsanto for anti-trust violations.

Saturday Morning (Journalism) Quarterback

noreply@blogger.com (Patrick) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 14:24:00 +0000

The top-five stories worth reading from this week in worth-reading stories

Free market delusions destroyed the economy.

Michigan's economy is what our national economy will be.

What happens when your country drowns?

Obama is wrong on Afghanistan.

Elizabeth Warren imagines American without a middle class.

New issue

noreply@blogger.com (Elliot) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 07:14:00 +0000

Idiolexicon 2.2: Winter/Troop Surge

Saturday Morning (Journalism) Quarterback

noreply@blogger.com (Patrick) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 01:52:00 +0000

Hefty Thanksgiving edition of the top-five stories worth reading from this week in worth-reading stories

Two leading House figures are attempting to close a 50 trillion dollar loophole in our regulations. America is one big clunker, and no one's going to buy us.

Glenn Greenwald looks into terrorism and its roots. Truth Dig digs into a new state solution for Palestine.

Despite what the right-wing tells you, Reagan didn't end the Cold War: left-wing intellectuals did. Also, liberalism can and should be populism.

Creationism vs. Evolution on college campuses.

In environmental news: Not only is time almost up according to a new study on climate change, but we're killing our oceans to boot. Oligarchs, limousine liberals and Sean Hannity are destroying our water supply. Also, the U.S. and China strike a climate change deal?

Lastly, the news of Dubai's epic debt and financing failure shook world markets - and India may emerge stronger because of it.

Saturday Morning (Journalism) Quarterback

noreply@blogger.com (Patrick) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:46:00 +0000

The top-five stories worth reading from this week in worth-reading stories

America's true unemployment rate is almost 18% now counting those who have given up, settled for part-time work who have been unemployed so long they've fallen off all rolls.

According to a former UK ambassador, the CIA sent detainees to Uzbek prisons where they were raped with beer bottles and boiled alive for information.

Ten targets that stand between economic greed and economic reform. Also, our produce or die culture is killing us, and we just grin and bear it.

Banking reform has caused a rift between big financials and the chamber of commerce.

So much for those green manufacturing jobs. They're all being off-shored, too, and at our expense.

Saturday Morning (Journalism) Quarterback

noreply@blogger.com (Patrick) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:07:00 +0000

The top-five stories worth reading from this week in worth-reading stories

Our economy was a scam, and now we're dead broke. The gravest threat to our economy now isn't some phantom "socialism" but subsidies.

Robert Reich discusses breaking up the big banks, and why congress won't do it.
Conservative pundits like Glenn Beck peddle populism for the rich, in the vein of Ayn Rand, who advocated a "work stoppage" by rich Americans in order to halt a progressive income tax. She also justified bombings against any of the "lice" who supported taxing the rich.

The American empire is coming to an early end. It matters where things are made.

Andrew Schafly, son of anti-feminist Phyllis Schafly, is spearheading a project to rewrite the Bible to "free it from liberalism".

Saturday Morning (Journalism) Quarterback

noreply@blogger.com (Patrick) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 12:45:00 +0000

The top-five stories worth reading from this week in worth-reading stories

Have the Arab states, along with China and Russia, begun working on a secret deal to stop trading oil in the dollar?

The inspector-general concluded that Hank Paulson may mislead Congress and the country about the health of banks when he argued for the original bailout money. Pox Americana.

Truth Dig has a great article on the true cost of the Wall Street bailouts. American billionaires cook up scheme after crazy scheme to keep stealing our money.

Could California become America's first failed state?

The Independent has a great interview with Gore Vidal.

Saturday Morning (Journalism) Quarterback

noreply@blogger.com (Patrick) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 14:01:00 +0000

The top-five stories worth reading from this week in worth-reading stories

A great article on the war on language.

Are we nearing the end of fish? And how will climate change effect world food supplies?

In economic and business news, the ACORN de-funding bill could take an interesting twist. Also, thanks to globalization, will American have to learn to live with permanently high unemployment? And does poverty make Americans fat, or is it the other way around.

Wall Street's near-demise gave rise to new lies about the economy.

Alternet has a great article on the U.S. and Europe having propped up so many corrupt "democracies" that the word is losing its meaning.

Saturday Morning (Journalism) Quarterback

noreply@blogger.com (Patrick) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 12:34:00 +0000

The top-five stories worth reading from this week in worth-reading stories

The world climate change conference took place this week, with China announcing some impressive goals. The United States? not so much. Big business is also showing divisions about climate policy.

We're running out of time.

Just for yucks, the CEO of the largest bank on Earth makes almost 1,000% percent LESS than the top U.S. banker. Way to go, unregulated capitalism. You stay classy.

Is right-wing hate mongering fueled by Christianity? Bill Moyers says conservative radicals are practicing the politics of vengeance.

Globalization has gone bankrupt. The G20 summit this week is evidence of that.

Saturday Morning (Journalism) Quarterback

noreply@blogger.com (Patrick) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 14:13:00 +0000

The top-five stories worth reading from the week in worth-reading stories

We've now been in Afghanistan for nine wasted years.

In heartless news, the insurance industry considers spousal abuse a pre-existing condition.

The banking system right now is worse than before the Lehman Brothers collapse, and Obama is tip-toeing around it. Business loves to meddle in education, but never takes ownership of its economic roots.

In environmental news: the Clean Water Act isn't cleaning anything. And thanks to un-checked global warming, fresh water is drying up all over the world.

Finally, a great article on where conservatism is now.

Saturday Morning (Journalism) Quarterback

noreply@blogger.com (Patrick) — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 12:54:00 +0000

The top-five stories worth reading from the week in worth-reading stories

Are we on the precipice of another economic meltdown?

How some of the world's largest corporations claim to be "local". Also, in related news, food is power, and the powerful are killing us. At least we're talking about food.

After three decades of government outsourcing, the Obama administration vows to get tough on contractors. But is the civil service too far gone?

Matt Taibi has a great article on the American healthcare debacle.

Finally this week, America is already a plutocracy, and the Supreme Court is poised to effectively end democracy. The court's right-wing hacks may allow unlimited corporate money into politics.

The Office Pool (Week One Picks!)

noreply@blogger.com (Patrick) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:26:00 +0000

Tennessee Titans vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: Steelers
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Baltimore Ravens: Ravens
Minnesota Vikings vs. Cleveland Browns: Vikings
Denver Broncos vs. Cincinnati Bengals: Bengals
Miami Dolphins vs. Atlanta Falcons: Falcons
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Carolina Panthers: Eagles
Indianapolis Colts vs. Jacksonville Jaguars: Colts
Dallas Cowboys vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Cowboys
New York Jets vs. Houston Texans: Jets (all the experts are going Houston)
Detroit Lions vs. New Orleans Saints: Saints
St. Louis Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks: Seahawks
Washington Redskins vs. NY Giants: Giants
San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals: Cardinals
Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers: Bears
San Diego Chargers vs. Oakland Raiders: Chargers
Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots: Patriots

Saturday Morning (Journalism) Quarterback

noreply@blogger.com (Patrick) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 16:43:00 +0000

The top-five stories worth reading from the week in worth-reading stories

One year from the global banking collapse, we still haven't learned. Paul Krugman has a great article on how economists got it so wrong.

How many solar panels would it take to power the entire world? Less than you think.

The AFL-CIO is pushing a small tax on stock trades. We're all wondering if the Obama administration's tough talk will translate into real monopoly-busting action.

A social history of the mp3. Also, are Myspace and Facebook divided along class lines?

Finally, student debt is threatening to take down a generation.

Saturday Morning (Journalism) Quarterback

noreply@blogger.com (Patrick) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 18:20:00 +0000

The top-five stories worth reading from the week in worth-reading stories

The real unemployment rate is at 16%, and the banks deemed "too big to fail" have grown even bigger. If a bank is too big to fail, its too big to exist.

The intellectual and professional wing of the democratic part needs labor, and vice-versa. Without progressive politics and labor economics, liberalism cannot stand.

Glenn Greenwald has a great article on what every American should learn from the IG's torture report. Also, Thomas Paine vs. the Republican's torture defense.

The corporate food industry is desperate to tar Michael Pollan and the organic movement. Also, Mother Jones looks into the retrovore's dilemma.

Finally, small mid-western states will be the hardest hit by climate change.

Saturday Morning (Journalism) Quarterback

noreply@blogger.com (Patrick) — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 13:35:00 +0000

The top five stories worth reading from the week in worth-reading stories

Economic recovery will not follow historic models this time. Part of the reason is that America has become a nation of serfs serving a rich oligarchy. The Obama moment has begun giving us the worst of all worlds, but, this should serve as a lesson to we in the progressive community.

Can new growth save the Amazon? Also, mercury was found in in every fish tested in every stream or river in America.

A great article on art and generations.

Will U.S. troops be forced out of Iraq by democracy? HOPEFULLY. Meanwhile, Afghanistan has taken a giant step backwards. Meanwhile, U.S.-trained Iraqi militias are torturing and killing gay and lesbian Iraqis.

Finally, Rupert Murdoch is using our public airwaves to help Ralph Reed, Dick Armey and for-profit insurance fight against reform.

Saturday Morning (Journalism) Quarterback

noreply@blogger.com (Patrick) — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 13:22:00 +0000

The top five stories worth reading from the week in worth-reading stories

Why corporations and petro-states are buying up farmland in the developing world.

There are for-profit health insurance execs on the board of every major journalism/media outlet in America.

Right-wing shock troops are doing corporate America's dirty work. The "me first, screw you" crowd aren't even trying to hide it anymore. What's the misinformed masses are screaming about is already the status quo. And just why is the debate being conducted on the corporate right's terms?

The latest income inequality numbers are truly startling.

Finally, is it meat eating that's awful for our planet, or just our cruel corporate agribusiness?

Saturday Morning (Journalism) Quarterback

noreply@blogger.com (Patrick) — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 12:51:00 +0000

The top five stories worth reading from the week in worth-reading stories

The founder of Blackwater has been implicated in murder.

The only way to fix healthcare is a public option. Any other road is just a defense of corporate, for-profit insurance. Not the incredible shrinking reform we're seeing now.

Health insurers may have already won.

How did we become a society of junk food gluttons? Also, is high-fructose corn syrup also tainted with mercury?

The Bush administration even opened the definition of organic to agricorporations.

Saturday Morning (Journalism) Quarterback

noreply@blogger.com (Patrick) — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 13:32:00 +0000

The top five stories worth reading from the week in worth-reading stories

Are corporate CEOs, by nature, sociopaths?

In economic news, the Chinese (read: our creditors) are worried that America has become a free-market banana republic.

The fertile crescent is going to disappear this century.

The food industry is fighting a three-cent soda tax despite our staggering obesity epidemic. The corporate media and insurance company puppets have hijacked the health care debate.

Is cooking the thing that makes us human? Also, food allergies get curiouser and curiouser.

Saturday Morning (Journalism) Quarterback

noreply@blogger.com (Patrick) — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 12:18:00 +0000

The top five stories worth reading from the week in worth-reading stories

Subprime brokers are resurfacing as shady loan fixers.

Why NOW is the time to raise taxes on the rich. They've been pulling a con job on taxes for 30 years. Executives already receive one-third of all pay in the U.S.

Salon concludes a three-part series on the causes of, and fixes to, the economy.

Counterpunch has a great article on judician apartheid.

In Science! news: the demise of the neanderthal still eludes us. Also, do environmental pollutantspose a role in the diabetes epidemic?

Saturday Morning (Journalism) Quarterback

noreply@blogger.com (Patrick) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:46:00 +0000

The top five stories worth reading from the week in worth-reading stories

(A little late this week - I spent three days in a hammock reading Charles Olson and Michael Pollan beside a lake in New Hampshire.)

Is Obama drinking Friedman's Kool-Aid?

Rachel Maddow did a great story this week on The Family, a secretive Washington religious organization.

The current economic downturn has revived an old debate about the utility of economic downturns. Also, Alternet talks about how bad the economy will really get.

While deficit spending is needed to claw our way out of this recession, we need to keep our eye on debt, and start cutting back on wasteful spending.

More revelations this week of the reckless force Israel used against Palestinian civilians.