Congress just quietly passed a $400 billion budget deal.
Haven’t heard much about it. This article was helpful in breaking down where some of the money is going.
I don’t see much to complain about. What are your thoughts?
Just watched the third episode in the new season of Black Mirror and boy do I regret it. Not in a “this was a stupid waste of my time” way. These episodes are smart, they are well-made, cinematic even, and they make you think. But they pack a punch and more often than not, that punch makes you...
Trump announces new strategy for Afghanistan. Washington Post
Key takeaways from Trump's Afghanistan speech
ABC news
It appears that America is re-committing to the war in Afghanistan, ostensibly to root out extremism and terrorists and to stabilize the country.
Trump's change of heart is the...
Republican House Whip Steve Scalise, congressional staffer shot in Virginia shooting
A gunman targeted a group of Republican congressman practicing at a baseball field.
Congressman Steve Scalise, a staffer, and two Capitol Hill policeman were shot. Scalise is expected to recover (shot in hip)...
Transcript
There's a lot to unpack in there.
Comey's response regarding the Russian Investigation was refreshingly clear:
What aspects particularly struck you in his testimony? Anything we didn't know, or anything suspected that was confirmed?
Trump fired FBI director James Comey today.
The reason given is over his mishandling of the Hilary email investigation. Wonder what took so long. And could it have anything to do with the FBI's investigation into Trump's Russian ties?
Trump got a lot of support, even from those across the aisle, with his tough talk on NAFTA.
I admit that I am relatively uninformed regarding this trade agreement.
Why is it so unpopular? Should it be totally scrapped, or should it be "renegotiated"?
The 6 Pros and Cons of NAFTA.
This site...
With its religious theme, I was wondering if anyone here caught the Young Pope.
It was excruciatingly slow, filled with artsy videography, and in most episodes nothing happened except some philosophical or emotional whining. But I kept watching. I needed to know how a man who may or may not...
US is Sending About 400 Marines to Syria
"These 400 troops will bring the number of U.S. forces on the ground in Syria to about 900, Phil says.
"The military is trying to copy as much as it can from the playbook it's using in Iraq, where American troops aren't supposed to be in direct combat...
What did you all think of Trump's first speech to Congress?
I thought it was a good speech for President Trump. Less bleak (no American carnage) and more constructive.
While I still disagree with most of the things President Trump wants to do (or more specifically, how he wants to do them)...
I believe the burden of proof argument, as deployed by many atheists, is a bad argument, both ethically and philosophically.
The burden of proof argument claims that because theists have failed to adequately prove the existence of god, atheists need no further reason, evidence, or...
Here is a neutral article on this Supreme Court Decision:
Supreme Court Strikes Down Two-Year Donation Caps In Landmark Campaign Finance Case
Basically, there is still a cap on how much you can donate to an individual, but there is no longer any cap on how much money you can spend during...
So, this is my position that I've developed from ingesting various sources regarding this conflict:
Basically, it sounds like the Crimea should have been a part of Russia all along, and that the majority of Crimeans would prefer to be Russian.
Russia was just a jerk about how they...
So, what's your take on the perfect grilled cheese?
I attempted it last night, but was not quite pleased with the outcome. I broke down and bought Kraft singles since they are the traditional grilled cheese cheese, and nothing else seems to get that perfect level of gooeyness. I mixed the...
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever should believe in him should not perish, but have eternal life."
This is something that I just can't understand about the Christian mythos. I can understand the concept of a God that loves people. I can understand...
I recently had a discussion with someone who is currently going through some financial difficulties. He had been on unemployment for a month. During that month, he pounded the pavements for work, and has also hit the books with a relish, in order to be able to obtain higher certification to make...
In income inequality.
The U.S. has the worst income equality in the developed world.
The top 1% have doubled their slice of the income pie, from 10% in 1960 to 20% now.
Let me repeat that: 1% of U.S. citizens control 20% of the wealth.
So, what has caused this concentration of wealth...
I'm listening to A Clockwork Orange on tape right now. At first, it was very frustrating because of the thick British accent and the made-up dialect.
But at this point, I understand the humble Narrator perfectly. I've even begun to think in some of those words, like referring to my arms as...