Comedy and Reality Break: Bill Hicks on 11/22/63

Sometimes, comedy can make you laugh and shudder at the same time. This is one of those. The inimitable Bill Hicks talks about JFK, Oswald, and the biggest mystery of our time. View with caution.

From Our “You Can’t Make This Up” Department: Readers PLEASE WEIGH IN on these Threats to Your Liberty

Small things, like paper bags, safe playground equipment, and energy-efficient bulbs are part of a plot to deprive us of our liberty. Or so says this fellow—who apparently is pretty popular.

Getting Granular With Afghanistan: Deadly Mistakes Ignored

With all the talk about what to do with Afghanistan now that Osama is no more, this article from UK’s The Independent deserves more attention: Amid growing calls for US Special Operations Forces to take the lead in Afghanistan after the successful strike against Osama bin Laden, a new report has warned that systemic failures […]

Demanding the Evidence on Abbottabad: Even the Media Establishment Is Wary

The Associated Press is ever so diplomatic. But its skepticism of the White House says a lot.

The CIA’s Man in Libya?

The complicated back story to the “spontaneous uprising” in Libya deserves our attention

Three Cups of T. Friedman

If we care about Greg Mortenson’s credibility, do we also care about the credibility of those who sold us on Mortenson—and the military agenda behind him?

Meet the Nuclear Gypsies

More on the miserable truth about those nuclear plant workers in Japan.

Take The Quiz: Who Pays More Taxes—GE or NYT?

GE is spitting mad at the New York Times for reporting that it paid no taxes last year. Let’s let these two corporations go to the mat in a tax matchup.

“Grassroots” Fraud Suits Corporations to a Tea

Here’s the most cynical ploy yet from phony Tea Party-related corporate fronts. Anyone who doubts that trouble is brewing for democracy, read on…

Libya Rape Charge: View With Caution

We easily forget how extensive are the psychological operations that sell the public on war. When considering the Libyan rape charges, a bit of perspective and context is wise….

Take the Quiz: Qaddafi & Immelt–Good or Bad?

Here’s a quiz: Embattled Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi: Good or bad? How about GE Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Immelt? Here are your answers, straight from the top: Qaddafi, way bad. And Immelt? Good guy, business and civic leader. Should be a key adviser to the president. On Qaddafi, we already knew he was a bad […]

Jonathan Rowe, 1946-2011(Jon was Senior Editor at WhoWhatWhy)

Jonathan Rowe was, by inclination, an unobtrusive man. He moved through this world quietly, and he left quietly.

He did not promote himself. He was not comfortable seeking recognition. He concentrated instead on substance.

Jon died the other day, abruptly, with no warning of any kind, and left behind a wife, Mary Jean, and an 8-year-old son, Josh.

In part because of his modesty, and in part because celebrity and valor are not the same, you very likely did not know of him. Or, if you did, not nearly enough.