Massachusetts

( - promoted by Bob)

Alaskan Senator Ted Stevens, who has served since 1968, has just been indicted by a federal grand jury on seven counts of falsely reporting income. The charges relate to renovations to his home and to gifts he has allegedly received from Veco Corporation.

(NOTE: And yes, Sen. Stevens is the one who made the statement, “The Internet is not something you just dump something on. It’s not a truck. It’s a series of tubes,” during a June 28 committee session.
Stevens is also known for trying to fund the now famous “highway to nowhere”.)

And guess what?  It’s an election year! Mark Begich, a popular Democratic mayor of Anchorage, is running against Stevens.

(Read the full post about ‘Say goodbye to the longest serving Republican Senator!’…)

( - promoted by Bob)

This is music to my ears.

The state House of Representatives is likely to debate the final vote on repealing the 1913 law Tuesday, PolitickerMA.com has learned.

According to a House leadership source with knowledge of the legislative schedule, debate over the law is expected to occur when the House returns to full session Tuesday.

Given the homophobia that’s still alive in today’s society, repealing 1913 will send a great message that Massachusetts won’t stand for hatred and fear. One of the last vestiges of legally-mandated human rights abuse against glbt people will finally be gone, so we can focus on the far more difficult problems facing our commonwealth and country.

(Read the full post about ‘Thanks, Speaker DiMasi and House Equality Supporters.’…)

( - promoted by Bob)

[Cross posted, of course.]

I'm not the biggest watcher in the country of either the summer or winter Olympics, but this year, I will not watch one damned second of the Games. Why? Because though the Olympics are supposed to be a symbol of cooperation and open spirit, China has actually become more repressive in the lead up to the opening ceremony.

Whatever possessed the idiots on the selection committee anyway? I could have told them this was the worst idea back when they chose China. Hey, where are the next Olympics going to be? North Korea?

China hasn't changed, I don't care how many upstart millionaires there are there now.

(Read the full post about ‘Boycott the Summer Olympics’…)

The vote was 118 119 to 35 36 (O’Flaherty added himself as a late “yes,” and Fresolo added himself as a late “no”).  Not a big surprise, but still excellent news: the House has joined the Senate in voting by a large majority to repeal the ghastly 1913 law.  Governor Patrick has said he will sign the repeal.  Once that happens, Massachusetts will have delivered to the fullest on its promise of true equality in the matter of marriage.

Three cheers!

UPDATE: the roll call is on the flip.

Another study indicates that our wonderful corn-to-fuel policies are making food much more expensive:

WASHINGTON, July 28 (Reuters) - Large increases in biofuels production in the United States and Europe are the main reason behind the steep rise in global food prices, a top World Bank economist said in research published on Monday.

World Bank economist Don Mitchell concluded that biofuels and related low grain inventories, speculative activity, and food export bans pushed prices up by 70 percent to 75 percent.

So other than being a massive taxpayer boondoggle and causing people to riot out of starvation, our corn ethanol subsidies are working out just great.

(Read the full post about ‘Burning food still a bad idea’…)

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Mario Lopez may be doing a happy dance after being picked as the new solo host of “Extra.”

Lopez, 34, who’s served as a correspondent for the syndicated entertainment newsmagazine and co-hosted its weekend edition since January 2007, will take over from co-hosts Mark McGrath and Dayna Devon, the producers of “Extra” announced Monday.

McGrath asked to released from his contract to focus on his band, Sugar Ray, which is recording a new album, Telepictures Productions said. (Read the full post about ‘Mario Lopez Replaces McGrath, Devon On ‘Extra’’…)

A former dormitory matron at Oprah Winfrey’s school for poor South African girls pleaded innocent Tuesday to charges that she indecently assaulted and otherwise abused six teenagers and a fellow matron at the academy.

Tiny Virginia Makopo, 28, looked nervous and sullen at the start of her trial, and she and her lawyer gave no indication what her defense would be.

Judge Thelma Simpson granted a prosecution request for the rest of the proceedings, expected to last all week, to be closed to the public. (Read the full post about ‘Matron At Winfrey School Pleads Innocent’…)

LONDON (AP) ― Troubled singer Amy Winehouse was released from a London hospital Tuesday after an overnight stay to treat what her spokesman said was an adverse reaction to medication.

Winehouse was discharged from London’s University College after spending the night in observation, said spokesman Chris Goodman.

The singer was rushed to the hospital’s emergency room by ambulance from her north London home Monday night. Goodman said the medication had been taken at her home, but did not provide further details.

“She had a bit of a scare yesterday because of a reaction to treatment. She was kept in overnight purely for observation,” Goodman said in a statement. (Read the full post about ‘Amy Winehouse Released From London Hospital’…)

(AP) Christian Bale skirted questions about the assault allegations against him Tuesday at the Japanese premiere of “The Dark Knight.”

British media has reported that Bale’s mother and sister told police he assaulted them at the hotel a day before attending the film’s European premiere.

But the Batman star managed to make it through the hugely successful Warner Bros. movie’s premiere in Japan with virtually no comment on his personal problems.

“It’s a private matter,” he told a crowded news conference. Last week, in Spain, Bale brushed off reporters with a similar comment.

Bale has said through his lawyers that the assault allegations are false.

The 34-year-old Welsh actor’s personal drama hasn’t hurt the movie. (Read the full post about ‘Batman Star Skirts Assault Questions In Japan’…)

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Just months before he died, George Carlin was looking into the face of death — and making it the butt of his jokes.

“You know what I’ve been doing? Going through my address book and crossing out the dead people. It gives you a feeling of power, of superiority, to have outlasted another old friend,” Carlin says on what turned out to be his final comedy album. (Read the full post about ‘George Carlin Gets In One Last Laugh On Death’…)