I'm very behind in terms of the usual PR work I do for my own writing, so let me catch you up on the Iran nuclear talks with a little summary of a few pieces I've had published lately. Here's the overall point: it has become increasingly apparent, what with the failure of the P5+1 … Continue reading Catching up on the Iran talks

If you recall my world news roundup thing from Monday, one of the stories I mentioned was an explosion (supposedly a pretty massive one, although that report is coming from an anti-government news outlet so you may need to take it -- as well as the government's version of events, that this was "an ordinary … Continue reading How far down does this rabbit hole go?

Joshua Keating at Slate has figured out who it is: This year the prize committee could best serve its mission by giving the prize to the person who most deserves it: nobody. Such a move would highlight that this has been a particularly violent year around the world. More importantly, it would serve as an … Continue reading The only deserving candidate for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize

Honestly, if you read only one thing about this whole Bill Maher-Ben Affleck dust up (and please, don't read more than one thing about it), make it this (even though most of it is an essay Prof. Cole wrote about Maher a couple of years ago): Maher’s and Harris’s charges against Muslims in general are … Continue reading Juan Cole has the only Affleck-Maher thing worth reading

Friends, the latest Buzzfeed video #content is definitely #LOL and #WIN, not #TRASHY and #FAIL, because it explores the manner in which women consume a man beverage that they have never tasted before. I am not sure it rises to the artistic heights of an #OMG, but it is certainly on the right track. The … Continue reading Men are from Mars, Buzzfeed is from Venus and will hopefully return there someday

Want to know why we can't trust the Obama administration to keep us safe from Ebola? According to Gretchen Carlson, it's because of MANY WORDS THAT DON'T MAKE TOTAL SENSE, WAS SHE IN HER RIGHT MIND WHEN SHE SAID THIS: Offering her "take" on Monday, Fox host Gretchen Carlson rattled off all the reasons why … Continue reading Gretchen Carlson’s requiem to the English language and rational thought is impressive

Well, OK, my break is over and it seems like I should get back into the swing of things around this place. But because I have a hard time breaking back into stuff without going over all the many disasters events that have taken place while I was trying not to pay too much attention, … Continue reading While I was out

The Supreme Court decided to punt on marriage equality today, which is good if you support marriage equality and live in one of the several states covered by the several cases they declined to hear: As a practical matter, however, this decision not to hear these cases is an earthquake for gay rights. The United … Continue reading Half a Supreme loaf is better than none

Tomorrow marks the beginning of Eid al-Adha, the festival that concludes the Hajj and is celebrated by Muslims all over the world. The festival commemorates Abraham (Ibrahim) and his willingness to sacrifice his son at God's command, a story that should be familiar anybody who knows their Bible stories (though the identity of the son … Continue reading What do vegetarian Muslims do on the Festival of the Sacrifice?

A great history course can teach students how to think critically about what they read and hear, to understand the people around them, to appreciate the commonalities that bind us as human beings and the differences that make every society unique and worthy of respect. A great US history course can help students become more … Continue reading The fight over our own history