I'm pretty sure the last time the city of Geneva got this much attention they named a Bible after it. But between the Iranian nuclear negotiations that are about to enter a second round there, and proposed Syrian peace talks that may be taking place there, Geneva finds itself in the news in a big … Continue reading Goin’ down Geneva, give me a helping hand

Oh, Louisiana, will you never stop amusing the rest of the nation with your ridiculous politics? When you're not electing KKK Grand Wizard David Duke to your State House or electing a United States Senator who pays hookers to put him in diapers, you're electing parish council members who push to defund public libraries (via) … Continue reading You get a cookie! Part 9 of ???: Lafourche Parish, Louisiana Council Chair Lindel Toups

Today is the Islamic holiday called Ashura, named after the Arabic number ten, ashr, because it is the tenth day of the new year. If you'd like some background on the holiday, please see my writeups here and here. Ashura is a predominantly Shiʿi holiday; the day is observed by Sunnis for other reasons, but … Continue reading Another violent Ashura

I read a piece at a website called "War on the Rocks" by an Iran analyst named Afshon Ostovar, asking whether Iran is "serious about a deal." It's a pretty good piece, you should check it out, but I think it misses on a few points. The upshot is that Iran is probably serious about … Continue reading If you’re asking whether “Iran” is serious about a deal, you may be asking the wrong question

What the--?Mr. Cohen's column today centers on the prospects that various Republican contenders for the 2016 presidential nomination may have in the Iowa caucus. Iowa, Cohen notes, is a conservative state, which may pose a challenge for Republicans perceived as moderate.Then, out of nowhere, comes this paragraph, which we have bolded for ease of reading:Today's … Continue reading On Richard Cohen’s Gag Reflex

Reuters published part 1 of a major investigative piece on Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's financial dealings today, and the scale at which he's effectively robbing his people blind is rather staggering: Setad has become one of the most powerful organizations in Iran, though many Iranians, and the wider world, know very little about it. … Continue reading Being the Supreme Leader of Iran ain’t a volunteer job, am I right?

I'm very late on this, but the devastation caused in the Philippines by Typhoon Haiyan is enormous, with at least 10,000 killed and hundreds of thousands displaced, most undoubtedly into refugee camps or worse. Please give what you can, if you are able. I gave to UNICEF this evening and also sent an SMS donation … Continue reading Tragedy in the Philippines