NPR Won't Call It Torture

Jun 23, 2009 - Long, sorry - Anyone who believes that NPR is a "liberal" media outlet -- and anyone who wants to understand the decay of American journalism -- should read this column by NPR's Ombudsman, Alicia C. Shepard, as she explains and justifies why NPR bars the use of the word "torture" to describe what the Bush administration did. Responding to what she calls "a slew of emails challenging NPR's policy of using the words 'harsh interrogation tactics' or 'enhanced interrogation techniques' to describe the treatment of terrorism suspects under the Bush administration," Shepard hauls out every trite and misleading bit of journalistic conventional wisdom to dismiss listeners' concerns and defend NPR's Orwellian practice (as I noted recently when writing about The New York Times' refusal to use the word "torture," NPR's compulsive use of Bush euphemisms has been a constant complaint of the excellent blog NPR Check). - 1 Comment

The DORF Matrix: Towards a Theory of NPR's Taste in Black Music

Oct 22, 2009 - Source     Posted Monday, October 12, 2009 4:07 PM | By Jody Rosen   In August, National Public Radio's flagship music program All Songs Considered published "The Best Music of 2009 (So Far)," a rundown of the top 30 songs and albums of the year-to-date as voted by the show's listeners.   The results of the survey suggest that the All Songs Considered audience has a fuzzy understanding of the word "all." "The Best Music of 2009 (So Far)" consists almost entirely of indie-rockers: acts like The Decemberists, Wilco, Grizzly Bear, Neko Case, Andrew Bird, Regina Spektor, and Animal Collective, the Brooklyn art-rock group that took the top spot in both the best songs and best albums tallies. - 3 Comments

Apostel Paul said cover your head and black women said right on baby!

Nov 13, 2009 - When the Apostle Paul declared that women shall cover their heads during worship who knew a biblical commandment would have such a profound impact on fashion.  Our for-Sistas dating back to African American roots and beyond to the mother land, Africa, today's modern Afro-American women wears centuries of heritage on their heads.  "I think it's because it's rooted in the African tradition that says that when one presents oneself before God… that you should be at your best –- that you should present excellence before the Almighty," says Craig Marberry co-author of Crowns.  Well even if you have no intention of dressing to the Nines for the "Almighty" you can't deny that Church Ladies bring  majestic wisdom refined beauty to the fashion world. As the early 20th century was finding it's footing Afro-Americans were beginning to enjoy some limited independence.  "Sunday church services provided African American women who worked as domestic servants or in other subservient roles the only real chance to break away from their drab, dreary workday uniforms. says Michael Cunningham of Time Magazine and co-author of Crowns.  The women typically went for textured fabrics, bright colors and of course the key ingredient flamboyancy, some of the hats I see today have it all over Liberacci in that department.  A matching ensemble is also important to the outfit; shoes, pocket book and gloves but I don't need to tell you ladies that right ;) Hats also served as status symbols. - 10 Comments

Military Spouses Make Their Own Sacrifices

Oct 17, 2008 - This was recommended to me by a friend, it was featured on NPR the other day. I think the message will really resonate with some of the spouses here. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95774690 If nothing else, it shows us that we're not alone and many other spouses are having to make these same tough choices. - 3 Comments

High Court Weighs Life Terms For Minors

Nov 09, 2009 - Is it unconstitutionally cruel and unusual punishment to send a juvenile away to prison for life, without the possibility of parole for a crime that does not involve a death? That's the question the Supreme Court ponders Monday. In 2005, the high court struck down the death penalty for juveniles by a 5 to-4 vote. - 5 Comments

Battered Company Says 'No' To Job Cuts

Nov 05, 2009 - The Hypertherm factory sits hidden in the woods not far from Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H. Inside, in a testing room, a jet of superheated ionized gas slices smoothly through an inch of plate steel. Jim Miller, vice president of manufacturing, says that when the world is making big heavy things, Hypertherm does quite well. - 4 Comments

Housing Agency Flexes Muscle As Loan Defaults Grow

Nov 04, 2009 - FHA loans only require 3.5 percent down, and credit score requirements are flexible. Some lenders are taking full advantage of that flexibility. It reminds Cecala of the subprime mortgage market of the past. - 0 Comments

Can Prosecutors Be Sued By People They Framed?

Nov 04, 2009 - Do prosecutors have total immunity from lawsuits for anything they do, including framing someone for murder? That is the question the justices of the Supreme Court face Wednesday. On one side of the case being argued are Iowa prosecutors who contend "there is no freestanding right not to be framed." - 7 Comments