Fwd: Things to Know - 4 February

Mike Luckovich

1.  The "kerfuffle" over the Komen foundation coming back to support PP is not good enough for me.  The dust up brought to light that Karen Handel, a right-wing politico from Georgia, and an avowed opponent of PP is on the Komen board, and is still there.   I have no sympathies for Komen as long as Handel is still there:
http://www.truth-out.org/print/12179

2.  Unions.  Unions, or guilds as they used to be known, are a coming together of workers for the common purpose of asking for a fair shake in employment, conditions, and compensation.  In this day in age, with fair practices laws, anti-discrimination laws, etc...why do we still need unions?   Folks this is the 21st Century, and this article tells you why.  Walmart and other companies,  outsource the responsibility of employer-employee relationships to sub-contractors, and go on about their business as if something like this is not their problem.  It is, just boycotting them does not solve the problem:
 http://www.truth-out.org/print/12185

3.  Insider stock trading. Not a good practice for members of congress to be legislating on stuff that they buy and sell.  So how does Eric Cantor get this defeated?.... read here:
http://www.truth-out.org/print/12168

4. This article concerns the meritocracy of wealth, class, and Mormonism, as well as a bit more into the life of Willard:
http://www.truth-out.org/print/12122

5.  The writer of this column takes Romney, Gingrich, and Santorum to task for demonizing an insulting the European Union.  I would also add that such talk for three dudes seeking to be the president really does not set the proper face forward for a nation to interact well with our global neighbors:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-gops-europe-is-a-land-of-make-believe/2012/02/01/gIQA46m1nQ_print.html

6.  Tales of college screw ups (not the students, but the administration) seem to be in the news these days.  Dick Cavett brings to light a recent one by Vassar, that broke the heart of hundreds, and shamed the institution:
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/03/should-news-come-with-a-warning-label/?pagemode=print

7.  Charles Blow speaks of the Tin Man with the Tin Ear:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/04/opinion/blow-romney-the-rich-and-the-rest.html?_r=1&ref=opinion&pagewanted=print

8.  As most of us watch football this Sunday, here is an article that humanizes the downside of the contact sport that injures and maims into a life of agony and pain for the rest of the lives of the uniformed gladiators:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/04/opinion/nocera-the-cost-of-football-glory.html?ref=opinion&pagewanted=print

9.  One more strike against Claremont McKenna College:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/02/kiplinger-drops-claremont-mckenna-college-after-test-scores-scandal.html

10.  Time for you to meet the Mexican Mitt:
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-morrison-lalo-alcaraz-20120204,0,1813376,print.column



Juan Matute

"To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk."
       -- Thomas A. Edison

"Humor is always based on a modicum of truth. Have you ever heard a joke about a father-in-law?"
       -- Dick Clark

"Always get married early in the morning. That way, if it doesn't work out, you haven't wasted a whole day."
       -- Mickey Rooney

"Of those who say nothing, few are silent."
       -- Thomas Neill

"A national debt, if it is not excessive, will be to us a national blessing."
       -- Alexander Hamilton

--
Juan Matute

"To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk."
       -- Thomas A. Edison

"Humor is always based on a modicum of truth. Have you ever heard a joke about a father-in-law?"
       -- Dick Clark

"Always get married early in the morning. That way, if it doesn't work out, you haven't wasted a whole day."
       -- Mickey Rooney

"Of those who say nothing, few are silent."
       -- Thomas Neill

"A national debt, if it is not excessive, will be to us a national blessing."
       -- Alexander Hamilton