Jamie Tyroler
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This is by no means scientific, but here were the news stories reported on MSNBC from 11:00am Central. I'm not tracking the scrolling news at the bottom of the screen or the length of time devoted to the story.Detroit mayor about to have a press conference regarding indictmentsCondos under construction in Los Angeles on fireJames Carville referring to NM Governor Richardson as JudasSen. Clinton unveils a 4-point plan to help homeownersL.A. Condo fire4000 Combat dead in IraqIowa manhunt for suspected multiple murderer (woman and 4 children)Detroit mayor pending press conference{Commerci… Read More
March 24, 2008
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Is the United States a Christian or a Secular Nation?
If the US is a Christian nation, how does that treat non-Christian religions or the non-religious? I'm agnostic, and tend to cringe somewhat when I hear someone say that the United States is a "Christian" nation or that our government is founded on Christian principles. Read More
March 23, 2008
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Tibet has been in the news lately and some video (Buddhist monks protesting) has made it outside of China. Is 2008 Tibet's best chance for independence because of the attention China is getting for hosting the 2008 Olympic Games? Do you think China will crack down after the games are over? Read More
March 22, 2008
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Who isn't in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but should be
To be nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the artist(s) released their first record 25 years or more ago. Surely some deserving artists have been overlooked. Read More
March 17, 2008
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Re: Should women vote for Hillary because she's a woman?
Would this question even be asked if another woman was running for President? Read More
March 12, 2008
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To call abortion as murder depends on when life begins. If one believes that life begins at conception then abortion could be considered murder. However, if one believes that life begins at conception, would women that have spontaneous abortions or the zygote does not adhere to the uterine wall, be guilty of manslaughter? First trimester abortions are not murder. The embryo is unable to live on its own outside of the uterus. Abortion should remain safe and legal at least in cases of rape and incest. No woman should be forced to be pregnant. Read More
March 12, 2008
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Currently in the United States, there are several television shows about ghosts, poltergeists, and other paranormal events. I am somewhat skeptical, but there have been a few things on these shows that I feel aren't easily explained. Read More
March 12, 2008
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Re: Why is celebrity gossip considered news
As someone else pointed out, there is some degree of defining "acceptable" behavior - for example, don't dangle infants over balconies or drive around with your children not secured in their seats properly. Another factor is the way television news is covered. Years ago, network news weren't ratings driven. Network news has become a profit center for the networks. That can prevent any investigative reporting on any sponsors. Except for news shows, such as 60 Minutes, we don't see news items that last much more than a minute. In the past 20-25 years, there's been this belief of a M… Read More
February 27, 2008
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Re: What forces have shaped humanity most?
Disease and the various ways that we have dealt with disease has probably had the biggest impact on humanity. Until humanity started figuring methods of preventing and reducing the impact of disease, the world's population (for better or worse) would be nowhere near the present levels. We have developed a myriad of responses to preventing and treating disease ranging from things as simple as bathing on a regular basis to very complex technologies and surgical procedures. Without the medical procedures and technologies that have been developed over the ages, the human population would,… Read More
February 27, 2008
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The United States and the World
Many people feel that the United States has lost its standing in the world because of things like the war in Iraq, the use of torture and rendition, and other reasons. In January 2009, the United States will have a new President. What would you suggest the new President do to restore the United States image and standing with the rest of the world? Read More
February 25, 2008
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Re: is suicide a final act of bravery or cowardice?
Is committing suicide the same when it is done by someone who can no longer stand the pain of a terminal illness or someone who straps a bunch of explosives on his or her body and tries to kill off innocent people? There are people who are suffering with physical pain or psychological pain that is so intense and there often to seems that this pain will never get better. Should this person continue to live in this extreme pain if he or she can longer tolerate the pain? Read More
February 22, 2008
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What will happen in Cuba now that Fidel Castro has stepped down? Read More
February 22, 2008
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Is George W. Bush a war criminal?
With the various actions of the Bush Administration since 9/11 (i.e., rendition, admission of torture, etc.), should George W. Bush be tried in an International Court of Law for Crimes Against Humanity? Read More
February 20, 2008
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Are We Nearing the "End Times"?
Every so often, a group of people feel that humanity is close to the so-called "end times". Sometimes it's because of the year (i.e., 666, 1000, 1666, 2000) or other reasons proposed, for example, by various American Christian Sects in the 19th Century. Read More
February 1, 2008
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Re: What is your favorite quote?
"To thine own self be true" - Shakespeare"You can lead a horticulture, but you can't make her think." - Dorothy Parker Read More
February 1, 2008
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Re: Homosexuality, disease?Natural form of Evolution to control our population?
I'm not a biologist by any stretch of the imagination, but I am familiar with some research regarding gender identity and biological causes. There has been a long term study in the Netherlands that have demonstrated changes in the Bed Stria Terminalus (BST) in the hypothalamus in the brain - it's larger in males than females and in male-to-female transsexuals, the BST is closer is size and shape to a genetic female's BST. Due to the small sample group, it hasn't yet been determined if this difference is due to genetic reasons or may be caused by other sources, such as hormone therapie… Read More
January 31, 2008
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"1984" by George Orwell"Free Lunch: How the Wealthiest Americans Enrich Themselves at Government Expense (And Stick You with the Bill!) by David Cay Johnston"Common Sense" by Thomas Paine"The Trouble With Islam Today" by Irshad Manji"Lies My Teacher Told Me"/"Lies Across America" by James Loewen Read More
January 30, 2008
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Re: Waste Not, Want Not? Not in America
Growing up in the 60's and 70's, I remember that soda came in glass bottles that had a deposit, now soda comes in aluminum cans and plastic bottles that don't have to be recycled. Milk came in waxed cartons instead of plastic bottles. We have replaced many things over the years with petroleum based plastics. Do compact disks need to come in plastic holders, or could they come in cardboard sleeves? Do we need to use Styrofoam for packaging and take out food? Can't we use more eco-friendly containers?I remember going into a small drug store in Innsbruck, Austria about 17 years ago. … Read More
January 30, 2008
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Some places already have gender neutral restrooms and haven't had too many issues. Some people might think something along the lines of what would prevent a man raping a woman in a public restroom if restrooms were gender neutral - the same thing that's preventing a potential rapist from walking into a women's public restroom. The little plastic sign on the door doesn't stop someone who is considering committing a violent act.Next week, I will be attending the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's Creating Change Conference in Detroit. The public restrooms will be designated as gende… Read More
January 30, 2008
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Re: When did you become conscious of race?
I grew up in a fairly small, segregated town in west central Missouri. The elementary school I attended didn't have any students or teachers of color until about 1970. The first African-American children that I met was when I played Little League baseball around 1967 - I noticed that some adults referred to them as either "colored" or "negro" kids. It was in the late 60's when an interracial couple were married and bought a house in an all-white neighborhood - many adults seemed to be appalled. Read More
January 29, 2008
I am a disabled transgender activist and writer living in Kansas City, MO. I was born in Sedalia, MO, the home of the Missouri State Fair and "Goober Burgers" in 1959. I graduated from the University of Kansas in 1982 with a B.A. in Psychology. I occasionally write for a Kansas City area LGBT paper CAMP (www.campkc.com). Other than taking a lot of medications and hoping for universal health care in the US, I generally sit a lot and occasionally send emails on behalf of various human rights organizations.
