Midday open thread: How we spend our time; student reporter billed $8,000 for FOIA requests
- We are more afraid than ever of gun violence. The truth is the murder rate is at a fifty-year low, by Ian Reifowitz
- How to talk to progressives about climate change, by DarkSyde
- The test of progress: Sanders and Clinton and the plight of those who have too little, by Armando
- America is sitting on a powder keg, a cocktail of hate by design, by Egberto Willies
- Ted Cruz, the perfect candidate for the coming Christian caliphate, by Susan Grigsby
- The Democratic legislative comeback may require a wave—the harsh math of legislative gerrymandering, by Steve Singiser
- Donald John Trump is exactly the candidate the GOP deserves, by Frank Vyan Walton
- Talking about our abortions is a part of our fight for reproductive justice, by Denise Oliver Velez
How Americans living in different parts of the country chose to spend the limited number of hours in a day can vary a lot. Southerners tend to devote more time to religious activities or civic organizations. Out West, residents are engaged in more sports and recreation.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s American Time Use Survey tracks how people choose to spend their time across a number of categories. When the data is broken down to the state level, a few outliers emerge, underscoring differences in how residents are spending their time.
Scott Weiland, the dynamic stage presence and instantly recognizable voice behind Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver, has died. He was 48. [...]
Weiland passed away in his sleep on a tour stop in Bloomington, Minnesota, according to an official Instagram post. "Scott Weiland, best known as the lead singer for Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver, passed away in his sleep while on a tour stop in Bloomington, Minnesota, with his band The Wildabouts," the post read. "At this time we ask that the privacy of Scott’s family be respected."
The Tehran Symphony Orchestra cancelled a performance that had been planned for the closing ceremony of an international wrestling event on November 29, 2015, after the authorities objected to the presence of women musicians among the orchestra members.
The Iranian Student News Agency’s (ISNA) report of the incident suggested that the women musicians had not fully observed the hijab, or female head covering.
“I said all of us will perform together or we will leave the hall,” ISNA quoted Ali Rahbari, the orchestra’s artistic director. “Some tried to resolve the problem but eventually they said the women cannot be allowed to perform, so I said we will not perform.”
Student reporter hit with $8,000 bill for Freedom of Information requests about blocked websites:
Salem [Michigan] High School student journalist Chris Robbins had a simple question: What prompts Plymouth-Canton to block access to certain websites on school computers? [...]
When users encounter a blocked website, Gee said, they’re allowed to submit an appeal arguing why the website should be allowed. Robbins requested a list of which websites were blocked, any guidelines for which websites were blocked, and for the emails in which faculty and staff made their appeals, among other items.
That bill came out to $7,917.15.
Texas Lt. Gov. Photoshops NY Daily News cover to say GOD HEARS OUR PRAYERS:
The Daily News' cover mocked politicians' reaction of offering "thoughts and prayers" after mass shootings with the headline "GOD ISN'T FIXING THIS". A shooting rampage left 14 people dead Wednesday in San Bernardino, California.
On today’s Kagro in the Morning show, with Greg Dworkin, Joan McCarter & Armando! Trump still rising, press won’t let go of Rubio, but nobody impresses at the RJC. What if Christie got interviewed by someone doing a Christie impression? And another government shutdown looms!
Find us on iTunes | Find us on Stitcher | RSS | Donate to support the show!