Woman Sentenced to Death for Witchcraft

In 2005, the religious police of Saudi Arabia arrested a woman accused of witchcraft. Today she faces death by decapitation, unless the Saudi king intervenes on her behalf.


So, I guess this mean that the courts of Saudi Arabia are no more clever than those in Monty Python's Holy Grail.

Case of the Drunken Blackwater Shooter

During today's Congressional Hearing on the Blackwater Security Firm, Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) asked Erik Prince, founder of Blackwater, about accountability for the drunken contractor who killed the guard of the Iraqi Prime Minister.

Reverse Graffiti : Ossario

By washing away patches of soot, Brazilian artist Alexandre Orion created an amazing mural in the urban landscape of Sao Paulo.

Burma Is Getting Worse

Sources for the CBC report that thousands of protesters have been killed & hundreds of monks slain. Now many Burmese are fleeing into Thailand.

Gays in Iran

The CBC report on the harsh treatment of gays in Iran and the growing gay rights movement.

Blackwater Killing Spree in Iraq

Holy fuck. This is one of the most disturbing videos to come out of the Iraq War.

It is a trophy video made by employees of Aegis Security Service, a British Blackwater contractor working in Iraq, and it is allegedly one of four such videos. They recorded themselves on a killing spree, driving down the highway in Iraq and randomly shooting at innocent Iraq civilians for sport, and then set it to the music of Elvis. Sick. Truly and heinously sick.

When you watch this, remember that the Bush administration gave Blackwater a no-bid contract, of $600 a day per mercenary, for their work in Iraq and Paul Bremer, Bush's original viceroy to Iraq, granted them all immunity. The Iraqi government has asked them to leave because of their lawless behavior, but Bush has ignored the request and reinstated them. Blackwater is Bush's secret army, accountable to no law, no justice, no authority. All of this is Bush's responsibility.

Bush Won. Get Over It.

Giuliani Time

Full documentary about the controversial tenure of Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.

The Price of American Blood

Conservative wing-nuts are at it again. Ever since General Petraeus called for the "surge" to continue for another year, whacked-out republicans have been defending the need for more dead Americans.

First to volunteer everyone but himself, FOX's Bill O'Reilly. His comments, that 1000 more dead soldiers was completely reasonable, garnered him the top spot on Countdown's Worst Person in the World tally:


Next up to talk out of his asshole, Congressman John Boehner (R-OH), who joined Wolf Blitzer on CNN's Situation Room. He claims that the blood of American soldiers is a "small price" to pay. No word on whether Rep. Boehner will be offering up any of his loved one's for the sacrifice:


And finally - topping even the craziest of the crazies - Philadelphia Daily News columnist Stu Bycofsky, who published an editorial last month entitled, To Save America, We Need Another 9/11. He even went so far as to offer terrorists a list of American monuments for them to target, like the Golden Gate Bridge and Mount Rushmore. Stephen Colbert suggested another option in this segment of The Word - Re-Run:



Unless and until these Republican sociopaths are ready to lay down their own lives in defense of their political policies, they really need to shut the fuck up.

First Freedom First

Support the separation of church and state.

R.I.P. Luciano Pavarotti

Luciano Pavarotti, the greatest opera singer of all time, has passed away at the age of 71. Below are just a few of his most memorable performances.

Here he sings Schubert's "Ave Maria", with a full orchestra and choir, conducted by Zubin Mehta.


This is a clip from the documentary Pavarotti: The Last Tenor, featuring his debut performance at La Scala, as Rodolfo in La Boheme.


An intimate performance, from the DVD Pavarotti and the Italian Tenor, of "O del Mio Amato Ben" by Donaudy, Leone Maggiera on piano.


Pavarotti glows in this performance of "Torna a Surriento", at the Royal Gala Concert with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in Albert Hall, on April 13th, 1982.


From the 1984 Bari Recital, the definitive operatic aria "O sole mio".


Rigoletto's "Questo o Quella" from the 1988 documentary on Pavarotti's trip to China, Distant Harmony.


A moving performance of "E Lucevan le Stelle", from Puccini's Tosca.


This is Pavarotti in Pagliacci, the role he was born to play, performing "Vesti La Giubba".


And, because it was his signature song, and no one could ever hope to sing it as beautifully, Puccini's "Nessun Dorma", performed live in Paris in 1998.

Congressman Gilmore Found Dead

Holy yikes! No details yet. Some suspect it was a heart attack.

R.I.P. Max Roach

We lost another legend today. Innovative Bebop percussionist Max Roach has passed on. Here are just a few reminders why this is such a loss.

"Mr. Hi-Hat", a tribute to Papa Jo Jones.


"The Third Eye", solo performance.


"Drum Waltz", solo performance.


"Driver Man", performed with saxophonist Clifford Jordan and singer Abbey Lincoln.


"What Am I Here For?", the Duke Ellington classic, performed with Billy Taylor in 1981.

Soldier Suicide

By now you've probably heard the report that 99 US soldiers committed suicide last year. Wanna take a guess at how many ATTEMPTED suicide?

948.

The Word - Potential

Stephen Colbert explores the enhanced powers of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

Mortality Rates in US Drop Dramatically

The BBC reports that over the last 20 years life expectancy rates in the US have dropped from 11th worldwide to 42nd.

How did we let our country become so pathetic?

Tancredo Land

Rachel Maddow takes a close look at the republican presidential campaign of Tom Tancredo.

Mike Gravel: "Americans Are So Arrogant"

MSNBC's show Super Tuesday gave former Senator and democratic presidential candidate Mike Gravel a chance to answer questions from callers today, without interruption and ridicule. What a novelty!

I don't care if he doesn't have a chance. I love having him in this race.

The Cost of the War

Click to view video.

Since we're parsing all things scandalous, why not take a look at what maybe the most scandalous of all the scandals: The Cost of the War.

Bill Moyers has a heart-breaking piece about the human cost of the invasion and occupation of Iraq. Meanwhile, Boston.com takes a look at the financial cost with their slideshow, that details just a few of the things that this year's projected $456 BILLION could have purchased. You know, like ending world hunger, or providing free college tuition for the next 44 million years...

Still Life

Still Life from JoshFlowers

A short film about tombstones and remembrance.