The sea is rising, and this entire village voted to move

The people of Shishmaref, Alaska, are moving. Read (and listen to) this story.

Let’s take a deep breath

Rachel Dolezal, former NAACP official in Spokane, Wash., went on “Today” — uh, today — and reiterated that she identifies as black. Dolezal’s parents recently went on record to say that the family is (mostly) Caucasian, though their daughter has identified as African American for some time. The Interwebs has gone wild with this in …

Is the Confederate battle flag OK for a state-issued license plate?

The Supreme Court heard arguments yesterday about whether the state of Texas should be required to issue special license plates with the Confederate battle flag, though observers say the justices seemed reluctant to push the state of Texas to sell license plates emblazoned with the divisive symbol that is that flag. The plates were presented …

What means “freedom of speech?”

Mike the Heathen sends this, a link to a kerfuffle over B1A4, a South Korean pop group, hugging young Muslim women in public. The concern seems to be over the public displays of affection. I read that, and then I listened to “On Point,” where the guests talked about cultural relativism in light of what …

Gun violence is a social disease

So says public health experts, according to this USA Today story. And here’s a bit more on gun violence in an NPR story that says there’s no simple answer. And thanks, DickG., for the links.

Listen to this, and try not to slap your computer.

Bishop Explains Vatican’s Criticism of U.S. Nuns, on Terry Gross’s “Fresh Air,” on NPR. Guess this particular Christian Quality Control Board needs a run through of the Overboard. And thanks, DickG., for the link.

The Republicans’ war on sanity

Republican lawmakers are targeting NPR,  Planned Parenthood, and AmeriCorps. NPR and Planned Parenthood have long been popular targets for the Party of Lincoln (can’t have an informed populace, and you dare not let women take their health into their own hands) but AmeriCorps? And on Friday, they’ll kill Santa. You heard it here first. Cretins.