http://www.BeyondChron.org The Voice of the Rest en-us Nucleus CMS v3.22 ©2005 Online Newspaper http://backend.userland.com/rss http://www.beyondchron.org/news/skins/beyondchron/images/topbar_right.gif http://www.beyondchron.org http://www.BeyondChron.org/index.php?itemid=9874 claim that he’s “not concerned about the very poor” ignored a critical fact: Romney’s views reflect public policy in the United States since the 1970’s. No other industrialized nation does less for its “very poor.” America allows millions of families to live in shelters or inadequate housing, maintains an under-funded public school system that lacks the resources to effectively educate very low-income kids, has a deplorable public transit system by European standards, and, as recent studies show, offers the very poor far less chance to leave poverty than other nations. Most states offer less than subsistence welfare payments to unemployed families with children, and millions of kids go to bed hungry each night. Romney’s mistake was verbalizing what other politicians demonstrate through their actions.]]> Tue, 7 Feb 2012 04:05:00 -0800 http://www.BeyondChron.org/index.php?itemid=9873 Tue, 7 Feb 2012 04:04:00 -0800 http://www.BeyondChron.org/index.php?itemid=9876 Black Bloc anarchists, who have been active on the streets in Oakland and other cities, are the cancer of the Occupy movement. The presence of Black Bloc anarchists — so named because they dress in black, obscure their faces, move as a unified mass, seek physical confrontations with police and destroy property — is a gift from heaven to the security and surveillance state.

The Occupy encampments in various cities were shut down precisely because they were nonviolent. They were shut down because the state realized the potential of their broad appeal even to those within the systems of power. They were shut down because they articulated a truth about our economic and political system that cut across political and cultural lines. And they were shut down because they were places mothers and fathers with strollers felt safe.]]> Tue, 7 Feb 2012 04:02:00 -0800 http://www.BeyondChron.org/index.php?itemid=9875
Sachs’ film offers a cinematic middle finger to those who see gay relationships as inferior to straight relationships. Commitment issues don’t magically change because of the partners’ sexual orientation. Reasonable viewers will notice such emotional manipulations as extended disappearances and pushing the partner’s boundaries. Arthur Russell’s music, which covers folk song to avant garde instrumental, honestly captures a relationship’s moods better than more conventionally syrupy work.]]> Tue, 7 Feb 2012 04:02:00 -0800 http://www.BeyondChron.org/index.php?itemid=9870 Bay Citizen will soon merge with the Center for Investigative Reporting and come under the leadership of former longtime San Francisco Chronicle Executive Editor Phil Bronstein reflects the disappointing failure of a once promising media entity. Despite hiring some top-quality reporters, the Bay Citizen’s editors lacked judgment in deciding what stories to cover and never featured a columnist who attracted readers. Instead of providing an alternative that would attract the younger, more racially diverse demographic that has abandoned the Chronicle, the Bay Citizen largely echoed that declining publication. When I discussed the Bay Citizen with its founder, the late Warren Hellman, before it opened he said he did not want to be involved with the running of the paper; given his success in other endeavors, the publication would have done better if he had.]]> Mon, 6 Feb 2012 04:05:00 -0800 http://www.BeyondChron.org/index.php?itemid=9871
Deep suspicions of police and military collusion in the soccer stadium assault against these honored heroes of the revolution are bolstered by numerous press accounts of police standing aside for several hours before intervening.]]> Mon, 6 Feb 2012 04:04:00 -0800 http://www.BeyondChron.org/index.php?itemid=9872 pilot project at San Francisco's Aptos Middle School, which eventually led to the removal of soda and junk food from all of San Francisco's public school cafeterias, would never have been possible without the ability to spread information electronically. The advent of social media has provided advocates with even more powerful tools, allowing them to reach all of their followers at once, in real time. Where would flashmobs, the Occupy movement, or food trucks be without the ability to tweet?]]> Mon, 6 Feb 2012 04:02:00 -0800 http://www.BeyondChron.org/index.php?itemid=9867 After service cuts and fare hikes, House leadership plan gives transit riders more to worry about

Reversing policy begun under President Ronald Reagan, House Ways and Means Committee – at the direction of House leadership — could move today to end guaranteed funding for public transportation, and leave even today’s inadequate funding levels in doubt.

The proposal to bar public transit from receiving funds from the federal motor fuels tax is part of a bill coming before the House Ways and Means Committee this morning. That bill sets the revenue levels for the five-year surface transportation bill making its way through the House Transportation and Infrastructure committee.]]> Fri, 3 Feb 2012 04:05:00 -0800 http://www.BeyondChron.org/index.php?itemid=9866 OUT OF MY HEAD, My Life In and Out of Football, George Visger, a member of the San Francisco 49ers’ first Super Bowl champions from 30 years ago, writes, “In America we already have an organization called Mothers Against Drunk Driving. I think we need a new one: Mothers Against Damaged Players.” The Visger book is available at http://amzn.to/znZuiL. That was a plug.

Comes now the National Football League with a PR blitz out of the school holding that the best defense is a good offense. Sunday’s Super Bowl telecast will include a 60-second NFL “public service announcement” recapping the history of its bold efforts to make football safer. An existing feel-good website, nflhealthandsafety.com, soon will be supplemented by a new one promoting rules for a safer sport.]]> Fri, 3 Feb 2012 04:04:00 -0800 http://www.BeyondChron.org/index.php?itemid=9868
Dirty & Beautiful Volume 2 does not merely pick up where 2010’s Volume 1 left off. Volume 2 expands upon Husband’s musical vision of creating music that is passionate and sophisticated, yet infused with grit and rawness. The mix of Husband originals and cover tunes are driven by the combination of the dynamic powerhouse drumming, ferocious lead lines and distinctly evocative keyboard harmony that altogether define Husband’s “multiple threat” of a musical voice.]]> Fri, 3 Feb 2012 04:03:00 -0800