Abbas UN Push For Membership Helps Him Politically At Home

and he knows it’s unrealistic…

Scientist Debunks 9/11 Conspiracy Theories

A scientific explanation should, but probably won’t, put conspiracy theories to rest.

Now a materials scientist has come up with a more scientific explanation for the mystery booms, and says his model of the Twin Towers collapse leaves no room for conspiracies. “My model explains all the observed features on 11th September: the explosions, molten metal coming out of the window, the time passing between the crash and the collapse, the fact that the explosions took place in a floor below the place it was burning, and the rapid collapse,” Christen Simensen of SINTEF, a research organization in Norway, …

Alabama Judge Offers Offenders Choice Of Jail Or Church

56 churches participating; what, no synagogues or mosques?…

Obama To Let States Opt Out Of “No Child Left Behind”

Isn’t local control what conservatives want?

“To help states, districts and schools that are ready to move forward with education reform, our administration will provide flexibility from the law in exchange for a real commitment to undertake change,” Obama said in a statement Thursday. “The purpose is not to give states and districts a reprieve from accountability, but rather to unleash energy to improve our schools at the local level.”…

Rick Perry: God Talks To Me Via Rainstorms (He’s Not Wrong)

Rick Perry at Liberty University also said, “I truly believe that he has me here at a time such as this.” Frankly, I don’t disagree with him. I believe that whatever higher force there is does have Rick Perry with us at this time, probably to show us the road we should not take. (h/t Politicususa)

…

Michele Bachmann Again Denies She Said What She Said

At Thursday night’s debate, Michele Bachmann denied she claimed the HPV vaccine is dangerous. Earlier in the week, she told the Associated Press she was just quoting what someone else said. Last night, she again denied stating that the HPV vaccine is dangerous, and Tommy Christoher at Mediaite calls her on it with her direct quotes and with video.

Bachmann pulled the same deception on Hannity and Colmes when she denied urging the media to do an expose of congress to find out, “are they pro-America or anti-America.” She flatly denied the comment she made to Chris Matthews on Hardball…

Ted Haggard And Gary Busey On Celebrity Wife Swap

Show still awaits a premiere date from ABC…

Teen And Mom To Be Deported, Breaking Up Their Family

Nadia Habib and her mom Nazmin are scheduled to be deported to Bangladesh September 29.

Habib, a psychology major who wants to be a drug researcher, found out she was undocumented during her senior year at Bronx High School of Science. Her dad has a green card and her three younger siblings, who were born here, are U.S. citizens.

“If we have to leave I’d be leaving my three siblings, my father and my entire life,” Habib said. “It would mean losing a lot, everything basically, of what we have.”

Habib’s mother has unsuccessfully fought to reopen their asylum …

More On Jobs And Regulation

by Stuart Shapiro

I’ve blogged on this subject enough times (for example here and here) to sound like a broken record (you may need to ask your parents what a record is).  But here is a perspective that discusses the subject with thoughtfulness (and most of those quoted are Republicans):

“It would be easy to think of a regulation that ‘created jobs’ that didn’t benefit society,” [Bush 41 White House regulatory chief Susan] Dudley said via email, such as “requiring that all construction be done with a teaspoon.”

In other words, counting jobs gained or lost is too narrow …

Gingrich: “I Don’t Think People Should Be Paid For 99 Weeks To Do Nothing”

So this is is view of unemployment.

…

Gay Soldier Serving In Iraq Booed At Republican Debate

Stephen Hill asked a question via YouTube and, sadly, boos could be heard.

When the man asked what the candidates would do about the US policy on gays in the military, like himself, several in the crowd booed loudly. When candidate Rick Santorum replied that he would reinstate DADT, a thunderous ovation followed.

“Do you plan to circumvent the progress that has been made for gay and lesbian soldiers in the military?” Hill asked, to several loud boos, and silence from the rest of the crowd. There was no applause when his service to our nation was mentioned, and …