Ukraine is definitely being used as an excuse for long-term expansion of US export of natural gas.

The gas will be obtained by fracking. Thus, this means that companies will invest a lot of money in the assumption that there will be more fracking in the US and more CO2 emissions abroad. They will then fight against any attempt to slow down emissions, driving the US and the world to frack and fruin.

Environmentalists are trying to stop the construction of the Cove Point export terminal in Maryland.

An 83-year-old adjunct professor, who got no retirement funds from her 25-year career, died after the university suddenly fired her and made her homeless. Her death has inspired a campaign for unionization.

Anger, Disbelief as Obama Defends US Invasion of Iraq.

Obama has proposed to shift mass surveillance of phone call records from the NSA to the phone companies. The EFF has responded with superficial criticism which makes the basic mistake of treating this window dressing as a solution.

Where these data are kept is an insignificant detail. Hosting them differently won't protect whistleblowers like Stephen Kim from being identified through them.

Our democracy depends on these whistleblowers. To make whistleblowers and democracy safe, we must make sure that these records are not saved except about suspects specified by court orders.

The USA Freedom Act is not enough either; we should support it, but refuse to consider it as more than a small step.

A surprising conjecture: working-class people accept austerity without rebelling because they are habituated to caring about the comfort of rich people that they work for.