But more likely, you’ve already heard about the uproar when the very popular organization, Susan G. Komen For the Cure did a fairly unpopular thing. They announced that they were ending their grants to Planned Parenthood, which helped uninsured women access breast cancer screenings.

The original claim was for pulling the grants was because now “under investigation” by Republican members of Congress.

The organization’s leadership swore this move wasn’t political.  There was substantial reaction. The Internet went crazy. Planned Parenthood raised a lot of money from Mayor Bloomberg and from viewers like you.  And then after a few days, the organization relented and reversed their decision.

Article after article after blog post after Facebook status has covered this news story in the last few days.  Shock!  Outrage!  Disbelief!

But…is it really that unbelievable?

This article from Salon.com explains some of the criticism that existed surrounding Susan G. Komen long before the Planned Parenthood debacle.  Here are a few highlights.

• The organization raises hundreds of millions of dollars for their causes…and spends 20 percent of that on administration and fundraising – a high-overhead for a non-profit.
• Nancy Brinker, the organization’s founder, is a big GOP donor, and the Board of Directors includes notable anti-abortion activists.
• Some of those ubiquitous “pink” products are not so great for women’s health, including cosmetics with toxins and yogurt with rBGH.
• The organization has sued other “for the cure” campaigns for stealing their product…even though Susan G. Komen actually stole the concept of a breast cancer awareness ribbon from a grassroots activist.

Susan G. Komen may have backed away from their controversial decision, but will the organization be able to recoup its loss in reputation?  Or has the organization finally shown its true colors?

Image courtesy of Huffington Post

It was like something out of Middle School playground… Kids gossiping about someone only to find their target was skillfully eavesdropping on the whole conversation…

But this was no playground.

This was a conference call between investigators from the FBI and  Yard discussing the hacktivist group Anonymous.

…And guess who was listening in on the conversation.

The law enforcement officials were discussing are the criminal prosecutions of suspects involved in attacks by Anonymous (This explanation can be helpful for those unfamiliar with the group and its origins.)

Anonymous listened in, then posted the 15 minute long recording online.

“A law enforcement agency using unencrypted, unsecure communications is a major fumble,” said Marcus Carey, a former communications security expert with the NSA.

We assume members of the group spent the weekend basking in their success in the traditional ways- fun, relaxation, and hacking the Swedish government’s website. Good times.

Don’t say it to loudly or you’ll spook it away, but an economic recovery may be on the horizon.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment fell to 8.3% and January saw the addition of 243,000 jobs in the U.S.

Unemployment has declined by .8% since August indicating a slow but steady recovery in the job market. Don’t break out the champagne yet because a definitive end to the nation’s financial woes is not clearly in sight.

But if this trend continues, then by election time in November, unemployment could be in the 7% range, the first time since the recession hit.

Of course, that is a big “IF”…

Have you ever heard of a moral exemption clause? It’s a rule that grants legal exemptions to people who have a deeply held moral belief.

This comes up, for example, when say a Catholic college refuses to write prescriptions for birth control.

But this practice is being challenged by the new health-care law, which requires insurance plans to provide contraception without co-pays.

Catholicism prohibits the use of contraception and perceives the law as an attack on their faith. Under the current law, Catholic colleges would have to pay for and provide something they find morally objectionable.

So, to find a way around the new requirements, Catholic colleges are refusing to prescribe birth control. The colleges argue that they are private institutions and if people don’t like the policy they are free to go elsewhere.

Moral exemptions are tricky. Obviously no one wants to write a law that would unfairly conflict with a person’s faith. We wouldn’t pass a law that requires all Americans to eat pork, for example. Furthermore, Catholic universities are private institutions.

On the other hand, denying women birth control can lead to unintended pregnancies (4 out of 10 end in abortion). It is also argued that treatment is ultimately the decision of the patient not the doctor.

Moral exemptions made the news a few months ago when Michigan Republicans tried to add an amendment on an anti-bullying bill that would exempt “a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction.”

The crux of the issue is this: When does religious freedom infringe on the civil rights of others and, should that happen, which one should win?

There is no clear answer to this question. We would love to hear your thoughts on this vexing issue.

After revealing the U.S.’ frequent attacks on Pakistan, Obama addressed citizens in an hour-long video chat on Google+ on Monday.

While this is not surprising to all, it has outraged some including Amnesty International.

Pakistan has claimed that these attacks are illegal and Obama defends them stating that they are aimed to protect U.S. citizens and projects abroad.

The number of civilians killed is being debated. The President reassured in his speech that the number is few.

The Commander in Chief is facing a stiff compromise between military safety and transparency at home. Can he strike a good balance between the two?

Before he became president, Barack Obama drove a Chrysler.

If you’re in the market for a new car, the 2005 Chrysler 300C once leased by the president is now for sale on eBay—with a starting bid of a cool $1 million. Full disclosure: President Obama traded the gas guzzler for a 2007 Ford Escape Hybrid after being criticized for being environmentally insensitive.

When it was traded, the Chrysler had 19,000 miles on it. (We assume most of the miles are highway miles.) It currently has just over 20,000 miles. The seller scoffs at those who are skeptical of the high price tag, citing a recent auction for Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s 1977 Peugeot 504, which fetched $1.5 million at auction in 2011.

(The New York Times is a tad skeptical, noting that a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee also owned by Obama sold for a relatively measly $26,438 in 2010.) The eBay listing will expire Wednesday night.

Image Thanks to Feministing!

In the U.S., many people (mistakenly) associate feminism with bra-burning.  But in Saudi Arabia, a new development in women’s rights is involving bra-buying.

Last summer, a decree was issued that employees in stores selling products exclusively to women – namely cosmetics and underwear – had to be female.  (Apparently being waited on by male sale associates while buying new lingerie was so embarrassing as to force women to shop for new bras and panties abroad.)

This might sound like a common-sense decree – or perhaps one further enforcing gendered isolation.  But it’s actually a HUGE step for women in Saudi Arabia, who have previously been banned from working in retail because it might involve interacting with men.

Now the door is being cracked open to the world of retail employment for women, and many women are trying to push through.  Over 28,000 women applied for the newly available retail jobs.

Could this development be a sign that more progress for women is to come?  Middle East scholar Thomas Lippman thinks so.

While women are still constrained by law, religion and custom, more and more are likely to enter the work force. They will be better educated than their predecessors, will marry later and will have fewer children. The range of jobs and professions open to them will expand…These changes will meet entrenched opposition, but the economic and demographic forces behind them seem irresistible.

And with more and more women working outside the home, perhaps there will be greater pressure to allow Saudi women to drive.

Check out this NYTimes article for more of the history and context behind the decree.

Whoever said super PACs are useless? Say you’re down in the polls, you’re lacking delegates, and no one but a small group of loyal supporters have caught on to your message of economic libertarianism. What’s the solution? Ron Paul action figures.

But maybe… it’s more than just an action figure. Under that meek exterior, and behind that high pitched voice lies – THE GOLD STANDARD CRUSADER!

The GS Crusader has many unique abilities, our favorites are:

• The ability to deny the constitutionality of ANY legislation
• Quote any economic text – ever
• Seek and destroy evil wherever it may be with a lengthy speech filled with obscure references
• Invisibility (when it comes to TSA screenings)
• The ability to never be elected president

This is just a brief list can you think of any more?

It was the day the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced their nominations for the 2011 film year.

After surveying the list of nominees it appears most categories went as expected with a few surprises and snubs along the way (see our list below).

This year, the Big award- Best Picture- had 9 nominees. This group of nine was selected in a new and slightly confusing manner.

It started back in 2010, when the category for Best Picture was expanded from 5 to 10.

This lasted only 2 years, with the Academy announcing last summer they have adjusted the rules to fluctuate between 5-10 nominees.  The first 5 films with the highest number of votes get a nod, followed by the next highest vote-getters who get a minimum of 5% of the Academy’s votes. In its first year in application 9 films received Best Picture nominations.

In the coming weeks we will be giving you a break down the major categories, culminating with the awards ceremony on Sunday, February 26.

Best Picture

• “The Artist” Thomas Langmann, Producer
• “The Descendants” Jim Burke, Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, Producers
• “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” Scott Rudin, Producer
• “The Help” Brunson Green, Chris Columbus and Michael Barnathan, Producers
• “Hugo” Graham King and Martin Scorsese, Producers
• “Midnight in Paris” Letty Aronson and Stephen Tenenbaum, Producers
• “Moneyball” Michael De Luca, Rachael Horovitz and Brad Pitt, Producers
• “The Tree of Life” Nominees to be determined
• “War Horse“ Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, Producers

Directing

• “The Artist” Michel Hazanavicius
• “The Descendants” Alexander Payne
• “Hugo” Martin Scorsese
• “Midnight in Paris” Woody Allen
• “The Tree of Life” Terrence Malick

Actor in a Leading Role

• Demián Bichir in “A Better Life”
• George Clooney in “The Descendants”
• Jean Dujardin in “The Artist”
• Gary Oldman in “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”
• Brad Pitt in “Moneyball”

Actress in a Leading Role

• Glenn Close in “Albert Nobbs”
• Viola Davis in “The Help”
• Rooney Mara in “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”
• Meryl Streep in “The Iron Lady”
• Michelle Williams in “My Week with Marilyn”

Actor in a Supporting Role

• Kenneth Branagh in “My Week with Marilyn”
• Jonah Hill in “Moneyball”
• Nick Nolte in “Warrior”
• Christopher Plummer in “Beginners”
• Max von Sydow in “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close”

Actress in a Supporting Role

• Bérénice Bejo in “The Artist”
• Jessica Chastain in “The Help”
• Melissa McCarthy in “Bridesmaids”
• Janet McTeer in “Albert Nobbs”
• Octavia Spencer in “The Help”

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

• “The Descendants” Screenplay by Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash
• “Hugo” Screenplay by John Logan
• “The Ides of March” Screenplay by George Clooney & Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon
• “Moneyball” Screenplay by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin  Story by Stan Chervin
• “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” Screenplay by Bridget O’Connor & Peter Straughan

Writing (Original Screenplay)

• “The Artist” Written by Michel Hazanavicius
• “Bridesmaids” Written by Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig
• “Margin Call” Written by J.C. Chandor
• “Midnight in Paris” Written by Woody Allen
• “A Separation” Written by Asghar Farhadi

Animated Feature Film

• “A Cat in Paris” Alain Gagnol and Jean-Loup Felicioli
• “Chico & Rita” Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal
• “Kung Fu Panda 2″ Jennifer Yuh Nelson
• “Puss in Boots” Chris Miller
• “Rango” Gore Verbinski

Art Direction

• “The Artist”
  Production Design: Laurence Bennett; Set Decoration: Robert Gould
• “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2“
  Production Design: Stuart Craig; Set Decoration: Stephenie McMillan
• “Hugo”
  Production Design: Dante Ferretti; Set Decoration: Francesca Lo Schiavo
• “Midnight in Paris”
  Production Design: Anne Seibel; Set Decoration: Hélène Dubreuil
• “War Horse”
  Production Design: Rick Carter; Set Decoration: Lee Sandales

Cinematography

• “The Artist” Guillaume Schiffman
• “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” Jeff Cronenweth
• “Hugo” Robert Richardson
• “The Tree of Life” Emmanuel Lubezki
• “War Horse” Janusz Kaminski

Costume Design

• “Anonymous” Lisy Christl
• “The Artist” Mark Bridges
• “Hugo” Sandy Powell
• “Jane Eyre” Michael O’Connor
• “W.E.” Arianne Phillips

Documentary (Feature)

• “Hell and Back Again”
  Danfung Dennis and Mike Lerner
• “If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front”
  Marshall Curry and Sam Cullman
• “Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory”
  Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs
• “Pina”
  Wim Wenders and Gian-Piero Ringel
• “Undefeated”
  TJ Martin, Dan Lindsay and Richard Middlemas

Documentary (Short Subject)

• “The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement”
  Robin Fryday and Gail Dolgin
• “God Is the Bigger Elvis”
  Rebecca Cammisa and Julie Anderson
• “Incident in New Baghdad”
  James Spione
• “Saving Face”
  Daniel Junge and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy
• “The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom”
  Lucy Walker and Kira Carstensen

Film Editing

• “The Artist” Anne-Sophie Bion and Michel Hazanavicius
• “The Descendants” Kevin Tent
• “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall
• “Hugo” Thelma Schoonmaker
• “Moneyball” Christopher Tellefsen

Foreign Language Film

• “Bullhead” Belgium
• “Footnote” Israel
• “In Darkness” Poland
• “Monsieur Lazhar” Canada
• “A Separation” Iran

Makeup

• “Albert Nobbs”
  Martial Corneville, Lynn Johnston and Matthew W. Mungle
• “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2″
  Edouard F. Henriques, Gregory Funk and Yolanda Toussieng
• “The Iron Lady”
  Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland

Music (Original Score)

• “The Adventures of Tintin” John Williams
• “The Artist” Ludovic Bource
• “Hugo” Howard Shore
• “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” Alberto Iglesias
• “War Horse” John Williams

Music (Original Song)

• “Man or Muppet” from “The Muppets” Music and Lyric by Bret McKenzie
• “Real in Rio” from “Rio” Music by Sergio Mendes and Carlinhos Brown Lyric by Siedah Garrett

Short Film (Animated)

• “Dimanche/Sunday” Patrick Doyon
• “The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore” William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg
• “La Luna” Enrico Casarosa
• “A Morning Stroll” Grant Orchard and Sue Goffe
• “Wild Life” Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby

Short Film (Live Action)

• “Pentecost” Peter McDonald and Eimear O’Kane
• “Raju” Max Zähle and Stefan Gieren
• “The Shore” Terry George and Oorlagh George
• “Time Freak” Andrew Bowler and Gigi Causey
• “Tuba Atlantic” Hallvar Witzø

Sound Editing

• “Drive” Lon Bender and Victor Ray Ennis
• “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” Ren Klyce
• “Hugo” Philip Stockton and Eugene Gearty
• “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” Ethan Van der Ryn and Erik Aadahl
• “War Horse” Richard Hymns and Gary Rydstrom

Sound Mixing

• “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”
  David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce and Bo Persson
• “Hugo”
  Tom Fleischman and John Midgley
• “Moneyball”
  Deb Adair, Ron Bochar, Dave Giammarco and Ed Novick
• “Transformers: Dark of the Moon”
  Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers, Jeffrey J. Haboush and Peter J. Devlin
• “War Horse”
  Gary Rydstrom, Andy Nelson, Tom Johnson and Stuart Wilson

Visual Effects

• “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2″
  Tim Burke, David Vickery, Greg Butler and John Richardson
• “Hugo”
  Rob Legato, Joss Williams, Ben Grossman and Alex Henning
• “Real Steel”
  Erik Nash, John Rosengrant, Dan Taylor and Swen Gillberg
• “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”
  Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, R. Christopher White and Daniel Barrett
• “Transformers: Dark of the Moon”
  Scott Farrar, Scott Benza, Matthew Butler and John Frazier

Photo courtesy of the New York Times.

Making the blind see may seem like a miracle.

Some think that miracle has taken place.

The cause for this excitement is some promising results from a new embryonic stem cell treatment for macular degeneration.

Advanced Cell Technology developed the treatment, which was used on two legally blind patients at UCLA. The two women reported encouraging gains in vision, one reporting she had been able to thread a needle, and the other patient reported she was able to navigate a shopping mall by herself.

The news remains controversial for a number of reasons.

As many critics point out, two patients do not make for a statistically significant study. Embryonic stem cells themselves have been controversial, since their creation typically involves the destruction of human embryos.

The first trial of a therapy using human embryonic stem cells, run by Geron, shut down in November mid-trial. (Though Geron cited a lack of funding, rather than controversy, as the cause).

Does embryonic stem cell therapy have a future in the medical field? We’ll wait and see.