NewAlliance Bancshares Update: Trading, alas, begins today.

The University of Florida claiming academic excellence must come at the cost of an organized voice for the people who do the teaching, makes the unfortunate move to try to crush its faculty union.

Sometimes a picture says it all:

Kim Scipes charges the AFL-CIO with undemocratic complicity in US attempts to overthrow Chavez in Venezuela:

…there are three questions that beg for answers from ACILS, Harry Kamberis, and the AFL-CIO leadership in general. First, how do these efforts to overthrow a democratically-elected president-a president who is actively trying to meet the needs and aspirations of the poorest 80 percent of the population-help meet the needs of these working people? Second, how does working to destabilize the elected government of Venezuela help workers and their families in the United States? And third, if your projects such as in Venezuela are so good for American working people, why are you trying so desperately to keep U.S. trade unionists from accurately knowing what you are doing in these countries? Why, indeed?

The White House tries and fails to smear David Letterman and discredit the footage he showed of George Bush putting a teenager to sleep:

The speech was at a Florida Rally on March 20th at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Dave is irked that the White House was trying to make him look like a jerk. But he’s glad he got his side of the story out in the open.

Found in Starbucks: Notes to brief Rumsfeld to spin on the talk shows.

The United Nations reminds the US that “infinite freedom” begins at home – including offshore facilities controlled by the US:

The Human Rights Committee—a U.N. expert committee charged with interpreting the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, a core human rights treaty ratified by 148 countries—has put governments on notice that they are responsible for human rights violations committed wherever they have “effective control.”

“The Human Rights Committee has sent a strong message that states cannot avoid their international human rights obligations by outsourcing their detention centers,” said Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch. “The Bush administration’s trick of detaining people at Guantanamo won’t work under international law.”

Britain proposes “civil partnerships”:

…gay rights group Stonewall welcomed the bill. “This is a hugely symbolic step towards recognition of long-term gay partnerships,” said chief executive Ben Summerskill. “At last, we’re seeing legislation which reflects the reality of 21st century life. Finally, young gay people will grow up knowing that as adults they’ll be entitled to exactly the same respect as everyone else. If it becomes law, the Bill will have huge cultural and social significance,” he said.

However, asked to comment on the revised take-up figures, gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said: “Many gay people see the civil partnerships as an inferior, second class form of partnership recognition. “They would prefer to hold out for the full legal equality of same-sex marriage.”

Some conservatives prove moderately more compassionate than the President:

The vote, 78 to 20, expressed broad bipartisan support for a proposal to add $6 billion to child care programs over the next five years, on top of a $1 billion increase that was already included in a sweeping welfare bill. The federal government now earmarks $4.8 billion a year for such child care assistance.

The Bush administration objected to the increase in child care money, saying it was not needed.