1. Kyle Olson: Homeschooling Rate
Nearly Doubles in Virginia
2. James Hirsen: Alibaba Poised to Buy
Control of Hollywood Studio
3. Michelle Seiler-Tucker: If Dennis Rodman Can
Befriend Kim Jong-Un, Does That Mean it's Possible for the U.S., too?
4. Dr. Gerard Lameiro: Net Neutrality - Obamacare for the Internet?
5. Joe Messina: Our Stubborn Teenager
6. John LeBoutillier: What Really Happened on Election Day - and What Does
it Mean?
Homeschooling
Rate Nearly Doubles in Virginia
Kyle Olson is the Publisher and CEO of eagnews.org - a national, non-partisan organization
devoted to school spending reform and ensuring that accountability and parental
choice exist in public education. Here are some of his top stories this
week:
Alibaba
Poised to Buy Control of Hollywood Studio
Jack
Ma recently delivered a keynote address at the Wall Street Journal's digital tech event, "WSJD Live."
The richest man in China described the company he founded, Alibaba, as "the
biggest entertainment company in the world." The Chinese magnate told the
crowd, "I want to come here looking for partners." He emphasized a
reality that most Hollywood executives and creative types already know, that
China is destined to become the largest movie market in the world. "Movies
are the best way to change young people's behavior and thinking," Ma said,
touching on an issue with which young people in his country are having to deal
concerning the rapid economic growth that China is undergoing. [more...]
If
Dennis Rodman Can Befriend Kim Jong-Un, Does That Mean it's Possible for the U.S.,
too?
Dennis
Rodman, former NBA superstar who lost his sports hero status when he was kicked
out of the professional association for drug use a long time ago is still a
star in North Korean dictator, Kim Jong-un's eyes, as well as a hero in
his own. Rodman wants some credit for the release of an American who was
being held captive in North Korea. Rodman says he helped secure Kenneth Bae's
release thanks to a sincere letter he wrote to the North Korean leader. Kenneth
Bae, American captive, had been held for two years on charges of trying to
overthrow the government. The other prisoner, Matthew Miller, was more recently
convicted of spying on the North Korean government with intent to gain access
to and expose the inside story of an infamous North Korean prison, rumored to
be incredibly inhumane. Both men were officially released this
past Saturday shortly following the Director of U.S. Intelligence's secret
trip to North Korea to make the release of the two men happen. The
decision to let the two Americans go is the latest evidence that suggests the
young leader may have used their release as a tool to test out his first
interactions with the Obama administration since taking power. [more...]
Net Neutrality - Obamacare for the Internet?
Net
Neutrality made news headlines as the President calls for
regulations on the Internet to keep "a free and open Internet."
BUT... will these new regulations actually keep the Internet free and
open? Or, will they do just the opposite? Will they discourage
innovation? Will they discourage new technology investment? And,
will they discourage new job creation? Net neutrality, by definition, is
a benign-sounding term for the regulation of the Internet by the Federal
Communications Commission. It's an effort to micro-manage those companies
that provide Internet services to Americans. Rather than treat the
Internet as an "information service" under Title I of the
Communications Act, implementing Net Neutrality under the President's
recommendation would treat broadband services as a Title II "utility"
such as a phone service - thereby, preventing Internet Service Providers
(ISPs) from managing their infrastructure carefully to maximize customer
services and economic value. [more...]
Our
Stubborn Teenager
Don't
you feel like you're dealing with a stubborn teenager every time you hear President
Obama speak? Even his own party has started to look on him with disdain and
disgust. He did nothing (thank God!) to help his party win or keep seats,
except raise money. We learned several things in this last election: mainly, you
really can't buy votes, and negative ads are no longer effective. [more...]
What Really Happened on
Election Day - and What Does it Mean?
What
really happened in last week's elections – and why? What will happen to the
final two years of the Obama Presidency? Will the GOP-controlled Congress
govern responsibly, or fall prey to infighting and internal divisions? How does
all this impact the 2016 race? This – and much more – will be discussed by the POLITICAL
INSIDERS. [more...]