"So even as the members of Occupy Wall Street seem unorganized and, at times, uninformed, their continued presence creates a vexing problem for the Police Department." That's the New York Times today, recounting how Occupy Wall Street is "VEXING" the NYPD, which is a BIZARRE take on what's happening. (To be fair! Much of the NYPD is being friendly and good-humored about the ongoing protest downtown, as is their way. I like New York City cops!) But there are some cops who need to be fired and/or prosecuted. Like lady-macer Anthony Bologna. Hey, a word of advice to New York City's government and police department? When you [...]

Writing about Israel is tough when the Israeli-Arab conflict isn't front and center. It's been a geopolitical nightmare for decades; it hangs in the background during the discussion of even innocuous topics. But a massive new protest movement in Israel is centered around financial issues instead—and could give a sneak preview of what could happen if European and American economies hit the fan again.

A gigantic tent city in downtown Tel Aviv was organized via Facebook and is now home to hundreds of protesters. They are mainly middle-class urbanites, angry at the rapidly rising Israeli cost of living and at Tel Aviv's lack of affordable [...]