At a time when fewer than 35 of 435 Congressional races are competitive, political spending in midterm elections has never been higher. The projected total for the 2014 elections was $3.67 billion.

George Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation, issued on October 3, 1789, was our nation's first executive order. Following the set examples of the Continental Congress and Congress Assembled under the Articles, the new Congress requested that Washington set aside a national day of thanksgiving.

Examining this short, 500 word proclamation and the precedents it set into motion would definitely help our understanding of the current political crisis, as well as what George Washington thought was important for a thankful people to do.

China is a sleeping giant. Let her sleep, for when she wakes she will move the world. -- Napoleon Bonaparte

This week, in yet another announcement of China's growing list of military partnerships, The People's Daily News announced greater military partnership with Canada. The deal gives the Chinese Navy access to Canadian ports, further increasing China's aspirations for a blue-water navy.

Marijuana legalization under the new Congress is likely to continue its current path -- slow and steady, but sure, experts say.

Most people are concerned about online privacy, but most people are also not doing anything to protect their personal information. That is what a recent international survey from the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), a Canadian think tank, suggests.

Twitter has hosted opinions about Ferguson since the incident first gained national attention, with organizers using the platform to plan protests and users adding their two-cents in 140 characters or less. 

However, recent analysis reveals that while there is constant chatter surrounding the shooting, riots, and subsequent grand jury hearing, users remain deeply divided on the issue. What’s more, users seem to be entirely unreceptive to opposing views on the issue. 

As a society, we have evolved into a citizenry reliant on technology in almost all aspects of our lives -- politics is no exception. And if the 2014 midterm elections taught us one thing, it's that the space for online campaigning is exponentially growing.

Heretofore, every monetary system that has ever existed has been problematic. For starters, money in all its forms has been subject to manipulation. Metallic specie made with precious metals can be debased by the issuer or shaved, filed, or nicked by individuals. Paper currency actually creates more difficulty for individuals to tamper with the money, but is all the more easily manipulated by those issuing it, whether individual banks or central authorities.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4PZoCyjZd4

Michael Brown. The prosecuting attorney for St. Louis County, Bob McCulloch, announced Wilson would not be indicted at a press conference held at the St. Louis County Justice Center Monday.

From McCulloch's statement: