Russia cries foul over Scottish independence vote  —  Russian observers say referendum count took place in rooms that were too big and did not meet international standards  —  Russia has said the conduct of the Scottish referendum “did not meet international standards” …

One in four Americans want their state to secede from the U.S., but why?  —  Click on the image to explore the the complete poll results.  —  For the past few weeks, as Scotland debated the wisdom of independence, Reuters has been asking Americans how they would feel about declaring independence today …

Washington's Ruling Class Is Fooling Itself About The Islamic State  —  The American people's reaction to Muslim thugs of the “Islamic State” ritually knifing off the heads of people who look like you and me boils down to “let's destroy these bastards”—which is common sense.

Kansas Senate Ballots Will Be Sent Out Without Dem Nominee Listed  —  In an apparent reversal, Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach's office is instructing election officials in the state to send out overseas military ballots without Democratic Senate nominee Chad Taylor or any other Democratic Senate candidate listed.

Does Hillary Clinton Have Anything to Say?  —  The presumed presidential candidate's speeches are long on pablum and short on content.  This is the campaign we're in for.  —  Everywhere Hillary Clinton goes, a thousand cameras follow.  Then she opens her mouth, and nothing happens.

Viola Davis Plays Shonda Rhimes's Latest Tough Heroine  —  When Shonda Rhimes writes her autobiography, it should be called “How to Get Away With Being an Angry Black Woman.”  —  On Thursday, Ms. Rhimes will introduce “How to Get Away With Murder,” yet another network series from her production company …

Hagel eyes NFL ties  —  (CNN) — Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has asked his staff for detailed information about the U.S. military's relationships with the National Football League in the wake of the scandal over how the league is handling domestic-abuse allegations against players, CNN has learned.

Could Fighting Global Warming Be Cheap and Free?  —  This just in: Saving the planet would be cheap; it might even be free.  But will anyone believe the good news?  —  I've just been reading two new reports on the economics of fighting climate change: a big study by a blue-ribbon international group …

8 ways the Obama administration is blocking information  —  The fight for access to public information has never been harder, Associated Press Washington Bureau Chief Sally Buzbee said recently at a joint meeting of the American Society of News Editors, the Associated Press Media Editors and the Associated Press Photo Managers.

Wisconsin Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Fires Campaign Consultant For Large Portions Of Copied Jobs Plan  —  From three previous Democratic campaigns.  —  Facebook- Burke for Wisconsin / Via Facebook: burkeforwisconsin  —  Large portions of Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial candidate …

Shakespeare Didn't Really Want To Kill All The Lawyers, But We Should Deregulate Their Profession  —  One of the Bard's often-quoted lines is Dick the Butcher's admonition in Henry VI, Part 2, “The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers.”  —  That idea, argues lawyer David Epstein …

AL JAZEERA AMERICA SUES FORMER VP GORE … NEW YORK (AP) — Al Jazeera America is suing former Vice President Al Gore and Joel Hyatt, the former owners of the TV network that became Al Jazeera America.  —  The parties are fighting over money that is being held in escrow.