Is the Polanski case an example of the Euro-American cultural divide striking again? Or is it about Switzerland, worried about its relations with the United States after the UBS debacle, trying to curry favor with Washington? Whatever the cause, the controversy triggered by the arrest and possible extradition to the United States of famed film director and pedophile Roman Polanski is fierce. For France’s...

Patrick Chappatte, Le Temps, Switzerland This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved.

Here.

as what she said next, while following the script: “I swear to God.” The Saturday Night Live skit in which Slate accidentally used the four-letter F-word involved two “biker chicks” who repeatedly use the word, “frickin’.” Slate slips and, when she does, you can see the chagrin and concern on her face as she puffs her cheeks, as if to say, “I can’t believe...

There is a huge controversy building over something that should not be controversial at all: the arrest of 76-year-old film director Roman Polanski on charges going back to his rape of a 13-year-old girl in 1977.

My friend Sam, who lives around the corner, wrote earlier in the week, “Saturday night Babs Streisand is giving a one time only night at the Village Vangard where she got her start. Can you imagine?” It was her first time back to the club in 48 years: Max Gordon, late owner of the Village Vanguard, liked to tell the possibly exaggerated story of the “little pisher” who hung around the club in...

… and Sen. Stabenow replied, “I think your mom probably did.”

Saturday Night Live’s Thursday update lampoons President Barack Obama, his media blitz, and Glenn Beck: h/t The Huffington Post

Legendary keyboardist and bassist Larry Knechtel, 69, performed with top-selling artists for nearly half a century. His most famous piano work is his 1970 Grammy Award winning contribution to “Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Simon and Garfunkel. Larry earned fame performing and recording with a broad range of artists, including his work as a session musician with Simon & Garfunkel, Duane Eddy,...

Just a little pick me up for your afternoon

Full Disclosure: I didn’t like Tom DeLay when he was in politics, I don’t like him now, and I probably will never like the man. Sorry! Now that I have gotten that off my chest, I do have a disclaimer: I am not an expert when it comes to dancing. And a caveat: This post contains some satire. If I think of some other proviso, disclaimer, etc., I’ll let you know. Although I am not much into...

Our political Quote of the Day is from Nate Silver, who adds some perspective on rumblings within the conservative movement (which seemingly has already been split between the descendents of Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan and the talk radio political culture conservatives) about talk show host mega-star Glenn Beck: Buried in the cross-tabs of the new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll is a question that takes...

This just in!!

As Bugs Bunny used to say, “Of course you know, this means war!” But this time it’s verbal war: it’s rising conservative bombastic talker Mark Levin against Glenn Beck. As we noted in this earlier post, Beck is coming under fire now from some conservatives who feel he’s bad for the conservative movement. Beck is being seen by some to be a bad image for conservatives and Republicans...

I just received an e-mail in Spanish from a friend. It was titled ” La Culpa es de la Vaca,” (It’s the cow’s fault), and started as follows: COMUNISMO: Tienes 2 vacas. El estado te quita las dos y te regala un poco de la leche. (COMMUNISM: You have two cows. The government takes both of them and gives you a little bit of milk) And so it went on with Socialism, Fascism, Capitalism,...

Our political Quote of the Day comes from Commentary’s Peter Wehner, who took a hard look at Fox News’ talk show mega-star Glenn Beck in light of Time magazine’s cover story on Beck and asked himself whether Beck was good for conservatives. And what he sees, he says, should “worry the conservative movement.” I say that because he seems to be more of a populist and libertarian than...

Here’s the video of President Barack Obama’s appearance last night with CBS’ David Letterman: Meanwhile, the New York Times reports that the Obama appearance coincides with Letterman deciding that he will do more politically oriented humor now. FOOTNOTE: Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist, ran these Top 10 Reason Why Barack Obama Should Appear On Letterman.

I lived in the Netherlands for many years and I fondly remember its windmills, its gorgeous fields of tulips, and of course its delicious cheese—made from that great Dutch koe melk (cow milk). I don’t remember, however, seeing any camels grazing in the luscious Dutch pastures. That’s why the headline in this morning’s news.scotsman.com got my attention. Under the banner, “Dutchman...

How did Rep. Joe Wilson yelling “You lie!” to President Barack Obama REALLY come about? Saturday Night Live, on its new Thursday show, has you this now-it-can-be-told this-just-in account: h/T Huffington Post

Mary Travers has died at age 72. Her group, Peter, Paul, and Mary, were often scorned by folk purists who disdained their popularization of the folk idiom in the early-60s. But there can be little doubt that the group’s harmonies opened mainstream US society folk, with its long history of advocacy for civil rights, unions, and peace. Through their covers of Bob Dylan’s songs, at a time when mainstream...

It was a time, it was a time… hard rain’s gonna fall,.. but don’t think twice it’s alright, it’s all gonna be alright babe… Mary Travers, has passed the bar at age 72 from leukemia after a bone marrow transplant gave her three more years. The long blonde-haired original was the female contralto voice in the American folk group, Peter, Paul and Mary which rose to prominence...

I just found out, via TPM, that Mary Travers, of the 1960s and ’70s trio Peter, Paul, and Mary, has died of cancer at the age of 72.

NOTE: “Kenya” in original title has been changed to “Kanye”. – TS Last night, for his bad manners at the VMA. Terry Moran let it slip in a tweet… Now, an ABC spokesperson explains to POLITICO what happened: “In the process of reporting on remarks by President Obama that were made during a CNBC interview, ABC News employees prematurely tweeted a portion of those remarks...

If you read nothing else online this week, read Jonathan Chait’s book review (of two new biographies of Ayn Rand) cum extended essay on Rand’s philosophy and continuing influence on the American right. It’s a long article, but don’t let that stop you — I usually get restless reading lengthy pieces on the Internet, but this one had me riveted.

In case you missed it, (and judging by the early overnights at TV By the Numbers, plenty of you did) Jay Leno premiered last night for his experiment in moving late night television into prime time. The Washington Post gave the square jawed funnyman a fairly charitable review, soothing fears on the part of some viewers that “the new Jay” would be terrible. It was, they note, the same old Jay Leno. Leno’s...