I have already posted a couple of pictures from Balch Creek Canyon in NW Portland here and here. What I haven't told you is that I grew up a block away from that canyon. In the summer my friends and I would pack a lunch after breakfast and take off into the canyon on exciting and almost mythical adventures. Yes, there were dangers but dangers was what made it an adventure. … [Read more...] about Another Picture From Balch Creek Canyon
Workers Limited To 6 Minutes A Day In The John
Workers Limited To 6 Minutes A Day In The John … [Read more...] about Workers Limited To 6 Minutes A Day In The John
This Week in Pantsuit Politics: Lucy Flores Speaks Out About Abortion and Renee Ellmers Calls Women Way Dumb
[icopyright one button toolbar] One need only look at the Oval Office to see that when it comes to politics, we've got a bit of a gender discrepancy. In this weekly roundup, we focus on powerful political women in the news who are creating (or sometimes preventing) new cracks in the proverbial glass ceiling of policy-making. Politicos, move aside. We bring you . . . … [Read more...] about This Week in Pantsuit Politics: Lucy Flores Speaks Out About Abortion and Renee Ellmers Calls Women Way Dumb
My First ‘Cell Phone’
I have been writing so much about ongoing tragedies, wars and conflicts that I need to give it a rest. So, for a change, I decided to read an article about the evolution of cell phones. One of the first sentences was “Cell phones have evolved immensely since 1983, both in design and function.” No kidding! But how about in size -- unless that is part of … [Read more...] about My First ‘Cell Phone’
Obama’s Sanctions on Russia are the ‘Only Real Sanctions’ (Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland)
If President Obama is 'weak,' than everyone else is weaker. For Poland's Gazeta Wyborcza, Mariusz Zawadzki reminds Obama's ever-expanding number of critics that the president has not only been the most consistent leader since the Ukraine crisis began, but that the sanctions he has imposed on Russia have been the toughest in the world, and what's more, they work. For the … [Read more...] about Obama’s Sanctions on Russia are the ‘Only Real Sanctions’ (Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland)
Putin’s Hard Hat of Indifference
Balloon Payment For The Sochi Olympics Invade Now For Best Financing Terms The View From The Virgin Islands By John McCarthy TMV Columnist Remember when the worst thing we had to fear from Vladimir Putin was another bare-chested photo opportunity on horseback? [icopyright one button toolbar] There had come a time in the career of President Putin when he … [Read more...] about Putin’s Hard Hat of Indifference
Happy 45th Moon Day
Sometimes known as "A Secret History of Neil Armstrong" [icopyright one button toolbar] Quincy Jones presents platinum copies of "Fly Me to the Moon") to Neil Armstrong (right) and Senator John Glenn, September 24, 2008. From the 40th Anniversary of the Moon Landing .... A Secret History of Neil Armstrong July 20, 2009 Finally, somebody's paying attention to the … [Read more...] about Happy 45th Moon Day
Three Reasons Democrats Might Retain Control Of The Senate
Republicans have an excellent chance to gain control of the Senate this year due to a combination of Republican voters traditionally turning out in higher percentages in midterm elections and the need for Democrats to defend several seats in red states. Current projections from most sources give the Republicans a slight edge but there are a few reasons to believe that the … [Read more...] about Three Reasons Democrats Might Retain Control Of The Senate
James Garner: Comedic Macho Man
James Garner has died at 86. He was a rare hybrid - a comedic macho/tough guy. [icopyright one button toolbar] Actor James Garner, best known for his prime-time television roles as the wisecracking frontier gambler on "Maverick" and as an ex-con turned private eye on "The Rockford Files," has died at age 86, the celebrity news website TMZ reported on Sunday. Garner, who … [Read more...] about James Garner: Comedic Macho Man
House GOP’s Hilarious Strategy is Born to Lose
House GOP's Hilarious Strategy is Born to Lose By Dick Polman Recently, I wrote that summer is the time for stupid political stunts, and John Boehner should honor that tradition by making good on his vow to sue President Obama for alleged executive abuses. "Do it, Mr. Speaker," I urged. "Give us a laugh during silly season." Yes! He's doing it! A House GOP committee … [Read more...] about House GOP’s Hilarious Strategy is Born to Lose
Why Would Putin Shoot Down a Plane?
Cartoon: Impeach
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction without licensing is strictly prohibited. … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Impeach
Two Minutes of Hate: The Bergdahl Edition
[retweet] Two Minutes of Hate: The Bergdahl Edition By Tina Dupuy In George Orwell's "1984," the daily devotion for Oceania's party members is to view a film illustrating the various crimes of their enemy. In the dystopian novel the target is Emmanuel Goldstein, a party turncoat. The film whips up comrades into an antipathetic froth—hence the Two Minutes of … [Read more...] about Two Minutes of Hate: The Bergdahl Edition
Some Summer Beauty
There are indeed some beautiful things in summer. One of them is the swallowtail butterfly. … [Read more...] about Some Summer Beauty
Ukraine says separatists took bodies from crash site as part of cover-up
Ukraine says separatists took bodies from crash site as part of cover-up … [Read more...] about Ukraine says separatists took bodies from crash site as part of cover-up
The New York Times Remembers Robert Stein (UPDATE: His poignant Marilyn Monroe columns)
ROBERT STEIN AND HELEN HAYES (UNDATED) The New York Times, celebrates late TMV contributor Robert Stein's career. The Times says he helped expand the scope of women's magazines in the early stages of the modern women’s movement, published articles about race and politics and introduced readers to the nascent writings of feminist leaders like Betty Friedan and Gloria … [Read more...] about The New York Times Remembers Robert Stein (UPDATE: His poignant Marilyn Monroe columns)
Another Picture and some Factoids
Many of the landmarks in the Pacific Northwest were named with English translations of the native American names. One such is what is now known as Mt. Washington. It was originally known as squaw tit and from the picture below you can see why. There are several others that have been "cleaned up". In the Columbia River Gorge we have Roster Rock which was originally known as … [Read more...] about Another Picture and some Factoids
The Faces Behind the Numbers: ‘The Innocent Lives of Flight 17’ (Updated)
[icopyright one button toolbar] Scroll down for updates In her “Maybe this is the real story behind the downed Malaysia airliner,” fellow contributor Prairie Weather posted an image of the numbers and nationalities of the men, women, children and babies aboard the ill-fated Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. While the numbers have slightly changed -- the Wall Street … [Read more...] about The Faces Behind the Numbers: ‘The Innocent Lives of Flight 17’ (Updated)
Cool Down
Well the heat wave seems to be over for awhile and I am thankful. We had a one day break last Sunday when several bands of thunderstorms moved through but they were high base thunderstorms so there was no rain. As a result we have wild fires all over the states of Oregon and Washington. They are predicting some light rain for tonight and Sunday morning and perhaps some … [Read more...] about Cool Down
MH17: The Death Knell of Ukraine’s Pro-Russia Separatists (de Volkskrant, The Netherlands)
Can Moscow's support for seperatists in Ukraine survive an atrocity the scale of the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17? For de Volkskrant of the Netherlands, the country that suffered the greatest loss of life in yesterday's attack, columnist Bert Lanting writes that if it is proven that the crime was committed by pro-Russia rebels in Ukraine, Vladimir Putin will have … [Read more...] about MH17: The Death Knell of Ukraine’s Pro-Russia Separatists (de Volkskrant, The Netherlands)