SPOILER ALERT: Don't read any further if you haven't seen last night's mid-7th-season finale of Mad Men. But, trust me, you won't be able to escape the news. Mad Men, AMC's consistently excellent drama about 1960s-1970s era advertising pros and their turbulent lives, gave a send off to one of its key characters -- and actors -- that will likely go down as one of the top … [Read more...] about Mad Men’s Pitch Perfect Bert Cooper Robert Morse Send-off (Videos)
(Update) Memorial Day – Every Day – Take Good Care of Old Glory
Update: Watch President Obama during his surprise Memorial Day visit to our troops in Afghanistan refer to the American flag recovered at the Twin Towers site and now on display at the National September 11 Memorial Museum (discussed below) as “Our flag is still there” in the video below at the 18:21 mark. One of the most solemn, gut-wrenching … [Read more...] about (Update) Memorial Day – Every Day – Take Good Care of Old Glory
SciFi Weekend: Hannibal, The Americans, Orphan Black
The second season of Hannibal ended with Mizumono exactly as shown at the start of the season with a fight between Hannibal and Jack Crawford. The fight scene, which left four characters potentially bleeding to death, lasted eighteen minutes. It was preceded by a set up to attempt to make sense out of Jack being in Hannibal's home with no back up, along with plenty of dialog to … [Read more...] about SciFi Weekend: Hannibal, The Americans, Orphan Black
The Brutally Murderous Madness of UCSB Shooter Elliot Rodgers’s 140 Page Manifesto
It'll be studied for years. When 22-year-old Isla Vista shooter Elliot Rodgers mailed his 140 page manifesto detailing his life and his evolution to deciding to kill woman for rejecting him and guys for getting the women, he clearly felt it would live as a testament to himself since killing himself in the end was a longstanding part of his plan. Instead, it'll be studied for … [Read more...] about The Brutally Murderous Madness of UCSB Shooter Elliot Rodgers’s 140 Page Manifesto
Innocence Stolen and Unbridled Abuse (Guest Voice)
Innocence Stolen and Unbridled Abuse By Michael Reagan and Jerome Elam Behind the green curtain is where my world began to end. It was where my innocence was forever washed away in a porcelain pan filled with developer. Grainy images brought into strong relief on white paper that would become forever etched on my soul. It all began at the age of eight when my mother … [Read more...] about Innocence Stolen and Unbridled Abuse (Guest Voice)
Remembering My Grandfather
My grandfather was too old to serve in the military during WWII but that doesn't mean he didn't serve. While my father served in India/Burma he put in long hours at the Kaiser ship yards in Portland. He too was a hero. He wasn't awarded a Bronze Star like my hero father but he still gave it his all. The picture is is from a newspaper article on him in the local paper. I … [Read more...] about Remembering My Grandfather
Isla Vista Killer Rodger began spree by stabbing to death three roommates
More info is flowing about Elliot Rodger and his killing spree apparently motivated by feeling he was rejected by women that ended in seven deaths, including his own. The latest tidbit: he stabbed three roommates to death in his apartment before he went on his shooting spree: Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bob Brown confirmed the suspect was Rodger, a Santa Barbara City … [Read more...] about Isla Vista Killer Rodger began spree by stabbing to death three roommates
Beware of the signs of drowning
To many, Memorial Day weekend symbolizes the start of the outdoor swimming season and also means it's time to take care to a)not drown b)recognize the signs of someone who is drowning. Mario Vittone in Slate has a must-read about the signs and how actual drowning doesn't resemble the stereotype of someone drowing. To wit: In some of those drownings, the adult will actually … [Read more...] about Beware of the signs of drowning
Cartoon: Memorial Day
This cartoon is licensed by Cagle Cartoons to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction without licensing is strictly prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Memorial Day
California Drive by in BMW in Santa Barbara: Son of “Hunger Games” Assistant Director suspected of drive by “mass murder of six. Left video threat on You Tube (Video) UPDATED
The joy and security young people and families feel on a holiday weekend was shattered Friday night in what may eventually be seen uniquely California drive-by mass murder shooting: a drive by shooting spree in Isla Vista that took the lives of six, allegedly done in a pristine, black BMW by the 22-year-old son of a prominent Hollywood assistant director (credit anna). And, … [Read more...] about California Drive by in BMW in Santa Barbara: Son of “Hunger Games” Assistant Director suspected of drive by “mass murder of six. Left video threat on You Tube (Video) UPDATED
Obama Responds To Myth That Both Parties Are Responsible For Current Gridlock
There has been a lot of back and forth on line recently regarding whether Obama deserves blame for the gridlock in Washington. Ezra Klein explained the fallacies once again in the Green Lantern view of the presidency as a character with near infinite powers. Ron Fournier continues to play the false equivalency game in trying to blame both the left and right, ignoring the … [Read more...] about Obama Responds To Myth That Both Parties Are Responsible For Current Gridlock
2014 Commencement Addresses – A ‘Military Perspective’
May is graduation month and, along with high school, college and university graduations, come the traditional, memorable or forgettable, interesting or boring, sometimes controversial, sometimes funny, often motivating, rarely short enough (for the anxious graduates), but always unavoidable -- if you want to personally collect your diploma -- commencement speeches. Many of … [Read more...] about 2014 Commencement Addresses – A ‘Military Perspective’
‘Envy of the Gods’: Obama ‘Unfit to Lead’ a Great Power (Izvestia, Russia)
Has the United States intentionally undermined the dream of a 'single economic apace from Lisbon to Vladivostok' by creating turmoil in Ukraine? For Izvestia, columnist Vladimir Zharkhin accuses an 'envious' United States with doing everything it can to keep itself from being sidelined by stoking tensions between Europe and Russia - and President Obama with being overcome by … [Read more...] about ‘Envy of the Gods’: Obama ‘Unfit to Lead’ a Great Power (Izvestia, Russia)
Liberals Were Wrong About The VA, But Conservatives Remain Wrong About Health Care Coverage
James Taranto of The Wall Street Journal, demonstrating what they say about a broken watch, is right on one point. His column carries the subheading of "Not long ago, the left raved about the VA." While this is widely true about the left, there was at least one exception (myself). A few years back, many on the left were exclaiming about the quality of the VA system based upon … [Read more...] about Liberals Were Wrong About The VA, But Conservatives Remain Wrong About Health Care Coverage
Why Should Poland Thank Putin? Let Us Count the Ways (Rzeczpospolita, Poland)
Once again, unlike much of the commentary coming out of Europe, a Polish columnist seems almost pleased that the Ukraine crisis has erupted, bringing with it a renewed sense of urgency from their NATO partners. For Poland's Rzeczpospolita, columnist Michal Kobosko writes that Vladimir Putin has forced a new narrative on the world, and explains why that is largely a very good … [Read more...] about Why Should Poland Thank Putin? Let Us Count the Ways (Rzeczpospolita, Poland)
A Never-Ending Tail
From The Don't Tell Richard Gere Dept. Tokyo Goes Gaga For Hamster Butts View From The Virgin Islands By John McCarthy TMV Columnist This column went away for a few days as I tried to wrap my head around the Japanese fab fad of “hamuketsu.” Jean Michel Basquiat became famous as a graffiti artist by writing “Plush safe, he think” all over Manhattan in the … [Read more...] about A Never-Ending Tail
Report: Shelly Sterling to negotiate Los Angeles Clippers Sale
According to a report from ESPN, disgraced I'm-no-racist (but he has pretty much confirmed he is) Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling has authorized his wife Shelly to negotiate a sale of the team: Disgraced Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling has agreed to allow his wife, Shelly, to negotiate a forced sale of the team, sources with knowledge of the … [Read more...] about Report: Shelly Sterling to negotiate Los Angeles Clippers Sale
Will Putin try to gobble up Moldova next?
As Russian President Vladimir Putin continues what increasingly seems to be a policy of expansion couched in a (barely) cocoon of plausible deniability, the question become: after he gets Ukraine, what next? And The Daily Beast's Josh Rogin has an answer: keep your eye on Moldva, since there are signs Putin is already starting to tinker: After Sunday’s elections in … [Read more...] about Will Putin try to gobble up Moldova next?
Tea Party = Right Wing Id?
Brian Beutler assesses the state of the GOP's internal struggle in The New Republic. But the real issue isn't whether the "Tea Party," now vanquished, has been a liability for the Republican Party, but whether the Republican electorate is fractious and reactionary, and has thus kept the Senate out of reach for Republicans two cycles in a row. The answer is yes. … [Read more...] about Tea Party = Right Wing Id?
This Is Not Your Ordinary Memorial Day Poem, But Then This Is Not An Ordinary Memorial Day
I have seen over 40 Memorial Days come and go since I was discharged from the Army. Barely at that, because I had a one-day growth of beard and a lifer wasn't going to allow this lowly sergeant to board a Freedom Bird until I shaved. Having grown a pair while serving our country, I stared him down, he relented, and I flew home. Except for regular trims, I have not shaved … [Read more...] about This Is Not Your Ordinary Memorial Day Poem, But Then This Is Not An Ordinary Memorial Day