I recently received a forwarded political e-mail from my aunt. The fact-check websites weigh in: hit delete without reading. Politifact.com: So PolitiFact has put together this handy guide to chain e-mails and other viral messages. Hide it under the green bean casserole and you can pull it out if your uncle brings up the chain e-mails...PolitiFact has checked 131 claims … [Read more...] about Those Pesky Forwarded E-mails
Christie Apes Nixon: Enemies Lists, Dirty Tricks
In New Jersey Chris Christie is on the career path of the only US president to be driven from office for criminal behavior in the last two centuries. With each new revelation, Christie evokes Richard Nixon who divided the world into friends and enemies and, with ruthless helpers, punished those on the wrong list and played dirty tricks on them. In his first run for … [Read more...] about Christie Apes Nixon: Enemies Lists, Dirty Tricks
Who’s Running America’s Foreign Policy?
Since the early days of the Republic, foreign policy has been considered to be the domain of the executive branch of our government. The Constitution named the president as Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy, provided him with the power to make treaties with other nations (with the concurrence of two thirds of the Senate), to nominate Ambassadors to foreign countries (with … [Read more...] about Who’s Running America’s Foreign Policy?
Pumping Iron:The Genesis of the Terminator
This post will eventually appear on my film blog. I just thought I would give the good people of TMV a first look. Let me know what you think in the comment section. ******>/center> It seems common sense to label Arnold Schwarzenegger as a terrible actor and there are plenty of examples to back up that point of view. But there are simply far too many quality films with … [Read more...] about Pumping Iron:The Genesis of the Terminator
Silence over a spill
WASHINGTON -- The drinking water in nine West Virginia counties has finally been declared safe, or mostly safe. But many people say they can still smell the licorice-like odor of 4-methylcyclohexane methanol -- in the sink, in the shower, in the air, especially in neighborhoods close to the Elk River. I say "mostly" because so little is known about the toxicity of the … [Read more...] about Silence over a spill
Pew/USA Today: Christie’s Image Going Sharply South and Voters Don’t Believe Him
Clearly, he is paying a price. A new Pew Research Center/USA Today survey has three bits of bad news for New Jersey Governor Chris Christie: (1) his numbers are going south faster than senior Canadians heading to Arizona during the winter, (2) most don't believe his version of events and lack of culpability in the "Bridgegate" scandal, and (3) his big drop is in the number … [Read more...] about Pew/USA Today: Christie’s Image Going Sharply South and Voters Don’t Believe Him
Help Wayne Daniels, the children’s pied piper
NOTE: This post will remain in this spot through the end of February. Yes, this is about someone who needs some help but who's too modest to ask for it. We all know people who've battled serious health problems, but once in a while you hear about someone who has spent his life spreading good, kindness and joy. It's even more wonderful if it's someone who has spent his life … [Read more...] about Help Wayne Daniels, the children’s pied piper
Sochi Olympics under terrorist threat
Are we seeing a terrorist group telegraph its bloody punches? First there was a video showing some Islamic terrorists warning of a possible attack on the winter Olympics in Sochi. Next came reports that a "white widow" suicide bomber had been spotted in the area. Combine it: winter Olympics that'll be particularly tense with security out in force and terrorists seeking to make … [Read more...] about Sochi Olympics under terrorist threat
President Obama and the birth certificate… The Movie
Back in 2011 (!!!) I wrote a pretty angry piece for TMV about the Donald Trump led birth certificate scandal. It hit me while I was speaking to a friend about Obama's presidency that I'm still angry about it. I realised that I was just as angry at the fact that I had to jog his memory of the birtherism crap than the scandal itself. It then hit me that a lot of people might … [Read more...] about President Obama and the birth certificate… The Movie
Christie “readier” to be President then in 2012
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie told an interviewer he's "readier" to be President in 2012: A sighing Christie reflected, first to Yahoo and then later on Twitter: 'I'm trying to get my arms around an awful situation, and understand it, and then address it, and then resolve it.' But the governor told Yahoo that he's better prepared to be president than he was a few … [Read more...] about Christie “readier” to be President then in 2012
Year six of hope and change
WASHINGTON -- It was a bittersweet briefing that told us exactly where the Obama administration finds itself at the dawn of its sixth year. When a group of senior officials gathered last week to tout President Obama's efforts to make college a realistic possibility for low-income students, they were genuinely enthusiastic about the agreements they had brokered with … [Read more...] about Year six of hope and change
Is Japan suffering Death by Demographics?
During the 1960s a major topic was how China and India could implement effective population control, as their populations grew and resources and land space did not. Note 21st century Japan: the population is steadily shrinking. The National Interest's John W. Traphagan wonders whether Japan is facing "death by demograhics." Here's a bit of his take: [M]any media outlets … [Read more...] about Is Japan suffering Death by Demographics?
Speak Now, or Forever Hold Your Peace
Speak Now, or Forever Hold Your Peace By Jason Stanford It's hard to choose which was the bigger shock: a federal judge ruled Oklahoma's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional, or the founder of a Republican gay-rights group quit the Republican Party. What could have ever driven a gay advocate from the GOP? Was it something they said? Jimmy LaSalvia, the founder of … [Read more...] about Speak Now, or Forever Hold Your Peace
New Jersey Lt.Governor “”whole-heartedly” denies Hoboken Mayor’s allegations of Sandy relief money as hostage
The latest of two major allegations swirling around New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has now boiled down to this: it's a matter of she said she said. New Jersey Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno is vehemently denying that she told Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer that if her city wanted all the hurricane Sandy relief money it sought, she'd have to green light a big redevelopment project Christie … [Read more...] about New Jersey Lt.Governor “”whole-heartedly” denies Hoboken Mayor’s allegations of Sandy relief money as hostage
Considering White And Black Cats
There is an old Chinese proverb, quoted by various leaders over the centuries, which says ‘It doesn’t matter if the cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice’. I have myself often quoted this proverb to family and friends when discussing various political issues and hope to use it for a series of posts over the coming weeks. The basic point, of course, is that when … [Read more...] about Considering White And Black Cats
MLK at 85: Person of the Century
He was no plaster saint, this remarkable man who brought a race out of American darkness with soaring words and body rhetoric more muscular and effective than any mob uprisings might have been. In his 39 years on earth, Martin Luther King Jr. preached nonviolence to the oppressed. “Our weapon is love,” he told them, and he used it with stunning force. At the dawn of TV, … [Read more...] about MLK at 85: Person of the Century
BREAKING: Hoboken Mayor Zimmer talks to U.S attorney about Christie Sandy fund hostage allegation
New York Governor Chris Christie's problems just got worse. And bigger. Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer on Sunday talked to the U.S. Attorney about her allegations that the Christie administration wouldn't give all the aid Hoboken asked for unless the mayor approved a redevelopment project. Zimmer has offered to testify under oath about what was said to her and by who. This … [Read more...] about BREAKING: Hoboken Mayor Zimmer talks to U.S attorney about Christie Sandy fund hostage allegation
The President’s NSA Speech: An Expert’s Analysis
These are all difficult questions. What is needed is not dogmatism, posturing and self-righteous declarations of outrage (on either side of the debate), but careful, rigorous reasoning and scrutiny. The president's speech marks a potentially historic turning point in our continuing effort to strike a better balance between liberty and security. But only time will tell. As the … [Read more...] about The President’s NSA Speech: An Expert’s Analysis
Christie camp challenges MSNBC’s “gleeful” report on Sandy aid
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's office is angrily challenging the report on MSNBC that many have called a "bombshell" in which Hoboken's mayor charged Christie's aides of holding back Hurricane Sandy aid until she agreed to green-light a redevelopment project. They're on the attack against MSNBC, it's role as an ideology-anchored news network, bias elsewhere against Christie … [Read more...] about Christie camp challenges MSNBC’s “gleeful” report on Sandy aid
Three Stooges Revival 1959: The Stooges live on The Steve Allen Show (Video)
In the late 50s, The Three Stooges old Columbia shorts were released to television, only a few years after their contract was ended. They suddenly became instant stars. So Moe Howard tried to get the act together and wound up hiring burlesque/comedy short comedian Joe DeRita as his "Curley replacement." (Note: a silly typo by this lifelong mega-Stooges fan had him in earlier … [Read more...] about Three Stooges Revival 1959: The Stooges live on The Steve Allen Show (Video)