February is a flashback to 1964 in the entertainment world, as TV and radio wax poetic about The Beatles and their invasion of America. But there's another kind of nostalgia peppering state legislatures: we don't serve your kind. That artifact of America circa 1964 was legally put to bed with the passage of the Civil Rights Act (marked by a 54-day filibuster). This week, … [Read more...] about A toxic kind of nostalgia: “we don’t serve your kind”
Shirley Temple: Tot Idol to Cancer Heroine
The woman who died yesterday at 85 takes with her a world that is unimaginable today. Shirley Temple became a movie star at three, won an Oscar at five and was more popular in the 1930s than FDR. Her charms escaped me then because I was only a few years old older, but after undergoing mastectomy in 1972, she wrote a McCalls article about it for me after holding a press … [Read more...] about Shirley Temple: Tot Idol to Cancer Heroine
On Russian Spies and ‘Snowdenistas’: A Rebuttel of Edward Lucas (Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland)
It is becoming something of a cottage industry. Two weeks ago, Patrik Etschmayer of Switzerland's News rejected historian Sean Wilentz, who in the pages of the New Republic, attacked Edward Snowden, Julian Assange, and Glenn Greenwald, by examining old blog entries, their early careers, and other information that has nothing to do with NSA mass surveillance. Today we have … [Read more...] about On Russian Spies and ‘Snowdenistas’: A Rebuttel of Edward Lucas (Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland)
Executions Stopped By Washington State Governor
Washington State Governor Jay Inslee has placed a moratorium on executions in the Pacific Northwest state of Washington. Inslee’s decision follows similar moves by the governor of Maryland, which has since abolished capital punishment, and Governor John Kitzhaber, Inslee’s neighboring governor to the south in Oregon where a moratorium has been in effect since 2011. Governor … [Read more...] about Executions Stopped By Washington State Governor
The Topsy Turvy 21st Century
Welcome to the topsy turvy 21st century, where previous values and logic are turned upside down. When "Alice in Wonderland's" caterpillar asked Alice who she is, she replied: "I--I hardly know, sir, just at present-- at least I know who IÂ WASÂ when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then." And so it goes with the United States … [Read more...] about The Topsy Turvy 21st Century
Looking at the Law (Guest Voice)
Looking at the Law By Peter Funt In one courtroom were poorly prepared attorneys, shackled defendants and assembly-line justice. In another, things were all spit and polish: "yes, sir" and "thank you, ma'am." My son Danny and I spent the better part of a recent day observing our legal system from vantage points 3,000 miles apart. My conclusions were encouraging, while … [Read more...] about Looking at the Law (Guest Voice)
Shirley Temple Black (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed by Cagle Cartoons to run on TMV. All rights reserved. Reproduction elsewhere without licensing is strictly prohibited … [Read more...] about Shirley Temple Black (Cartoon)
Chicago event evokes pre-scandal Christie
Chicago event evokes pre-scandal Christie (via NJ.com) CHICAGO — For a precious hour yesterday, Gov. Chris Christie put aside the widening scandal known across the country as Bridgegate and returned to what he had been doing before the controversy engulfed him: He offered himself once again as a model… … [Read more...] about Chicago event evokes pre-scandal Christie
The State of the GOP
Andrew Sullivan reflects on the state of the Republican Party in light of its recent behavior on several issues on The Daily Dish. This is the party that wants to be seen as an alternative. It is rather, an unpredictable cauldron of crazy now grasping for more than the House. Perhaps it will win the Senate on a wave of Obamacare hysteria and opposition. But its conduct in the … [Read more...] about The State of the GOP
US ends boycott of India’s Prime Minister-aspirant Narendra Modi
After humiliating and bycotting Narendra Modi, India's powerful leader beloging to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the US administration has finally woken up from its Rip Van Winkle sleep after almost a decade. The US ambassador to India, Nancy Powell will meet Narendra Modi on Thursday in Gandhinagar, the capital city of Gujarat, India's western state that has elected Modi … [Read more...] about US ends boycott of India’s Prime Minister-aspirant Narendra Modi
House Votes To Increase Debt Ceiling
The House passed a clean bill increasing the debt ceiling today, showing that the Democrats have learned their lesson to refuse to negotiate with terrorists. The bill extending the debt ceiling until March 2015 passed by a margin of House voted 221-201, with the support of only 28 Republicans. Initially Republicans had hoped to tie their vote to some concessions, such as … [Read more...] about House Votes To Increase Debt Ceiling
Dignity in Education (Part 1)
This is the ninth part of the serialization of All Rise: Somebodies, Nobodies, and the Politics of Dignity (Berrett-Koehler, 2006). The ideas in this book are further developed in my recent novel The Rowan Tree. CHAPTER FIVE: DIGNITY IN EDUCATION (Part 1) I’m afraid of dying before I prove that I’m somebody. –Tyondra Newton, a teenager raised in foster homes One of … [Read more...] about Dignity in Education (Part 1)
Live music in Adelaide’s old cinema hall
One of the fascinating things I find Down Under is the dedicated participation of volunteers in all spheres of life - cultural, educational, economic and social. It is because of the involvement of the volunteers that Capri Theatre, one of the oldest cinema Halls in Adelaide (the capital city of South Australia), has become a rallying point for those passionate about movies, … [Read more...] about Live music in Adelaide’s old cinema hall
François Hollande Is Coming to Dinner – Alone.
Sugar roses and fleur-de-lis, the official flowers of the United States and France. White House chefs made 38 of each for tonight's White House State Dinner. (White House photo) The White House no longer has to guess who is coming to dinner tonight and is probably breathing a big sigh of relief knowing that French President François Hollande is showing up with neither the … [Read more...] about François Hollande Is Coming to Dinner – Alone.
House passes bill raising US debt ceiling until 2015
House passes bill raising US debt ceiling until 2015 (via AFP) The House of Representatives on Tuesday narrowly approved a measure raising the US debt ceiling until March 2015, a move that dials back the threat of an election-year fiscal showdown. The legislation, which passed 221-201, now heads to the Senate where… … [Read more...] about House passes bill raising US debt ceiling until 2015
Sherlock Season 3 In Review
Every week at Liberal Values I have a post entitled SciFi Weekend which extends from science fiction to genre television and other areas of entertainment. Generally it contains briefer news items and comments on a variety of items, but some weeks I deal with a single topic. I had briefly covered the third season of Sherlock as the episodes came out in the U.K. but held of on … [Read more...] about Sherlock Season 3 In Review
Republicans Take Further Right Turn
Just when it seemed as if the Tea Party was losing momentum and the Republican Party was more willing to compromise over issues of national importance, the party has taken a step backwards on immigration. Even though businesses, farmers, and technology companies have been pushing for legislation that would give immigrants legal status, the conservative wing of the party has … [Read more...] about Republicans Take Further Right Turn
Actress Shirley Temple dead at 85
Actress Shirley Temple dead at 85 (via AFP) Shirley Temple Black, the Hollywood child star who melted hearts in Depression-era America with her trademark blond ringlets and dimpled smile, has died at the age of 85, her family said Tuesday. She died of natural causes on Monday night in her California… … [Read more...] about Actress Shirley Temple dead at 85
The out-of-step GOP
WASHINGTON -- The Republican Party was supposed to be getting its act together for the midterm election. Instead, judging from the disarray on immigration reform, things may be getting even messier. I'm referring to House Speaker John Boehner's embarrassing climb-down. After vowing for months that the House would finally take action on immigration, last week he … [Read more...] about The out-of-step GOP
Subway: Eat Fresh Plastic (Guest Voice)
Subway: Eat Fresh Plastic Raging Moderate by Will Durst No matter who you are or where you live or what you drive or whether you thought "The English Patient" or "Anchorman 2" the funnier movie, it is time to take a stand on plastic bread. Here's a hint: most of us are against it. Formaldehyde rinsed coffee beans? Not big fans. Flame retardants in our cupcakes? That's a big … [Read more...] about Subway: Eat Fresh Plastic (Guest Voice)