Miley Cryus may have made twerking (in)famous, but she didn't originate it. In fact, you could argue no human did: spiders did. Male black widow spiders, that is... A study from the University of British Columbia reports that black widow spiders do a kind of twerking movement not to offer themselves up as dinner, but to let the female know she's being approached by a male. … [Read more...] about Black widow spider males twerk to signal they’re mates, not dinner
How an Ohio Family Came to Love Obamacare
I have read so many horror stories about the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that when I read the story of how a skeptical Ohio family found plenty to like in the ACA, I had to assume that TIME Magazine was lying, that Steven Brill -- the author -- was lying, that health-insurance agent Barry Cohen was lying and, especially, that Sean and Stephanie Recchi -- the couple who now loves … [Read more...] about How an Ohio Family Came to Love Obamacare
Calm Yourself
Calm yourself by Doug Bursch Calm yourself by thinking deeply. See beyond the temporal and engage the eternal. Calm yourself by not thinking. Embrace the visceral beauty and engage the moment. Calm yourself in silent meditation. Empty your thoughts, be still and content. Calm yourself by moving, doing and speaking, be active and engaging. Calm … [Read more...] about Calm Yourself
Hoboken mayor says Christie camp used Sandy relief money as political hostage tool
In yet another blow to his national image that could open a whole new can of political worms, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is now facing allegations from the mayor of Hoboken that his camp used federal Hurricane Sandy relief money as a kind of political bludgeon -- to hold out giving it unless a political price was paid. Dawn Zimme is saying she asked for $127 million in … [Read more...] about Hoboken mayor says Christie camp used Sandy relief money as political hostage tool
The Moral Heart of “Downton Abbey”
In life, a minor character can assume a crucial role. For one who has experienced this phenomenon often, so too in popular art, as the housekeeper Mrs. Hughes, who has figured in all 34 episodes of “Downtown Abbey,” increasingly comes to the heart of conflicts that beset other characters. That someone who has willingly suppressed her own passions in the service of others … [Read more...] about The Moral Heart of “Downton Abbey”
(Updated) Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
Update: We still do not know which First Lady French President Francois Hollande is going to bring to dinner at the White House next month, but at least Hollande has finally -- on Thursday -- visited his first First Lady, Valerie Trierweiler, at a Paris hospital where she was hospitalized after news leaked out that he was having an affair with second First Lady, actress … [Read more...] about (Updated) Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
Republican Panic — and Glee — over Christie Bridgegate Crisis
They're mournful and fearful. They're absolutely besides themselves with joy. Those are the two key reactions as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie continues to see his name pitchforked into the headlines in stories about 20 subpoenas being issued in the "Bridgegate" scandal and Christie retaining an attorney, on op-eds asking the now trite but relevant question "What the … [Read more...] about Republican Panic — and Glee — over Christie Bridgegate Crisis
(Updates) Lost and Gained in Political Translation
Update II: María Conchita Alonso was to perform next month at the Brava Theater Center in San Francisco’s Mission District in a Spanish-language version of “The Vagina Monologues.” The show producer, Eliana Lopez, wife of San Francisco Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi, has told KPIX5, “We really cannot have her in the show, unfortunately.” Lopez said Alonso abruptly resigned … [Read more...] about (Updates) Lost and Gained in Political Translation
It’s the Infrastructure, Stupid!
Joe Conason urges Democrats to promote a jobs program repairing our long-neglected infrastructure in The National Memo. Considering how incessantly all politicians blather about jobs and how badly we need them, it is remarkable how little most of them actually do to increase employment. Much of what they’ve done in Washington over the past few years has achieved precisely the … [Read more...] about It’s the Infrastructure, Stupid!
Gallup Poll: Priority of and Dissatisfaction with NSA Surveillance
I was glued to the TV this morning -- as I assume many of our readers were -- as the president announced changes to be made to NSA surveillance activities, especially in the collection of phone records. I have also been very interested during the past few months in the issue of national security vs. privacy rights, as I know most of our readers have been. That is why I was … [Read more...] about Gallup Poll: Priority of and Dissatisfaction with NSA Surveillance
Popcorn and Guns (Cartoon)
https://politicalgraffiti.wordpress.com/2014/01/17/popcorn-and-guns/ Copyright 2014 David Donar. All rights reserved. Copyright Donar, Political Graffiti … [Read more...] about Popcorn and Guns (Cartoon)
Obama’s NSA Reforms: Half A Loaf
It is said that half a loaf is better than none. More on that in a bit. Before the President’s presentation on NSA reforms, I wrote down a number of issues, each of which could be answered yes, no, or limited. Here is my list, with the short answers. More in depth comes after. 1. Appointment/Confirmation of FISA judges by someone other than Chief Justice: … [Read more...] about Obama’s NSA Reforms: Half A Loaf
On My Writing…
This is a sort-of, kind-of, what-the-hell follow-up to my anguished post earlier this week on the realization that there are “just too many words” that have lost all meaning and value. I ask forgiveness from the editors and readers of TMV for more of my (Omphaloskepsis)navel contemplations. I decided to review some of my prior posts from TMV (a mistake). I started … [Read more...] about On My Writing…
Chris Christie’s Bridgegate Defense (Guest Cartoonist Cartoon)
Chris Christie's Bridgegate Defense by Joe Gandelman OF RELATED INTEREST: --Romneyworld buzzes over Chris Christie troubles --Christie takes scandal damage test with election fundraising --Christie's Florida trip will test impact of scandal --CNN exclusive: Port Authority job created for Christie ally, source says Mike Peters is recognized as one of our … [Read more...] about Chris Christie’s Bridgegate Defense (Guest Cartoonist Cartoon)
Truth and Justice Eluded Former Tyco Execs Kozlowski and Swartz (Guest Voice)
Truth and Justice Eluded Former Tyco Execs Kozlowski and Swartz By Catherine S. Neal, Esq., Author of Taking Down the Lion: The Triumphant Rise and Tragic Fall of Tyco's Dennis Kozlowski Over the past two decades, our addiction to cell phones ended our need for public pay phones. As a result, there are no more telephone booths. For those of us who grew up watching "The … [Read more...] about Truth and Justice Eluded Former Tyco Execs Kozlowski and Swartz (Guest Voice)
Obama to Call for Overhaul of NSA’s Bulk Data Collection Program
The New York Times: President Obama will require intelligence agencies to obtain permission from a secret court before tapping into a vast database of telephone data, but he will leave the data in the hands of the government for now, an administration official said. Mr. Obama, in a much-anticipated speech on Friday morning, plans to pull back the government’s wide net of … [Read more...] about Obama to Call for Overhaul of NSA’s Bulk Data Collection Program
A Weekend Thought On Love
From the wisdom of Kahlil Gibran Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself. Love possesses not nor would it be possessed; For love is sufficient unto love. When you love you should not say, “God is in my heart,” but rather, I am in the heart of God.” And think not you can direct the course of love, if it finds you worthy, directs your … [Read more...] about A Weekend Thought On Love
Unaided Unemployment (Cartoon)
See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about Unaided Unemployment (Cartoon)
JC Penney in big trouble? Closing 33 stores and laying off 2000 employees
Is retailing icon JC Penney in big trouble and unable to reverse the trend? The once-booming retail giant founded by James Cash Penny in 1902 has been struggling for the past few years and tried a variety of marketing strategies to adapt -- and some proved disastrous. Now comes news that it's closing 33 stores and laying off 2000 employees. Is this natural adaptation, or a grim … [Read more...] about JC Penney in big trouble? Closing 33 stores and laying off 2000 employees
Lessons of Benghazi
WASHINGTON -- The bipartisan report on Benghazi released Wednesday by the Senate Intelligence Committee should finally convince conspiracy theorists of the obvious: There is no there there. Administration officials did not orchestrate any kind of attempt, politically motivated or otherwise, to deceive the American people. In their public statements, including the … [Read more...] about Lessons of Benghazi