John H. Cochrane writes in the WSJ about what must be done when Obamacare unravels, as he knows it must. He writes that returning to the status quo represents a false dichotomy. It isn't a choice between that or Obamacare. The real answer is contained in one concept and only one concept. Trust in the free market. Deregulate health care. Sort of. Only deregulation can … [Read more...] about Dishonest Arguments Against Obamacare aka The ACA
Happy Christmas Moments for Our Troops Overseas
I hope all our readers and their loved ones had a wonderful Christmas. I also hope that our 250,000 military service members who spent this Christmas at our many overseas bases, posts, outposts and aboard Navy ships and submarines -- about 50,000 of them in a combat zone -- managed to have as blessed a Christmas as possible. Here are a few images of some happy aspects of … [Read more...] about Happy Christmas Moments for Our Troops Overseas
“A Christmas Story” cast reunites for film’s 30 year anniversary (Video)
The 1983 film "A Christmas Story" has become one of the most beloved holiday classics of all time. The reason: Jean Shepard's story, the film, the casting, the writing -- is all timeless. But film is truly a snapshot in time because all actors, voice actors, do evolve and change. And so it is with "The Christmas Story" -- which celebrates its 30 year...an occasion for four of … [Read more...] about “A Christmas Story” cast reunites for film’s 30 year anniversary (Video)
The deficit myth(s)
.. On net, President Obama’s policies have added far less to the deficit than commonly believed, and much of that stemmed from extending the Bush tax cuts for two years past their original expiration date in 2010. Even after they were finally allowed to expire at the end of 2012, Mr. Obama allowed many of them to stay in place permanently, reducing revenues and raising the … [Read more...] about The deficit myth(s)
Can Other Companies Hope to Take on Amazon?
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few years, you probably know that Amazon is one of the most successful retailers in the world. With its wide selection, low prices and fast shipping, Amazon doesn’t just dominate the online marketplace — it dominates the marketplace, period. Physical stores and other online retailers have long worried that Amazon may put them … [Read more...] about Can Other Companies Hope to Take on Amazon?
Waking up Foreign: Syndrome Causes Changes in Natural Speech Pattern
Waking up Foreign: Syndrome Causes Changes in Natural Speech Pattern (via Nvate) Heather Atkinson In 2008, Leanne Rowe, an Australian bus driver, awoke from being hospitalized after a serious accident that left her back and jaw broken, according to CNN. The most startling injury, however, became evident once Rowe heard herself speak… … [Read more...] about Waking up Foreign: Syndrome Causes Changes in Natural Speech Pattern
The Planet’s Rate Of Warming Is 400,000 Hiroshima Bombs Per Day (Guest Voice)
The Planet’s Rate Of Warming Is 400,000 Hiroshima Bombs Per Day (via Clean Technica) Originally published on ThinkProgress. By Joe Romm. Conveying abstract or hard-to-visualize ideas is always a challenge. That’s a core reason the best communicators have always used metaphors. As Aristotle wrote in his classic work Poetics, “… … [Read more...] about The Planet’s Rate Of Warming Is 400,000 Hiroshima Bombs Per Day (Guest Voice)
CNN Poll: Republicans now have edge in midterm elections
It now appears as if the Democratic Party has siezed defeat from the jaws of likely victory in the 2014 mid term election. A new CNN poll finds Republicans now have the edge: Democrats have lost their advantage and Republicans now have a slight edge in the battle for control of Congress, according to a new national poll. The problem? President Barack Obama is … [Read more...] about CNN Poll: Republicans now have edge in midterm elections
Thinking About Your Own Mortality
When you are a child you don't think about death. In your late teens and 20s you don't think death applies to you. By the time you reach your late 60s like me you have probably lost your parents, aunts and uncles and several friends and cousins. You start thinking about you own mortality. I just was looking at a list of celebrities that died in 2013 and suddenly realized … [Read more...] about Thinking About Your Own Mortality
A path to immigration compromise? (Guest Voice)
A path to immigration compromise? by Esther Cepeda Washington Post Writers Group CHICAGO -- Immigration reform is not dead -- it's just waiting for lawmakers to drop the politics, strike a compromise and get it done. The Pew Research Hispanic Trends Project seems to back up the idea that a pathway for achieving citizenship is not a make-or-break provision to … [Read more...] about A path to immigration compromise? (Guest Voice)
Japan PM’s visit to Yasukuni war shrine infuriates China
Japan PM's visit to Yasukuni war shrine infuriates China (via AFP) Nationalist Prime Minister Shinzo Abe paid an inflammatory visit to the Yasukuni war shrine Thursday, angering China which accused Japan of whitewashing a history of warmongering and said it must "bear the consequences". South Korea also blasted the… … [Read more...] about Japan PM’s visit to Yasukuni war shrine infuriates China
A Christian on Christmas
Bill King ponders the meaning of the season in The Houston Chronicle. I was listening to a certain news channel a few days ago, and a right-wing commentator was railing about how Republicans were just as bad as Democrats, primarily for passing the budget compromise. What caught my attention was the way he couched his argument. He said, "The problem with the Republicans in … [Read more...] about A Christian on Christmas
Scut Farkus Fights Bullying
The odds are pretty good that sometime this holiday season you sat down to watch the Christmas classic "A Christmas Story" and in doing so probably booed a bit for bully Scut Farkus. Well Zack Ward, the actor who played that role has decided to turn his part into something more positive by launching a campaign to fight bullying. What a cool way for an someone to give … [Read more...] about Scut Farkus Fights Bullying
“The Lord’s Bright Blessing”: a touching song from Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol
Here's a wonderful, touching song from the 1962 TV hit "Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol" -- showing Tiny Tim and his family making Christmas great even though they have little money. Scrooge, accompanied by one of the ghosts, observes. Note that this limited animation cartoon was beautifully animated and drawn, with superb music and lyrics (by the Broadway team of Jule Styne … [Read more...] about “The Lord’s Bright Blessing”: a touching song from Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol
Another Merry Christmas
I am still cruising through old pictures of Christmas past. This is a card board Santa ornament that my grandfather got when he worked for Standard Oil Company in the 30s. It was hanging on our family Christmas tree for as long as I can remember. This year it is in Texas, a long way from Eastern Washington where it became part of the family Christmas and a long way from … [Read more...] about Another Merry Christmas
Pope prays for South Sudan, Syria on first Christmas
Pope prays for South Sudan, Syria on first Christmas (via AFP) Pope Francis on Wednesday called for humanitarian aid access in Syria and "social harmony" in South Sudan on his first Christmas in the Vatican after months of shaking up the papacy with his humble style and common touch. Francis also pleaded for divine… … [Read more...] about Pope prays for South Sudan, Syria on first Christmas
Do You Hear What I Hear? (Guest Voice)
Do You Hear What I Hear? By Peter Funt LOS ANGELES — It was 73 and sunny, still two weeks before Thanksgiving, and I was stuck in traffic on the 405. Over the car radio a DJ on KOST-FM was extolling the "holiday spirit." Then he played "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" by Gene Autry — a song so old that it doesn't rouse spirits so much as it conjures ghosts of Christmas … [Read more...] about Do You Hear What I Hear? (Guest Voice)
Germany: How Christmas survived communism
Germany: How Christmas survived communism (via GlobalPost) BERLIN, Germany — Once upon a time, when there was a communist East Germany, a real-life Grinch stole Christmas and turned it into a “socialist festival for peace.” However, the old tradition of Christmas markets continued behind the Berlin Wall… … [Read more...] about Germany: How Christmas survived communism
My 2013 Holiday Wish List (Guest Voice)
My 2013 Holiday Wish List By Tina Dupuy In this season of fighting over the true meaning of the season, I offer my short (and admittedly incomplete) list of things which could make the world a better place all year round: 1. End the War on Christmas and end it now What does a truce in the War on Christmas look like? How would the eight weeks we partition off to mark … [Read more...] about My 2013 Holiday Wish List (Guest Voice)
Christmas wish list (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed by Cagle Cartoons to run on TMV. Reproduction elsewhere without licensing is strictly prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Christmas wish list (Cartoon)