Is the future of NBC's Meet the Press uncertain? It's ratings have been falling as reliably as an actor's pants in a porn film and now, amid big cutbacks at NBC, some are wondering if the third-place show's future could be in doubt. Mediaite: As we head into 2014, the fate of the longest-running news program on television is starting to look uncertain. According to a new … [Read more...] about Is the future of NBC’s Meet the Press uncertain?
How Italy turned mafia food into a hit Christmas gift
How Italy turned mafia food into a hit Christmas gift (via The Christian Science Monitor) It’s a Christmas gift with a difference, combining Italy’s rich gastronomic heritage with the protracted, often violent, fight against the Mafia. As Italians scramble to finish the last of their shopping this festive season, they can choose a rather… … [Read more...] about How Italy turned mafia food into a hit Christmas gift
America’s Delegation to Sochi: A Boycott By Any Other Name (Yezhednevniy Zhurnal, Russia)
For Russians who consider themselves part of the modern world, the debacle over Russia's 'gay propaganda' laws is a source of tremendous humiliation. For Russia's Yezhednevniy Zhurnal, columnist Anton Oryekh writes that Russia's ham-handed lawmakers, thinking such laws were for domestic purposes only, never imagined that they would blow up in their faces in such spectacular … [Read more...] about America’s Delegation to Sochi: A Boycott By Any Other Name (Yezhednevniy Zhurnal, Russia)
The Singing Sergeants: ‘Jingle Bells’
On the second day of Christmas, the Singing Sergeants gave to thee... an upbeat arrangement of "Jingle Bells" -recorded from Historic Hangar II, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, From AmericanMusicPreservation.com: One of the most popular songs heard during the Christmas season began not for that holiday but as a winter song with the title, "The One Horse Open … [Read more...] about The Singing Sergeants: ‘Jingle Bells’
My Jaw Drops at the Stupid
I just couldn't think of a better title for this post. Justine Sacco, whose job is corporate communications director at IAC tweeted a really, really bad racist attempt at "humor". It's not like there haven't been enough examples recently of how dumb things like that are and how quickly unemployment will generally follow. … [Read more...] about My Jaw Drops at the Stupid
John Eisenhower, Ike’s Son, Dies
John S.D. Eisenhower in 1990 AP photo ABC News has just announced that 91-year-old John S.D. Eisenhower, the son of President Eisenhower, has died. The retired brigadier general and military historian had resided on Maryland's Eastern Shore in the community of Trappe, Md. No cause was given for his death Saturday. John Sheldon Doud Eisenhower was born in Denver in … [Read more...] about John Eisenhower, Ike’s Son, Dies
A Discussion We Need To Have
There is a debate going on about extending long term unemployment benefits. This is the wrong debate. In this age of globalization and industrial robots there are simply not going to be enough jobs for everyone who needs one. And it's not just manufacturing - with thousands of fiber optic cables circling the globe everything from software development to accounting and … [Read more...] about A Discussion We Need To Have
Al-Qaeda and the Nazis: 4,481 Days that Terrorized the World (Die Welt, Germany)
On December 18 we passed something of a milestone that went almost unnoticed: the post-9-11 world came of age, matching the length of time of the reign of Nazi terror. For Germany's Die Welt, columnist Torsten Krauel wonders what it would have been like if for the past 4,481 days, Osama bin Laden was as dominant as Hitler was during his terrifying time on the world stage. … [Read more...] about Al-Qaeda and the Nazis: 4,481 Days that Terrorized the World (Die Welt, Germany)
Another Picture and some History
This is Hallstatt Austria. Hallstatt is a sleepy little Austrian town of less than a thousand people but it's importance in history and yes even pre-history can't be over estimated. The reason is salt. It was the the source of the iron age Celtic community that latter migrated to the British Isles. The citizens of Hallstatt had a lake full of fish and the … [Read more...] about Another Picture and some History
Winter Solstice
The bad news is this will be the shortest day of the year - the good news is the days now start getting longer. Happy Winter Solstice. Photo near Oberammergau, Bavaria, Germany circa 1970. … [Read more...] about Winter Solstice
Video: Brave passenger takes down armed robber on Seattle bus
Yes, sometimes crime doesn't pay. And sometimes it's the people who don't have martial arts training, or who haven't been in fights, who spring into action because their "fight or flight" mechanism goes instantaneously into "fight." And so it was for Casey Borgen who suddenly saw a 19-year-old would-be robber pointing a gun at his face on a crowded Seattle bus. And Trevonnte … [Read more...] about Video: Brave passenger takes down armed robber on Seattle bus
What does this money tell us?
Probably not a whole lot. But it is interesting that the money raisers for Congressional seats in 2014 are doing significantly better on the Democratic side than their opponents are doing. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee raised $5 million in November, its best showing in an off-year November ever and $1 million more than its Republican … [Read more...] about What does this money tell us?
Quote (Poem) of the Day: The Twelve Weeks of Obamacare
An instant classic. Our Quote (poem) of the Day comes from The ACP Advocate blog: On the first week of Obamacare, The government gave to me A promise of good healthcare, for me and my family On the second week of Obamacare, the government gave to me A website that wasn’t working And a promise of good healthcare, for me and my family On the third week of … [Read more...] about Quote (Poem) of the Day: The Twelve Weeks of Obamacare
Worst Congress Ever (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 Worst Congress Ever (Cartoon)
China will require its 250,000 journalists to pass a ‘Marxism test’
China will require its 250,000 journalists to pass a 'Marxism test' (via GlobalPost) Enlarge A newspaper vendor looks out from her booth on a street in Shanghai in January 2013. After a year in which Chinese media tested the government's restrictions, the Party is now requiring journalists to pass a Marxism exam in order to keep working… … [Read more...] about China will require its 250,000 journalists to pass a ‘Marxism test’
A Christmas Poem: ‘Santa Don’t Cry, This Life Is My Choice’
Owen Matta was a highly decorated Royal Australian Air Force pilot who flew missions in the European Theater. He came home to Melbourne where he taught electronics for many years at the RAAF Academy and University of Melbourne. He led an active life that included, at the invitation of the U.S. Air Force, breaking the sound barrier in a fighter jet when he visited the Air … [Read more...] about A Christmas Poem: ‘Santa Don’t Cry, This Life Is My Choice’
‘Well, Mr. Potter, In My Book He Died A Much Richer Man Than You’ll Ever Be.’
Sixty-seven years ago on Christmas eve, George Bailey was at the end of his rope and was about to jump off a bridge in Bedford Falls, New York. So began the beginning of the end of It’s A Wonderful Life, a movie that I never tire of seeing this time of year. Even when I was at my most cynical, It’s A Wonderful Life was never simplistic, a label that feckless critics … [Read more...] about ‘Well, Mr. Potter, In My Book He Died A Much Richer Man Than You’ll Ever Be.’
The Singing Sergeants: ‘The Holly and the Ivy’
On the third day of Christmas, the Singing Sergeants gave to thee... their unique version of the traditional English carol, "The Holly and the Ivy." -Recorded from Historic Hangar II, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Wikipedia: "The Holly and the Ivy" is an English traditional Christmas carol. Holly and ivy have been a mainstay of English Christmas decoration for … [Read more...] about The Singing Sergeants: ‘The Holly and the Ivy’
One More Photo instead of politics
I keep this image of this little guy at my desk daily. ¡Yo quiero Zorro! I would like to ever have Zorro [in Spanish, 'the fox] at my side as I ride through the days and nights. Especially this little one with his bright eyes and inquiring look. At risk of turning TMV into a petting zoo... here he is! Thanks Dorian, Ron and Jim, too. And to certain commenters, dont … [Read more...] about One More Photo instead of politics
More Photos Instead of Politics
Editor's Note: In the midst of all the flurry both holiday and politicaliana as usual, it is good to take time to pause for the small beauties of this earth, and the larger ones too made from men's minds and work of backs and hands. [dr.e] Inspired by Ron and Dorian I thought I'd contribute some shots I took on a long driving vacation a while back. These are a few from San … [Read more...] about More Photos Instead of Politics