Whatever the First Family was grateful for this Thanksgiving, they did it in high American style with nine kinds of pie—-huckleberry, pecan, chocolate cream, sweet potato, peach, apple, pumpkin, banana cream and coconut cream. Not exactly in line with the First Lady’s healthful low-calorie crusade, but a day of indulgence in hard times is understandable, literally and … [Read more...] about Obamas Serve Nine Kinds Plus Pie in the Sky
Wanted: GOP Realist
Robert D. Kaplan argues for a realist Republican to unite the Neoconservative and Isolationist factions on Realclearpolitics.com. Only such a presidential aspirant, whom different subcultures of the party respect, has a chance to win the next election. For as much as Republicans may furiously deny it, Obama continues to execute a credible foreign policy that, while rarely … [Read more...] about Wanted: GOP Realist
Victims fear release of Spain rapists, killers under rights law
Victims fear release of Spain rapists, killers under rights law (via AFP) Spanish courts are releasing serial rapists and killers under a European human rights ruling, terrifying their victims as authorities warn the convicts risk reoffending. The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg last month overruled a Spanish… … [Read more...] about Victims fear release of Spain rapists, killers under rights law
How Did Our Troops Overseas Spend Thanksgiving?
Glad you asked. In addition to doing what has to be done, even on Thanksgiving, in a combat zone… Some spent some of the time listening to Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert as shown below aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman in the Gulf of Oman. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Karl Anderson) Some, at Forward … [Read more...] about How Did Our Troops Overseas Spend Thanksgiving?
Life imitates cliched art: Mafia killer fed screaming rival to killer pigs
It's now a cliche due to James Bond movies, gangster movies and other films that a mafia boss is brutal and a bad, evil guy will feed his enemy to something that can eat him alive. Here's life imitating cliched Hollywood art: An Italian mobster fed a rival gangster to starving pigs — and then marveled at how the victim screamed and how the swine gorged themselves, police … [Read more...] about Life imitates cliched art: Mafia killer fed screaming rival to killer pigs
Turkey Bomb (Video)
I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving. The turkey I had was the bomb -- but not as much as THIS turkey: … [Read more...] about Turkey Bomb (Video)
Obamacare’s Black Friday Bad News
In a Thanksgiving eve news dump, the White House delivers more bad news about Obamacare and, at this rate, is poised to fill Christmas health-care stockings with lumps of coal. The Administration slips in a one-year delay for small businesses to go online to buy insurance for their employees through the new federal marketplace website, another blow to smooth implementation … [Read more...] about Obamacare’s Black Friday Bad News
What gratitude requires (Guest Voice)
NOTE: Due to a system glitch, this did not go up with the correct byline. TMV regrets the error. WASHINGTON -- Thanksgiving Day is awash in sentiment, but gratitude is not a sentiment. It's a virtue. It's certainly nice, but it is more than a feeling or an emotion. Properly understood, gratitude is hard because it entails both an admission and a demand. A … [Read more...] about What gratitude requires (Guest Voice)
British burned, dumped ’embarrassing’ colonial documents
British burned, dumped 'embarrassing' colonial documents (via AFP) British officials burned and dumped at sea documents from colonies that were about to become independent in a systematic effort to hide their "dirty" secrets, newly released files showed on Friday. Under "Operation Legacy", officials in Kenya, Uganda… … [Read more...] about British burned, dumped ’embarrassing’ colonial documents
DVD and Book Corner: Backstairs At The White House
This week I have both a book and a DVD suggestion: Backstairs at the White House The series is based on a book by Maggie Rogers-Clark. In 1909 her mother went to work as a maid at the Taft White House. Her mother kept working there until the late 1930?s and in the informal era often took Maggie to work with her. Eventually Maggie went to work there full time, … [Read more...] about DVD and Book Corner: Backstairs At The White House
Things To Remember Today
When most people think of Thanksgiving they think of the food, the football and the shopping. Often when they think of family it is of the petty conflicts and the little things that can make the day a hassle. I hope that we can all take some time to remember the truly important things. Remember that you have a warm bed to sleep in and that every day you eat meals many in … [Read more...] about Things To Remember Today
Why There’s Lots to Celebrate This Thanksgiving (Guest Voice)
[three_fourth_last] Why There's Lots to Celebrate This Thanksgiving By Tom Purcell Sure, the country isn't doing so well at the moment, but there are still plenty of reasons to be thankful this Thanksgiving. I sit at the "big people's table" now, just to the left of my father. It took me years to earn that coveted spot, and for that, I am thankful. Everyone … [Read more...] about Why There’s Lots to Celebrate This Thanksgiving (Guest Voice)
“The Birds”? Massive Geese flock takes off and shocks bystanders
If you saw Alfred Hitchcock's 1963 movie "The Birds" get ready for this one. The day I saw the movie I was in junior high. I walked out of the theater in New Haven, Connecticut and a snakk of pigeons took off in front of me flying over my head and I very visibly flinched. But THIS VIDEO is like it's right out of the movie: The question: who gave the geese the order to … [Read more...] about “The Birds”? Massive Geese flock takes off and shocks bystanders
Thanksgiving (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 Thanksgiving (Cartoon)
‘It’s not relief work in Sudan’: Streep on acting in “August: Osage County”
'It's not relief work in Sudan': Streep on acting (via AFP) Meryl Streep is brilliant as a domineering, drug-addicted, cancer-suffering grandmother in her latest film "August: Osage County" but she won't pretend to have the worst job in the world. Star of the film and given a standing ovation at a pre-release… … [Read more...] about ‘It’s not relief work in Sudan’: Streep on acting in “August: Osage County”
Thanksgiving
Since my mother passed away over 10 months ago and the rest of my family lives thousands of miles away I will spend this Thanksgiving alone. It's a far cry from the Thanksgivings when I was growing up. My father had 10 brothers and sisters and we would all descend on my grandparents house on Thanksgiving. As you can imagine there were times that we numbered over a hundred. … [Read more...] about Thanksgiving
Holiday Tip From JFK’s Pain Doctor
Lost in the flood of John F. Kennedy images last week was the physician who took him off crutches and into the ubiquitous Oval Office rocking chair. Janet Travell kept JFK from being bed-ridden and went on to write a two-volume medical text that has relieved the pain of millions since, “Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction. The Trigger Point Manual,” to become the bible of … [Read more...] about Holiday Tip From JFK’s Pain Doctor
A Holiday Service
The DNC offers a guide to those pesky holiday conversations with Republican relatives: http://www.yourrepublicanuncle.com/ The holiday season is filled with food, traveling, and lively discussions with Republican relatives about politics — sometimes laced with statements that are just not true. Here are the most common myths spouted by your family members who spend too much … [Read more...] about A Holiday Service
Blessed Thanksgiving To All from TMV
Dear All, we are thankful for you, the minds and hearts that fly with us on a pretty daily basis, and we wish for you a good holiday, with good memories, and for thanks to come from you about various matters of your life, but also we hope others will thank you for being in their lives, as well. This is for us all: MAY WE LAUGH Dear Brave Souls: For family dinners at … [Read more...] about Blessed Thanksgiving To All from TMV
Happy Thanksanukkah
This year we celebrate both Thanksgiving and the first day of Hanukkah on the same day. This is the first time it has happened in over 100 yrs and it is the last time it will happen for over 75,000. So Jewish or not, have a little fun with both holidays. Spin a dreidel while waiting for the turkey to cook or nibble on some chocolate and cheese. Or, since in many … [Read more...] about Happy Thanksanukkah