These are the most recent, heartbreaking numbers on Super Typhoon Haiyan: A death toll of 3,261, and rising, with large numbers of bodies still unburied, 12,000 injured, 25,000 missing, according to The Guardian. ABC puts the number of homeless at 3 million and DOD reports that Typhoon Haiyan has impacted nearly 7 million Filipinos, destroying 150,000 homes across the 41 … [Read more...] about Typhoon Haiyan: Heartbreaking Numbers, Heartwarming Images
Should the Dutch keep Santa’s popular blackfaced pal, Black Pete?
Should the Dutch keep Santa's popular blackfaced pal, Black Pete? (via The Christian Science Monitor) A child dressed as 'Zwarte Piet,' or 'Black Pete,' watches a parade after St. Nicholas, or Sinterklaas, arrived by boat in Amsterdam last year. Hundreds of 'Black Petes,' mostly white Dutch wearing blackface, will appear in annual Sinterklaas parade… … [Read more...] about Should the Dutch keep Santa’s popular blackfaced pal, Black Pete?
SNL skewers Toronto Mayor Rob Ford (Video)
Saturday Night Live has skewered Toronto's drug-loving, need-a-bleeper-talking Mayor Toronto -- and also takes a swipe at "60 Minutes" discredited report on Benghazi at the end. Ford is the answer to comedians' prayers (go HERE to read more on that): Cartoonists in Canada (and elsewhere) have been having a field day, too. Here's one: … [Read more...] about SNL skewers Toronto Mayor Rob Ford (Video)
Obama’s Hope-Killing ‘Virtual Political Death’ (La Jornada, Mexico)
How damaging is the apparent downfall of President Obama's signature health reform? This editorial from Mexico's La Jornada calls it a 'hope killer' - not only for U.S. liberals and progressives that put him in the White House, but for people around the world who see an administration in full retreat on social issues, and an enabler of 'Washington's warmongering and diplomatic … [Read more...] about Obama’s Hope-Killing ‘Virtual Political Death’ (La Jornada, Mexico)
Have Democrats Blown It for 2014?
Until the Obamacare nightmare, the Tea Party was headed toward oblivion at the ballot box next year. Now? As the House passes veto-certain “Keep Your Health Care Plan Act of 2013,” 39 Democrats join the GOP to send a message that reflects their fear for 2014. White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough says, "This isn't about elections. This is about making sure people … [Read more...] about Have Democrats Blown It for 2014?
The Last ‘Goblet Ceremony’ of the Doolittle Raiders
Most of us know about and are immensely proud of the 80 intrepid heroes who on April 18, 1942, in response to and with the nation still reeling from the devastating Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor, took off in 16 B-25 bombers from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet on a top-secret mission to bomb Japan. Led by Lt. Col. James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle, these heroes came to … [Read more...] about The Last ‘Goblet Ceremony’ of the Doolittle Raiders
Dudley Do Crack (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 Dudley Do Crack (Cartoon)
Alec Baldwin: My show may not be back at all (Guest Voice)
Alec Baldwin: My show may not be back at all (via Raw Story ) Actor and MSNBC host Alec Baldwin said Saturday that the future of his weekly talk show is in doubt. He made the announcement in a blog entry published at Huffington Post on Saturday morning. After he allegedly used the expletive “c*ck-s*cking f*ggot… … [Read more...] about Alec Baldwin: My show may not be back at all (Guest Voice)
Elusive ‘Asian Unicorn’ Caught on Camera in Remote Area of Vietnam
Elusive ‘Asian Unicorn’ Caught on Camera in Remote Area of Vietnam (via Planetsave) A rare antelope-like creature called a saola — and nicknamed the ‘Asian Unicorn’ for its two long sharp horns (that may look like one horn from the right angle) — has been captured on film for the first time in 15 years. The critically endangered… … [Read more...] about Elusive ‘Asian Unicorn’ Caught on Camera in Remote Area of Vietnam
Mitch McConnell’s big problem: the numbers
From Political Wire: A new DFM Research survey finds Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Alison Lundergan Grimes (D) deadlocked in the U.S. Senate race, 41% to 40%. Key findings: McConnell's favorable rating is 35%, his unfavorable rating is 55%. From PoliticsUSA: Things are so bad for McConnell in Kentucky that he has a higher unfavorable rating than the Affordable … [Read more...] about Mitch McConnell’s big problem: the numbers
Much tattoo about nothing (Guest Voice)
Much tattoo about nothing by Fred Wehner Yo, let’s go to the Tatoo Parler and be marked for life as brainless lower-level people so that everyone we encounter between here and the graveyard gives us strange looks and avoids us. Who cares if the tattooist can’t spell, which is the vast majority of them. Or if the fearsome tiger I wanted turns out like Pikachu the … [Read more...] about Much tattoo about nothing (Guest Voice)
An insider-outsider problem (Guest Voice)
An insider-outsider problem (via The Economist) THE hopeless, hapless launch of Obamacare is a vertiginously awful moment for Barack Obama. There is a lot that can be said (and is being said) about the president’s management skills, and how the administration did not see this coming. Here is a… … [Read more...] about An insider-outsider problem (Guest Voice)
Health Insurers Show Their True Colors
There are no Obamacare silver linings, but a small ray of light is penetrating the black cloud behind which for-profit insurers have been furtively stealing one out of every three dollars Americans spend for health care. As the President tries to navigate a maelstrom of criticism and confusion, the true enemies of his reform finally show their colors. During a White House … [Read more...] about Health Insurers Show Their True Colors
Republicans Who Aren’t Crazy, Part 2
Conservative columnist David Frum on the need for sensible Republicans to make their voices heard in The Daily Beast. There has always been a pool of Republicans who have doubted the party's radical turn. Until now, however, these Republicans have been quiet and passive. They came out to vote in 2010, but they did not join Tea Party rallies. They supported Mitt Romney in the … [Read more...] about Republicans Who Aren’t Crazy, Part 2
Batkid saves the day in Gotham aka San Francisco
We ran this post earlier about the saga of the Batkid, a five your old boy struggling with leukemia who told the Make a Wish Foundation he wanted to be Batkid. So he became Batkid -- and saved the day. And, as proof, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California has issued this press release on its official website. We don't usually run something like … [Read more...] about Batkid saves the day in Gotham aka San Francisco
Typhoon Haiyan: Relief Efforts Continue Despite Chaos
As is sometimes the case when massive disasters strike, chaos and panic can easily follow. The Stars and Stripes reports such a chaotic scene at the Tacloban airport in the Philippines as people try to leave the typhoon-stricken region: It was a chaotic scene at the Tacloban airport on Friday as commercial airlines crowded ramps and runways, and people with cash … [Read more...] about Typhoon Haiyan: Relief Efforts Continue Despite Chaos
Brazil And Taxes
Here is an interesting look at how a government can go a bit overboard in taxes. Source is the Christian Science Monitor, hardly a right wing rag. The new Sony Playstation 4 will cost $ 399 which works out to around $ 430-440 with taxes, depending on your locality In Brazil the costs are as follows $468 base cost of PS4 upon arrival in Brazil $445 in federal excise … [Read more...] about Brazil And Taxes
Swiss Asylum for Snowden Would Win Points with Berlin (News, Switzerland)
Given the political minefield entailed with giving German asylum to Edward Snowden, should Switzerland step in and offer him safe harbor, giving Berlin easy access to the former NSA analyst without demolishing its ties to Washington? For Switzerland's News, Patrik Etschmayer suggests that such an arrangement would not only be the right thing to do, it would ease German … [Read more...] about Swiss Asylum for Snowden Would Win Points with Berlin (News, Switzerland)
Conservatives Against the Death Penalty
There is a long standing myth that opposition to capital punishment is the bailiwick of liberals and lefties. Ever since my work with former Senator Mark Hatfield (R-OR), I’ve known first hand that isn’t the case. Sitting together at a long table on a platform at a luncheon to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s Disease research, all he and I discussed while waiting for the … [Read more...] about Conservatives Against the Death Penalty
Batkid To Save San Francisco (And Win Our Hearts)
I think this is one of the few TMV posts where everyone will agree. A five year old boy struggling with leukemia told the Make A Wish foundation he wanted to be Batkid. And the city of San Francisco is granting that wish, with thousands expected to come to a rally in his honor … [Read more...] about Batkid To Save San Francisco (And Win Our Hearts)