At this point in 2011, I was fairly convinced a 50-50 tie in the Senate would result. Massachusetts, I surmised, would go the Democrats way but Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, and North Dakota would fall, thereby creating a 50-50 split. The Democrats did pick up Massachusetts, but, defying most odds, held everything but Nebraska. And Olympia Snowe's retirement in Maine gave … [Read more...] about Senate Landscape Portends Close Battle For Control
WikiLeaks source Manning sentenced to 35 years
WikiLeaks source Manning sentenced to 35 years (via AFP) A military court sentenced US army soldier Bradley Manning to 35 years in jail Wednesday for passing WikiLeaks the biggest leak of official secrets in American history. Manning could be freed on parole within a decade and his lawyer David Coombs said… … [Read more...] about WikiLeaks source Manning sentenced to 35 years
Holy Mother, Hear My Prayer, Clapton & Pavarotti
Eric Clapton wrote it, sings it, Pavarotti the Great, joins in half way through with his voice of such towering power and majesty. The guitar riffs are perfection, the tone and cri de coeur -- there are words, but there are no words to describe. For all the innocents of our world. May they be kept safe. May those who have died, remember no pain, only beauty and Love. Holy … [Read more...] about Holy Mother, Hear My Prayer, Clapton & Pavarotti
What I have been reading since February 2013
My last post on TMV was on January 14, 2013. I now have returned after a lengthy hiatus. Two months ago in June, my spouse, our 14-year-old son and I moved within the city of Phoenix to another high school district, which also happened to be closer to her employer of the past 5 years. Last week, our son started high school despite the weather in Phoenix being consistently … [Read more...] about What I have been reading since February 2013
Damascus, Syria, Gassing of Innocents. Give Us Names of Perpetrators, Witnesses, the Murdered
The news comes in today; we wait for verifications. Yet, we could go back five years, ten, twenty, seventy years and see the images of the innocent dead in most every country of the world. Today, yesterday, since forever, the death of one child, let alone many children is devastating to my soul. As it is a blowtorch to the minds and hearts and spirits and souls of many … [Read more...] about Damascus, Syria, Gassing of Innocents. Give Us Names of Perpetrators, Witnesses, the Murdered
Poll: Louisiana Republicans blame Katrina response on Obama
This is no joke. It is not from The Onion and not written by Andy Borowitz. And it shows you how hateful, illogical, and demonizing partisanship has gotten in this country. I can't even run the usual "Twight Zone" graphic here since its troubling for our democracy. A poll finds a good chunk of Louisiana GOPers blame the governments poor response to Hurricane Katrina on Barack … [Read more...] about Poll: Louisiana Republicans blame Katrina response on Obama
Phone Call from Coco Chanel, Fashion Icon
Nothing can make you feel more ancient than a celebration of the 130th birthday of someone you knew. So it is with fashion icon Coco Chanel, remembered not only for her elegant clothes and the scent Chanel No. 5 but her wisdom about women’s lives that I helped spread with a monthly column in an America magazine half a century ago. It started during the “youthquake” of the … [Read more...] about Phone Call from Coco Chanel, Fashion Icon
BREAKING: 1200 killed in Damascas chemical attack Syrian opposition charges (Video footage)
A new report coming out of Syria suggests an escalation in the method of brutality the Syrian government will use against it's citizens: according to CBS News, and other reports (including some graphic ones from eyewitnesses), the Syrian opposition says the governnment killed 12000 in a chemical attack in Damascas: The Syrian opposition said Wednesday that state security … [Read more...] about BREAKING: 1200 killed in Damascas chemical attack Syrian opposition charges (Video footage)
The Looming Pension Crisis
States, counties, cities, and other public entities face huge deficits in pensions and promised health care benefits that cumulatively add up to trillions of dollars. Detroit’s bankruptcy was fueled to a large degree by its pension and health care shortfalls, with billions owed to its workers and retirees that were not supported by adequate funding. All of the major cities in … [Read more...] about The Looming Pension Crisis
Three Oklahoma teens shot Australian baseball player because they could
Everybody has moments when they're bored. But according to police in Oklahoma, three teens in Duncan, Oklahoma, decided to shoot Australian baseballer Chris Lane who was jogginb nearby. Because, police said, they were bored. Because they could. When police asked why they murdered Lane, one of the teens said the motive was "We were going to kill somebody." And now … [Read more...] about Three Oklahoma teens shot Australian baseball player because they could
Lyme Disease: More Common Than Once Thought?
According to the US Centers for Disease Control, Lyme Disease may be 10 times more prevalent than once believed. Although according to their report, most of the cases are still to be found primarily in the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia and Wisconsin. … [Read more...] about Lyme Disease: More Common Than Once Thought?
Enter the Real Racists, Masks Off
The news from Oklahoma isn't good. Three teenage thugs allegedly murder an Australian baseball player. But that is NOT what our Right Wing blogging klansmen see (highlighted in pink): (And, please note that I'll be proving that "klansmen" is not a slur, but an accurate usage below). click for original The one that really jumps out, of course is: "Greg Pollowitz … [Read more...] about Enter the Real Racists, Masks Off
Conservationists, Scientists Outraged by Japanese Dolphin Hunt
Conservationists, Scientists Outraged by Japanese Dolphin Hunt (via Environment News Service) Conservationists, Scientists Outraged by Japanese Dolphin Hunt WASHINGTON, DC, September 21, 2006 (ENS) – Conservationists, scientists and zoo and aquarium professionals have renewed efforts to stop Japan’s annual dolphin hunt, which began this… … [Read more...] about Conservationists, Scientists Outraged by Japanese Dolphin Hunt
GOP isn’t dying, but it will have to reach moderate voters to survive (Guest Voice)
GOP isn't dying, but it will have to reach moderate voters to survive (via The Christian Science Monitor) Sen. Rand Paul (R) of Kentucky addresses the 114th annual VFW National Convention in Louisville, Ky., July 22. Mr. Paul and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie recently swapped insults on each other's view for the GOP. Op-ed contributor Amy E. Black writes… … [Read more...] about GOP isn’t dying, but it will have to reach moderate voters to survive (Guest Voice)
Are Republicans finally giving up their mission to kill ObamaCare?
Are Republicans finally giving up their mission to kill ObamaCare? Many in the party won't come out and flatly say it, but it sounds as if it's moving in that direction. … [Read more...] about Are Republicans finally giving up their mission to kill ObamaCare?
Maine’s Gov. LePage says Obama “hates white people’
If moderates, centrists and independent voters think that the huge growth of partisan political demonization, name-calling and exaggeration that has poisoned our political debate only comes from talk show hosts, the growth of the Internet and the big bucks the political entertainment media rakes in, think again. Here's an example of it -- and another sign that Republican … [Read more...] about Maine’s Gov. LePage says Obama “hates white people’
Amazon.com Sites 25-60 Minute “Outage”. Sabotage?
Amazon.com, the main retail page of the Seattle, Wash.-based company, suffered an outage that left millions of users unable to access the site. The retail giant’s main U.S. site went offline at approximately 3 p.m. ET on Monday. The cause of the outage remains unclear, but Amazon Web Services (AWS), including EC2, remained up and working on the most part unaffected, … [Read more...] about Amazon.com Sites 25-60 Minute “Outage”. Sabotage?
Egypt arrests Muslim Brotherhood chief in blow to Islamists
Egypt arrests Muslim Brotherhood chief in blow to Islamists (via AFP) Egypt's government on Tuesday pressed its relentless campaign against the Muslim Brotherhood of ousted president Mohamed Morsi, dealing a major new blow to the Islamist group by arresting its chief. Mohammed Badie's detention comes as the Brotherhood… … [Read more...] about Egypt arrests Muslim Brotherhood chief in blow to Islamists
Arbitrary, and uncalled for
WASHINGTON -- For all who believe in colorblind justice -- and want to see fewer African-American and Hispanic men caught up in the system -- there are two items of good news: a judge's ruling ordering changes in New York's "stop and frisk" policy and Attorney General Eric Holder's initiative to keep nonviolent drug offenders out of prison. First, "stop and frisk." … [Read more...] about Arbitrary, and uncalled for
India’s intellectual property failures demand Obama’s attention (Guest Voice)
India's intellectual property failures demand Obama's attention By Phil Kerpen On May 11, 2013, Indian President Pranab Mukherhee said "The future prosperity of India in the new knowledge economy will increasingly depend on its ability to generate new ideas, processes and solutions." He was right not just about India, but indeed about the whole world; we need strong … [Read more...] about India’s intellectual property failures demand Obama’s attention (Guest Voice)