The iconic Grahams are done. Finished. The beloved WaPo comes into the hands of one of the most innovative minds [Bezos] who has hired ]and hired away from big 5 publishing and elsewhere] many of the most innovative and knowing minds in the 'digital shopping and digital delivery' world. WaPo will be under the guidance of what/whom I see as both charmingly-disarming and … [Read more...] about Amazon’s Bezos Buying The Washington Post Newspaper (Updated)
Twitter War: The Daily Beast’s Tina Brown Versus Fired Daily Beaster Howard Kurtz
Some folks seemingly can't resist the temptation to gloat. And former Washington Post reporter, former CNN host and former The Daily Beast Washington Bureau Chief Howard Kurtz -- in yet another unfortunate tidbit for his branding -- comes across as having yielded to the tempatation. The Huffington Post has the Tweets and story HERE but suffice to say: 1. Newsweek has been … [Read more...] about Twitter War: The Daily Beast’s Tina Brown Versus Fired Daily Beaster Howard Kurtz
Wall Street Redefined
Having trouble following the strange doings in markets these days? Perhaps these few definitions. among the hundreds found in my Devil's Dictionary Of Wall Street book, will help in your understanding: Bank Regulators: Keystone financial cops who avoid getting into political traffic accidents by never actually chasing the robbers. Capital Gains: In the ongoing … [Read more...] about Wall Street Redefined
5 reasons why ObamaCare is proving to be so complex
ObamaCare is proving to be quite comlex -- and here are five reasons. … [Read more...] about 5 reasons why ObamaCare is proving to be so complex
Poll: Chris Christie is the country’s “hottest” politician
And so we get yet another poll suggesting that the man who could possibly win the Republican Party the White House in 2016 is a man who could have a hard time getting its nomination. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's (national, general electorate) political stock continues to rise -- with the poll finding he is the country's "hottest" politician. This is a poll that literally … [Read more...] about Poll: Chris Christie is the country’s “hottest” politician
NSA Sharing Info With Domestic Law Enforcement
For those who think NSA programs are only used to uncover terrorism and are not used domestically, this report may cause you to think again. A secretive U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration unit is funneling information from intelligence intercepts, wiretaps, informants and a massive database of telephone records to authorities across the nation to help them launch criminal … [Read more...] about NSA Sharing Info With Domestic Law Enforcement
Religion challenges left and right
WASHINGTON -- Whenever I write sympathetically about religion, I get bombarded by tweets and notes from readers who normally agree with me but cannot abide the idea that religious belief should be seen as intellectually serious. And because I have written favorably about Pope Francis, I get more than my share of angry comments about the Catholic pedophilia scandal, … [Read more...] about Religion challenges left and right
The Student Loan Farce
Last week, members of Congress got together and actually passed a bill which will be signed by the President. It was enacted in the House by a vote of 392 to 31 with astonishing bipartisan support. In the Senate, it was approved by a vote of 81 to 18. This is something that Congress believes it can be proud of. But can it? We should remember that in the past, Republicans in … [Read more...] about The Student Loan Farce
World’s first test tube burger tasted in London
World's first test tube burger tasted in London (via AFP) Scientists on Monday unveiled the world's first lab-grown beef burger, serving it up to volunteers in London in what they hope is the start of a food revolution. The 140 gramme (about five ounce) patty, which cost more than 250,000 euros ($330,000)… … [Read more...] about World’s first test tube burger tasted in London
Can We Overcome the Existential Terrors of August?
For someone with a grandchild due home from the Middle East next week, the State Department Alert about “potential for terrorist attacks” there this month is no abstraction. “U.S. citizens should take every precaution to be aware of their surroundings and to adopt appropriate safety measures to protect themselves when traveling,” the government says. The safety measures are … [Read more...] about Can We Overcome the Existential Terrors of August?
Bill Kristol says: Prez Bragged al Qaeda Containment , but now US is on the Run
Tokyo Rose of another wartime comes to mind. During WWII, she was the woman who broadcast radio condemnations, ridicules, criticisms of Allied' leaders --broadcasting her screed to men in the trenches as well as their commanders to attempt to dishearten them by jeering them with sarcasn, and saying over and over the Allies were losing. And accompanying it all with pop music as … [Read more...] about Bill Kristol says: Prez Bragged al Qaeda Containment , but now US is on the Run
The party of (nutty) ideas
[Note: This column was released August 1 but inadvertantly didn't get on TMV.] WASHINGTON -- It's not your imagination. The Republican Party really does seem to have taken leave of its senses. The House GOP majority has decided that its final act before the summer recess will be to take its 40th vote to repeal all or part of the Patient Protection and … [Read more...] about The party of (nutty) ideas
Kremlin Cannot Promise to Lift ‘Gay Propaganda Ban’ at Sochi (Kommersant, Russia)
Can Russia hold the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi without enforcing local laws against 'homosexual propaganda'? According to this news item from Russia's Kommersant, not only is it unlikely that such laws can be legally abrogated, but at least some local political leaders defiantly insist that events like the Olympics are precisely the time to enforce them. For Kommersant, … [Read more...] about Kremlin Cannot Promise to Lift ‘Gay Propaganda Ban’ at Sochi (Kommersant, Russia)
Iran’s Rouhani could help against al Qaeda
Hopes that new Iranian President Hassan Rouhani will defuse nuclear tensions with the White House are overdone but he could be a back door to containing al Qaeda in Syria and improving prospects for Secretary of State John Kerry’s Mideast peace talks. At his inauguration today, Rouhani very clearly stated his position towards the US and Europe. “To have interactions with … [Read more...] about Iran’s Rouhani could help against al Qaeda
CNN: Intercepted al Qaeda message led to shuttering embassies, consulates
CNN reports that an intercepted al Qaeda message led to the closings of embassies and consulates. Again, as I noted in another post, the reports how about the "chatter" is eerily similar to news stories leading up to 9/11 -- stories that didn't get major play at the time but most assuredly will in a post-911 world: An intercepted message among senior al Qaeda operatives in … [Read more...] about CNN: Intercepted al Qaeda message led to shuttering embassies, consulates
(Video) How to make a big sausage milk shake
This is definitely not kosher. Instructions on how to make a "big sausage milk shake." ENJOY! … [Read more...] about (Video) How to make a big sausage milk shake
Snowden’s Journey (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 Snowden’s Journey (Cartoon)
State Department Update Statement on Embassy and Consulate Closure (Full Text)
Here's the full text of an update statement issued by the State Department on today's embassy and consulate closures: Press Statement Jen Psaki Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC August 4, 2013 Given that a number of our embassies and consulates were going to be closed in accordance with local custom and practice for the bulk of the week for the … [Read more...] about State Department Update Statement on Embassy and Consulate Closure (Full Text)
In India, lawbreakers are lawmakers
In India, lawbreakers are lawmakers (via GlobalPost) Enlarge NEW DELHI, India — To ensure a quorum, India's legislature ought to consider moving its sessions to the local clink. A staggering 162 out of 543 honorable members of India's lower house face criminal charges, according to a new report by the… … [Read more...] about In India, lawbreakers are lawmakers
Mitch McConnell, Alison Lundergan Grimes make the cases at Fancy Farm
In Kentucky it's the day today for the 113rd Fancy Fram political forum -- not to be confused with the funny arm (Congress). The political class has been waiting with Listerine-required baited breath for this event, because it is pitting Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell against his Democratic challenger Allisan Lundergran Grimes. Would McConnell make short work of … [Read more...] about Mitch McConnell, Alison Lundergan Grimes make the cases at Fancy Farm