(Updates below) The Stars and Stripes reports this morning that approximately 500 “crisis-response” Marines recently deployed to Italy and Spain are ready to respond to the brewing chaos in Egypt: Pentagon spokesman George Little wouldn’t speak about Egypt or the U.S. Embassy in Cairo specifically, but said the military was postured for response in that region in … [Read more...] about (Updates: Military Open Fire on Morsi Supporters) U.S. Marines in Europe Ready to ‘Respond’ to Egypt Chaos
Ben Franklin: “A Republic If You Can Keep It”
Fellow fans of the Crawleys, forgive me, but in middle age, I fell in love with my country all over again during a tour of England's stately homes. The sight of all that grandeur reserved for a hereditary few to live in mansions at the expense of miserable lives for so many was a reminder of what Jefferson, Adams and the rest resisted translating to America in 1776. Today, … [Read more...] about Ben Franklin: “A Republic If You Can Keep It”
Happy Indepdendence Day
One of the best versions of our anthem out there. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDnqTe48lh0 … [Read more...] about Happy Indepdendence Day
COOL: The Great Gatsby before and after special effects were added
Chris Godfrey, VFX supervisor on the film "The Great Gatsby, has released an amazing before and after reel so you can see the insertion of special effects. He writes: Baz has graciously agreed to let us release this 'before and afters' reel to show our peer group the VFX work completed on his film 'The Great Gatsby'. While this specific reel was the work of Animal Logic … [Read more...] about COOL: The Great Gatsby before and after special effects were added
How do you stop an asteroid hitting Earth?
How do you stop an asteroid hitting Earth? (via The Economist) MOST asteroids in the solar system come nowhere near the Earth, and of those that do, most are so small that they burn up harmlessly in the atmosphere. But, as a report written by America's National Academy of Sciences points out, a big one is almost… … [Read more...] about How do you stop an asteroid hitting Earth?
Republicans and Women (Guest Cartoonist)
Republicans and Women by Mike Peters OF RELATED INTEREST: --Dem officials: GOP is targeting women [OHIO] --Texas GOP Unleashes Political Quackery on Women's Reproductive Rights --GOP launches programs to recruit more women --North Carolina readies new abortion limits as GOP war on women expands --While You Were Sleeping, North Carolina Decided to Pull a … [Read more...] about Republicans and Women (Guest Cartoonist)
Immigration Backers Sting Tea Party Foes
An old fable gets a new twist: House Tea Party diehards face retribution from the immigration tortoises they are trying to drown. Backers of reform will spend $1 million dollars in the districts of John Boehner, Eric Cantor, Darrell Issa and eight others to blast them for refusing to deal on the issue that Republicans only a few months ago recognized as crucial to their … [Read more...] about Immigration Backers Sting Tea Party Foes
James “Tony Soprano” Gandolfini left $50G in his will to pal with autistic son
The wealth of evidence -- when he was alive and when he passed away -- that actor James Gandolfini was truly special when it came to his fellow cast members and friends now has a new tidbit. Gandolfini left $50,000 to a friend with an autistic son. The New York Post: Family man James Gandolfini took care of his friends’ kids as well as his own. The benevolent … [Read more...] about James “Tony Soprano” Gandolfini left $50G in his will to pal with autistic son
Russia codifies extreme anti-gay bigotry
While I respect the position Russian President Vladimir Putin is taking on the whole Snowden saga, there's really nothing else I like about the guy, and more and more it looks like he and his ilk want to turn their country into a right-wing dictatorship resembing the fascist states of old. For example: Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law [on Sunday] one of … [Read more...] about Russia codifies extreme anti-gay bigotry
Independence Day: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Typos
Independence Day: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Typos Tyrades! By Danny Tyree I hope you enjoy your watermelon, fireworks and parades this Independence Day. I'm sort of burned out on the holiday. Somehow or another I got corralled into proofreading a history textbook chapter on the American Revolution. Whether because of political correctness, a desire to give the … [Read more...] about Independence Day: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Typos
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY
All of us here at TMV want to wish all of you and yours a happy fourth of July. Enjoy, celebrate -- and appreciate what we have. … [Read more...] about HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY
West calls for elections after Egypt’s Morsi ousted
West calls for elections after Egypt's Morsi ousted (via AFP) Western powers called for restraint and a swift return to democracy in Egypt after the army toppled Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, detaining him and his top aides. The military said it had responded to mass demonstrations calling for Morsi to go,… … [Read more...] about West calls for elections after Egypt’s Morsi ousted
Egypt protesters erupt in joy as army ousts Morsi
Egypt protesters erupt in joy as army ousts Morsi (via AFP) In their tens of thousands, they cheered, ignited firecrackers and honked horns as soon as the army announced President Mohamed Morsi's rule was over, ending Egypt's worst crisis since its 2011 revolt. Camped out in Cairo's iconic Tahrir Square for… … [Read more...] about Egypt protesters erupt in joy as army ousts Morsi
Army chief Sisi emerges as Egypt’s new strongman
Army chief Sisi emerges as Egypt's new strongman (via AFP) Army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who is emerging as Egypt's strongman amid the turmoil sweeping the country, is desperate to end the crisis but without a return to the unpopular military rule of 2011-2012, experts say. The army high command'… … [Read more...] about Army chief Sisi emerges as Egypt’s new strongman
“Invited Coup” Now Official (Updated)
Reports out of Egypt indicated that the military is moving forward with the takeover of the government. Some observers are calling this an "invited coup" with over 80% of Egyptians supporting the move against Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood. Of course it remains to be seen what the new government will be like. Coup now official, Morsi is out, the chief of the … [Read more...] about “Invited Coup” Now Official (Updated)
Morsi camp slams ‘coup’ as Egypt leader hit with travel ban
Morsi camp slams 'coup' as Egypt leader hit with travel ban (via AFP) A top aide to Egypt's President Mohamed Morsi slammed what he called a "military coup" on Wednesday as an army ultimatum passed and the security forces slapped a travel ban on the Islamist leader. "For the sake of Egypt and for historical accuracy,… … [Read more...] about Morsi camp slams ‘coup’ as Egypt leader hit with travel ban
Are conservatives winning the battle but losing the war?
Last week, the Supreme Court struck down DOMA and dismissed California's Proposition 8, and also disemboweled nearly 50 years of Voting Rights Act protections for minorities. The Washington Post's E.J. Dionne gloomily saw this latter development as a symbol of conservatives' inexorable progress in scoring long-game victories in cases such as the court's Citizens United … [Read more...] about Are conservatives winning the battle but losing the war?
AFP: Egypt army chief huddles with opposition leaders
Egypt army chief huddles with opposition leaders (via AFP) Egypt's armed forces chief met on Wednesday with opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei and top Sunni Muslim and Coptic Christian leaders, a source close to the military said. The discussions with General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi focused on the roadmap the… … [Read more...] about AFP: Egypt army chief huddles with opposition leaders
Egypt rivals square off on cusp of army deadline
Egypt rivals square off on cusp of army deadline (via AFP) Tens of thousands of rival Egyptians poured onto the streets on Wednesday, minutes before a controversial army deadline to impose a political solution after a defiant Islamist President Mohamed Morsi vowed to see out his term regardless. The interior… … [Read more...] about Egypt rivals square off on cusp of army deadline
Border $ecurity
The Bush administration may not have started it, but it set the pace. Nothing has changed. "Border security" may sound like controlling migration along our southern border. But if you look a little closer, "border security" turns out to mean more of the same-old (a porous border, serving businesses looking for cheaper, off-the-books labor) at huge profit to industries … [Read more...] about Border $ecurity