As a native of Ecuador, a country with an amazing profusion of hummingbirds, or colibrís (135 species have been recorded in Ecuador, one of the largest number of species of hummingbirds in the world), I grew up admiring these precious little creatures for their beauty, delicateness and agility. During a recent trip to Ecuador, I once again had the pleasure of watching … [Read more...] about A ‘Hummingbird’ Flew in Afghanistan
Ex-Reagan Budget Director Stockman Says George W. Bush’s Policies Bankrupted Country
Ex-Reagan Budget Director David Stockman does not mince words: he says George W. Bush's policies bankrupt the country (so look for him to be attacked on talk radio and on Fox News in an attempt to discredit him). The Huffington Post: A former adviser of Ronald Reagan has some choice words for George W. Bush. David Stockman, Reagan’s budget director from 1981 to 1985, … [Read more...] about Ex-Reagan Budget Director Stockman Says George W. Bush’s Policies Bankrupted Country
Religion: A Natural Part of the Human Species
I long ago came to the conclusion that religious/spiritual belief is as much a part of human nature as the desire for sex or to eat good food; that for all the banging around religion gets, trying to beat it out of people is like trying to beat the desire to procreate out of them. Yes, some people have no desire to procreate, but they are a minority and likely always will be. … [Read more...] about Religion: A Natural Part of the Human Species
Cartoonists Look at Easter 2013 (Easter Cartoons)
Here's a collection of cartoonists' views of Easter 2013: Easter Sequester Easter 2013 Easter Eggs: Sequ-Easter Bunny Easter egg hunt with uncle Sam and Kim Jong Un LEGAL NOTICE ON CARTOON: These copyrighted cartoons are licensed to run on TMV. Reproduction elsewhere without licensing is strictly prohibited. See great cartoons by all the top … [Read more...] about Cartoonists Look at Easter 2013 (Easter Cartoons)
Book Review: Our Divided Political Heart: The Battle for the American Idea in an Age of Discontent by E.J. Dionne Jr
If there is a book out there that is REQUIRED READING for moderates, centrists and independent voters -- voters fed up with increasing hyperpartisanship and wondering if there is something deeper going on in America -- E.J. Dionne' Jr's Our Divided Political Heart: The Battle for the American Idea in an Age of Discontent is it. Yes, there is indeed something going on -- a major … [Read more...] about Book Review: Our Divided Political Heart: The Battle for the American Idea in an Age of Discontent by E.J. Dionne Jr
US prosecutor murdered with wife in Texas
US prosecutor murdered with wife in Texas (via AFP) A Texas district attorney and his wife were found dead in their home -- the second murder of a US prosecutor in the same office in less than two months, sparking fears of a larger plot. In January, Kaufman County assistant district attorney Mark Hasse, 57, reportedly investigating the white supremacist… … [Read more...] about US prosecutor murdered with wife in Texas
Sunday Sermon: Cornel West
Because of the gay marriage debate, the right-wing fundamentalist Christians are in the public sphere again, preaching the theology of exclusion. Granted that many theologians (Tutu, Bell, Gomes, Creech, Greenberg) and many denominations (Episcopalian, Lutheran, Presbyterian) don't consider homosexuality to be a sin at all, it seems like the whole issue takes away from the most … [Read more...] about Sunday Sermon: Cornel West
A Bad Week For Canadian Oil: Exxon Pegasus Pipeline Bursts In Arkansas, Train Hauling Oil Derails In Minessota
Updated 31 March, 12:55 pm Pacific Tiny Mayflower, AR (population, 1,631; location, 20 miles northwest of Little Rock, AR) may find itself at the center of a debate about Canadian tar sands and the Keystone XL Pipeline after the Exxon Pegagsus pipeline ruptured on Friday. The major spill was Canadian Wabasca Heavy crude from Alberta. The Canadian Energy Pipeline … [Read more...] about A Bad Week For Canadian Oil: Exxon Pegasus Pipeline Bursts In Arkansas, Train Hauling Oil Derails In Minessota
Spring Is Here and ‘Apologitis’ Is in the Air
Spring is here and love is in the air, but so is pollen here in Texas and apologies abounding all across this land. It is good to hear apologies, but when there are many apologies, there must also be a lot of not-so-nice things that people feel they have to apologize for. Last week must have been one for the record books when it comes to apologies. Here are just a … [Read more...] about Spring Is Here and ‘Apologitis’ Is in the Air
Chances of Republicans taking the Senate in 2014
Republicans need to pick up six seats to retake the majority they lost in 2006, and recent history suggests that the task is doable, if difficult. More concerning for Republicans, however, is whether they will again have to endure nasty primaries that produce either triumphant insurgents with limited appeal or establishment survivors who underperform with conservative voters in … [Read more...] about Chances of Republicans taking the Senate in 2014
Students at Johns Hopkins Start Petition to Replace Dr. Ben Carson as Graduation Speaker Over Anti-Gay Remark
Dr. Benjamin Carson drama continues as students at Johns Hopkins University are circulating a petition to replace the Republican darling as commencement speaker after he linked gay marriage to pedophilia and bestiality in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity. The petition, which was posted on a Facebook page for the student-run Health and Human Rights Student Group, … [Read more...] about Students at Johns Hopkins Start Petition to Replace Dr. Ben Carson as Graduation Speaker Over Anti-Gay Remark
Austin, Texas, in Kim Jong-Un’s Crosshairs?
A couple of weeks ago, after North Korea once again made threatening noises against the U.S. and its allies, Admiral James Winnefeld, Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs Of Staff, made it clear that the United States intends to do everything in its power to deny North Korea the ability to launch a missile to the United States and -- if they do, “if deterrence fails” -- to “impose … [Read more...] about Austin, Texas, in Kim Jong-Un’s Crosshairs?
Stuck On Saturday
For Christians today is a day of reflection, remembering the sacrifice of Friday while we await the victory of Sunday. As much as we do mourn the loss of yesterday we do so knowing Sunday will come. I have long thought that Stuck On Saturday would be a good title for a book and I can't help wondering today how many of us are always Stuck on Saturday ? Not so much in a … [Read more...] about Stuck On Saturday
Watergate’s Lessons, Washed Away (Guest Voice)
Watergate's Lessons, Washed Away by Michael Winship At moments, “The Lessons of Watergate” conference, held a couple of weeks ago in Washington, D.C. by the citizen’s lobby Common Cause, was a little like that two-man roadshow retired baseball players Bill Buckner and Mookie Wilson have been touring. In it, they retell the story of the catastrophic moment during the bottom … [Read more...] about Watergate’s Lessons, Washed Away (Guest Voice)
Book Review: The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2013 [Paperback]
The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2013 really deserves more than five TMV stars. Way before the era of computers, and the Internet and smart phones, the good, old, big, fat Almanac was THE THING you needed on your desk to quickly find facts -- facts, perfectly distilled, perfectly checked out, and easy to find within seconds because they are impeccably indexed. As a kid, … [Read more...] about Book Review: The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2013 [Paperback]
Bank of Cyprus savers could lose up to 60%
Bank of Cyprus savers could lose up to 60% (via AFP) Big savers in Cyprus's largest bank face losses of up to 60 percent, far greater than originally feared under the island's controversial EU-led bailout plan, officials said on Saturday. Cyprus meanwhile launched an investigation into a list published in Greek newspapers of Cypriot politicians who allegedly… … [Read more...] about Bank of Cyprus savers could lose up to 60%
Rites Versus Rights
Rites Versus Rights by Tina Dupuy A colleague of mine quipped the other day that the only religion he believes in is his own. "Sure," I countered. "You piously believe in your own opinion." Which pretty much sums up every debate I've ever had on religion. Liberals will tell you Jesus was a Middle Eastern Jewish hippie who hated money and communed with the outcasts of … [Read more...] about Rites Versus Rights
Paul Williams is Dead at 64
We are not the same person, seen through others' eyes. They see us as one, but, really, we are legion: Philip K. Dick Fan Site Paul Williams Died Last Night ... After many years of thinking of Paul Williams as mainly the Philip K. Dick Estate’s executor, I looked into what he had also accomplished in his life and I was amazed at what he had started, especially in Rock … [Read more...] about Paul Williams is Dead at 64
N.Korea says ‘at war’ with South
N.Korea says 'at war' with South (via AFP) North Korea announced on Saturday that it had entered a "state of war" with South Korea and would deal with every inter-Korean issue accordingly. "As of now, inter-Korea relations enter a state of war and all matters between the two Koreas will be handled according to wartime protocol," the North said… … [Read more...] about N.Korea says ‘at war’ with South
Jim Carrey replies to “petty, poisonous…colostomy bag” Fox News
We recently ran THIS POST about Jim Carrey's pointed pro-gun control video, "Cold Dead Hands," using as a take off point the late actor and NRA bigwig Charleton Heston's "from my cold dead hands" slogan about gun control. Fox News replied in kind -- with far more name-calling and vitriol against Carrey than Carrey even did in his blunt song and imitation of Heston. GO HERE … [Read more...] about Jim Carrey replies to “petty, poisonous…colostomy bag” Fox News