Armstrong admits doping in Oprah interview: report (via AFP) Shamed cyclist Lance Armstrong has admitted that he used performance-enhancing drugs, US media reported on Tuesday, as the sport braced for revelations in his first interview since being banned for life for doping. Armstrong, who has consistently denied drug-taking, on Monday recorded a … [Read more...] about Armstrong Admits Doping in Oprah Interview: Report
How Bad is Republican Congressional Partisanship When It Comes to Barack Obama? GOPers Nixed Invite to View “Lincoln” at White House
How bad is Republican partisanship when it comes to President Barack Obama? How about Congressional Republicans nixing an invite to come over and view "Lincoln" with Obama? President Obama says he’d like to socialize with Republicans, but they aren’t responding to his overtures. So which is it, a remote president or an opposition party that refuses to hang out with … [Read more...] about How Bad is Republican Congressional Partisanship When It Comes to Barack Obama? GOPers Nixed Invite to View “Lincoln” at White House
Round Up: Commentary on Aaron Swartz and Our Legal System
Updated. I am not alone in questioning the ham-handed behavior of the Department of (in)Justice in the Aaron Swartz case. This Storify is a collection of essays from around the web, all dealing with the government's case. [View the story "Commentary on Aaron Swartz and Our Legal System" on Storify] … [Read more...] about Round Up: Commentary on Aaron Swartz and Our Legal System
MIT Refused To Sign Off On Plea Bargain In Aaron Swartz Case, Attorney Says
According to one of the lawyers in the Aaron Swartz case, MIT refused to sign off on a plea bargain where Aaron would have served no prison time. JSTOR, on the other hand, agreed. As Lawrence Lessig wrote this weekend, JSTOR understands "proportionality." In addition, the DOJ was aware that Aaron was a suicide risk. Here's Kevin Cullen in The Boston Globe: Andy … [Read more...] about MIT Refused To Sign Off On Plea Bargain In Aaron Swartz Case, Attorney Says
BREAKING NEWS: Clarence Thomas Spoke During Supreme Court Oral Argument
BREAKING NEWS: Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has not talked for nearly 7 years during Supreme Court oral arguments. But today he did. Let me guess what he said: "Rosebud." Well, not quite. But it could have been part of what he said: Justice Clarence Thomas broke his nearly seven-year silence at Supreme Court oral arguments Monday. But no one is sure … [Read more...] about BREAKING NEWS: Clarence Thomas Spoke During Supreme Court Oral Argument
Beijing Pollution Breaks Scale
In theory the index used to measure air pollution goes up to 500 In Beijing China over the weekend it hit 755 … [Read more...] about Beijing Pollution Breaks Scale
Rep. Steve Stockman Threatens Impeachment, Defunding White House If President Obama Uses Executive Orders on Guns
House Republicans showing just how mean-spirited they can be. Rep. Steve Stockman (R-TX) threatened to file articles of impeachment against President Obama if he uses executive order to try to reduce gun violence. This is after two mothers spoke at a press conference Monday about their loss as a result of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting massacre and were emphatic in … [Read more...] about Rep. Steve Stockman Threatens Impeachment, Defunding White House If President Obama Uses Executive Orders on Guns
Jenny Sanford Won’t Run Against Ex-Husband Mark Sanford to Fill Congressional Seat Held by Tim Scott
Jenny Sanford, South Carolina's former first lady, said she will not run for Congress. News swirled last week that should would run against her ex-husband, Mark Sanford, for the Congressional seat. Jenny Sanford, who has four sons with ex-governor Sanford, said her family comes first. "I think my job as mom right now is much more important, much more rewarding and much more … [Read more...] about Jenny Sanford Won’t Run Against Ex-Husband Mark Sanford to Fill Congressional Seat Held by Tim Scott
All Teachers Should Pack Heat
On 12/27/12 I posted on TMV to discuss in part the issue of gun control – and so have many other TMV writers since 12/14/12 when someone shot some very young kids and teachers at a Connecticut grade school. Most of our nation's 24/7 info-entertainment Media outlets obsessed on this subject for weeks and articles were written and published by every well-known and unknown … [Read more...] about All Teachers Should Pack Heat
Obama Warns of Crisis Unless Debt Ceiling is Raised
Obama warns of crisis unless debt ceiling is raised (via AFP) President Barack Obama warned of a new economic crisis Monday and said global stock markets would go "haywire" unless Republicans in Congress agree to raise the US sovereign debt ceiling. "To even entertain the idea of this happening, of the United States of America not paying its bills, it is … [Read more...] about Obama Warns of Crisis Unless Debt Ceiling is Raised
No Labels, Version 2.0 Seeks Problem Solvers
Founded in 2010, No Labels was originally designed to be a forum for political moderates for the purpose of fostering inter-party communication and cooperation. Its goals originally focused on long-range reforms such as redistricting and campaign finance reform. With its devotion to difficult long-range reform and its call only to those who considered themselves moderates, the … [Read more...] about No Labels, Version 2.0 Seeks Problem Solvers
Report: House Republican Majority Prepared to Default If Don’t Get Their Way (UPDATED)
I've noted here the past few years that rank partisanship and the idea that ideology and political triumph is the number one goal has made many "givens" in American politics "ungivens." Remove the "given" that House Republicans in the end will be unwilling to default. The Politico reports that House Republicans are fully prepared to do two things that could decimate the economy … [Read more...] about Report: House Republican Majority Prepared to Default If Don’t Get Their Way (UPDATED)
Anonymous Hacks MIT.edu; Tributes To Aaron Swartz Continue
Sunday evening, Anonymous posted a tribute (pdf) to Aaron Swartz on the MIT.edu website. It was hours after the university president had announced an internal investigation of MIT's involvement with the events leading up to his death and, in tone, represented many of the tributes flooding the web. Whether or not the government contributed to his suicide, the government's … [Read more...] about Anonymous Hacks MIT.edu; Tributes To Aaron Swartz Continue
‘Argo,’ ‘Les Miserables’ Win Big at Golden Globes
'Argo,' 'Les Miserables' win big at Golden Globes (via AFP) Ben Affleck's Iran hostage drama "Argo" and musical "Les Miserables" were the big winners at the Golden Globes, while Steven Spielberg's presidential drama "Lincoln" won only one major award. Affleck won the top prizes of best dramatic film and director for his movie about a CIA mission to rescue … [Read more...] about ‘Argo,’ ‘Les Miserables’ Win Big at Golden Globes
We’re Not in Retreat
WASHINGTON -- We are about to have a major foreign policy debate in the guise of a confirmation battle over Chuck Hagel's nomination as secretary of defense and the related argument over how long American troops should stay in Afghanistan. President Obama should use this opportunity to stand up for his broader vision of how American power can be sustained and used, even if that … [Read more...] about We’re Not in Retreat
Hot Enough for You?
WASHINGTON -- All right, now can we talk about climate change? After a year when the lower 48 states suffered the warmest temperatures, and the second-craziest weather, since record-keeping began? Apparently not. The climate change denialists -- especially those who manipulate the data in transparently bogus ways to claim that warming has halted or even reversed course … [Read more...] about Hot Enough for You?
What to Expect from a Post-Chavez Venezuela (Guest Voice)
What to Expect from a Post-Chavez Venezuela by Daniel J. Graeber It's unlikely that ailing Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez will return to power after missing his Thursday inauguration because of ongoing cancer treatment in Cuba. That leaves Vice President Nicolas Maduro in de facto power of a country that has moved further away from Washington and closer to rogue regimes … [Read more...] about What to Expect from a Post-Chavez Venezuela (Guest Voice)
JSTOR Issues Statement About Aaron Swartz’ Suicide
Jstor is the company that Aaron was alleged to have stolen thousands of pages of files from. Aaron took his life this week. He was 26 years old, in the bloom of youth. He'd suffered from depression for a long time. He was going to go to trial on several allegations of illegal activity in April. JSTOR aggregates literally hundreds of journal literary and research articles and … [Read more...] about JSTOR Issues Statement About Aaron Swartz’ Suicide
MIT President Issues Statement about Suicide of Aaron Swartz: Orders Review of MIT’s Role
MIT's President has issued a statement in the wake of the suicide of renowed programmer and web activist Aaron Swartz, who killed himself last week awaiting federal trial on 13 felony counts. To the members of the MIT community: Yesterday we received the shocking and terrible news that on Friday in New York, Aaron Swartz, a gifted young man well known and admired by … [Read more...] about MIT President Issues Statement about Suicide of Aaron Swartz: Orders Review of MIT’s Role
The Battle for Gun Control Rages On (Guest Cartoonist)
The battle for gun control rates on. Two cartoons: Of related interest: Sweeping new gun laws proposed by influential liberal think tank NRA President: Americans Are Buying Firearms Because They Fear Obama Like Obama, Emanuel pivots on guns Guns Don't Kill People, Gun Culture Does Mike Peters is recognized as one of our nation's most prominent cartoon artists … [Read more...] about The Battle for Gun Control Rages On (Guest Cartoonist)