I really relate to this story: A student who found what appeared to be a chicken brain in his KFC meal has vowed never to eat there again - despite being offered vouchers for free food as an apology. Ibrahim Langoo was left nauseated after spotting a 'wrinkled brain' inside a piece of chicken while tucking into a Gladiator box meal at a branch in Colchester, Essex. The … [Read more...] about Kentucky Fried What-the-Heck-Is-It?
McConnell Raises Using Debt Ceiling Issue
Republican challenges Obama on US debt ceiling (via AFP) The top Republican in the US Senate warned President Barack Obama on Sunday that he is willing to use the debt ceiling as "leverage" to end the administration's "massive spending addiction." Mitch McConnell's remarks set the stage for another round of high-stakes political brinksmanship over the US… … [Read more...] about McConnell Raises Using Debt Ceiling Issue
Not so Dead After All: Tea Party Is Planning More Damage on the Right
... Across the country, deeply conservative organizations angry about the concession on tax increases are pledging more, not fewer, primary challenges to Republicans they believe are straying too far from the party’s orthodoxy on taxes, guns, energy, immigration, spending and abortion. “The gloves are off,” said Everett Wilkinson, a founder of the Tea Party movement in … [Read more...] about Not so Dead After All: Tea Party Is Planning More Damage on the Right
War Memories Are Made of These
It has been almost 70 years since the end of World War II, a devastating, bloody war that claimed an estimated 45 - 60 million lives, including the lives of 400,000 Americans. Many of our troops kept notes, diaries -- some pithy, some very meticulous -- wrote letters, drew sketches and kept other accounts of their struggles, suffering and sacrifices, but also of their … [Read more...] about War Memories Are Made of These
John Boehner (Cartoon)
LEGAL NOTICE ON CARTOON: This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Reproduction elsewhere without licensing is strictly prohibited. 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 John Boehner (Cartoon)
Waiting for the Sequel (Guest Voice)
Waiting for the Sequel by Michael Reagan The latest horror movie from Washington -- "The Fiscal Cliff" -- finally came to an exciting end in the early hours of 2013. But after two years did its climax -- more taxes, more spending and more chicken-livered can-kicking by our politicians -- really shock any of you over the age of six? Didn't think so. Spinning the … [Read more...] about Waiting for the Sequel (Guest Voice)
Nearly 9,000 Syrians Flee to Jordan in Six Days: Govt
Nearly 9,000 Syrians flee to Jordan in six days: govt (via AFP) Nearly 9,000 Syrians, mostly women and children, fled to Jordan over the past six days to escape the bloodshed in their homeland, a government spokesman told AFP on Sunday. "Some 8,835 Syrians fled to the kingdom since January 1 this year," said Anmar Hmud, a government spokesman for Syrian … [Read more...] about Nearly 9,000 Syrians Flee to Jordan in Six Days: Govt
Obama Considers Broad Arms Sales Restrictions: Report
Obama considers broad arms sales restrictions: report (via AFP) The administration of President Barack Obama is considering a broad array of measures to curb the nation's gun violence, including more than just a reinstatement of a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition, The Washington Post reported Sunday. Citing multiple people involved in the … [Read more...] about Obama Considers Broad Arms Sales Restrictions: Report
Contemptible Political Hack Quote of the Day
Increasingly, politicians and political hack types think that they can somehow win votes by making comments that are just pure, plain, boorish insults at someone in another party. And what's a better choice for a Republican when his party is under fire for not respecting women to insult Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi with a sexist comment that will underscore Democrats' … [Read more...] about Contemptible Political Hack Quote of the Day
Is Hagel for Defense
Ever since the idea that Chuck Hagel would be nominated to take over at defense the neoconservatives and Likudniks have been up in arms and every attempt has been made to slime him. See: The Borking of Chuck Hagel Chuck Hagel and America First (Updated) Chuck Hagel - Not Crazy Enough Slimeing Hagel Well now it's being reported that Obama likely to nominate Chuck … [Read more...] about Is Hagel for Defense
Swonk Summarizes Latest Jobs Numbers
If you caught Diane Swonk's appearance on CNN earlier this afternoon, you caught most of this. But, here, on her company's blog site, she gives a good snapshot of the latest jobs numbers and their implications for the overall economy. She's very good at doing this. Her bottom line: The labor market continues to heal, but at too slow of a pace to reengage the long-term … [Read more...] about Swonk Summarizes Latest Jobs Numbers
The Trillion Dollar Platinum Coin Trick
Before discussing how it works in the current environment, let's take a look at the history. It was in the days of the Clinton administration when the Republicans had taken control of Congress. The United States controlled much of the world monetary market. But a small segment of the monetary market, platinum coins, was not within the control of the United States. Congressional … [Read more...] about The Trillion Dollar Platinum Coin Trick
The Tea Party’s Joe McCarthy Moment
“At long last, have you left no sense of decency?” In 1954, an aging lawyer named Joseph Welch asked that question of Sen. Joe McCarthy and brought to its end an era of bizarre intimidation of Congress and the nation. Now, after lawmakers’ lame-duck failure to provide relief for Hurricane Sandy victims, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie rises up to lead a chorus of Northeast … [Read more...] about The Tea Party’s Joe McCarthy Moment
Something went badly, badly wrong in the election
Democrats won the House. Except they didn't. Not only were Dems deprived of their win, Republicans are shouting that, because they "won" the House, they have a mandate. Not so fast. Something's wrong here. It has been found Democrats, even if they had achieved seven times the win of 2012, they wouldn't have a majority in the House. What the h... ? The final … [Read more...] about Something went badly, badly wrong in the election
The (Begruding) Re-Election of House Speaker John Boehner (Guest Cartoonist)
The (Begruding) Re-Election of House Speaker John Boehner by Mike Peters Of Related Interest: Top Republican John Boehner clings to his job as House Speaker John Boehner tries to maintain order in U.S. House House Speaker John Boehner vows fight over debt ceiling Forget the GOP! Here’s John Boehner’s chance to do what’s best for the country Mike Peters is … [Read more...] about The (Begruding) Re-Election of House Speaker John Boehner (Guest Cartoonist)
The Assault Weapons Ban is a Red Herring (Guest Voice)
The Assault Weapons Ban is a Red Herring by Tina Dupuy The philosophy behind the quackery known as homeopathic medicine is that "like cures like." As in: have a burn, apply a hot compress. This widely-panned pseudoscience (oh man, am I going to get letters) in its 300 years of existence has a history of being debunked, going away and then popping up a few decades … [Read more...] about The Assault Weapons Ban is a Red Herring (Guest Voice)
In ‘Rape Capital’ Delhi, Women Turn to Self-Defence
In 'rape capital' Delhi, women turn to self-defence (via AFP) After nearly three weeks of lurid reporting on a horrifying gang-rape in New Delhi, women in the Indian capital say they are more anxious than ever, leading to a surge in interest in self-defence classes. New Delhi has long been known as the "rape capital of India", with more than twice as many … [Read more...] about In ‘Rape Capital’ Delhi, Women Turn to Self-Defence
Japan Scrambles Jets to Head Off China Plane
Japan scrambles jets to head off China plane (via AFP) Japan scrambled fighter jets Saturday to head off a Chinese state-owned plane that flew near islands at the centre of a dispute between Tokyo and Beijing, a Japanese Defense Ministry spokesman said. Japanese jets were mobilised after a Chinese maritime aircraft ventured some 120 kilometres (74 miles… … [Read more...] about Japan Scrambles Jets to Head Off China Plane
Obama Warns Against ‘Dangerous Game’ with Debt Ceiling
Obama warns against 'dangerous game' with debt ceiling (via AFP) President Barack Obama warned Congressional Republicans on Saturday against playing a "dangerous game" with the economy as lawmakers prepared for a new battle over the national debt ceiling. But the Democratic president also congratulated lawmakers for passing an 11th-hour deal that avoided the … [Read more...] about Obama Warns Against ‘Dangerous Game’ with Debt Ceiling
“They could spend seven hours a day doing that?”
This video is from a few years back, but it's worth viewing again. McCullough's response to the last question is the clincher. By the way, The Greater Journey, the McCullough book which occupies most of the attention in this interview is fantastic! Thanks to my son for sending out the link to this video. [This has been cross-posted at my personal … [Read more...] about “They could spend seven hours a day doing that?”