A little over two years ago I did a review of Joseph Tainter's The Collapse of Complex Societies. Tainter felt the societies collapse when they become so complex they are no longer able to respond and solve problems. In the New York Times today Chrystia Freeland gives us another idea in The Self-Destruction of the 1 Percent. IN the early 14th century, Venice was one of the … [Read more...] about Economies – Inclusive VS Extractive
Same Republicans Complaining About US Benghazi Embassy Attacks, Voted to Cut State Dept Funding
At first I thought the US Benghazi consulate attack would be an incredibly huge black mark for the Obama administration until I realized the brazenness of the Republicans in rushing to make this a partisan issue, even though many who are pointing fingers, including Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) voted to cut funding to two State Department accounts, one of which dealt with security. … [Read more...] about Same Republicans Complaining About US Benghazi Embassy Attacks, Voted to Cut State Dept Funding
Arlen Specter RIP (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 Arlen Specter RIP (Cartoon)
Our Eyebrow Raising “Political Discussion”
Some more eyebrow raising tidbits from American's political "discussion." NUMBER ONE: Yes, you knew it. Sooner or later some cretin would do a t-shirt like this and wear his racism not just on his sleeve but on his entire body. Well, at least it doesn't cover him as much as a white sheet would. This photo was widely run on many weblogs. We've injected TMV with some … [Read more...] about Our Eyebrow Raising “Political Discussion”
The Windshield Syndrome
A while back I was having a conversation with a friend when two seemingly disparate topics began to come together in my mind and led me to writing this post. The first topic we discussed was the same topic everyone has been dealing with the mess that the country is in, from the economy to terrorism to everything else. The second topic dealt with my car windshield and the … [Read more...] about The Windshield Syndrome
Historic TV Video: The Last Witness to Lincoln’s Assassination
From CBS's "I've Got a Secret" in 1956: the night they had a special guest. The last witness to Lincoln's assassination: … [Read more...] about Historic TV Video: The Last Witness to Lincoln’s Assassination
Kids are at Home, with Parents, in Bolivia Prisons
Kids are at home, with parents, in Bolivia prisons (via AFP) Ramiro Llanos spent part of his childhood in prison -- living there with his father, a political prisoner under Bolivia's 1960s military dictatorship. Now, all grown up, Llanos is back at the jail -- but this time he's in charge: a graduate with a law degree, serving as the administrative head of … [Read more...] about Kids are at Home, with Parents, in Bolivia Prisons
Romney, the Product
WASHINGTON -- As he tries to engineer a comeback in this week's presidential debate, President Obama needs to recognize two things. First, when it comes to politics, Mitt Romney treats himself as a product, not a person. Second, Republicans cannot defend their proposals in terms that are acceptable to a majority of voters. You can imagine Romney someday saying: … [Read more...] about Romney, the Product
Austrian Daredevil Felix Baumgartner Breaks Sound Barrier in Record Space Jump
Austrian breaks sound barrier in record space jump (via AFP) Austrian daredevil Felix Baumgartner became the first man to break the sound barrier in a record-shattering, death-defying freefall jump Sunday from the edge of space. The 43-year-old leapt from a capsule more than 24 miles (39 kilometers) above the Earth, reaching a top speed of 833.9 miles per … [Read more...] about Austrian Daredevil Felix Baumgartner Breaks Sound Barrier in Record Space Jump
Felix Baumgartner Skydives At The Speed Of Sound: The Official Stats
Daredevil Felix Baumgartner set a series of records today as he skydived from 24 miles up, becoming the first person to break the speed of sound without a airplane or spacecraft to ride in. What made it even more amazing is that they broadcast the jump live via a series of cameras (including a helmet camera). Pretty amazing day for the 43 year old skydiver. Semi … [Read more...] about Felix Baumgartner Skydives At The Speed Of Sound: The Official Stats
Obama, Romney Bunker Down as Crucial Debate Looms
Obama, Romney bunker down as crucial debate looms (via AFP) A different Barack Obama will show up to his next debate with Mitt Romney, aides said Sunday, after the president held a post-mortem of his leaden debut clash with his Republican foe. Obama was out of sight in a luxury Virginia golf resort prepping for Tuesday's encounter with Romney, which has … [Read more...] about Obama, Romney Bunker Down as Crucial Debate Looms
Obama Holds Onto Ohio Lead: Poll 51-46 Over Romney
President Barack Obama is holding onto his lead over Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney in Ohio -- and the Romney camp is now talking about how Romney (unlike any other Republican candidate) can win without Ohio: PPP's newest Ohio poll finds Barack Obama leading 51-46, a 5 point lead not too different from our last poll two weeks ago when he led 49-45. The key … [Read more...] about Obama Holds Onto Ohio Lead: Poll 51-46 Over Romney
Father of Slain Libyan Ambassador: ‘It Does Not Belong in the Campaign Arena’
Father of slain Libyan ambassador: ‘It does not belong in the campaign arena’ (via Raw Story ) Jan Stevens, the 77-year-old father of Christopher Stevens, said Sunday that his son’s death should not a political talking point. “It would really be abhorrent to make this into a campaign issue,” he told Bloomberg. The U.S. consulate in Benghazi was … [Read more...] about Father of Slain Libyan Ambassador: ‘It Does Not Belong in the Campaign Arena’
Romney’s recent “surge” doesn’t seem to have coattails. That’s odd.
EDITOR's NOTE: Due to a technical system glitch, the wrong byline appeared on this post. It is now fixed. We regret the error. Romney has been boasting about larger and larger crowds over the past week or so. It seems to be an odd claim. Not that it doesn't have some truth in it. But it seems to me that many of us, when a presidential candidate is in the neighborhood, … [Read more...] about Romney’s recent “surge” doesn’t seem to have coattails. That’s odd.
Arlen Specter, longtime Senate Moderate and Controversial Warren Commission Member, Dies
Former Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter, a onetime GOP-er who tried to walk the tightrope and remain a moderate in a Republican Party turning sharply right -- and who feel of the tightrope -- has died. In his 1960s incarnation as a member of the Warren Commission investigating the 1963 murder of President John F. Kennedy, Jr., he was the author of the still-controversial … [Read more...] about Arlen Specter, longtime Senate Moderate and Controversial Warren Commission Member, Dies
Arlen Specter Dead At 82
Former Senator Arlen Specter has died at the age of 82 … [Read more...] about Arlen Specter Dead At 82
India Fights to Protect Traditional Home Remedies
India fights to protect traditional home remedies (via AFP) For centuries, Indian housewives have used homemade remedies based on cow's milk to cure constipation -- but in 2009 Swiss giant Nestle applied for a patent to protect a similar product of its own. Earlier this year, India successfully fought off Nestle's attempt at the European Patent Office … [Read more...] about India Fights to Protect Traditional Home Remedies
Taliban Vow Again to Kill Pakistani Girl
This story gives Americans a good idea of what we're fighting against in the longterm and why it's a noble and vital fight: … [Read more...] about Taliban Vow Again to Kill Pakistani Girl
Obama Senior Advisor Gibbs Vows Obama Will be More Aggressive in Next Debate
So now the Obama campaign has Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney's number on his debating style. And Obama senior adviser Robert Gibbs now insists Obama will be prepared for that at the next debate Tuesday night. But doesn't this mean that the Romney campaign has the Obama campaign's number about them having their number -- and will adjust Romney's approach … [Read more...] about Obama Senior Advisor Gibbs Vows Obama Will be More Aggressive in Next Debate
2012 US election campaign a digital battleground
2012 US election campaign a digital battleground (via AFP) The 2012 US presidential election campaign is being fought with tweets, hashtags, Facebook updates and emails in a battle for digital supremacy which may be a key to victory. President Barack Obama and Republican rival Mitt Romney are counting on the traditional strategies of speeches, rallies and… … [Read more...] about 2012 US election campaign a digital battleground