I'm one of those independent voters who has been intrigued by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. While I don't agree with all of his policies (to say the least) he has not been a lockstep talk radio political culture Republican, or someone who sounds like a conservative blog post. He has shown some significant, refreshing independence of thought. But I am concluding he has a … [Read more...] about Chris Christie Loses His Temper (AGAIN)
Global LIBOR Scandal Entails Monumental $350 Trillion in Loans (Die Zeit, Germany)
For most of us, a billion dollars is hard to fathom, let alone a trillion. But the newest scandal now breaking across the world entails a figure so great, we may soon be talking in quadrillions - which is the next order of magnitude after trillion. According to columnist Till Schwarze of Germany's Die Zeit, the manipulation by the world's largest banks of the LIBOR - London … [Read more...] about Global LIBOR Scandal Entails Monumental $350 Trillion in Loans (Die Zeit, Germany)
Windows Weird Stuff
I am running Windows 7. When I turned off my computer last night all was well - when I turned it on this morning all was not well. I went to the web first and the fonts were all messed up - at many sites the fonts were all italic and in some cases bold italic. It was the same in all web browsers and Excel. I did a goggle search and found I am not the … [Read more...] about Windows Weird Stuff
Obama Bus Tour in Parma, Ohio: Your Choice, Your Vote
So, it was fun. It wasn't quite like old times, but maybe that's a good thing. You can see my photos here and you can read my full blog post here. The teaser: On Thursday evening, July 5, for the first time in over four years, I saw Barack Obama in person.The last three times I saw him, he was either just plain ole U.S. Senator Obama (2006) or Senator and presidential … [Read more...] about Obama Bus Tour in Parma, Ohio: Your Choice, Your Vote
Court Decision on Arizona Law Marks Deterioration of U.S. Democracy (La Jornada, Mexico)
Is U.S. democracy in decline - and is the upholding of parts of Arizona Law SP 1070 by the Supreme Court further proof of this? For Mexico's La Jornada, columnist Claudio Lomnitz warns his readers that they and their government must be 'vocal and truthful' with Washington about the consequences of the expanding 'plutocracy' in the United States, which increasingly demonstrates … [Read more...] about Court Decision on Arizona Law Marks Deterioration of U.S. Democracy (La Jornada, Mexico)
(UPDATES) Report Card on Texas Health Care Quality — Not Pretty
UPDATE: From the Arkansas Times, “Arkansas Source for News, Politics & Entertainment,” this bit of entertainment: Health Care Thank God for Texas and Oklahoma If not for those two states, Arkansas might rank worst in the country at health care services and delivery, according to this rating by the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality. [::] And … [Read more...] about (UPDATES) Report Card on Texas Health Care Quality — Not Pretty
Defense Update: Fire-Fighting C-130s in the Air Again
Master Sgts. Marshall Davis and Chris Reese prepare the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) unit installed in a C-130 Hercules to respond to the Waldo Canyon wildfire in Colorado Springs, Colo., June 27. MAFFS is a self-contained aerial firefighting system that can discharge 3,000 gallons of water or fire retardant in less than five seconds, covering an area … [Read more...] about Defense Update: Fire-Fighting C-130s in the Air Again
Rick Renfroo, Job Creator, And Runyan, The Libertarian Wonder Boy, Take On Medicaid Expansion
[The scene, again, is a washroom at Goldman Sachs. It's late at night. Renfroo and Runyan are just coming out of one of the stalls when washroom attendant Selig Cartwright comes upon them. He's breathing heavily...] Sorry, Job Creator and Wonder Boy. [Pant, pant]. I saw the Job Creator signal flashing in the sky, the Sign of the Dollar, and got here as fast as I could. I see … [Read more...] about Rick Renfroo, Job Creator, And Runyan, The Libertarian Wonder Boy, Take On Medicaid Expansion
Higgs Boson
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Higgs Boson
Romney’s Flip-Flop Olympics Trials
Seeded No. 1 by acclamation, the GOP standard bearer is so outdoing himself in issue acrobatics that even a sympathetic judge, Rupert Murdoch, is raising questions about doping in his performance. “Met Romney last week,” he tweets. “Tough O Chicago pros will be hard to beat unless he drops old friends from team and hires some real pros. Doubtful.” Such concern, echoed … [Read more...] about Romney’s Flip-Flop Olympics Trials
Another Violent Thug Skates
After all, she's a good mother, so, you know... who can blame her, in a world of princesses? … [Read more...] about Another Violent Thug Skates
Very Little Good Economic News
June was not a good month. … [Read more...] about Very Little Good Economic News
(UPDATED) Mitt Romney’s Campaign Gets Bad News: More Americans Are Going Back To Work
What [conservatives] really want is a different candidate and a different electorate. They want to believe that the American people are hungering for detailed endorsements of Republican plans . . . But that’s not what the public wants and Romney knows it. ~ JONATHAN CHAIT By all rights, Mitt Romney should be kicking Barack Obama's butt with a struggling economy and the … [Read more...] about (UPDATED) Mitt Romney’s Campaign Gets Bad News: More Americans Are Going Back To Work
VIDEO: Stuff Hack Magicians Say
I had the pleasure of appearing in my other incarnation on two family variety show bills in two California cities in June with Las Vegas magician Jason Andrews. He was a superb emcee and totally captivated audience members of all ages with his magic act. Here is what I predict will be a classic for magicians, entertainers, and fans of magic. Andrews and his friend, fellow … [Read more...] about VIDEO: Stuff Hack Magicians Say
Tammy Kicks Butt
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Tammy Kicks Butt
The Money Manager
WASHINGTON -- You can conduct byzantine transactions through opaque investment accounts and private corporations in offshore tax havens such as Bermuda and the Cayman Islands. Or you can credibly run for president at a time of great economic distress. I don't think you can do both. Let me be clear that I have nothing against wealth. In fact, I have nothing … [Read more...] about The Money Manager
Election Money
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Election Money
Can Mitt Romney’s Money Haul Make Up for Bad Messaging?
WASHINGTON - The Etch A Sketch candidate Mitt Romney has now flipped on Eric Fehrstrom's gafferiffic claim about Obamacare being a penalty, not a tax. As you see below, the Wall Street Journal has already proclaimed if he's undone this was the undoing. If Mitt Romney loses his run for the White House, a turning point will have been his decision Monday to absolve President … [Read more...] about Can Mitt Romney’s Money Haul Make Up for Bad Messaging?
I Don’t Have Much To Say
I don't have much to say so how about a picture? … [Read more...] about I Don’t Have Much To Say
Defense Update: What Really Matters (to Both Sides)
Of course our fighting men and women have sacrificed, are sacrificing and will sacrifice everything for home and country. They do so because they love America; they love Americans; they love their families. For those who are old and fortunate enough to have young children, there can hardly be greater love than our heroes have for their young children. Likewise it is … [Read more...] about Defense Update: What Really Matters (to Both Sides)