A look at the scandal from a rather unique point of view. … [Read more...] about What The Secret Service Could Learn From Drunken Sailors
A Review of the ACT Theatre’s The Pitmen Painters
The Pitman Painters by Lee Hall is inspired by William Feaver's book concerning the Ashington group. In 1934, a small group of working class men gathered at the Ashington, England YMCA hall to be taught art appreciation by Robert Lyon from Durham University. The class was sponsored by the union run Worker's Education Association (WEA) and was comprised mostly of miners. The … [Read more...] about A Review of the ACT Theatre’s The Pitmen Painters
Wall Street and China: Perfect Together?
I was feeling haggard and grumbly this morning after a truncated night's sleep, when I happened to spy the following headline tucked away on page 3 of the Philadelphia Inquirer: Wall Street, dissed by U.S., seen as moving to China O joy that cometh in the morning! What could have triggered such an ominously promising headline? Apparently JPMorgan Chase, that venerable … [Read more...] about Wall Street and China: Perfect Together?
A “No-Brainer” for when a Tornado Threatens
Living in the southern edge of “Tornado Alley,” I take these “weather phenomena” seriously and any time a tornado watch is declared for our area, we keep a close eye on the weather channel -- and on those dark, threatening clouds. When the “watch” changes to a “warning,” we prepare to take immediate shelter in a hopefully safe part of the house. Regrettably, unless one … [Read more...] about A “No-Brainer” for when a Tornado Threatens
Corporate Ethics Redux
To further reinforce my comments yesterday on the lack of corporate ethics and the failure of the feds to go after the execs who gamed the system is an article in today's LA Times. It reports that Lehman Brothers awarded $700 million to top executives just before it went bankrupt. It's further evidence that financial company executives did everything me first where money was … [Read more...] about Corporate Ethics Redux
Divided They Fall
It's a pleasure to note that the Republican party split is getting wider. The split -- between Republican loyalists and radicals -- may ruin the that party's effort to take the Senate in November. The Hill calls it a fight between conservatives (tea partyers) and the "establishment" (Republicans). Except tea partyers are knuckle-draggers, not conservatives, so between … [Read more...] about Divided They Fall
U.S. Economic Growth Cools
U.S. economic growth has cooled -- which likely means U.S. politics will now heat up: U.S. economic growth cooled in the first quarter as businesses cut back on investment and restocked shelves at a slower pace, but stronger demand for automobiles softened the blow. Gross domestic product expanded at a 2.2 percent annual rate, the Commerce Department said on Friday in … [Read more...] about U.S. Economic Growth Cools
Boehner to Rubio’s Hopes of Passing GOP Dream Act: In Your Dreams
Marco Rubio, up and coming GOPER, Florida Senator and supposed Vice Presidential option for presumptive Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney, has gotten a lot of press and political pundit buzz from his efforts to drum up support for a Republican version of the Dream Act. While some have argued this is nothing more than an election year ploy by the GOP for damage control … [Read more...] about Boehner to Rubio’s Hopes of Passing GOP Dream Act: In Your Dreams
(UPDATED) Proposed Law in Egypt: Hopefully a Hoax, a Misunderstanding or an Exaggeration
UPDATE: The New York Magazine, pointing to the same story in the Christian Science Monitor we linked to yesterday, says that the Egyptian Corpse-Sex Law probably is not real: We say probably because even the doubters have been unable to provide conclusive evidence yet. But they — the Christian Science Monitor's Dan Murphy and readers of Andrew Sullivan's blog, for … [Read more...] about (UPDATED) Proposed Law in Egypt: Hopefully a Hoax, a Misunderstanding or an Exaggeration
Backward Banking (Guest Voice)
Backward Banking by Michael Reagan I don't know if it's Dodd-Frank. Or if it's Barney Frank and Christopher Dodd themselves. Or if it's just the big bankers. But the reality is, our banking system is completely screwed up when it comes to getting a home loan. The problem used to be that the banks, in collusion with a federal government, made bad loans to bad people. … [Read more...] about Backward Banking (Guest Voice)
Newt Gingrich Leaves Race
This copyrighted cartoon is license to run on TMV. Unauithorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Newt Gingrich Leaves Race
Why the U.S. Presidential Campaign Has ‘Gone to the Dogs’ (Le Figaro, France)
Why has the issue of how America's presidential candidates treat members of the dog kingdom suddenly taken on such prominence? For France's Le Figaro, columnist Thomas Vampouille offers a view from across the Atlantic of what Europeans have dubbed 'Dog-Gate.' For Le Figaro, Thomas Vampouille starts out this way: The duel for the White House between Mitt Romney and … [Read more...] about Why the U.S. Presidential Campaign Has ‘Gone to the Dogs’ (Le Figaro, France)
Our Truly Reprehensible, Despicable Politics Continued
Yet another example of how partisans have to turn everything they can into something personal with those with whom they disagree. And. Oh. Let's clear something up right now. It isn't just "the left" that finds this kind of reaction something that undermines someone's credibility, it's many independent voters. I've met a lot of people in my coast to coast car trip since Sept … [Read more...] about Our Truly Reprehensible, Despicable Politics Continued
Iraq’s Political ‘Sheep’ Keep Blaming America (Al Qabas, Kuwait)
Is it fair to say that Iraq's 'Green Zone' politicians, having come to power thanks to American military force, are now using Washington as a scapegoat for their own failure to get the nation back on its feet? According to columnist Abd al-Zahra al-Rukaby of Kuwait's Al Qabas, Iraqi politicians are nothing but cowardly 'sheep' unable to make decisions without American … [Read more...] about Iraq’s Political ‘Sheep’ Keep Blaming America (Al Qabas, Kuwait)
CISPA: An Explicit Attack On American Freedoms
In a rushed vote, the House passed the controversial Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) by a vote of 248 to168. Techdirt's Leigh Beadon calls it an explicit attack on the freedoms of every American: Previously, CISPA allowed the government to use information for "cybersecurity" or "national security" purposes. Those purposes have not been limited or … [Read more...] about CISPA: An Explicit Attack On American Freedoms
Libertarian-Oriented Shift
Although economically Americans aren't particularly libertarian, Americans are increasingly in favor of both gay marriage and the right to keep and bear arms. So much for the old dichotomies, eh? (This item cross-posted to Dean's World.) … [Read more...] about Libertarian-Oriented Shift
Corporate Ethics- An Oxymoron?
Two front page articles in the New York Times earlier this week reminded me of just how pervasive the lack of ethics has become in the corporate world, where making money is the only thing that counts. Perhaps the same level of corruption has always been there but is reaching public awareness more frequently now. One of the articles was about the way Walmart’s business in … [Read more...] about Corporate Ethics- An Oxymoron?
A MODEST PROPOSAL: EBAY ELECTIONS
LET'S MAKE U.S. ELECTIONS INTO EBAY AUCTIONS It is a complete waste of time and brain power to propose, discuss, advocate or pursue any public policy changes that will not meet with the approval of the nation’s 1% oligarchy. History shows that the current powers-that-be prefer complete inaction in the public sphere so that the corrupt crony cartels can work their endless … [Read more...] about A MODEST PROPOSAL: EBAY ELECTIONS
Funniest Comment of the Month
My friend Steve Disbrow says "Ahhh! Just got a robo-call from Mitt Romney!" Kristine Kinsey says, "How could you tell it wasn't really him?" (This item cross-posted to Dean's World.) … [Read more...] about Funniest Comment of the Month
Will Republicans Drop The Ball Once Again On Immigration? (Guest Voice)
Republican Sen. Marco Rubio is crafting his own version of “the Dream Act.” He is conferring with Hispanic groups normally associated with the Democrats such as Gaby Pacheco, a vocal Dream Act activist, and even La Raza. Oh, I know, heaven forbid we sit down with those we disagree and hammer out compromises, but sometimes that is the way things get done. The truth that so many … [Read more...] about Will Republicans Drop The Ball Once Again On Immigration? (Guest Voice)