It’s all a reality show now as the “First Gay President” invites himself to make a graduation speech in the neighborhood where he came of age half a lifetime ago. “This recession has been more brutal, the job losses steeper, politics seems nastier, Congress is more gridlocked than ever, some folks in the financial sector have been less than model citizens,” Barack Obama … [Read more...] about Obama, Romney and Media Update “The Truman Show”
The $120 Million Scream and Other Marketplace Absurdities
Nearly everyone knows by now that "The Scream" -- Edvard Munch's iconic doodle of modern angst -- broke auction records earlier this month when it sold for a few dollars shy of $120 million. In the weeks since, I've been thinking more and more about that sale and what it means. I should confess right up front that I like both "The Scream" and the Norwegian artist from whose … [Read more...] about The $120 Million Scream and Other Marketplace Absurdities
The “Irrationality” of American Inequality
Dan Ariely, the behavioral economist and author of Predictably Irrational, has done some research into the gap between what Americans say they want and what our political system (and their voting behavior) has given us. From Radio Open Source: First, when he asks his thousands of respondents to estimate the real division of wealth in the US, and then to propose an ideal … [Read more...] about The “Irrationality” of American Inequality
Now It’s Official: The War Criminals Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld et al
We're going to have to jam here. So much new information, so little time. G. Dubya Bush assuring residents of The Big Easy that nothing bad actually happened in Katrina, and even if it did, everything would be hunky dory. The square was lit by emergency generators : virtually the only electricity IN New Orleans that night... I wrote this to the Eugene Register-Guard in … [Read more...] about Now It’s Official: The War Criminals Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld et al
News of the Day for Independent Voters May 15
If you're independent, you won't be voting today in Idaho... Poor poor Michael Russnow, can't find Dianne Feinstein's name in the "clutter"! ... WI Gov Walker failing with indies... Americans Elect failing... Christine Quinn plays it safe to get the 2013 NYC Mayoral... CA TOP TWO California Primary Ballot Hodgepodge: We Need a Return to Voting By Party Members Only … [Read more...] about News of the Day for Independent Voters May 15
Romney Is Short On Specifics
WASHINGTON -- Republicans say they're eager for the presidential campaign to turn away from "distractions" and focus instead on the economy. Someone should warn them that if they're not careful, they might get their wish. It is true that voters' unhappiness with high unemployment and slow growth poses a challenge for President Obama as he seeks re-election. But for Mitt … [Read more...] about Romney Is Short On Specifics
Dumb Congressman Of The Week: Joe Pitts (R-PA)
It seems he thinks peace in the Middle East relies on a dead man and a man in a coma. With the global war against terrorism, it is now incumbent on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Yasir Arafat to clamp down on Palestinian extremists that have perpetuated violence and to restart a peace process that has collapsed. In case Congressman … [Read more...] about Dumb Congressman Of The Week: Joe Pitts (R-PA)
CBS News/New York Times Poll: Romney Takes Slight Lead Over Obama
A new CBS News/New York Times poll finds resumptive Republican Presidential nominee Republican has taken a slight lead over President Barack Obama in the 2012 election sweepstakes. The margin is within the margin of error but it is a lead (and not the big lead shown by one recent poll that no other polls seem to agree with): Presumptive Republican presidential candidate … [Read more...] about CBS News/New York Times Poll: Romney Takes Slight Lead Over Obama
Brainput Detects Multitasking, Then Boosts Brainpower With A Computer
Sebastian Anthony at ExtremeTech: Using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), which is basically a portable, poor man’s version of fMRI, Brainput measures the activity of your brain. This data is analyzed, and if Brainput detects that you’re multitasking, the software kicks in and helps you out. In the case of the Brainput research paper, [MIT's Erin … [Read more...] about Brainput Detects Multitasking, Then Boosts Brainpower With A Computer
Adios, Euro
Matter of months , Paul Krugman predicts. 1. Greek euro exit, very possibly next month. 2. Huge withdrawals from Spanish and Italian banks, as depositors try to move their money to Germany. 3a. Maybe, just possibly, de facto controls, with banks forbidden to transfer deposits out of country and limits on cash withdrawals. 3b. Alternatively, or … [Read more...] about Adios, Euro
Greece Heads To Elections, Economy May Head Off Cliff
It looks now like Greece will hold new elections in June andd that the "spend whatever we need to spend" coalition will win,even though most responsible politicians from mainstream left to mainstream right recognize this is a bad move. We may think that such elections don't matter to us but they do. The Greek economy is already in chaos and if this continues then there is … [Read more...] about Greece Heads To Elections, Economy May Head Off Cliff
Romney Gives a Haircut
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Romney Gives a Haircut
ROUND AND ROUND WE GO WITHOUT ANY PROGRESS DESPITE THE PASSAGE OF TIME
President Obama recently announced he was in favor of “Gay Marriage” but added that it was up to the 50 states to decide. He simultaneously did not mention his position on the repeal of the 1996 Federal law called “The Defense of Marriage Act” (DOMA – Codified in 1 USC Sec. 7 & 28 USC Sec. 1738C). DOMA permits each state to ignore the acts and laws of other states when it … [Read more...] about ROUND AND ROUND WE GO WITHOUT ANY PROGRESS DESPITE THE PASSAGE OF TIME
Ignore the Following
WASHINGTON - The screencapture above was just one of two treats from the New York Post over the weekend. As far as Michelle was concerned, Oprah’s billions and her elite lifestyle disqualified her as an adviser to Barack, who had no truck with wealthy people, except as a source of campaign contributions, and was a redistributionist at heart. - Excerpt of "The Amateur," by … [Read more...] about Ignore the Following
Challenging Modern Notions About Patriarchy
This woman presents a choice: do you take the red pill and have all your comfortable presumptions about sexism challenged, or do you take the blue pill and look away? (Warning: small amount of potty-mouth.) Transcript here. … [Read more...] about Challenging Modern Notions About Patriarchy
Ron Paul To Stop Active Campaign
He says he'll still try to get delegates but Ron Paul will no longer actively campaign for the GOP Presidential nomination. Of course he never had a chance but that won't stop the Paulites from saying otherwise. … [Read more...] about Ron Paul To Stop Active Campaign
Let’s Get To Know Mitt Romney
From The Daily.com: (On) a cold December Sunday in the 1980s Romney got a phone call from a Mormon bishop in Utah who said the adult daughter of one of his members — a single mother who did not belong to the church — needed help. The woman’s heating oil had been turned off in the dead of winter. Enlisting his young sons to help, Romney loaded up his Gran Torino with firewood … [Read more...] about Let’s Get To Know Mitt Romney
One Biased Conservative Poll Does Not an Election Make
Guest Post By Richard K. Barry Richard K. Barry, a New Yorker now living in Toronto, is the Associate Editor of The Reaction. You can also find him at Lippmann’s Ghost. A couple of conservative commentators are very excited about a recent poll (published May 11) by Rasmussen Reports that finds Mitt Romney ahead of President Obama by a seven-point margin, 50% to 43%, which … [Read more...] about One Biased Conservative Poll Does Not an Election Make
Selig Cartwright, Goldman Sachs Washroom Attendant: Mr. B’s Dimon And Clooney Angst
Poor, poor Jaimie Dimon. My heart goes out to the man, Selig. But Mr. B, he's a competitor. He heads another Wall Street bank, JPMorgan Chase. I know Selig. I know. But his company lost $2 billion on some trading deals. Lost money, Selig! It was terribly embarrassing for the poor man. But don't Wall Street banks often lose money on their trading? Almost never, … [Read more...] about Selig Cartwright, Goldman Sachs Washroom Attendant: Mr. B’s Dimon And Clooney Angst
Romney Was For Same-Sex Adoption Before He Was Against It
Mitt Romney tried hard to avoid the same-sex marriage issue after President Obama announced his support for it, not surprising given that the president had the upper hand, but, when pushed, he decided to keep sucking up to his party's right-wing mainstream, reiterating his opposition to it despite a record, once upon a time in Massachusetts, of being not a bigot. (When you're … [Read more...] about Romney Was For Same-Sex Adoption Before He Was Against It