I've posted this before -- and it's worth posting periodically for new (and younger) TMV readers. Here's a bit of show biz pizazz. It's sheer joy. Sheer professionalism. Perfectly executed by two show biz veterans in 1969 -- an unlikely combination. Legendary jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald (about 50 here) and legendary comedian Jimmy Durante (age about 70). It's less than two … [Read more...] about And Now a Bit of Vaudeville and Show Biz Pizazz
Lewis-McChord, Most Troubled Base in the Military?
Since it became known that the soldier who allegedly killed 16 Afghan civilians, including nine children, in the March 11 rampage in Afghanistan, was based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord the question that has been asked most frequently is: “Is there something wrong with Joint Base Lewis-McChord?” One of our contributors noted: "There will be trials within trials going on. In … [Read more...] about Lewis-McChord, Most Troubled Base in the Military?
No… The President Did NOT Impose Martial Law
Just to short cut the idiocy running around the extreme right wing blogs, President Obama did NOT impose martial law over the weekend. He signed an executive order which is a continuation of a series of orders going back to Ike. Even Fox News wouldn't bite on this one … [Read more...] about No… The President Did NOT Impose Martial Law
US Headed For 2013 Financial Disaster ?
So an article on the Wall Street Journal suggests.. … [Read more...] about US Headed For 2013 Financial Disaster ?
Rick Santorum’s Keynote Speech to the Sith Lords in 2007 … and 2011
In 2007, at the Spring meeting of the Council on National Policy -- the same group that long-time member Joseph Farah reported (in his WorldNetDaily) raised $1.7 million for Santorum at their latest meeting in Houston* -- Rick Santorum gave what appears to be the keynote address, seemingly introduced by current sugar-daddy and former CNP president Foster "Aspirin Knees" Friess, … [Read more...] about Rick Santorum’s Keynote Speech to the Sith Lords in 2007 … and 2011
The Two Great Fairy Tales of American Politics, And Being Stuck Between Them
As suspicious as I normally am of almost anything that appears in the New York Times when it involves those strange creatures their writers and editors generally don't understand (the American Conservative), I found this piece by psychologist Jonathan Haidt quite penetrating. He says to forget following the money, and instead focus on the sacred belief systems of two great … [Read more...] about The Two Great Fairy Tales of American Politics, And Being Stuck Between Them
Wendell Potter Goes to Church
The following is an excerpt from a powerful testimonial from Wendell Potter concerning our broken health care industry. Wendell is a former insurance executive and the author of Deadly Spin, An Insurance Company Insider Speaks Out on How Corporate PR Is Killing Health Care and Deceiving Americans. Wendell is a friend of mine with a sincere heart and a deeply held conviction to … [Read more...] about Wendell Potter Goes to Church
The Future of Fracking: A Forum at its Ground Zero – Ohio
I'm thrilled to be a part of the Civic Commons, a social media organization based in Cleveland that works for the civic good. [My project is the EfficientGovNetwork. Charting the Future of Fracking, is one reason why. Take a look at how much has been discussed just since it opened at 8:30am this morning. If you want to get the feel for how extensive the issues and emotions are … [Read more...] about The Future of Fracking: A Forum at its Ground Zero – Ohio
Apparent Terrorist Attack on French Jewish Day School Kills 3 Children & 1 Adult
UDDATE: AP and Memeorandum have finally noticed. Jerusalem Post: A gunman opened fire at a crowd of parents and children outside a Jewish school in Toulouse, France on Monday morning, killing four people. Eyewitnesses said the unknown assailant drove up to the Ozar Hatorah school's entrance on a black scooter around 8:00 a.m. and fired at the gatherers with a … [Read more...] about Apparent Terrorist Attack on French Jewish Day School Kills 3 Children & 1 Adult
Why Romney’s Puerto Rico Primary Win Is Bad News for Santorum
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney won yesterday's Republican primary in Puerto Rico by a landslide -- by 75 points -- and here's why it is bad news for former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum: 1. Romney hit just the right tone with many on the Island. 2. He won more than 50 percent of the vote so he got all 20 delegates. 3. Santorum made the decision to contest … [Read more...] about Why Romney’s Puerto Rico Primary Win Is Bad News for Santorum
The Tea Party’s War on Age
As supporters try to put Orrin Hatch, 78, out to pasture and literally dislodge Dick Lugar, 79, zealots in the Senate now are showing their hand against all older Americans by trying to end Medicare for current retirees and enrolling them in a health insurance plan now offered to federal employees by the year after next. A proposal by Sens. Rand Paul, Jim DeMint, Lindsey … [Read more...] about The Tea Party’s War on Age
A Pox on Both Your Houses- A Sudden Burst of Bipartisanship
With public approval of Congress at 10% or below in a number of polls, and with voter wrath directed at incumbents, members of Congress and Senators are starting to realize they have to do something to improve their status in the eyes of the electorate. They are even considering (gasp!) passing two bills on a bipartisan basis and approving stalled judicial nominations. This is … [Read more...] about A Pox on Both Your Houses- A Sudden Burst of Bipartisanship
A Day in the Internet (Infographic)
Here's a great infographic from MBA Online on A Day in the Internet: Created by: MBA Online … [Read more...] about A Day in the Internet (Infographic)
Can Europe’s Left Rebound?
WASHINGTON -- A crisis of capitalism is supposed to create an opening for the political left. But in Europe, the place where the concept of left and right was born, political conservatives have won the bulk of the elections held since economic catastrophe struck in 2008. Is this about to change? The conservative victory most noted in the U.S. was the rise to power … [Read more...] about Can Europe’s Left Rebound?
Bert Parks Miss America 1976: Sped Up (UPDATED)
Some things are better art when they're not shown as they were performed. For instance, speeding up the tape enhances Bert Park's performance here (and it is then INTENTIONALLY funny): PERSONAL NOTE: I have a story about Bert Parks. When I was in high school I spent several summers in the Amity (High School) Theater Music Workshop. We put on musicals and the most talented … [Read more...] about Bert Parks Miss America 1976: Sped Up (UPDATED)
Anger Over Killing of Florida Teen Grows
Once in a while there is a story that so upsets me that I find it hard to write about it but it's a breaking story. So I take the easy way out. I post an embed. And here is CNN's Don Lemon's report on a sad, tragic story of an African-American Florida teen who went out to buy candy for his brother -- and was shot dead by a neighborhood watch volunteer. GO HERE to read news … [Read more...] about Anger Over Killing of Florida Teen Grows
The Difference Between Limbaugh’s Absurdity and Politicians’ Absurdities
On Day 1, Rush Limbaugh called Georgetown student Sandra Fluke a “slut" and a “prostitute.” “She’s having so much sex she can’t afford the contraception,” he said. On Day 2, Limbaugh doubled down and demanded that women post sex videos on line if they use insurance-covered birth control. “So Miss Fluke, and the rest of you Feminazis, here’s the deal. If we are going to pay … [Read more...] about The Difference Between Limbaugh’s Absurdity and Politicians’ Absurdities
Robert Bales and Big Pharma
I did an update on the Robert Bales post below to link to this post at Cannonfire on the malaria drug Lariam but I think it deserves a little more attention. The first link was to this article in Counterpunch: Was Staff Sergeant Shooter On Dangerous Malaria Drug? Few remember the grisly summer of 2002 when four Fort Bragg soldiers’ wives were murdered within six weeks of … [Read more...] about Robert Bales and Big Pharma
BREAKING: Mitt Romney Wins Puerto Rico Primary (UPDATED)
UPDATE: The Wall Street Journal reports that, in addition to winning the Puerto Rico Republican presidential primary contest, Mitt Romney wins “all of the island's 20 delegates at stake because he took more than half of the votes.” === With 11 percent of the vote tallied, CNN is projecting Mitt Romney to be the winner of the Puerto Rico GOP primaries. At this … [Read more...] about BREAKING: Mitt Romney Wins Puerto Rico Primary (UPDATED)
Wanted: An Ecumenical ‘Truce Of God’
I'm not in favor of present-day efforts by religious groups to meddle in matters such as personal reproductive decisions. This is not to say, however, that religious organizations have no good ideas that would improve life on this planet dramatically if proposed on an ecumenical basis. One such idea came to mind the other day while I was reading (re-reading actually) David … [Read more...] about Wanted: An Ecumenical ‘Truce Of God’