Here are a couple of interesting developments. After announcing last week that he will nationalize Venezuela’s gold industry, Hugo Chavez is now “repatriating” his country’s gold reserves. According to the BBC, Chavez plans to bring home approximately 160 tons of gold, worth more than $ 11 billion, mostly from London where the vast majority of Venezuela’s gold is … [Read more...] about Hugo Chavez: The Touch of Gold
Electronic Contact Lens Displays
New Scientist reports on the first contact lenses containing electronic displays. They've been put into the eyes of rabbits to prove they are safe for humans: The first version may only have one pixel, but higher resolution lens displays - like those seen in Terminator - could one day be used as satnav enhancers showing you directional arrows for example, or flash up texts and … [Read more...] about Electronic Contact Lens Displays
Jerry Sandusky: The ‘great pretender’
Jerry Sandusky: The 'great pretender' -- a must read essay at The Week. … [Read more...] about Jerry Sandusky: The ‘great pretender’
Kimmel Kartoon – Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and GOP Debate (VIDEO)
Must viewing. Politics is everywhere. Even at the Thanksgiving table with the Peatnuts cartoon crowd... Sheer genius. The only problem: the dubbed in dialogue is too childish to have ever really appeared on a Charlie Brown special. h/T Mediaite … [Read more...] about Kimmel Kartoon – Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and GOP Debate (VIDEO)
More Bad Newspaper News: Cartoonist Mike Keefe Will Take Denver Post Buyout
Yet more bad news for those of us who love newspapers and/or those of us who've worked in newspapers: the Denver Post's award winning cartoonist Mike Keefe will take the Denver Post's buyout and he doesn't think the paper will replace him. If so, it'll mean yet another newspaper that has ended an era when newspapers had cartoonists on their staff. Here's the lead in to Daryl … [Read more...] about More Bad Newspaper News: Cartoonist Mike Keefe Will Take Denver Post Buyout
Band of the Month
The month is almost over, so here's our Band of the Month. … [Read more...] about Band of the Month
Poll: Romney’s Religion Could Play Role In Primaries
I've long contended that despite his blatant political flip-flops and turning himself into a virtual poster boy for craven political pandering former Massachusetts Gov Mitt Romney would have a far easier time of it -- and in closing the political sale -- if he was not a Mormon in today's Republican Party. And a new poll seems to back me up: A new poll that gauges … [Read more...] about Poll: Romney’s Religion Could Play Role In Primaries
Obama’s Catholic Friends and Enemies
WASHINGTON - Any time the Obama administration touches issues related to the Roman Catholic Church, it seems to get itself caught in a rhetorical and moral crossfire that leaves all involved wounded and angry. This is what's happening in the battle over how contraception should be covered under the new health care law. Partly because it mishandled the issue at the … [Read more...] about Obama’s Catholic Friends and Enemies
Political Hypocrisy 101: Perry’s Texas Gets LOTS of Federal Money
I need to preface this post by saying that I am a HUGE fan of Texas. I love visiting Texas. I love Texans. And I think too many Texans have been burned by the false stereotype of the exaggerating, bloviating Texas politician in a state that has many fine elected officials from both parties. But, truly, honestly, Texas Gov. Rick Perry should be in a Political Hypocrisy 101 book. … [Read more...] about Political Hypocrisy 101: Perry’s Texas Gets LOTS of Federal Money
DC as ATM: Newt, the Ultimate Beltway Swindler (Guest Voice)
DC as ATM: Newt, the Ultimate Beltway Swindler by Michael Winship You maybe should think twice when even Jack Abramoff thinks you’re beneath contempt. Not that Newt Gingrich cares. Abramoff, America’s favorite convicted influence peddler, told NBC’s David Gregory that presidential candidate and former Speaker of the House Gingrich is one of those "people who came to … [Read more...] about DC as ATM: Newt, the Ultimate Beltway Swindler (Guest Voice)
It’s Pepper Spray Mania: Shopper Uses Pepper Spray at Walmart’s on Black Friday
Hey, we always knew it was a matter of time before pepper spraying really caught on among the general public. I mean, if a policeman can just 'casually walk down a line of students sitting down and not doing anything violent and pepper spray them -- basically spraying them because he didn't like them -- why can't citizens do the same? How long is it before citizens pepper … [Read more...] about It’s Pepper Spray Mania: Shopper Uses Pepper Spray at Walmart’s on Black Friday
Waiting for the GOP’s Love
NOTE: The wrong byline went up on this column original It has since been fixed. TMV regrets the error. WASHINGTON -- Moderator Wolf Blitzer opened Tuesday's Republican debate by introducing himself and adding, for some reason, "Yes, that's my real name." A few moments later, the party's most plausible nominee for president said the following: "I'm Mitt Romney, and yes, Wolf, … [Read more...] about Waiting for the GOP’s Love
Best Leftover Turkey Recipe Ever.
Tired of sandwiches? Try this. … [Read more...] about Best Leftover Turkey Recipe Ever.
New Zealand Election Mandates Social Media Blackout
EDITOR's NOTE: This post should have been on top of TMV yesterday. So we're displaying it on top today. On Saturday (Friday in most of the U.S.), New Zealanders head to the polls to vote in a general election (#nzelection) and on a referendum on New Zealand’s voting system. And there is a media blackout -- social media as well as traditional media -- from from midnight … [Read more...] about New Zealand Election Mandates Social Media Blackout
Proud to Be Called a ‘Thug’ by Orly Taitz
A few days ago I posted a piece both at The Moderate Voice and The Huffington Post on the failed attempt by the notorious dentist-lawyer-birther, Orly Taitz, to have president Obama officially removed from the New Hampshire primary ballot. It also mentioned the re-release by the Obama campaign of their limited-edition coffee (or tea) mugs with Obama’s mug shot on one side … [Read more...] about Proud to Be Called a ‘Thug’ by Orly Taitz
Less Than Zero
In Thomas Pynchon's Gravity's Rainbow (a book that you've either read or will never read, so there's no spoiler here) Yank Tyrone Slothrop turns out to have been the infamous (within psychological conditioning circles) Baby Tyrone. Young Baby (as opposed to Old Baby, which would be Toddler) Tyrone is conditioned to a Pavlovian response. And, when the scientists realize that … [Read more...] about Less Than Zero
Turkeys, D.C.
The President pardoned two birds yesterday after Congress went home for the holidays. In the annual White House rite, he acknowledged the other fowl escapees, noting that “some of you may know that recently I’ve been taking a series of executive actions that don’t require Congressional approval. “Well, here’s another one. We can’t wait to pardon these turkeys. Literally. … [Read more...] about Turkeys, D.C.
Democratic Governments To Markets: “Get Bit”
Around the world a pernicious belief now exercises such a strong hold on political leaders that it shapes virtually all their economic policies. It's the belief that "markets" are the primary source, the appropriate source, of wisdom when it comes to shaping these policies; and that it has to be this way because like it or no, governments can do nothing to check the power of … [Read more...] about Democratic Governments To Markets: “Get Bit”
Mitt Romney’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Mitt Romney’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Quote of the Day: Newt Gingrich’s Immigration Gift to Barack Obama
Our political Quote of the Day comes from the always-solid in his analysis and always-solid in his sourcing Marc Ambinder, who notes that former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has given a special gift to President Barack Obama by raising the immigration issue which promises to drive former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney further to the right: Quite simply, it could move Romney … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Newt Gingrich’s Immigration Gift to Barack Obama