Half a century ago, there was a jokey bumper sticker: “Support Mental Health or I’ll Kill You.” Now British researchers into Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are under physical attack and death threats for suggesting the disorder has psychological origins. Aside from the question of where victims find the energy for such violence, this fatigue-afflicted terrorism reflects nagging … [Read more...] about Too-Tired Terrorists and Other Mental Health Hazards
Quote of the Day: Libya: Huge Win for Libyans, A Win for Obama, but New Challenges Begin
Our Quote of the Day comes from Steve Clemons, Washington editor at large for The Atlantic and editor in chief of Atlantic LIVE, on the meaning of Libya if -- as expected -- Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi and his regime are toppled. Here's a chunk of the must-read-in-full post: I was skeptical of the Libyan intervention by the US and the rest -- but the Tuesday night … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Libya: Huge Win for Libyans, A Win for Obama, but New Challenges Begin
America’s Judeo-Christian Roots are Bigger Than Texas (Guest Voice)
America's Judeo-Christian Roots are Bigger Than Texas by Susan Stamper Brown The hysterical reaction to Republican presidential hopeful Governor Rick Perry's faith is about as overblown as his home state of Texas is big. Perry is facing a federal lawsuit filed by the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) — purportedly because Perry prayed publicly for our … [Read more...] about America’s Judeo-Christian Roots are Bigger Than Texas (Guest Voice)
Fracking: A Tale Of Two States
A NATURAL GAS WELL NEAR DIMOCK, PENNSYLVANIA The states of Pennsylvania and New York share more than a common border. Areas of both lie atop an immense shale formation and energy companies are hard at work extracting natural gas from the formation through the use of a controversial method known as fracking, which is an environmental disaster waiting to happen. Yet … [Read more...] about Fracking: A Tale Of Two States
Does this mean I’ve been on The Daily Show?
It’s August and we’re into reruns. Two, in fact. Thursday's last Daily Show before a two-week hiatus featured a familiar graph: Recognize it? Yup, you saw it here first, on April 16, 2010 Why I even showed this chart on the overhead projector at Steve Candy's Political Science Class where I got to debate an actual Tea-Partier last year. But it's from "Let Them Eat … [Read more...] about Does this mean I’ve been on The Daily Show?
Start Over (Guest Voice)
Start Over by Craig Barnes On a Monday in early August, 2011, AIG (American International Group) filed claims in federal court against Bank of America alleging losses of $10 billion. The insurance giant claimed that the bank had intentionally disguised the risks of products to be insured. At the same time, Bank of America was already being sued for $82 billion in a … [Read more...] about Start Over (Guest Voice)
Obama: Go Big, Long and Global
WASHINGTON -- President Obama has only one option as he ponders a world economy teetering on the edge: He needs to go big, go long and go global. Obama should not be constrained by what the tea party might allow subservient Republican leaders in Congress to do. He should state plainly, eloquently and in detail what he thinks needs to be happen. Neither history nor the … [Read more...] about Obama: Go Big, Long and Global
The Glories of Old Live Television: Live Bloopers
Someone sent me a link to a hilarious You Tube of bloopers this week. I also have a DVD of bloopers mostly from British television. However, some of these bloopers are outtakes. Back in the 50s when TV was live, bloopers were more common -- from performers entering improperly, to unexpectedly frisky animal acts, to ward robe malfunctions....all done totally live with no … [Read more...] about The Glories of Old Live Television: Live Bloopers
Coot Avengers On Oprah
Along with two partners, Doris Grey and Mike Silverstein, I've been working on a comic project built around four characters known as The Coot Avengers. These older Americans, on the leading edge of the baby boom generation, are fighters for their own and their generation's rights and respect. We seem to have touched a nerve with this project. It's been featured on Public … [Read more...] about Coot Avengers On Oprah
China Should Link Taiwan Arms Sales to Purchases of U.S. Debt (Global Times, People’s Republic of China)
As a major holder of U.S. debt, Beijing is frustrated over its lack of leverage over U.S. monetary policy, since as the dollar depreciates, China's dollar holdings lose value. But according to this editorial from China's state-controlled Global Times, Beijing still has a card to play. This editorial suggests that unless the U.S. halts arms sales to democratic Taiwan, another … [Read more...] about China Should Link Taiwan Arms Sales to Purchases of U.S. Debt (Global Times, People’s Republic of China)
BREAKING: Qaddafi’s Days, Perhaps Hours, “Numbered” (UPDATES)
UPDATE, 21:30 CST, Aug. 23 The BBC reports that Col Muammar Gaddafi has vowed death or victory in the fight against "aggression.” Some excerpts from the report: Pro-Gaddafi al-Urubah TV said the colonel - whose whereabouts remain unknown - made an audio speech, saying the retreat from the Bab al-Aziziya compound was a "tactical move". The compound was one of … [Read more...] about BREAKING: Qaddafi’s Days, Perhaps Hours, “Numbered” (UPDATES)
Ben Stein offers Rick Perry an Economics Lesson
Republican Ben Stein offers Texas Gov. Rick Perry an economics lesson. A MUST READ IN FULL so we are giving you the link rather than excerpt it. (I'll quote it in the Cagle Cartoons column I'll write for Tuesday). … [Read more...] about Ben Stein offers Rick Perry an Economics Lesson
How Washington Could Create Jobs Right Now (Guest Voice)
How Washington Could Create Jobs Right Now by Michael Winship I like to ask friends about the oddest summer job they ever had. One talks about how he used to don a rubber suit every morning at a Sylvania electronics plant in Syracuse, NY, and climb into a tank, where he dipped television tubes into some sort of mercury solution. He now moonlights as a … [Read more...] about How Washington Could Create Jobs Right Now (Guest Voice)
Super Duper Congress (Guest Voice)
Super Duper Congress Raging Moderate, by Will Durst Oh sure, they made a big show of signing the debt-ceiling agreement, with official photo- ops and fancy commemorative pens all accompanied by great racking sighs of relief. But now both Congress and the president are having second thoughts; treating the deal like a dead horsefly floating in their cut-glass tumbler of … [Read more...] about Super Duper Congress (Guest Voice)
History Repeating Itself
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about History Repeating Itself
Tea Party Tipping Point
Take it from Eric Cantor, no less: It’s time for the Congressional wrecking crew that damaged the nation’s credit to cool it. The House Majority Leader, who helped derail his Speaker’s Grand Bargain on the debt limit, is now urging Tea Party followers not to sabotage next year’s spending bill “I have heard some assert that certain sectors would be better off under the … [Read more...] about Tea Party Tipping Point
Karl Rove’s Monster
Karl Rove's Monster by The Heretik Howard Fineman: Karl Rove won’t say it aloud, but he is afraid of Rick Perry: afraid that the smack-talking Texas governor will wreck the GOP’s chances of winning the White House and the Senate in 2012. The Perry-Rove story is shaping up as the ultimate tale of dangerously unintended consequences, with Rove in the role of Dr. … [Read more...] about Karl Rove’s Monster
Obama’s Dow
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Obama’s Dow
Political Enemies Within (Guest Voice)
Political Enemies Within by Peter Funt The axiom in recent presidential elections is that the left and right stay put, while the middle shifts just enough to determine the winner. When the middle moved to the right we got Bush; when it slid left we got Obama. What makes the 2012 campaign so intriguing — and frightening — is that it may be determined by two other … [Read more...] about Political Enemies Within (Guest Voice)
Reader Request: Desi Arnaz and the Original “Cuban Pete:
It happened again. I got an email asking about Desi Arnaz and whether he did the original Cuban Pete. Yes I've done posts on it. So I am reposting the links -- more timely than ever due to all the tributes to Lucille Ball on what would have been her 100th anniversary. If you are a performer or aspiring one I STRONGLY recommend you watch all four of these videos. They show … [Read more...] about Reader Request: Desi Arnaz and the Original “Cuban Pete: