Obscene Video Violence by Peter Funt The rejection by the U.S. Supreme Court of California's video game law was a welcome victory for free speech, but a frustrating defeat for the protection of young people. In striking down the 2005 law - that was never actually implemented due to legal challenges - the Court continued its campaign to safeguard the First Amendment. … [Read more...] about Obscene Video Violence (Guest Voice)
Thai Elections (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. A … [Read more...] about Thai Elections (Cartoon)
Florida’s Case Against Casey Anthony Is Made As Headline News Ratings Skyrocket
The saga of Casey Anthony accused of killing her two year old daughter Caylee is reaching its peak now: Florida has made its case accusing the mother, closing arguments begin to day -- and Headline News with a little help from the trial and Nancy Grave has seen its ratings skyrocket. Here's a CNN report nicely capturing Florida's case against Casey: Closing … [Read more...] about Florida’s Case Against Casey Anthony Is Made As Headline News Ratings Skyrocket
Cars 2: The Most Commercially Crass Movie of the Decade
So far, Cars 2 is leading the pack as the most commercially crass movie of the decade. Although up to this point I’ve been a big fan of the Pixar/Disney John Lassester magic, I just can’t swallow the Cars sequel. Simply put, Cars 2 appears to be more about stock holders than stock cars. It’s a movie made for the purpose of increasing global Disney theme park attendance … [Read more...] about Cars 2: The Most Commercially Crass Movie of the Decade
Jon Beats Jay’s 10-Year Run
So says Comedy Central in a press release: "The Daily Show" Earns Its First Adult 18-49 Crown For A Full Quarter Breaking "The Tonight Show's" 40+ Quarter Victory Streak Dating Back To At Least 1Q 2000 "The Daily Show" And "The Colbert Report" End The Quarter As The Most-Watched Late Night Talk Shows In All Of Television Among Adults 18-34, Adults 18-24, Men 18-34 And Men … [Read more...] about Jon Beats Jay’s 10-Year Run
Essence of Muslim Uprisings is ‘Anti-U.S. and Anti-Zionist’ (Kayhan, Islamic Republic of Iran)
Are the Muslim uprisings a result of Arab distaste for the United States and Israel? According to this news item from Iran's state-run Kayhan, Iran's leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has made the unlikely claim that while most of the Muslim uprisings are against the U.S. and Israel - the uprising in Syria is a plot instigated by the 'Global Arrogance.' The news item from … [Read more...] about Essence of Muslim Uprisings is ‘Anti-U.S. and Anti-Zionist’ (Kayhan, Islamic Republic of Iran)
So Much for American Exceptionalism
Yesterday, National Public Radio (NPR) reported that around 60,000 teachers got a pink slip this week in the United States. We can debate the reasons for the layoffs but, in the final analysis, in the race to balance federal, state and local budgets these teachers were expendable. As my readers probably already know, I am an engineer in a sea of teachers in my family. I know … [Read more...] about So Much for American Exceptionalism
White House Body Language
Presidential courage can be a tricky question. The fuss over a TV anatomical reference to Barack Obama recalls the original Dick in American politics, Nixon, and how another President, LBJ, viewed his successor’s genital endowments--wrongly, as it turned out, based on his own Vietnam mistakes arising from confusion in that area. Depressed and unhappy in retirement, … [Read more...] about White House Body Language
The Rise of the Rest
Fareed Zakaria his updated his 2008 bestseller and dubbed it The Post-American World: Release 2.0. He was a guest this week on Fresh Air in an interview that was so good I listened twice. Some highlights: [T}he tallest building in the world is now in Dubai. The biggest factory in the world is in China...The largest oil refinery in the world is in India. The largest investment … [Read more...] about The Rise of the Rest
Obama Weekly Video Address: Tax Breaks for Millionaires and Billionaires Must Be On the Table in Debt Ceiling Talks
President Barack Obama used his weekly You Tube Radio Address to talk about cutting the deficit and creating jobs and repeated that tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires must be on the table: The Hill: President Obama used his weekly address to reiterate his demand for ending tax breaks for "millionaires and billionaires" in any budget deal to raise the … [Read more...] about Obama Weekly Video Address: Tax Breaks for Millionaires and Billionaires Must Be On the Table in Debt Ceiling Talks
+1 Takes on New Meaning With Launch Of Google Plus
If you're longing for a digital networking space that lets you easily share information with the different facets of your life, then put Google Plus at the top of your "to explore" list. (Assuming you can wrangle an invitation!) If you're longing for a digital networking space that lets you easily videoconference with 10 people while everyone watches (and chats about) the … [Read more...] about +1 Takes on New Meaning With Launch Of Google Plus
Maria Shriver Moves to Divorce Arnold Schwarzenegger
Psst. Ahnald. Maria won't be baaaaaaack: TMZ has learned Maria Shriver has pulled the trigger on her marriage ... she just filed for divorce from Arnold Schwarzenegger ... and we've learned, there is NO PRENUP. n the divorce petition, obtained by TMZ, Shriver cites "irreconcilable differences" as her reason for ending the 25-year marriage. Shriver is asking for … [Read more...] about Maria Shriver Moves to Divorce Arnold Schwarzenegger
Friday Night PR Lights
It's the Friday before a three-day weekend. You know what THAT means. … [Read more...] about Friday Night PR Lights
Section 4 of the 14th Amendment VS The Debt Limit
There has been a lot of talk recently that if congress fails to increase the debt limit Obama should simply tell the Treasury Secretary to ignore it because it's unconstitutional. Doug Mataconis has a good post on the pros and cons of this argument here. As James Joyner points out Tim Geithner made that very argument yesterday. I see this as a sign that the administration … [Read more...] about Section 4 of the 14th Amendment VS The Debt Limit
Splitscreen: A Love Story (Shot on a Camera-Phone)
So beautifully shot and edited it's hard to believe this short film was shot entirely on a cell phone. The video won the Nokia Shorts 2011 mini-movie contest, and earned director JW Griffiths a $10,000 prize. See also, The Making Of... … [Read more...] about Splitscreen: A Love Story (Shot on a Camera-Phone)
Thank You, Mark Halperin
The Daily ShowGet More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook WASHINGTON - I was not incensed by Mark Halperin's man part moment. I wish Barack Obama would show up and be "kind of a...--". So it's telling when Pres. Obama is forced to make the Democratic case, a darling in the traditional media food chain blows all decorum on … [Read more...] about Thank You, Mark Halperin
The (Flawed) Certainty of Talking Heads on TV
At the outset let me say it: I have long been a big fan of Mark Halperin as talking head, blogger and writer. Even so, his indefinite suspension is dredging up all kinds of partisan reactions. Some Dems wrongly suggest he was put on suspension because he offended Barack Obama. Some Repubs wrongly suggest that MSNBC allows that kind of language on its broadcasts all along and … [Read more...] about The (Flawed) Certainty of Talking Heads on TV
Waterloo Sunset
Waterloo Sunset by David Goodloe I love music, all kinds of music. I guess that is to be expected. I was raised with the sounds of music filling the house. My mother loved folk music. My father loved Middle Eastern music. They both loved classical music and bluegrass. In that environment, as I say, I developed a fondness for all kinds of music. I liked the music … [Read more...] about Waterloo Sunset
Clown of the Month Club
A new calendar page brings another GOP candidate as Rep. Thaddeus McCotter of Michigan arrives. He plays a star-spangled guitar, wants to repeal health care reform and is backing a $3500 annual tax deduction for pet owners. The Republican race is looking like one of those old mail-order book clubs that thrive on negative option. Once you sign up and send a buck for the … [Read more...] about Clown of the Month Club
Cash-Strapped California Goes After Internet Sales
It's July 1, the first day that a new California law will require online retailers like Amazon and Overstock.com to collect sales taxes on purchases by California citizens. The real victim is not the California consumer, however, but California affiliate businesses: Many of about 25,000 affiliates in California, especially larger ones with dozens of employees, are likely … [Read more...] about Cash-Strapped California Goes After Internet Sales