It's enough to make your head hurt. The headline screams, Bank of America to pay $8.5 billion settlement over mortgages. But it's a "news story" which means there are a lot of data points but very little context. I'm going to try to pull the relevant bits from the article -- and this one -- and hope someone here can help us make sense of this. Bank of America bought … [Read more...] about Someone Help Me Make Sense Of These Numbers
Three Charts That Shine A Harsh Light On U.S. Recovery
Don't let the doomsday headlines (and GOP talking points) confuse you. The U.S. economy has "recovered" its way back almost to the pre-recession peak; GDP is above where it was at the start of 2007. What has not recovered: jobs. Well, if you're in the 1%, you're doing very well, thank you very much. Productivity v Average Wages v Income of the Top 1% Since 1979 Changes … [Read more...] about Three Charts That Shine A Harsh Light On U.S. Recovery
For the Americans, it’s a Dour Independence Day (Financial Times Deutschland, Germany)
It may be the Independence Day holiday, but according to Financial Times Deutschland Wall Street correspondent Jens Korte, U.S. citizens have precious little to celebrate this year. So does the dismal economic climate and waning U.S. influence spell the end for the United States? Korte writes - not by a long shot. For Germany's Financial Times Deutschland, Jens Korte writes … [Read more...] about For the Americans, it’s a Dour Independence Day (Financial Times Deutschland, Germany)
Gray on Brooks Quotes Freud
John Gray reviews David Brooks', The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character, and Achievement. He doesn't much like it: The core of Brooks’s argument is his claim that the forces controlling human behavior are not just nonrational, they are unconscious—and can be controlled. As he puts it, “The central evolutionary truth is that the unconscious matters most.” … [Read more...] about Gray on Brooks Quotes Freud
Europe Must Step in for the ‘Exhausted Empire’ (Die Welt, Germany)
Are things so dire on the eve of America's 234th Independence Day, that the United States needs Europe to step in to preserve all that Western civilization holds dear? According to this article from columnist Clemens Wergin of Germany's Die Welt, after decades of taking a 'free ride' on America's dime, it is time for Europe to fill the security gap while the United States licks … [Read more...] about Europe Must Step in for the ‘Exhausted Empire’ (Die Welt, Germany)
Amarillo Sox’s Mascot Too Stiff on First Appearance
It was probably a great idea in concept and design: a new mascot for the Amarillo Sox, an independent minor league baseball team. It was supposed to look like a sock. But instead it looked like an Anthony Weiner tweet. And it's going back to the drawing boards. From amarillo.com's June 25 report (just sent to me this morning by a friend): Amarillo Sox general … [Read more...] about Amarillo Sox’s Mascot Too Stiff on First Appearance
Kennedy Freedom, Low-Rent Royal Wedding
Celebrity independence is making Fourth of July weekend news as famous names couple and uncouple. In California, JFK’s niece takes steps to terminate the Terminator while 6000 miles away Princess Grace’s son enters wedlock in a low-budget version of the extravaganza that starred his mother, nee Grace Kelly, 55 years ago. Saving all this from utter cheesiness is the new … [Read more...] about Kennedy Freedom, Low-Rent Royal Wedding
Thailand Opposition Party Victory: Yingluck Shinawatra Will Become Country’s First Woman Prime Minister
Thailand's opposition party has apparently been swept into power and the country will have its first woman to serve as Prime Minister after contradictory reports that suggested it could be heading to a new round of controversy. Early stories pointed to exist polls suggesting that five years of political strife in Thailand appeared to be leading to historic landslide victory by … [Read more...] about Thailand Opposition Party Victory: Yingluck Shinawatra Will Become Country’s First Woman Prime Minister
Obscene Video Violence (Guest Voice)
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