There's a toilet paper shortage at Coney Island. … [Read more...] about Coney Island Is Not on a Roll
Helmetless Motorcyclist Dies Protesting Helmet Laws
On a NY ride with 550 other motorcycles, he fishtailed and flipped over the handlebars of his 1983 Harley Davidson. His head hit the pavement: “The medical expert we discussed the case with who pronounced him deceased stated that he would’ve no doubt survived the accident had he been wearing a helmet,” state Trooper Jack Keller told ABC News 9 in Syracuse. James Joyner is … [Read more...] about Helmetless Motorcyclist Dies Protesting Helmet Laws
Happy Fourth of July (Guest Voice)
Happy Fourth of July by Martha Randolph Carr It’s Independence Day again across America and it’s an interesting time for the idea of democracy. Perhaps more than at any other time in our relatively short history it’s become important how we talk about our grand American experiment and our collective experience. There’s a school of thought that says whatever you give your … [Read more...] about Happy Fourth of July (Guest Voice)
Clinton Advises Obama on Debt Ceiling Battle
"Don't blink!" is the advice. Former President Bill Clinton Saturday night urged President Obama not to "blink" at Republican demands to exclude revenue increases from any agreement to extend the government's debt ceiling. If Republicans maintain their opposition to revenue increases, Clinton said, Obama should pursue a short-term deal to extend the debt … [Read more...] about Clinton Advises Obama on Debt Ceiling Battle
What Our Declaration Really Means
WASHINGTON -- Our nation confronts a challenge this Fourth of July that we face but rarely: We are at odds over the meaning of our history and why, to quote our Declaration of Independence, "governments are instituted." Only divisions this deep can explain why we are taking risks with our country's future we're usually wise enough to avoid. Arguments over how much … [Read more...] about What Our Declaration Really Means
A Coot 4th of July
Happy 4th of July! Click on the image to make the cartoon larger. This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about A Coot 4th of July
Fox News Twitter Account Hacked; Falsely Reports President Obama Shot
Not good. Robin Wauters at TechCrunch: [S]ome stupid kids – actual age unknown – have taken over the (verified) @FoxNewPolitics Twitter account and posted a series of messages declaring U.S. President Barack Obama dead on the eve of the Fourth of July, the national day of the United States. The ‘hackers’ appear to have taken over the account around 2 AM Eastern time, and … [Read more...] about Fox News Twitter Account Hacked; Falsely Reports President Obama Shot
On Being America
For the 4th of July weekend, On Being's Krista Tippett replayed a 2003 interview with author and philosopher Jacob Needleman. They discussed his book, The American Soul: Rediscovering the Wisdom of the Founders. The program was titled, The Inward Work of Democracy. From the transcript: Mr. Jacob Needleman: What's interesting about [Frederick] Douglass, why he should be an icon … [Read more...] about On Being America
Dueling Fireworks Shows (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Dueling Fireworks Shows (Cartoon)
Someone Help Me Make Sense Of These Numbers
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