The holiday weekend has begun. And yours truly leaves Sunday afternoon for a first stop near L.A., then a stop near Willliams, above Sacramento on Monday and then Tuesday afternoon will start the trek back. This weekend there are some important tips to remember when you're buying gas this weekend - courtesy of ABC News: … [Read more...] about What You Need to Know Before Filling Up With Gas This Memorial Day Weekend (VIDEO)
Can’t Fuhgeddaboud Christie (Guest Voice)
Can't Fuhgeddaboud Christie by Tom Purcell Yo, Chris Christie, governor of New Joisey, how ya doin'? What's this I'm hearin'? People are beggin' you to run for president and all you can say is "fuhgeddaboudit"? Well, you need to fuhgeddaboudDAT! Look, smart guy, you surely see what a mockery Republicans are makin' of their presidential nomination process. Yeah, … [Read more...] about Can’t Fuhgeddaboud Christie (Guest Voice)
Quote of the Day: Are “Now Hiring” Signs for Real or Just Business’ Doing PR?
Our political Quote of the Day comes from "Dr. Helen" Smith who raises an interesting question about the "Now Hiring" signs popping up in many cities. Here's part of her post: Why are there "Now Hiring" signs in front of so many businesses these days when so many people are complaining about not finding a job? Everywhere I go in Knoxville, there are generic "Now Hiring" … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Are “Now Hiring” Signs for Real or Just Business’ Doing PR?
Climate Change Debate (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Climate Change Debate (Cartoon)
‘Dear Bob Dylan’ (Die Welt, Germany)
Happy Memorial Day weekend, everyone. Bob Dylan was 70 years old this week, and the editorial board of Germany's Die Welt published this open letter in tribute to the American music icon. Die Welt's message?: keep showing the world how to change with the time - because "the times - they are a changin'" The open letter from the Die Welt editorial board says in … [Read more...] about ‘Dear Bob Dylan’ (Die Welt, Germany)
The Republican Jobs Plan
Ezra Klein calls it the "now more than ever" plan: … [Read more...] about The Republican Jobs Plan
Hell Hath Frozen Over
I agree with Robert Stacy McCain. Don't let it go to your head. I promise you, it will never happen again. … [Read more...] about Hell Hath Frozen Over
Amazon’s 20 “Most Well-Read Cities” in the U.S.
The nation's three biggest cities did not even make the list. Very disappointing. … [Read more...] about Amazon’s 20 “Most Well-Read Cities” in the U.S.
Michele Bachmann Slates Her Big Rollout in Iowa Which Becomes Big Embarrassment
Michele Bachmann slated her big rollout in Iowa but at the last minute she couldn't attend and delivered a satellite speech -- and her rollout is now judged to have been a disastrous blow out. The issue here isn't ideology. It's whether a candidate is ready for Prime Time. Politicians have to adjust to quickly changing conditions and most of them do all the time and they … [Read more...] about Michele Bachmann Slates Her Big Rollout in Iowa Which Becomes Big Embarrassment
Republicans’ Solution to NY Election Medicare Rebuke: Won’t Raise Debt Limit Without Medicare Cuts
The GOP has figured out a way to try and save face and make political lemon into lemonaide for its Tea Party movement base in the wake of Tuesday's New York 26 election rebuke which saw the defeat of the early-front-runner Republican blamed on the party's embracing Paul Ryan's plan to end Medicare as it now exists: Refuse to raise the debt limit unless it gets Medicare … [Read more...] about Republicans’ Solution to NY Election Medicare Rebuke: Won’t Raise Debt Limit Without Medicare Cuts
Scenes from a Tornado
The updated number of Joplin, Missouri, residents killed by last Sunday's massive tornado is 132; 156 people are still unaccounted for. Joplin authorities say the bulldozers will not come out until every missing person is found. … [Read more...] about Scenes from a Tornado
Palin on the Bus, Back in the Spotlight, Desperate for Attention
Answering the biggest question of the day -- "So is Sarah Palin running, or what?" -- I would note that signs are indeed pointing to YES. And the latest sign is that she's embarking on a pre-campaignish bus tour: In a move designed to propel her closer to a presidential run, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will set out on a bus tour of the country on Sunday, making stops … [Read more...] about Palin on the Bus, Back in the Spotlight, Desperate for Attention
Karl Rove Takes Another Swipe at Sarah Palin
When GOP political maven Karl Rove takes swipes at Sarah Palin it isn't as if it's just another pundit. It's clear that he's reflecting the viewpoint of some others in the political establishment and is close to the Bush family. And Rove has taken another potshot at Palin -- again a deserved one, saying Palin doesn't think the political rules apply to her. This comes amid … [Read more...] about Karl Rove Takes Another Swipe at Sarah Palin
Pawlenty Gives Pawlenty of Spin on His Low Poll Numbers
Republican presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty says his low poll numbers are actually a good thing: Republican presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty said he sees his low national poll numbers as an opportunity for his candidacy. "I like the fact that these folks who are established, well known and yet and there's no real favorite in the face," Pawlenty said Friday on … [Read more...] about Pawlenty Gives Pawlenty of Spin on His Low Poll Numbers
Hispanic Half of U.S. Population Growth, Census Bureau Says
Yet more evidence that America's Hispanic population is growing in numbers -- and will likely be growing in political clout: The US Census Bureau reported Thursday that the Hispanic population rose by 15.2 million between 2000 and 2010, accounting for more than half of the nation’s population increase of 27.3 million. Put another way, the Hispanic population grew by 43 … [Read more...] about Hispanic Half of U.S. Population Growth, Census Bureau Says
The Butcher (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to be on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about The Butcher (Cartoon)
Some Things Fishy
The NYTimes on a new report, “Bait and Switch: How Seafood Fraud Hurts Our Oceans, Our Wallets and Our Health:” Recent studies by researchers in North America and Europe harnessing the new techniques have consistently found that 20 to 25 percent of the seafood products they check are fraudulently identified, fish geneticists say. Labeling regulation means little if the … [Read more...] about Some Things Fishy
Slow-Motion Apocalypse
The world didn’t end last weekend as predicted, but tornadoes have made the middle of America look as if it did. Devastation fills TV screens, making those safe at home aware of how fragile the daily existence we take for granted really is. How do we reconcile going about our days as if we were safe and going to live forever with the knowledge deep in our bones that we walk … [Read more...] about Slow-Motion Apocalypse
Congress Renews Patriot Act, Obama Signs Remotely
Once again afraid to appear soft on terrorism, and evidence (if any was really needed) that the death of Osama bin Laden means nothing to the Beltway "War on Terrorism," Congress passed a four-year extension of the Patriot Act Thursday night. President Obama, in Europe for the G8 summit, "signed" the bill with an autopen machine. The post-9-11 legislation would have expired … [Read more...] about Congress Renews Patriot Act, Obama Signs Remotely
Sharing Means Clout : Urban Outfitters v Indie Artist
From the time an indie artist blogged (and tweeted) that Urban Outfitters had ripped off the design of her Etsy-based necklace line to the time that the ripped-off items were no longer on the Urban Outfitters website: one business day. Stevie Koerner (@imakeshinylove) explains that her United/World of Love line, sold on Etsy, enabled her to quit her day job. But, she told her … [Read more...] about Sharing Means Clout : Urban Outfitters v Indie Artist