Jared Loughner, who killed six and wounded thirteen in the January 8 assassination attempt on Congresswoman Giffords, had a troubling and well documented history of mental and emotional disturbance. An upcoming competency hearing is scheduled in court to determine his ability to stand trial. More than 200 emails have now been released as well as other records from his time … [Read more...] about Giffords Shooter Raised Concerns But No Action Taken
Obama Vs Netanyahu (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Obama Vs Netanyahu (Cartoon)
No Apocalypse. Now What Do We Do?
A New York Times reporter in California checked out apocalypse predictor Harold Camping's headquarters in Oakland yesterday. Inside the offices, a reception desk was unstaffed and the door was locked. Several boxes filled with brochures were visible, showing slogans like “Gay Pride: Planned by God as a Sign of the End.” A calendar on the desk had a red circle around the … [Read more...] about No Apocalypse. Now What Do We Do?
The Manufacturing Renaissance
On the day after Chrysler announced that it was repaying the U.S. Treasury $7.5 billion in debt, Paul Krugman wrote that manufacturing was making a comeback in America: Crucially, the manufacturing trade deficit seems to be coming down. At this point, it’s only about half as large as a share of G.D.P. as it was at the peak of the housing bubble, and further … [Read more...] about The Manufacturing Renaissance
Netflix Isn’t To Blame, Despite ISP Protests
A report out this week made quite a splash by claiming that Netflix, YouTube and other online video sites create nerly 46 percent of all Internet downloads during peak hours. See, for example, here, here, here and here. But Kevin Fogarty at CoreIT says not so fast. Netflix isn't swamping the Internet; ISPs are overstating their congestion problems: Netflix doesn't swamp the … [Read more...] about Netflix Isn’t To Blame, Despite ISP Protests
End of the World (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about End of the World (Cartoon)
BREAKING NEWS: World Did Not End Today
THIS JUST IN! The world did not end today. The London Telegraph reports: Inhabitants of New Zealand, scheduled to be among the first to meet the apocalypse according to a US fundamentalist preacher, this morning confirmed they were still in existence as the appointed time was reached in their time zone. There were also unconfirmed reports that Tonga has, thus far, … [Read more...] about BREAKING NEWS: World Did Not End Today
A Song for All Who Aspire to Occupy the Oval Office
This song is fitting for all political aspirants. Remember these lyrics (and the energy of this choral group): … [Read more...] about A Song for All Who Aspire to Occupy the Oval Office
Bibi Thinks Oval Office Is Place To Give Obama a “Teachable Moment”
In a meeting that reportedly oozed with awkwardness, President Barack Obama met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu -- and Netanyahu apparently felt that with the cameras going it was a perfect place to offer Obama a "teachable moment." Literally. With a lecture. A smart move? Or one that will sour Israel's critics here and abroad and prove to be unwise in dealing with … [Read more...] about Bibi Thinks Oval Office Is Place To Give Obama a “Teachable Moment”
The (Psycho)path to wealth and power
Thom Hartmann observed that CEO's of large corporations are sociopaths. They get the big salaries because they are a rare breed. About five percent of the human population are sociopaths. To be a successful CEO you must be both a sociopath and have the smarts and knowledge to run a business. Nick Hodges at Energy and Capitol takes it a step further - he thinks they are … [Read more...] about The (Psycho)path to wealth and power
GoogleDoodle Taps 7-Year-Old Artist
Seven-year-old Matteo Lopez of South San Francisco CA walked away with the top prize in the GoogleDoodle contest. His vision of "Space Life" led the 107,000 entries. His goal: [To] become an astronaut and explore space life. I want to wear a space suit, fly in space, walk on the moon and make friends with aliens in other planets. As the contest winner, Lopez wins … [Read more...] about GoogleDoodle Taps 7-Year-Old Artist
The GOP Gets Groupthink Right
Score one more for the Law of Unintended Consequences. In 2008, voters hungry for new ideas chose Hope and Change. What they have now is an extreme example of the ancient phenomenon of closed-mindedness. What Newt Gingrich is encountering fits perfectly the sociological definition of Groupthink “that people engage in when they are deeply involved in a cohesive ingroup, when … [Read more...] about The GOP Gets Groupthink Right
The United Nations May Soon Go the Way of its Predecessor (Bol Press, Bolivia)
Has the United Nations outlived its usefulness? For Bolivia's Bol Press, Professor Alvaro Cuadra of Chile's Universidad ARCIS writes that just as the League of Nations collapsed when World War II broke out - making it's failure obvious, the U.N., born out of WWII, has similarly proven itself incapable of many of its central tenets, including 'saving future generations from the … [Read more...] about The United Nations May Soon Go the Way of its Predecessor (Bol Press, Bolivia)
Late Night Comedians Have a Field Day
With all of the news on the political, international and other fronts, late comedians are having a field day. Here's a cross section of late night comedian topical jokes: "Arnold Schwarzenegger admitted that he fathered a child with a member of his household staff. The woman's husband became suspicious when he realized she was the first maid to make $1 million a year." … [Read more...] about Late Night Comedians Have a Field Day
John Lithgow Performs Gingrich Spokesman’s Flowery Press Release (VIDEO)
Another great moment in political comedy by Stephen Colbert. But this time he didn't have to write a thing: he had actor John Lithgow simply read a flowery, somewhat bizarre press release by Newt Gingrich's spokesman in full: The Colbert ReportTags: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive … [Read more...] about John Lithgow Performs Gingrich Spokesman’s Flowery Press Release (VIDEO)
Liberal Group Ad Shows Paul Ryan Look Alike Throwing Grandma Off a Cliff (VIDEO)
The Agenda Project's ad going after GOP efforts to end Medicare as it now exists is likely to generate a lot of debate. It shows a Paul Ryan look alike throwing Grandma off a cliff. A masterpiece of negative advertising? Or is it exactly the kind of political exaggeration and demonization that has made American political debate so hateful -- and often over simplistic and … [Read more...] about Liberal Group Ad Shows Paul Ryan Look Alike Throwing Grandma Off a Cliff (VIDEO)
Schwarzenegger Puts Film Career on Hold: But Will Future Career Be Mega Big?
The news is not really shocking. Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has put his film career on hold following news that he cheated on his wife Maria Shriver, had a child by another woman and that this occurred during the time when he presented himself to California voters. The movie career was going to be his next stop as a failed governor. I predict that his … [Read more...] about Schwarzenegger Puts Film Career on Hold: But Will Future Career Be Mega Big?
VIDEO: Man Caught on Tape Stealing Police Car
Here's a fascinating piece of video. A man steals a police car. First he fights with the officer. When he steals the car the video shows the chase -- from the police car thief's point of view since the camera is in the police car. It ends in a crash: … [Read more...] about VIDEO: Man Caught on Tape Stealing Police Car
Wary, Duplicitous, and Indispensable
Inside-the-beltway journalist, David Ignatius, writes about the US-Pakistan relationship in a new book. He was interviewed on NPR today. Remember, the US-Pakistan relationship, like our relationships with many nations, is wary, duplicitous, and necessary -- as are all relationships between nations. Ignatius says the case of CIA contractor Raymond Davis — who was … [Read more...] about Wary, Duplicitous, and Indispensable
Quote of the Day: U.S. Pakistan Relations Will Remain the Same
Our Quote of the Day comes from the Pakistani paper "Dawn," which in a piece by Cyril Almeida argues that the uneasy relationship between the United States and Pakistan will remain the same. Here's part of it: With all the hand-wringing and ‘what ifs’ going around in recent days, you would think nobody has a clue how the Pak-US relationship is likely to play out in the … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: U.S. Pakistan Relations Will Remain the Same