Elizabeth, an Incomparable of Her Time has passed away: Here's what you won't read in the headlines which are often vulgar, focused on foibles, overlooking the worth of not only this woman, any woman. You'll hear about her peccadilloes, her many marriage and other chisme, gossip. But you wont hear she was a child actress who never had a childhood. You wont hear that she … [Read more...] about Don’t You Hate It When People Think They Know You: The Real Elizabeth Taylor
Sending Me Angels
Bonnie Tyler sings "Sending Me Angels." This is for everyone who hears it to enjoy and appreciate, but it goes out especially to a friend who I know reads TMV. She knows who she is. … [Read more...] about Sending Me Angels
On the Other Hand….
Cross-posted to the Debate Link Really, Reuters? A bomb planted in a bag exploded near a bus stop in a Jewish district of Jerusalem on Wednesday, killing a woman and injuring at least 30 people, in an attack police blamed on Palestinian militants. [...] Police said it was a "terrorist attack" -- Israel's term for a Palestinian strike. It was the first time Jerusalem had … [Read more...] about On the Other Hand….
Michele Bachmann Likely to Enter Republican Presidential Nomination Race
It looks like Rep. Michele Bachmann who seemingly threw her history book in the trash is about to throw her hat into the 2012 Presidential nomination ring: : CNN reports that she's forming an exploratory committee for the 2012 Republican nomination -- a phrase that is taken to be a buzzword for someone who's running but not ready to formally announce yet: CNN has … [Read more...] about Michele Bachmann Likely to Enter Republican Presidential Nomination Race
Bury Me Upside Down, Coffin Lid Open
The Dust of Eden It’s all a bit odd. Dirt covers the earth and pavement covers the dirt. People travel the pavement in cars. They sit in their cars, on their phones, talking to someone else, somewhere else. Eden is buried, it’s beneath us. Dirt covers the earth and buildings cover the dirt. In the buildings sit chairs, tables, and beds. The beds, tables, and chairs … [Read more...] about Bury Me Upside Down, Coffin Lid Open
In Which Republican Governors Show Their Disdain For Ordinary Working Americans
The disdain for ordinary working stiffs shown by Republican politicians in general and the new crop of Republican governors in particular seems boundless. And, of course, is shortsighted, which is why union-busting Governor Scott Walker in Wisconsin and Chris Christie in New Jersey will serve single terms and then get the boot. * * * * * I have a sense of deja vu all … [Read more...] about In Which Republican Governors Show Their Disdain For Ordinary Working Americans
Remembering The Triangle Shirtwaist Women
When a fire broke out on the eighth floor of the Triangle Shirtwaist Company factory at 29 Washington Place in Lower Manhattan on March 25, 1911, it took just 30 minutes to kill 146 young immigrant women who had been locked in to ensure that they stayed stooped over their machines and didn’t steal anything. People looking up from the street thought that the owners were … [Read more...] about Remembering The Triangle Shirtwaist Women
“Can’t We All Just Be Friends?”
The quote in the title comes from NASCAR driver Kyle Busch prior to last Sunday’s Jeff Byrd 500 in Bristol, Tennessee. Before the race the drivers introduced themselves to the crowd of 100,000. Digression 1. Bristol Motor Speedway holds 160,000 and is usually packed for the two NASCAR Sprint Cup races each year on its half mile track. Considerable speculation has circulated … [Read more...] about “Can’t We All Just Be Friends?”
Phraseology, Politics, and History
If only Jeffrey Goldberg et al. became this exercised when major U.S. news organizations refer to the C.I.A.'s torture program as "what some call torture." … [Read more...] about Phraseology, Politics, and History
Report: Charlie Sheen Won’t Be Returning to Two and a Half Men Because Warner Bros. Doesn’t Want Him Back
If Charlie Sheen's camp is behind the reports that CBS wants him back on the smash comedy "Two and a Half Men" then he isn't really "Winning. Duh." because Warner Bros. sources are shooting that prospect down in no uncertain terms: There is "no chance" of Charlie Sheen coming back to "Two and a Half Men" -- this according to sources connected to the production of the … [Read more...] about Report: Charlie Sheen Won’t Be Returning to Two and a Half Men Because Warner Bros. Doesn’t Want Him Back
Independent Voters Appeal U.S. District Court Decision Ruling Idaho’s Open Primary System Unconstitutional
Independents take independent steps to defend Idaho open primaries New York, NY—Independents have taken an appeal from the decision of U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill ruling Idaho’s open primary system unconstitutional. In August of 2008, a group of 11 independent Idaho voters and two organizations representing independents—the American Independent Movement of Idaho … [Read more...] about Independent Voters Appeal U.S. District Court Decision Ruling Idaho’s Open Primary System Unconstitutional
Libya: Not So Much a Question of “If” as of “When”
Libya: Not so much a question of "if" as of "when" by Prairie Weather True: "Qaddafi poses no threat to America." Well, except for an airliner full of people brought down by Qaddafi or the recent killings of Americans in Berlin. Even leaving aside those incidents, D.B. Grady, writing in The Atlantic, is right about what Obama has managed to do. Here is the rare … [Read more...] about Libya: Not So Much a Question of “If” as of “When”
Why the GOP Is Obsessed With “Leadership”
WASHINGTON -- Leaders do not operate in a vacuum. When they make strategic adjustments, their opponents do too. President Obama has prompted just such a pivot by Republicans. They're criticizing him not for the decisions he's made but for the ones he hasn't, and the ones he delayed. They are attacking him not as a liberal ideologue but as a man in full flight from any … [Read more...] about Why the GOP Is Obsessed With “Leadership”
Clean Coal and the Price of Eggs in Japan (Guest Voice)
Clean Coal and the Price of Eggs in Japan By D. R. Welch As many environmentalist dance around the grave of nuclear power, Japanese farmers are busy trying to allay fears of radioactive produce. Ok, maybe not the fear of eggs but, the fear of radioactive spinach and milk. As all six reactors have had power reestablished, workers, engineers and scientists will begin trying … [Read more...] about Clean Coal and the Price of Eggs in Japan (Guest Voice)
Newt Gingrich’s Truly Amazing Flip Flop on Libya (UPDATED)
(NOTE: This post is being moved up due to an extensive update). And they talk about Mitt Romney being a flip flopper? With THIS flip flop (within the space of less than two weeks) Newt Gingrich has supersized it. The sad thing is: people who do such a craven flip flop even this age of Googling and Yahoo tend to get away with it. UPDATE: This story has taken on some … [Read more...] about Newt Gingrich’s Truly Amazing Flip Flop on Libya (UPDATED)
Twittering Around
All of the articles I've linked to below came to me via my Twitter feed. … [Read more...] about Twittering Around
Elizabeth Taylor: Movie Legend, Sexual Force
Elizabeth Taylor was the corporeal Venus. Lust in human form. A voracious devourer of life itself. She was known as "the most beautiful woman in the world," famous for her violet eyes. She was Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. She founded the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) and the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation after watching her dear … [Read more...] about Elizabeth Taylor: Movie Legend, Sexual Force
Nothing To See Here
The troubles at the Fukishima nuclear facility have all but disappeared from the US media and I believe it's intentional. Public opinion in the US is already turning against nuclear power and the corporate media doesn't want to do anything to encourage that trend. I'm sure that the situation in Japan is much worse than the Japanese are saying but even what they are saying is … [Read more...] about Nothing To See Here
Libya Demonstrates Fiction of the ‘International Community’: Les Dernieres Nouvelles d’Alsace, France
What is the 'international community.' Does it represent nations working things out in concert, or is it closer to pure fiction? Columnist Olivier Picard of France's Les Dernières Nouvelles d’Alsace laments that the events of the past few days reflect the sad truth of the politics of our fast-globalizing world. For the Les Dernières Nouvelles d’Alsace, Olivier Picard writes … [Read more...] about Libya Demonstrates Fiction of the ‘International Community’: Les Dernieres Nouvelles d’Alsace, France
Get-Well Card for Health Care
As the new law turns one, the occasion recalls a greeting purportedly sent to a company president after surgery, "The Board of Directors wishes you a speedy recovery by a vote of six to five." A year later, the public is still confused, Republicans swear to kill the law and the White House is sending out explainers to sing its praises. It's like combining a wake with a … [Read more...] about Get-Well Card for Health Care