New York, NY – During his pre-Tonight Show days of comedy, Jay Leno often used the line: “Do you know what sticks in my craw?” Then there was the late Rodney Dangerfield who’d say: “I don’t get no respect.” Many independent voters, independent voter activists (yes they most assuredly DO exist), and small independent voter parties these days sound bit like Leno and … [Read more...] about Can Independents Reform America and Unrig the System?
The Recovery of Gabrielle Giffords
On that dreadful Saturday afternoon of January 8, I along with so many others started blogging on the tragedy in Tucson. My first “report” quoting the Washington Post was, in part: According to a local news report, Giffords was shot in the head at point-blank range. She was taken to University Medical Center in Tucson; her condition was not immediately … [Read more...] about The Recovery of Gabrielle Giffords
First CBS’s Lara Logan Gets Sexually Assaulted in Cairo
Most thinking Americans and those that have a human organ in their body called a heart were utterly shocked and saddened by the news that CBS's Lara Logan was brutally attacked and sexually assaulted on the streets of Cairon. Now she has been cyberspace assaulted by so-called "pundits" of the left and right. DETAILS HERE. Two words: nauseating and despicable. It's really … [Read more...] about First CBS’s Lara Logan Gets Sexually Assaulted in Cairo
Democratic Islam: ‘Opposed by Every Bush and bin Laden’ (Le Quotidien d’Oran, Algeria)
Can Islam and democracy exists side by side? Columnist K. Selim of Algeria's Le Quotidien d’Oran contests the notion that a free election can happen 'only once' in Arab countries, and warns those who have led uprisings in Egypt and Algeria that the eyes of the world are upon them - and most are against them. For Le Quotidien d’Oran, K. Selim writes in part: "Bush or bin … [Read more...] about Democratic Islam: ‘Opposed by Every Bush and bin Laden’ (Le Quotidien d’Oran, Algeria)
Jemima Khan: US Government Protecting Liars
Yes, that's exactly what the British celebrity woman Jemima Khan, former wife of the world's legendary cricketer Imran Khan, has to say. All governments lie at some time or the other. But when the web of lies becomes untenable and threaten world peace and financial security, then the alarm bells are set off. Jemima Khan in this video (http://bit.ly/dTDFaV) states: "Corruption, … [Read more...] about Jemima Khan: US Government Protecting Liars
Quote Of The Day – Deficit Edition
The quote of the day come's from John Cole: I’ve said this before, and I will say it again. Unless your proposal includes a substantial increase in taxes and a substantial amount of cuts to the military budget as well as ending the farm subsidies and giveaways to big oil and big energy and big business, you can kindly just shut up about the deficit and the debt. … [Read more...] about Quote Of The Day – Deficit Edition
Watson Won!!!
NYTimes: In the end, the humans on “Jeopardy!” surrendered meekly. Facing certain defeat at the hands of a room-size I.B.M. computer on Wednesday evening, Ken Jennings, famous for winning 74 games in a row on the TV quiz show, acknowledged the obvious. “I, for one, welcome our new computer overlords,” he wrote on his video screen, borrowing a line from a “Simpsons” … [Read more...] about Watson Won!!!
More Energy Fairy Dust
Fossil energy dies hard. The energy companies have made billions and have had lots of power for decades and they don't want to give up even though the easy resources are exhausted. One of the most recent purported saviors is oil and gas in the Arctic. We are promised billions of barrels of oil but will the world economy be able to pay the price for that oil? Probably not. … [Read more...] about More Energy Fairy Dust
California Supreme Court Takes Up Proposition 8 Standing Issue
The California Supreme Court has voted unanimously to decide the issue of who has the standing to defend Proposition 8. This move is in response to a request from the Federal 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on the subject. Without getting too deep into legal doubletalk, the issue stems from the fact that when Proposition 8 was challenged in the courts neither Governor … [Read more...] about California Supreme Court Takes Up Proposition 8 Standing Issue
Scott Brown Says He Was Molested As A Child (Video)
"Fortunately, nothing was ever fully consummated, so to speak," Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown tells 60 Minutes in an interview pegged to the release of his upcoming memoir, Against All Odds. Brown says this is the first time he's told anyone about it. In the book he says that the abuse took place when he was 10 years old at a religious camp in Cape Cod, which he … [Read more...] about Scott Brown Says He Was Molested As A Child (Video)
Nir Rosen Apologizes
This is a significant apology. I could have posted this as an update to my original post from yesterday, but I tend to prefer writing a new post over updating old ones because many people don't read updates, especially on high-traffic blogs like TMV, where fresh posts rapidly push older ones down the page. … [Read more...] about Nir Rosen Apologizes
Food Market Efficiencies Make Us More Vulnerable
So says Raj Patel in a NYTimes Room for Debate on the question of is the world producing enough food? Over the centuries, societies developed the tools of grain stores, crop diversification and "moral economies" to guarantee the poor access to food in times of crisis. Global economic liberalization discarded these buffers in favor of lean lines of trade. Safety nets and … [Read more...] about Food Market Efficiencies Make Us More Vulnerable
Authorities Put Child In Psych Ward
Imagine that you are a school administrator and it is brought to your attention that a young student (six or eight years old depending on the source) has drawn a disturbing violent picture and written a note indicating he wants to die. Obviously this is a disturbing situation and something you need to deal with. But what do you do ? Do you contact his parents ? Do you … [Read more...] about Authorities Put Child In Psych Ward
GOP Fast Shuffle on the Budget
Two years ago, they ran against Barack Obama, accusing him of "wealth redistribution." In two months, Republicans have been working to do just that--upward. After holding the President hostage in December to save $4 trillion in tax cuts for the richest Americans, the new House majority is now pushing for budget reductions out of the hides of the poor and middle class. The … [Read more...] about GOP Fast Shuffle on the Budget
Economics of Albert Pujols Applies to Each of Us
The Cardinals are considering whether to re-sign Albert Pujols. The deadline is nearing and at this writing I do not know which way that will go. I have heard and read all sorts of arguments why the Cards should and should not sign Mr. Pujols, and none of them have addressed the real issue - economics. It is NOT about whether he is the best player, his comparisons to a … [Read more...] about Economics of Albert Pujols Applies to Each of Us
Violence in Bahrain Is of Concern to the U.S.
As unrest spreads in the Middle East in the wake of the successful protests in Egypt that toppled the entrenced autocrat Hosni Mubarak, the U.S. is concerned over spreading violence in Bahrain: pp Multisource political news, world news, and entertainment news analysis by Newsy.com … [Read more...] about Violence in Bahrain Is of Concern to the U.S.
Middle East Protests Unrest Spreads to Libya
The Middle East protests that have slammed into Tunisia, Yemen ,Iran, Bahrain and Egypt have now hit Libya -- and as in many of the other places the goal is to bring about change and pose a challenge to an entrenched autocratic establishment. A key tool again: Social networking. Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Libya Wednesday in the first sign that the nding … [Read more...] about Middle East Protests Unrest Spreads to Libya
What is the Real Meaning of Egypt’s Revolution? (Guest Voice)
What is the Real Meaning of Egypt's Revolution? By Barry Rubin "The People Toppled the Government," is al-Ahram's headline, and the general interpretation of the Egyptian revolution around the world. That's true but only partly true. Mubarak's pedestal was shaken by the people but he was pushed off it by the army and the establishment. Let's remember something that … [Read more...] about What is the Real Meaning of Egypt’s Revolution? (Guest Voice)
Santorum Speaks About Being One Of The First “Google Bombs”
Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum is in the news today for commenting on his Google problem: Try it for yourself: Enter “Rick Santorum” into Google. In a fraction of a second you’ll have hundreds of thousands of results. But two of the top four cite a graphic definition for a sexual neologism. In this case, the neologism is a reference to anal sex. This, of course, … [Read more...] about Santorum Speaks About Being One Of The First “Google Bombs”
Walk Like An Egyptian
And lest you forget the original song..from 1986: … [Read more...] about Walk Like An Egyptian