As always when disasters like this strike we have to watch not only for the best in people (as seen in the rescue workers) but also the worst. One of the worst aspects of these kinds of events is when crooks and scam artists start up fake charities to scam money from us. If you want to help the victims either in Japan or here in the US, be sure to donate to a well recognized … [Read more...] about Japan Disaster: Watch Out For Fraud
Tsunami Causing Significant Damage And One Death on West Coast
Reports now indicating at least one fatality has occurred when a bystander in California was swept out to sea by the waves. Amid the damage and destruction caused by the 8.9 quake in Japan is devastation of boats and docks all along the Pacific coast. Living in Northern California I am able to watch the local coverage and in places like Santa Cruz, Crescent and Moro Bay we … [Read more...] about Tsunami Causing Significant Damage And One Death on West Coast
Explainer: Earthquakes and Tsunamis
On Friday, an earthquake, the largest in at least 100 years (1000 years?), struck Japan 130 kilometres east of Sendai on the main island of Honshu. It triggered a local tsunami with waves of 30 feet. The combined calamity killed hundreds. In addition, the 8.9-magnitude earthquake triggered tsunami alerts across the Pacific from Indonesia and New Zealand to Russia to the coasts … [Read more...] about Explainer: Earthquakes and Tsunamis
‘Attention: The Following Disaster is Being Recorded’
In my youth, it was popular to say, "The revolution will be televised." At that time, it seemed magical that we could witness unrest in countries from around the globe almost in real time, not to mention videotape of riots and demonstrations here in the states. The technology of recording video at the time was laughably primitive. The professional grade video recording … [Read more...] about ‘Attention: The Following Disaster is Being Recorded’
Is Libya Over ?
Amid the coverage of the horrible tragedy in Japan we are hearing stories saying that the experts now think that Libyan strongman Ghadaffi will prevail and stay in power. Yesterday a top US intelligence officer said that he thinks the dictator will prevail and talk of no fly zones are now fading, even as some European governments move to recognize the rebels. It could be the … [Read more...] about Is Libya Over ?
In Defense of NPR (Guest Voice)
In Defense of NPR by Bill Moyers and Michael Winship Come on now: Let’s take a breath and put this NPR fracas into perspective. Just as public radio struggles against yet another assault from the its long-time nemesis -- the right-wing machine that would thrill if our sole sources of information were Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, and ads paid for by the Koch Brothers -- it … [Read more...] about In Defense of NPR (Guest Voice)
Newt Gingrich’s Pick Up Lines For Cheaters
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. all rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Newt Gingrich’s Pick Up Lines For Cheaters
Quote of the Day: Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald on the Importance of Eliminating Public Union Collective Bargaining in Wisconsin
Our political Quote of the Day comes from Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald who explains why it was so vital to eliminate public union collective bargaining in Wisconsin. I guess this is what is meant by "transparency": "If we win this battle, and the money is not there under the auspices of the unions, certainly what you're going to find is President Obama … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald on the Importance of Eliminating Public Union Collective Bargaining in Wisconsin
Wake-Me-When-It’s-Over Syndrome
The overloaded mind reels to keep up with Scott Walker, Peter King and Muammar Qaddafi, the Three Stooges of this news cycle producing headline headaches that rattle our media teeth. Do we have to keep up with debates about no-fly zones over Wisconsin by disloyal Muslim-Americans? Today's cacophony recalls days when you could go on an isolated vacation and come back to … [Read more...] about Wake-Me-When-It’s-Over Syndrome
UPDATE JAPAN and Surrounds (UPDATED REGULARLY TODAY)
UPDATE: 4:00 pm MST Friday: The devastation in Japan is massive as is loss of life. Watching the great black debris-tsunami wave of water speed overland like the 1950's movie, The Blob, which portrayed a huge rolling mass that ate everything in its path... that was this. No one in its path could survive long without higher ground. The farm plains of Japan where the waves hit … [Read more...] about UPDATE JAPAN and Surrounds (UPDATED REGULARLY TODAY)
Updated: Pacific Rim, Including Hawaii, Under Tsunami Warning
Warning Includes Alaska, California and Oregon TMV Live Blogging on the earthquake and tsunami ** 8.30 am Pacific Waves should begin hitting the UW mainland. Waves with an amplitude of at least six feet (1.82 meters) hit Maui earlier this morning. Hawaii remains under tsunami warning. ** 1.29 am Pacific At 07:30 UTC (11.30 PST) the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center … [Read more...] about Updated: Pacific Rim, Including Hawaii, Under Tsunami Warning
Massive Quake Rocks Japan
An earthquake measuring 7.9 (new reports now say 8.8) on the Richter scale has struck Japan. The quake was centered 60-80 miles off the coast nearest to the Miyagi Prefecture. Reports are of a 24 km depth which is relatively shallow. There are reports that a tsunami could have been created, possibly as high as 20 feet and of course this could come in several waves. Areas … [Read more...] about Massive Quake Rocks Japan
The Right to Vote (Guest Voice)
The Right to Vote by David Goodloe "Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age. "Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation." Twenty–sixth Amendment to the … [Read more...] about The Right to Vote (Guest Voice)
France Recognizes New Libyan Government
Perhaps the first of many to recognize the new government of Libya. … [Read more...] about France Recognizes New Libyan Government
Sign of the Times (Guest Voice Cartoon)
A Guest Voice cartoon from the talented cartoonist Kay Wood: … [Read more...] about Sign of the Times (Guest Voice Cartoon)
WikiLeaks Reveals ‘Devastating X-Ray’ of Power in Mexico (La Jornada, Mexico)
The WikiLeaks wave has now moved to Latin America, where newspapers around the region have been supplied with U.S. diplomatic cables from local U.S. Embassies. This article by columnist Luis Hernandez Navarro of Mexico's La Jornada underscores the tremendous damage the cables have done to the credibility of President Felipe Calderon, and the fear that many Mexicans have of a … [Read more...] about WikiLeaks Reveals ‘Devastating X-Ray’ of Power in Mexico (La Jornada, Mexico)
Color Photos From 1906
I think wow pretty much sums it up. 1906 Quake Color Photos … [Read more...] about Color Photos From 1906
“The morning’s gonna shine like a red rubber ball”
I had a great day off with my wife, Ann, even though some of it was taken up by an appointment with our dentist. The highlight of that visit came when the doctor and I sang some of 'Red Rubber Ball' by the Cyrkle to his hygienist. She hadn't believed him when he mentioned this song and the band; she thought he was making both names up. Kids! (She's thirty.) I had to sing to … [Read more...] about “The morning’s gonna shine like a red rubber ball”
Worth A Look
The Daily Mail has some great pictures of Hitler's mistress/wife Eva Braun. This is my favorite: I like it more for the photography than the subject -it's a really nice photo or perhaps it's because I have a lot of pleasant memories of Konigssee from the years I lived in Munich. Go check out the rest for a window into the past. … [Read more...] about Worth A Look
Waterloo
I think we all knew that the Republicans would over-reach after the November elections. We see it to some extent at the Federal level but it's at the state level where it is over-reach on steroids. I agree with E.D. Kain who thinks that Wisconsin may turn out to be the Republican's Waterloo. And not just Wisconsin, but also Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Arizona, Florida, and the … [Read more...] about Waterloo