The New York Times notes a milestone: This year Baby Boomers start turning 65, and for the next 19 years, about 10,000 a day “will cross that threshold.” This is the story of the man who helped shape them. In 1945, millions of Americans came back from World War II and began to beget. The next year, a pediatrician named Benjamin Spock wrote the child-rearing bible for those … [Read more...] about Godfather of the Baby Boomers
Refurbished Animation Magic: Family Guy’s Stewie Dancing with Gene Kelly
Here's a bit of refurbished cinematic magic: Stewie of Family Guy (one of the most consistently funny animated programs) is seen here dancing with Gene Kelly in a scene where the Stewie takes the place of Kelly's original animated partner Jerry Mouse in a famous segment from Anchors Aweigh. This dance scene is very famous because when it was made it was state-of-the-art in the … [Read more...] about Refurbished Animation Magic: Family Guy’s Stewie Dancing with Gene Kelly
Issa Starts Off New Year With Talk Show Style Demonizing Rhetoric
You can tell what 2011 is going to be like already. The incoming House Oversight and Government Reform Rep. Darrell Issa on CNN tried to clarify remarks he made on mega-partisan talker Rush Limbaugh's show and the result was language typical of the demonizing talk radio political culture -- demonizing language that does not hold up under scrutiny: The incoming House … [Read more...] about Issa Starts Off New Year With Talk Show Style Demonizing Rhetoric
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Smoke
There are numerous social, political and economic events and accomplishments that will make 2010 go down in history as a very remarkable year. When it comes to equal rights in the military, of course the repeal of "Don’t ask, Don’t tell" will rank as one of the most significant achievements in that area in decades. But we shouldn’t forget that 2010 also marked the … [Read more...] about Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Smoke
History of Boomer Political Involvement
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about History of Boomer Political Involvement
Environmental News Update
Here's a great round up of environmental news that most likely hasn't been on your newspaper's front page, at the top of the news hour, or discussed by Sunday TV talking heads. Via Cookie Jill skippy (skippy invented the word "blogtopia" and writes in lower case). … [Read more...] about Environmental News Update
Law Enforcement, or Lawful Thuggery?
In the United States now, law "enforcement" authorities literally have a license to break the law. Put slightly differently, if you are a police officer, you can do exactly what a gang member or a bunch of thugs would do, and almost always you will suffer no consequences at all. And although it may be true that the vast majority of police officers are law-abiding professionals, … [Read more...] about Law Enforcement, or Lawful Thuggery?
Top 25 Most Overlooked News Stories of 2010
From Project Censored: … [Read more...] about Top 25 Most Overlooked News Stories of 2010
Dave Barry On 2010
Always good for a few laughs. Dave Barry on 2010 … [Read more...] about Dave Barry On 2010
The New War Veterans in Congress: All Republicans, All Americans
For those who believe that young war veterans, leaders in combat, make good legislators, the new Congress is just “the ticket.” According to the Stars and Stripes, the new Congress to be seated later this month “will boast the largest number of Iraq War veterans ever.” Six new House members who have served in Iraq (two of them in Iraq and Afghanistan)---all … [Read more...] about The New War Veterans in Congress: All Republicans, All Americans
Republicans Plan Two Front Battle to Short Circuit Health Care Reform Before Obama Gives State of the Union Address
The big news as America gets ready to zip it of the traditionally slow news weekend called New Year's Eve weekend to another full-fledged news cycle is that the Republicans have made it clear that they will vote to repeal President Barack Obama's healthcare reform program before he delivers his State of the Union address. And GOPers are also sending out the word that they … [Read more...] about Republicans Plan Two Front Battle to Short Circuit Health Care Reform Before Obama Gives State of the Union Address
Issa Fine Tunes His Investigation Target Net
It sounds as if incoming chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Rep. Darrell Issa is fine tuning his investigations targets net -- and some of his inquires could could touch on GOpers as well. The Hill reports: The incoming chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said Sunday that he won't investigate the Obama … [Read more...] about Issa Fine Tunes His Investigation Target Net
A “Lost” Show Stopper: Liza Minelli and Cyril Ritchard Singing “”Ding-a-ling, I Feel SO ChRiStMaS-eY!”
No matter what you're age, if you're interested in show biz (as a consumer or as a wannabe) finding REAL, AUTHENTIC examples of show stoppers on video is not easy. For years I've remembered a special musical that ran on ABC in the mid-60s due to a show stopper that stayed with me all these years. The number was done by a young Liza Minnelli (showing why she became famous in her … [Read more...] about A “Lost” Show Stopper: Liza Minelli and Cyril Ritchard Singing “”Ding-a-ling, I Feel SO ChRiStMaS-eY!”
Iraq’s Women are in Trouble (Guest Voice)
Iraq's Women are in Trouble by Prairie Weather McClatchy has a grim report about the situation of women in Iraq. Remember: during the Saddam regime, Iraq had the reputation of being one of the most progressive, egalitarian regimes in the region when it came to women's rights. Today's report suggests a sharp turn backwards,towards a burqa culture. For decades, … [Read more...] about Iraq’s Women are in Trouble (Guest Voice)
American Aristocracy v. Soul Food
Weren't the founders equally concerned with government and aristocratic power? How is it that in America today we are all, Left and Right, still concerned about government but not so much the power of the American aristocratic class, our super rich? This thought comes in reaction to a Newsbusters critique (such as it is, where's the beef?) of Nicholas Kristof's New Years Day … [Read more...] about American Aristocracy v. Soul Food
Who Is World’s Oldest Jewish Woman? Not Fori Nehru?
My friend Vlasta Molak informs me that the world's oldest Jewish woman is Alice Herz-Sommer, who celebrated her 107th birthday recently on November 26, 2010. In my recent article I had mentioned that this honour goes to India's Fori Nehru, 102. Thank you Vlasta. I had given the heading based on the information in The Week magazine. The author had stated: "While researching … [Read more...] about Who Is World’s Oldest Jewish Woman? Not Fori Nehru?
A Song to Remember in Tough Times
As 2011 begins, I continue to be struck by the number of people I know who are undergoing financial crises, family crises and personal crises. Hopefully 2011 will prove a happier year for them than the end of 2010 or the first day of 2011. And it's fitting to think about the lyrics of this song -- a video from a TV show shot a long time ago, with Dean Martin singing a song to … [Read more...] about A Song to Remember in Tough Times
2011
What's a new year without predictions? Dave Cohen at Decline of the Empire plays it safe and predicts what we won't see. My favorite: Our elected representatives in Congress will not put themselves on trial, find themselves guilty of wanton corruption, gross negligence, meanness of spirit, mind-boggling stupidity, and all-around depravity, and then go on to amend all the … [Read more...] about 2011
New Year’s Palin Hangover
The party's over, and all those sober gurus are picking on my date. Conservative Charles Krauthammer says she's a half-term governor who "has no chance of winning a general election" next year. Next year? At the New York Times, statistical wonk Nate Silver revisits his "10 Reasons That Sarah Palin Could Win the Republican Nomination" and concludes with a wordy "maybe … [Read more...] about New Year’s Palin Hangover
Andrew Cuomo Sworn in as New York State Governor
Andrew Cuomo has been sworn in as New York State's Governor, fulfilling a dream of following in his Dad's footsteps: Look for Cuomo -- even if he has modest success in that position -- to become a major political and media player on the national stage. It's clear news organizations will be falling all over themselves to get his comments on politics as the 2012 Presidential … [Read more...] about Andrew Cuomo Sworn in as New York State Governor