Hi there, Dr. E. here, Some strongly question further erosion of our rights to privacy without the input or vote of the people by referendum. Many, regardless of political affiliation, libertarian, independent, Democrats, Republicans are enraged, especially those with children who are traveling this holiday. Here is a piece by New York City resident who travels much and minces … [Read more...] about HOLIDAY FLYING: Are You Kidding? Are “Pat-downs” A Euphemism for Fascism? No Palin, Schumer, Obama, Churches Speaking Up?
Cranks Resist Security at Airports — and in the Senate (Guest Voice)
Cranks Resist Security at Airports -- and in the Senate by Michael Winship To paraphrase that cult movie classic, Eating Raoul, frisk me, pat me down, make me write bad checks. If it keeps my flight from falling out of the sky, do what you must. Just don't expect breakfast in the morning and a thank you note. Because let's face it, as onerous as you might think these new … [Read more...] about Cranks Resist Security at Airports — and in the Senate (Guest Voice)
Jennifer Grey Not Bristol Palin Wins “Dancing With the Stars”
Uh, oh. By putting up this headline yours truly will be accused of making a political statement. Actually: no. We've run two links to stories dealing with the controversy over speculation on the Internet by websites, blogs and stories by some news organizations that Sarah Palin's supporters were trying to flood "Dancing with the Stars" to help her daughter Bristol win the … [Read more...] about Jennifer Grey Not Bristol Palin Wins “Dancing With the Stars”
Afghan Poker (The Winners, The Losers, The Fish)
Here's a basic rule to think about before joining a poker game. If after looking around the table you haven't spotted the "fish," the person almost certain to be the big loser, you're the fish. And in case you haven't noticed it yet, in the great game of Afghan Poker now being played in that benighted land, the United States has become the table's big, really big, fish. The … [Read more...] about Afghan Poker (The Winners, The Losers, The Fish)
Thanksgivings of Yore (Guest Voice)
Thanksgivings of Yore by Will Durst The fourth Thursday of November is definitely the bestest holiday. Food, Family, Friends and Football. Four of the five F’s. I most fondly remember the Thanksgivings of yesteryear. The big, old family reunions, which I looked forward to, until about five seconds after I hit the driveway, then it all comes back… why I left home. And they … [Read more...] about Thanksgivings of Yore (Guest Voice)
Side Dish of Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Proclamation (Guest Voice)
Side Dish of Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Proclamation by Tina Dupuy On December 25, 1789, Congress, packed full of our Founding Fathers, was in-session. Nothing, especially when it comes to holidays, is ever “what it used to be.” Let’s not get into a “true spirit” conversation when it comes to Thanksgiving. All holidays evolve - Saturnalia turned into Christmas and fertility … [Read more...] about Side Dish of Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Proclamation (Guest Voice)
TSA Rape
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about TSA Rape
Happy (and Safe) Thanksgiving
So this is where we are now. As Americans travel to join their families, they can be grateful that, unlike holiday turkeys, they will not undergo "cavity searches," although other body parts may be subject to close scrutiny. In our sophisticated time, cliches about family stress and dissension have replaced those Norman Rockwell rosy images of holiday reunions, but now just … [Read more...] about Happy (and Safe) Thanksgiving
Carol Burnett Clip
Tim Conway is a comedy God … [Read more...] about Carol Burnett Clip
Seeing 2010 Vote Graphically
Try sliding between 2008 and 2010 to see just how dramatic the shift was. 2010 Election House … [Read more...] about Seeing 2010 Vote Graphically
How To Save Society And The Planet Too: A Book Review of Prescription For The Planet
Ron has had an increasing amount of posts about the coming energy shortages that are going to threaten industrial society. The estimates are converging across nations and social groups: we have already hit peak conventional oil and it is almost definite we will have sizeable overall oil shortfalls by 2015. Various agencies across the world project this to be around 10 million … [Read more...] about How To Save Society And The Planet Too: A Book Review of Prescription For The Planet
Random Acts Of Culture
I think this is just wonderful. A foundation dedicated to the proposition of bringing random acts of culture to people around the country. This was an event in Philadelphia You can find more examples here … [Read more...] about Random Acts Of Culture
Living Your Dreams
Via my blogging partner at Newshoggers, John Ballard, Rachell Maddow's high school graduation speech: Rachel Maddow is someone who has actually lived the life she saw for herself at high school graduation - a refreshing exception. I graduated from a middle/upper middle class high school in 1964. Most of us thought we could change the world but most of us really didn't … [Read more...] about Living Your Dreams
Can’t Mr. Obama Pardon Anything But Turkeys?!: Le Figaro, France
Is Barack Obama too stingy when it comes to the president's power to pardon the condemned? On Thursday, like all of his recent predecessors, Mr. Obama will pardon a pair of turkeys. While that's certainly good news for the two birds, who will escape the fate of 46 million of their fellow turkeys, Le Figaro columnist Veronique Saint-Geours wonders why more human beings don't … [Read more...] about Can’t Mr. Obama Pardon Anything But Turkeys?!: Le Figaro, France
TSA Controversy Continues: Outraged Public Refuses to Turn the Other Cheek Over TSA Body Scans and Pat Downs
Question One: Will the Transportation Safety Administration soon get its own separate listing on eHarmony.com? I’m heading from California to Connecticut for a family Thanksgiving and am anticipating a TSA body scan and/or pat down. Usually I tell people I’m traveling “for the Thanksgiving spread” — but this isn’t what I had in mind. This year due to the economy turkey … [Read more...] about TSA Controversy Continues: Outraged Public Refuses to Turn the Other Cheek Over TSA Body Scans and Pat Downs
Barbara Bush Throws Paula Under the Bus
Who is Paula? I don't know. But Barbara Bush told Larry King that it was Paula who put the fetus in the jar, and Larry, apparently -- unless Politico cut it out of this video -- was not curious enough to ask: … [Read more...] about Barbara Bush Throws Paula Under the Bus
Unforgettable Woman
Nora Ephron and I met cute. On the first day Lynda Bird Johnson came to work for me at McCalls in 1966, I found Ephron, a reporter for the New York Post, wandering the corridors and threw her out of the building. When she started free-lancing for magazines, I sent her to interview Henry Kissinger who, between war crimes, was dating starlets and bimbos in his "Power is an … [Read more...] about Unforgettable Woman
Walter Mitty Goes to War
One of the best short stories ever written - later made into a movie starring Danny Kaye - was The Secret Life of Walter Mitty which featured a mild mannered daydreamer who put himself into heroic situations in his fantasies. Thurber's deft touch made the character into a tragic figure, but sympathetic as well, while revealing the fate of non-conformists in a conformist … [Read more...] about Walter Mitty Goes to War
The Debatable “Privacy” of One’s “Junk” (Or Let’s Merge Healthcare with the TSA)
The TSA has been given new electronic and procedural tools to search for possible bombs and weapons carried by airline passengers before they board any planes at U.S. airports. If a person objects to a highly-revealing body scan (TSA employees can see every roll of fat now) then the person will have to submit to a complete body search by hand (which could be devastating for … [Read more...] about The Debatable “Privacy” of One’s “Junk” (Or Let’s Merge Healthcare with the TSA)
Let’s Just Get It Over With
Societies and civilizations are born, mature and die - this is what history teaches us. Our society is in old age and death/collapse is near. As I pointed out here Howard Kunstler has made a career of predicting the end of civilization as we know it. But he's not alone. There was a time when Kunstler was mocked - but no more - he has plenty of company these days and The … [Read more...] about Let’s Just Get It Over With