And some thought The Social Network would hurt him. The 26-year-old man once derided as the "toddler CEO" (a comment recently rescinded in a 60 Minutes love-fest) sits comfortably on top of the world. Or, at least, on top of Time's read of the zeitgeist. USA Today: Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, 26, the second youngest person in the publication's history. (Charles Lindbergh … [Read more...] about Mark Zuckerberg Time Person of the Year
Ike Joins Jon’s Call for Sanity
Jon Stewart and President Eisenhower make an odd couple, but they have a similar message for today's politicians. As the Daily Show host does an enraged rant about Congressional hypocrisy in caring more about tax cuts for the rich than the health of 9/11 responders, Ike's voice comes from the past, warning about falling "into bitter, unreconcilable factions which in other … [Read more...] about Ike Joins Jon’s Call for Sanity
Obama Administration Rushes to “Clarify” Holbrooke’s Final Words
The State Department appears to be in a white-hot panic over the possible consequences of Richard Holbrooke final words before surgery yesterday: … [Read more...] about Obama Administration Rushes to “Clarify” Holbrooke’s Final Words
La Niña Strikes
This is a La Niña year in the Pacific Northwest. That results is wild and unpredictable weather. The temperature yesterday was 61, today it was in the low 40s. Cold moist air meant thunderstorms - heavy rain and hail. But south of Portland there was something else. Tornadoes are rare in Oregon - we average about two a year and they normally just tear … [Read more...] about La Niña Strikes
My Five Stages Of Obama Grieving
Over the past two years my feelings toward President Obama have gone through a number of stages. 1. Denial. I didn't think Barack Obama was ready to be president in 2008. I thought he had a huge potential but needed a few more years of seasoning — needed the kind of experience that would make him less prone to go along with Clinton-era financial gurus, and less dependent on … [Read more...] about My Five Stages Of Obama Grieving
Assange the Latest Fall Guy for Crimes of World’s Power Elite: News, Switzerland
Is Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, being persecuted for the crimes of his accusers? Patrik Etschmayer of Switzerland's News writes that the world's power elite don't like - and aren't used to - having their incompetence and misbehavior so roundly exposed, and in an effort to deflect public angst directed at them, are trying to make Julian Assange the issue. For … [Read more...] about Assange the Latest Fall Guy for Crimes of World’s Power Elite: News, Switzerland
Richard Holbrooke’s Unfinished Business
I'm kind of blown away by this: … [Read more...] about Richard Holbrooke’s Unfinished Business
Richard Holbrooke’s Dying Words
Leaders and diplomats around the world are mourning the death of Richard C Holbrooke, widely praised as a genius in diplomacy and international resource. His dying words? The Washington Post: On Friday morning, he was taken to George Washington University Hospital after he became flushed and suffered chest pains during a meeting with Clinton. He underwent a 21-hour … [Read more...] about Richard Holbrooke’s Dying Words
Democracy or Death (Guest Voice)
Democracy or Death by Martha Randolph Carr Journalism has fallen down another rung with the outcry among pundits against Julian Assange who took part in the Wikileaks affairs and is still helping to disseminate thousands of pages of classified US documents to the general public. The aftermath of closing down so many print sources across America is becoming more and more … [Read more...] about Democracy or Death (Guest Voice)
Mythbusters
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Mythbusters
WikiLeaks: Much Ado About Nothing
I may be the last man remotely engaged in journalism still standing who does not have any great opinion about the WikiLeaks release of diplomatic gossip and its curator Julian Assange. My assessment boils down to bumper sticker status: Shit Happens. Assange recently wrote an essay defending himself under the headline "Don't Shoot Messenger for Revealing Uncomfortable … [Read more...] about WikiLeaks: Much Ado About Nothing
Obama (1), Biden (2), Boehner (3)
Presidential succession changes next month and Washington, obsessed as always with power, is trying to get a handle on who's waiting in the wings, ready to do what to whom. The New York Times does a takeout on "Biden's Bigger Role," noting that the Vice-President's "role in the back-channel compromise with Republicans on tax cuts has engendered some resentment, along with … [Read more...] about Obama (1), Biden (2), Boehner (3)
Gawker Media, McDonald’s, Walgreen All Report Cyber Security Breaches
When a corporation screws up and your account information is compromised by "unauthorized access" (code for "someone broke into our database and stole your data"), current law seems to side with the corporate behemoths. They send you an "oops, we're sorry" email and you have to suck it up. Liability? Seems AWOL. This weekend, Gawker lost all information on about 1.3 million … [Read more...] about Gawker Media, McDonald’s, Walgreen All Report Cyber Security Breaches
I’ll Be Home For Christmas
Today's Christmas video is a blast from the 80's past. Facts of Life may have been pretty brain dead but this was a very touching scene. … [Read more...] about I’ll Be Home For Christmas
Obamacare DOA?
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Obamacare DOA?
Federal Judge Says Individual Mandate Is Unconstitutional: A Blogger Roundup
Although right-wing pundits are rejoicing at today's decision by a federal judge in Virginia that the requirement to purchase insurance in the new health care reform law violates the Constitution (and Logan Penza has the legal analysis on this), Ezra Klein observes that the ruling may be good news for supporters of health care reform as well: … [Read more...] about Federal Judge Says Individual Mandate Is Unconstitutional: A Blogger Roundup
Richard Holbrooke Dies
Not a shock given the very low survival rate of those with torn aorta's but news just breaking that he passed away. Deepest sympathies to his family. A time to step away from politics … [Read more...] about Richard Holbrooke Dies
Who Rules Us? Hackers, the Global Press and Our Leadership – in that Order: Liberation, France
Has WikiLeaks turned the pecking order of global decision making upside down? For Liberation, French historian Elisabeth Roudinesco asserts that if the recent massive disclosure of classified U.S. diplomatic cables through five of the world's best known newspapers tells us nothing else, it's that hackers now rule the world. Historian Elisabeth Roudinesco, for Liberation, … [Read more...] about Who Rules Us? Hackers, the Global Press and Our Leadership – in that Order: Liberation, France
Who Needs Spelling
The above is via Barry Ritholz. Can you read it? You should be able to - your mind works in strange ways. In case you are having trouble research at Cambridge University determined that when we read we don't look at every letter and as long as the first and last letter are where they should be the mind can decode the rest. … [Read more...] about Who Needs Spelling
Has Barack Obama Found His Mojo?
Has President Barack Obama suddenly found his mojo? Centrist writer and CNN contributor John Avlon, writing on The Daily Beast, thinks so. A few meaty excerpts: Almost lost in the debate over the tax cut compromise this week was a striking moment of defiance and self-definition from President Obama. It came in the final five minutes of Tuesday’s afternoon press … [Read more...] about Has Barack Obama Found His Mojo?