When you look past citizen anger and frustration personified by Tea Party activists, there is a sobering datapoint that foreshadows November election results: from January 2009 to September 2010, the U.S. economy shed a net of 4.1 million jobs. This dwarfs the 2.5 million jobs lost from 2007-2008. Remember what happened in that election? History is on the side of the … [Read more...] about Why Ds Have An Uphill Battle Next Month (UPDATED)
Judge Orders Military To Stop DADT Discharges
U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips today ordered the military to stop all discharges under the DADT policy, following up on her earlier ruling that found the policy to violate the Constitution. Good for her. The ruling is likely to be appealed but it is a step on the road to justice. … [Read more...] about Judge Orders Military To Stop DADT Discharges
Guatemalans ‘Opened Door’ for Terrifying U.S. Experiments: El Periodico, Guatemala
Continuing with our coverage of the U.S. syphilis experiments from the Guatemalan side, now that it has been revealed that the United States performed the deadly research in the 1940s, columnist Dina Fernandez of Guatemala's El Periodico writes that regardless of the righteous indignation that the people in her country feel toward their 'neighbors to the north,' Guatemalans … [Read more...] about Guatemalans ‘Opened Door’ for Terrifying U.S. Experiments: El Periodico, Guatemala
On Internet Censorship : ACTA and COICA
When you think of Internet censorship, countries that spring to mind might range from China to Iran. But I doubt most people, most Americans anyway, associate the U.S.A. with Internet censorship. Perhaps you should. Reading about COICA, S. 3804 (bill text), Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act, I could not help but wonder about its linkage to ACTA, the global … [Read more...] about On Internet Censorship : ACTA and COICA
Yankees Fans Display Low Class Behavior
I've never been a big fan of the Yankees but behavior like this, coming on the heels of everything that has happened in NYC over the past week, makes me glad I'm not a fan. … [Read more...] about Yankees Fans Display Low Class Behavior
Are You Disgusted Yet?
One is six Americans is either unemployed or underemployed. Millions are lined up at food pantries, and food stamps are at record levels. Foreclosures may have been suspended for many at present because of screw ups in bank paperwork but that does nothing to solve the housing crisis — indeed, from a certain prospective, it just makes things much worse. Voters are angry as … [Read more...] about Are You Disgusted Yet?
Gallup Poll: 2010 Midterms Shape Up As Independents Fleeing From Democrats
If there is an emerging political storyabout the 2010 mid terms -- a political trend likely to give the best indicator yet about how these elections are shaping up, one that goes beyond ideology-based political analysis -- it is this: Independent voters are fleeing the Democrats big time and he (or she) who loses the independents in big numbers usually loses the elections. A … [Read more...] about Gallup Poll: 2010 Midterms Shape Up As Independents Fleeing From Democrats
“Social Network” vs. “Network”
In this culturally fractured moment, the buzz is suddenly about connection. A Facebook film serves as a metaphor for political columnists while Jon Stewart uses a 1976 movie with half its title in calling for a Rally to Restore Sanity. Is America "mad as hell and not going to take it anymore" or a huge circle of Friends creating digital democracy and instant political … [Read more...] about “Social Network” vs. “Network”
Campaign Money
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Campaign Money
The Wait Debate: Are Waiters Worth the Tip?
Waiters are a mainstay in the restaurant culture, and tipping is a social convention. But is it time to eliminate the tip? … [Read more...] about The Wait Debate: Are Waiters Worth the Tip?
A Salute to Andrew Sullivan
Andrew Sullivan marks his 10th year of blogging and he has asked for a "toast or roast." We'll give a decided Toast. The reason: Andrew Sullivan and his The Dish has been engagingly consistent every step of the way and the Internet remains richer for it. Sullivan has been and is a role model to many who wanted to blog and I know I can safely say he is one of the favorites … [Read more...] about A Salute to Andrew Sullivan
Sex Offenders Unmonitored During System Failure
The limits of the tech fix exposed: "At 0729 Mountain Time [1429 GMT] on 5 October, BI Incorporated experienced a problem with one of its offender monitoring servers that caused this server's automatic notification system to be temporarily disabled, resulting in delayed notifications to customers. The issue was resolved approximately 12 hours later at 1925 [0229 GMT … [Read more...] about Sex Offenders Unmonitored During System Failure
Snyder v. Phelps: Free Speech vs. a Father’s Right to Mourn his Son’s Death with Dignity
There can hardly be a more contentious and consequential issue than one involving the First Amendment. Just such an issue, the Snyder v. Phelps case, has now arrived at the U.S. Supreme Court. It is the kind of case that, in my estimation, has divided American opinion right down the middle. What is even more significant, it is an issue where one can find the brightest … [Read more...] about Snyder v. Phelps: Free Speech vs. a Father’s Right to Mourn his Son’s Death with Dignity
Taxing Professors and Cowboys
A Harvard economist and former George W. Bush adviser explains it all in a piece titled, "I Can Afford Higher Taxes. But They’ll Make Me Work Less." Less scholarly mortals should be grateful for enlightenment about how earning $1000 for an article is such a burden for a professor with more than $250,000 a year in income that the economy will crash if Congress doesn't extend … [Read more...] about Taxing Professors and Cowboys
Democrats Either Doomed Or Coming Back
I love it when conflicting reports get placed right next to each other Three articles today on RCP 1: RCP average reaches new high for GOP 2: From MSNBC: Democrats clawing their way back 3: From Hotline: Hail Mary Time for Democrats Personally I'd guess the truth is somewhere in the middle of these stories. The GOP is certainly on a roll and if it were not for … [Read more...] about Democrats Either Doomed Or Coming Back
NYT Profiles Blogger Who Launched Faux “Ground Zero Mosque” Controversy
This is another one of those "better late than never" stories, I suppose. It would have been extremely helpful for citizens of the US and the world -- but maybe not MSM coffers -- to have dished this up back in July, before Sarah Palin et al got their paws on it. The outrageous and the solemn are deeply intertwined in her character. Ms. Geller admits to using Atlas Shrugs … [Read more...] about NYT Profiles Blogger Who Launched Faux “Ground Zero Mosque” Controversy
Al-Maliki’s Coalition with Al-Sadr ‘Angers Americans’: Iraq News Agency, Iraq
According to this news item from the Iraq New Agency and contrary to a recent report in the Financial Times, Washington is not at all pleased that Muqtada al-Sadr looks like the kingmaker in Baghdad. Once referred to by the U.S. as a 'radical Shiite cleric,' al-Sadr has created an alliance with current Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, assuring him of a second term despite his … [Read more...] about Al-Maliki’s Coalition with Al-Sadr ‘Angers Americans’: Iraq News Agency, Iraq
Windows Phone 7 Marketing Mistakes (cont’d)
John Gruber, again, this time on the bureaucratic language Microsoft used to announce the Windows Phone 7 today, "Who talks like this? This bureaucrat-ese is intended, I suppose, to sound serious. But it just sounds like bull$#@t." The press release is titled, “Windows Phone 7: A Fresh Start for the Smartphone: The Phone Delivers a New User Experience by Integrating the … [Read more...] about Windows Phone 7 Marketing Mistakes (cont’d)
This Angry Season
In the United States, the conventional wisdom holds that, when the nation is on the wrong track, "we the people" will set it right. It's a comforting thought. But, in this angry season, one must ask if that axiom is always true. There is a pathological quality to much of the anger one sees and hears these days. When Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin and Carl Paladino keep returning to … [Read more...] about This Angry Season
Why Not Da Vinci Day ?
I was listening to Armstrong and Getty on the radio this morning when they made a pretty good point. Today is Columbus Day, a holiday that many consider to be one of the most pointless holidays of the entire year. After all Columbus didn't discover anything, people were already here, and he wasn't that good of a person by all accounts. So why do we have an official … [Read more...] about Why Not Da Vinci Day ?