California, which shows no shame in offering quirky ballot measures to voters, has a beauty on the Nov. 2 ballot: No pay and no retroactive reimbursement to Assembly and Senate members who do not submit a budget to the governor by June 15. At first blush, that draws the reaction from many who would say it serves the bums right. After all, California legislators pay … [Read more...] about California’s Goofy, Quirky Props
(Not) Coping in a Stressful World
It is stressful out there...particularly at the office. Sometimes tempers are frayed -- and sometimes they're lost: … [Read more...] about (Not) Coping in a Stressful World
Independents, Obama and the 2010 Midterm Elections
The midterm elections coming up in November are all about the independents. Have the Dems given up in the face of the media onslaught saying indies are going Repub this time? Independents voted in 2008 for Barack Obama, not the Democratic Party. And if independents vote for Repubs this time, it won't be because they like the Repub party, believe me! See Obama looks to … [Read more...] about Independents, Obama and the 2010 Midterm Elections
Obama On Board To Reduce Internet Privacy
Facebook, Skype and Blackberry are just a few of the internet sources that could face new requirements, and expenses, if they are forced to assist federal authorities in carrying out wiretaps. A proposal to be presented to congress by the Obama administration early next year would require all internet providers doing business in the United States to add wiretap capability to … [Read more...] about Obama On Board To Reduce Internet Privacy
Secret Holds Jeopardize Federal Judiciary
Fewer judicial nominees have been confirmed in the first 20 months of the Obama administration than at any time in more than 40 years. Nearly 10% of federal judgeships are currently vacant. In addition to the 103 open seats, 20 other federal judges have announced plans to retire. There are currently 23 judicial nominees who have cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee but … [Read more...] about Secret Holds Jeopardize Federal Judiciary
Wary of the Technology Aware (Guest Voice)
Wary of the Technology Aware by Tom Purcell My new cell phone calls people on its own. I know this because people I don't know call me back, asking why I phoned. I tell them I didn't phone them -- my phone did. Which makes them sore. Unlike the first cell phone I had -- it was big and heavy and all I could use it for was to phone other people, which I never did … [Read more...] about Wary of the Technology Aware (Guest Voice)
Is Christiane Amanpour Tanking in Ratings as ABC’s This Week Host?
Is Christiane Amanpour, the prominent former CNN staffer who has the admirable dream of bringing more foreign news related discussion to network television, tanking in the ratings as host of ABC's (once) popular Sunday morning show "This Week?" The initial indications certainly seem ominous. Mediaite reports: Christiane Amanpour has been ABC’s This Week host for nine … [Read more...] about Is Christiane Amanpour Tanking in Ratings as ABC’s This Week Host?
Bell CA Arrests
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Bell CA Arrests
Segway’s New Owner Drives Himself Off Cliff In a Segway
You've heard the old cliche about a businessman who took over a business and drove it off a cliff? From England comes a sad story about Jim Heselden, the businessman and philanthropist who bought Segway, accidentally drove himself off a cliff in a Segway: The multi-millionaire owner of the Segway company died in a freak accident yesterday when he rode one of the high-tech … [Read more...] about Segway’s New Owner Drives Himself Off Cliff In a Segway
Unhealthy American Tastes
The nation's body and mind are moving in sync as Americans reject Michelle Obama's campaign to eat more vegetables even as they disdain her husband's recipe for a healthier polity. More and more, taste buds and brain cells are responding less and less to subtleties. As the President's approval ratings hit a new low, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study shows … [Read more...] about Unhealthy American Tastes
Public Anger and the Post Financial Crisis: Financial Times Deutschland, Germany
Now that, at least as far as economists are concerned, the Great Recession is over, what should Western governments do to right their economic ships of state? According to columnist Wolfgang Munchau of Germany's Financial Times Deutschland, Europe has even less of a clue about what to do than the United States - and neither has a strategy to address well-founded public anger … [Read more...] about Public Anger and the Post Financial Crisis: Financial Times Deutschland, Germany
The GOP’s Achilles Region
BOSTON -- "Where are our plans for a New Deal or a Great Society?" asked Edward W. Brooke, the legendary Massachusetts Republican. It's not a question anyone in today's Republican Party would dare get caught even considering, but Brooke had the temerity to raise it in "The Challenge of Change," a book published in 1966, the year he became the first African-American … [Read more...] about The GOP’s Achilles Region
The Spirit of Halloween to Come
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about The Spirit of Halloween to Come
The Mosque Near Ground Zero Already Exists
Muslims have been worshiping in the abandoned building that is now the center of debate -- two blocks from the edge of Ground Zero -- for more than a year. The only question left is whether the community center will get built. Most of us don't know that. I learned it from an excellent report aired tonight on 60 Minutes tonight. They also traveled to DC: It occurred to us that … [Read more...] about The Mosque Near Ground Zero Already Exists
Election Year Madness
The U.S. is close to its 110th Constitutionally-mandated biennial Federal elections ritual. Unfortunately, this 18th Century process is completely unrelated to the needs of 21st Century American reality. We still believe that people will be level-headed every first Tuesday after the first Monday in every November during every even-numbered year to make sound decisions on … [Read more...] about Election Year Madness
50 Years Ago Today: the Kennedy Nixon Debates
Today is the 50th anniversary of the pioneering debates between Democratic Sen. John F. Kennedy and Vice President Richard Nixon. Here's the 58 minute debate that aired: Here was Kennedy's TV jingle: Supporter Frank Sinatra also recorded a special campaign song for JFK of his own: … [Read more...] about 50 Years Ago Today: the Kennedy Nixon Debates
The US Police State
Back in July of 2007 the always shrill Republican Paul Craig Roberts wrote the following: Unless Congress immediately impeaches Bush and Cheney, a year from now the US could be a dictatorial police state at war with Iran. Bush has put in place all the necessary measures for dictatorship in the form of "executive orders" that are triggered whenever Bush declares a national … [Read more...] about The US Police State
Venezuela Holds Elections
Legislative elections are being held this week in Venezuela and there is much speculation as to what will happen with the power of strongman Hugo Chavez. Chavez has not looked kindly on the idea of people voting against him and has done a lot to make sure his side wins, but there seems to be considerable opposition to his government. It seems likely his party will retain … [Read more...] about Venezuela Holds Elections
Katy Perry Hot, Parents Not Cool
On the SNL premiere last night* and Sunday Morning this morning, she was booted from Sesame Street because she's too hot for some parents. She's got the cut scene -- "Come on Elmo don't you want to play?" -- on her YouTube channel. Three million views and counting. Said Sesame Street: “Sesame Street has always been written on two levels, for the child and adult. We use … [Read more...] about Katy Perry Hot, Parents Not Cool
Where Good Ideas Come From
The 4 min version of Steven Johnson's new book... Johnson says of the video: I have to admit when the good folks at Riverhead mentioned that they were working on an animated video promoting Where Good Ideas Come From, I wasn't fully convinced it was going to be worth the effort. But the absolutely brilliant video they produced with Cognitive Media in the UK shows how wrong … [Read more...] about Where Good Ideas Come From