In case you are wondering where your tax dollars go, you are talking to one. I just mailed my forms for re-certification on MediCal. It is a perfunctory duty of limited consequences. The Medicaid version in California considers me, a single senior whose sole income is $1,165 net from Social Security, a fat cat in the world of the impoverished. By fat, I mean I earn $8 a … [Read more...] about Putting A Face On Those Nasty Entitlement Benefits
Glenn Beck Meets Honest Abe
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Glenn Beck Meets Honest Abe
Guess What Big Political News Story Fox News Ignored
Guess what big political news story the Fox News Channel (not the website) totally ignored? Can you guess? It's this. I've often disputed charges that Fox News was really nothing more than a propaganda network since it does have some good news gathering professionals working for it. But this omission most assuredly lays credence to the belief that far from being fair and … [Read more...] about Guess What Big Political News Story Fox News Ignored
Mississippi School Segregates Class Elections
After you've cleared your mind of various what the comments, you can read this article about a school in Mississippi that has decided to segregate class elections, only allowing whites to run for some offices and only allowing blacks to run for others. I suppose the theory was this insures that there will be class officers of both races but how dumb can you get. … [Read more...] about Mississippi School Segregates Class Elections
The Parent Model
One of our loyal readers brought this article to my attention and it is well worth reading and considering. The article compares the US and German economies and the fact that while our economy is still struggling the German economy is moving along and a steady clip. Since the growth (or lack thereof) is only reflected by a short period of time the author does not suggest … [Read more...] about The Parent Model
Moderates in ‘Radical Headlock’ Over ‘Ground Zero Mosque’: News, Switzerland
Does the divisive controversy over the Muslim community center near Ground Zero demonstrate how radical Christians and Muslims have taken over the public debate to such an extent, that they threaten the freedoms millions have fought and died for? Columnist Patrick Etschmayer writes for The News of Switzerland, that those opposing the Cordoba House are helping the terrorists … [Read more...] about Moderates in ‘Radical Headlock’ Over ‘Ground Zero Mosque’: News, Switzerland
Gay Bush Aide No Bombshell
In its story noting the relative lack of controversy around Ken Mehlman saying that he is gay, the NYTimes concludes that the GOP cares now about fiscal issues: The center of gravity of the conservative movement in this election season is with fiscal conservatives. The Tea Party is infusing the Republican Party with new energy, and Tea Party leaders and supporters say they do … [Read more...] about Gay Bush Aide No Bombshell
Tea Party ‘Rocks Primaries.’ Will It Still Rock Come November?
Even to me, a Democrat, Rolling Stone, the publication that “outed” General McChrystal, sometimes goes overboard in how it portrays the opposition and in the “colorful” language it uses to do so---“expletives deleted” certainly called for here. In his “Tea Party Rocks Primaries,” Matt Taibbi doesn’t break the mold in his analysis of Tea Party successes in the recent … [Read more...] about Tea Party ‘Rocks Primaries.’ Will It Still Rock Come November?
USA Today: Big Layoffs, Emphasis on Non-Print in “Radical” Overhaul
To those of us here in San Diego there's a been there/done that ring to this: USA Today, the USA's second largest newspaper, is going to lay off some 130 staffers, dramatically reorganize its existing traditional newsroom structure, start to de-emphasize print and put the big push on multi-platform info venues -- in effect, taking a deep breath and trying to focus on being a … [Read more...] about USA Today: Big Layoffs, Emphasis on Non-Print in “Radical” Overhaul
Heck Of A Job
Former FEMA administrator turned talk radio host, Michael Brown, in New Orleans to host his show for the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina: “Put yourself in my shoes...you’ve just come out of a meeting where you’ve just told your boss that nothing’s working, I can’t make stuff happen, state and local government aren’t doing what they need to do, the federal government … [Read more...] about Heck Of A Job
China And India or China Vs India?
A must-read post by Steve Hynd. … [Read more...] about China And India or China Vs India?
Four Months In The Earth
Obviously we all hope and pray for the rescue to succeed, but what mental control does it take to accept four months before rescue.. … [Read more...] about Four Months In The Earth
“Terrorist!” Shouting Drunk Urinates on NYC Mosque Rugs
Uh, oh, Joe, get ready to be accused of being PC: but isn't it time to really say it? Something truly ugly is now being unleashed on our land in the name of gaining votes, creating wedge issues and getting big ratings -- and although some will definitely see big political and financial payoffs there are also now signs that there could be serious consequences. First, we had … [Read more...] about “Terrorist!” Shouting Drunk Urinates on NYC Mosque Rugs
One Million Free GMail Calls Made in First 24 Hours
Google announced yesterday free voice phone calls via GMail to the U.S. and Canada and calls to other countries billed for as little as $0.02 per minute. (Here's their price comparison table.) The feature was rolled out to everyone in the U.S. today. (If you don't see the feature yet, try logging out of Gmail and signing back in.) It looks like GMail users like it: This … [Read more...] about One Million Free GMail Calls Made in First 24 Hours
When A Game Is More Than A Game
Sometimes we are reminded why some things are more important than others For many young men making it in Major League Baseball is the dream of a lifetime. But for one man, having his father watch him play is far more special. Logan Morrison plays for the Florida Marlins, and certainly that is a major accomplishment in his life. But his father has terminal lung cancer … [Read more...] about When A Game Is More Than A Game
God Bless America
Prepare for those goosebumps people. … [Read more...] about God Bless America
A Look At Nate Silvers Odds If The Republicans Win Back Congress
I am trying to wrap my brain around the possibility the Republicans regain control of both houses of Congress now that Nate Silver, the best prognosticator in the business, puts it at attainable odds. To embrace such an event, I think it only honest to divorce oneself with preconceived hysteria based on claptrap always heard on the campaign trails and imagine how this new … [Read more...] about A Look At Nate Silvers Odds If The Republicans Win Back Congress
Beyond War: A Marshall Plan for Pakistan: Frankfurter Rundschau, Germany
Is it now, finally, time to set aside war and adopt a strategy on the same order of magnitude that revived Western civilization after World War II? This editorial from the Frankfurter Rundschau of Germany suggests turning this moment of environmental and political catastrophe in Pakistan into an opportunity to remake the region - not with violence, but with a massive and … [Read more...] about Beyond War: A Marshall Plan for Pakistan: Frankfurter Rundschau, Germany
Glenn Beck’s Rally: ‘Restoring Honor’ or Exploiting a Legacy?
As you may have heard, Conservative radio and TV personality Glenn Beck is organizing a rally, “Restoring Honor,” on Saturday at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. The rally will take place on the 47th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s famous "I Have a Dream" speech. Beck claims it is “a coincidence.” Beck does not call the rally political, but rather as a moment … [Read more...] about Glenn Beck’s Rally: ‘Restoring Honor’ or Exploiting a Legacy?
Being Gay Is A Choice; A Homosexual Proclivity May Not Be
On the occasion of Ken Mehlman's decision to come out as a gay man, I re-post in full my reaction to seeing Brokeback Mountain from December 2005: Homosexual and gay are not synonymous; all homosexuals are not gay. Homosexual acts may be circumstantial - a man in prison, a drunken evening - or experimental and do not mean an individual is homosexual by nature. But … [Read more...] about Being Gay Is A Choice; A Homosexual Proclivity May Not Be