I have been remiss, and I apologize. On Monday, I wrote about a series of five articles being published by the Stars and Stripes on the occasion of the ongoing withdrawal of our combat troops out of Iraq. I highlighted the first set of articles and listed the topics of the remaining four sets of articles, and I said, “Interested readers will find daily updates and links to … [Read more...] about ‘The Long Goodbye’—The Rest of the Stories
No Surprise Here!
Jobless claims were up: New U.S. claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly climbed to a nine-month high last week, yet another setback to the frail economic recovery. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits increased 12,000 to a seasonally adjusted 500,000 in the week ended August 14, the highest since mid-November, the Labor Department said on … [Read more...] about No Surprise Here!
Got Me Thinking Again About How Men and Women See
My fellow CWRU alumnus and TMV co-blogger Jill Miller Zimon from Cleveland, OH sparked some thoughts way out here in Phoenix, AZ. She’s concerned about alleged gender bias of the Cleveland Plain Dealer – a decrepit rag of a newspaper if there ever was one – with respect to political endorsements being subtly biased against women – somehow, even if unintentional. You should … [Read more...] about Got Me Thinking Again About How Men and Women See
Presidential Theology
Here are a couple of things that have caught my attention this week: President Obama is a Muslim – According to a poll by the Pew Center, nearly 1 out of 5 people (18%) think that the President is a Muslim while 34% think he is a Christian and 48% have not got a clue what faith he may have. It is amazing to me that this is a story coming from a country that has … [Read more...] about Presidential Theology
Newspaper Political Endorsements Reinforce Gender Bias
Anastasia Pantsios, a lifelong journalist, does a great job in Ohio Daily Blog's post, "A Disturbing Pattern" with the subject of how the Cleveland Plain Dealer's primary endorsements for 12 newly-created elected positions read as gender-biased reviews though the motivation seems unintentional. But just because there is no intention does not mean that there is no bias. It … [Read more...] about Newspaper Political Endorsements Reinforce Gender Bias
The Takeover Makeover Of San Diego’s Grand Old Lady
There is a brotherhood of newspaper, radio and television folks in San Diego that are in a twitter (the old definition) over the face of one of the city's oldest institutions. -- Its daily newspaper. The San Diego Union-Tribune under new ownership last year chose this week to launch a Botox version of its former self. Both the print version and its on-line close cousin some … [Read more...] about The Takeover Makeover Of San Diego’s Grand Old Lady
The Mosque, Freedom And The Law: Part II
In Part I, the history of the First Amendment’s prohibition against the establishment of religion or abridging the free exercise thereof was examined. With today’s more literal reading of the First Amendment, incorporating religious tolerance, Part II examines a) what constitutes a church for constitutional and regulatory purposes, b) the RLUIPA and c) the impact of the First … [Read more...] about The Mosque, Freedom And The Law: Part II
More Bad Economic News: Weekly Jobs Claims Climbs to 500,000
More bad economic news -- signs of an ailing recovery which has sparked speculation about what kind of recovery is it and whether the patient is heading towards a relapse: New U.S. claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly climbed to a nine-month high last week, yet another setback to the frail economic recovery. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits … [Read more...] about More Bad Economic News: Weekly Jobs Claims Climbs to 500,000
The Mosque, Freedom And The Law: Part I
Historical Perspective The preeminent act of America’s first Congress was passage of the Bill of Rights on September 25, 1789. Comprised of the first ten amendments to the Constitution, ratification was completed on December 15, 1791 with Virginia providing the necessary final vote to complete the process. The first section of the First Amendment reads, “Congress shall … [Read more...] about The Mosque, Freedom And The Law: Part I
Poll: Nearly One In Five Americans Think Obama is a Muslim
Who says that negatively defining someone -- facts to the contrary -- doesn't work? It sure does in 21st century American politics. Just look at this Pew Research Center poll which indicates nearly one in five Americans think President Barack Obama is a Muslim: A substantial and growing number of Americans say that Barack Obama is a Muslim, while the proportion saying he … [Read more...] about Poll: Nearly One In Five Americans Think Obama is a Muslim
More Publishing When There Was No Copyright Law
Der Spiegel on a historian who argues Germany's rapid industrial expansion in the 19th century was due to an absence of copyright law: Höffner has researched that early heyday of printed material in Germany and reached a surprising conclusion -- unlike neighboring England and France, Germany experienced an unparalleled explosion of knowledge in the 19th century. German … [Read more...] about More Publishing When There Was No Copyright Law
San Diego Union-Tribune: A Newspaper Redesigns Itself To Adapt to a New Era
These are wrenching times for companies that own newspapers and those who've dedicated their lives to working on them. And, in many cases, if a newspaper wants to survive it must decide on some changes. Nowhere has that been more evident in my home-base city of San Diego, California, where my former employer the San Diego Union-Tribune has over the past year changed hands as … [Read more...] about San Diego Union-Tribune: A Newspaper Redesigns Itself To Adapt to a New Era
Shirley Sherrod To NAACP: ‘I Look Forward to Working and Struggling Right by Your Side’
Shirley Sherrod in an open letter on behalf of the NAACP: Not long ago, I sat here in my living room in Albany, Georgia for an afternoon of deep conversation with NAACP President Benjamin Jealous. As he has done in public, Ben movingly apologized for the fact that the NAACP was initially hoodwinked by Breitbart and Fox into supporting my removal. I told him what I want to tell … [Read more...] about Shirley Sherrod To NAACP: ‘I Look Forward to Working and Struggling Right by Your Side’
Legal Victories for Shameless Liars
Truth may set you free, but lies are running a close second these days as Rod Blagojevich, Tom DeLay and a politician who falsely claimed to have won the Congressional Medal of Honor are doing well in the court system. The legal principle involved in persuading only 11 of 12 jurors that Blago tried to sell Obama's Senate seat, according to Scott Turow, author of "Presumed … [Read more...] about Legal Victories for Shameless Liars
Cordoba House: The ‘Impossible Mosque’ – ABC, Spain
Perhaps it's because Spain was hit with an al-Qaeda terrorist attack that killed 191 and wounded 1,800; it may be Spain's long history with Islam, which goes back to the 8th century; it might even be simply because the 'Cordoba House' is the namesake of that Spanish city, in which Jews, Christians and Muslims coexisted peacefully for centuries. But whatever the reason, there … [Read more...] about Cordoba House: The ‘Impossible Mosque’ – ABC, Spain
The Cordoba House and ‘Hussein of Yankeeland’: La Opinion de Zemora, Spain
Do Western countries have a right to demand 'reciprocation' from Muslim nations when it comes to freedom of religion? And was President Obama in error to come out apparently in favor of the building of a controversial Muslim community center near New York's Ground Zero? Continuing with our global coverage of this expanding controversy, columnist Rufo Gamazo Rico of Spain's … [Read more...] about The Cordoba House and ‘Hussein of Yankeeland’: La Opinion de Zemora, Spain
Ground Zero Mosque
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Ground Zero Mosque
A Critical Look At The NYC Mosque Polling Data
Opponents of the New York City community center and mosque located near the site of the former World Trade Center routinely cite polling data as evidence that the project should be killed. Setting aside for a moment the fact that public opinion impeded such civil right advances as giving women the right to vote and freeing slaves, let's take a look at two of the most cited … [Read more...] about A Critical Look At The NYC Mosque Polling Data
Newt Gingrich Loves America
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Newt Gingrich Loves America
Senate Candidates Tackle Congressional Revolving Door
The two leading candidates for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Joe Biden when he became Vice President -- Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE) and New Castle county executive Chris Coons (D) -- have publicly criticized the Congressional revolving door. In early August, Rep. Castle -- who was first elected to Delaware's single House seat in 1992 -- filed the Accountability and … [Read more...] about Senate Candidates Tackle Congressional Revolving Door