The debate over the violence sparked when a ship bound for Gaza was boarded by Israeli commandos has quickly collapsed into predictable narratives. Most critics of Israel have been quick to ignore the fact the putatively unarmed humanitarian aid workers attacked Israeli troops with knives and clubs, attempting to seize hostages or just plain lynch them. And most supporters of … [Read more...] about The Price of Anti-Israel Bias
Who or what are “the markets,” and where are they taking us?
You can't check a news report these days without coming across some reference to "the markets." The reason is obvious. Activity in financial markets are shaping our lives in so many ways, and pretty much determining our economic presents and futures. Given this reality, it's worth stepping back for a moment and understanding who or what "the markets" really are, and where they … [Read more...] about Who or what are “the markets,” and where are they taking us?
Book Review – Invisible History
Invisible History: Afghanistan's Untold Story by Paul Fitzgerald and Elizabeth Gould is a must read book for anyone who wants to understand world geopolitics since the Vietnam war and even before. It might be surprising what an important part the small country Afghanistan played in the politics of the cold war. This was a difficult review simply because there is so much … [Read more...] about Book Review – Invisible History
Every Day is Memorial Day
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Every Day is Memorial Day
Is a NATO Civil War Imminent?
I'm not going to get into the details of the Israeli-Gaza flotilla incident or the moral repercussions therein. I see nothing but propaganda from both sides and i don't know if we'll ever know what really happened. One thing that HAS happened, however, is that Israel has possibly severed its relationship with its one serious Muslim ally: Turkey. In fact, Turkey has … [Read more...] about Is a NATO Civil War Imminent?
How NOT to do Public Relations?
I was a journalist for many years and dealt with many public relations people. This includes McDonalds Corp. reps after the 1984 San Ysidro massacre, PR people on the scenes of disasters, spokespeople for politicians in trouble, and government PR people who had to get the message out and defend agencies such as the police, INS and Customs. And PR people for the image-challenged … [Read more...] about How NOT to do Public Relations?
World Cartoonists React to Israel’s Attack on Flotilla
World cartoonists have started to react to Israel's controversial attack on a flotilla of ships delivering aid to Gaza. Here are a few of the first ones. They all blast Israel: … [Read more...] about World Cartoonists React to Israel’s Attack on Flotilla
No More Windows for Googlers
The heated Android competition with Apple over the iPhone isn't stopping the search giant from favoring Macs as it ditches Windows over security concerns. FT reports: “We’re not doing any more Windows. It is a security effort,” said one Google employee. “Many people have been moved away from [Windows] PCs, mostly towards Mac OS, following the China hacking attacks,” said … [Read more...] about No More Windows for Googlers
Honor Guard for Women Warriors:
If you are a praying person, please join my friends and me in saying a remembrance prayer for the women, nurses, and female soldiers who have served, and for those who are deployed right now. The face of the military has changed dramatically in the last 25 years, and as you know mothers, sisters, daughters are now also in direct harm's way. For instance, this weekend, in … [Read more...] about Honor Guard for Women Warriors:
Memorial Day 2010—Once More, With Feeling
We are approaching the end of a long Memorial Day weekend and of Memorial Day itself. Many will be coming home after a long day that may have included picnics, BBQ's, parades, and hopefully visits to a cemetery, a church service or some other ceremony honoring our war deaths. We have seen, read and heard numerous eloquent testimonials to our fallen heroes—some may say too … [Read more...] about Memorial Day 2010—Once More, With Feeling
Boy Scouts from Foreign Nations Honor The Fallen
As a Commissioner for Special Needs District in Boy Scouts of America and a military wife for 21 years of a partially disabled (USAF, ret.) vet, there's a lot of behind the scenes others may not know about regarding Memorial Day. I'd like to tell you about this low-key but special action about this Veteran's Day that you're unlikely to read in national or local media. You … [Read more...] about Boy Scouts from Foreign Nations Honor The Fallen
The Forgotten. Souls Sent to War: Some With Consent, Others Against Their Wills
This photo is one of a series of a young US soldier in WWII trying to save a badly wounded person with mouth to mouth, trying to breathe for lungs that cannot breathe on their own. He is not able to save the person. In the last photo shown here, the so very young medic closes the eyes of the dead with a grimy and gentle hand. On this day Memorial Day, I see the parades and … [Read more...] about The Forgotten. Souls Sent to War: Some With Consent, Others Against Their Wills
“Lethal” Was Right (UPDATED)
I just turned on my computer and saw the news about Israel's attack on the Palestinian aid flotilla, which according to the AFP report (the only one I've seen so far) killed at least eight activists on the ship. … [Read more...] about “Lethal” Was Right (UPDATED)
Memorial Day 2010, Before Barbeque and Picnics: Remembering Men and Women in Wars
The photo shows a group of Japanese US Citizens who were living and working in Europe during WWII. They have just been rounded up and brought back by ship from where they lived in Europe, now to be interned in a Japanese Internment Camp in the USA. The newspaper that ran this photo said the 158 "internees" didnt want their pictures taken. The paper also noted that in the front … [Read more...] about Memorial Day 2010, Before Barbeque and Picnics: Remembering Men and Women in Wars
Why California Government Is The Pits
Today's discussion is why governments are dysfunctional and I offer you Proposition 17 which is unquestionably the least sexiest item on the June 8 primary ballot in California. Prop 17 is the Rodney Dangerfield of the June 8 primary. All the attention is focused on Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner spending millions on television ad attacks for the Republican nomination for … [Read more...] about Why California Government Is The Pits
Israeli Commandos Kill 10-16 Flotilla Activists As Conflicting Accounts of Event Emerge
What's more polarized than American politics? Events or discussions about the Middle East. And in a new tragic chapter to the Middle East, Israeli commandos stormed a flotilla of Palestinian activists carrying aid for Gaza Palestinians. The end result: between 9 and 16 people dead, a diplomatic crisis for Israel, conflicting accounts and reaction that sometimes but not always … [Read more...] about Israeli Commandos Kill 10-16 Flotilla Activists As Conflicting Accounts of Event Emerge
A Town Honors A Native Son
Now this is the way our troops should be honored … [Read more...] about A Town Honors A Native Son
Memorial Day and Our Discontents
WASHINGTON -- Why is it that every Memorial Day, we note that a holiday set aside for honoring our war dead has become instead an occasion for beach-going, barbecues and baseball? The problem arises because war-fighting has become less a common endeavor than a specialty engaged in by a relatively small subset of our population. True, some people slipped out of their … [Read more...] about Memorial Day and Our Discontents
Memorial Day: Final Letter from the Young Fallen British Pilot Who Designed Jiminy Cricket
Editor's Note: We are running this SPECIAL MEMORIAL DAY post after getting permission to run...a family heirloom. I found out about it via an email by Bruce Page about his uncle. It drives home the real meaning of Memorial Day -- in more ways then one. It's about a 24-year-old British artist who had just won his dream job of working for Walt Disney -- and who quietly left a … [Read more...] about Memorial Day: Final Letter from the Young Fallen British Pilot Who Designed Jiminy Cricket
Memorial Day 2010: Remembering, Honoring… (Revisited)
Those who read my original Memorial Day article may notice that this time I have left two words off the title: “and Hoping.” This is because in the "Hoping" part of my original version I made some political and social inferences and judgments that perhaps were not appropriate for such a solemn occasion. On this Memorial Day proper, I have omitted such “implications” as my … [Read more...] about Memorial Day 2010: Remembering, Honoring… (Revisited)