Forrest Gump's mother was right. "Stupid is what stupid does," Forrest would quote his mother. It got me to thinking about comments Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachmann have said about the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. For Rush, two comments have drawn attention from his 10 million daily fans and equal number of antagonists. One is environmentalists working … [Read more...] about Oil Spill Not Republican, Democrat, Liberal, Conservative, But Mankind’s, Fools
Turkish-American Teenager Killed By Israelis Was Not “Really” American
You know, it actually shouldn't make any difference to this unmitigated horror that one of the 10 or so activists killed by Israel while bringing humanitarian aid to Gaza was an American by birth. It shouldn't matter. Every single one of those human lives snuffed out on the flotilla ship deserves to be mourned and remembered, no matter WHAT country they come from. … [Read more...] about Turkish-American Teenager Killed By Israelis Was Not “Really” American
It Looks Like Less Than Net Zero To Me
Sometimes the appearance of action seems more important than the consequences. BP is getting some great headlines today regarding its successful "cut" of an oil pipe located a mile below the surface of the Gulf of Mexico. But the math and odds of success are, pardon me, at odds with the headlines. First The Odds The cut did not go smoothly, no pun intended: Crucially, … [Read more...] about It Looks Like Less Than Net Zero To Me
Al Jazeera Reporter Says Israelis Were Shooting From Helicopter Before Commandos Boarded
This article and accompanying video at Al Jazeera's English language edition is a must-read and a must-see. … [Read more...] about Al Jazeera Reporter Says Israelis Were Shooting From Helicopter Before Commandos Boarded
Is the link economy suffering from inflation?
If Rupert Murdoch's announcement that he plans to withdraw his news content from Google's index is any indication, the value of the link is still a topic of debate. Proponents of the "economy of the link" who consider the hyperlink to be the ultimate form of flattery -- from which revenue will flow -- argue that the aggregators, search engines, and blogs send firehoses of … [Read more...] about Is the link economy suffering from inflation?
Israeli Savagery a Stain on the West and a Stab at Obama: La Jornada, Mexico
Global outrage over the raid on a civilian flotilla headed toward Gaza being directed at Israel - and by extension the United States - is perhaps even more coordinated and visceral that the outcry over Israel's 2007 operation against Hezbullah in Lebanon. This editorial from Mexico's La Jornada reflects the general global mood, outlines the additional difficulty the attack … [Read more...] about Israeli Savagery a Stain on the West and a Stab at Obama: La Jornada, Mexico
Time for the Apollo 13 Approach … on Steroids
If you're a fan of the movie Apollo 13 -- starring Tom Hanks, Gary Sinise, Ed Harris, et. al. -- you'll likely recall the scene where one of the characters (either Harris' or Sinise's character, I can't remember which) pulls a NASA team together, hurls an array of stuff across a table, tells them that this stuff is what's aboard Apollo 13 and what they have to work with, to … [Read more...] about Time for the Apollo 13 Approach … on Steroids
Rue McClanahan Dies
Betty White is now the only surviving Golden Girl. RIP Rue. … [Read more...] about Rue McClanahan Dies
Progress? BP Succeeds in Cutting Riser Pipe
Is there hope for guarded -- very very guarded -- optimism that perhaps at least part of the Gulf oil spill flow can be stemmed? The big news is that BP has succeeded in cutting the riser pipe: … [Read more...] about Progress? BP Succeeds in Cutting Riser Pipe
While the Oil Gushes (Guest Voice)
While the Oil Gushes by Tina Dupuy The term “deep water” usually means you’re in trouble and “horizon” is what lies ahead. So the ill-fated drilling rig Deepwater Horizon is aptly named. Doom has arrived on our shores and our prospects are tacky with tar balls. The geyser of crude, a mile down in the Gulf of Mexico, exposed America for what it is: bent over a barrel … [Read more...] about While the Oil Gushes (Guest Voice)
Now That Memorial Day Is Over, Let’s Continue To Remember
Note: The following incident took place two months before Memorial Day. I have no doubt as to what the outcome would have been if it had occurred during the recent Memorial Day weekend. Now that Memorial Day is over, let’s continue to remember. … [Read more...] about Now That Memorial Day Is Over, Let’s Continue To Remember
Souter’s Challenge to Scalia
WASHINGTON -- It should become the philosophical shot heard 'round the country. In a remarkable speech that received far too little attention, former Supreme Court Justice David Souter took direct aim at the conservatives' favorite theory of judging. Souter's verdict: It "has only a tenuous connection to reality." At issue is "originalism," an approach to … [Read more...] about Souter’s Challenge to Scalia
Obama Cinderella
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Obama Cinderella
Usability Guru Jakob Nielsen Critiques the iPad
In London he told The Guardian that the new interface is not transparently intuitive. It's inherently confusing and has to be learned: "There were really a lot of usability problems in this first-generation of iPad applications. It's often quite difficult for people to discover what they have to do because the options are not very visible. I have to say of both the device … [Read more...] about Usability Guru Jakob Nielsen Critiques the iPad
“Hamas is a reality on the ground.”
Taghreed Al-Khadary is a Gazan-born journalist who lives and works in Washington, D.C. Salon has an interview with her, written by Natasha Lennard. It needs to be read in full, but here are some excerpts: … [Read more...] about “Hamas is a reality on the ground.”
Did Lost lose the Jews?
SPOILER ALERT: if you have not seen the last episode of Lost, do not read further. It’s been just over a week since the two and a half hour series finale of Lost aired, but the blogosphere continues to dissect every nuance of the show’s final big reveal. I’ll readily admit I’ve been a Lost fan from the beginning – although “fan” would be a gross understatement. I’ve been … [Read more...] about Did Lost lose the Jews?
Blunder In Drafting HCR ?
Reports are coming out that they might have made a major blunder when they drafted health care reform. One of the standard things included in any bill passed by Congress is what they call a severability clause. The basic intent of the clause is to say that if one part of the law is found to be invalid that the rest of the law remains in effect. But the final version of … [Read more...] about Blunder In Drafting HCR ?
Whoops … Gary Coleman Divorced
Reports are now surfacing that at the time of his death Gary Coleman and his wife were divorced. Nothing is clear yet but if they were divorced she did not have any authority to make medical decisions (unless there was a power of attorney, which seems unlikely). She and the hospital may have a lot to answer for. … [Read more...] about Whoops … Gary Coleman Divorced
Look In The Mirror
There are plenty of people, corporations and organizations to blame for the oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico but if you want to see one of them go look in the mirror. We are the ones who are addicted to oil. David Strahn: It is easy to understand American hostility to BP, but it is fundamentally misplaced. Never mind that Transocean and Halliburton were also involved … [Read more...] about Look In The Mirror
A Shonda for the Goyim
That would be Jennifer Rubin in Commentary: … [Read more...] about A Shonda for the Goyim