Attorney-General Eric Holder has apparently decided to support Republicans' attempts to weaken or do away with the Miranda rule in the context (for now, at least) of interrogating suspected terrorists who (for now, at least) have connections, or might have connections, to international terrorist groups: … [Read more...] about AG Eric Holder Calls for “Modifying” the Miranda Rule
Justice Kagan ?
Following up on rumors that started late last week, NBC is reporting that President Obama will name Solicitor General Kagan as his nominee to replace retiring Justice Stevens. Kagan has widely been seen as the probable nominee from the time Stevens announced his retirement and would be the fourth woman to serve on the top court. Expect the usual partisan scrambles but an … [Read more...] about Justice Kagan ?
The song stuck in my head
Bad Romance, by Lady Gaga. It just passed 200 million views on You Tube. I guess I'm not the only one. FYI, this is the real video, not a parody put together by our troops in Afghanistan. … [Read more...] about The song stuck in my head
Breaking: European Governments Agree To MASSIVE Intervention
European governments and the IMF have announced a $900+ billion arrangement to buy and/or guarantee sovereign debt. The European Central Bank has also specified it will buy securities in the secondary market (i.e. purchasing debt issued by countries and perhaps banks from investors). The details are incredibly sketchy at this point, and Calculated Risk has done the best job of … [Read more...] about Breaking: European Governments Agree To MASSIVE Intervention
Clock Ticks As BP Engineers Fail To Cap Gulf Of Mexico Oil Gusher
The best reporting of what may have caused the explosion of the Deepwater Horizons platform in the Gulf of Mexico was in my opinion this article written by Joel Achenbach in Sunday's on-line edition of the Washington Post. In it we learn engineering theories no matter how well planned are at the mercy of nature's powerful forces a mile below the ocean's surface and 13,000 … [Read more...] about Clock Ticks As BP Engineers Fail To Cap Gulf Of Mexico Oil Gusher
Wither Goeth The World Economy
A leading financial journal asked this question the other day: Is Greece..."just the leading edge of another phase of the world financial turmoil, this time focused on government debt instead of banks or mortgages?" The financial crisis of 2008 and the great recession that's followed came about because financial markets created a huge debt-based bubble of false values. When … [Read more...] about Wither Goeth The World Economy
A Belated Ode To Mother’s Day
Here it is, midday on the West Coast, and my mind is filled with a rainbow of thoughts about my own mother on this Sunday, Mother's Day, in May 2010. Carrie Eleanor (Ellsworth) Remmers died in 1983 at age 79. In so many respects, I feel fortunate to have had a mother that epitomizes why mothers are honored. As a child, she nurtured and protected me from my father's wrath as … [Read more...] about A Belated Ode To Mother’s Day
New Enhanced Kent State Tape Shows Guards Given Order to Prepare to Shoot
Yesterday we ran Michael Winship's column remembering what it was like to be a college student 40 years ago on May 4, when the Ohio National Guard opened fire on an anti-war demonstration at Kent State University, killing for students and injuring nine others. Now a new enhanced tape contains a bombshell: the Guards were given an order to prepare to fire and it was not a … [Read more...] about New Enhanced Kent State Tape Shows Guards Given Order to Prepare to Shoot
Pakistan First: Hillary Clinton, CIA & Pentagon
Two recent news reports (related to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's cautious admonition to Pakistan on latter's home-grown terrorists, and Pakistan celebrating test-firing of two ballistic missiles on Saturday capable of carrying nuclear warheads) confirm America's continued reliance on this South Asian country. For some decades now there has been a general … [Read more...] about Pakistan First: Hillary Clinton, CIA & Pentagon
Happiness Is…
I've been MIA on TMV as I managed the graduation celebration of the nephew we brought into our home three years ago in order to help him through college. He made it; with honors and an outstanding student award. We're proud. Graduation week in a college town is always joyful; this is our first time with a graduate in the family. A good time to reflect a bit on … [Read more...] about Happiness Is…
4-Year Old Raps for Mother for Mother’s Day
A four-year-old offers this Mother's Day rap. … [Read more...] about 4-Year Old Raps for Mother for Mother’s Day
Tea Party Triumph and Incumbents’ Warning? Utah GOP Convention Dumps Sen. Bob Bennett
If you hear a sound, it may be the clitter clatter of quaking of boots and knees among Republicans who don't buy into the tea party movement -- and incumbent office holders of both political parties everywhere. Because what seemed unthinkeable a few months ago is now reality: with a flourish and cheers after the politically bloody deed was done, the Utah GOP convention dumped … [Read more...] about Tea Party Triumph and Incumbents’ Warning? Utah GOP Convention Dumps Sen. Bob Bennett
VIDEOS: Betty White Hosts Saturday Night Live Becoming Its Oldest Host
Betty White did it: at age 88 -- and literally by popular (Facebook) demand -- she hosted Saturday Night Live. Here's video of the opening sketch: Here's another sketch that many critics today are writing about: A spoof on the old Lawrence Welk Show which still runs on PBS: NBC's website offers this interview with White about her thoughts on hosting Saturday … [Read more...] about VIDEOS: Betty White Hosts Saturday Night Live Becoming Its Oldest Host
American Kraft Swallows British Cadbury
Does the takeover of the famous British confectionery company Cadbury by American Kraft company symbolize a hollowing-out of corporate Britain? The Economist takes an interesting and historical look on the implications of this and other major corporate take-overs in the changing global economy... More here... … [Read more...] about American Kraft Swallows British Cadbury
For Mother’s Day – Spreading the Art of Laughter
For Mother’s Day – Spreading the Art of Laughter by Tom Purcell I handed my debit card to the owner of a barbecue restaurant. He saw my name on the card. "Is your mother's name Elizabeth?" he asked. When I nodded, he burst out laughing. And then proceeded to confess to a prank, motivated by my mother, that he’d pulled on my family 30 years ago. My mother, you … [Read more...] about For Mother’s Day – Spreading the Art of Laughter
Mother’s Day in the Post-Pill Paradise
The annual rite of maternal flowers and phone calls coincides with the 50th birthday of an oral contraceptive to make motherhood optional for sexually active women. "Welcome to the post-pill paradise," exulted a suburban wife to her lover in John Updike's 1968 novel, "Couples," celebrating the uncoupling of human lust from procreation. But some things happened along the … [Read more...] about Mother’s Day in the Post-Pill Paradise
Classic Comedians: Harpo Marx on 1950s TV
The art of pantomime is nearly lost in most films and TV (Great Britain's late Benny Hill was the last great TV practioner). And here is a rarity: Harpo Marx, who never spoke in his role in the classic Marx Brothers vaudelle and movies comedy team...appearing in a 1959 episode of the Kraft Music Hall. It's videotape so it looks more "live." If you're a younger TMV you can see … [Read more...] about Classic Comedians: Harpo Marx on 1950s TV
The Right’s Political Correctness About Terrorism
If you define "political correctness" as social or political beliefs that cannot be questioned without triggering outrage and condemnation, then this is the right's particular political correctness about terrorism: If you do not explicitly use the label "radical Islamic" or "Islamic extremism" in conjunction with the word "terrorist" or "terrorism," you cannot hope to win the … [Read more...] about The Right’s Political Correctness About Terrorism
Why No Cagle Cartoons?
If you're wondering where Cagle Cartoons are: we're in the process of a transition and some upgrades and at this time can't publish images. That will be fixed soon. Stay tuned! … [Read more...] about Why No Cagle Cartoons?
Dick Morris Predicts Republican Tidal Wave Will End Public Education Dominance
File this in your Here We Go Again File. Dick Morris, who was once a solid political operative truly considered at the top of the game who worked for members of both parties, is now predicting that a massive Republican tidal wave in November will virtually put an end to public education's dominance since GOP power will mean people can now choose to send their kids to private … [Read more...] about Dick Morris Predicts Republican Tidal Wave Will End Public Education Dominance