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
Dutchman In Natalee Halloway Case Sought For Murder, This Time In Peru
As a news reporter, I learned the hard way to be leery of police arrests of high-profile personalities, but the Peruvian case of a young woman's death linked to Joran van der Sloot of Natalee Holloway fame certainly attracted my attention. Van der Sloot is being sought by Lima, Peru, police for questioning in the bloody death of Stephany Flores, 21, found in a Lima hotel … [Read more...] about Dutchman In Natalee Halloway Case Sought For Murder, This Time In Peru
A Shallow Look at The Shallows
An excerpt of Nicholas Carr's new book is featured in the June Wired. In it Carr says the Internet "is turning us into shallower thinkers, literally changing the structure of our brain." A shallow neuroscience explanation: The depth of our intelligence hinges on our ability to transfer information from working memory, the scratch pad of consciousness, to long-term memory, the … [Read more...] about A Shallow Look at The Shallows
A Lively Race for Governor in Maine
There's a lively race for Governor unfolding now in Maine: Three independent candidates (one of them Alex Hammer who has contributed to TMV) are now in the running -- meaning it's likely to be a five way race. There has been some controversy over electronic copies of petitions and the impact on independent candidates. … [Read more...] about A Lively Race for Governor in Maine
BP’s Latest ‘Hail Mary’ Cut’n Cap Pass Stuck in Latest Oil Spill Fiasco
I should not make light of this but to those engineers who by remote control watched their diamond-edge saw get stuck on a ruptured pipe deemed too fragile to withstand the earth's pressure to suck oil, I feel their pain. I can't tell you how many times my chainsaw stuck on a tree trunk during my years as a landscape contractor. Unlike BP's experience of deja vu failure … [Read more...] about BP’s Latest ‘Hail Mary’ Cut’n Cap Pass Stuck in Latest Oil Spill Fiasco
Four Out of Five Clueless About Internet Speed
According to a new survey [pdf]. Still, we're happy with the service. Ars Technica: Clearly, broadband is the business to be in—a trade in which most of your customers have only a vague idea what they're actually getting and don't necessarily think you should always give it to them. But whatever it is, they like it just fine, thanks. These reported plateaus of technological … [Read more...] about Four Out of Five Clueless About Internet Speed