The CEOs of Sony, Best Buy, Echostar, Adobe, and Logitech were on a panel moderated by Google CEO Eric Schmidt this afternoon to, as expected, introduce Google TV. Each discussed their plans for the product which, naturally, features a search bar on the home screen to find programs. That search will find both web and traditional television offerings (through your antenna, cable … [Read more...] about Google TV: The Web & TV Together
The Betrayal of Jewish Values
Peter Beinart's long and thoughtful article in the New York Review of Books has received quite a bit of notice in the blogosphere -- and I will point to a few of what I consider the most interesting commentaries shortly. But first, I want to flag one paragraph near the beginning of Beinart's piece (and especially one sentence in that paragraph, which I have bolded) that struck … [Read more...] about The Betrayal of Jewish Values
Shoes on the Danube
We are approaching Memorial Day and I probably will not post until then. On Memorial Day we will be remembering all military men and women who have given their lives for our country. An e-mail and a link to a PowerPoint presentation I received from a relative, however, poignantly took my thoughts to others---civilians---who have died as a result of a cruel war that also … [Read more...] about Shoes on the Danube
What If Elena Kagan Turns Lesbian At 60?
Until today, I haven't been much interested in the topic of Elena Kagan's sexual orientation. I see sexual identity as self-assigned and distinct from any behavioral practice. So, if a guy, a social conservative clinical psychologist minister, say, rents a boy to carry his luggage and happens to get some massages along the way, he's not gay! Not even if the nature of those … [Read more...] about What If Elena Kagan Turns Lesbian At 60?
Banana Oil Spill
A full month after befouling coastal waters with an explosion of black sludge that is still gushing from the deep, oil company explainers are out to persuade the public it isn't too bad after all (A BP honcho was soothingly omnipresent last night from the PBS News Hour to Anderson Cooper on CNN). Insult to injury comes to mind as industry flacks try to minimize environmental … [Read more...] about Banana Oil Spill
‘Western Warlords’ Frustrated By Lula’s Diplomatic Triumph: Guia Global, Brazil
According to columnist Breno Altman of Brazil's Guia Global, what frustrates Western countries most is not necessarily the nuclear deal with Iran brokered By Brazil and Turkey, but the emergence of new diplomatic world powers not under "imperial" control. Altman writes that the U.S. and its 'subservient European associates" can't tolerate "the formation of alliances outside of … [Read more...] about ‘Western Warlords’ Frustrated By Lula’s Diplomatic Triumph: Guia Global, Brazil
Rand Paul Regrets Going on Rachel Maddow Show
But he doesn't regret what he said -- or, more precisely, refused to say -- on TRMS last night: … [Read more...] about Rand Paul Regrets Going on Rachel Maddow Show
Resurgent Racism
Governor Jan Brewer of Arizona signs a new law requiring law enforcement to check proof of legality for anyone they reasonably suspect of being illegally in the country. Kentucky candidate for the U. S. Senate, Rand Paul, says in three interviews [here’s a video of one with the Louisville Courier] that he does not support those portions of the Civil Rights Act that require … [Read more...] about Resurgent Racism
Rand Paul: Let The Games Begin
Ron Paul was many Democrats' favorite Republican when he ran for President in 2008. Paul's steadfast opposition to the Iraq War along with his proneness to bizarre conspiracy theories, and the energy of his supporters in spamming the living bejesus out of any online forum that even mentioned his name was golden political theater and an enjoyable disruption to Republicans' … [Read more...] about Rand Paul: Let The Games Begin
Rand Paul: Libertarian Sophist or Lester Maddox?
Kentucky GOP Senatorial candidate and Tea Party extraordinaire Rand Paul is in a wee bit of trouble. He argued, essentially, that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 should not have prevented private businesses from discriminating on the basis of race. His defenders and quasi-defenders (those who see him as theoretically right but politically stupid) insist that he is playing … [Read more...] about Rand Paul: Libertarian Sophist or Lester Maddox?
Re-Arranging Deck Chairs on the Titanic
Tuesday’s handful of primary and special elections and their results have left me completely underwhelmed. The remainder of these ritualistic elections will continue through the summer across the country. They will prove to be completely useless and meaningless, except for political junkies and our 24/7 info-entertainment media. Incumbents and Centrists were defeated by … [Read more...] about Re-Arranging Deck Chairs on the Titanic
Does BP Own The Obama Administration?
A few days ago I suggested that the Gulf Oil spill could soon become Obama's Katrina if it hadn't already. [...] BP has done nothing up to this point that would threaten their investment and they won't. Their concern is for their bottom line and not the environment of the Gulf or the way of life of the people who depend on it. If the Top Kill operation does not work the … [Read more...] about Does BP Own The Obama Administration?
Warmest April, Jan-April On Record
Continuing in my series on the progress of my bet (with no one in particular) that this would be the warmest year on record, I am "pleased" to announce that April followed March for setting a monthly record in NASA's dataset. I have referred to the bet as "taking candy from a baby" once it became obvious there was going to be a moderate El Nino, but the Icelandic volcano will … [Read more...] about Warmest April, Jan-April On Record
Thinking of Our Gulf Coast Fishermen
Back at Open Salon they are having a contest for shrimp recipes in support of our fishermen along the Gulf Coast who are about to be hit by a horrible catastrophe. I submitted a family recipe. For a change of pace, instead of politics, I thought I'd share that family recipe with TMV readers. But first some background. Several of my relatives in my native country of … [Read more...] about Thinking of Our Gulf Coast Fishermen
A Smorgasbord, Not a Tea Party
PITTSBURGH -- Almost all the shibboleths of Washington conventional wisdom took a hit in Tuesday's voting. Yet advocates of a single national political narrative clung to the difficulties of two incumbent Democratic senators to keep spinning the same old tale. It's true that the idea of incumbents and party establishments being in trouble won some support from the … [Read more...] about A Smorgasbord, Not a Tea Party
Boycotts and Counter-Boycotts
Los Angeles announced a boycott of Arizona to try to punish Arizona for enacting a state immigration law that some believe might result in race-based harassment. Now some Arizona officials are beginning to consider retaliation, cutting of a quarter of Los Angeles' electrical power that is produced in Arizona. Los Angeles officials respond with outrage and defiance, condemning … [Read more...] about Boycotts and Counter-Boycotts
Gay Malawi Couple Get 14 Years in Prison, Hard Labor, for Public Engagement Ceremony
Said the judge, "I will give you a scaring sentence so that the public be protected from people like you, so that we are not tempted to emulate this horrendous example." Pink News UK: A gay couple convicted of having homosexual sex in Malawi have received the maximum 14-year jail sentence. Steven Monjeza, 26, and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, 20, were told by a judge they would … [Read more...] about Gay Malawi Couple Get 14 Years in Prison, Hard Labor, for Public Engagement Ceremony
Meg Whitman’s Lead Evaporating in California Amid Foes’ Attacks and Anti-Establishment Sentiment
Who's the latest politico who seems to be battered by voter anger towards the establishment and Wall Street insiders? Surprisingly, it's Meg Whitman, the billionaire who wants to be California Governor to replace millionaire actor Arnold Schwarzenegger -- a governor who will leave office with poll ratings so low you can almost see the polar bears. The Los Angeles Times … [Read more...] about Meg Whitman’s Lead Evaporating in California Amid Foes’ Attacks and Anti-Establishment Sentiment
A Failure of Conventional Wisdom
Did yesterday's elections bear out the "anti-incumbency" narrative that's been building for many months now, in the media, in the halls of Congress, and among political observers inside and outside Washington? New York Times reporters Jeff Zeleny and Carl Hulse seem to think so: … [Read more...] about A Failure of Conventional Wisdom
The Web Rocks; And Google TV Debuts Tomorrow
On the heels of Monday's YouTube fifth birthday announcement of two billion video views a day -- (nearly double the three broadcast networks combined in primetime -- we have today's Google I/O conference keynote. Google I/O ("Innovation in the Open") is a 2-day web developer-focused conference to discuss web applications using Google and open web technologies. A headline … [Read more...] about The Web Rocks; And Google TV Debuts Tomorrow