If you want to see a breathtaking example of Orwellian evil -- way beyond anything I have ever seen before on this subject (or any subject for that matter) -- go here. … [Read more...] about Orwellian Evil
“Climategate”? Expert Panel Concludes It’s Mostly Hot Air
I couldn't resist the pun, but this piece by Brad Plumer actually spotlights a serious finding. In the second of three independent UK investigations into the charges that East Anglia climate scientists used misleading and inaccurate research to hide evidence that global temperatures are not rising, the scientists have been completely cleared of wrongdoing: … [Read more...] about “Climategate”? Expert Panel Concludes It’s Mostly Hot Air
Lula Presses Obama to Speak to Ahmadinejad: O Globo, Brazil
Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva wants to help the U.S. and Iran avoid a war - and prevent the imposition of additional sanctions on Iran. Containing some surprising quotes of the internationally ambitious Brazilian leader, this news item from Brazil's O Globo newspaper covers Lula's most recent foray into the complex world of the Middle East peace process. The O … [Read more...] about Lula Presses Obama to Speak to Ahmadinejad: O Globo, Brazil
Weapons Against Bin Laden and Al Qaeda: Satire and Ridicule?
And here we thought investments in weapons, hiring more intelligence agents, and hiring Internet investigators to search Craig's List to see who's trying to furnish caves in Pakistan were the key ways to fight terrorist chief Osama bin Laden and his murder corporation Al Qaeda. Now it turns out a new study suggests that other tools are need to be tossed into the life-and-death … [Read more...] about Weapons Against Bin Laden and Al Qaeda: Satire and Ridicule?
Latinos Threatened With Mass Deportation in Arizona
Author's Note: Thanks to reader "GraRiv" for correcting me on Rep. Gutierrez's home state and district. This news seems to be passing under the radar -- at least outside of the affected region -- and it needs to get a lot more attention. A Congressman from Arizona -- Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Illinois) writes in The Huffington Post that a draconian bill currently in the Arizona … [Read more...] about Latinos Threatened With Mass Deportation in Arizona
Anonymity In Jeopardy: We’re Giving It Away
The NYTimes tells us, Web Coupons Know Lots About You, and They Tell. We redeemed 50 million of them last year. Little did we know: The coupons can, in some cases, be tracked not just to an anonymous shopper but to an identifiable person: a retailer could know that Amy Smith printed a 15 percent-off coupon after searching for appliance discounts at Ebates.com on Friday at 1:30 … [Read more...] about Anonymity In Jeopardy: We’re Giving It Away
McConnell’s Bungle: Financial Reform Comments Traced Directly to Luntz Talking Points
Politics is often about having...finesse...style...flair..the ability to make it sound like the sun is shining when it's raining or that it's raining when the sun is shining. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has proven he has none of these abilities in his ham-handed use of talking points provided to GOPers by pollster Frank Luntz on how to stop financial reform (points … [Read more...] about McConnell’s Bungle: Financial Reform Comments Traced Directly to Luntz Talking Points
Crocodile Tears on Wall Street (Guest Voice)
Crocodile Tears on Wall Street by Bill Moyers and Michael Winship With all due respect, we can only wish those Tea Party activists who gathered in Washington and other cities this week weren't so single-minded about just who's responsible for all their troubles, real and imagined. They're up in arms, so to speak, against Big Government, especially the Obama … [Read more...] about Crocodile Tears on Wall Street (Guest Voice)
Fox And Tea Party’s Phony Tax Complaint
I have news for Sean Hannity, Sarah Palin and the Tea Party people who bemoan the fact that 47% of Americans don't pay federal income taxes. They don't because Republicans in Congress created tax deductions and tax credits in which a family of four earning $50,000 a year have a net zero liability. If a Gallup poll is correct, that means half the people identifying with the … [Read more...] about Fox And Tea Party’s Phony Tax Complaint
The Adventures Of Selig Cartwright, Goldman Sachs Washroom Attendant (Episode V — Fraud Angst)
Mr. B. You're early today. And forgive me for saying so, but you look terrible. Bad day in the markets? Europeans sniveling again about those Greek swaps? Bonus complaints? More bad A.I.G press? No, Selig. it's those fraud charges, that witch hunt. You heard about them? I did hear something about that, sir. On the portable radio you let your washroom attendants listen to … [Read more...] about The Adventures Of Selig Cartwright, Goldman Sachs Washroom Attendant (Episode V — Fraud Angst)
Climate is what you expect, weather is what you get – Some perspective on climate change illuminated by the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland
With inadvertent but very apropos timing, The New Scientist published an article on research showing how the weather in Europe is affected by solar activity: Quiet sun puts Europe on ice 14 April 2010 by Stuart Clark Magazine issue 2756. BRACE yourself for more winters like the last one, northern Europe. Freezing conditions could become more likely: winter temperatures may … [Read more...] about Climate is what you expect, weather is what you get – Some perspective on climate change illuminated by the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland
The Diplomacy of Change is Failing America (Guest Voice)
The Diplomacy of Change is Failing America by Michael Reagan The Obama administration has seen a frustrating lack of progress in diplomatic relations. After spending so much time bashing the Bush administration for failing to achieve unity in matters of great international importance, this administration is failing to realize the types of diplomatic gains they … [Read more...] about The Diplomacy of Change is Failing America (Guest Voice)
Political Sausage
Nate Beeler, The Washington Examiner This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Political Sausage
Behind The SEC Suit Against Goldman Sachs
In a column I posted April 14 I suggested the financial reforms now under consideration by Congress were for the most part going too far that would impede the banking institutions from conducting business. My bone of contention was that the laws we already have could be tweaked for improvements but if they had been diligently enforced by regulators leading up to the 2007 … [Read more...] about Behind The SEC Suit Against Goldman Sachs
How Public Opinion Defrocks Stars Where Others Fail
Ben Roethlisberger, who quarterbacked the Pittsburgh Steelers to two Super Bowl victories, is the latest high-profile sports star in trouble for his off-the-field sexual dalliances. Unlike Tiger Woods, at least two women in separate incidents accused Roethlisberger of sexual assault. In both cases prosecutors declined to file formal charges. The Milledgeville, Georgia, … [Read more...] about How Public Opinion Defrocks Stars Where Others Fail
Tea Party Kettle: Half Full or Half Empty? (PART II)
This post is the second of a two-part article entitled Tea Party Kettle: Half Full of Half Empty? PART I of this article was posted earlier today, and I encourage readers to read it before reading this post, as PART I, as it provides some of the necessary context for understanding PART II. As I mentioned in PART I of this article, it is my intention to use PART II to … [Read more...] about Tea Party Kettle: Half Full or Half Empty? (PART II)
You Think Things Are Bad Now? Wait!
People who parse statistics in order to see the big picture on the economy have been quite optimistic in recent months about this country's economic progress — about a so-called "recovery." People who actually live inside that big picture, who actually experience economic reality rather than juggling numbers, know better. Most Americans continue to believe the economy isn't … [Read more...] about You Think Things Are Bad Now? Wait!
If Charges Are True, This Is Egregious: Goldman Sachs First to be Sued in Greed Debacle
There is an old tale told about The Soul-less Ones who live in a conclave under the foolsgold mountain. They are fallen angels and have turned to a life of thievery out of despicable lust for gold... so much so they would pry the gold teeth from the mouths of the dead, melt the golden rings of the bride and grooms waylaid on their ways to their first love-night after the … [Read more...] about If Charges Are True, This Is Egregious: Goldman Sachs First to be Sued in Greed Debacle
CBS News Gets Black Eye After Running Blog Column Alleging Kagan is Gay
The scramble among media in 21st century to find a balance between politics-based journalism and opinion and maintaining a semblance of traditional mainstream media journalistic standards and image continues -- with CBS being the latest news organization to be badly stung in a tale of blogging standards (or lack of them) negating traditional news publishing standards. The … [Read more...] about CBS News Gets Black Eye After Running Blog Column Alleging Kagan is Gay
Equal-Population Or More Useful “States”
Building on Peter's topic of representation, let's take a quick look at fair and impartial redistricting. While those of us outside DC have representation, redistricting abuse by both parties distorts democracy... You might remember this Electoral Reform Map by Neil Freeman at FakeIsTheNewReal.org that redivided the United States into 50 bodies of equal size. Longtime reader … [Read more...] about Equal-Population Or More Useful “States”