If you're a news junkie, it's clear that over the past few months many GOPers wished RNC Chairman Michael Steele would somehow just go away. They had many complaints about him -- from his allegedly big bux spending, to his foot in mouth comments, to the unforgivable sin of daring to criticize Rush Limbaugh (he apologized) -- but one of their biggest complaints is that they feel … [Read more...] about How Long Will Michael Steele Last At the RNC?
If Corporations Are Legal Persons Our Genes Are Probably Patentable
New Scientist asks about yesterday's New York Federal District Court ruling that patents on two genes linked to breast cancer are invalid: Is this the end of gene patenting? The ACLU and its supporters, including the American Society for Human Genetics and the American Medical Association, contend that the patents never should have been awarded because the genes are natural. … [Read more...] about If Corporations Are Legal Persons Our Genes Are Probably Patentable
Church Devils
Matador, El Tiempo, Columbia This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Church Devils
Comments and Future Changes in the Works
Dear TMV Readers, Self-published comments are now off. We will be adding two features in the near term. 1. Article contact form: There will be a form that allows you to contact the author of the post directly. Not all authors may choose to do so. 2. Better news scrolls: We will be implementing some customized news scrolls to allow TMV to function a bit like a … [Read more...] about Comments and Future Changes in the Works
One Last Thing
I'm not good at goodbyes (I literally have to make a conscious effort to say goodbye to people in order to not offend them) so in case comments and/or commenters don't come back: uh goodbye. OK now with that out of the way I want to take advantage of the temporarily touchy feely environment for my own nefarious purposes. If you don't mind could you leave a comment stating … [Read more...] about One Last Thing
GUEST VOICE: Immigrant Faces From New York
HI there, Dr. E here. Immigration: Many of us hear not so distant thunder indicating that there will soon arise in full sight another engagement of over the bow broadsides between the tall ships regarding the issues of immigration. Though some think the issue is illegal immigration for it shows above ground so often; that is only a speck of poppy seed in the dirt pile. … [Read more...] about GUEST VOICE: Immigrant Faces From New York
The Meaning of Passover
I'm really glad to see that a few Jewish bloggers have taken public issue with Jennifer Rubin's typically inane post branding Pres. Obama as "hyperpolitical and condescending" for suggesting that Passover has a broader meaning than just the Jewish people's liberation from slavery in Egypt three thousand (or so) years ago. … [Read more...] about The Meaning of Passover
American Missile Shield ‘Lies’: AZI, Romania
Is the American missile shield in Europe meant to defend against an Iranian missile attack, as the U.S. claims, or is it a thinly-disguised offensive weapon aimed at Russia - which endangers the nations that host it? For Romania's AZI newspaper, Razvan Voncu warns his countrymen about turning Romania into 'an American ballistic missile base.' For AZI, Razvan Voncu writes in … [Read more...] about American Missile Shield ‘Lies’: AZI, Romania
The Recession Still Hasn’t Ended According To My Favorite Indicator
Calculated Risk has a post showing the Philly Fed State Coincident Indicators which is my favorite aggregate metric because it is calculated on much more mainstreet data. "Twenty five states are showing declining three month activity. The index increased in 18 states, and was unchanged in 7." It is yet another series that shows how different this recession is: in the past the … [Read more...] about The Recession Still Hasn’t Ended According To My Favorite Indicator
Alaska More Indebted Than Any Other State
That from a NYTimes graphic accompanying their story on state debt woes growing too big to hide. Via Tim O'Reilly, "Always seems to be the ones *talking* small govt...." Continue the conversation @jwindish #TMVcomments. Or email me at joe-AT-joewindish-DOT-com. I won’t be able to respond to every email, but I will publish follow-up posts featuring reader feedback, … [Read more...] about Alaska More Indebted Than Any Other State
From Paradise To Gated Ghettos
Where I live in semi-rural Riverside County in Southern California, what once were upscale housing tracts where homeowners associations enforced beautification codes are now crime-infested gated ghettos. My son, whose job takes him throughout the county, described the malaise six months ago and I thought he was exaggerating. Not, in the least, it turns out. My area has … [Read more...] about From Paradise To Gated Ghettos
Yes, America Has Gone Socialist
I knew, of course, that passage of Obamacare would lead to socialism in this country. But even I had no idea it would go down this path so quickly. Fifteen minutes after passage of that bill in Congress the other night there was a pounding on my door. It was a gang of thugs from the local Democratic Party headquarters who came to haul away my refrigerator for their clubhouse. … [Read more...] about Yes, America Has Gone Socialist
Obama’s Today Show Interview: Confident, Determined and Chastened?
In his first interview since the passage of the landmark health care reform bill, President Barack Obama oozed confidence, reiterated his desire to work with GOPers but not at the expense of enacting change, and seemed a bit chastened by what he has learned in office about the Presidency and Washington. The interview with the Today Show's Matt Laurer was of particular … [Read more...] about Obama’s Today Show Interview: Confident, Determined and Chastened?
Some Thoughts on Change, Large and Small
There is nothing new about one's political opponent's trying to define your philosophy. This is a part of politics as old as the republic, and the more stinking and fearsome you can define how your enemy thinks, the more hay you will make with the electorate. It worked so well for movement conservatives that they have chased the designation "liberal" from public discourse, … [Read more...] about Some Thoughts on Change, Large and Small
Comment Shutdown: A Technical Perspective
Hello readers. I've been silent on this issue since Pete Abel has been spearheading the communication of this. But I'm going to offer a technical perspective as well. We have a significant amount of processing overhead with comments. Since TMV isn't funded we have limited technical resources. Almost 80% of slowdowns and associated issues (including several big hacking … [Read more...] about Comment Shutdown: A Technical Perspective
Forgive Me Child
Bill Schorr, Cagle Cartoons This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Forgive Me Child
Leadership And The Will Of The People
Harry Truman risked the permanent division of the Democratic Party, watching Dixiecrats walk out of the convention to form their own party in 1948. He stood by his convictions on desegregation with his own reelection at stake. In an act of politicallly suicidal patriotism, Gerald Ford knowingly threw away his chances to be elected President in his own right when he pardoned … [Read more...] about Leadership And The Will Of The People
Al Jazeera: A Voice for the Voiceless
A fairly effective comeback to those who say Al Jazera is biased: We are not, definitely, like channels whereby we mix comment and opinion with the news. I have been watching the debate about the health care in this country, and I can tell you frankly that a lot of channels, when they are debating this issue, it’s very clear for me, who’s coming from outside this country, that … [Read more...] about Al Jazeera: A Voice for the Voiceless
In Case You Missed the News …
We announced yesterday that, starting this evening, we will discontinue readers’ self-published comments on a three-month trial basis. Out of the 8,000-plus visits (and nearly 15,000 page views) registered at this blog yesterday, we received more than 130 comments on that decision. The verdict was ... mixed: Some thought it was the end of TMV as we know it. Others … [Read more...] about In Case You Missed the News …
Those Awful, Violent Activists
They're rude. They're crude. They show up precisely where they're not wanted and shout inappropriate, vulgar things. They not only make threats of violence, but engage in it as their preferred method of exercising their free speech rights. You know the type, right? What have they been up to lately? When a political author hosts a book signing and speech, they shout him down, … [Read more...] about Those Awful, Violent Activists