Britain's Daily Mail: Married couples in France could end up with criminal records for insulting each other during arguments. Under a new law, France is to become the first country in the world to ban 'psychological violence' within marriage. The law would apply to cohabiting couples and to both men and women. Would this mean no trash talking during fantasy … [Read more...] about France Moves to Ban “Psychological Violence” in Marriage
A Split Decision In The Senate
As already reported here on TMV two US Senators, both Democrats, have announced they will retire. Chris Dodd of Connecticut has bowed to the inevitable and will retire while Byron Dorgan of North Dakota shocked many with his decision to step down. This ends up as a split decision for the parties. Dorgan's retirement is a major blow to the Democrats, the only chance they have … [Read more...] about A Split Decision In The Senate
Texas vs. Alabama, and How Bevo Got to California, and Got His Name
In my “Texas Aggies, Dallas Cowboys and Fútbol Americano,” and in the spirit of a long-standing “tradition,” I took a few good-natured shots at our arch-rivals, the University of Texas Longhorns. I even had a few amicable words for the Longhorns mascot, Bevo: [Players] who invariably brought a dumb-looking steer named Bevo onto the football field—obviously to … [Read more...] about Texas vs. Alabama, and How Bevo Got to California, and Got His Name
The Hidden Costs of MasterCard & Visa Debit Cards
The ATM card is not the only one with sneaky fees. Those Visa and MasterCard symbols on your bank debit card signify high hidden fees as well. Commentary is swirling around this NYTimes piece: Competition, of course, usually forces prices lower. But for payment networks like Visa and MasterCard, competition in the card business is more about winning over banks that actually … [Read more...] about The Hidden Costs of MasterCard & Visa Debit Cards
Misreading Tea Party Leaves
"American history," David Brooks proclaims, "is often driven by passionate outsiders who force themselves into the center of American life" as he predicts: "In the near term, the tea party tendency will dominate the Republican Party" just as "the hippies defined the 1960s; the feminists, the 1970s; the Christian conservatives, the 1980s." Say what? A journalist-survivor of … [Read more...] about Misreading Tea Party Leaves
Quote for the Day
"If you work for the DNC or RNC, or if you cover politics for the media, elections are the end. The conversation of policy isn't even really about policy, so much as it's about how policy will effect the next election. But for others of us, policy is the end. Winning elections is nice, but you don't elect candidates so that they can stand in front the capitol and look pretty, … [Read more...] about Quote for the Day
Don’t Use Your Bank ATM Card
Last week I was charged $144 in bank fees for four ATM purchases, each under $10 (I will be closing that poorly rated SunTrust account). Among the things that make those fees so painful is that I had hundreds of dollars sitting in another account, and tens of thousands of dollars in unused credit on cards. (I pay credit card balances in full each month). Reporter Bob … [Read more...] about Don’t Use Your Bank ATM Card
All Aboard the Political Retirement Train
As noted here and elsewhere, multiple retirements have been announced in the last 24 hours: Democratic Senators Byron Dorgan (ND) and Christopher Dodd (CT), plus Democratic Governor Bill Ritter (CO). Adding in the other Senators planning to retire (three additional Democrats, six Republicans) -- plus the D and R members of the House calling it quits (nine and 12, … [Read more...] about All Aboard the Political Retirement Train
It’s All About Access (Guest Voice)
It's All About Access by David Goodloe In general, Americans seem to have the attention span of gypsy moths. Lately, that attention has been focused on the attempted Christmas Day bombing and Janet Napolitano's mishandling of it. Don't get me wrong. Security is extremely important. But, like most things, I expect this matter to recede from view, and something else … [Read more...] about It’s All About Access (Guest Voice)
Too Revealing
Cam Cardow, The Ottawa Citizen This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Too Revealing
Senator Christopher Dodd Not Running Again
That's two D senators down. Not to mention Democrat Bill Ritter, Governor of Colo, said to announce tomorrow he will not be running for a second term. His limp tenure, lack of progress, lack of vitality, are the reasons, pundits say. There are others who are 'suddenly' retiring, stepping down, choosing not to run again. What's happening? Looks like both political … [Read more...] about Senator Christopher Dodd Not Running Again
Great Musical Performances: Food Glorious Food from Oliver
One of my favorite musicals of all time is Lionel Bart's "Oliver." To be sure, it's based on the great Dickens novel. Then why do I tear up at several points in this musical? It happened when I watched the movie version as a teen, played the part of Fagin in the Amity Summer Theater Music Workshop while in high school in the late 60s, and listen to the album. Is it the tragedy … [Read more...] about Great Musical Performances: Food Glorious Food from Oliver
Human Sexuality and Christian Branding
From the very heart of fundamentalist Christian religious rightness -- Donald Douglas at American Power -- comes a statement I never thought I would hear from his lips (so to speak): … [Read more...] about Human Sexuality and Christian Branding
The US and the UN: resetting relations
After nearly 30 years of on and off coolness, the Obama administration is resetting relations with the United Nations because no other organization offers access to dialogue with so many countries. Among other things, Barack Obama wants to be remembered as the President willing to talk sincerely to America’s enemies before imposing sanctions or picking up the gun. In 2010, the … [Read more...] about The US and the UN: resetting relations
The U.S. is #19 on 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index
On the Transparency International list, that's ahead of Barbados, Belgium, and Qatar but behind the UK (only just), Japan, Austria, Ireland, Germany, Luxembourg, Hong Kong, Norway, Iceland, Canada, Australia, Netherlands, Finland, Switzerland, Sweden, Singapore, Denmark, and the country perceived to be the least corrupt on the globe, New Zealand. The Corruption Perceptions … [Read more...] about The U.S. is #19 on 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index
Hide this Tiger We Weren’t Able to See!: Le Monde, France
Beyond the question of what it means to the sport of golf, coverage of the Tiger Woods affair reflects that never-ending battle between the American Puritans and the European sophisticates. Continuing our coverage of this European-American cultural fissure, sports columnist Jean-Louis Aragon writes for France's Le Monde: A few casual sexual encounters are exposed and, … [Read more...] about Hide this Tiger We Weren’t Able to See!: Le Monde, France
Obama Criticizes Intelligence Agencies Over Christmas Day Failed Airplane Attack
President Barack Obama emerged from a major huddle with officials on national security, airline security and the failed Christmas day underwear bomber attack to issue a stern statement that didn't mince words. He said there had been enough info behind the scenes on the attempted Christmas Day attack to stop it. The bottom line, he said, is that the system "failed...to … [Read more...] about Obama Criticizes Intelligence Agencies Over Christmas Day Failed Airplane Attack
Dorgan To Retire
In what has to be a blow to Democrats three term incumbent Byron Dorgan of North Dakota has announced he will not seek re-election in 2010. Democrats do have popular Congressman Earl Pomerey who could run for the seat but his House seat would then be a likely switch to the GOP. Republicans have equally popular Governor John Hoeven in the wings and he had been leading Dorgan … [Read more...] about Dorgan To Retire
Is This a Wait-and-See Story?
UPDATED: Darleen Click at Protein Wisdom simultaneously links to this post, and embraces her inner sixth-grader. Click and laugh. The right is all over this story about Michael Yon being handcuffed and questioned at the Seattle airport. For them, this is an open-and-shut case of overzealous airport security hassling an obviously harmless American citizen. Now, I'm not saying … [Read more...] about Is This a Wait-and-See Story?
Continental Bumps Joan Rivers Off Flight in Costa Rica Due to “Suspicious” Passport
A Continental flight attendant booted comedian Joan Rivers off a flight from Costa Rica because the agent found her passport suspicious. The story is surprising for two reasons: (1)She's Joan Rivers and so far there have not been many elderly female Jewish terrorists blowing up airplanes (but whatever). (2)Stopped due to her PASSPORT? It would have been understandable if the … [Read more...] about Continental Bumps Joan Rivers Off Flight in Costa Rica Due to “Suspicious” Passport