Google has a fun little search easter egg for the new year. Go to Google, leave the search box empty and click on the “I’m Feeling Lucky” button. In bold blue numbers Google's counting down to the new year. You will see a count down to the new year in large blue numbers under the search box. That, and the Google New Year logo above, via Search Engine Land's collection of … [Read more...] about Feeling Lucky: Google’s New Year’s Countdown
Tired of Defending Dick Cheney
Way back in early June, when Mr. Cheney was well into his “Obama is soft on terrorism” tour, Frank Rich wrote a column in the New York Times titled, “Who Is to Blame for the Next Attack?” In his piece, Rich rightly condemned Cheney’s attempts to once again “using lies and fear… rewrite history and escape accountability for the failed Bush presidency…” Rich was … [Read more...] about Tired of Defending Dick Cheney
The Rush to Judge Rush Limbaugh
After noting on TMV that Mr. Limbaugh was taken to hospital suddenly, I see across the blogosphere that there are in various hamlets, outbreaks of some kind of madness regarding Rush Limbaugh, with some issuing the equivalent of “armchair fatwahs” against the man. I think that’s wrong-hearted. I know Mr. Limbaugh from prior associations through our books being neck and … [Read more...] about The Rush to Judge Rush Limbaugh
When Do The ‘Tens’ Start ?
This week everyone has been talking about the start of the 10's. Technically of course just as the millenium really began in 2001 and not 2000 the 10's start in 11 and not 10 (since there is no year zero). Or do we just count the first decade of the AD's as 1-9 ? Why is it we count up from 1 but down to 0 ? So when does the decade really start ? And just to add a … [Read more...] about When Do The ‘Tens’ Start ?
Oh-Oh Decade Police Lineup
RJ Matson, The St. Louis Post Dispatch This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Oh-Oh Decade Police Lineup
Attack and Truth
The White House has finally begun to push back against the right-wing campaign of lies and smears that began immediately after the Christmas Day aborted airline bombing and continue to this moment. In a post on the White House communications blog, Dan Pfeiffer responds to yesterday's Politico interview with Dick Cheney in which Cheney accused Pres. Obama of "pretending we are … [Read more...] about Attack and Truth
Even the liberal New Republic… (Part II)
The cover of the current issue of the New Republic blares, The Battle for Tora Bora: The Untold Story. It's a good article, but it's actually an old story. Some of the details are new, but I think it's been at least five years since we've known that Bin Laden was cornered in the caves of Tora Bora in December of 2001, but the chain of command rejected a request to send in US … [Read more...] about Even the liberal New Republic… (Part II)
Even the liberal New Republic…
...publishes enough cliche polemics to justify the adjective "liberal". Now, it is certainly true that TNR generates enough heresy to justify its reputation as much more than a liberal meat grinder. That's why I have a subscription. But TNR also provides enough simplistic GOP-bashing to fortify the perpetually indignant, self-satisfied liberal intellectualism to which so … [Read more...] about Even the liberal New Republic…
Best Films of the ’00s (Zeros/Aughts)
What qualifies me to do a retrospective review of the best films of the decade? Well, I'd like to think that I know a lot about film, that I've seen a lot of movies, that I love movies, and that I have good taste. Plus, I'm a blogger, so here you go, like it or not. (Oh, and I was a film critic way back when for The Tufts Daily.) Seriously, it's been an interesting … [Read more...] about Best Films of the ’00s (Zeros/Aughts)
Obama’s First Year
My boss is not an Obama fan. No, I'm not referring to Mr. Gandelman. I'm referring to the other boss -- the one at the company that pays me for what I do. That boss is not an Obama fan -- and he struggles to understand why I am. Two days before Christmas, that boss dropped by my office. I was one of the few still there; many had already left for some extended R&R over … [Read more...] about Obama’s First Year
The STUPIDEST NEWS STORIES of 2009 (a song)
HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVE DAY TMV READERS! "To us the things on cable news seem so freakin' dumb, And we can only hope that we're not the only ones... But since they're still reporting it....we just might be the only ones." -- Lyrics by Hank, Music by Rhett & Link. … [Read more...] about The STUPIDEST NEWS STORIES of 2009 (a song)
The New Deal That Isn’t
Economists still argue about whether the New Deal policies of the 1930s saved the economy or prolonged the Depression. You can make a good case either way. But there's no argument about the fact that it was an enormous political success. It gave people in this country hope for their future, a belief that their institutions were being fixed for the better, and that their … [Read more...] about The New Deal That Isn’t
Tim Pawlenty Understands Spending Priorities
I had to check the date to make sure it wasn't April Fools day instead of New Years Eve. Why? Because it's so rare to see a politician these days who actually seems to grasp the basics of government spending during a disastrous fiscal period such as the one we're in now. Fresh from YouTube, an encouraging interview with Minnesota Governor and 2012 presidential hopeful, Tim … [Read more...] about Tim Pawlenty Understands Spending Priorities
Good Bye 2009
Brian Fairrington, Cagle Cartoons This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Good Bye 2009
A Mall Massacre in Gun Free Europe
Despite a name that at first glance could raise eyebrows among some, it turns out it's another "weirdo." (May I be the first to say it? Good riddance to 2009...) Details here. … [Read more...] about A Mall Massacre in Gun Free Europe
US Warnings of Terrorist Attack Tonight In Bali
Will this be another pro forma New Year's Eve? According to reports, the U.S. has issued a warning that there are fears tonight could be marred by the same scourge that has cursed this most unhappy of decades: terrorism: Terrorists may be planning a New Year's Eve attack on the Indonesian island of Bali, Indonesian and US Embassy officials warned today. In an Embassy email … [Read more...] about US Warnings of Terrorist Attack Tonight In Bali
The inevitable 2009 top ten stories column
You knew it was coming, I'm sure. Every Tom, Dick and Harriet with a pencil or a keyboard is probably assembling their own list of the political news stories which shaped the news in 2009. Never being one to shy away from running with the herd, I've assembled my own and you can find it this morning at Pajamas Media. But when you're finished with that, I thought it might be fun … [Read more...] about The inevitable 2009 top ten stories column
Rush Limbaugh Hospitalized in Hawaii
UPDATE: Jan 1, 2010: Mr. Limbaugh says he did not have a heart attack and does not have heart disease: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100101/ap_on_re_us/us_limbaugh_hospital UPDATE: Rush Limbaugh will “take a lot of tests” according to Walter Williams, guest host on Mr. Limbaugh's radio show while Mr. L is vacationing in Hawaii. "While pains [in chest] can be an indicator of … [Read more...] about Rush Limbaugh Hospitalized in Hawaii
True Believers: Abdulmullatab and Cheney
"Passionate hatred," Eric Hoffer wrote half a century ago, "can give meaning and purpose to an empty life. Thus people haunted by the purposelessness of their lives try to find a new content not only by dedicating themselves to a holy cause but also by nursing a fanatical grievance." Days after a 23-year-old Nigerian demonstrates the enduring truth of this observation by … [Read more...] about True Believers: Abdulmullatab and Cheney
Poll: Obama Most Admired Man, Palin Clinton Most Admired Women
A new USA Today/Gallup Poll finds that President Barack Obama is the country's most admired man -- and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin are tied as the country's most admired women. President Obama is the man Americans admired most in 2009, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds, while Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and former Alaska … [Read more...] about Poll: Obama Most Admired Man, Palin Clinton Most Admired Women