"Pretty Boy Floyd" by Woodie Guthrie. … [Read more...] about Outlaws and Activists
Politics + Religion: WARNING: Don’t Mix These Two
I pray for God's hand of protection to keep Sarah Palin out of the White House. … [Read more...] about Politics + Religion: WARNING: Don’t Mix These Two
Coburn-Vitter “Gotcha” Amendment “Gotcha’s” Them
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) signed on to an amendment written by Tom Coburn and David Vitter the sole purpose of which was to embarrass Democrats. The amendment would require members of Congress to use the public option themselves -- the idea, of course, being that even Democrats don't want the public option for their own health care. … [Read more...] about Coburn-Vitter “Gotcha” Amendment “Gotcha’s” Them
Et Tu, Baucus?
The question is timing. Why is Max Baucus, the Senate master of health care reform, telling the world on a Saturday morning that he "is currently in a mature and happy relationship with Melodee Hanes,” adding that “They are both divorced, and in no way was their relationship the cause of their respective divorces.” Well, yes, congratulations and all that, but why is the … [Read more...] about Et Tu, Baucus?
App Store As Cellphone Game Changer
The iPhone is a turning point in the industry, not so much for its popularity or features. But rather because, as the first popular handheld computer, it has spawned an app ecosystem: Gone are the days when mobile developers had to negotiate with major telecommunications companies if they had any hopes of publishing their applications on a mobile phone. “It took six to nine … [Read more...] about App Store As Cellphone Game Changer
Die Slowly Or Move To The Big City
Rural America is not served well by the medical profession because there is a lack of family practice doctors, a problem that could be addressed somewhat in the health reform bills now before Congress. That's the good news. The bad news is that the reform package, if passed, would extend insurance coverage to millions more in areas where there are a lack of doctors to attend … [Read more...] about Die Slowly Or Move To The Big City
A Quick Way to End the Afghanistan War
Want to end the Afghanistan War quickly? Just send this bomb over to Afghanistan. … [Read more...] about A Quick Way to End the Afghanistan War
About That Jobs Report
A friend's son graduated college this past June. He majored in journalism. He was an honor student, has freelanced pieces to several publications, and speaks two foreign languages. After months of looking he finally got a job — writing press releases for a local religious institution at a salary that doesn't allow him to move out from his parents' house. I thought of this … [Read more...] about About That Jobs Report
Quote of the Day: The Center Holds Under Barack Obama
Our political Quote of the Day comes from a must-read-in-full post by Susan J. Demas, a political analyst for Michigan Information & Research Service, writing on mlive.com, the Lansing, Michigan, Capital Chronicles website. She argues that the center is holding under Barack Obama, despite fierce attacks from the left and the right and despite what you may read in … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: The Center Holds Under Barack Obama
Is The Republican Party Morphing Into a Narrowly Defined “Movement?”
Is the GOP morphing into a more narrowly defined, exclusionary "movement?" CNN's Bill Schneider believes it is. In a piece in National Journal Magazine, Schneider points to a new poll that suggests many GOPers would prefer ideological purity to electability and writes: Republicans may soon get their own version of the Ten Commandments. Led by James Bopp Jr. of Indiana, … [Read more...] about Is The Republican Party Morphing Into a Narrowly Defined “Movement?”
Nicolas Sarkozy’s ‘Neither-Nor’ on Afghanistan: Le Monde, France
According to diplomatic correspondent Natalie Nougayrede of France's Le Monde newspaper, President Barack Obama isn't the only NATO leader going through contortions over Afghanistan. And in the case of President Nicolas Sarkozy of France there is a paradox: "after exhibiting the most spectacular gestures toward the United States at the end of the Bush era, he seemed to lose … [Read more...] about Nicolas Sarkozy’s ‘Neither-Nor’ on Afghanistan: Le Monde, France
The Choice
The problem with health care reform is not public option versus no public option -- it's change versus no change. The difficulty with passing health care reform is not the size of the bill, or the price tag, or the specific provisions in it -- well, it is to a point, but it's not the heart of the problem. The real difficulty is Congress -- Congress as an institution: the way it … [Read more...] about The Choice
An iTunes Music Stream?
Apple's buying the streaming music service, Lala. CNet's Greg Sandoval broke the story. Brad Stone at The NYTimes nailed it down and filled in some details. Techmeme pumped up the discussion. Of all that, Technologizer's Harry McCracken sums up the service nicely: The company has an oddball history that includes a period as a CD-swapping service and a foray into radio, but for … [Read more...] about An iTunes Music Stream?
Slim Fast Recall: Possible Problems in Its Can and Your Can
Slim Fast is being recalled due to the risk of possible problems in its can and your can: there are fears that a possible bacteria infection could turn some cans of Slim Fast into Diarrhea-Abdominal Cramps-and-Vomiting Fast. The LA Times: The maker of Slim-Fast has recalled all of its ready-to-drink canned beverages. All of them. Turns out, the stuff might be … [Read more...] about Slim Fast Recall: Possible Problems in Its Can and Your Can
Banks Must Shrink or it’s Disaster Again: Financial Times Deutschland
Did we in fact dodge the 'Depression bullet,' or have the events of the past few months proven that in fact, the human race at the present time is incapable of reordering the global economic system? According to the Financial Times Deutschland 's chief economist Thomas Frick, most of the transactions that banks were and continue to conduct are not only unproductive - they … [Read more...] about Banks Must Shrink or it’s Disaster Again: Financial Times Deutschland
Person Most Likely To Stand In Front of Tank With Flowers Says It’s OK To Not Withdraw from Afghanistan Post-Haste
If there was a high school yearbook category Person Most Likely to Stand in Front of a Tank To Stop It, I'd be the winner hands down. And yet, there's no way I would support a complete withdrawal from Afghanistan post-haste. This blog entry, A Commitment Strategy to Afghanistan, by Lorelei Kelly offers a great explanation but here's the crux for me (I recommend reading the … [Read more...] about Person Most Likely To Stand In Front of Tank With Flowers Says It’s OK To Not Withdraw from Afghanistan Post-Haste
Tiger’s Scars show we are not all equal
You learn something new every day don’t you? Like this week I realised that domestic violence is accepted in modern society. I was shocked because not too long ago, the collective world was shocked, dismayed and angry at one Christopher Brown for his transgressions towards Robyn Fenty – and rightly so, no one should have to beaten to a pulp for any reason, though no one … [Read more...] about Tiger’s Scars show we are not all equal
Rowing Upstream With One Oar In The Water
Whenever I gaze weary eyed into the problems facing our economic recovery, I often wonder if I am as dumb as those proverbial "economic analysts." Take today's announcement by the Labor Department that the national unemployment rate dropped to 10% from October's 10.2%. The New York Times blithely reported we lost only 11,000 jobs while economists had been expecting roughly … [Read more...] about Rowing Upstream With One Oar In The Water
Obama’s Hesitation on Afghanistan May Cost Him Dearly: Liberation, France
http://worldmeets.us/images/obama.hope.afghanistan_hojemacau.gif Now that the decision has been made to send 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan, few seem either pleased or optimistic. That would include columnist Francois Sergent of France's Liberation, who writes in part: "He can no longer attribute everything to the disastrous heritage of his predecessor. From … [Read more...] about Obama’s Hesitation on Afghanistan May Cost Him Dearly: Liberation, France
Bull Elephant
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Bull Elephant