This story is just plain sad on so many levels. … [Read more...] about Sad Obesity Story
Diplomacy
Bob Englehart, The Hartford Courant This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Diplomacy
You Give Me Expanded Coverage; I’ll Give You Cost Control
Ezra Klein reads over 2,000 pages of legislative language so you don't have to. His conclusion: This bill is a "grand bargain" that achieves impressive levels of coverage while still cutting costs: … [Read more...] about You Give Me Expanded Coverage; I’ll Give You Cost Control
Elizabeth Warren Profiled
Warren suggested a Financial Product Safety Commission in a 2007 article; Obama proposed it to Congress in June as the Consumer Financial Protection Agency. Speculation is (wishes?) she could head the agency. Bloomberg.com profiles her life: Warren began at George Washington at 17. At 19, she married mathematician Jim Warren, who worked at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, … [Read more...] about Elizabeth Warren Profiled
Setting Premiums for Publicly-Subsidized Healthcare Coverage – Additional Concerns
National Healthcare Insurance Reform has moved a bit closer to reality, though it could still be derailed in the Senate. We now have a House Bill and a Senate Bill that will have to be merged into a single bill via an appointed Joint Conference Committee. The committee members will be chosen by Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi so a final bill can be … [Read more...] about Setting Premiums for Publicly-Subsidized Healthcare Coverage – Additional Concerns
Guliani To Run For Senate ?
According to emerging news reports Rudy Guliani has decided not to run for Governor of New York but will instead run for the US Senate seat formerly held by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Spokespeople for Rudy have neither confirmed or denied these reports, simply saying that he will "inform New Yorkers on his own". … [Read more...] about Guliani To Run For Senate ?
The Fake Date-Rape Drug Epidemic
A study of 200 students published in the British Journal of Criminology found that many wrongly blame the effects of a "bad night out" on date-rape drugs when, in fact, they just drank too much. Some are in "active denial" and fears of date-rape drugs are so pervasive that students think it happens more often than the abuse as a consequence of drugs, binge drinking, or walking … [Read more...] about The Fake Date-Rape Drug Epidemic
1993 All Over Again?
In 1992 Bill Clinton's campaign was built around the phrase "It's the economy, stupid." That's what voters cared about. Bush One's failure in that realm was what got Clinton elected. In 1993 the newly elected President Clinton came into office and focused on health care reform. His efforts there flopped, and the rest of his presidency pretty much flopped as well. Which … [Read more...] about 1993 All Over Again?
U.S. and Beijing Disagree on Obama’s Chinese Name: Global Geographic Times, China
According to this blog entry from the Web site of China's Global Geographic Times, a U.S. Embassy request that China use a new spelling of Obama's Chinese name has been met with suspicion among that nation's 'Netizens.' So what's in a name, one might ask? For the Global Geographic Times, Scholar Jiang Huai writes in part: "On November 12, officials at the U.S. Embassy … [Read more...] about U.S. and Beijing Disagree on Obama’s Chinese Name: Global Geographic Times, China
TV Review: HBO’s ‘Terror In Mumbai’ (Six Stars out of Five)
There's the cliched phrase: "It's like watching a train wreck." In "Terror in Mumbai," which airs tonight 8 pm ET/PT on HBO, you get to see what no documentary has shown before: a "360 degree view" of a multi-pronged terrorist act, seen partly and genuinely from the terrorists point view. The reason: "Terror in Mumbai" uses actual cell phone instructional conversations … [Read more...] about TV Review: HBO’s ‘Terror In Mumbai’ (Six Stars out of Five)
Daily Show Is Serious About Media Criticism
With Joe Biden Tuesday, Lou Dobbs last night, and Hannity caught faking the news last week*, The Daily Show continues on it's long hot roll. Here's a Poytner look inside the most effective media criticism shop in America: "I feel like there are lot of critics of the government but there are very few critics of the media who have an audience and are credible and keep a watch on … [Read more...] about Daily Show Is Serious About Media Criticism
Meet the New Boss… prizes for Obama donors
No matter what you may have hoped, some things never change. The intro to this Politico piece really tells the whole story. He may have promised to change Washington, but President Barack Obama is continuing one of its most renowned patronage traditions: bestowing prized ambassadorships on big donors. Of the nearly 80 ambassadorship nominations or confirmations since … [Read more...] about Meet the New Boss… prizes for Obama donors
Healing Power Of Indian Curries
On my trips abroad, I have rarely found an Indian restaurant that would satisfy my native taste buds. In the West, there has been a "curry" revolution and its impact has been the most in Britain. However, there is a growing realization that Indian cooking is not just meant to set your tongue on fire or titillate the palate, it actually mixes common sense with the ancient … [Read more...] about Healing Power Of Indian Curries
Health Care: Presidential Popularity vs. Constituent Wishes
The NYT published today a fascinating (and somewhat frustrating) look at health care reform's supporters and detractors in Congress, by FiveThirtyEight's Nate Silver and two co-authors. Their thesis: Critics of the health care reform plan often refer to it derisively as “ObamaCare.” On the policy merits, this is highly questionable: the White House has taken a hands-off … [Read more...] about Health Care: Presidential Popularity vs. Constituent Wishes
Sarah Palin’s Mammoth Book Tour
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune This cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin’s Mammoth Book Tour
More Twisted Than Terrorist
The more we learn about Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, the thinner the line stretches between ideology and mental illness, and the more troubling is the question of why, surrounded by psychiatrists, his potential for violence was not sufficiently recognized to remove him from his position as a healer of trauma victims. Yesterday brings a report that "military superiors repeatedly … [Read more...] about More Twisted Than Terrorist
Fox News Airs Misleading Old Footage Again
This time when talking about the crowds Sarah Palin is attracting. (Oops!) … [Read more...] about Fox News Airs Misleading Old Footage Again
ABC Reports C.I.A. “Black Site” Found in Lithuania
This is just incredible: … [Read more...] about ABC Reports C.I.A. “Black Site” Found in Lithuania
The Senate Health Care Bill Has Been Released
The entire text is online. It's 2,074 pages. Via Ron Chusid, who has a reading plan: … [Read more...] about The Senate Health Care Bill Has Been Released
Adam Lambert: Out, But Not THAT Out
"I don't think it should be a surprise for anyone to hear I'm gay... I've been living in Los Angeles for eight years as a gay man. I've been at clubs drunk making out with somebody in the corner. I’m proud of my sexuality. I embrace it. It’s just another part of me." That from Adam Lambert in a Rolling Stone cover story interview shortly after he was named the American Idol … [Read more...] about Adam Lambert: Out, But Not THAT Out