Is it due to doctors, patients, lawyers or insurance companies? This American Life says, "Yes." In an absolutely wonderful episode, they really highlight some key causes of the health care crisis and shatter some misconceptions. They even changed my mind about a few things. For example, it's commonly claimed that we have a supply problem, and if only there were medical … [Read more...] about This American Life Explains Part Of The Health Care Crisis
Reform to Ruin Our Eyes and Make Us Crazy
The medical specialists most likely to benefit from the health care debate are optometrists as the Senate Finance Committee releases its 1502-page text and mental health professionals as a new poll shows a national mood swing from August rage against a public option to 57 percent of Americans in favor of it. Max Baucus' masterwork can now be read as a sequel to the 839-page … [Read more...] about Reform to Ruin Our Eyes and Make Us Crazy
Everybody Loves the Public Option! errr… sort of
Proponents of government run health care are already cheering the definitive, solid as a rock, above question results of a new Washington Post / ABC poll which indicates that 57% of Americans favor a so called "public option" in any proposed health insurance reform. Well, that certainly settles that once and for all, doesn't it? Not so fast, skippy. (Courtesy of Hot … [Read more...] about Everybody Loves the Public Option! errr… sort of
R.I.P. Vic Mizzy, Composer Of ‘Addams Family’ & ‘Green Acres’ Themes
At my moving away party, when I left NYC after 28 years to come live in Middle Georgia, my partner and I did a rousing rendition of the "Green Acres" theme song. (I sang Eva/Lisa's part.) Now it's my ringtone. Vic Mizzy, the man who wrote it -- he also wrote the 'Addams Family' theme song -- died Saturday at his home in Bel-Air. The LATimes: For his theme song, Mizzy … [Read more...] about R.I.P. Vic Mizzy, Composer Of ‘Addams Family’ & ‘Green Acres’ Themes
Quote of the Day: New Poll Shows Republicans Shouldn’t Be Giddy Yet About Obama’s Political Fortunes
Our political Quote of the Day comes from the a Chris Cillizza Washington Post piece on a new poll which he notes has some big, fat, warning flags to Republicans who think that they have Barack Obama and the Demmies on the political ropes: Republicans in Washington can barely contain their glee at the turn of President Obama's political fortunes in the first nine months … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: New Poll Shows Republicans Shouldn’t Be Giddy Yet About Obama’s Political Fortunes
Russians Shouldn’t Be Happy About America’s Afghan Misfortune: Kommersant, Russia
In regard to Afghanistan, should Russians indulge in a little schadenfreude - a German word meaning taking pleasure in the pain of others - or should it help the United States out of its predicament. For Russia's Kommersant newspaper, columnist Sergey Markedonov asks his readers: "Should we be happy over the misfortune of our 'sworn friend' the U.S. - particularly … [Read more...] about Russians Shouldn’t Be Happy About America’s Afghan Misfortune: Kommersant, Russia
America Deserves ‘Nobel War Prize’: Thawra Al Wada, Syria
Continuing with our look at Obama's Nobel Prize through a global prism, this article from Syria's state-controlled Thawra Al Wada shares the rest of the world's surprise with the award - but with a distinctly anti-Israel Syrian twist. For Thawra Al Wada, Khalaf Ali Al Moftah argues that Obama has time to earn the award, as long as he does a few things no American chief … [Read more...] about America Deserves ‘Nobel War Prize’: Thawra Al Wada, Syria
Apple Profits Climbs 47% Tweet Tweet
Impressive: According to the Wall Street Journal, the company's fourth-quarter profit jumped 47 percent “as consumers continued to snap up its iPhones and Macintosh computers.” Surprisingly resilient demand for its laptops and smart phones have carried Apple though the recession. This past quarter, Apple sold 7.4 million iPhones and 3.1 million Macintosh computers. Apple’s CFO … [Read more...] about Apple Profits Climbs 47% Tweet Tweet
How to lose an election, Dede Scozzafava style
Returning to the Nov. 3 special House election in NY-23, (which I mentioned on Sunday) we find the embattled, moderate to liberal Republican candidate, Dede Scozzafava demonstrating how to lose a race in a district your party has held for more than one hundred years. When a reporter shows up to ask you about your position on some uncomfortable topics, you can respond in a … [Read more...] about How to lose an election, Dede Scozzafava style
When Did Classic Liberalism Die?
Following on the heels of yesterday's much debated column on the civil war among the Republicans, we clearly had far too many liberals feeling smug and self-satisfied to let it stand. With that in mind, I would like to present the companion piece, published today at Pajamas Media, titled, "The Modern Left Abandons Classic Liberalism." In this piece I take a look at some of the … [Read more...] about When Did Classic Liberalism Die?
Mom And Dad Are Verbs
I am not a huge fan of Dr. Laura but she does come on one of the radio stations I listen to and today she made a comment that prompted some thinking for me. One of her callers was asking how to resolve an issue she was having with her 17 year old son. At the time her son was born the caller was, in her own words, 'not exactly the most responsible person' and the father was … [Read more...] about Mom And Dad Are Verbs
AT&T, Google Voice, and the FCC – reconciling public good and private enterprise isn’t easy
I ran across an interesting article about AT&T and Google Voice. I received an invitation to use Google Voice, and I find it very useful. It rings several phones when my Google Voice phone number is called, allowing me to give that number to a select few whom I want to be able to contact me anywhere. The article covers a dispute between AT&T and Google, and in involves … [Read more...] about AT&T, Google Voice, and the FCC – reconciling public good and private enterprise isn’t easy
Balloon Boy
Nate Beeler, The Washington Examiner This cartoon is copyrighted and authorized to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Balloon Boy
That Sneaky Nancy Pelosi
She's working on beating the opposition at their own game: … [Read more...] about That Sneaky Nancy Pelosi
Jim DeMint “Takes Care of the Pennies,” Just Like the Jews
HCR: If GOP Can’t Divide and Conquer, They’ll Stage a Work Slowdown
This, folks, is why Thomas Franks called them the wrecking crew: … [Read more...] about HCR: If GOP Can’t Divide and Conquer, They’ll Stage a Work Slowdown
The plasma knife – not a lightsabre, but a surgical tool
In addition to being cool, this technology will help save lives in a difficult situation: U.S. Special Operations testing plasma knife in the field By Andrew Nusca | Oct 16, 2009 | The U.S. Special Operations Command is field-testing a plasma knife to help medics in the field save more soldiers’ lives. The plasma knife is intended to be used as a surgical tool that’s … [Read more...] about The plasma knife – not a lightsabre, but a surgical tool
Marijuana Policy Shift & Its Consequences
This morning AP reported that the Obama administration will not seek to arrest medical marijuana users and suppliers as long as they conform to state laws. The NYTimes points to the three-page memo spelling out the policy, but I'm thinking Reason's Jacob Sullum still believes there's good reason for legit distributors to worry: [T]he Drug Enforcement Administration can still … [Read more...] about Marijuana Policy Shift & Its Consequences
The Most Beautiful Song Ever Written
Couldn't get it out of my head today, so here it is: … [Read more...] about The Most Beautiful Song Ever Written
Two cheers for John Kerry!
Yes, you heard me right. Here's what Kerry had to say on CBS about relying on counterterrorism instead of counterinsurgency in Afghanistan: SENATOR JOHN KERRY: That's correct. I-- I-- I do not believe that a counterterrorism strategy all by itself without a sufficient level of counterinsurgency will work because if you don't have a presence on the ground that's effective, … [Read more...] about Two cheers for John Kerry!