One salubrious side effect of the current debate has been the emergence of an energized GOP with a new generation of original thinkers: *South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint, who previously described health care as "Obama's Waterloo" that will "break him," now observes that the debate is putting American troops at risk in Afghanistan. He tells an interviewer that "the war in … [Read more...] about Republican Rebound on Health Care
Iran Admits Secret Uranium Enrichment and Ahmadinejad Warns Obama
Barack Obama is now getting his first major new foreign policy test with the big news that Iran has now upped the ante with its admission that is has a secret uranium enrichment facility. Obama had tough words for Iran: The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed Friday that Iran admitted the existence of the "new pilot fuel enrichment plant," prompting Obama, … [Read more...] about Iran Admits Secret Uranium Enrichment and Ahmadinejad Warns Obama
Afghanistan: Make Up Your Mind Gen. McChrystal!
In the famous Peter O'Toole film "Night Of The Generals", the record-keeper in Paris tells Omar Sharif (acting as German officer investigating murders of prostitutes in Nazi-occupied Warsaw and Paris): "Major, why do you bother...All Generals are murderers!" That was a film dialogue. In real life Generals are not murderers. They are expected to carry out the commands of … [Read more...] about Afghanistan: Make Up Your Mind Gen. McChrystal!
Turkmenistan and How the UN Really Works
Casual observers might conclude this week that the United Nations is a body that has as its key funciton providing an audience for fiery dictators who make speeches -- some of them seemingly as long as the UN has been in existence. But is that what the UN is really about and how it really works -- and does all of its work take place in the UN building itself? Daniel … [Read more...] about Turkmenistan and How the UN Really Works
Saturday Night Live On Barack Obama, His Media Blitz and Glenn Beck
Saturday Night Live's Thursday update lampoons President Barack Obama, his media blitz, and Glenn Beck: h/t The Huffington Post … [Read more...] about Saturday Night Live On Barack Obama, His Media Blitz and Glenn Beck
A Political Love Letter Home (Guest Voice)
WASHINGTON -- Fall River, my hometown in Massachusetts, has been a bastion of devotion to the Kennedy family since John F. Kennedy's 1952 Senate race. We were so faithful that the turnout slogan in my dear city could well have been: "Vote for the Kennedy of your choice, but vote." It's like that in a lot of places around the state. A factory worker with no political … [Read more...] about A Political Love Letter Home (Guest Voice)
Now This Is Really Cool: Solar Roadways
One of the major hurdles in alternative energy is how much land is needed and the variable cost of installation. This solution would largely address both of those issues. The post is critical because they calculate that the cost of replacing all roads is $35 trillion. However, I did some back of the envelope calculations and determined that it wasn't all that much more than … [Read more...] about Now This Is Really Cool: Solar Roadways
America’s Civil War Sesquicentennial Coming Soon
In 2011 America will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War. If the last two 50-year markers are any indication, this will be a very big deal. States across the country are starting their preparations. Here in Tennessee, which saw more military action than any state outside Virginia, a coalition of preservation, tourism and education groups is … [Read more...] about America’s Civil War Sesquicentennial Coming Soon
Poll: Obama’s Support on Health Care and Afghanistan Declining
A new New York Times/CBS News poll brings two bits of bad news for President Barack Obama -- and two silver cloud lining bits of good news. The bad news is that public support for his handling of Afghanistan and health care is declining and his recent media and speech efforts seem to have done little to reverse perceptions. The good news: he still has strong personal numbers … [Read more...] about Poll: Obama’s Support on Health Care and Afghanistan Declining
Honda U3-X: An ‘Indoor Segway’
Trending on Twitter, Watch Out, Segway; Honda's New Personal Transit Device Could Be Next Big Thing: It's called the U3-X and most people think it looks like a space-age unicycle. And it's actually fairly striking in its ability to move not just forward and backwards but sideways and diagonally, too. Top speed is 3.7 mph, which for most people would be a power walking pace. … [Read more...] about Honda U3-X: An ‘Indoor Segway’
Obama at the United Nations
Nate Beeler, The Washington Examiner This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Obama at the United Nations
Strange Light & the Future of Magazines
That dust storm that blanketed a huge swath of Australia also gave birth to an instant magazine: Strange Light is a 40-page magazine that Derek just published (in this case, I mean “just” as in “sometime during the night, U.S. time”) using MagCloud. So, to recap: The dust storm occurred on Wednesday. Photographers — professional and amateur — headed out into the storm and, … [Read more...] about Strange Light & the Future of Magazines
Joe Wilson and the Self-Destructive ‘American Taliban’: El Tiempo, Colombia
This article from Colombia shows the Latin American backlash against Republican Joe Wilson's anti-immigrant outburst during President Obama's speech to a joint session of Congress. According to this editorial from Colombia's El Tiempo, Wilson is the one who's 'lying', since the bill in Congress 'explicitly' forbids health care to the undocumented. Which is why, the newspaper … [Read more...] about Joe Wilson and the Self-Destructive ‘American Taliban’: El Tiempo, Colombia
Should Women Serve on Submarines?
Women in the military have been---by tradition, by law, policy or regulation---excluded from various duties. One of the last remaining exclusions is women serving in "front-line combat jobs." But, even here, according to the Navy Times, "combat roles have become blurred during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, in which irregular warfare marked by insurgent roadside bombs and … [Read more...] about Should Women Serve on Submarines?
Musician Larry Knechtel (1940-2009)
Legendary keyboardist and bassist Larry Knechtel, 69, performed with top-selling artists for nearly half a century. His most famous piano work is his 1970 Grammy Award winning contribution to "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Simon and Garfunkel. Larry earned fame performing and recording with a broad range of artists, including his work as a session musician with Simon & … [Read more...] about Musician Larry Knechtel (1940-2009)
Call Me Girl, Call Me Gal, Call Me Filly… They Called Sarah Palin “Broad”
If you're my friend and I know you regard me, you can call me 'broad' in jest, you can call me 'a girl,' you can call me 'lady,' and ...you can call me by my rightful title, "Queen of the Known Universe" or my other title: "Grandmother to the World." .... I hope you are laughing with me. On a deadly serious note: during my missions in Federal penitentiaries teaching … [Read more...] about Call Me Girl, Call Me Gal, Call Me Filly… They Called Sarah Palin “Broad”
Newspaper Apolgizes To Palin For Sexist Headline
The Daily News-Miner in Alaska has apologized to former Gov. Sarah Palin for a headline that would have been considered sexist and unacceptable 20 years ago, let alone in the early 21st century: The Daily News-Miner has had its agreements and disagreements with now-former Gov. Sarah Palin at various points during her time serving the state of Alaska. We have tried to … [Read more...] about Newspaper Apolgizes To Palin For Sexist Headline
Kurzweil Was Right: Bionic Eyesight Is Within Reach
In The Age of Spiritual Machines, Ray Kurzweil predicts that by 2019 we will all be able to experience 3-D virtual reality through glasses and contact lenses that beam images directly to our retinas (retinal display). Coupled with an auditory source (headphones), we will be able to remotely communicate with other people and access the Internet. These special contact lenses … [Read more...] about Kurzweil Was Right: Bionic Eyesight Is Within Reach
U.S. Military Firing and Hiring: Neither Rhyme nor Reason?
First, a personal story intended as full disclosure for the second part of this post. I immigrated to the United States at the age of 17 from the Netherlands. Immediately upon reaching my 18th birthday, I enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. In those days, the 50s, a legal immigrant could join the U.S. armed forces upon signing a "declaration of intent" to become a U.S. … [Read more...] about U.S. Military Firing and Hiring: Neither Rhyme nor Reason?
Prospects for Public Option Are Looking Better and Better
First, there is the fact that Nancy Pelosi is standing strongly behind the public option, saying no health care reform bill will pass the House without it. Not just that, but she told the press quite emphatically today that a triggered public option is not acceptable: … [Read more...] about Prospects for Public Option Are Looking Better and Better