Amazon and Sony have their eBook readers. Now Asus wants a piece of the action with their cool looking device (from the Times Online - UK): Tech news: For the smarter kind of bookworm Asus, inventors of the netbook, is about to shake up the ebook world with the arrival of the world's cheapest digital reader By ALEX PELL The world of ebooks is about to start a new … [Read more...] about Asus Jumping Head First Into The “Cool eBook” Race
An Economist Speaks
For a long time I've been confused about what passes for economic reporting these days. The reports of late have all been saying the recession has ended. Yet they all invariably add that most Americans (sometimes referred to collectively as "Main Street") will not see any personal improvement for many months or even years. Indeed, it seems to most on Main Street that things are … [Read more...] about An Economist Speaks
Grassley Blames Democrats for Baucus Bill
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), responding to bipartisan dissatisfaction with the bill unveiled by Max Baucus (D-MT), blamed the Democrats. They could have come up with a better bill that everyone would have liked if they had just had more time, he complained. All they needed was two more weeks and they could have produced a truly bipartisan bill. They weren't given enough time; … [Read more...] about Grassley Blames Democrats for Baucus Bill
A Collection of Kisses
Happy Friday! A collection of kisses from the Boston Globe: A kiss - a simple act that can convey a diverse array of meanings. A kiss can be intimate and private, or meant for public display, it can convey love and affection, or simply provide comfort. Its use as a greeting is under fire in our current climate of H1N1 fear, as the French government has begun encouraging … [Read more...] about A Collection of Kisses
The Militarization of Latin America: Obama Already ‘Ahead of Bush’: La Jornada, Mexico
One of the many under-reported stories in our nation's media are U.S. plans to build a number of new military bases in Colombia and expand others around the region. This article by Angel Guerra Cabrera from Mexico's La Jornada reflects the views of a huge swath of Latin American opinion - and it's anything but music to U.S. ears. For La Jornada, Angel Guerra Cabrera … [Read more...] about The Militarization of Latin America: Obama Already ‘Ahead of Bush’: La Jornada, Mexico
America’s Sweet Tooth Tax Debate
Congratulations to Americans Against Food Taxes for producing a political issues ad that is accurate. The group opposes a one-cent per-ounce tax on sugary soft drinks that Congress is eyeballing to generate more revenue. The ads claim the regressive tax would hit those who least can afford it the most. On the flip side, sugar tax advocates say the products they are targeting … [Read more...] about America’s Sweet Tooth Tax Debate
SNL on the Genesis of Joe Wilson’s “You Lie” to Obama
How did Rep. Joe Wilson yelling "You lie!" to President Barack Obama REALLY come about? Saturday Night Live, on its new Thursday show, has you this now-it-can-be-told this-just-in account: h/T Huffington Post … [Read more...] about SNL on the Genesis of Joe Wilson’s “You Lie” to Obama
Another Democratic Stumble
If your foes insist there's an elephant in the room and it isn't the elephant that symbolizes their party, how does it help you to keep raising the issue of the supposed elephant in the room? This was an issue big in the beltway on talk radio. Average Americans aren't heatedly discussing it at the cooler (if those still exist) or Starbucks (if they can still find one). … [Read more...] about Another Democratic Stumble
Racist
Two cartoons on racism: RJ Matson, The St. Louis Post Dispatch Nate Beeler, The Washington Examiner These cartoons are licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Racist
On the Radio: The Baucus Plan Redux
So much of our regularly scheduled show yesterday was eaten up by ACORN and the shelving of the missile defense shield, that Cindy and I will be broadcasting a bonus edition of Mid Stream Radio at 10 AM eastern this morning, primarily to discuss the Baucus compromise and the latest revelations to pop up in the news. Feel free to join in the chat with your own thoughts or call … [Read more...] about On the Radio: The Baucus Plan Redux
Toybots Killer Toy Unboxed: An Animatronic Dog (Humor)
ToyBots CEO Shervin Pishevar says of the device: It'll be "bigger than Facebook." It grows: No real animals were hurt during the filming! When I'm an old codger I expect a relational robot will watch over me; he'll be my friend, bring me my pills, take my blood pressure and call 911 in an emergency. Pishevar's TechCrunch visit was in reaction to being dissed by … [Read more...] about Toybots Killer Toy Unboxed: An Animatronic Dog (Humor)
Max Cleland Memoir Uncomfortable Truth
Max Cleland’s new book, Heart of a Patriot: How I Found the Courage to Survive Vietnam, Walter Reed, and Karl Rove, has an October 6 publication date. The AJC's Political Insider, Jim Galloway, has been paging through it: Cleland rose in Georgia politics in large part because of that irrepressible grin and a persona that beamed indefatigable optimism. No little grenade was … [Read more...] about Max Cleland Memoir Uncomfortable Truth
Philadelphia’s Libraries Saved
This is the best news I've heard all day. … [Read more...] about Philadelphia’s Libraries Saved
More whimsy in space
I know I just posted about some whimsy associated with space, but you know, we need more of this: Out of this world: British teddy bears strapped to helium weather balloon reach the edge of space It may sound silly or inconsequential, but as someone I once knew said to me, "It's the small things, Jack, the small things add up to a lot more than the big things in the end." --- … [Read more...] about More whimsy in space
House Joins Senate In Cutting ACORN Funds
The House has followed the example of the Senate in denying funding to ACORN because of the recent scandal involving then seeming to aid people in tax fraud and importing sex slaves. The Senate vote was 83-7 while the House vote was 345-75. In both cases the 82 members who voted to keep funding ACORN were from the liberal wing of the Democratic party. In both cases the … [Read more...] about House Joins Senate In Cutting ACORN Funds
Explaining and Deconstructing the Baucus Bill
Here is a roundup of analysis and commentary about the health care reform bill prepared by Max Baucus and the Gang of Six on the Senate Finance Committee. Pretty much nobody likes the bill. Baucus scraps a "simple employer mandate that forces every employer over a certain size to provide health-care insurance or pay a small fee," and replaces it with a "free rider" … [Read more...] about Explaining and Deconstructing the Baucus Bill
Buzz Lightyear returns to Earth after 15 months in space
From the NASA Image of the Day gallery: The Return of Buzz Lightyear Disney's space ranger Buzz Lightyear returned from space on Sept. 11, aboard space shuttle Discovery's STS-128 mission after 15 months aboard the International Space Station. His time on the orbiting laboratory will celebrated in a ticker-tape parade together with his space station crewmates and former Apollo … [Read more...] about Buzz Lightyear returns to Earth after 15 months in space
Obama Gets the Missile Shield Question Right
I very nearly didn't write this column, given some of the recent partisan acrimony over web voices who would never utter a word regarding the Obama administration being wrong about anything or acknowledge that a Republican could ever have a good idea, but I refuse to play that game. While there has been precious little to praise the President over on the domestic front, when he … [Read more...] about Obama Gets the Missile Shield Question Right
President Obama Presents Medal of Honor to Massachusetts Hero
A couple of months ago, President Obama announced that he would be awarding the Medal of Honor to Army Sgt. 1st Class Jared C. Monti, who was killed by enemy fire on June 21, 2006, while trying to rescue wounded comrades in the mountains of Afghanistan. This afternoon, the President performing what probably is one of his most solemn duties as president and … [Read more...] about President Obama Presents Medal of Honor to Massachusetts Hero
U.S. Scraps Eastern Europe Missile Shield Plan and Sparks Controversy
In what it is already proving to be a controversial decision, President Barack Obama announced that he is scuttling the Bush administration's plans for a Poland and Czech missile defense system and insteady opting for a different "redesigned plan" -- a major foreign policy reversal for an administration that has been both praised (mostly on the right) and criticized (mostly on … [Read more...] about U.S. Scraps Eastern Europe Missile Shield Plan and Sparks Controversy