For months the stock market has resembled a smoker who knows it's time to quit but can't give up the weed just yet. For this smoker there's always some occasion that seems to require one more butt. A stress situation that can only be met with a smoke. That cup of morning coffee, or the after dinner nicotine closer. Or being with someone else doing the drag you can't watch … [Read more...] about A Dour-ing Dow
Chicago Eliminated From 2016 Olympics
The Olympic Committee has voted to eliminate two cities from contention for the 2016 Olympics. Tokyo, Japan Chicago, Illinois. Chicago was actually the first to go, followed by Tokyo This leaves Madrid and Rio, with Rio being a favorite as there has never been an Olympics in South America. Madrid however does have a good set of facilities ready so they should not be … [Read more...] about Chicago Eliminated From 2016 Olympics
Long Live the Public Option!
Sen. Tom Harkin: "We will have a bill on the president's desk before Christmas, a health-reform bill. It will have a lot of good stuff in it. It will have a lot of prevention and wellness programs in there that I've been fighting for. And it will have a public option... The question of if it doesn't isn't even an option." Plus, Republicans won't be involved in putting a bill … [Read more...] about Long Live the Public Option!
Why Talk Radio Political Culture Conservatives are “Winning” and will Win
Democrats may be aghast, some independent voters may be stunned, and traditional Republican conservatives truly descended from Ronald Reagan and Barry Goldwater may talk about needing to reverse the demonization tide. But Neal Gabler writing in the L.A. Times contends that 21st century conservatism is now akin to religion -- and that compromise will not only do no good but … [Read more...] about Why Talk Radio Political Culture Conservatives are “Winning” and will Win
Roman Polanski and Hollywood
Nate Beeler, The Washington Examiner This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Roman Polanski and Hollywood
The GOP and Its Wrongly Crowned Kings
If you see a spade, call it a spade. David Brooks does. The money graph: Over the years, I have asked many politicians what happens when Limbaugh and his colleagues attack. The story is always the same. Hundreds of calls come in. The receptionists are miserable. But the numbers back home do not move. There is no effect on the favorability rating or the re-election … [Read more...] about The GOP and Its Wrongly Crowned Kings
Barack and Michelle Obama Address International Olympic Committee
Here's Part 1 and Part II of Fox News video now up on You Tube of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama making their pitch to the Olympic committee for Chicago as the 2016 Olympics city: Here's the text of Obama's comments. Here's the text of Michelle Obama's comments. FOOTNOTE: My satellite radio (the device that lets me escape regular talk radio) … [Read more...] about Barack and Michelle Obama Address International Olympic Committee
Letterman Sex, Extortion, Arrest & Review
The video: And extortion: A CBS News employee is under arrest for trying to extort $2 million from David Letterman, forcing the late-night host to admit in an extraordinary monologue before millions of viewers that he had sexual relationships with female employees. And arrest: In a statement late Thursday, the network said: "CBS was made aware of an ongoing police … [Read more...] about Letterman Sex, Extortion, Arrest & Review
Letterman, Landgrabs and Lincoln, Oh My!
Because of a scheduling conflict yesterday, we've had to push back the line-up for our weekly show, Mid Stream Radio, to Friday morning at 10 am eastern. (An ungodly 7 am pacific.) We'll be picking apart the fast breaking, though likely irrelevant David Letterman sexual affairs story, as well as a little reported attempt at a federal landgrab in Utah. If there's time we'll look … [Read more...] about Letterman, Landgrabs and Lincoln, Oh My!
Casinos, Behavioral Tracking and You
I was listening to an old episode of one of my favorite NPR shows and podcasts, Radio Lab. The topic was how we choose and it featured a fascinating and highly disturbing story that has relevance to anyone involved in the Internet today. It turns out that in the world of gambling, the casino chain Harrah’s is the undisputed leader. The reason? All visitors must first join a … [Read more...] about Casinos, Behavioral Tracking and You
Mahatma Gandhi & Seven “Deadly Sins”
Today - October 2 - is Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi's (or Mahatma Gandhi's) birth anniversary . Gandhi once said that if we are not careful then seven "deadly sins" will destroy us. They are: a) "Wealth Without Work"; b) "Pleasure Without Conscience"; c) "Knowledge Without Character; d) Commerce (Business) Without Morality (Ethics); e) Science Without Humanity; f) Religion … [Read more...] about Mahatma Gandhi & Seven “Deadly Sins”
JFK’s Court Jester
Paul B. Fay Jr., who died this week at 91, was a crony so close that John F. Kennedy appointed him Undersecretary of the Navy over the protests of Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara. The role of Red Fay, as everyone called him, in Kennedy's life was much more personal than political. Sons of Irish-American wealth who had met in the Navy during World War II, they bonded to … [Read more...] about JFK’s Court Jester
I Love Glee !
We don't always cover the entertainment world here at TMV but it's the start of a new TV season and I like to try and find one show each year that is truly worth watching. For me this year that show is the Fox Series Glee. If you aren't familiar with the program, it is set in a typical High school and focuses on the Glee club. In addition to having the typical school tv show … [Read more...] about I Love Glee !
The Cost of Health Care
You can't fit the entire health care debate into a 4 panel comic strip. But you can make one snarky remark about the American people, can't you? … [Read more...] about The Cost of Health Care
Ensign Affair = 10,000 Same Sex Marriage Licenses
Another Republican in the news for a tawdry affair. This one a retread: In acknowledging the affair [last June], Mr. Ensign cast it as a personal transgression, not a professional one. But an examination of his conduct shows that in trying to clean up the mess from the illicit relationship and distance himself from the Hamptons, he entangled political supporters, staff members … [Read more...] about Ensign Affair = 10,000 Same Sex Marriage Licenses
Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire
There is no claim so crazy that Michele Bachmann will not make it -- no lie so brazenly outrageous that she will not tell it (emphasis is in original): … [Read more...] about Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire
Assessing the GOP Brand
Pollster.com looks at the GOP brand and the findings are: not good at all. But if you look at the graph, you see a sharp decline in the Democrats as well. So when you read the post and look at the graphs it boils down to this: If the GOP brand now conjures up feelings among many Americans as the kind of feelings they have when facing a root canal or a meticulous … [Read more...] about Assessing the GOP Brand
Why Hollywood Types Should Drop Their Defense of Roman Polanski’s Crimes
Rick Sanchez says it well: Embedded video from CNN Video I blogged about this at my personal blog, too. … [Read more...] about Why Hollywood Types Should Drop Their Defense of Roman Polanski’s Crimes
The American Way of Dentistry
I'm an American who didn't brush his teeth until his late teens. And then only occasionally. I don't remember using a toothbrush as a child. I do remember my parents bragging that my childhood dentist did not like kids; he took my siblings and me as a favor. That was no favor to me for that dentist did not believe in novocaine; and my parents did not believe in fluoride … [Read more...] about The American Way of Dentistry
Olympic Spirit
RJ Matson, Roll Call This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Olympic Spirit