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
Public Option Furor: Democrats Form Circular Firing Squad?
It sounds as if the Democrats are starting to form a circular firing squad over the public option in the health care debate. At a time when the party is losing independent voter support, some progressives are saying public option or political purge. From TPMDC: "If Harry Reid does not have the leadership skills to get 60 votes for cloture and give a Democratic president an … [Read more...] about Public Option Furor: Democrats Form Circular Firing Squad?
My Algorithm Proves You’re Gay!
There is an article in The Boston Globe about an MIT project dubbed Project Gaydar. The pair weren’t interested in the embarrassing photos or overripe profiles that attract so much consternation from parents and potential employers. Instead, they wondered whether the basic currency of interactions on a social network - the simple act of “friending” someone online - might … [Read more...] about My Algorithm Proves You’re Gay!
“So the Years Spin By, and Now the [Girl] Is Twenty”
Yesterday was my daughter's birthday. She is 20 years old. Joni Mitchell's achingly beautiful song "The Circle Game" seemed appropriate (especially as I used to sing it to her when she was younger). I found this lovely alternate version of the song, by Ian McCulloch, at YouTube. I hope you all will indulge me: … [Read more...] about “So the Years Spin By, and Now the [Girl] Is Twenty”
Hypocricy Reaches New Heights
Funny how he was ok with it when he was making money off of them. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20309404,00.html … [Read more...] about Hypocricy Reaches New Heights
N. Korea Abandons Communism
As reported by our friend Dave Schuler at Outside the Beltway, the North Koreans have revamped their constitution and abandoned communism. SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea has officially made Kim Jong-il its “supreme leader” and his “military first” policy its guiding ideology, according to the text of the country’s newly revised Constitution made available on … [Read more...] about N. Korea Abandons Communism
114 isn’t a magic number after all
Physicists have produced element 114, which was thought might be relatively stable among the super-heavy elements, but it turns out that it was not. On to 120... --- Cross-posted between Random Fate and The Moderate Voice. --- … [Read more...] about 114 isn’t a magic number after all
Democrats Losing Independent Voters: GOP Comeback?
A new Gallup Poll confirms the way it has been trending: Democrats are losing an increasingly large chunk of independent voters to Republicans and are now ahead with that vital group -- with the smallest difference between the two parties among independents since 2005. Which raises the question: Are the Republicans now poised for a comeback? … [Read more...] about Democrats Losing Independent Voters: GOP Comeback?
The National Parks: America’s Best Socialism?
Ken Burns just announced a follow-up to The National Parks: America’s Best Idea. The film is tentatively titled, “The Baldwin Brothers: Not So Much.” Ironically, the Wayans brothers will be doing the voice-overs. “In the late 1900s a boisterous band of Baldwin brothers headed for southern California, packing their Ford Pinto full of hopes, dreams, and hair products. … [Read more...] about The National Parks: America’s Best Socialism?