Guest Book Review: The Day We Found The Universe by Marcia Bartusiak Reviewed by Ron Beasley Astrology began to morph into astronomy in 1543 with the publication of Nicolaus Copernicus' “On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres.” It was here, much to the dismay of theologians, the Earth lost its place as the center of the universe. The transformation was complete … [Read more...] about Guest Book Review: The Day We Found The Universe
Stinky Health Care and Spending
Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. … [Read more...] about Stinky Health Care and Spending
Happy Blogiversary, Kevin!
It's been seven years now that Kevin Drum's been blogging. His story says something great about the blogosphere. Some of the early bloggers were grad students in their pajamas. (Why is everyone looking at me?!?!?) In contrast, Kevin had a successful career in business, then decided to try his hand at blogging in his free time. His good nature, command of details and … [Read more...] about Happy Blogiversary, Kevin!
Are We Now The Soviets In Afghanistan?
Matt Yglesias asks:If you read accounts of the Soviet war in Afghanistan in the 1980s, people generally always seem to think that American and Saudi and Pakistani support for the Mujahedeen was an important factor. I don’t see anyone saying “it was all a big waste of time and the same stuff would have happened anyway.”Ask and ye shall receive! Two days after Matt put up his … [Read more...] about Are We Now The Soviets In Afghanistan?
So Can Anyone Actually Do Anything About Global Warming?
The new issue of Foreign Affairs is hot off the presses. Its cover package includes three articles about global warming that are well worth reading. The focus here is entirely on how to solve the problem. This is a discussion of the politics, not the scientific debate behind it. First up is Michael Levi, who provides a very sobering look at how hard it will be for this … [Read more...] about So Can Anyone Actually Do Anything About Global Warming?
UBS America Turned Into a ‘Criminal Organization’: Nachrichten, Switzerland
Now that Swiss authorities have done the unthinkable: admitted to wrongdoing and handed U.S. authorities the data on over 4,000 of its American clients - how are the people of Switzerland reacting? If the comments of Nachrichten columnist Patrik Etschmayer are anything to go by, there's going to be hell to pay in Geneva. For Switzerland's Nachrichten newspaper, Patrik … [Read more...] about UBS America Turned Into a ‘Criminal Organization’: Nachrichten, Switzerland
Mirror Neurons: How Porn Works
Jonah Lehrer is a fascinating fellow. A contributing editor at Wired, he's the author of Proust Was A Neuroscientist and How We Decide. I became familiar with him through his work on WNYC's Radio Lab. Today he got to thinking about mirror neurons: Mirror neurons are a classic illustration of a scientific idea that's so elegant and intriguing our theories get ahead of the … [Read more...] about Mirror Neurons: How Porn Works
Two Health Care Plans Republicans Should Support
Whenever health care reform is talked about, Republicans respond in an almost Pavlov-style manner. Immediately we start talking about the evils of the Canadian and British healthcare systems and about the loss of American freedoms. Some even go a step further and claim as blogger John Vecchione writes in a recent post, that there is no health care crisis and when nations make … [Read more...] about Two Health Care Plans Republicans Should Support
Beck Bile
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. . All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Beck Bile
Lethal Levels of Propofol Killed Michael Jackson
A search warrant affidavit filed in Houston says that Michael Jackson had lethal levels of Propofol in him when he died -- a development that is bad news to Jackson's doctor Dr. Conrad Murray. The AP reports that the L.A. Coroner now says Jackson's death was a homicide: … [Read more...] about Lethal Levels of Propofol Killed Michael Jackson
Wikipedia: The Platform Evolves
Noam Cohen, writing in the NYTimes, reports that when Wikipedia’s volunteer editors gather in Buenos Aires for their annual Wikimania conference this week, a hot topic will be a new editing procedure: Although Wikipedia has prevented anonymous users from creating new articles for several years now, the new flagging system crosses a psychological Rubicon. It will divide … [Read more...] about Wikipedia: The Platform Evolves
Americans Demand ‘Freedom’ to Pay More for Less: Der Tagesspiegel, Germany
What is the proper role of government in the lives of people? According to columnist Christoph von Marschall of the German newspaper Der Tagesspiegel, it is the answer to this question that separates Europeans and Americans, and is at the heart of America's debate over health care. For Der Tagesspiegel, Christoph von Marschall writes in part: "At issue is one of the … [Read more...] about Americans Demand ‘Freedom’ to Pay More for Less: Der Tagesspiegel, Germany
Afghanistan: “Obama’s Vietnam,” or America’s “War of Necessity?”
Many have compared the Iraq war to the Vietnam War, especially as in “quagmire.” Recently, some are beginning to compare the war in Afghanistan to the Vietnam War. Some are even beginning to refer to the Afghanistan war as “Obama’s Vietnam.” I don’t have a problem with the Iraq-Vietnam comparison. There are indeed some similarities and historical analogies, both in … [Read more...] about Afghanistan: “Obama’s Vietnam,” or America’s “War of Necessity?”
Two Rival States Duke It Out
At least one California legislator has retaliated with a popgun attack against Nevada's million dollar ad campaign to lure Golden State businesses to the Silver State. What started as a tongue-in-cheek snarky campaign by Nevada which has inundated the major California markets via cable television advertising the past two weeks is now being greeted by Assemblyman Jose Solorio … [Read more...] about Two Rival States Duke It Out
School Bus Cuts Face Safety Concerns
I live across the street from Chaparral High School in Temecula, Calif., and every school morning and afternoon dozens of yellow school buses roll in and out of the campus's sprawling parking lot. Temecula is a semi-rural area 60 miles southeast of Los Angeles and its boundaries extend miles in all directions. As most school districts, Temecula offers bus transportation to … [Read more...] about School Bus Cuts Face Safety Concerns
It Is Not Reform Without Public Option (Guest Voice)
It Is Not Reform Without Public Option by Jim Bell There has been a lot written lately about the possibility of scratching off the public option from the health care proposal now working its way through congress. What, then, can be implemented to control the rampant and out of control cost escalation since the health insurance giants have demonstrated that they are … [Read more...] about It Is Not Reform Without Public Option (Guest Voice)
How Has The American Dream Changed?
CNN's Jack Cafferty has an interesting question for viewers of his show today, and invites readers to contribute to the discussion. How is the American Dream changing? We’re in the midst of a recession not seen since the great depression. Millions of Americans are out of work, unemployment has soared to 9.4 percent. Millions of good paying jobs have been have been shipped … [Read more...] about How Has The American Dream Changed?
Pre-Existing Conditions
RJ Matson, The St. Louis Post Dispatch This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Pre-Existing Conditions
Joe Lieberman’s Case Against Healthcare Reform
Does it add up -- or not? … [Read more...] about Joe Lieberman’s Case Against Healthcare Reform
Tweets and Twirps
Mike Tedesco (who runs my other blogging home, Comments from Left Field), tweets about a Rachel Maddow segment from a couple of weeks ago. … [Read more...] about Tweets and Twirps