Once again it's nice to report that the free press in Russia is still alive and kicking. Days ago the Yezhednevniy Zhurnal, one of Russia's boldest opposition newspapers, published this broadside against Russia's 'self-decieving, self-deluded' official media and the Kremlin for how they continue to interpret the world. This article examines the visit of Vice President Biden … [Read more...] about Ossified Kremlin Misreads Biden Visit to Georgia and Ukraine: Yezhednevniy Zhurnal, Russia
Paying The Piper (Or Just Doctors And Lawyers)
Matt Yglesias is frustrated withthe nutty and dysfunctional nature of “fee-for-service” medicine in which doctors are paid for doing stuff rather than for treating illness.I feel the same way, but not about medicine. My wife is an attorney at a large firm, where the firm's earnings depend on how many hours its lawyers bill, not whether the client's legal illnesses get treated. … [Read more...] about Paying The Piper (Or Just Doctors And Lawyers)
I Assure You, Everything Is Just Fine In The Middle East
Tom Friedman, Sunday morning:I can comfortably report the following: The bad guys are losing. Yes, the dominos you see falling in the Muslim world today are the extremist Islamist groups and governments. They have failed to persuade people by either their arguments or their performances in power that their puritanical versions of Islam are the answer.As Dick Cheney might … [Read more...] about I Assure You, Everything Is Just Fine In The Middle East
Arm The Senate! (Guest Voice)
Arm The Senate! by E.J. Dionne, Jr. Washington Post Columnist WASHINGTON -- Isn't it time to dismantle the metal detectors, send the guards at the doors away, and allow Americans to exercise their Second Amendment rights by being free to carry their firearms into the nation's Capitol building? I've been studying the deep thoughts of senators who regularly … [Read more...] about Arm The Senate! (Guest Voice)
An Interesting Article On Democrats
An interesting article about the problems being faced by the Democrats and the liberal versus moderate wings of the party. … [Read more...] about An Interesting Article On Democrats
Worst. Movie. Ever.
How often do you see a review that begins like this?It's hard to know where -- and with whom -- to begin when assessing the depraved, worthless piece of filth that is "Orphan," a high-gloss horror show about a well-meaning couple who bring home a 9-year-old girl to join their family, only to discover, way too late, that she's a homicidal psychopath.The quote is from Ann … [Read more...] about Worst. Movie. Ever.
Why Maureen Dowd Isn’t In Jail (And A Question For Dennis)
Maureen Dowd is a free woman because "Being obnoxious isn't a crime." That is the opening line of Dowd's column from this morning. She intended her words as a defense of Henry Louis Gates, but it's awfully tempting to see them as a sort of mea culpa. Although Kathy offered considerable praise for Dowd's column, I protest. Dowd's column is an exercise is just the sort of … [Read more...] about Why Maureen Dowd Isn’t In Jail (And A Question For Dennis)
Why the Free Market Cannot Fix Health Care
Of course I'm the choir, but I still think Krugman preaches a damn good sermon: … [Read more...] about Why the Free Market Cannot Fix Health Care
Sarah Palin, 2008-2009, a Political Obituary
As she steps down today as governor of Alaska, where is the Mouth That Roared headed? Political obscurity is a possible destination but, based on her 11-month performance since John McCain anointed her, that seems unlikely. A long-time Alaska Republican operative tells the Washington Post: "As the saying goes, the most dangerous place you can be is between a grizzly sow and … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin, 2008-2009, a Political Obituary
Palin’s Parting Shot
From Janie Lauder of the NYTimes Caucus Blog: It’s official. Sarah Palin stepped down as governor of Alaska on Sunday, without dropping one hint about her future. Instead, she used her farewell address “to exercise my freedom of speech,” as she put it. [...] She cited accomplishments of her abbreviated administration, condemned big government and warned Alaskans against … [Read more...] about Palin’s Parting Shot
A Trio of Subjects and Articles
1. Health care reform: Time to move past fee for service? (h/t Yglesias): … [Read more...] about A Trio of Subjects and Articles
EDITORIAL: Travel To Moon and Stars is What Humanity Needs – NRC Handelsblad, The Netherlands
It's a question that has been asked since manned spaceflight began: With all the problems down on earth, is it really worth the billions it takes to send human beings into space? At least as far as the editorial board of the NRC Handelsblad is concerned, the answer is an emphatic 'yes.' This editorial from the Dutch newspaper says in part: "Human spaceflight is a … [Read more...] about EDITORIAL: Travel To Moon and Stars is What Humanity Needs – NRC Handelsblad, The Netherlands
India’s Nuclear Submarine Launch Gives Little Cause For Comfort
India launched a 6000-ton nuclear powered submarine a few hours ago joining a select group of countries-- United States, Russia, France, Britain and China – with the knowhow to do so. The 367-foot sub made with Russian help will become operational after trials lasting three to five years and will carry missiles with a range of about 450 miles. It will be able to fire nuclear … [Read more...] about India’s Nuclear Submarine Launch Gives Little Cause For Comfort
Anti-Gay Human Rights Prof Backs Out of Teaching NYU Course In The Fall
Following up on my two earlier posts on the topic, Dr. Thio Li-ann, a professor at the National University of Singapore and a member of that country’s Parliament who graphically and stridently opposed the repeal of a law there that criminalizes sex between men, this week backed out of teaching a human rights course at NYU's Law School in the fall: In a statement released on … [Read more...] about Anti-Gay Human Rights Prof Backs Out of Teaching NYU Course In The Fall
Let’s Go to the Audio Tape
Maureen Dowd's column today is about the Crowley-Gates affair. It's thoughtfully written and makes several good points, but I want to zoom in on this part: … [Read more...] about Let’s Go to the Audio Tape
The Trouble Today with ‘Simple’ Words
Vice President Biden takes to the pages of today's NYT, defending the administration's stimulus spending. In doing so, he writes: ... the [Recovery Act] was intended to provide steady support for our economy over an extended period — not a jolt that would last only a few months. Ed Morrissey, with a little help from others, jumps on this dismissal of "jolt" as a … [Read more...] about The Trouble Today with ‘Simple’ Words
Scientists Worry About Machines Smarter Than Us. Yawn…
NOTE: forgive my overlap with Jazz. I can only hope it gets chalked up to great blogging minds thinking alike... Says the NYTimes: Impressed and alarmed by advances in artificial intelligence, a group of computer scientists is debating whether there should be limits on research that might lead to loss of human control over computer-based systems that carry a growing share … [Read more...] about Scientists Worry About Machines Smarter Than Us. Yawn…
Up Next: Artificial Intelligence Congress
Scientists are now worried that machines will grow smarter than human beings with upcoming advances in artificial intelligence. Impressed and alarmed by advances in artificial intelligence, a group of computer scientists is debating whether there should be limits on research that might lead to loss of human control over computer-based systems that carry a growing share of … [Read more...] about Up Next: Artificial Intelligence Congress
Quote of the Day: On Calls For Obama To Be Another LBJ
As the health care debate becomes more fiery and partisan and President Barack Obama is seen grappling with trying to please, convince and kowtow to members of his own political party, some now wonder whether Obama has lost his political clout and some talk wistfully about how much better Obama might fare if he was a little more like the arm-twisting President Lyndon Baines … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: On Calls For Obama To Be Another LBJ
Quote for the Day
This shout-out goes to one of TMV's very own, Dennis Sanders, in his post published earlier today on the Gates-Crowley kerfuffle: I have long believed that liberals tend to be too sensitive on racial issues, to the point that no one can talk about them or they become excuses for people of color to indulge in victimhood. But I also think that conservatives tend to be too dull … [Read more...] about Quote for the Day