I'm guessing the good folks at CNBC are more than slightly concerned that the recent agreement between California's governor and legislative leaders could kill interest in their special tonight, the production of which probably cost them dearly and has likely been in the works for weeks, if not months. I'm guessing this concern is prevelant at the network because we received … [Read more...] about California Budget Bust: In Case You Can’t Get Enough
California Budget Not A Done Deal
Tens of thousands of California's poor children, welfare recipients and elderly will lose some if not all healthcare benefits as a result of a budget deal to close a $26.3 billion deficit brokered by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and state legislative leaders. Prisoners will go free, property taxes collected by county governments will be snatched by the state and oil drilling will … [Read more...] about California Budget Not A Done Deal
Health Care Reform I
Earlier this morning President Obama came out to speak on health care reform so I thought it a proper topic for a posting today. I think it goes without saying that everyone agrees the current system is a mess and needs changes. We are spending billions, if not trillions, of dollars on health care and yet we still have millions of Americans without coverage and millions more … [Read more...] about Health Care Reform I
Insect World’s Greatest Traveler
Who is the insect world's greatest traveler? ...And the prize goes to Pantala flavescens, a species of dragonfly. A British naturalist has claimed that this 5cm-long dragonfly may hold the record for the longest migration, from southern India to Africa and then back --- a distance of 12,000 miles. Andrew Buncombe of The Independent reports: " 'It's an amazing story,' said … [Read more...] about Insect World’s Greatest Traveler
Of Anne Frank’s Diary and a Suspicious Fire
We have all heard about the young, Dutch, Jewish girl, Anne Frank. (She was actually born in Germany, but moved with her family to the Netherlands when she was about five because of the escalating anti-Semitism in Hitler's Germany) And, of course, the diary she kept for two years while hiding out in de "achterhuis"---hidden rooms in her father's office building in … [Read more...] about Of Anne Frank’s Diary and a Suspicious Fire
Other Reax to Brooks
I offered my take earlier today. Ann Althouse seems to agree -- with Brooks, me, and others -- that Obama is more of a pragmatist than Pelosi's Congress,* but he needs to stand up and prove it. ... I cling to the belief that Obama has the ability to save us from the destructive path Congress has chosen for itself. But will he use it? How much of an ideologue is he … [Read more...] about Other Reax to Brooks
Brooks: Democrats Acting Like Republicans
I could not agree more with a David Brooks column than I agree with the one published in today's NYT. The premise, in short: It was interesting to watch the Republican Party lose touch with America ... It’s not that interesting to watch the Democrats lose touch with America. That’s because the plotline is exactly the same ... They [each] have their own cherry-picking … [Read more...] about Brooks: Democrats Acting Like Republicans
Concealed Carry Over State Lines Coming?
The Washington Post reports a glimmer of hope for 2nd amendment supporters this week, as several moderate Democrats may be lining up with the GOP to back a provision which would ensure the rights of gun owners in states with permissive laws when they travel across state lines. Senate Democrats are scrambling to defeat a Republican-backed provision that would allow gun owners … [Read more...] about Concealed Carry Over State Lines Coming?
Should an E-15 Ethanol Waiver Be in the Air?
As the Rochester, Minnesota Post Bulletin reports, a major manufacturer of ethanol, is hoping for a government waiver which will allow more ethanol to be blended into the gasoline you purchase at the pump. Richard Eichstadt is hoping the federal government will give the green light to blending gasoline with 15 percent ethanol. Eichstadt is the general manager of POET … [Read more...] about Should an E-15 Ethanol Waiver Be in the Air?
Was Michael Jackson’s 1993 Video Statement A Foreshadow And/Or Cry For Help?
As the news media gears up for the release sometime over the next two weeks of Michael Jackson's autopsy results, the Michael Jackson media story narrative is shifting into a new stage: trying to unravel what factors led to his death and if there were signs that it could end the way it did. It's happening now, amid some other new developments. CNN offers this panel … [Read more...] about Was Michael Jackson’s 1993 Video Statement A Foreshadow And/Or Cry For Help?
Jimmy Carter Leaves Southern Baptists Over Treatment of Women (Reprise)
Apparently Carter left the church a while ago but it is in the liberal and feminist blogosphere again now because the former president issued a position paper this week again severing all ties: [M]y decision to sever my ties with the Southern Baptist Convention, after six decades, was painful and difficult. It was, however, an unavoidable decision when the convention's … [Read more...] about Jimmy Carter Leaves Southern Baptists Over Treatment of Women (Reprise)
The Future of Reading and its Impact on Jewish Law (Guest Voice)
The Future of Reading (and its Impact on Jewish Law) by Brian Blum I have seen the future of reading and it is not print books or newspapers. On Wednesday, Amazon unveiled the Kindle DX, a larger version of its popular Kindle eBook reader. The DX’s 9.7-inch screen is two and a half times the size of the original Kindle, making it perfect for reading newspapers, … [Read more...] about The Future of Reading and its Impact on Jewish Law (Guest Voice)
Comet Strike on Jupiter?
Since it seems to be the week for space news, dramatic photos are emerging of what appears to be the results of a major impact on Jupiter. Scientists have found evidence that another object has bombarded Jupiter, exactly 15 years after the first impacts by the comet Shoemaker-Levy 9. Following up on a tip by an amateur astronomer, Anthony Wesley of Australia, that a new … [Read more...] about Comet Strike on Jupiter?
Walter Cronkite RIP
Nate Beeler, The Washington Examiner This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Walter Cronkite RIP
Do Palestinians Actually Love Israeli Settlements?
Do Palestinians actually love Israeli settlements? Matt Eckel has another thought (and debate) provoking post up at Foreign Policy watch that is a must read. Here's a tiny bit of the setup 4 U: There's something genuinely odd, if also perversely internally consistent, in the way certain right wingers look at Israeli-Palestinian interplay. For a reminder of this, I'd … [Read more...] about Do Palestinians Actually Love Israeli Settlements?
Don’t Believe in Truth? Don’t Be a Reporter (Guest Voice)
Don't Believe in Truth? Don't Be a Reporter by Barry Rubin A reporter just wrote me a letter that contains a single sentence which I think reflects on why the Western world is in such trouble today. After understandably discussing such real problems of reporting as short deadlines, complex issues, and the duty of the reporter to report what people say, the letter … [Read more...] about Don’t Believe in Truth? Don’t Be a Reporter (Guest Voice)
California Budget Deal Struck
It looks like California 'leaders' have reached a tentative deal to settle the 2009-10 budget. According to the San Francisco Chronicle: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders reached a tentative budget compromise Monday to plug a $26.3 billion deficit by making hefty cuts in education, health and welfare services, and taking billions of dollars from county … [Read more...] about California Budget Deal Struck
Pres. Obama Talks to the Bloggers
John Amato, who was one of the liberal bloggers on the conference call with Pres. Obama, David Axelrod, and Nancy DeParle, put up an audio clip of the first 24 minutes -- the entire portion with Obama answering bloggers' questions. After that, he had to leave, but Axelrod and DeParle stayed on the line -- that part is not included here. … [Read more...] about Pres. Obama Talks to the Bloggers
David Boies on Gay Marriage and the Constitution
In the WSJ no less. Favorite passage: [B]asic constitutional rights cannot depend on the willingness of the electorate in any given state to end discrimination. If we were prepared to consign minority rights to a majority vote, there would be no need for a constitution. A bit more: The Supreme Court has repeatedly held that the right to marry the person you love is so … [Read more...] about David Boies on Gay Marriage and the Constitution
Trial of Alleged Nazi Guard Demjanjuk a Chance for German ‘Redemption’: Financial Times Deutschland
America has extradited alleged Nazi guard John Demjanjuk to stand trial in a Munich court as an accomplice to 27,900 murders. So how do Germans feel about what is likely to be the last great Nazi trial? Columnist Kathrin Werner, showing little concern for 90-year-old Demjanjuk's advanced age, writes for the Financial Times Deutschland, in part: "The trial of alleged … [Read more...] about Trial of Alleged Nazi Guard Demjanjuk a Chance for German ‘Redemption’: Financial Times Deutschland