Analysis: Iranian Lobbying Failed by Jonathan Spyer President Shimon Peres's landmark visit to Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan this week represents a significant advance for Israeli ambitions in Central Asia. In the wake of the recent decision to permit Israel to open an embassy in the Turkmen capital of Ashghabad, the visit reflects the importance Jerusalem attaches to this … [Read more...] about Analysis: Iranian Lobbying Failed (Guest Voice)
Eternal Moonwalk
I'm sick of all the attention the media is giving Michael Jackson, too, but I promise you this is absolutely brilliant: Studio Brussel, a publicly funded radio station in Belgium also known at StuBru, has created a very unique website as a tribute to Michael Jackson. The site is called Eternal Moonwalk and is a video slideshow of people, animals and inanimate objects doing … [Read more...] about Eternal Moonwalk
Storm
Cam Cardow, The Ottawa Citizen This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Storm
Magical Monetary Principles (Guest Voice)
Magical Monetary Principles by Martha Randolph Carr The Great Recession is continuing to have an affect on the quality of life for U.S. citizens. This time, the death knell is being rung for a plethora of state services. The beginning of July marked the new fiscal year for states and with it came another reckoning between what we all want and what we can afford. It’s … [Read more...] about Magical Monetary Principles (Guest Voice)
Microsoft Is On A Roll: Office in the Cloud To Be Unveiled Monday
MGSeigler says that's why Google’s announcement of the Chrome OS came randomly in July, well before they had anything ready to show off: On Monday, Microsoft is set to unveil its plans to counter the attack Google previously had launched on it with Google Docs. Yes, Microsoft Office is going to the cloud. This is something which we all knew was eventually coming, and there is … [Read more...] about Microsoft Is On A Roll: Office in the Cloud To Be Unveiled Monday
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Do Americans View Both Parties As Too Extreme?
Alan I. Abramowitz: Do Americans View Both Parties as Too Extreme? According to the Gallup Poll, many Americans today view both major political parties as too extreme ideologically. In a survey conducted from June 14-17 of this year, 46 percent of Americans said that the Democratic Party was "too liberal" while 42 percent described its political views as "about right" and 8 … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Do Americans View Both Parties As Too Extreme?
Just In Case You Were Wondering….
... why Steve King (R-Iowa) was the only member of the House of Representatives to vote against a resolution recognizing the free labor provided by slaves in the building of the U.S. Capitol. In addition to the resolution itself, a plaque will be placed in the House Visitors Center stating that the Capitol was built in part by slave labor. So why did Rep. King vote against … [Read more...] about Just In Case You Were Wondering….
Is Brian Kilmeade the Stupidest Person on the Face of the Earth?
Or just at Fox? I know there's a lot of competition for that title there, but this truly is a stand-out entry: … [Read more...] about Is Brian Kilmeade the Stupidest Person on the Face of the Earth?
An Interesting Choice for NIH
Here. Contrary to the stereotyping coming from some corners these days, not all who believe in the existence of God are bigoted, closed-minded, or anti-science. Francis Collins is one demonstration of that. He's a theist and an outstanding scientist. Politically, this is yet another shrewd appointment on the part of Barack Obama. As he pursues such hot potato issues as stem … [Read more...] about An Interesting Choice for NIH
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Tweets of the Week
Larry J. Sabato: Tweets of the Week A new Crystal Ball feature, Tweets of the Week, will showcase some highlights from the past week in politics. This commentary is just a sampling of the analysis (and, yes, sometimes humor) of University of Virginia Center for Politics Director, and Crystal Ball founder, Larry Sabato who can be found on Twitter by clicking here. July 8: … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Tweets of the Week
Palin’s Resignation Reason Questioned But Republicans Absolutely Love Her
A new report raises questions about one of soon-to-be-former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's stated reasons for her stunning announcement that she plans to resign before completing her first term -- but a new poll shows that the bulk of Republicans love her, resignation or no resignation. Which raises a tantalizing question: if the reading on this new poll and previous polls … [Read more...] about Palin’s Resignation Reason Questioned But Republicans Absolutely Love Her
The Politics of Personality Disorder
Sarah Palin and Mark Sanford, who won't stop talking about the conjunction of their political and personal problems, are taking us into new territory where punditry has to give way to psychiatry to make sense of their bizarre behavior. Consider the National Institute of Mental Health's definition of borderline personality disorder: "a serious mental illness characterized by … [Read more...] about The Politics of Personality Disorder
Michael Jackson: A Local Icon Across Asia
Sri Lankan journalist Nalaka Gunawardene notes in his blog how the twin technologies of satellite television and the Internet transformed far-away Michael Jackson into a local icon across Asia. He also mentions about a 2001 documentary named Michael Jackson Comes to Manikganj that probed how far and wide satellite television was influencing and impacting culture, society and … [Read more...] about Michael Jackson: A Local Icon Across Asia
Jackson and Elvis
John Cole, The Scranton Times-Tribune This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Jackson and Elvis
A requiem for CompuServe
It's a few days late, but I don't recall seeing much comment on this milestone: CompuServe has been shut down by AOL, the current owner of the name and whatever was left of the company. To enlighten those younger than their forties, CompuServe was one of the first online services, back in the dark ages before the Internet (which was indeed capitalized in the early days...) and … [Read more...] about A requiem for CompuServe
David Pogue: Give Bing a Fling
So much is being written about Bing I can hardly keep up. Virtually all of it grudgingly good. Take, for example, David Pogue's rave in the NYTimes today. He kicks it off with this: For the last 15 years, Microsoft’s master business plan seems to have been, “Wait until somebody else has a hit. Then copy it.” I know that sounds mean, but come on — the list of commercial … [Read more...] about David Pogue: Give Bing a Fling
Oscar Arias to Mediate Talks Between Zelaya and Micheletti
Oscar Arias, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for helping to end years of war and political violence between the Central American nations, has agreed to facilitate a U.S.-backed effort to resolve the conflict between the ousted but democratically elected Honduran president, Manuel Zelaya, and the interim government headed by Roberto Micheletti: … [Read more...] about Oscar Arias to Mediate Talks Between Zelaya and Micheletti
At Kremlin, Mr. Obama Keeps Faith with Allies: Rzeczpospolita, Poland
After President Obama's visit to Russia, it would appear that East Europeans are resting just a little bit easier. For Poland's Rceczpospolita, columnist Jerzy Haszczynski writes in part: "We still don’t know whether plans to build components of an anti-missile shield in our country will remain plans and nothing more. But we know, pressure from Russia notwithstanding, that … [Read more...] about At Kremlin, Mr. Obama Keeps Faith with Allies: Rzeczpospolita, Poland
Mission [Now] Accomplished (Guest Voice)
Mission [Now] Accomplished by Michael Reagan Six years and two months after former President Bush stood under the infamous “Mission Accomplished” banner atop the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln and announced the end of major combat operations in Iraq, United States combat troops have removed themselves from Iraq’s urban areas into more secure and remote bases of operations. It is … [Read more...] about Mission [Now] Accomplished (Guest Voice)
Honduras and the ‘Little Yankees’: Tal Cual, Venezuela
With ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya and Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez appearing to call for armed U.S. intervention in Latin America, this editorial from Venezuela's Tal Cual seems to be asking proverbially, 'has the world turned upside down?' Referring to the two leaders as 'Chacumbeles', which is a Cuban expression that means roughly "people who do themselves in," … [Read more...] about Honduras and the ‘Little Yankees’: Tal Cual, Venezuela