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
Chrome v Firefox: Can Innovation Happen Without A Fight to the Death?
The NYTimes has a a major piece out today, For Mozilla and Google, Group Hugs Get Tricky, about the impact of Google's Chrome on Mozilla's Firefox. The story is a typical can-the-new-entrant-bring-down-the-incumbent style business tale. The setup is in the new offices of the feisty David, Mozilla Firefox, that has survived and thrived despite the twin Goliaths, Microsoft … [Read more...] about Chrome v Firefox: Can Innovation Happen Without A Fight to the Death?
Should Obama Close Loopholes on Overseas Profits?
The Obama administration recently unveiled a proposal which would make changes to international tax law in the United States tax code. The general thrust of this effort would be to reduce tax avoidance by American companies for overseas investments and resources and reduce the incentive for expatriating profits and jobs. An excellent nine point summary of the plan can be found … [Read more...] about Should Obama Close Loopholes on Overseas Profits?
The Reality Check Is Not in the Mail
This month, for the first time in decades, a payment I sent did not reach its recipient. This rare mishap was a reminder that good old reliable snail mail is in its death throes after 234 years of creating a national community out of isolated places thousands of miles apart, making a daily visit to the mailbox an adventure that brought the world to us with words on paper, … [Read more...] about The Reality Check Is Not in the Mail
Mr President Keep the Change (Guest Voice)
Mr President Keep the Change by Michael Reagan In late April of this year, at the three-month mark of his administration, President Obama challenged his cabinet to save $100 million over the following 90 days. Well, not surprisingly those 90 days have come and gone without the spend-happy administration saying anything about meeting the goals of this self-imposed … [Read more...] about Mr President Keep the Change (Guest Voice)
This Is Insane, and Grossly Disrespectful to the POTUS
The House is considering a resolution demanding that Pres. Obama apologize to Sgt. James Crowley for saying he "acted stupidly" in the arrest of Henry Louis Gates, Jr. … [Read more...] about This Is Insane, and Grossly Disrespectful to the POTUS
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Virginia Gubernatorial Election – Clues From The Past
Rhodes Cook: THE VIRGINIA GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION - CLUES FROM THE PAST It is often said that the past is prologue. In that regard, this year's gubernatorial candidates in Virginia--Democrat Creigh Deeds and Republican Bob McDonnell--share a bit of common history. They ran against each other for state attorney general in 2005, a race that ended as one of the closest statewide … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Virginia Gubernatorial Election – Clues From The Past
Conservatives and the Gates Affair
I work part time as a pastor at a church near downtown Minneapolis. A few months ago, I went to the church one Saturday evening to do some work. The church has an alarm system and I tried to disarm it with my code only to realize that the code did not work. After some time, I was able to use another person's code to shut the alarm off. Unfortunately, I was not able to … [Read more...] about Conservatives and the Gates Affair
One More Fallen Hero to Receive the Medal of Honor (Update)
Update to "One More Fallen Hero to Receive the Medal of Honor" The Following is a White House statement on the award of the Medal of Honor to Staff Sergeant Jared C. Monti, U.S. Army: THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary _____________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release … [Read more...] about One More Fallen Hero to Receive the Medal of Honor (Update)
Sex Offender iPhone App; Some Small Sanity for Sexting Teens
A couple stories on the sex offender front... TechCrunch's MG Siegler was browsing the top 10 paid iPhone apps list today: [T]he list appeared pretty typical: A bunch of games, a camera app, etc. Then I noticed one called Offender Locator [iTunes link], mostly because it has a creepy icon. I figured it was a game — it’s anything but. It’s an app to show you registered sex … [Read more...] about Sex Offender iPhone App; Some Small Sanity for Sexting Teens
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Tweets of the Week
Larry J. Sabato: Tweets of the Week 1:24 PM Jul 16th: Today the Richmond Times-Dispatch apologized editorially for its role in Massive Resistance. Late but welcome and heartfelt. Worth reading. 8:42 PM Jul 17th: Just returned from Massive Resistance event. Absolutely moving. Some wounds are still there after 50 yrs. Will air on C-SPAN--see listings. 8:48 PM Jul 17th: … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Tweets of the Week
Barnesian Economics
Fred Barnes is on his high horse again, accusing Barack Obama of being the "know-nothing-in-chief" because, in Barnes's view, Obama knows nothing about "free market" economics. … [Read more...] about Barnesian Economics
Welcome to Gates-gate
When I first saw the headlines about Gates being arrested, I thought to myself, "How in the world did the Secretary of Defense get arrested?" No, not that Gates. Henry Louis Gates, of Harvard. I read the WSJ's first write-up of the story and thought to myself, "Please let this be a one-day story. Please, don't let this become a pointless racial brouhaha." IMHO, if there … [Read more...] about Welcome to Gates-gate
Abu Muqawama, Back From Afghanistan
Counterinsurgency blogger Andrew Exum, aka Abu Muqawama, is back from Afghanistan. Andrew explains: I was asked by General McChrystal to be part of a small team of scholars and practitioners helping to conduct his 60-day review of strategy and operations in Afghanistan. So I have spent the past month traveling around Afghanistan conducting interviews and trying to evaluate … [Read more...] about Abu Muqawama, Back From Afghanistan
Another Foray Into Climate Science
As always, my role is the amateur plunging into a pool of expertise. On Thursday, George Will quoted Mark Steyn to the effect, If you're 29, there has been no global warming for your entire adult life. If you're graduating high school, there has been no global warming since you entered first grade. Kevin Drum dismissed Steyn's comment as a denialist talking point: Global … [Read more...] about Another Foray Into Climate Science
Obama And Biden Are Seeding A New “Cool War” With Russia
Even as he asserts his desire to reset relations with Russia in a positive direction, President Barack Obama is sowing early seeds for a new Cool War if not Cold War with Russia and its satellites. The latest act was Vice President Joe Biden’s clear and full backing to Georgia, which is being interpreted there and in East and Central European capitals as an informal military … [Read more...] about Obama And Biden Are Seeding A New “Cool War” With Russia