Pointing to the question posed by Time Friday, Can Marijuana Help Rescue California's Economy?, Gregor Macdonald says try it: By some estimates marijuana crop production in California accounts for roughly 14 billion in gross sales. That would make marijuana the states largest single cash crop. One has to believe that current growers would happily trade the costs and risks of … [Read more...] about Can Pot Help California’s Budget Woes? If It’s Legal, Will Addiction Rise?
Mumbai 2008 Attacks: Pakistani Terrorist Pleads Guilty
Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab, 22, a Pakistani terrorist (the only one to be captured alive during the Mumbai's deadly 26/11 siege last year) today pleaded guilty to 86 charges, including murder and waging war on India, in a Mumbai court. Admitting his role in the carnage which left more than 160 people dead, Kasab said Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi of the banned militant group … [Read more...] about Mumbai 2008 Attacks: Pakistani Terrorist Pleads Guilty
Good Luck, Mr. Kean
The former New Jersey governor attempts to sweep ocean waves with a broom. Give him credit for trying: ... the 74-year-old Kean spoke wistfully about growing up in a Washington where the two parties worked together in (almost) perfect harmony. He began with stories of his father, a congressman of 20 years who was a top Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee … [Read more...] about Good Luck, Mr. Kean
Business Flees California
Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Business Flees California
End the Handshake Horror
I've just gotten used to sneezing in my sleeve. And now it's time to let the handshake meet its end. The Boston Globe's Neil Swidey: With everything we now know about germs, about the ferocity with which trouble travels via hand-to-hand contact, why do we feel obligated to soldier on with this centuries-old tradition? It’s not clear exactly why and when the handshake became … [Read more...] about End the Handshake Horror
Islamic Pakistan & World’s Oldest Profession
"Secular" India and "Islamic" Pakistan try to suppress prostitution but ignore the plight of thousands of people involved in this highly risky but widely practised profession. Some NGOs have done commendable work, such as a recent drive in Karachi to promote health awareness among sex workers. Lahore, Karachi, Calcutta, Bombay and Lucknow were among the traditional urban … [Read more...] about Islamic Pakistan & World’s Oldest Profession
Meanwhile Back At The Ranch…
This would've been much bigger news if not for the Sotomayor hearings -- Kevin Drum notices that moderate Senate Democrats have excised the card-check provision from the Employee Free Choice Act. From the NYT: A half-dozen senators friendly to labor have decided to drop a central provision of a bill that would have made it easier to organize workers. The so-called … [Read more...] about Meanwhile Back At The Ranch…
Will Ninja Lobby Block Sotomayor Confirmation?
If I were Judge Sotomayor, I would be concerned about the gun lobby. But I would be much more afraid of the nunchuk lobby. Doesn't anybody remember what happened to the last Supreme Court nominee who suggested that states have the right to ban ninja weapons? Of course nobody remembers! When ninjas take you out, they make sure that nobody even remembers you even existed in … [Read more...] about Will Ninja Lobby Block Sotomayor Confirmation?
Can You Say Scumbag?
Here's Ralph Peters telling a Fox News anchor that Pfc. Bowe Bergdahl is a deserter and a traitor and that the Taliban should spare the U.S. his legal costs and kill him: … [Read more...] about Can You Say Scumbag?
Poll Says Obama Support Weakening, But Still Over 50%
A recent poll shows that support for President Obama's economic programs is weakening. While 56% still say they think his policies will help the economy that is a big drop from the 72% he had in an earlier poll. He has also seen his 'tax and spend' label grow by 11% and six in ten surveyed do not support additional stimulus spending. While clearly 56% is still a solid … [Read more...] about Poll Says Obama Support Weakening, But Still Over 50%
Multiple Cheers For Polygamy!
My cultural intake the past couple of weeks has provided me with a strong dose of polygamy. Courtesy of Netflix, I am about to finish season two of Big Love, the HBO drama about a forward-thinking polygamist family in Utah. On the literary side of the house, I just finished A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, which recounts the story of two Afghan women who find … [Read more...] about Multiple Cheers For Polygamy!
The Eagle Has Landed
Forty years ago today, July 20th, 1969 and for a instant in time we were united in celebration. I was still a baby when this happened but I have spoken to family members who talk about how everyone was watching and holding their breath. Children watched their fathers cry as they watched a human being step foot on the surface of the moon. Indeed I don't know that any of us … [Read more...] about The Eagle Has Landed
TMV Is An Educational Site, Too
And the video below is our lesson for Monday: … [Read more...] about TMV Is An Educational Site, Too
Frank McCourt Has Died
The author of Angela's Ashes was 78. He had skin cancer. I will probably write more at another time. Right now, I am in a state of shock. … [Read more...] about Frank McCourt Has Died
The Afghanistan Debate. (Yes, There Is One.)
Republicans may not complain much about President Obama's strategy for Afghanistan, but there is a good amount fire now directed at the administration from the liberal side. Ibn Muqawama provides a solid round-up and critique:A common refrain I hear is that the Taliban has limited appeal, they're fragmented, the Afghans don't want them back, they're not that strong, etc. The … [Read more...] about The Afghanistan Debate. (Yes, There Is One.)
The Long Arm Of The Law Reaches For Jack Murtha
The editors of the NYT (of all people) say that Rep. Murtha is becoming a dangerous liability to the Democrats. An ongoing investigation has found that[Confessed bribe-taker Richard] Ianieri’s company hired the lobbying firm of Mr. Murtha’s brother Kit. The company soon was blessed with money from an $8.2 million defense earmark. The Capitol newspaper Roll Call reported last … [Read more...] about The Long Arm Of The Law Reaches For Jack Murtha
Talking Back to the Talking Heads
On Fox News Sunday this morning, Chris Wallace asked Peter Orszag about whether a public health care option would not involve rationing. Says Steve Benen, "Orszag set the record straight." … [Read more...] about Talking Back to the Talking Heads
Why East European Leaders Have Issued a Plea to Mr. Obama: Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland
Polish Foreign Minister Adam D. Rotfeld After agreeing to the installation of an American missile shield on their territories, Poland and the Czech Republic are a bit jittery watching the Obama Administration 'reset' relations with the Kremlin. And after Moscow's attack on Georgia last year and the setting aside of NATO membership for Georgia and Ukraine, the rest of East … [Read more...] about Why East European Leaders Have Issued a Plea to Mr. Obama: Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland
An Economic Koan
Of late we've been hearing a lot about an economic recovery. No one seems to know exactly when this might come to pass, but those who think it might happen soon all seem to agree it will be a "jobless recovery." The economy will start to grow again, in other words, but for a variety of reasons this will not occur in tandem with a lot of presently unemployed people going back to … [Read more...] about An Economic Koan
Vatican Unequivocally Confirms Automatic Excommunication for Anyone Involved in Abortion
You might remember several months ago the case of the nine-year old Brazilian girl who was raped by her stepfather: Weighing just 79 pounds and barely four feet tall, the 9-year-old girl, from Alagoinha, a town in the northeast, underwent an abortion when she was 15 weeks pregnant at one of the 55 centers authorized to perform the procedure in Brazil. Abortion is legal … [Read more...] about Vatican Unequivocally Confirms Automatic Excommunication for Anyone Involved in Abortion