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
Politics Beat
A few interesting political tidbits came out today In New York, Governor David Paterson has appointed a new Lt. Governor in an effort to resolve the ongoing dispute in the State Senate. For those who may have missed some of this battle, the short version is that New York has no provision for replacing a vacancy in the office of Lt. Governor so when Paterson took over for … [Read more...] about Politics Beat
Should Someone Who Teaches Human Rights Back Human Rights for LGBT People?
Inside Higher Ed: [Some students at New York University’s law school] are upset that a visiting professor in the fall semester, slated to teach human rights law, is Thio Li-ann of the National University of Singapore, an outspoken opponent of gay rights. Thio has argued repeatedly and graphically that her country should continue to criminalize gay sexual acts.In a speech to … [Read more...] about Should Someone Who Teaches Human Rights Back Human Rights for LGBT People?
Real B-School Reform
I worked at Bloomberg Financial News for a number of years. While there I encountered many of Wall Street's shakers and movers. I found them, by-in-large, to be an extraordinarily arrogant lot. They really did think they were the best and brightest. They really did think that $5 or $10 million a year in compensation was chump change, and people like themselves were entitled, … [Read more...] about Real B-School Reform
Did You Hear About The Drunken Badger?
Sorry, PETA, I find this traffic-stopping story from Reuters a riot. UPDATE -- A drunken Englishman passes out (pardon the pun) thousands of cash Euros at an airport in Spain that would have caused a riot if he didn't smell so bad. It reminds us that the world is an intoxicating experience, seen through the glass, darkly. You think I'm kidding? Booze is making a … [Read more...] about Did You Hear About The Drunken Badger?
GOP Can Field All-Female 2012 White House Ticket w/out Palin
During my appearance on CNN.com/LIVE on Monday (7/6), I mentioned that one of the side effects of soon-to-be-former Alaska Governor and GOP Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin's decision to not run for re-election as governor and to resign as of July 26 is that, seeing that she has done it (run for her state's highest office and then leave it with 18 months to go) and … [Read more...] about GOP Can Field All-Female 2012 White House Ticket w/out Palin
Forget Bipartisanship. Democrats Need To Do What is Right on Health-Care Reform.
Roll Call: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Tuesday strongly urged Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) to drop a proposal to tax health benefits and stop chasing Republican votes on a massive health care reform bill. Reid, whose leadership is considered crucial if President Barack Obama is to deliver on his promise of enacting health care reform this year, … [Read more...] about Forget Bipartisanship. Democrats Need To Do What is Right on Health-Care Reform.
Oscar Mayer, Legendary Hot Dog King, Dead At 95
Daily Finance: Oscar G. Mayer, who transformed his family business into one of the the world's largest meat processors, died Monday. He was 95. The fact that most of the public probably did not know that "Oscar Mayer" was a real person -- actually he was the third member of his family to have that name -- was fine with him, according to the Wisconsin State Journal. He liked … [Read more...] about Oscar Mayer, Legendary Hot Dog King, Dead At 95
US, Russia To Cut Nukes
Paresh Nath, The Khaleej Times, UAE This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about US, Russia To Cut Nukes
Rick Lazio’s Comeback
After the beating he took at that hands of Hillary Clinton in New York's 2000 Senate race, plenty of observers thought that Rick Lazio's political career might have drawn to a close. They may prove wrong, though, if the former congressman winds up being the next Governor of New York. Before you begin guffawing over the idea of a Republican taking the helm in this bluest of blue … [Read more...] about Rick Lazio’s Comeback
In Windows Challenge, Google Will Intro PC Operating System
While Michael Arrington revels in I told you so, deservedly, his colleague, MG Siegler, rockets to the top of the techmeme heights with his post, Google Drops A Nuclear Bomb On Microsoft. And It’s Made of Chrome: Wow. So you know all those whispers about a Google desktop operating system that never seem to go away? You thought they might with the launch of Android, Google’s … [Read more...] about In Windows Challenge, Google Will Intro PC Operating System
WordPress For Blackberry: YAY!
For those of us who love our Blackberry devices (my Blackberry Storm has made me too organized) and love blogging, Wordpress has given us another reason to love our Blackberries even more: WORDPRESS FOR BLACKBERRY! Yes it is public beta mode right now, still in development, and has some bugs but I have to say one word: COOL! Yeah yeah... I'm displaying my inner geek … [Read more...] about WordPress For Blackberry: YAY!