Auschwitz, the Gulag Archipelago, the Killing Fields of Cambodia. These are names that immediately evoke images of some of the most horrific acts of cruelty and inhumanity. In their new book, Michael and Elizabeth M. Norman take us to yet another place and another time when men and women "suffered an ordeal of unparalleled cruelty and savagery: forty-one months of … [Read more...] about Book Review—“Tears in the Darkness: The Story of the Bataan Death March and Its Aftermath”
What Digital Transition ??
With less than 24 hours to go until the digital transition takes place it seems that some people are still not ready for the big change. According to a report today on MSNBC (which follows similar reports on the other networks) as many as four million Americans are not ready for the digital switch and of those as many as one million remain somehow unaware that any sort of … [Read more...] about What Digital Transition ??
Now I’ve Started Smoking Again
I thought it would never happen again. Hell's Bells... I *PRAYED* it would never happen again. But the Obama administration has done what I thought was impossible. Some time ago I quit smoking cigarettes. It's a terrible habit. It was shortening my life. It was driving away my friends. It smells bad. It's just awful. But as of 3 pm this afternoon, I have news for you, President … [Read more...] about Now I’ve Started Smoking Again
Conservatives vs. the Two-State Solution
CONSERVATIVES VS. THE TWO-STATE SOLUTION: George W. Bush is gone. There is no more pressure on conservatives to support Bush's call for a two-state solution. Bibi Netanyahu is prime minister. Conservatives who oppose a two-state solution no longer have to explain why they reject the approach favored by Israel's own government. Barack Obama is throwing his weight … [Read more...] about Conservatives vs. the Two-State Solution
Holocaust Museum Shooting Attack Is Not News at Fox
Ali Frick at Think Progress has a very interesting piece about Bill O'Reilly's dismissive attitude toward the terrorist shooting incident at the Holocaust Museum yesterday (emphasis in original): … [Read more...] about Holocaust Museum Shooting Attack Is Not News at Fox
Sasha, Malia and the Remarkable Mr. Obama: Nachrichten of Switzerland
What seems like weakness to U.S. Republicans is actually the steely resolve of President Obama to ensure a safer world for his two young children. That's the thesis of this article by Swiss columnist Patrik Etschmayer, who like Philippe Coste of France's Liberation, contends that America's opposition party is so out of touch that it doesn't recognize real strength when its … [Read more...] about Sasha, Malia and the Remarkable Mr. Obama: Nachrichten of Switzerland
Senate Passes Anti-Smoking Legislation By Huge Margin
Considering the fact that tobacco-related products kill 400,000 people annually, this is indisputably a pro-life issue, although of course it isn't being described that way. Almost half a century is way too long for Congress to have gotten its act together on tobacco legislation, but better late than never: … [Read more...] about Senate Passes Anti-Smoking Legislation By Huge Margin
What Defines A Conservative Foreign Policy?
"Understanding the Hobbesian nature of international relations fundamentally grounds conservative foreign policy in reality."That quote is from John Bolton's op-ed in today's Washington Times. Does Bolton's description accurately characterize George W. Bush's foreign policy? What about Dick Cheney's? Hawkish policymakers like Cheney and Bolton certainly emphasize the … [Read more...] about What Defines A Conservative Foreign Policy?
America Doesn’t Deserve Barack Obama
What can a responsible satirist satirize at a time when America is blessed with a President who transcends irony and sarcasm? The American people, of course: "Obama Drastically Scales Back Goals For America After Visiting Denny's" Cross-posted at Conventional Folly … [Read more...] about America Doesn’t Deserve Barack Obama
Why Tiananmen Still Matters
While I was away, the 20th anniversary of the Tiannamen Square massacre on June 4, 1989 was observed (except in China). Dan Twining has a great post on why Tiannamen still matters today. Here's his starting point: "We should start from the premise that the crackdown, and China's subsequent rise as an authoritarian rather than a democratic superpower, was not inevitable. We … [Read more...] about Why Tiananmen Still Matters
Ignorance Is Bliss
In my eight lackadaisical days on St. Kitts, I didn't pick up a single newspaper. I saw a handful of headlines while checking my e-mail, but didn't read any full stories. Once in a while, CNN would be turned in one of the bars where I was having a drink. In short, I simulated the diminished state of news-awareness experienced every day by tens of millions of Americans, who … [Read more...] about Ignorance Is Bliss
Hate (Guest Voice)
Hate by Anastasia Pantsios The timing was uncanny. Before he left on vacation, my editor at the publication I work for wrote this week’s cover story which hit the streets this morning, imploring George Voinovich as a sane — if not exactly as-moderate-as-described — Republican who is retiring and whose office is therefore not vulnerable to attacks from right-wing crazies, … [Read more...] about Hate (Guest Voice)
Murderous Math in the Museum
Old age is an education in asymmetry as the ratio of effort to result keeps worsening, as it takes many times the previous exertion to get a fraction of the results for the simplest act. In that light, what happened yesterday at the Holocaust Museum is a reminder that the rules of nature are not so simple: An 88-year-old with the strength to press a trigger kills a young man … [Read more...] about Murderous Math in the Museum
Obama, Netanyahu, Israel And The Return Of Shoe Politics
Was a photo of President Barack Obama that showed his shoes and the context in which it was taken offensive or not? We link you decide... … [Read more...] about Obama, Netanyahu, Israel And The Return Of Shoe Politics
Citizen Of The World
John Darkow, Columbia Daily Tribune, Missouri This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Citizen Of The World
Jeremiah Wright Is Right
Some readers emailed me asking why I haven't posted as much over the past two weeks. Here's part of the answer: President Barack Obama's controversial former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, is blaming "them Jews" for keeping him from speaking to the president. Wright, the former pastor of Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ, said he hasn't spoken to Obama since … [Read more...] about Jeremiah Wright Is Right
David Brooks Backs Sotomayor but Still Espouses the Racist Double Standard of the Right
In his most recent NYT column, occasionally interesting conservative pundit David Brooks came out in support of Sonia Sotomayor and even had some nice things to say about her: If you look at the whole record, you come away with the impression that Sotomayor is a hard-working, careful-though-unspectacular jurist whose primary commitment is to the law. She is quite liberal. … [Read more...] about David Brooks Backs Sotomayor but Still Espouses the Racist Double Standard of the Right
Can Do Conan? Conan O’Brien’s Late Night Ratings Show Slippage?
Is NBC's Conan O'Brien starting to sag already in his new gig as Jay Leno's late night replacement going up against Leno's former NBC and late night nemesis David Letterman? And is this an unwelcome harbinger for the peacock? The L.A. Times reports some that there are some numbers that are likely to raise eyebrows -- and possibly beads of sweat -- at NBC: On June 1, the … [Read more...] about Can Do Conan? Conan O’Brien’s Late Night Ratings Show Slippage?
Wedgie (Cartoon)
Cam Cardow, The Ottawa Citizen This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Wedgie (Cartoon)
WHO Declares Swine Flu Pandemic
The New York Times: The World Health Organization has told its member nations it is declaring a swine flu pandemic — the first global flu epidemic in 41 years, news services reported. The move came after an emergency meeting with flu experts here that was convened after a sharp rise in cases in Australia, which reported 1,224 cases on Wednesday, and rising numbers in … [Read more...] about WHO Declares Swine Flu Pandemic