A major clash has broken out between Sikh groups in India following the murder of a Sikh preacher, Dera Sachh Khand leader Sant Ram Nand (56), in Vienna. Four trains have been set on fire and several Indian towns in Punjab and Haryana have witnessed violence and damage to property by rioters. (Meanwhile reports from London say that a Sikh temple there has been set on fire. … [Read more...] about Murder In Vienna: Indian Punjab Burns
Five U.S. Presidencies is Too Long for Mubarak: Al Araby, Egypt
A visit by an American president to another country has a tendency to whip up numerous passions in the local press. Many times these passions involve comparisons between the United States and the country in question. In the run-up to President Obama's planned address to the Islamic world from Cairo on June 4, this is an especially rich time to capture some of these comparisons … [Read more...] about Five U.S. Presidencies is Too Long for Mubarak: Al Araby, Egypt
US & Britain: On Selling Sex Online
America is America and Britain is Britain and the twain shall never meet (with apologies to Kipling). The latest instance shows how the two countries differ, at least in their approach to sex, while reacting to the ads placed in the classifieds website Craigslist. Well, the US is certainly more short-tempered when it comes to selling sex online, reports The Times. "Last … [Read more...] about US & Britain: On Selling Sex Online
North Korea Weapons Test
Word breaking tonight that North Korea has tested a nuclear weapon. I doubt President Obama was feeling the need for another iron in the fire, but here it is. … [Read more...] about North Korea Weapons Test
Congressman Takes FBI Director to Task for Parroting Marijuana “Gateway Drug” Theory
During a Congressional Hearing that was held last Wednesday, FBI Director Robert Mueller defended the Federal Government's marijuana laws, trumpeting the familiar "Gateway Drug" Theory that has been a staple among the line of excuses uttered by Drug War Defenders for more than half a century. At least one congressman, however, wasn't going to let him peddle this tired refrain … [Read more...] about Congressman Takes FBI Director to Task for Parroting Marijuana “Gateway Drug” Theory
Who You Gonna Trust?
If you wanted to know what interrogation methods work best to get reliable, accurate information and actionable intelligence from hardened terrorists and others suspected of having such knowledge, whose advice would you trust more? A former vice-president with five draft deferments and no experience actually interrogating anyone? Or a former criminal investigator and senior … [Read more...] about Who You Gonna Trust?
Should we now go with the bat excrement?
Cross-posted between Random Fate and The Moderate Voice. Embed code directly from the Dilbert web site. Technorati : Dilbert, economy, humor Del.icio.us : Dilbert, economy, humor Zooomr : Dilbert, economy, humor Flickr : Dilbert, economy, humor … [Read more...] about Should we now go with the bat excrement?
Night of the Living Guantanamo Detainees
Monte Wolverton, Cagle Cartoons This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Night of the Living Guantanamo Detainees
I Hear The Trumpeter Playing Taps
Four highly visible Republicans appeared on the political talk shows Sunday talking about the split threatening the party between moderates and conservatives. What I heard were two divergent themes: Rebuilding the party to win elections vs. purging the ranks to retain only the concepts endorsed by conservatives. One theme trumpets the future. The other is playing … [Read more...] about I Hear The Trumpeter Playing Taps
It’s Okay If You’re a Republican
Even with Democrats in the majority, IOKIYAR reigns: … [Read more...] about It’s Okay If You’re a Republican
Cheney on the Couch
Stooping to psychobabble this Memorial Day weekend, I find myself wondering: What is the former Vice President, who evaded military service in his youth, trying to prove with his late-in-life display of extreme machismo? What fuels his tougher-than-thou attacks on Barack Obama, a Commander-in-Chief from a post-draft generation that did not have to face a public test of personal … [Read more...] about Cheney on the Couch
This Experiment Is Wow
No pressure: "The National Ignition Facility (NIF) in California aims to demonstrate the feasibility of nuclear fusion, the reaction at the heart of the Sun and a potentially abundant, clean energy source for the planet. But whilst many eyes at the facility will be locked on the goal of satisfying humanity's energy demands, many scientists hope to answer other fundamental … [Read more...] about This Experiment Is Wow
Powell’s Long Awaited Response: He’s Still A (Polite) Moderate Republican
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell used CBS's "Face The Nation" to deliver a highly anticipated response to talk show host Rush Limbaugh and former Vice President Dick Cheney who suggested Powell is no "real' Republican and has either left the party or should get out of it. And his response was quintessential Colin Powell: dignified, thoughtful and indicative of a public … [Read more...] about Powell’s Long Awaited Response: He’s Still A (Polite) Moderate Republican
Moderate Republican Ridge Criticizes “Shrill…Divisive” Rush Limbaugh
Former Pennyslvania Gov. Tom Ridge, who also served as George Bush's Homeland Security chief, has weighed in on the debate about conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh's exclusionary and partisan-red meat rhetoric and he has a message: respect others, tone it down and remember that past Republican presidents have treated the party as if it was trying to be a bigger … [Read more...] about Moderate Republican Ridge Criticizes “Shrill…Divisive” Rush Limbaugh
If we can’t laugh at ourselves…
...how can we justify laughing at all? This is funny and wistfully sad simultaneously, but you have to admit, Adam West has handled his situation with respect to fame/infamy, camp, pop culture, and fads as well as anyone could, with self-deprecating humor and class. Batman's garage sale... Cross-posted to Random Fate. Technorati : Batman, humor, pop culture Del.icio.us : … [Read more...] about If we can’t laugh at ourselves…
Real Cap And Trade
RJ Matson, Roll Call This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Real Cap And Trade
BANKABLE HEALTH CARE REFORM
Over the past year, it has become evident that the U.S. bank and financial sector has a huge influence over both parties in Congress and the top financial advisers in the Obama Administration. The same has held true even longer for large manufacturers involved in weapons and defense spending. We will soon see the same heavy influence over Congress by the insurance companies, … [Read more...] about BANKABLE HEALTH CARE REFORM
Mr. Obama: You, Too, Can “Repay the Debt We Owe” Our Heroes
Today’s remarks by President Obama in his weekly address to the nation, were particularly important, particularly poignant, because---on the occasion of Memorial Day 2009---he paid tribute to our fallen heroes and honored “the servicemen and women who cannot be with us this year because they are standing post far from home – in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world.” In … [Read more...] about Mr. Obama: You, Too, Can “Repay the Debt We Owe” Our Heroes
Go Forth, Read This, and Be Better For It
I think I've found the book I'll be picking up for my summer vacation to the mountains. Let's start with an introductory handshake from this NY Times article based on the upcoming book. When we praise people who do work that is straightforwardly useful, the praise often betrays an assumption that they had no other options. We idealize them as the salt of the earth and … [Read more...] about Go Forth, Read This, and Be Better For It
A Legal Framework for Trampling on the Bill of Rights
Yesterday, in his speech at the National Archives, Pres. Barack Obama told Americans of his intention to create a system of what he calls "prolonged detention" for Guantanamo detainees who "cannot be prosecuted for past crimes ... but who nonetheless pose a threat to the security of the United States." Here is part of what he said on this subject (emphasis mine): … [Read more...] about A Legal Framework for Trampling on the Bill of Rights