The reports saying so are from Japan and South Korea. BBC World Breaking News: "A short time ago a flying object appeared to have been launched from North Korea," the Japanese government statement said. The rocket appeared to have passed over Japan, the government said. South Korean officials also confirmed that a rocket had been launched. North Korea maintains that its … [Read more...] about North Korea Appears to Have Launched A Rocket
A Genuine, True Hero Needs Some Help
There are not too many things on which milblogger Blackfive and I agree, but here is one: The State Department has made a decision to make an Iraqi translator, Jasim, wait another three years for a visa. One of the reasons that the denial was issued was that, Jasim, as part of the Kurdish Peshmerga, infiltrated Uday Hussein's organization to steal data and then stole Uday's … [Read more...] about A Genuine, True Hero Needs Some Help
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: STATEHOUSE ROCK: 36 Governorships on the Chopping Block in 2010
Part Three of Three of Larry J. Sabato on STATEHOUSE ROCK: 36 Governorships on the Chopping Block in 2010 We've had two good weeks of gubernatorial fun in the Crystal Ball, reviewing the early match-ups for the 2010 midterm Governor battles here and here. Now it's time to examine the remaining sixteen statehouses, all currently controlled by Republicans. MORE … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: STATEHOUSE ROCK: 36 Governorships on the Chopping Block in 2010
President Obama: ‘What a Change for the Alliance!’: Le Figaro, France
It would be hard to imagine President Obama - or any president - doing a better job wooing the continent of Europe. As part of our continuing coverage of President Obama's tour of the Old Continent from the European point of view, we just posted this editorial from Le Figaro's Pierre Rousselin, who writes in part: "The American president had a little more than two months to … [Read more...] about President Obama: ‘What a Change for the Alliance!’: Le Figaro, France
Notre Dame Values
John Cole, The Scranton Times-Tribune This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Notre Dame Values
10 Things We Didn’t Know Last Week
And now we know them. … [Read more...] about 10 Things We Didn’t Know Last Week
George Bisharat on War Crimes in Gaza
Recently, a group of Israeli soldiers testified about war crimes committed against Palestinians by the Israeli military during its invasion of Gaza in December and January. The IDF claims to have "investigated" these eyewitness accounts and found them to be without merit. … [Read more...] about George Bisharat on War Crimes in Gaza
NYTimes Threatens to Shut Down Boston Globe
From the horse's mouth: The New York Times Company has threatened to close The Boston Globe unless labor unions agree to concessions like pay cuts and the cessation of pension contributions, according to a person briefed on the talks. The company is looking for $20 million in savings from The Globe, which has already gone through several rounds of deep cost-cutting and … [Read more...] about NYTimes Threatens to Shut Down Boston Globe
Has The U.S. Economy Crisis Spawned Bloody Murder?
The Christian Science Monitor (now totally online but still one of the U.S.'s most solid newspapers) reports that experts are beginning to sense a troubling trend in the recent mass shootings: the economy seems to have played a particularly negative role in the shooters' lives. And, no, before the above assertion starts a string of angry weblog posts and comments about this … [Read more...] about Has The U.S. Economy Crisis Spawned Bloody Murder?
The Bard Does Twitter
Patrick Corrigan, The Toronto Star This cartoon is copyritghted and licensed to appear on this site. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about The Bard Does Twitter
With the NY20 Race Tied, Tedisco Quits Assembly Leadership Position
Methinks someone is smelling victory in the air. After all of the official canvassing was completed in the NY20 slugfest between Jim Tedisco and Scott Murphy,the race has ended in a dead tie. Apparently, Republican candidate Tedisco feels he has it in the bag, because he has stepped down from his position as New York State Assembly Minority Leader, no doubt in preparation for … [Read more...] about With the NY20 Race Tied, Tedisco Quits Assembly Leadership Position
Twitter Co-Founder on Colbert. And Those Google Rumors.
Twitter co-founder Biz Stone (his real name is Isaac) was on Stephen Colbert last week. Kara Swisher: Stone–the spokesmodel for the hot microblogging service–does very well and is even charming, even though Colbert nails the problems of the San Francisco-based Twitter cold in the lively interview. “How would you make money?” asked Colbert, after some preliminary joking with … [Read more...] about Twitter Co-Founder on Colbert. And Those Google Rumors.
Amok: The Amoks Of Lovelle Mixon, Michael McLendon, Tim Krestchmer, Robert Stewart, Kerby Trevelus, Devan Kalathat, Travis The Chimp (Guest Voice)
Amok: The Amoks Of Lovelle Mixon, Michael McLendon, Tim Krestchmer, Robert Stewart, Kerby Trevelus, Devan Kalathat, Travis The Chimp by Julian Lieb Kerby Trevelus decapitated one of his sisters, stabbed another to death, and injured a third. Robert Stewart slaughtered eight people in a nursing home, and wounded another three. In the days leading up to the massacre of … [Read more...] about Amok: The Amoks Of Lovelle Mixon, Michael McLendon, Tim Krestchmer, Robert Stewart, Kerby Trevelus, Devan Kalathat, Travis The Chimp (Guest Voice)
Binghamton Shooting Aftermath: There But For the Grace of God
While some people were busy criticizing Governor Paterson's comments about the shooting, (for the record, he actually said it was the greatest tragedy and senseless crime in the history of the city, not of the state, as Andrew Malcolm appropriately corrected in his column) more local news continues to filter in and some of it strikes close to home. It turns out that a relative … [Read more...] about Binghamton Shooting Aftermath: There But For the Grace of God
South Park’s Creators Now & Forever Free
Wired: There's no risk of anyone forgetting South Park's place in television and pop culture now. The award-winning show's success has given Parker and Stone the freedom to embrace their chaotic creativity and write about whatever they choose, no matter how sensitive the subject. Basing their wildly popular show around crudely animated characters gives them extra wiggle room … [Read more...] about South Park’s Creators Now & Forever Free
Taliban Maniac Claims Responsibility for Binghamton Maniac
I suppose we should have seen this one coming, but the tragedy here in Binghamton, New York has taken on a brief, international flair as FoxNews reports that the Taliban is claiming responsibility for the shooting. Since I've been covering the story for you right from the neighborhood, I suppose we'll have to touch on this as part of our update. A Pakistani Taliban militant … [Read more...] about Taliban Maniac Claims Responsibility for Binghamton Maniac
Can the President Shut Down the Internet?
Should we pass a bill giving the President unfettered authority to shut down the internet during a crisis and access any and all data from anyone while allowing him sole discretion to determine what constitutes a crisis and when one occurs? What could possibly go wrong? Should President Obama have the power to shut down domestic Internet traffic during a state of … [Read more...] about Can the President Shut Down the Internet?
Nuclear Chess
Below the radar of saving the global economy, President Obama was working in London this week to keep the world from blowing itself up with nuclear weapons. A meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev produced a joint statement that the two countries will begin negotiations to reduce arsenals in anticipation of an Obama visit to Moscow this summer. Unlike George W. … [Read more...] about Nuclear Chess
The End of Bank Secrecy is Nothing to Celebrate: From Die Welt, Germany
Now that the G20 Summit is over, some are beginning to question one of the major changes wrought by the event - the apparent end of the centuries-old practice of bank secrecy. According to German historian Michael Sturmer, the people celebrating today could be checking their state-picked wallets tomorrow. For the German newspaper Die Welt, Sturmer writes in part: "This … [Read more...] about The End of Bank Secrecy is Nothing to Celebrate: From Die Welt, Germany
Was This Song On Obama’s iPod Gift To Queen Elizabeth?
The iPod reportedly contained show tunes -- and here's one by Richard Rodgers: … [Read more...] about Was This Song On Obama’s iPod Gift To Queen Elizabeth?