Microsoft is killing off Encarta later this year: While looking around Encarta's homepage today, I stumbled on a message that Microsoft was getting rid of MSN Encarta completely: "On October 31, 2009, MSN Encarta Web sites worldwide will be discontinued, with the exception of Encarta Japan, which will be discontinued on December 31, 2009. Additionally, Microsoft will cease to … [Read more...] about The Category of Traditional Encyclopedias Has Changed. Forever.
The Silent Cries Of Racism! Huh? I Can’t Hear Anything.
Can someone help me out here? Where is this growing throng of people calling criticizers of President Obama the dreaded R-word: racists? Can someone point this out to me? Because actress Angie Harmon feels she must present her "I'm not a racist if I criticize President Obama" card: Angie Harmon is not afraid to come out and say she doesn’t like how President Obama is … [Read more...] about The Silent Cries Of Racism! Huh? I Can’t Hear Anything.
Two Voices on Afghanistan: A Fresh One, and One of Experience.
A few days ago, President Obama outlined his plans for the war in Afghanistan, which basically consist of: * Further increasing the presence of American forces in Afghanistan---4,000 more troops to train Afghan security forces on top of the 17,000 extra combat troops that he already has ordered to Afghanistan. * Increasing aid to Pakistan to the tune of $1.5 billion … [Read more...] about Two Voices on Afghanistan: A Fresh One, and One of Experience.
“A Congressional Party That Is Congenitally Unable to Govern”
Jonathan Chait's article in The New Republic about why the Democrats can't govern is a must-read. Chait has much to say on why, despite having a Democrat in the White House and Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress, the party leadership is in such disarray and is so resistant to coming together as a unified political force to support the agenda that Pres. Obama … [Read more...] about “A Congressional Party That Is Congenitally Unable to Govern”
Mom And Dad Won’t Run Your Life
Assume that you are a young twenty-something out on your own for the first time and you've run into some financial troubles. You spent unwisely, didn't make very good choices with your job or with your friends, basically you really messed things up. So Mom and Dad come to the rescue. They tell you that they will offer financial support but that there are some minor … [Read more...] about Mom And Dad Won’t Run Your Life
Outrageous
On executive bonuses and corporate bailouts, we are only getting started with our outrage. For the record, I blame everybody. Click the cartoon for a full size image. For more, visit Small World cartoons. … [Read more...] about Outrageous
Undecided Whether Obama Is A Saviour Or Despot
Candidate and now President Barack Obama vowed he could make the tough decisions. The one he announced Monday withholding additional federal aid to General Motors and Chrysler was a doozie. The new tough guy on the block basically fired GM's chief executive G. Richard Wagoner Jr. for driving too slow in the fast lane. That's a savings of $1 a year. At the same time, … [Read more...] about Undecided Whether Obama Is A Saviour Or Despot
Obama’s Tough Love To The American Automobile Industry
President Barack Obama has issued a tough statement on what General Motors and Chrysler will need to do to continue to get government funds. And it has already opened a big debate: how far should a President (and American go) in getting involved with industries that receive government money? It'll be a big debate for the future -- but underscores again Obama's intention to … [Read more...] about Obama’s Tough Love To The American Automobile Industry
Yeah, They Said the Internet Would Replace Books, Too
Josh Marshall gets hooked on reading books on Kindle software downloaded to his iPhone. It fits his lifestyle, it works with his time constraints, it's beautiful to look at, it really does make reading a "lost in another world" experience. And when he tried reading a book on the actual Kindle, new version, it didn't take long to get lost in that experience, either. But then he … [Read more...] about Yeah, They Said the Internet Would Replace Books, Too
Europe Has To Be Fiscally Conservative Now
Numerous US politicians, pundits and bloggers complain that Europe (especially Germany) is once again free riding on the United States. This time we are accused of refusing to carry our share of the global economic burden by failing to increase the stimulus to a gazillion euro. We are supposed to throw in the kitchen sink as the Fed did and follow yet another one of … [Read more...] about Europe Has To Be Fiscally Conservative Now
The Politics of Intelligence
It's the old nature vs. nurture debate. Is intelligence genetic, or does your upbringing matter? Yesterday, the Times reviewed a new book that makes the case for nurture. This comment from the reviewer caught my eye:When the evidence is ambiguous, it is all the easier for ideology to influence one’s scientific judgment. Liberals hope that social policy can redress life’s … [Read more...] about The Politics of Intelligence
Newsweek and Krugman: New Realities
In a magazine cover, we have a reflection of what's happening not only to the American economy but politics and journalism as well: a close-cropped half of a bearded face and the lines, "Obama Is Wrong: The loyal opposition of Paul Krugman." Newsweek's story tells us about the economist-turned-pundit who "criticizes the Obamaites for trying to prop up a financial system that … [Read more...] about Newsweek and Krugman: New Realities
I Know A Bestselling Author
Craig Mullaney, my classmate from grad school, is at #10 on the NY Times bestseller list for hardcover non-fiction (for the second week in a row). His book, The Unforgiving Minute, is the story of his time at West Point, Oxford, and Afghanistan. If you need some persuasion to part with your money, check out Vanity Fair's excerpt from the book, about Craig's boxing match in … [Read more...] about I Know A Bestselling Author
The Huffington Post Investigative Fund
From the press release: The Huffington Post announced today that it is launching a new initiative to produce a wide range of investigative journalism -- The Huffington Post Investigative Fund. It is being funded by The Huffington Post and The Atlantic Philanthropies, and will be headed by Nick Penniman, founder of The American News Project, which will be folded into the … [Read more...] about The Huffington Post Investigative Fund
Minor Glitch
03/29/09: Due to a technical problem, we can't post photo images or cartoons on TMV today. We're working on the problem. UPDATE: We are still working on image issue today. I know many of you look forward to the stellar images that TMV procures but, never fear, we should have this issue fixed today. Thank you for your continued patience. … [Read more...] about Minor Glitch
The Prime Time Presidency
How much is too much of a good thing? Everybody loved CSI when it first debuted and CBS ruled the airwaves with it for some time. However, by the time the franchise had expanded to three cities viewers were burning out on it. President Obama has been grabbing more television time than Uncle Milty during his salad days. This is the subject of my Pajamas Media column this week, … [Read more...] about The Prime Time Presidency
The Worm Has Turned (Spain’s Criminal Inquiry of Former Bush Officials)
In October of last year, a Miami court handed down a conviction. It was a very unusual conviction. It was the first time a U.S. Court handed down such a conviction. “This is the first case in the United States to charge an individual with criminal torture. I hope this case will serve as a model to future prosecutions of this type," proudly said none other than Bush's … [Read more...] about The Worm Has Turned (Spain’s Criminal Inquiry of Former Bush Officials)
Our Lady of Guadalupe, A Catholic Latina’s Take: Hillary Clinton Vindicated
Well, look. Our Lady can withstand anything, including people who want to hijack her into their internecine fighting. She grew up that way, remember? Pregnant and not married. Bearing the Son of God. Yeah sure, said the people of her time and they were mightily insulted. But, Guadalupe is the major girl gang leader in heaven. She can handle herself just fine. Remember, she … [Read more...] about Our Lady of Guadalupe, A Catholic Latina’s Take: Hillary Clinton Vindicated
Obama’s Afghan Plan Is His Vietnam
President Obama's announced new foreign policy shifts in Pakistan and Afghanistan leaves little doubt the war against terrorists in that Middle East region is his. We see it as his Vietnam. The mission is simple but altruistic: Eradicate Al-Qaeda and the terrorist factions of the Taliban, restore the infrastructure of Pakistan, train the Afghanistan army and police and … [Read more...] about Obama’s Afghan Plan Is His Vietnam
In Custody Battle Over 9-Year-Old, Brazilian Stepdad Calls American Dad ‘Liar’: O Globo of Brazil
João Paulo Lins e Silva, his wife Bruna and Sean, some time in 2006. When Bruna Goldman took her son Sean to Brazil, she decided to divorce her American husband David, marry another man and remain in Brazil. She subsequently died and left the boy with his stepfather, resulting in an epic international custody dispute. In this interview with nine-year-old Sean's Brazilian … [Read more...] about In Custody Battle Over 9-Year-Old, Brazilian Stepdad Calls American Dad ‘Liar’: O Globo of Brazil