To remain fit and fine once you are over 60 is a big challenge. An interesting book tells us that the best recipe is to continue to remain curious and communicative. Irma Kurtz, 73, once a “proper journalist” who reported from Vietnam and interviewed celebrities long before they were called that, has written a book Growing Old Disgracefully. She was born in New Jersey, grew … [Read more...] about Irma Kurtz: Breaking Myths About Old Age
Ross Douthat Is Bill Kristol’s Replacement at NYT
Above pix: Mr. Ross Douthat, who is 30 years old this year. Ross Douthat on "The Pro-Cheney Case For A Torture Commission" (1/21/09) For many anti-torture voices, of course, it's taken as a given that Cheney doesn't really believe what he says he believes - or at the very least, that on some level he knows that a full and fair airing of the intelligence the Bush … [Read more...] about Ross Douthat Is Bill Kristol’s Replacement at NYT
Roombas of Doom & the Noisy ‘Big Dog’
The video above is The Daily Show's Samantha Bee visiting with Colin Angle, the CEO and co-founder of Roomba maker, iRobot. Angle says, "it's inevitable that there will be armed robots." His company is set to receive $286 million to build some. The other day I embedded video of the Boston Dynamics “Big Dog” war robot. As counterpoint, I quoted P. W. Singer from a January 22 … [Read more...] about Roombas of Doom & the Noisy ‘Big Dog’
The New York Times Picks A Bill Kristol Replacement
But this time the paper hasn't picked an ideologue who is so close to Republican strategists that he could be confused as one half of a Siamese twin. It hasn't picked someone whose main goal seems to be to elect Republicans (and advocate whatever it takes) and look so much like a cheerleader that high schools send him a wig and uniform (sorry for that imagery). This time the … [Read more...] about The New York Times Picks A Bill Kristol Replacement
2010 Republicans: A Moderate Republican Platform?
Jim McGrody, a blogger from Texas, has put together a possible platform for Republicans as they enter the 2010 midterms. It's called simply, "2010 Republicans." Here is what he says: What does it mean to be a 2010 Republican? One often hears the expression, “Strong on defense, fiscally conservative and socially moderate”. Although this is the essence of the answer it does … [Read more...] about 2010 Republicans: A Moderate Republican Platform?
U.S. Iran Relations
The momentum builds for talks... … [Read more...] about U.S. Iran Relations
Obama Signs Earmark-Packed Spending Bill And Calls For Reforms
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. And so is an event where there is quite pointedly no picture: the controversial 2009-originated spending bill -- packed with more earmarks from politicos of both parties than a banana split has calories -- was signed by President Barack Obama...away from cameras or public view: President Obama today signed what he called an … [Read more...] about Obama Signs Earmark-Packed Spending Bill And Calls For Reforms
Obama Creates Council on Women and Girls, Valerie Jarrett to Lead It
I’ve been getting word of the announcement that President Obama would create the White House Council on Women and Girls today since yesterday afternoon, so it’s almost a bit anti-climactic. However, don’t let my blasé it takes a lot to impress me attitude dissuade you from recognizing what a big deal this actually is. You can read the full announcement from the White House … [Read more...] about Obama Creates Council on Women and Girls, Valerie Jarrett to Lead It
Killing Sprees Confound Mental Health Fixes
These gun massacre sprees in schools, townships and churches are a painful reminder we live in a culture inhabited by a lot of seriously sick people who are ticking time bombs. Any number of variables seem to set them off. The most recent tragedies: A 17-year-old gunman in Winnenden, Germany, killed at least 16 students and teachers at his former school Wednesday before … [Read more...] about Killing Sprees Confound Mental Health Fixes
So, Where Are the New Republicans?
Ross Douthat has a good post today about Obama and the Center-Left. He notes that conservatives were happy with some of the Clintonite picks he made in the cabinet. However, as policy started coming out, those same conservatives (myself included) were not as happy. So what happened? Douthat posed three solutions and it is the third one that makes the most sense: But … [Read more...] about So, Where Are the New Republicans?
A Medley Of Jews In India
After the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks, there have been numerous articles by Jews from different countries narrating their own wonderful experiences in Mumbai, and how much they loved the city. In this series, I am grateful to our colleague Holly for sending me yet another moving and informative piece. Leila Bilick, who works for Pro Mujer (a nonprofit organization that … [Read more...] about A Medley Of Jews In India
Saving the Newspaper
A few weeks ago, I did something that seems a bit anachronistic in this digital age. I got a subscription to the local newspaper in town: The Minneapolis Star-Tribune. I don't always agree with the paper's editorial page, but I did it to make a point of the importance of newspapers and because I've loved newspapers since I was a little kid. I remember way back in the … [Read more...] about Saving the Newspaper
Limbaugh’s Hopes For Failure, a Win-Win Proposition
One of the consistent, indisputable and well-deserved comments made about GOP spokesman Rush Limbaugh is that he is a brilliant man. And he is. Take his well-publicized remarks that he hopes Obama will fail. More precisely, his extended and detailed remarks on this subject, on his radio show on February 13, 2009: I'll say it again. Not only do I want Obama to … [Read more...] about Limbaugh’s Hopes For Failure, a Win-Win Proposition
Sad Memories: The Madrid Train Bombing Five Years Ago Today
Today marks the sad fifth anniversary of the terrorist Madrid train bombings -- an event that sparked headlines all over the world and decimated the lives of many families of those who were butchered as they went about their daily lives. Two ways to mark it: 1. DO NOT FORGET. Go take a look at THIS LINK at Barcepundit. 2. REMEMBER HOW TERRORISM IS EVERYONE'S ENEMY: … [Read more...] about Sad Memories: The Madrid Train Bombing Five Years Ago Today
What If John McCain Won? (Guest Voice)
So what would things be like if Arizona Sen. John McCain had won and then-Sen. Barack Obama had been defeated in the 2008 Presidential race? How you answer that depends on who you supported and, in the case of McCain, how the sometimes complex Arizona Senator is perceived by the given partisan or independent voter. Here's one view from frequent Guest Voice writer Marc Pascal. … [Read more...] about What If John McCain Won? (Guest Voice)
NY20: Murphy Closing in on Tedisco?
A new (or perhaps not so new) poll in the Empire State is showing Democrat Scott Murphy closing the gap on Republican Assembly Minority Leader Jim Tedisco. Tedisco, the state Assembly minority leader, holds a 7-percentage-point lead over Murphy, a 39-year-old venture capitalist, according to the late February survey by the Benenson Strategy Group. The margin was 44 to 37 … [Read more...] about NY20: Murphy Closing in on Tedisco?
Jobs
David Fitzsimmons, The Arizona Star This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Jobs
“Well-Being” Index by Congressional District Reveals Sickness in the Heartland
And hey, I live in the heart of it all - my congressional district's well-being index (I'm in Ohio's 11th, Marcia Fudge is my rep, replacing the late Stephanie Tubbs Jones) is 426 out of 435 -no wonder I feel so...not well. According to the State and Congressional District Resource for Well-Being, "a product of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index," my state, Ohio ranks … [Read more...] about “Well-Being” Index by Congressional District Reveals Sickness in the Heartland
Book Review: Year Of The Great Crash 1929
Books about the depression are probably in vogue now but this one takes a rather interesting look at the subject. Written by author William Klingaman it covers the course of the year 1929 (Klingaman also wrote books on the years 1919 and 1941). In addition to following the general course of the stock market during the year it also gives the reader an insight into what else was … [Read more...] about Book Review: Year Of The Great Crash 1929
Wolfram Alpha is Not the Next Google. It’s Something More.
Maybe... Stephen Wolfram is a brilliant but controversial figure. He earned a Ph.D. in theoretical physics from Caltech in 1979 and, in 1988, launched Mathematica, a computational software program used widely in scientific, engineering, and mathematical fields and other areas of technical computing. In 2002, Wolfram published A New Kind of Science. Wolfram's latest … [Read more...] about Wolfram Alpha is Not the Next Google. It’s Something More.