With the holiday season in full swing, I'm sure that you - like most of us - find your thoughts turning to... time travel. While not practical at this time, explorations of the furthest limits of general relativity and quantum physics bring us to the nearly inescapable conclusion that travel through time is almost certainly possible if we could just manage to get one of those … [Read more...] about Time Travel for Beginners
Syria And Iran: Know Who You’re Dealing With (Guest Voice)
The incoming Obama administration will have to deal wit Syria and Iran. In this Guest Voice post, Barry Rubin, director of the Global Research in International Affairs (GLORIA) Center and editor of the Middle East Review of International Affairs (MERIA) Journal, offers some advice. Guest Voice posts do not necessarily reflect the view of TMV or its writers. KNOW WHO YOU'RE … [Read more...] about Syria And Iran: Know Who You’re Dealing With (Guest Voice)
Obama’s Rick Warren Invocation Pick Sparks Left And Gay Firestorm
Walking a tightrope in a time of high-stakes issues is never easy and it's too early to tell but safe to say this: with his choice of prominent evangelical minister Rick Warren of California's Saddleback Church to deliver the invocation at President-Elect Barack Obama's inauguration, Obama is now walking a mighty shaky tightrope. The dilemma: THE SIGNAL OBAMA WANTS TO … [Read more...] about Obama’s Rick Warren Invocation Pick Sparks Left And Gay Firestorm
American Icon of Freedom & Romance Hit
Americans are known the world over for their love affair with cars...the bigger, the better. But their long time symbol of freedom and romance --- THE CAR or The AUTOMOBILE --- is in trouble with the car making giants Chrysler, General Motors and Ford in convulsions struggling to survive the recession. The USA and Canada are far behind the European countries in providing … [Read more...] about American Icon of Freedom & Romance Hit
The Year in Pictures
In 3 parts from the Boston Globe. … [Read more...] about The Year in Pictures
NY Senate Appointment: “I Don’t Do Utica”
If New York Congressman Gary Ackerman (D-Queens) was harboring any secret ambitions to fill Hillary Clinton's senate seat, he effectively scotched them this week. Many local officials and residents expressed outrage Thursday with comments a downstate U.S. congressman made about Utica this week on a radio show. U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman, D-Queens, said on WOR radio Monday … [Read more...] about NY Senate Appointment: “I Don’t Do Utica”
Deadly Attack On British PM Gordon Brown
Journalists seem to be shedding, with quite a vengeance, their post 9/11 image as subservient/embedded pen-pushers. The Iraqi TV journalist reached the other extreme by using shoes instead of pen. Now a British scribe has made a deadly attack on top British and US political leadership. Sample the 'ballistic missile' from Matthew Norman: "Throwing footwear at the front man … [Read more...] about Deadly Attack On British PM Gordon Brown
What Bush Gets In His Stocking
Nate Beeler, The Washington Examiner … [Read more...] about What Bush Gets In His Stocking
They Say, Tis A Gift to See Ourselves As Others See Us…
The call of duty sometimes has a strange and unforeseen spellbinding effect.... _______ CODA h/t GreenDreams I found this cartoon at several sites, but without citation. I believe the toon may have been drawn by an artist named Randall Monroe, but am not certain. If anyone can verify, pls let me know and I will cite it properly. UPDATE: TMV Commenters tell … [Read more...] about They Say, Tis A Gift to See Ourselves As Others See Us…
Is Caroline Kennedy Qualified for the US Senate?
"No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the age of thirty years, and been nine years a citizen of the United States and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state for which he shall be chosen." (Article 1, Section 3, The United States Constitution) There, folks, is the Constitution's sparsely-worded set of requirements for anyone wishing … [Read more...] about Is Caroline Kennedy Qualified for the US Senate?
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: 2008 in Perspective
Larry J. Sabato on THAT WAS THE YEAR THAT WAS: 2008 in Perspective We have reached the end of another election cycle, but this has been no ordinary campaign. The marathon of presidential politics was everyone's focus, and the unforgettable cast of characters was long, from Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton on the Democratic side to John McCain and Sarah Palin on the … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: 2008 in Perspective
If I Were President (Guest Voice)
The first question: What will Barack Obama do as President? The second question: what would YOU do as President. In this Guest Voice post, conservative talk show host Michael Reagan, son of former President Ronald Reagan, gives you his answer. Guest Voice posts do not necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV or its writers. If I Were President by Michael Reagan Who needs … [Read more...] about If I Were President (Guest Voice)
Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied
Our post title, widely attributable to William Gladstone (though some say to William Penn) takes on a special resonance today. After some men have been in what has been determined to be unlawful American detention for nearly seven years, the very, very first Guantanamo Bay detainees were released pursuant to court order (a pathetic total of three men) and reached their home … [Read more...] about Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied
Shoe Storm
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune … [Read more...] about Shoe Storm
Middle Easterners Must Reject ‘Barefoot Journalism!’: Kurdish Media, Iraqi Kurdistan
It seems that a majority of Iraqis support the actions of journalist Muntadar al-Zeidi, who threw his shoes at President Bush during a press conference on Monday while exclaiming, 'This is a goodbye kiss from the Iraqi people, dog. This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq.' But the Kurds are another story. According to this op-ed by Kay … [Read more...] about Middle Easterners Must Reject ‘Barefoot Journalism!’: Kurdish Media, Iraqi Kurdistan
Our Love For Star Power
What is this American fascination of celebrities perpetuated by our media giants? A bunch of bunk I say. In the world of politics, these know-it-all columnists are slobbering over the possibility Caroline Kennedy might be appointed to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Hillary Clinton. "I have to confess, my heart remains with a Senator Caroline," gushes Ruth Marcus of the … [Read more...] about Our Love For Star Power
My Two Straight Bits On Gay Marriage
There have been many legislative, judicial, popular ballot and other movements, developments, articles, and opinions recently on the gay "issue" in general and on the issue of gay marriage in particular. As mentioned by our Dennis Sanders in "Putting Aside the Bible for a While," both "sides" on the gay issue and both proponents and opponents of gay marriage have used the … [Read more...] about My Two Straight Bits On Gay Marriage
The Beauty And Functionality Of Art Glass
Once again this Christmas/Chanuka season I'm turning towards gifts and special mailings. I give cash gifts to my niece, nephews and my foster son and his family. I order a great one-sheet New Year's calender and thank-you cards from Harrison Publishing. And I then pick out someone special who will get art glass. They won't know it until they get it -- and when they open it, … [Read more...] about The Beauty And Functionality Of Art Glass
I Was Actually Pulling for My Buddy, Glen VanderKloot
Rick Warren will give the Invocation at Barack Obama's presidential inauguration. VanderKloot, the inspiring, humble, intelligent pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Springfield, Illinois, whose daily emailed inspirations I often share with readers of my blog, gave the invocation at the big rally with Obama and his then-newly announced running mate, Joe Biden, held at the old … [Read more...] about I Was Actually Pulling for My Buddy, Glen VanderKloot
Beyond Awareness
It seems that Mick Jagger and Ben Affleck have joined hands to bring the latest in celebrity humanitarian efforts. I applaud both Jagger and Affleck for producing a film designed to raise awareness about the problems facing the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and yet my inner skeptic wonders how much impact the effort might really have? Criticisms are rife of … [Read more...] about Beyond Awareness