Malcom Gladwell is out and about talking up his new book, Outliers. Among the stories he tells in the book is that of the January 1990 plane crash in which a Colombian jetliner crashed on Long Island, N.Y., after running out of fuel. Gladwell suggests the cause was "cultural issues." Salon's Ask The Pilot columnist, Patrick Smith, says that while Gladwell's theory is … [Read more...] about Culture, Pilots, & Plane Crashes
Obama Cabinet Meets With Approval
Recent polls have shown that voters seem happy with President-Elect Obama's choices for the Cabinet. A survey by Gallup and USA Today show 3 out of 4 voters, including a majority of Republicans, approve of his picks to date. Indeed the biggest objections seem to come from the far left who seem to have expected Obama to select nobody but hard-core liberals for his … [Read more...] about Obama Cabinet Meets With Approval
Disgusting Story Of Abuse
This story broke locally a few days ago and at first I was hesitant to believe that it was for real. Sadly, it turns out that it is true. These slimeballs held a teen prisoner for more than a year and did things to him that I hesitate to post. Clearly there will need to be a lot of investigation as to how some of this slipped through the cracks of the system that was … [Read more...] about Disgusting Story Of Abuse
The End of A Two Newspaper Town: Scripps Says Sell The Rocky
Scripps, owner of The Rocky Mountain News, has put the Denver paper up for sale. The Rocky (tabloid size, like the Chi Sun,) is one of the two long-term news rags in Denver, the other, The Denver Post (full sheet). The Rocky tended to lean left, the Post tended to lean right... though frankly both were pretty well-balanced, giving voice to many disparate views... and differing … [Read more...] about The End of A Two Newspaper Town: Scripps Says Sell The Rocky
Canadian Parliament Suspended
In a move that may have saved his government, Canadian PM Stephen Harper today asked Governor General Michaëlle Jean to suspend Parliament until the end of January. Some had speculated that Jean would deny the request but she has approved it and they will be out of business until the end of January. Some observers thought that perhaps this was just a move to delay the … [Read more...] about Canadian Parliament Suspended
Obama’s Familiar Orbit (Guest Voice)
Is President Barack Obama poised to bring about real change or preside over an administration that will basically be (more or less) politics and policies as usual? In this Guest Voice post, Michael Winship, senior writer for PBS's Bill Moyers Journal, notes that he's starting to get bad vibes from what he sees. Guest Voice posts do not necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV or … [Read more...] about Obama’s Familiar Orbit (Guest Voice)
LP Cover Parodies and the Fine Art of Self-Deprecation
I was in a Virgin Records Store earlier this week. (It's a place where I sometimes peruse, although I can't remember ever buying anything there, by the way.) As I looked around, this CD caught my eye: Imitation is, of course, if not the highest, one of the highest forms of flattery and obviously, this LP cover art from Def Leppard, a band I have managed to totally avoid … [Read more...] about LP Cover Parodies and the Fine Art of Self-Deprecation
Rethinking The Economic Crisis: A Clarion Call
I've been feeling as down as Michael and hitting my head about the common wisdom of trying to keep up consumption and asset prices. However, I'm starting to see some signs of clear-headed analysis creeping into the press and financial blogs. I will summarize the problem on a very large-scale level. It's not about housing prices, it's not about complex financial instruments, … [Read more...] about Rethinking The Economic Crisis: A Clarion Call
Quotes From The Blogosphere
A good roundup can be found here. … [Read more...] about Quotes From The Blogosphere
Bailout Bungling Likely To Continue
Huge government bailouts have not solved this country's basic economic problem because the people awarding the money don't understand what the real problem is. It isn't a financial crisis that has spilled over into the general economy. It's a debt-based economy-wide problem with financial industry overtones. Making the financial industry whole does nothing to address this … [Read more...] about Bailout Bungling Likely To Continue
A Bush Do-Over Wish? Or Just Part of Legacy Building?
A lot has been said and written about the latest "exit" interview by President Bush with ABC's Charles Gibson. In her December 3 show, Rachel Maddow includes parts of this interview in a fascinating report on how Bush has assembled a team in the White House, including several former senior advisers such as Karl Rove and Karen Hughes, to "rewrite history" as part of the "Bush … [Read more...] about A Bush Do-Over Wish? Or Just Part of Legacy Building?
Obamamania Needs Reality Check
Barack Obama hasn't even been sworn in as the 44th President of the United States. Yet, a myriad of public opinion polls reflect Obamamania to its ultimate fantasy conclusion: He can save the economy; he can wean us off foreign oil; he can restore America's good will and leadership throughout the world; he can ... Even the U.S. Mint in Connecticut has pressed a … [Read more...] about Obamamania Needs Reality Check
Big Three Automaker CEOs Beg Congress For More Money Again
They're rested. They're contrite (to a point). They've taken public relations advisers' advice and this time didn't fly on private jets. The big three automakers CEOs have been back in front of Congress again, making a revamped pitch for a bailout. Some call it a request, others call it begging but the bottom line is they're asking for taxpayer help. Will it work this time? … [Read more...] about Big Three Automaker CEOs Beg Congress For More Money Again
Nixon and Bush Walk into a Bar…
A decade and a half after he died, the ghost of Bad Presidents Past keeps reappearing, rattling his chains to remind us that, as George W. Bush leaves, he did not invent bad behavior in the White House. The latest batch of released Nixon tapes provokes a headline: "Ruthless, Cynical, Profane." In contrast to the President Present, Nixon was never someone you would want to … [Read more...] about Nixon and Bush Walk into a Bar…
It’s Coleman! No, It’s Franken. No, Wait…
The dog ate my ballot! That excuse is about the only one we haven't heard (yet) for destroyed, lost, misplaced, disappeared, missing, erroneous, unaccounted-for ballots in the now-eternal Senate race in Minnesota between Norm Coleman and Al Franken. As of this morning, that race was still too close to call. As you may remember, a long, long time ago, when only about … [Read more...] about It’s Coleman! No, It’s Franken. No, Wait…
Several Deep Breaths Reco’d for Minnesota, Nation
As the nail-biter of a U.S. Senate race in Minnesota creeps forward -- with Democrat Al Franken and Republican incumbent Norm Coleman stagnating in a soup of perpetual non-motion -- the shadow of self-perceived disgrace lengthens. While I can't source the comments now -- a reminder that I should probably save/bookmark everything -- I recall a number of recent reports quoting … [Read more...] about Several Deep Breaths Reco’d for Minnesota, Nation
Burger King’s “Burger Virgins” Ad Campaign Called Screwed Up
On the face of it, it's a stroke of utter genius. Burger King has launched a new international advertising campaign showing its worldwide quest for "Burger Virgins" who've never tasted the glories of The Great American Dish that has converted (some say perverted) taste buds around the world -- asking villagers and others labeled "Burger Virgins" to chomp a BK burger and then … [Read more...] about Burger King’s “Burger Virgins” Ad Campaign Called Screwed Up
Replacing Hillary: Paterson in the Spotlight
This week I examine some of the candidates who might fill Hillary Clinton's Senate seat in my latest Pajamas Media column. One of the more interesting sidebars in this story is how Governor David Paterson suddenly finds himself in a starring role he likely never anticipated or wanted. The original script of the Hudson Valley power brokers never included Paterson spending his … [Read more...] about Replacing Hillary: Paterson in the Spotlight
Rather than America’s, NATO Ministers Prefer to ‘Sing their Own Tune’: Izvestia, Russia
Engaging in a bit of Russian horn blowing, that nation's Izvestia newspaper puts a Russian spin on this week's meeting of NATO foreign ministers that ended yesterday. Izvestia columnist Ksenya Fokina writes in part: "Attempts by Washington to turn a regular meeting of Alliance foreign ministers into a comeuppance for Russia "over Georgia," haven't had the desired effect. On … [Read more...] about Rather than America’s, NATO Ministers Prefer to ‘Sing their Own Tune’: Izvestia, Russia
Canadian Grassroots Organization Rejects “Zionist” Hillel
The University of Ottawa chapter of PIRG (Public Interest Research Group -- one of the largest and most mainstream sources of college student activism) rejected a request by the campus Hillel to fund a speech on interfaith education efforts and sustainable development projects by the African Jewish community. The reason? Hillel's "relationship" with "apartheid Israel". … [Read more...] about Canadian Grassroots Organization Rejects “Zionist” Hillel