CNN.com/europe: A British couple who married in a lavish Second Life wedding ceremony are to divorce after one of them had an alleged "affair" in the online world. Amy Taylor, 28, said she had caught husband David Pollard, 40, having sex with an animated woman. The couple, who met in an Internet chatroom in 2003, are now separated. [...] Taylor said she had caught … [Read more...] about Virtual Affair; Real Divorce
Vetting Bill, Considering Hillary
According to the NYT, "President-elect Barack Obama's advisers have begun reviewing former President Bill Clinton's finances and activities to see whether they would preclude the appointment of his wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton, as secretary of state." I still think Obama is serious about this (and should be) -- and that he and Hillary could form an effective "Team of … [Read more...] about Vetting Bill, Considering Hillary
Obama and Palin as Publicity Saints
Much has changed since I worked in the Fame Factory as an editor, exploiting big names to sell magazines and, in the circular process, enlarging their status as media megastars. But even in today's climate of disposable celebrities who are quickly used up like Kleenex, there is still the rare publicity saint, where mere mention of a name invokes automatic interest over time, … [Read more...] about Obama and Palin as Publicity Saints
‘Unbelievably, G-20 Meeting was Positive!’ — Folha, Brazil
Is the first world - or what today is referred to as the developed world - really prepared to share decision-making power with the second and third worlds? If Sunday's summit meeting in Washington did nothing else substantial, at least it seems to have convinced some people in the world's up and coming nations that the answer to that question is yes. Kennedy Alencar of … [Read more...] about ‘Unbelievably, G-20 Meeting was Positive!’ — Folha, Brazil
‘I’m Ashamed We’re Even Having This Discussion’
In my introductory post I commented that I would mostly avoid political topics, but this one is too great to ignore. I just finished watching the documentary Torturing Democracy that greatly details our detainee program over the last 7 years. It hits all the points poignantly: the direct authorization from the highest levels; the warnings about legality from both civilian and … [Read more...] about ‘I’m Ashamed We’re Even Having This Discussion’
A Bad Sign For Connecticut Independent Senator Joe Lieberman
President Elect Barack Obama has signaled that his desire for an olive branch to be extended to onetime Democratic and present Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman as Lieberman faces a vote tomorrow by Senate Democrats to decide his partisan political fate. Will he continue to caucus with the Democrats or not -- and will he continue to hold an important chairmanship or be stripped of … [Read more...] about A Bad Sign For Connecticut Independent Senator Joe Lieberman
Obama Coy on 60 Minutes
President-elect Barack Obama drew the highest ratings in years on Sunday night's telecast on CBS's "60 Minutes." He didn't say much we already haven't heard. The only real news between now and his inauguration Jan. 20 will be announcements of his cabinet. There isn't much he could say although the show's producers afforded him the entire broadcast. He's sticking to his "one … [Read more...] about Obama Coy on 60 Minutes
Good Kids Gone Bad
New research indicates that in highly disadvantaged neighborhoods, GPA has a positive correlation with juvenile delinquency. This, to put it mildly, is distressing news, and really throws a kink into how we address the obstacles faced by urban youth. … [Read more...] about Good Kids Gone Bad
Welcome To The Real World, Bill Kristol
Finally, Bill Kristol speaks (some) truth to reality in his New York Times' "George W. Hoover?" The worst financial crisis in almost 80 years has happened on [Bush's] watch. The Bush administration will leave behind probably the most severe recession in at least a quarter-century. Fairly or unfairly, this will be viewed as George Bush’s economic meltdown. But, … [Read more...] about Welcome To The Real World, Bill Kristol
Don’t Bailout The Big 3 (Guest Voice Interview)
Should the automakers be bailed out or not? In this Guest Voice interview, columnist Bill Steigerwald interviews Dan Ikenson, associate director of the Cato Institute’s Center for Trade Policy Studies, who says no. Guest Voice posts do not necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV or its writers. Don't Bailout The Big 3 by Bill Steigerwald Is the impending collapse of … [Read more...] about Don’t Bailout The Big 3 (Guest Voice Interview)
Obama Interview Gives ’60 Minutes’ Best High Ratings In 9 Years
It still wasn't as big an attraction as football, but CBS' 60 Minutes interview with President Elect Barack Obama got monster ratings and was the best audience the usually high-rated show has gotten in 9 years: Barack Obama's first televised post-election interview gave Sunday night's "60 Minutes" its biggest audience in at least nine years. The CBS News program was … [Read more...] about Obama Interview Gives ’60 Minutes’ Best High Ratings In 9 Years
Variables Working Against a Republican Revival
Recent reports of the GOP’s death may be exaggerated. As one TMV reader put it: … I think it's too early to write the Republicans off. Zell Miller thought he was writing the obituary of the Democrats a few years ago, and boy, was he wrong. But Republican pollster Frank Luntz is not so sure. He has predicted that today’s GOP leaders won’t have three election cycles -- … [Read more...] about Variables Working Against a Republican Revival
Which Language Do You Dream In?
(It has been a rough-and-tumble political season. Nerves are raw. Perhaps it’s time to dream a little bit.) It doesn’t happen that often any more, but there are still times when my English-born wife gently---sometimes not so gently---awakens me in the middle of the night to tell me that I have been talking in my sleep again…in Spanish. Invariably, she will ask me in the … [Read more...] about Which Language Do You Dream In?
More on Outliers: The Story of Success
Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers: The Story of Success is now out and Gladwell himself has been out and about chatting it up... The Guardian notes his timing is good: He is publishing his book at the moment when the destructive disjunction between effort and reward that has dominated the last decade or so - the criminal nonsense of the city bonus economy - is for the first time … [Read more...] about More on Outliers: The Story of Success
Celebrity Fires Consume the Media (Guest Voice)
The big news in California is that fires continue to burn -- and could burn for days. (On a personal note, a show I was supposed to do yesterday was cancelled due to the fires but it would have been iffy getting to the location anyway since some roads near L.A. were closed). Cagle Cartoons owner Daryl Cagle lives in one of the areas impacted by the fires. In this Guest Voice he … [Read more...] about Celebrity Fires Consume the Media (Guest Voice)
Rediscovering America
Michael Kountouris, Greece … [Read more...] about Rediscovering America
Remembering the “Heidi Bowl”
Today is an anniversary which often passes without notice, but in true American style, we should honor it here lest we ever forget. Forty years ago today, on Nov. 17, 1968, the New York Jets were barely leading in a pitched battle with the Oakland Raiders, hanging on to a slim 32-29 lead. There was still 65 seconds left on the game clock, but NBC television executives were … [Read more...] about Remembering the “Heidi Bowl”
What Kind Of Transition Will We Have?
As we move beyond Election Day and President-Elect Obama prepares his transition, the question remains what kind of transition it will be. A look at past history is not particularly encouraging. In 1993 when President-Elect Clinton came into office, the Republican leaders in Congress were marginally polite but did little to back up pledges of bipartisanship. Within a few weeks … [Read more...] about What Kind Of Transition Will We Have?
Little Iraqi Madonna: What Reality the News Media Suppresses When It Only Says “15 People Killed by Car Bomb Outside of Baghdad, November 16, 2008”
The innocent; the children, the old people, the young policemen lying in their own blood, the relatives made instantly insane with grief. Seeing/ knowing of these events, I'd like to humbly suggest an exhortation for us all. The exhortation starts with "Never never never never ever ever ever ..." then, you please personally fill in the blank with whatever will preserve your … [Read more...] about Little Iraqi Madonna: What Reality the News Media Suppresses When It Only Says “15 People Killed by Car Bomb Outside of Baghdad, November 16, 2008”
Obama After Football: Will Close Guantanamo, Break the Addiction to Oil
Delayed 30 minutes on the east coast by the confused ending of the Pittsburgh-San Diego game (the only 11-10 score in NFL history), the first post-election interview of Barack and Michelle Obama aired on 60 Minutes. On the economy Obama said "for the auto industry to completely collapse would be a disaster" but assistance "can't be a blank check." He was generous … [Read more...] about Obama After Football: Will Close Guantanamo, Break the Addiction to Oil