Toilet paper manufacturers sometimes come under fire for flimsy one- or two-ply rolls and they used to have to turn the other cheek, but now there's good news for those concerned with the real bottom line: three-ply toilet paper. If two-ply toilet paper is good, then three-ply tissue must be better. At least that's what toilet-paper researchers in northeastern Wisconsin … [Read more...] about Scientific Breakthrough: Three Ply Toilet Paper
Media Alert… Sort Of
For those of you familiar with the writing of James Joyner at Outside the Beltway (among other sources) you may also know that he hosts a weekly radio show on politics. James is on the road this week and I'll be helping to fill in for his show tonight at 7 pm Eastern, 4 pm Pacific Time. So tune in to Outside the Beltway Radio and we'll cover the current topics of the week in … [Read more...] about Media Alert… Sort Of
John McCain And The Economy
Some differing views... … [Read more...] about John McCain And The Economy
Why is Sarah Palin Soft on Child Molesters?
"Sarah Palin's latest explanation for why she fired Walt Monegan," writes TPM Muckraker's Zachary Roch, referring to the Troopergate scandal, "is that he had gone over her head in seeking federal money for an initiative to combat sexual assault crimes, before she had approved the program." Yeah, sure. It's insubordination, it's this, it's always some excuse. But, even if … [Read more...] about Why is Sarah Palin Soft on Child Molesters?
Zogby Gallup Polls: Obama Regains Lead As Voters View McCain As More Negative
Two new polls now show Democratic Presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama slowly on the ascent in his political battle with Republican Sen. John McCain, who had been ahead in both polls. A new Zogby poll has Democratic Presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama regaining the lead in his battle with Republican Sen. John McCain -- in a survey that finds Democrats starting to come … [Read more...] about Zogby Gallup Polls: Obama Regains Lead As Voters View McCain As More Negative
McCain: Witness for the Prosecution
For the 9/11-like Commission he wants to study the Wall Street collapse, John McCain could well be the star witness about failure of government regulation to prevent chaos in the financial industry. His actions as a member of the Keating Five in the 1980s, which the Senate Ethics Committee later labeled "poor judgment," were the start of two decades of McCain opposition to … [Read more...] about McCain: Witness for the Prosecution
Fun With Sticky Notes
And now for something completely different... EepyBird's Sticky Note experiment from Eepybird on Vimeo. A triumph of corporate-sponsored art. But why did the Spectacular Sticky Note Experiment premiere during the ABC Family miniseries Samurai Girl, and why did the show’s stars participate in the antics? “ABC Family was looking to do something innovative to promote … [Read more...] about Fun With Sticky Notes
A Market Observation
The Federal Reserve is bailing out AIG to the tune of $85 billion. Ever wonder where the money to do deals such as this comes from? In this case the bailout will be paid for by a special bond sale by the Treasury to the general public. Or to put this another way, the full faith and credit of the United States of America is being used to raise money to support a company that … [Read more...] about A Market Observation
Obama Takes a Risk with a Two-Minute Economic Ad
In today's political climate, it's a bit of a risk to invest money in a two-minute ad about policy issues. But Obama's latest ad about his economic policy may be just what he needs, precisely because of the serious tone. Viewers may or may not pay attention to the details, but the sober and substantive tone contrasts sharply with the negative, and sometimes silly, ads run by … [Read more...] about Obama Takes a Risk with a Two-Minute Economic Ad
The Winning Ways of Our Lying Pols
Richard Cohen's column in which he goes from lap dog to attack dog, The Ugly McCain, is sweeping through the blogosphere. A snippet: McCain has turned ugly. His dishonesty would be unacceptable in any politician, but McCain has always set his own bar higher than most. He has contempt for most of his colleagues for that very reason: They lie. He tells the truth. He internalizes … [Read more...] about The Winning Ways of Our Lying Pols
GOP And Palin: Lawyering Up And Media Clampdown
Lawyers and media control are now swirling around Republican Vice Presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin, the Associated Press reports: GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is effectively turning over questions about her record as Alaska's governor to John McCain's political campaign, part of an ambitious Republican strategy to limit any embarrassing disclosures … [Read more...] about GOP And Palin: Lawyering Up And Media Clampdown
GOP Tries to Quash Palin Investigation Until After Election
In one of the more blatant moves to keep transparency out of the electoral process seen in some time, a group of Republican lawmakers in Alaska are filing suit to try to stop the abuse of power investigation of Governor Sarah Palin. As with many of the stories coming out of Alaskan politics of late, the cast of characters involved is probably even more interesting than the … [Read more...] about GOP Tries to Quash Palin Investigation Until After Election
Book Review: ‘The Open Road: The Global Journey Of The Fourteenth Dalai Lama’
This review is for Rochelle, my dear departed Buddhist friend Tibet is a land rich not just in history, but also in irony. "The Roof of the World" holds a special place in the popular imagination because of the movie Shangri-La and other gauzy Hollywood treatments, as well as one individual, the Dalai Lama. But those celluloid depictions are fawningly unrealistic, while … [Read more...] about Book Review: ‘The Open Road: The Global Journey Of The Fourteenth Dalai Lama’
An Ecstasy of Ultra Prime-Prime Properties Owned by AIG Worldwide
These are only three of the many... AIG Headquarters, London AIG Headquarters, New York AIG Headquarters, San Diego Wonder how much all the primo real estate owned by AIG is worth. I'd say, billions. … [Read more...] about An Ecstasy of Ultra Prime-Prime Properties Owned by AIG Worldwide
‘How Freddie and Fannie Paid the State to Keep Quiet’: From Le Monde of France
For a French - a very French - persective on the mortgage crisis, I would like to turn your attention to this article by Pierre-Antoine Delhommais of Le Monde. I don't recall seeing anything that explained the somewhat esoteric situation involving Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae with such humor or effectiveness. Delhommais starts out this way: "There's a positive side to … [Read more...] about ‘How Freddie and Fannie Paid the State to Keep Quiet’: From Le Monde of France
Galveston, I See Your Sea Waves Crashing…
This is Galveston in 1900 after a huge hurricane swept through. No telephone system, no television, no internet, no text messaging, no satellites, no weatherscopes. 8000 people died there. More of Galveston after hurricane in the year 1900. No bulldozers, no cranes, no flatbed 18 wheelers, no huge roll-offs, no electricity. It took years to put the city back to a … [Read more...] about Galveston, I See Your Sea Waves Crashing…
After September 11, 2001: A Tragically Lost Opportunity – Novosti of Russia
Can the events that have taken place since the 9-11 attacks help to explain the planet's aversion to Russia's invasion of Georgia's separatist enclaves of South Ossetia and Abkhazia? Apparently so - at least to some of those who live in that nation straddling 11 time zones. For Russia's Novosti News service, Andrei Vavra starts off this way - not unlike the narrative in … [Read more...] about After September 11, 2001: A Tragically Lost Opportunity – Novosti of Russia
Economy VS Terror
Gary McCoy, Cagle Cartoons … [Read more...] about Economy VS Terror
Study: On Teens, Games, & Civic Engagement
Later: MSNBC analysis, "Video games can provide hands-on learning opportunities for kids that can be much more meaningful than reading a textbook." ******* The Pew Internet and American Life Project is out with a new study (pdf) today that finds game playing is universal: 98% of American teens ages 12-17 play some kind of video game. Game playing experiences are diverse, … [Read more...] about Study: On Teens, Games, & Civic Engagement
Schwarzenegger To Veto State Budget (Along With Almost Everything Else)
In the continuing battle over the budget here in California we have now heard from Governor Ahnold who has indicated his intention to veto the budget passed by the legislature last night/early this morning. He also said he would veto 'all other bills' but then backtracked somewhat saying he would veto bills with an impact on spending, which is pretty much everything. I must … [Read more...] about Schwarzenegger To Veto State Budget (Along With Almost Everything Else)