The Associated Press reports that a day after approving a medal claiming that former NFL player Pat Tillman had been cut down by “devastating enemy fire†in Afghanistan, Lieutenant General Stanley McChrystal tried to warn President Bush that the story might not be true. AP reporters Scott Lindlaw and Martha Mendoza, who have been all over the cover-up story, say that in … [Read more...] about An Update on the Pat Tillman Cover-Up
R&R Fest: Fun For the Whole Family
Bela Fleck & The Flecktones If you're within an easy drive of the lovely Rhode Island coast and don't have plans for the Labor Day weekend, consider dropping in on the 10th annual Rhythm & Roots Festival at Ninigret Park near Charlestown. I'm not in the habit of endorsing events, but the R&R Festival has become an annual sojourn for the DF&C and I because: * Its … [Read more...] about R&R Fest: Fun For the Whole Family
Substance
Paul Krugman writes: Two presidential elections ago, the conventional wisdom said that George W. Bush was a likable, honest fellow. But those of us who actually analyzed what he was saying about policy came to a different conclusion — namely, that he was irresponsible and deeply dishonest. His numbers didn’t add up, and in his speeches he simply lied about the content of … [Read more...] about Substance
Some Christians THESE Parents Are!
What a travesty! Indianapolis Star: Brett Conrad spent more than half his life as Patrick Atkins' partner. For 25 years, the men shared bank accounts, apartments and eventually a home in Fishers. But when Atkins, 47, fell seriously ill in 2005, Conrad faced what many gay Hoosiers consider a travesty: no law guaranteeing them the same rights as married couples to … [Read more...] about Some Christians THESE Parents Are!
What’s a Weapon or Two
I am aware that Joe already posted about this news, but I thought it might be of interest to offer a somewhat different perspective. It is news like this that gives me a severe headache: The Pentagon has lost track of about 190,000 AK-47 assault rifles and pistols given to Iraqi security forces in 2004 and 2005, according to a new government report, raising fears that some … [Read more...] about What’s a Weapon or Two
Relationships
Robert Charest wrote a book on relationships. As some of you will know, it is incredibly difficult to get your book (once you have finished the task of writing it) published and to get it sold in stores. That is why Robert has decided to offer his book (for sale) online first. The description: "This book is a guide to provide help with relationships. It provides a simple way to … [Read more...] about Relationships
Mitt Romney Still Has To Battle To Defend His Faith (UPDATED)
The following statement is not coming from someone who is a Mitt Romney supporter: There truly is an element of the 1960 Presidential campaign when Senator John F. Kennedy had to battle stereotypes and downright bigotry about his Catholicism in what former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is now going through in having to explain and defend his faith -- to Republicans. … [Read more...] about Mitt Romney Still Has To Battle To Defend His Faith (UPDATED)
Some Bloggers Want To Form A Bloggers’ Labor Union
In a way, you just knew this had to happen: In a move that might make some people scratch their heads, a loosely formed coalition of left-leaning bloggers are trying to band together to form a labor union they hope will help them receive health insurance, conduct collective bargaining or even set professional standards. The effort is an extension of the blogosphere's … [Read more...] about Some Bloggers Want To Form A Bloggers’ Labor Union
Covering up the Tillman Cover-up
Mike Wolverton, Cagle Cartoons … [Read more...] about Covering up the Tillman Cover-up
Shinichi’s Trike & The Lessons of War
Shinichi Tetsutani loved to ride his beloved tricycle outside his house in Higashi-Hakushima-Cho, a neighborhood in the Japanese port city of Hiroshima. Shin-chan, as his family called the three-year-old, was doing just that on the morning of August 6, 1945, when there was a brilliant flash in the sky. Shin was about a quarter mile from the hypocenter of the detonation of … [Read more...] about Shinichi’s Trike & The Lessons of War
30 Percent of U.S. Weapons Given To Iraq Unaccounted For
So how do the insurgents get their guns? It now seems as if one way is...from guns given to Iraq by the United States: The Pentagon has lost track of about 190,000 AK-47 assault rifles and pistols given to Iraqi security forces in 2004 and 2005, according to a new government report, raising fears that some of those weapons have fallen into the hands of insurgents … [Read more...] about 30 Percent of U.S. Weapons Given To Iraq Unaccounted For
Our Hometown: The News Couldn’t Be Weirder or Sweeter
Is your hometown like mine? Strange and sweet in its profound oddities? Perhaps you remember the piece I wrote on TMV a few weeks ago that was big news in my hometown newspaper ... it was about the man in the wheelchair who was at a gas station just across the road from where I grew up. He wheeled himself in front of an idling 18 wheeler rig whose driver did not realize … [Read more...] about Our Hometown: The News Couldn’t Be Weirder or Sweeter
Guest Poet: August in Baghdad
And now another gem from TMV's favorite artist of verse, Michael Silverstein, aka Wall Street Poet: August in Baghdad By Michael Silverstein August in Baghdad, the air's like an oven, The parliament's shut down, it's too hot to govern; The people who claim to be running this nation, Have packed up their bags and gone off on vacation. They haven't, of course, left … [Read more...] about Guest Poet: August in Baghdad
Hillary Cleavage
Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com … [Read more...] about Hillary Cleavage
Center of Attention
A round up of recent posts by a few centrist, moderate, and independent bloggers. Nancy Hanks joins the ranks of those disaffected with Kos. Daniel DiRito comments on the "militant," "repulsive" approach of so-called Christians who "treat homosexuals as second class citizens." Dave Schuler addresses "the bottom line on health care." Money quote: The only force that … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
Covering the Super-Healthy Only
If Bill Clinton, Dick Cheney or Chief Justice John Roberts applied for private health insurance, they wouldn’t get it. Neither would Michael Moore for his obesity or Arnold Schwarzenegger, who went to the hospital in 2005 for rapid heartbeats. An organization called the Medical Information Bureau would take a quick look at their histories and tell 470 companies they are … [Read more...] about Covering the Super-Healthy Only
Ron Paul Blasts Iraq War During GOP Debate
Ron Paul doesn't generally come across very strongly at the GOP debates with his soft spoken voice and almost grandfatherly demeanor. But during last night's debate, he seemed pretty animated in his harsh criticism—not only of the war—but of those in favor of perpetuating it. Mitt Romney's response: Has he forgotten about 9/11? … [Read more...] about Ron Paul Blasts Iraq War During GOP Debate
Türkiye Sen Çok Güzelsin
Izmir: clock tower. Again: I made photographs of Izmir myself, but not on a digital camera. On July 14 I arrived - for the second time - in Turkey. Turkey has become somewhat of a second fatherland for me. I feel right at home, comfortable and at ease. In fact, when I visited Turkey for the first time back in April I fell in love with the country immediately. The city I … [Read more...] about Türkiye Sen Çok Güzelsin
Harnessing the Wind
The power company responsible for much of the Boston area, NSTAR, recently announced that beginning in January (pending approval by state regulators), 1.1 million customers in Boston and beyond will be able to sign up for NSTAR Green and buy half or all of their "power directly from a wind farm in upstate New York and a second under development in Maine." A report in the … [Read more...] about Harnessing the Wind
Are Democrats Enabling Bush Administration “Radicalism?”
Salon's Glenn Greenwald comes out and flatly states what some Bush administration critics have said less diplomatically: if the Bush administration is more "radical" than conservative, some Congressional Democrats have played a huge role in helping it achieve its goals: It is staggering, and truly disgusting, that even in August, 2007 -- almost six years removed from the … [Read more...] about Are Democrats Enabling Bush Administration “Radicalism?”