When you read this you think, somewhere out there there is a lawyer who is drooling: Staff members of an elementary school [in MURFREESBORO, Tennessee] staged a fictitious gun attack on students during a class trip, telling them it was not a drill as the children cried and hid under tables. As someone who does a lot of programs in schools, I can attest to how kids … [Read more...] about Teachers Scare Students In Gunman Attack Drill
Daimler Takes a Bath; Chrysler Gets a Break
I’m a car guy. This means I like cars, I like to work on cars, I like reading about cars and am heartbroken at the mess the Big Three automakers have made of their product lines. So from my perspective, the news the DaimlerChrysler is shedding its lemon Chrysler unit for 7.4 billion large – a fraction of what it paid nine years ago -- to Cerberus Capital Management is not … [Read more...] about Daimler Takes a Bath; Chrysler Gets a Break
UK’s Channel 4: Gitmo Torture Handbook
A disturbing Britain's Channel 4 documentary "gives the viewer some idea of what life is like for those held captive in the Guantánamo Bay gulag," says "The Left End of the Dial v2.0". "Suffice it to say, the video footage will be very disturbing. Definitely for mature audiences." To see the video click here... Is their a way out of this seemingly unending spiral of … [Read more...] about UK’s Channel 4: Gitmo Torture Handbook
Iraq: The Here, The Now and The Afterwards
As turning points go, last week was a humdinger. There was the sight of all the rats -- congressfolk and commentators alike -- jumping from the sinking ship that is the Bush administration's Iraq war policy, the pleas from the president and his enablers to stay the course drowned out by the clamor for the lifeboats. With the ship taking on major water and the lifeboats … [Read more...] about Iraq: The Here, The Now and The Afterwards
Am I Writing Too Much On India & Pakistan?
(In India we say 'Namasté' --- pronounced 'nah-mah-staey' --- often. What does it mean? Namasté or Namaskar (from Sanskrit namah te) is a South Asian greeting that originated in India. It could mean both hello and goodbye...or have a different meaning.) To read more please click here... I have completed one year of blogging with The Moderate Voice (TMV), and have … [Read more...] about Am I Writing Too Much On India & Pakistan?
Texas Law Bans Renting To Illegal Immigrants
You can tell the issues of immigration control (stemming the flow at the border) and immigration reform (what to do about the illegal immigrants who are already) are percolating by this tidbit: Voters in this Dallas suburb became the first in the nation Saturday to prohibit landlords from renting to most illegal immigrants. The ban was approved by a vote of 68 … [Read more...] about Texas Law Bans Renting To Illegal Immigrants
Classic Comedy: Charlie Chaplin’s Table Ballet
From Charlie Chaplin's film The Gold Rush, his famous "table ballet" where French rolls take on a special grace: … [Read more...] about Classic Comedy: Charlie Chaplin’s Table Ballet
This Just In!!!
THIS JUST IN from investigative reporter Andy Borowitz: Giuliani Challenges Himself to Debate Hopes to Clarify Position on Abortion In a bold strategy aimed at clarifying his position on the abortion issue, former New York mayor and G.O.P. presidential hopeful Rudolph Giuliani today challenged himself to a televised debate. The debate, to be moderated by MSNBC’s Chris … [Read more...] about This Just In!!!
Paul Bremer: “I Am Not A Punching Bag”
Mr L. Paul Bremer - the US presidential envoy to Iraq and administrator (CEO) of the Coalition Provisional Authority from May 2003 to June 2004 - has written an interesting article defending his decisions in the fateful days that followed the overthrowing of the Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq by the US-led forces. Bremer writes in The Washington Post: "I've grown weary of … [Read more...] about Paul Bremer: “I Am Not A Punching Bag”
Asra Q. Nomani: An Indo-American Islamic Feminist’s Saga
Ms Asra Q. Nomani is a rare being, almost an endangered species: an Islamic feminist who takes recourse to the scriptures of the religion, the traditions of Prophet Mohammed and the Holy Quran to vindicate her stand, reports The Hindu. "A single, unwed mother, she has organised the first woman-led mixed gender prayers in Islamic history since the 7th Century. Against … [Read more...] about Asra Q. Nomani: An Indo-American Islamic Feminist’s Saga
Nudists Reveal Discounts To Attract Younger Members
Nudist camps are a little behind on their memberships. So they're offering discounts and other programs to attract young people. The AP has this revealing story: Here's the naked truth about nude recreation: The people who practice it aren't getting any younger. To draw 20- and 30-somethings, nudist groups and camps are trying everything from deep discounts on … [Read more...] about Nudists Reveal Discounts To Attract Younger Members
USA’s Two ‘Top Allies’ Exchange Fire
"Come on you two...stop fighting...and I say it from my heart..." A file photo of President Bush flanked by President Musharraf and President Karzai. I wonder what sort of 'War-Against-Terror' is going on with the soldiers of the two top allies of the the United States exchanging fire among themselves across the Pakistan and Afghanistan border and killing and injuring their … [Read more...] about USA’s Two ‘Top Allies’ Exchange Fire
Al Qaeda Says It Captured U.S. Soldiers In Iraq
If this Reuters report proves correct -- and it's critical to remember with these kinds of reports that a report without confirmation is NOT a "solid" report -- then the news from Iraq has just gotten a lot more grim: Thousands of American troops searched on Sunday for three U.S. soldiers missing in Iraq after an ambush in which al Qaeda said it seized "crusader" forces, … [Read more...] about Al Qaeda Says It Captured U.S. Soldiers In Iraq
Happy Mothers’ Day
Patrick Corrigan, The Toronto Star Be sure to read earlier TMV Mothers Day posts: Gold Star Mothers’ Day WHEN A GOOD MOTHER SAILS FROM THIS WORLD: Mother’s Day 2007 … [Read more...] about Happy Mothers’ Day
Pondering Tony Blair
From Mark Daniels:Tony Blair's premiership was wrought ten years ago through clever Clintonian triangulation. Blair told British voters that he represented "new Labour," a left-leaning party no longer wed to a socialist agenda or to the trade unions. As when Bill Clinton won the presidency here in the States in 1992, also in a three-way race, Tony Blair represented a … [Read more...] about Pondering Tony Blair
Timor-Leste Elections: Lessons For US Media & Policy-Makers
The US media's/bloggers' obsession with things/issues American is an old and familiar story. Some say that the US media projected Mr George W. Bush in such a way during the initial stages of Iraq war, that even the US president was led to have faith in his own rhetoric! ...And the rest is history. The first Persian Gulf War in 1990 changed the character and complexion of … [Read more...] about Timor-Leste Elections: Lessons For US Media & Policy-Makers
Gold Star Mothers’ Day
Thanks to TMV, I have corresponded with interesting people from around the world. One is Debi, the mother of a US soldier who was serving in Iraq - I say "was" because, two months ago, her son was killed by an IED. Here is a memorial to her son, Sgt. Emerson N. Brand. Today, many mothers are suffering the ultimate loss. … [Read more...] about Gold Star Mothers’ Day
WHEN A GOOD MOTHER SAILS FROM THIS WORLD: Mother’s Day 2007
On Mother's Day, this libretto excerpt is offered to those who were lucky enough to have had what I call, "a beautiful, imperfectly-perfect mother," but one who too early passed from this world... especially hard when she has been the ground note for her sons and daughters. Some of us did not have a mother we can remember without fear, but that doesn't keep us from recognizing … [Read more...] about WHEN A GOOD MOTHER SAILS FROM THIS WORLD: Mother’s Day 2007
Spanish And French: Cannabis Money ‘Funds Islamist terrorism’
If you thought terrorism was helping the world go to pot, you are right -- but you might also have that a bit reversed: Cannabis smokers are unwittingly funding Islamist extremists linked to terror attacks in Spain, Morocco and Algeria, according to a joint investigation by the Spanish and French secret services. The finding will be seized on both by campaigners for a … [Read more...] about Spanish And French: Cannabis Money ‘Funds Islamist terrorism’
Throat Cancer: The ‘Oral’ Risk
A study revealed a link between oral sex and throat cancer caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), the virus implicated in the majority of cervical cancers, says New Scientist. "People who had one to five oral-sex partners in their lifetime had approximately a doubled risk of throat cancer compared with those who never engaged in this activity - and those with more than five … [Read more...] about Throat Cancer: The ‘Oral’ Risk