Dr Barnett comments on the damage created by our ag subsidies.Our ag subsidies are destroying agriculture in Africa, scattering farm families. The myth that ag subsidies protect the "family farm" here in America is absurd beyond words. Those farms, to the extent they still exist, receive only a tiny fraction of such subsidies, the vast bulk of which go to huge farms and ag … [Read more...] about Missed Opportunity in Agricultural Subsidies

As excerpted by The Brussels Journal, Tony Blair labels the Koran "progressive," "inclusive," "practical and far ahead of its time." Take that, Dennis Prager. As and if you have time, the full text of Blair's article in Foreign Affairs is a worthwhile, fascinating read. Cross-posted at Central Sanity. … [Read more...] about Blair vs. Prager

Belarus plays the ball back into Russia's court. That is the problem with inter-dependency. You're, you know, inter-dependent. … [Read more...] about Belarus and Putin

I say something nice (seriously nice, not backhanded compliments) about five major Republican presidential contenders. This is an open challenge for all blogs to do the same for the prominent figures of the party they don't support. … [Read more...] about Play Nice

NOW they tell us:A common parasite can increase a women's attractiveness to the opposite sex but also make men more stupid, an Australian researcher says.And all the time I thought it was more than a dozen beers. That also explains the theory that God used a rib from man to create woman, because he couldn't find a brain. MORE:About 40 per cent of the world's population is … [Read more...] about So This Explains It

Our famous linkfest offering you links to sites with MANY different viewpoints. Links do not necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV or its cobloggers. Women In Combat? A Good Idea Or A Rotten One? Apparently some object to it and some of the arguments being used are labeled "sexist." Read this. There Are Fears Among Some That The Democrats Will Give Up Championing Abortion … [Read more...] about Around The Sphere December 28, 2006

Wonkette has excerpts from a graphic novel by the NRA, entitled "Freedom In Peril: Guarding the 2nd Amendment in the 21st Century," that really has to be seen to be believed. Oh. My God. … [Read more...] about Blacks, Lesbians, and Hippies, Oh My!

Animal Rights isn't a new issue. In fact, it goes way back. Here's a 1936 Betty Boop cartoon via You Tube called "Be Human" that would never be produced and shown to kids or families today. It depects a sadistic person beating an animal and a human getting his sadistic payoff at the end. But the underlying message is a good one. Before yours truly had this blog, I did some … [Read more...] about “Be Human”: An Early Animal Rights Cartoon

Add the late President Gerald Ford to the list of those who disagreed with President George Bush's invasion of Iraq — the news coming via the release by reporter Bob Woodward of an embargoed interview:Former president Gerald R. Ford said in an embargoed interview in July 2004 that the Iraq war was not justified. "I don't think I would have gone to war," he said a little … [Read more...] about Gerald Ford Didn’t Agree With Bush’s Invasion Of Iraq

Listen to the Annual New Year's Show by the Capitol Steps on NPR stations - it's being broadcast between the 29th and the 1st on these radio stations. … [Read more...] about The Capitol Steps: Politics Takes a Holiday

Did you know that the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy has a (rather in depth) entry on "Zombies"? I approve. … [Read more...] about Zombies Ate My Neighbors!

Thoughts on a New York Times article. Also, on somewhat of a tangent, was I the only one who noticed that the Ethiopian air forced bombed the Somalian capital's airport? They said that it was to prevent resupply of the Islamist militia's from abroad, but since the airport is a dual-use target, it also effectively closed down all civilian air traffic into and out of … [Read more...] about New Settlement ( ?) Rocket Attack on Israeli Teenagers

Some attention to a few centrist blogs: The Ambivablog on (former) college kids moving back in with their parents, who are called 'boomerangs' by some:Actually, most non-U.S. young people I know live with their parents until they marry (and forever if they never marry), and near them afterwards. Looked at from that perspective — and from the perspective of the rending … [Read more...] about Center of Attention

Over at The Reaction, Capt. Fogg looks at how the government is going too far to restrict our freedoms in the name of safety and security -- specifically with respect to the enforcement of traffic rules. If driving is just a privilege, with police on patrol at all times in search of infractions, are we not becoming a police state? Perhaps there is common ground for liberals … [Read more...] about Thoughts on the new “liberaltarianism”

Recognizing both the lack of substance and assault on the U.S. Constitution that are embedded in Dennis Prager’s evolving argument about holy books and swearing-in ceremonies, I once promised to let the subject go. Unfortunately, Mr. Prager declines to reciprocate, compelling me to bring the subject out of retirement. He’s at it again today, claiming that the “culture … [Read more...] about Of Prager and Priorities

A Win-Win U.S. Strategy for Dealing with Iran Iran is trying to get nuclear weapons as fast as they can while Russia and China have their back for various reasons. Military action by us would be difficult and probably alienate our allies both in and outside of Iran. So here is an alternate strategy from some folks at the Hoover Institution at Stanford.We need a new approach. … [Read more...] about A Win-Win U.S. Strategy for Dealing with Iran

Rhymes with Right This links to a post on a Conservative Blog regarding a Washington Post article about apparent self dealing among Rep. Murtha, Military Donors, and Non Profit Organizations. If the Dems want to take the high ground on ethics then they need to be prepared for a bumpy ride. Perhaps a few high profile catches will persuade the voters that the Dems are serious … [Read more...] about Murtha’s Questionable Financial Arrangements?

His last 30 days:An Iraqi appeals court on Tuesday upheld the death sentence against Saddam Hussein and ruled that the man whose brutal reign began in 1979 and ended with the American-led invasion in 2003 must go to the gallows within 30 days. It was the court of last resort for Mr. Hussein, who received his death sentence on Nov. 5 from the Iraqi High Tribunal, a court set up … [Read more...] about Bye Bye

Iran has some difficulty with its oil production. Who does Iran 'blame'?Oil Minister Kazem Vaziri Hamaneh has lamented that the development of Iran's oil industry was suffering from US pressure. "Iran has been under different sanctions for years and many companies have not been able to cooperate with our country for fear of US pressures," Vaziri Hamaneh said, according to the … [Read more...] about Iran Blames the U.S. for Oil Troubles

Immigrants from way back when Michael Linn Jones wrote an interesting article at the Gun Toting Liberal about assimilation:Assimilating; the act of blending into, is reversed in a bizarre mirroring of what normally accompanies large influxes of people. Instead of learning the native language and culure, it’s the other way around. The native population, which includes those … [Read more...] about Assimilation