The AP reports (via Yahoo) that the British government says that a radioactive substance killed Alexander Litvinenko.The Health Protection Agency said the radioactive element polonium-210, which is extremely hard to detect, had been found in Litvinenko's urine. [...] The agency's chief executive, Pat Troop, said that the high level indicated Litvinenko "would either have to … [Read more...] about Radioactive Substance Killed Alexander Litvinenko

Looking back, I've been rather hard on Nancy Pelosi lately, criticizing her support for Jack Murtha and her opposition to Jane Harman, but I want to stress that I still welcome her speakership and support her leadership enthusiastically. Indeed, despite these two high-profile personnel missteps, I think she's already doing an exceptional job. As The Boston Globe reported the … [Read more...] about Pelosi at the helm

An interesting, encouraging and inspiring article over at Reuters: "He has a pulse!" the Palestinian medic shouted above the sound of sirens and explosions as he and three colleagues tended to the motionless figure on the floor. The exercise, in an Israeli hospital, was a dress rehearsal for more than a dozen medics and doctors from the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip, … [Read more...] about Helping Each Other

So you know how McCain has been trying to prove his conservative bona fides lately, running to the right on such issues as same-sex marriage and abortion? And you know how McCain and Giuliani, both of whom have already initiated campaigns for the White House, seem to be the frontrunners for the '08 Republican presidential nomination? Well, Romney, whom I think will turn out to … [Read more...] about Yet another Republican pissing contest

It's interesting to see how within a month a major assumption of American politics has changed. It has been turned not on its heels, but on its center... Just four weeks ago it was still assumed that Karl Rove's "mobilization election" strategies were the way to go. In the 21st century, it was suggested, independent voters were oh, so 20th century and the REAL way to victory … [Read more...] about Those Pesky Centrists, Moderates And Independents

Centrist's Default Mix is a wonderful website which most of the readers of this blog will greatly appreciate: it links to posts from / at several center blogs (like Middle Earth Journal Booker Rising, Austin Centrist and The Moderate Voice) and is updated continuously. Just a tip... … [Read more...] about Tip

More and more sectarian violence in Iraq. Sects taking revenge on each other and, thus, causing the situation to escalate H/t to commenter Rudi. The Seattle Times reports that Iraqi soldiers did nothing to prevent Shiite militiamen from burning six Sunnis alive.Shiite militiamen grabbed six Sunnis as they left worship services today, doused them with kerosene and burned them … [Read more...] about Shiite Militiamen Burn 6 Sunnis Alive

How's this for a modest proposal? Move Thanksgiving to a day earlier in the fall, perhaps sometime in early November. … [Read more...] about Bad timing for turkey

Tsar Putin seems to be dedicated to helping Iran develop itselt into the regional power, with a relatively strong and possibly nuclear armed military:Russia has begun deliveries of the Tor-M1 air defence rocket system to Iran, Russian news agencies quoted military industry sources as saying, in the latest sign of a Russian-US rift over Iran. "Deliveries of the Tor-M1 have … [Read more...] about Tsar Putin’s Foreign Policy

Progress on what? On rape:The upper house of Pakistan's parliament has backed a bill amending an Islamic law on rape and adultery. Until now rape cases have been dealt with in Sharia courts. Victims had to have four male witnesses to the crime — or else face prosecution for adultery. The new law, which must be approved by Pakistani leader Gen Pervez Musharraf, allows … [Read more...] about A sign of progress in Pakistan

The sectarian violence in Iraq is increasing more and more:Two bombs killed 22 people in northern Iraq on Friday as the government tried to tamp down violence and head off civil war a day after Sunni-Arab insurgents killed 215 people in an attack on Baghdad's Sadr City slum that intensified Shiite anger at the United States. The blasts in Tal Afar, 260 miles northwest of … [Read more...] about More Sectarian Violence In Iraq

At first blush, it seems a little extreme to compare a leading institution of higher learning to a Mafia family, but that is exactly what the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey has become. While no one was looking, New Jersey wrested the Most Corrupt State title from Louisiana. Its love affair with bribes, kickbacks and influence peddling can be attested to by … [Read more...] about The Biggest Organized Crime Family in New Jersey

Here's one argument about why it won't. … [Read more...] about Will Sending More Troops To Iraq Help?

While I have long admired Bill Roggio for being one of the very few people reporting on Iraq and Afghanistan to have the cojones to go there and keep going back, he used to piss me off because he took the long view that the U.S. mission in both countries would prevail when I saw evidence to the contrary. Well, Roggio is bowed but not broken, to turn around the familiar phrase. … [Read more...] about Iraq: Good News From Anbar, But Can It Last?

There will some fine tuning here at TMV over the next 14 months and here's the first: we welcome Shaun Mullen as our latest coblogger. He started a shining jewel of a blog about a year ago called Kiko's House. And we found that we were constantly linking to him because his content was so good. Also, he was clearly an independent thinker — passionate on issues, but not … [Read more...] about TMV Welcomes A New Coblogger

...and then there is this: … [Read more...] about There Are Lip Syncs And Then There Are Lip Syncs

Isn't it time for President George Bush to look into Russian President Vladimir Putin's eyes again?Former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko has died in hospital three weeks after apparently being poisoned in London. University College Hospital, London, said Mr Litvinenko, 43, died at 2121 GMT on Thursday and the cause of his condition was still being investigated. Friends have … [Read more...] about Litvinenko Dies: Another Putin Foe Meets An Untimely End

Wild turkeys try to escape out of New Jersey: Two comments:Doesn't everyone? Are you sure this isn't members of Congress going home for the holidays? … [Read more...] about Turkeys Try To Escape Out Of New Jersey

The heated debate in Europe and elsewhere goes on. … [Read more...] about Muslim Women And The Veil

Hopefully not. … [Read more...] about Did You Forget Yesterday’s Anniversary?