Given my generally pro-Israeli sentiments — with reservations, of course — this is one case where I agree wholeheartedly (well, almost) with the U.S. and find the U.N. to be, as some find it often to be, an apologist for terrorism and authoritarianism. From the AP: The United States blocked an Arab-backed resolution Thursday that would have demanded Israel halt its … [Read more...] about Two and a half cheers for the United States

David Twersky, writing in the New York Sun, asks whether the events now unfolding in the middle-east signal the beginning of the war on Iran:The war with Iran has begun. Just last Friday, Iranian President Ahmadinejad warned that Israel's return to Gaza could lead to an "explosion" in the Islamic world that would target Israel and its supporters in the West. "They should not … [Read more...] about Has The War On Iran Begun?

Some readers have sent emails asking why TMV isn't posting. As we've explained he is out of pocket...and a few hours earlier felt he was almost in the grave. This is written from Jefferson, Iowa, where TMV in his other incarnation will be doing shows at a county fair. The trip began VERY early in San Diego, going to the airport to catch the connecting flight to Minneapolis. … [Read more...] about I’m Lucky To Be Posting This At All

Israelly Cool has the scoop on-site in Israel. Spectacular coverage. … [Read more...] about Live Blogging The Middle East

...and the corollary, a break from those who think that Zionists want to slaughter the world. A no-duh moment. Pete Coors, head of the Coors Brewing Company, arrested for Drunk Driving. … [Read more...] about …Because I Need a Break From Watching The World Collapse

Two stellar posts on the brewing conflict over at Obsidian Wings. New blogger Andrew writes in his piece, "War Without End": I am left wondering just what it is Israel hopes to accomplish with these strikes. I do not mean that they are morally wrong to do so; both Hezbollah and Hamas have been in a state of war with Israel since it came into existence, so Israel has every … [Read more...] about Sense and Sensibility on Israel/Lebanon/Palestine

Cross-posted to Random Fate. --- The Wall Street Journal (posted online at OpinionJournal.com) betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of the concept of the rule of law in an editorial on the recent ruling by the Supreme Court on the applicability of part of the Geneva Conventions to the prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay by the United States. In the editorial Osama in … [Read more...] about Guantanamo, the Supreme Court, and the rule of law

One may well believe that Israel's response to these appalling crimes by Hamas and Hezbollah is disproportionate to the offense. But while it may not be wise to respond in this manner, it is impossible to say that it is unjust. … [Read more...] about And War Begins

Mid-Summer Midterm Madness: A fresh look at 2006's House 'bubble battles' July 13, 2006 - Yes, we know college basketball is a distant memory by now from the perspective of these hot summer months, but looking at the list of potentially competitive races beyond those listed in our Dirty Thirty, we can't help but be reminded of the perennial spectacle of bracket selection. Much … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball – a Twofer!

That's what Amba says, as does Winds of Change contributor AMac. Putting facts above partisanship. Gotta love it. Read more here. … [Read more...] about SWIFT Secrets Are Safe

(click on image to enlarge) A glimpse into the Mumbai's dramatic fight back to normalcy. On Wednesday, a journalist from the BBC's London office called up Western Railway's Chief Public Relation Officer Pranay Prabhakar and asked, "How did you restore your railway in four hours (after seven blasts on seven trains). Last year, when there were two blasts in London, it took us … [Read more...] about It Is Back To Business In Bombay (or Mumbai)

Imagine the Police taking such an action in the USA or India??? This can happen only in Britain (maybe at times in Japan!) Lord Levy, the Labour Party's chief fundraiser, was arrested yesterday by police investigating the "cash for peerages" scandal - a humiliating blow for Tony Blair, reports The Independent. "Scotland Yard's Specialist Crime Directorate, led by Deputy … [Read more...] about Tony Blair In Fresh Trouble?

(click on photo to enlarge - courtesy The Project Gutenberg EBook) Like Joe, I am also travelling...but in Western India on a Press Institute of India and World Bank assignment for journalists. However, I have some spare time so could not resist the temptation of responding to Rep. John Murtha's statement, considered by some as "provocative". The Pennsylvania Democrat said … [Read more...] about Fight Against Terror : Of Soldiers, Terrorists & Ordinary Folks

(click on photo to enlarge - courtesy The Project Gutenberg EBook) Like Joe, I am also travelling...but in Western India on a Press Institute of India and World Bank assignment for journalists. However, I have some spare time so could not resist the temptation of responding to Rep. John Murtha's statement, considered by some as "provocative". The Pennsylvania Democrat said … [Read more...] about Fight Against Terror : Of Soldiers, Terrorists & Ordinary Folks

Here are two moving and heart-warming write-ups I came across during the past two days following Mumbai (India) killer explosions. These 'letters' deserve our attention for the simple reason that they are so different from the cries emerging thousands of miles away wanting 'vendetta', 'eye for an eye', etc, from people (including bloggers) who claim they are the most 'sane … [Read more...] about Open Letter to Terrorists in Mumbai … From A Bombay Girl

No this isn't dating myself. I barely remember this show (I was in kindergarten and remember my parents watching it). But if you LOVE and STUDY comedy as I do here is a comedy gem. A lot of people think irony, satire and musical take-offs began with Saturday Live or Weird Al. Not quite. Here's a 1955 clip showing Sid Caesar and a couple of well-known colleagues (guess?) doing … [Read more...] about Comedy Gems: Musical Irony/Satire

If you emailed yours truly with a link or email you have either gotten a very short reply or none...so apologies. The reason is that TMV was gone all day and drove 220 miles in one day. Now, having just returned, it's time to pack to leave the house at 5 a.m. this morning to catch a plane to the mid-west. TMV himself won't be blogging much at all today (if at all). He may be … [Read more...] about Note To Readers, Bloggers, Etc.

I've posted a review of Doris Kearns Goodwin's Team of Rivals here at PhiloBiblos. … [Read more...] about Book Review: “Team of Rivals”

Kos is excited over possibly defeating Ohio Representative "Mean Jean" Schmidt. For those of you who don't remember, Schmidt got her seat after winning a closer than expected race against Paul Hackett ("closer-than-expected" because the Ohio 2nd is one of the reddest in the state). Certainly, I'd shed no tears if Representative Schmidt was to be removed from office. But given … [Read more...] about Ohio-02 Redux

What the politics of hair can teach us about racism. … [Read more...] about Dreading the ‘Locks