Booker Rising (one of TMV's favorite centrist sites) has an intriguing post by Shay who notes in part:Seven men concocted a terrorist plot to "kill all the devils we can" - starting by blowing up Chicago's Sears Tower in the name of Al Qaeda - according to charges in a federal indictment...(That) devil language sounds oh-so-Nation of Islam-ish. Now Arab Muslim jihadists like Al … [Read more...] about The Sears Tower Terrorist Plot: A Racial Tie In? (UPDATED)

"Party unity is important but not as valuable as an open debate about how best to change course." — Hillary Clinton. On reading Joe's post on Hillary Clinton: Democrats Do Not Blindly Follow Like Republicans, I am reminded of my Delhi University days where I was studying for my honours degree in political science in the mid-1960s...the days of Vietnam, flower children, … [Read more...] about “Open Society And Its Enemies” : the US & the World

"Party unity is important but not as valuable as an open debate about how best to change course." — Hillary Clinton. On reading Joe's post on Hillary Clinton: Democrats Do Not Blindly Follow Like Republicans, I am reminded of my Delhi University days where I was studying for my honours degree in political science in the mid-1960s...the days of Vietnam, flower children, … [Read more...] about “Open Society And Its Enemies” : the US & the World

...this is the place to be. (Ironically, yours truly can't be there since he's doing an out-of-state, multi-day event.) … [Read more...] about If You’re Interested In Ventriloquism

Two interesting affirmative action posts over at BlackProf. The first has to do with the upcoming supreme court cases which will test diversity programs in the K-12 system. It seems like a very similar question to what was already resolved in Gratz and Grutter v. Bollinger, but the Court has lost one (barely) pro-AA member (O'Connor) and gained one who is almost definitely … [Read more...] about Black Profs

It sounds as if the Democrats are getting their political message together — by moving towards a message that is less-defensive. One that raises a key concern independent voters have had about the present incarnation of the Republican Party. First, note this from New York Senator Hillary Clinton:One day after suffering a pair of defeats on the Senate floor, Democratic … [Read more...] about Hillary Clinton: Democrats Do Not Blindly Follow Like Republicans

In response to reader emails, here's another great comedian — or, rather, two of the best. If you haven't ever really seen Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy, the most famous comedy team of the early to early-mid 20th century, you're in for a treat. In this short clip posted on You Tube, you find a comedy bit that combines excellent writing, excellent direction, excellent … [Read more...] about Honoring Great Comedians: Laurel & Hardy

In response to reader emails, here's another great comedian — or, rather, two of the best. If you haven't ever really seen Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy, the most famous comedy team of the early to early-mid 20th century, you're in for a treat. In this short clip posted on You Tube, you find a comedy bit that combines excellent writing, excellent direction, excellent … [Read more...] about Honoring Great Comedians: Laurel & Hardy

We'll answer that high up for those who might not have time to read this entire entry:Balderdash. This. And this.And there are clear reasons why. At issue is a fascinating column by Rich Morin in The Washington Post:This is not funny: Jon Stewart and his hit Comedy Central cable show may be poisoning democracy. Two political scientists found that young people who watch … [Read more...] about Is Jon Stewart To Blame For Political Apathy And Voter Cynicism?

Despite great hype from admirers and expectations from people who weren't his foes or supporters, White House Press spokesman Tony Snow is not presenting the kind of slick, convincing image (for nonpartisans) for President George W. Bush and his administration that many thought he would present. He still seems somewhat tentative in his new role. Watch THIS CLIP and put aside … [Read more...] about White House Press Spokesman Tony Snow Becomes Tony Slush

Sean Aqui doesn't think so, but he has the same concerns I do...This program, created as a temporary, emergency measure right after 9/11, is becoming entrenched as a permanent tool. If this is going to be a long-term effort, then the program needs to ensure that it takes careful care of individual rights.And passages like these from the Wash Post give me little … [Read more...] about Bank Record Surveillance As Bad As Phone Taps?

Harriet the tortoise, one of the oldest animals in the world who some claim was studied by the pioneering 19th century naturalist Charles Darwin, has died in Australia at 175 years of age, reports The Times. "Harriet, who was originally mistaken for a male tortoise and called Harry for more than a century, was named the world’s oldest living animal in the Guiness Book of … [Read more...] about Harriet : World’s Oldest Animal Passes Away

MSNBC & CNN: The White House has announced the resignation of Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, who is the only Democrat in GWB's Cabinet. AP coverage According to the USDOT:Norman Y. Mineta is the longest serving Secretary in the history of the U.S. Department of Transportation, becoming the 14th Secretary of Transportation on January 25, 2001. He was also the … [Read more...] about Norman Mineta Has Stepped Down

It sounds like a classic game of "hide that money" so the voters don't find out. And it sounds like just one more, political pol. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution:Casino-owning Indian tribes filtered more than $5 million through a series of corporations to satisfy what they said were Ralph Reed's political concerns that he would be linked to the cash, a Senate committee … [Read more...] about Senate Reports Says Abramoff Group Paid Ralph Reed $5 Million

This was a surprise choice! And there has been a mixed response to India's nominee Shashi Tharoor, senior U.N. official and author, to succeed Kofi Annan when the latter's 10-year term as United Nations secretary-general ends in December this year. However, the US administration does not seem averse to his candidature (in fact Tharoor enjoys "a greatest regard"). Tharoor, 50, … [Read more...] about Shashi Tharoor : India’s Nominee For the Post of Chief of the United Nations

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has attacked the US, Britain and other nations - who have forces in his country - not only for the high number of civilian deaths, but also for overlooking the effective propaganda machinery that has been built up by the Taliban in Afghanistan. The Independent reports that the Taliban now have three different press spokesmen covering three … [Read more...] about Taliban’s Hi-Tech Propaganda Leaves Afghan President Karzai Exasperated

While the Japanese government hopes it can curb the falling birthrate by offering families more financial assistance, a health expert says it is lack of sex, not income, that lies at the root of the country's population problem, reports Japan Times. Kunio Kitamura, executive director of Japan Family Planning Association Inc., an entity under the Ministry of Health, Labor and … [Read more...] about All Work No Play Makes Japanese…

The National Science Foundation commissioned a study on Hurricane Katrina. The question being asked? Did global warming have any effect on the strength of the storm? Here's an excerpt of the release from the group that conducted the study, the National Center for Atmospheric Research:Global warming does not guarantee that each year will set records for hurricanes, according to … [Read more...] about Global Warming, Hurricane Katrina and the National Science Foundation

Hold onto yours. You'll make a fortune. … [Read more...] about Good News For William Shatner

...especially in China. … [Read more...] about Graduation Can Be A Riot