Chimpanzees? That's what the findings of researchers indicate in the recent issue of Science journal. A Reuters story states that researchers who picked up and analyzed wild chimp droppings said they had shown how the AIDS virus originated in wild apes in Cameroon and then spread in humans across Africa and eventually the world. Chimpanzees are great apes that are closely … [Read more...] about Who Was Responsible for Spreading AIDS?

Military investigators have come to a truly sickening conclusion: some members of a Marine-unit with an excellent reputation killed unarmed Iraqi civilians — big and small — and then tried to cover it up, reports The Los Angeles Times' Tony Perry. (Personal note: TMV can personally vouch for the accuracy and objectivity of Tony Perry who was his friend and … [Read more...] about Marines May Face Charges In Unarmed Iraqi Civilian Deaths

According to the New York Times, the Senate voted today to confirm General Michael V. Hayden as CIA Director and GWB's Staff Secretary Brett Kavanaugh as a federal appeals court judge. The Senate also confirmed Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne as Secretary of the Interior. … [Read more...] about Senate Confirms Hayden, Kavanaugh and Kempthorne

When an article appeared in Newsweek magazine with a heading "Poetry Is Dead. Does Anybody Really Care?" some time ago, there was a spirited response. A publisher I once worked for did not say so in so many words but would discreetly point out that it was becoming difficult to find buyers for a book of poems. These thoughts came to my mind when I read the tributes paid to … [Read more...] about Can poetry ever die?

The GOP is running out of taxes to cut. This means they might...have to find an actual governing philosophy! I tremble at the thought. … [Read more...] about Red Alert! Red Alert!

AP: George Galloway shoots off his mouth again May 26, 9:53 AM EDT Galloway: Blair's Death Would Be Justified LONDON (AP) — Maverick British politician George Galloway has said it would be "morally justified" for an assassin to target Prime Minister Tony Blair, but he said he was not advocating an attempt, according to a magazine interview. In comments to GQ … [Read more...] about Osama, Pat Robertson and George Galloway

Report: Capitol Locked Down Shots reported fired at the Rayburn House office building, employees ordered to shelter in place, according to television news reports. CNN: Capitol police investigating reports of sounds of possible shots fired in garage at Rayburn House Office Building. Scene outside Capitol live now on CNN Pipeline. MSNBC: Police say shots fired at House office … [Read more...] about UPDATED: US Capitol Locked Down as Shots Fired

...and beat two of the Democrats' top political figures. … [Read more...] about Poll Shows McCain Would Win Presidency Today

It was debunked by a blogger who deserves to get a LOT of credit for her original reporting. READ THIS. … [Read more...] about More On The Fake Iranian Badges Story

One of the ongoing factoids that has plagued President George Bush for years has been his seeming inability to publicly admit mistakes. Is that due to pride? A refusal to admit he was wrong? Not thinking he was wrong about anything? A quality reflecting steely assertiveness or a flaw revealing an inner petulant child? So yesterday when Bush met with his longtime ally Tony … [Read more...] about Bush’s Admission Of Mistakes: About Time Or A Mistake?

When talk that immigration reform might come up in 2006 began to hit the news media, it said that some key Republicans had planned to raise it as a 2006 "wedge issue" that would put the Democrats on the spot. And it has proven to be a wedge issue: except it has "wedged" the Republican party itself. On immigration reform, the GOP now resembles the classic good cop (Senate … [Read more...] about Fate Of Senate Immigration Plan Will Define The GOP

From the eye in the sky. … [Read more...] about A Look At The Border In San Diego

...this time on voodoo dolls. … [Read more...] about China Cracks Down

It was a bad day for Enron bigwigs Kenneth L. Lay and Jeffrey K. Skilling who will forever leave behind their years of limos and enter a new life where if they travel they'll be handcuffed and likely ride in a group on a bus with people who aren't clad in the finest suits. The jury's verdict: guilty. The likely result: many long years behind bars in a place that won't resemble … [Read more...] about “Bubba — Meet Kenny Boy”

MSNBC … [Read more...] about Senate Passes Immigration Reform

MSNBC: U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow to resign by mid-June … [Read more...] about Tony Snow’s IN But John Snow’s OUT

Looks like a focus on abstinence education could actually be increasing the spread of HIV, but this data doesn't seem to sway the Ugandan government.The latest HIV infection information from Uganda seems to indicate that the abstinence approach may be a disaster in the making. Uganda, long viewed as a model for HIV prevention success in Africa, appears to have taken a wrong … [Read more...] about Why Are HIV Rates Rising In Uganda?

AP via the New York Times: Hastert Accuses Justice Dept. of Intimidation The speaker of the House suggested that the Justice Department had retaliated against him for criticizing an F.B.I. raid on a congressman's office.UPDATE (and this really stinks): Washington Post: Bush Orders Jefferson Records Sealed for 45 Days President Bush personally ordered the Justice Department … [Read more...] about UPDATED: Poor Denny’s Honked & Now GWB Has Interfered!

AP via the New York Times: Hastert Accuses Justice Dept. of Intimidation The speaker of the House suggested that the Justice Department had retaliated against him for criticizing an F.B.I. raid on a congressman's office.UPDATE (and this really stinks): Washington Post: Bush Orders Jefferson Records Sealed for 45 Days President Bush personally ordered the Justice Department … [Read more...] about UPDATED: Poor Denny’s Honked & Now GWB Has Interfered!

Washington Post: Lay, Skilling Are Guilty Of Conspiracy, Fraud Former Enron Corp. executives have been convicted in federal court on multiple charges. Both men face potentially lengthy prison sentences. … [Read more...] about Another End for Enron