If you have trouble with your teens and loud music, look at this story from SwazilandEZULWINI VALLEY, Swaziland (Reuters) — The king of Swaziland's daughter was whipped by a palace official at a party of teenage virgins ahead of a festival where more than 50,000 maidens are available to become her father's 13th wife, media said on Sunday.By the way this could never happen … [Read more...] about Princess Whipped For Loud Music

One of the key questions as the saga of grieving mother and anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan camps out near President George Bush's vacation Mecca continues is the accuracy of media coverage. Some on the left say the press needs to report more. Some on the right says the press has reported too much. However, in a piece in the Rocky Mountain News, Dave Kopel argues that the … [Read more...] about Is The Press Going Easy On Cindy Sheehan?

Our linkfest of views from all over Blogtopia. Views expressed in links do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of TMV or its co-bloggers. The Hurricane Katrina Sucker Punch is outlined in detail by Florida-based Discourse.net. The Florida Keys Was Spared Again but there was an infamous time when Mother Nature wasn't so nice. Boston Red Sox great Ted Williams had a great … [Read more...] about Around The Sphere: August 28, 2005

Wes Clark on Iraq is put under the microscope by one of our favorites, Bull Moose. He points to this Washington Post piece by Clark where the former general and 2004 Presidential primary candidate notes that most Americans now feel the war is a mistake — but most don't want an immediate withdrawal. Clark gives you his plan. A key Clark quote:On the military side, the … [Read more...] about Wes Clark, Iraq And Bull Moose

Virginia Centrist echoes a Mickey Kaus claim that Democrats should keep themselves totally invisible for the next two years and let the Bush-hating media demolish the GOP for them. The strategy may be sound, but is the causality? I'm not sure that the media is particularly "Bush-hating." Sure, it smells blood in the water, but I'm not sure it's the one that caused the wound. … [Read more...] about Which Tail is Wagging Which Dog?

I don't watch much TV. Here is something wonderful I discovered by accident, a BBC comedy called "Waiting for God." Cross-posted at Julien's List … [Read more...] about Something Good on Television

Pat Robertson caused a furor when he called for whacking Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. He then denied saying it, then apologized. And now there are consquences. … [Read more...] about Fallout From Pat Robertson’s Tony Soprano Imitation

Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), on of the few remaining vestiges of the liberal "Rockefeller" wing of the of Republican Party, appears headed for the political fight of his lifetime. But before he is even able to square off against a moderately popular Democratic challenger in this overwhelmingly "blue" state, he might have to face a well-funded challenge from the right in the … [Read more...] about Chafee to Face Fierce Primary Challenge

...who chooses which "intelligent designer" is discussed in the class? Given how poorly American high schools teach science, why would anyone of a strong faith want their beliefs distorted in the oubliette of knowledge and education that the public schools have become? … [Read more...] about When proposing the teaching of “intelligent design”…

So what happens when a top aide of deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein disappears into the Twighlight Zone of confinement? According to London's Times, this:IT WAS their first meeting in 28 months, and the family of Tariq Aziz, 69, wept as they described their reunion in an American prison outside Baghdad this week with the man who served for more than a decade as the public … [Read more...] about Saddam Spinmaster Tariq Aziz: Ailing And Joking In Solitary

...but is it still the "property" of a company when it is inside the head of a departing employee? … [Read more...] about There is “intellectual property”…

A photo assignment. A camera. A photographer who decided to take photos of something that caught his eye. The result: a series of photos that are sure to be shown for years as classics — a photodocumentary via the Boston Herald of a man getting an overdose of drugs — then dying:I can't believe I saw him die right in front of me. I had just parked on Charles … [Read more...] about AMAZING Photojournalism: “Death In The Garden”

...should your eyes be on Rudy Giuliani? … [Read more...] about If You’re Following The 2008 Presidential Nomination

Should states place restrictions on them? … [Read more...] about The Case Of Elderly Drivers

If you've got some time on your hands, might I recommend Trojan Horses of Race by UCLA Law Professor Jerry Kang? On the one hand, it's 105 pages long (Harvard Law Review...whatcha gonna do?). On the other, it is a spectacular eye-opener to those who think that racism is dead in American society. Bored, but don't feel like reading (or reading that much)? Test yourself! The IAT … [Read more...] about Bored?

It's looking nastier and nastier for San Diego's U.S. Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, an up-until-now popular Republican Congressman who was pitchforked into the headlines in June when he sponsored a House amendment for a constitutional ban on flag burning. The latest bombshell - scandal-plagued Cunningham who answered the prayers of staunch GOPers that had been down on their … [Read more...] about Prosecutors Say Flag Burning Amendment Sponsor Sought Bribes

Well, you can see it here. … [Read more...] about Did You Ever See “Generic Blogging?”

George Bush has seen his approval among the American people diminish to the lowest point of his Presidency in recent weeks. The latest poll from Gallup only confirms this already-reported trend. A new Gallup Poll reflects further erosion in President George W. Bush's job approval rating, continuing the slow but steady decline evident throughout the year so far. The poll -- … [Read more...] about Gallup: Bush Approval at Lowest Point Ever

CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) — A fallen soldier's mother said Thursday that the anti-war vigil she started nearly three weeks ago near President Bush's ranch won't end when she and other protesters pack up their camp next week. Cindy Sheehan said the day after she leaves Aug. 31, she will embark on a bus tour ending up in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 24. Then the group will … [Read more...] about AP: Cindy Sheehan Planning Bus Tour & Vigil

Bad news may be good news! Why? If previously non-voting Christians plan to vote they will need to study the issues, hence they will become INFORMED voters. Becoming more informed on the issues will broaden their horizons and cause them to become more responsible citizens and voters. Many will discover points of disagreement with their "Patriot Pastors." Some may not vote as … [Read more...] about ‘Patriot pastors’ recruited: Churchgoers to be urged to vote