A group of U.S. Muslims have taken an unequivocable stand against terrorism by issuing a "fatwa" — a religious edict — that comes out squarely against terrorism which they urge all Muslims to help authorities combat. Although these edicts aren't binding, by the mere fact of issuing their "fatwa," this group of American Muslims has differentiated themselves from … [Read more...] about U.S. Muslims Blast Terrorism In Fatwa

Boston is hurting the self-esteem of people who are thinking of killing themselves by jumping off the Tobin Bridge: Just a week after the Herald revealed that anti-suicide signs on the Tobin Bridge had been removed by a state road crew, the signs are back - but with a wrong number. Massport spokeswoman Danny Levy said yesterday the agency received six new signs from The … [Read more...] about It’s Enough To Make You Want To Kill Yourself

Cover your kid's eyes, keep him or her away from TV, don't let your child read a newspaper: Tom DeLay as a questionable role model has struck again:House Majority Leader Tom DeLay quietly slipped into the energy bill a $1.5 billion fund for oil and natural gas drilling research that will benefit an energy consortium based in his home district, a California Democrat said on … [Read more...] about More Madcap Fun From Tom DeLay

The wheels of justice are turning slowly, but inexorably in the case of beheaded Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl — with a significant turn today amid news that the man believed to have set Pearl up for his kidnapping has been captured. Pearl was kidnapped while doing his job as a reporter, pursuing a story, thinking he was going to talk to an Islamic militant … [Read more...] about Pakistani Man Arrested In Daniel Pearl’s Death

Michael Totten looks at the largely ignored war against tourism in the Middle East, and the devastating economic effects it causes:Because of the region’s reputation in the West, it takes precious little. My hotel in Beirut was almost completely empty. My four-star hotel room was discounted by 75 percent in a desperate attempt to lure tourists back to the country. I don’t … [Read more...] about The war on tourism

Over at The Reaction, I occasionally do blog round-ups — similar to what Joe does here at TMV — and Wednesday evening I was scouring the blogosphere for posts (and the MSM for articles) on Plamegate (as it's now being called in some circles — I prefer Rovegate). There's a lot out there in the news at the moment — Roberts, terrorism, Iraq — but … [Read more...] about Fitzgerald takes the Plame Game to a new level

Is the Bush Administration fixing science around politics? On issues like stem-cell research and climate change, both of which Bush seems to be against (that is, he doesn't believe in them), have accepted scientific research and the public's trust in scientific inquiry been the casualties of Bush's faith-based understanding of reality? Click here for more. For more on climate … [Read more...] about Science vs. politics in the Bush Administration

I don't think so, and I think she should be applauded for some gutsy moves as she gears up for 2008. … [Read more...] about Is Clinton’s Move to the Center Mere Rhetoric?

James Wolcott, at his eponymous weblog, discusses in his wry and close-to if not over-the-top fashion the diverging spousal messages of the leaders of the US and the UK. Interesting. He is likely making a foothill (not quite a mountain) out of an ant-mound (not quite a mole-hill), but it is an odd contrast none the less. … [Read more...] about More on consistency, or the lack thereof

At BoingBoing is a brief post titled "Shoot someone? Not Smith & Wesson's fault. Copy a movie? Grokster's fault". The post at BoingBoing makes the point far better than the linked post at The Daily Kos does. An interesting contrast, both in terms of inconsistency in the law and in terms of how the point is made. … [Read more...] about Making a point on consistency

This is another story that's been drowned out by Roberts and Rove. Or perhaps we're all just used to this sort of thing by now. Last week, Hewlett-Packard announced that it was planning to lay off 14,500 employees, or 10% of its workforce, over the next 18 months. This is on top of 17,800 layoffs in the wake of HP's failed merger with Compag. Meanwhile, in case you missed it, … [Read more...] about When greed is (not) good: The obscenities of Hewlett-Packard

From the Canada desk: According to Macleans blogger Paul Wells, Canada is falling behind both its G8 partners and up-and-coming economic powerhouses like China, India, and Brazil in terms of R&D. A country's commitment to R&D may be determined by calculating its GERD (Gross Expenditure on Research and Development, measured as a fraction of GDP). Canada's GERD, it … [Read more...] about Hewers of wood, drawers of water: Canadians in the 21st century

Attention Hillary Clinton: You have stepped into a political buzzsaw. It SEEMED like a plumb appointment when HC was named by the centrist Democratic Leadership Council to direct a new initiative to define a party agenda for the 2006 and 2008 elections — a high-profile role making her, in effect, Ms. Centrist of 2005 (and presumably 2006, 2007 and 2008 when she might … [Read more...] about Hillary Gets It — And OH Will She Get It

Joe Gandelman & Friends will be doing a tour of fairs in Montana and Wyoming from July 28-August 7. The schedule: July 28-July 31: Last Chance Stampede & Fair, Helena, MT. August 3 & 4: Big Horn County Fair, Basin, Wyoming. August 5,6,7: Sublette County Fair, Big Piney, Wyoming. Check local listings for times for his family show. Info about Joe's performing can … [Read more...] about See TMV “Live” In His Other Incarnation

Is someone in the BBC now advising the Bush administration? The Bush administration is retooling its slogan for the fight against Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups, pushing the idea that the long-term struggle is as much an ideological battle as a military mission, senior administration and military officials said Monday. In recent speeches and news conferences, Defense … [Read more...] about Bush Administration Changes War On Terrorism’s Name

Note: This has been moved and reposted from Tuesday to today's blog. In a "moderate rant", I wish "A plague o' both your houses!..." at my weblog, Random Fate. In one of my rare absolute statements, I am reduced to saying, "If you're not a part of the solution, you're part of the problem." The rant is reproduced in full below, with the warning that it is indeed a rant, in … [Read more...] about The rant of the moderate…

SUBJECT2DISCUSSION LIVE webcast and podcast Wednesday July 27 at 6pm Pacific time, 8pm Central time and 9pm Eastern time. This weeks guests will be Robert Hayes of the Blogger News Network and Aaron Douglas/Tyrol of Scifi Channel's Battlestar Galactica. To listen to SUBJECT2DISCUSSION live go to www.LVROCKS.com at 6pm PT and click on LISTEN and click on CAM/CHAT. If you miss … [Read more...] about Listen To Bloggers LIVE!

Some thoughts on the US flag, its use as a fashion accessory, and the meaning of the victories of Americans in sports can be found at my weblog, Random Fate. … [Read more...] about Death, symbols, and the difference between the two

I recently asked that question, but after seeing him on The Daily Show last night I must admit — gulp! — that I actually respect the man. He was intelligent and articulate, and not nearly as insane as much of his ideological rhetoric makes him out to be. I hardly agree with him on anything, but in sparring amicably with our favourite late-night host he proved that … [Read more...] about Is Rick Santorum insane?

Does the GOP have a potentially potent piece of the electoral pie just waiting to be taken? Is it largely ignoring this chunk of the electorate that could have significant influence (and perhaps counterbalance a bit the further-to-the-right social conservatives)? Booker Rising, the site that bills itself as for black moderates and black conservatives (but is one of the BEST … [Read more...] about Rise Of The Cosby Republicans: New GOP Component?