Whether you believe prisons should be doing rehabilitation or punishment, if you believe we need to toss more people into prison, have we got a statistic for YOU: In 2004, U.S. prisons grew by 900 inmates per week. According to the AP, prisons here held 2.1 million persons — putting about 1 in every 138 Americans behind bars, an increase of 2.3 percent over the previous … [Read more...] about U.S. Prison Population Is Soaring
A picture says a grousin’ word
You've gotta love the judgment of newspaper photo editors. This story about the murky rules surrounding filibusters in the Constitution features that Dick Cheney "Shut the f--- up or I'll cap your ass" photo. It makes him look ruthless, imposing and intolerant, but most likely he was calling on a reporter near the back of the room for a question. The choice gives evidence … [Read more...] about A picture says a grousin’ word
Here She Is, Miss America……
...and There She Might Not Go? … [Read more...] about Here She Is, Miss America……
If God Was Process Oriented
TMV note: The recent controversy over a school counselor changing the wording of The Pledge Of Allegiance on the spur of the moment to make it more inclusive underscores the use of language as a tool to soothe anyone's hurt feelings. A reader sent us this (We do not know the source.): If God was process oriented, the Book of Genesis might read something like this: In the … [Read more...] about If God Was Process Oriented
China-Japan Relations: China Twists Japan’s Olive Branch
The President of China met the Prime Minister of Japan for talks yesterday aimed at cooling down rivet-hot passions and seemingly-spiraling-out-of-control events that brought relations between the two countries to their lowest point since diplomatic ties were established 30 years ago. The bottom line: Japan extended an olive branch. China accepted it. And then twisted it. … [Read more...] about China-Japan Relations: China Twists Japan’s Olive Branch
Were HIV Positive Foster Kids Used As Guinea Pigs?
A potentially big scandal is unfolding in New York City that — if proven true — has serious implications on two fronts. The two-pronged allegations entail powder-keg charges that the city tested AIDS drugs on foster children and that if a foster parent objected the children were then placed elsewhere. The New York papers have started breaking this story and if it … [Read more...] about Were HIV Positive Foster Kids Used As Guinea Pigs?
The Details About The Final Hours In Hitler’s Bunker
Given by his bodyguard. … [Read more...] about The Details About The Final Hours In Hitler’s Bunker
If John Kerry’s Looks Could Kill
Message to John Kerry: Temper, temper, if this New York Post piece is to be believed: A fuming John Kerry had "daggers in his eyes" after a fellow Democrat promoted Hillary Rodham Clinton for president — suggesting the 2004 loser is green with envy at a potential rival. The flap was touched off two weeks ago when Clinton spoke at a Minneapolis Democratic dinner and Sen. … [Read more...] about If John Kerry’s Looks Could Kill
A Newspaper Increasingly Loved By Blogs
Yes, everyone knows that even though some folks denounce it the New York Times will be heavily linked by bloggers. But what if you did a survey and tried to find out which newspaper had the highest number of blog links, proportionate to its subscribed readership? We'll give you a hint: TMV used to write for it from Madrid (with the byline "Special Correspondent of The … [Read more...] about A Newspaper Increasingly Loved By Blogs
From the lighter side (in a sense)…
...everybody has to go sometime. … [Read more...] about From the lighter side (in a sense)…
GOP’s “Off the Record” needs some work
Has anyone else seen the webcast interview show "Off the Record" by the Republican National Committee? I reviewed it a month ago, basically objecting to 1) the nonsensical title (which I think shows the GOP's low estimation of their base's intelligence) 2) the flat delivery of the hosts, "Mindy & Katie" 3) Mindy's presence at all; Katie is much better looking and has a … [Read more...] about GOP’s “Off the Record” needs some work
The New Pope Meets The Press
Oh, boy, did he.. … [Read more...] about The New Pope Meets The Press
New campaign for Dana Milbank
I wrote earlier this week (and linked here) that Washington Post political reporter Dana Milbank was just a little too opinionated for his stated role at the paper, given his intelligent but somewhat nya-nya coverage of Karl Rove's speech on media trends. I also faulted the Post for giving Milbank leeway with the euphemistic "Washington Sketch" heading for the column. Now a … [Read more...] about New campaign for Dana Milbank
Being With Other Children Can Help Prevent Leukemia
New research may help decrease the number of people — especially young people — struck down by the heartbreaking disease leukemia. And it may also spur an increase in the day care business. The reason: a new study says leukemia, the most common cancer among the young, could be warded off if a child interacts with a large number of other kids and picks up common … [Read more...] about Being With Other Children Can Help Prevent Leukemia
Take A Peek…..
...at Booker Rising, a site that can easily become one of your regular stops. Booker Rising bills itself as a "News site for black moderates and black conservatives" but if you didn't read that and visited the site you'd just figure it was one of the best summary sites on the entire Internet. Booker Rising covers a wide variety of subjects. What's wonderful about it is that … [Read more...] about Take A Peek…..
Is Bolton Nomination Doomed By The ‘Weird Facial Hair Curse’?
Just look at the recent headlines and you can see that the nomination of John Bolton as UN Ambassador is in serious trouble. With each day, and each news cycle, Bolton seems to be losing more and more support. Why is this so? Is it due to his apparent reputation as an abusive boss? Is it due to former Secretary of State Colin Powell being in the background giving wavering … [Read more...] about Is Bolton Nomination Doomed By The ‘Weird Facial Hair Curse’?
Pledge Of Allegiance Change Furor In Colorado
So exactly how haywire has the movement to insert P.C. into every facet of American life gone? This far: Wheat Ridge, Colo. (AP) — A school counselor leading the Pledge of Allegiance over the public address system substituted "one nation under your belief system" for "one nation under God." The school apologized for the impromptu switch after students and parents … [Read more...] about Pledge Of Allegiance Change Furor In Colorado
I Suppose It Had To Happen
One of the most popular weblogs is the conservative blog Powerline, written by some attorneys. Time named it the Blog of the Year (it is under Right Voices on our blogroll) partly for its leading role in the Rathergate scandal. Now there is a counter blog that analyzes Powerline — Powerwhine. … [Read more...] about I Suppose It Had To Happen
Japan Tries To Defuse China Crisis With Apology
In a sign of just how much Japan wants to short-circuit an increasingly nasty crisis with China, Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is repeating an apology for his country's World War II behavior that other Japanese Prime Ministers have given — only this time the timing is critical. At issue: bitter and increasingly violent anti-Japanese demonstrations in China … [Read more...] about Japan Tries To Defuse China Crisis With Apology
Two Evangelical Leaders Advocate Defunding Courts They Don’t Like
If you don't like the way a judge or an entire court rules, take their money away. Does that sound downright unamerican to not only law students, law professors but virtually anyone who has lived in this country over the past several hundred years? Yes — but that's precisely the idea of two of the nation's two Evangelical Christian leaders who have been working with … [Read more...] about Two Evangelical Leaders Advocate Defunding Courts They Don’t Like