Bill O'Reilly: The Make Believe War Correspondent By Tina Dupuy A report that Fox News juggernaut Bill O'Reilly has been fluffing his war zone encounters was met with a collective chortle. Mainly because as a media-consuming public, we are not surprised to hear O'Reilly makes stuff up. The sun will rise in the east and Bill O'Reilly will call some undeserving person a … [Read more...] about Bill O’Reilly: The Make Believe War Correspondent
Is Russia Doomed to lose in Ukraine?
[icopyright one button toolbar] Is Russia doomed to lose in Ukraine? Alexander J. Motyl in a piece in World Affairs (h/T to RealClearWorld) says it is, and it's worth reading in full: So who’s winning the war in eastern Ukraine—Russia or Ukraine? The answer is not as simple as it might seem, because victory means different things for each side. A Russian victory … [Read more...] about Is Russia Doomed to lose in Ukraine?
Replicas and at Least One Treasure Destroyed by ISIS in Museum
On Thursday, the Islamic State (ISIS) released a video purporting to show members of the group destroying ancient artifacts in Iraq. A group of men takes sledgehammers, drills and chain saws to the statues, leaving them in ruins. “The Prophet ordered us to get rid of statues and relics, and his companions did the same when… … [Read more...] about Replicas and at Least One Treasure Destroyed by ISIS in Museum
Je Ne Suis Pas Scott
[icopyright one button toolbar] I generally like the political cartoons by talented Mike Peters, our guest cartoonist. However, I feel somewhat uncomfortable with his “National Security Threat” cartoon posted at TMV today. The cartoon shows a young kid dressed in ISIL-like attire, wielding a knife à la "Jihadi John," saying -- while standing where his parents, who … [Read more...] about Je Ne Suis Pas Scott
King v. Burwell Threatens GOP
Joshua Green details the threat to the Republican Party if they get their wish and the Supreme Court cripples the Affordable Care Act on Bloomberg.com (h/t Kevin Drum). (Conservative health care wonk Stuart) Butler’s worry is grounded in an understanding that voters with skyrocketing premiums may not blame Obama, as Republicans assume. They’ll expect the party hellbent on … [Read more...] about King v. Burwell Threatens GOP
Suicide Among Middle-Aged Linked To Money Troubles
Money influences many decisions in our lives, and more than a few people would say too many. Since 1999, suicide rates among middle-aged adults have risen nearly 40 percent, with a noticeable uptick since the financial crash. Now, a new study from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation finds economic factors, such as loss of a job,… … [Read more...] about Suicide Among Middle-Aged Linked To Money Troubles
Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: National Security Threat
National Security Threat by Mike Peters Of Related Interest: --Why Did Boehner Make This Awkward Kiss Face at a Reporter? --GOP leaders set to swerve DHS off the cliff --Jackson Lee: GOP threatens to shut down Homeland Security --GOP’s shutdown mess a 'comedy of errors,’ Pelosi says --House Republicans Not Ready To Cave On DHS Funding Mike Peters is recognized … [Read more...] about Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: National Security Threat
The magic of dubbing: Mary Poppins Sings Death Metal (VIDEO)
I've always been fascinated with voice overs, cartoon voicing -- and movie dubbing. Early in sound film's history, movies studios were trying to figure out how to make a film in one language appeal to viewers who understood other languages. Hal Roach even had Laurel and Hardy re-film some shorts in Spanish (and French) using a few of the original actors, some native speakers … [Read more...] about The magic of dubbing: Mary Poppins Sings Death Metal (VIDEO)
Daryl Cagle Cartoon: GOP Threatens Dept of Homeland Security
See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about Daryl Cagle Cartoon: GOP Threatens Dept of Homeland Security
Make the deal with Iran
WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama is clearly right -- and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is wrong -- about the Iran nuclear negotiations. But the broader and more consequential question of Iran's place in the world is much more complicated. As I've written, I don't fault Netanyahu for aggressively defending Israel's interests as he sees them. Next week's … [Read more...] about Make the deal with Iran
Cartoon: The O’Reilly Fester
See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about Cartoon: The O’Reilly Fester
Jihadi John Finally Identified: What We Know About Mohammed Emwazi
The masked Islamic State executioner known as ‘Jihadi John’, named earlier today by the Washington Post as Mohammed Emwazi, grew up in West London, wore Western clothes and graduated in computer science from Westminster University. Emwazi has appeared in seven confirmed execution videos, including those showing the beheadings of British aid workers Alan Henning and David… … [Read more...] about Jihadi John Finally Identified: What We Know About Mohammed Emwazi
CRONENBERG WEEK: Videodrome (1983)
4.5/5[icopyright one button toolbar] Some directors, such as Peter Weir, have disguised their sensibility behind a repertoire of work varied enough to be encapsulated by any film contained within it. Others develop an approach to filmmaking so distinctive that a single work bubbles to the surface as their ne plus ultra, a film with which their name becomes synonymous. For … [Read more...] about CRONENBERG WEEK: Videodrome (1983)
Jon Stewart Challenges Fox News to a “Lie-Off”
[icopyright one button toolbar] Jon Stewart challenges Fox News to a "lie-off" in response to their comments on the announcement of his leaving The Daily Show. Treat yourself to a classic. http://thedailyshow.cc.com/full-episodes/ag5hzd/february-25--2015---conan-o-brien Cross-posted from The Sensible … [Read more...] about Jon Stewart Challenges Fox News to a “Lie-Off”
Seth Meyers Responds To Giuliani and Walker Regarding Obama’s Love For America
[icopyright one button toolbar] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkiHtDoKJkw It is never good for a politician to become a frequent punchline of the late night comedians. Seth Meyers had the above response to Rudy Giuliani’s false claim that Obama does not love America, along with Scott Walker's difficulty in responding to a question as to whether he agreed. (Media and … [Read more...] about Seth Meyers Responds To Giuliani and Walker Regarding Obama’s Love For America
US Jews brace for Netanyahu’s ‘ill-advised’ Congress speech (Guest Voice)
By accepting a Republican invitation to address the US Congress next week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not only upset the White House and the Democrats, he’s also rattled America’s largely liberal Jewish community. “Like an increasing number of American Jews, I want to make it clear that Netanyahu does not speak for me,” wrote… … [Read more...] about US Jews brace for Netanyahu’s ‘ill-advised’ Congress speech (Guest Voice)
Let’s cool relations with Israel until Netanyahu is gone
[icopyright one button toolbar] No more America v. Israel talk until we've dealt with the biggest issue for Americans as well as Israelis: the battle in both nations and around the globe of military-industrial interests versus the supporters of democracy and justice. At home, Bibi Netanyahu may be on his way out thanks to revelations of corruption in his personal and … [Read more...] about Let’s cool relations with Israel until Netanyahu is gone
West Must Absorb: For Islamic State, the ‘End of Days’ has Begun (de Volkskrant, The Netherlands)
[icopyright one button toolbar] When it comes to combating the Islamic State, what is the West missing? For de Volkskrant, author Adjiedj Bakas writes of what the word 'Caliphate' means to followers of so-called 'Caliph' Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi: 'It is the duty of a caliph to conduct war and continue to conquer territory until a select group of chosen believers establish … [Read more...] about West Must Absorb: For Islamic State, the ‘End of Days’ has Begun (de Volkskrant, The Netherlands)
Memo To GOP Wingers: Keep Your Goddamned Religion Out Of My Life — And Government
[icopyright one button toolbar] A new study puts a face -- and a particularly ugly one at that -- on what was been increasingly obvious for many years: Christian conservatives, the folks who use their God like a cudgel to bludgeon we heathens with their neanderthal social agenda, exert an inordinate influence on the Republican Party even if their numbers are relatively … [Read more...] about Memo To GOP Wingers: Keep Your Goddamned Religion Out Of My Life — And Government
How Selma and women’s inequality got tangled at the Oscars
[icopyright one button toolbar] I am southern, southwest-Georgia-southern. My Oscar night boycott arose in part because of the Academy's shameful treatment of Selma. But I have also grown weary of the uphill battle for equality for women of all colors. My husband and I saw Selma on the heels of the electrifying, Tony-award winning play, All The Way, which explored LBJ's … [Read more...] about How Selma and women’s inequality got tangled at the Oscars