Venture Capitalists Fib to Stop Regulation

Today's New York Times' Op-Ed "Stopping Start-Ups" by venture capitalist Alan Patricof and a former insurance regulator Eric Dinallo is such an extraordinary fabrication it demands a response.

Handicapping Men's U.S. Open Tennis

For the first time in quite a while Roger Federer has gotten a sweetheart draw for a grand slam tournament, with most of the top contenders crammed in the lower-half of the U.S. Open which started this week. Perhaps that will curse Fed and keep him from reaching his record 22nd-straight Grand Slam semi-final and defending his title to earn his sixth-straight U.S. Open championship. But at this point he's the strong favorite. (Here's the schedule for TV coverage, although, sadly, ESPN has the deal.)

How Not to do the i-Formation in Doubles

Good doubles team, but I wouldn't recommend emulating their form here <g>. 

Finally, Someone Stands up to the Healthcare Nut Jobs

After seeing so many Democrats stand stunned, deer-in-the-headlight fashion when verbally assaulted by screaming extremists, it warmed my heart to see congressman Barney Frank on ABC TV call out this lunacy for what it is. 

Kudos to Bob Dylan

Congratulations to Bob Dylan for exhibiting mature behavior, completely uncharacteristic for a celebrity, when stopped for questioning by police.

See Any Correlation?

New economic data shows how dramatic the transfer of America's wealth to the top tiers has been. We have suffered the greatest transfer of wealth and now have the greatest concentration of wealth in modern American history. 

More on Shouting Down Healthcare Reform

Blogger Ehkzu has a good comment on the NYT.com, and a lot more on his blog Offcenter with Ehkzu.

Is TV's Mad Men Realistic?

This coming Sunday, AMC's Mad Men returns for its third season, ushered in by a chorus of adoring critics. 

Dishonesty Used to Smear Health Reform

There is certainly room for honest, constructive, disagreement over health care reform. There is a lot at stake. While I believe that finally bringing American health coverage up to the standards of the rest of the industrialized world is critical, the current plans seem like a rancid stew of political corruption. (Which may still be much better than doing nothing.)

However, the tactics used by the extreme right to attack health care are nothing short of blatant dishonesty. We see commercials by religious groups, such as Tony Perkins far right Family Research Council, claiming that care for senior citizens will be cut to fund abortions. Isn't lying a sin? We see organized hecklers -- ala the "Brooks Brothers Brigade" that supported election fraud in the Florida 2000 race -- traveling around the country to drown out discussion.

Want to Save Lives? Don't Ban Cell Phones, Ban SUVs

Recent breast-beating about the dangers of using mobile phones while driving is phony hypocrisy exploiting a trendy topic for headlines and votes. 

Doubt me? The advocates of banning cell phone use estimate that would save 950 lives a year. Every life is precious, of course. But the mass conversion of American drivers from safer cars to small trucks (under the euphemism SUVs) kills that many people every month -- yet regulation of SUVs is politically untouchable.