Around The ‘Sphere

Our idea stew of links from all over the Blogo-you-know-what. Links are NOT SELECTED or recommended on the basis of ideology and represent differing political views. Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views of The Moderate Voice.

THERE’S A NEW PROBLEM WITH KIDS AND THEY’RE CALLED TWIXTERS: Stephen Green explains:"Apparently, there are millions of these grown-ups kids now: Putting off marriage (women now marry on average at 25 and have their first baby at the same age; ten years ago, the average ages were 21 and 22 respectively); putting off real careers; putting off wearing regular-size pants that don’t hang down below their ass cracks, etc." Green cites a story…but then tells you about his background and admits he may sound like a "premature old fogey" in doing so (no, he just sounds very wise for someone who looks so young..)

THE SOCIAL SECURITY DEBATE IS HEATING UP and it’s going on at a fever pitch over at Media Matters For America. Our alert reader George Hale let us know about this one. Read not only MMFA’s piece but the monster debate in the comments section.

HOW MUCH HAS CHINA CHANGED IN THE LAST 15 YEARS since Zhao Zhiyang, the former leader of the Chinese Communist Party until the Tiananmen Square crackdown, died? Daniel Dresner has some thoughts on that.

IS MISSISSIPPI HOLDING OUT ON MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY? According Boing Boing, the state won’t celebrate Martin Luther King Day unless they celebrate Robert E. Lee Day. Oh..

DID YOU EVER STRUGGLE TO TRY TO QUIT SMOKING? If so, then you’ll sympathize with Michele Catalano’s ordeal (and her vows).

A NEW PARTICIPATORY NEWS POSTING SITE IS GOING TO DEBUT and it’s name is Taking Back The News. People can post stories of interest to them. Details are here.

THE KKK GOES TO KOURT TO KLEAN UP THE HIGHWAYS AND WINS IN MISSOURI: Skippy The Bush  Kangaroo…whoops…we mean skippy the bush kangaroo (all in lower caps on that site) has the details here. What’s the big deal? You would think the state would want the KKK to clean up the highways since members can use their sheets to hold trash…which is what their sheets normally hold anyway.

HE REALLY DOES, you know. And so does Jose, Irving, Sam, Terry, Sgt. Polk of the Police Department. But Chevron loves it.

RIGHT WING NEWS’S JOHN HAWKINS INTERVIEWED DICK MORRIS and the interview is here. (TMV loves to read and listen to Morris but agrees with Political Scientist Larry Sabato that his prediction record in terms of accuracy is…ahem…challenged..) Morris thinks Hillary Clinton can get the nomination over any other Democrat in 2008 and that Rudy Giuliani and John McCain don’t stand a chance for the GOP one. His counter to Hillary: Condi Rice. His advice to the GOP:" Nominate Rice. Otherwise Hillary will win."

DO POWERFUL GOP BIGWIGS REALLY HOLD THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT IN CONTEMPT? Bullmoose thinks they secretly do and tells you how they’re using the RR..and why.

WOULD YOU BELIEVE THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY HAS AGENTS OUT THERE TRYING TO PROTECT THE PATENT ON TOYS? Apparently they do.

THERE HAS BEEN CONTROVERSY OVER THE PRESIDENT’S INTERVIEW ON AIR FORCE ONE and The Talking Dog gives you his take on what it means in terms of the war, his party, Social Security and gay marriage. His conclusion:"It’s going to be a fun four years, and it hasn’t even started. Welcome to Dodge."

SHOULD IRAQ POSTPONE THE ELECTIONS? Oxblog’s David Adesnik puts the question under his blog’s probing microscope. Here’s part of what he says:

At this point, I think that the best course for the United States is to go through with the January elections and work behind the scenes to ensure that the constitutional assembly produces a document that addresses Sunni concerns. While it may be hard to persuade the newly-empowered Shi’ites to compromise, the same incentives…. will still be there.

In fact, the assembly might prove to be far more effective in negotiating with the Sunni leadership since it will have a democratic mandate, unlike the Allawi government. Instead of enticing the Sunnis with a postponed election, the Shi’ites can hold out the prospect of a constitution that favors district-based elections rather than proportional representation. If the assembly completes it work on time, then the Sunnis will be able to reap the benefits of a district-based system by the end of the 2005.

Admittedly, I have limited confidence in the ability of the United States to steer the assembly in the direction it prefers. Thus, the real question is whether the Shi’ite majority, once it has power, will live up to the ideals of democracy and tolerance it has advocated so consistently during the occupation. I believe it can.

JUST WHAT THE TSUNAMI VICTIMS NEED: SHIPMENTS OF DESIGNER BOTTLED WATER BELOVED BY CELEBRITIES SUCH AS MADONNA…and this is no joke. Jew School (hey, that’s what they used to call my old high school) has the details.

AND SPEAKING OF JEWS, WHO BETTER TO BLAME FOR THE ABDUCTION OF TSUNAMI VICTIMS’ KIDS THAN THE JEWS? And the person doing it — surprise! — is an Arab sneering the word "ZIONISM." (One day when this guy dies I assume they’re going to bury him face down so he can see where he’s going.)

IT’S FOOD PORN: Burp!

MCDONALD’S IS MOURNING THE DEATH OF YET ANOTHER CEO: McDetails here.

BUT IN CHINA they’re going crazy over KFC.

IT’S A CASE OF THE GATE CALLING THE GATE A GATE as Bill Gates contradicts himself (words versus reality).

ANOTHER MAINSTREAM MEDIA COLUMNIST HAS TAKEN A SWIPE AT BLOGS and someone answered him back in kind. (Everyday I Thank God that this guy is alive.)

WHAT DOES MICHAEL DUKAKIS THINK THE DEMOCRATS DID WRONG? Nominal Me interviews him and finds out.