You don't have to leave the country to have a life changing event. When I was growing up we never went camping and the same applied to my X wife who was from New York City. In spite of this we took up camping shortly after we were married. It was a bit clumsy at first but we eventually got pretty good at it. There is nothing like a week in the mountains living in a tent … [Read more...] about Life Changing Events III
The New Urbs
Although I am a left of center progressive I read The American Conservative and most of the time find myself agreeing with the articles there. They have a refreshing new blog there, New Urbs. They discuss how to turn urban America back to the people friendly communities of the past and manages to really criticize the suburbs at the same time. Welcome Welcome to New Urbs. … [Read more...] about The New Urbs
Cartoon: Dawn of the Dead Republicans
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on The Moderate Voice by Cagle Cartoons. Reproduction without licensing is strictly prohibited. … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Dawn of the Dead Republicans
Sullivan on Israel’s War on Gaza
Andrew Sullivan drills down into the justification for Israel's war on Gaza on The Daily Dish. Katie Zavadski, fresh from a Dishternship, nails down a critical fact in the latest Israel-Hamas death-match. As the Dish has noted before, the Israeli government knew from the get-go that the murderers of three Israeli teens – the incident that set off this bloody chain of events – … [Read more...] about Sullivan on Israel’s War on Gaza
Sarah Palin Launches Web TV Network That’s Pricier Than Netflix
Half-term Alaska governor and failed vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is taking her sideshow to the web with a focus on American politics via her own network, The Sarah Palin Channel. Um, this is too funny. The Sarah Palin Channel is a Glenn Beck knock-off. Palin took to Twitter to peddle for prospective viewers. Only one problem....Netflix is cheaper. You know, I … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin Launches Web TV Network That’s Pricier Than Netflix
Congress sides with consumers on cellphone unlocking bill
Almost eight years ago, the U.S. Copyright Office gave cellphone owners the right to unlock their cellphones. It had been illegal since the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), which banned the "circumvention" of any copy protection mechanisms (Section 1201). This did not, however, mean that carriers honored the ruling. AT&T, for example, has been a notable … [Read more...] about Congress sides with consumers on cellphone unlocking bill
Losing the high moral ground
WASHINGTON -- The civilian death toll in Gaza from Israel's latest incursion is appalling. The right to self-defense is inalienable, but it is not free from moral constraints. As of this writing, nearly 750 Palestinians have been killed since the Israeli assault began, including dozens of children. On Thursday, a compound housing a United Nations school -- crowded with … [Read more...] about Losing the high moral ground
SciFi Weekend: Arrow; Constantine; SHIELD; Hannibal; Big Bang Theory; Community; Orphan Black; True Blood; Fargo; Sleepy Hollow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4_BBDPTKv4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfgthhsuUb8 There's a lot of news coming out of San Diego Comic-Con. The Arrow panel is above, followed by the season three trailer. Ra's al Ghul will be the main villain next season. Flashbacks next season will include characters who died earlier on the show, and will deal with characters beyond … [Read more...] about SciFi Weekend: Arrow; Constantine; SHIELD; Hannibal; Big Bang Theory; Community; Orphan Black; True Blood; Fargo; Sleepy Hollow
Flight MH 17: Emotional Words From a Dutch Man
[icopyright one button toolbar] While every family member, relative or friend lost in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 represents a horrific tragedy, and while every nation whose citizens died as a result of that criminal act is in deep mourning, the loss suffered by the Dutch nation and the Dutch people is especially heavy: 193 of its residents killed in a matter … [Read more...] about Flight MH 17: Emotional Words From a Dutch Man
Digital Photography
As you may have noticed I have grown tired of politics and current events and have been doing posts of a more personal and philosophical nature. I may be 68 but I tend to embrace new technology but one exception may be digital photography and the death of film. I have been a photographer for nearly 50 years. One of my early mentors was the late great Ansel Adams. In … [Read more...] about Digital Photography
Life Changing Events II
Yesterday I did a post on my life changing event of living in Munich, Germany for several years. Life changing events are ones that force you to reevaluate how you look at the world. Living abroad for an extended period of time, especially for someone like me who grew up in the backwoods of Oregon is certainly a life changing experience. In the late 80s I worked for the … [Read more...] about Life Changing Events II
Gaza and MH17: France Pays the Price for its Moribund Diplomacy (Le Figaro, France)
France is not only home to the largest Muslim and Jewish populations in Europe, but with the Kremlin in the global doghouse over MH17 and Ukraine, Paris is in the process of selling Russia two massive Mistral warships for $1.6 billion. For Le Figaro, columnist Pierre Rousselin writes that with pro-Palestinian protests erupting across the country, and allies losing patience with … [Read more...] about Gaza and MH17: France Pays the Price for its Moribund Diplomacy (Le Figaro, France)
Heading for a high court showdown?
Heading for a high court showdown? by Ruth Marcus Washington Post Writers' Group Columnist WASHINGTON -- Don't be so sure the Supreme Court is going to save Obamacare. Again. The question is enormously important: Are health care consumers entitled to subsidies if they buy coverage on insurance exchanges established by the federal government, as they are from state … [Read more...] about Heading for a high court showdown?
Norm Ornstein On The Republican Battle Between The Conservatives And Lunatic Radicals
Yesterday, just prior to this post at Liberal Values, I had a post quoting criticism of Hillary Clinton from Andrew Sullivan. While I am not thrilled by the prospect of Hillary Clinton being president, any Republican alternative would be far worse. With all her faults, Clinton isn’t bat-shit crazy. Norm Ornstein has written again about how extreme the Republican have become. He … [Read more...] about Norm Ornstein On The Republican Battle Between The Conservatives And Lunatic Radicals
This Week in Pantsuit Politics: Lithuania’s Karate Black Belt President Speaks Out
One need only look at the Oval Office to see that when it comes to politics, we've got a bit of a gender discrepancy. In this weekly roundup, Ravishly.com focuses on powerful political women in the news who are helping to break the proverbial glass ceiling of policy-making. Politicos, move aside. We bring you . . . politicas. Dalia GrybauskaiteLithuania's president recently … [Read more...] about This Week in Pantsuit Politics: Lithuania’s Karate Black Belt President Speaks Out
Life Changing Events
We all have events and situations that change our lives forever. For this kid from the backwaters of the Pacific Northwest it was the 4 years I lived in Munich, Germany in my early 20s. I don't think I really appreciated western civilzation before my time in Munich. It truly changed the way I looked at everything. My friends noticed when I returned to the US and said I was … [Read more...] about Life Changing Events
The ‘Power’ of Satire and the Power of Poetry
[icopyright one button toolbar] A little less than two years ago, when we were getting ready to elect a new president, or re-elect Barack Obama, I wrote a little piece at the Huffington Post that created somewhat of a mini uproar. In the article I explained why “I [Was] Voting for Mitt Romney on Nov. 7.” It was satire, of course. There were two clues I thought would … [Read more...] about The ‘Power’ of Satire and the Power of Poetry
MH17: Dutch Should Avoid America’s Post-911 Reaction (de Volkskrant, The Netherlands)
How should people in the Netherlands handle the incredible anger and sorrow that has suddenly struck after the downing of Flight MH17, in which more than 189 innocent Dutch civilians, many of them children, were killed? Continuing with our focus on the Netherlands this week, for de Volkskrant, columnist Lodewijk Pessers advises people to stay calm, and above all, not to react … [Read more...] about MH17: Dutch Should Avoid America’s Post-911 Reaction (de Volkskrant, The Netherlands)
Sullivan on Moving Left
Andrew Sullivan responds to Tom Ricks on moving left on The Daily Dish. [icopyright one button toolbar] But I am now regarded as a leftist by much of the right and to some extent, they’re right. In today’s polarized political climate, I have few qualms in backing president Obama over almost anyone in the opposition, and am genuinely insulted these days when some people call … [Read more...] about Sullivan on Moving Left
Surviving With Perspective
Perspective One of my favorite stories my dad told, he who could not read or write and was filled with hundreds of old tales: [icopyright one button toolbar] Once upon a time, an old watchmaker, the wise man of the village, drew a line in the dirt outside his cottage, and asked the children all around to make that line in the dirt shorter -- but without erasing any … [Read more...] about Surviving With Perspective