The NYT examines Snopes and other Web fact-v-fraud checkers, including a look at the couple who founded Snopes, David and Barbara Mikkelson. The Mikkelson's attitude toward the utility of their work is, in a word, discouraging. From the article's conclusion: ... even though Snopes pays the bills for the couple now, through advertising revenue, they doubt they are … [Read more...] about Quote for the Day: ‘Truth Doesn’t Stand a Chance’
Ehrlich’s Maryland Brand of Tea
Although it is not official, it appears that Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. will put his name before voters again in the much anticipated rematch with Martin O'Malley for the office of Governor of the State of Maryland on April 7th. Unlike most pundits, I believe Ehrlich has a better than average shot of beating O'Malley. However, the key is not going to be running against Obama, … [Read more...] about Ehrlich’s Maryland Brand of Tea
Pharoah, let your people go!
Apropo of Passover, the New Yorker takes a look at the state of tyranny in Egypt. [Subscription required] President Hosni Mubarak is 82 and his health is deteriorating. Mubarak has ruled since 1981, with the aid of a perepetual Emergency Law that allows for unlimited suppression of dissent. So what has the United States done to support Egypt's long-suffering democratic … [Read more...] about Pharoah, let your people go!
Obama Does Not Have International Friends
President Obama thus far has failed to strengthen relationships with historic allies, focusing instead on a fruitless search for improved relations with adversaries, writes Robert Kagan in the Washington Post (via Atlantic Community): The president who ran against "unilateralism" in the 2008 campaign has worse relations overall with American allies than George W. Bush did in … [Read more...] about Obama Does Not Have International Friends
Easter Sunday Earthquake Day In California: My Deja Vu Memory Moment
I was traveling from San Diego to San Clemente in my car for my second Easter day contracted show. I was, as usual, listening to CNN on XM satellite radio when they began talking about an earthquake that had rocked downtown Los Angeles. It was shortly after that that I reached my destination. The people inside asked me, "Did you feel it?" I said, "The earthquake? I was … [Read more...] about Easter Sunday Earthquake Day In California: My Deja Vu Memory Moment
Large Earthquake in Baja California [Mexico] Affects San Diego & Los Angeles
UPDATE: The temblors, lasting at least 30 to 40 seconds were felt rolling through Temecula, about 100 miles northwest of Mexicali. "My apartment building started rolling and sloshing back and forth as if the foundations were resting on a bowl of jelly," said a tenant, Jerry Remmers, a TMV columnist. "There was no damage but some residents, new to living in earthquake-prone … [Read more...] about Large Earthquake in Baja California [Mexico] Affects San Diego & Los Angeles
Empty Pockets Never Make the Grade
If I had to point to one news item that encapsulates why I am a liberal, progressive Democrat, and why I am not a conservative, right-wing Republican, this news item would be the one. … [Read more...] about Empty Pockets Never Make the Grade
For Malia and Sasha – Proust Rather than Astérix Comics!: Le Monde, France
The French press seems to be more-or-less please with the visit of President Nicolas Sarkozy and first lady Carla Bruni to the United States. But according to Franck Nouchi of France's Le Monde newspaper, they made one serious mistake: They gave the Obama daughters the wrong gift. Apparently, the French comic books the Sarkozy's gave Sasha and Malia Obama don't sufficiently … [Read more...] about For Malia and Sasha – Proust Rather than Astérix Comics!: Le Monde, France
Amnesty International Has NOT “Endorsed Defensive Jihad”
Andy McCarthy is making stuff up again: … [Read more...] about Amnesty International Has NOT “Endorsed Defensive Jihad”
Dr. King’s Economic Dream Deferred (Guest Voice)
Dr. King's Economic Dream Deferred by Bill Moyers and Michael Winship Forty-two years ago, on April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated, gunned down in Memphis, Tennessee. To those of us who were alive then, the images are etched in painful memory: One day, Dr. King is standing with colleagues, including Ralph Abernathy and Jesse Jackson, on the balcony … [Read more...] about Dr. King’s Economic Dream Deferred (Guest Voice)
Celebrating Easter in Afghanistan
Easter is being celebrated all over the world - including by U.S. troops in Afghanistan. CNN looks at the celebration and the context there where U.S. troops celebrate Easter in Muslim country: … [Read more...] about Celebrating Easter in Afghanistan
Happy Easter
Happy Easter by Martha Randolph Carr There are two major holidays in the Christian faith. In no particular order, the first is Christmas and the second is Easter. If they were to be ranked according to the amount of media attention or holiday decorating Christmas would be the winner in a runaway. The amount of glitz attached to Christmas often confuses both the … [Read more...] about Happy Easter
Easter In The Seventh Year
Every four to seven years on average Easter in the Eastern Orthodox Church is celebrated on the same Sunday as it is celebrated in the Roman Catholic Church and most protestant religions. 2010 is such a year. And, in an extemely rare occurance, next year will be as well. The reason for the difference is the use of two different calendars. The Orthodox Church uses the … [Read more...] about Easter In The Seventh Year
How Easter Is Forgotten
Peter Broelman, Australia This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All right reserved. … [Read more...] about How Easter Is Forgotten
Don’t Like Historical Facts? Just Change Them!
Steve Thomma at McClatchy writes about the conservative movement to rewrite history: … [Read more...] about Don’t Like Historical Facts? Just Change Them!
Unemployment Benefits Cut-Off Starts Monday
From TheHill.com: … [Read more...] about Unemployment Benefits Cut-Off Starts Monday
The Mountaintop and The Promised Land
On this day, at this time, 42 years ago in the Memphis, TN, Mason Temple, Martin Luther King Jr. was delivering the last speech of his life. It's come to be known as "I've Been to the Mountaintop." That most famous of passages: And then I got to Memphis. And some began to say the threats, or talk about the threats that were out. What would happen to me from some of our sick … [Read more...] about The Mountaintop and The Promised Land
Race In America
I stopped judging Barack Hussein Obama as an African-American around the time he won the Iowa caucus in January 2008. To me, I could care less about the color of one's skin or his religion. It's what's in his heart and head that is important. Of course, as a journalist who is in the profession of assessing labels for the sake of simplicity and laziness, I refer to Obama's … [Read more...] about Race In America
A balanced view of Obama
The New Yorker recently ran a profile of Italian cashmere magnate Brunello Cucinelli. [Subscription only] There is much to admire both in his entrepreneurial spirit and his concern for his employees. Last week, I stopped by the Saks Fifth Avenue flagship in New York, where I discovered one of Mr. Cucinelli's cashmere throws on sale for $3000, and a pastel linen jacket for a … [Read more...] about A balanced view of Obama
Getting Ready for the Easter Bunny: Do the Bunny Hop (Videos)
Here at The Moderate Voice we try to offer you much more than just politics. We try to offer you useful tools to apply in your daily lives. So here are two videos that will get you ready to welcome the Easter Bunny to your houses tomorrow morning -- two renditions of the original Bunny Hop: And then there's this version: … [Read more...] about Getting Ready for the Easter Bunny: Do the Bunny Hop (Videos)