The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the Obama administration will today unveil something truly useful for us to do with the nation's tax dollars. The nation's power grid has long been in decrepit shape, representing inefficiency, a waste of resources and exposure to widespread brown-outs, power failures and potential terrorist threats. We may finally see some badly needed … [Read more...] about Is the Smart Grid Coming at Last?
James Arthur Ray Books Are Cancelled: The Empire Builder on Money and Spirituality
James Ray who has a mega-spirituality business that revolves around 'wealth getting,' held a retreat in Arizona two weeks ago. For reasons not clear, he allegedly built an ungodly large 20x20 "sweatlodge," and purported to be copying Native American sacred practices. He crammed 50 people into that skeletal structure covered by plastic tarps, and then, with the rocks smoking hot … [Read more...] about James Arthur Ray Books Are Cancelled: The Empire Builder on Money and Spirituality
Beware of Adorable, Homicidal Lamps
Sam Reich's “Pixar Intro Parody,” written by Sam and Dan, animated by effects superhero Mike Ritchie, scored by music supervillain Carl Sondrol. Pixar Tweets, "careful as it's not suitable for minors, and probably shouldn't be viewed at work." It's that happy ending that does it in. … [Read more...] about Beware of Adorable, Homicidal Lamps
The Samaritan of Iraq: A Short Story About Doppelgangers
The Samaritans were a despised and denigrated tribal group in ancient times. Yet, who was it who had the eyes to see, the heart to act when all others avoided the battered and ran away? It was a Samaritan. As the ancient story is told... a poor soul lay by the side of the road, beaten to a bloody pulp. Men of the priestly classes crossed to the other side of the road to … [Read more...] about The Samaritan of Iraq: A Short Story About Doppelgangers
Stop Dithering
John Darkow, Columbia Daily Tribune, Missouri This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Stop Dithering
A SIMPLE AND HONEST WAY TO PAY FOR HEALTHCARE REFORMS
Democrats and the Administration are test-flying all sorts of behind the scenes tax increases to pay for healthcare reforms. Or else they claim that proposed Medicare savings will pay for expanding coverage to uninsured people and increasing patient rights on existing health insurance policies. After 30 years of bipartisan tax cuts and bipartisan spending increases, I don’t … [Read more...] about A SIMPLE AND HONEST WAY TO PAY FOR HEALTHCARE REFORMS
“In America, People Like Choices”
That is part of a very interesting conversation that TPM's Brian Beutler had with Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY): … [Read more...] about “In America, People Like Choices”
OTM On Girl Talk: They Say That I Stole This Song
On The Media devoted its entire show this week to The Future of the Music Industry. The occasion is the 10 year anniversary of the record industry confrontation of the peer-to-peer file-sharing service, Napster. The hour is guided by public radio and TV reporter Rick Karr. I encourage you to listen to the full program, but today I choose to quote from the piece that looks at … [Read more...] about OTM On Girl Talk: They Say That I Stole This Song
Does Harry Reid Have the Votes To Pass An Opt Out Public Option in Health Care Reform?
And now the key question is emerging -- so get ready to hear it often in coming days: does Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid have the votes to pass the opt-out public option in the health reform care battle? Or does his announcement portend an ugly mega-partisan battle that could end with the passage of something less with national partisan polarization lines more starkly … [Read more...] about Does Harry Reid Have the Votes To Pass An Opt Out Public Option in Health Care Reform?
The Death Toll From Baghdad Bombing Still Rising
The New York Times is reporting now that two day care centers were hit in the blast. At least 30 children are dead: … [Read more...] about The Death Toll From Baghdad Bombing Still Rising
Some Newsbits
Just a couple of stories that came across my desk that I thought were interesting. In Northern California near the town of Fort Bragg a dead blue whale has come ashore. Sadly it appears that the noble creature was struck by a ship that was mapping the ocean floor. It does not appear that the ship was to blame, the odds of such a collision happening are pretty small and it is … [Read more...] about Some Newsbits
Reid Makes It Official: It’s the Opt-Out Public Option
I really didn't think the old geezer had it in him: … [Read more...] about Reid Makes It Official: It’s the Opt-Out Public Option
Weekend Global Headlines About the United States
It was a busy weekend and I'd like to give people at the Moderate Voice a heads up on some of what we've been covering. From Pakistan's The Nation Newspaper, the editorial headlined Hillary Clinton Should Mind Her Own Media! attacks the secretary of state for criticizing Pakistan's media coverage of the huge U.S. aid bill to that nation. Then for Pakistan's Pak Tribune in … [Read more...] about Weekend Global Headlines About the United States
Most Mortgages Are Probably Invalid And Courts Are Starting To Notice
Naked Capitalism has a very interesting post up about the consequences of lazy mortgage securitization. A Federal judge has thrown out a mortgage that was challenged during a foreclosure hearing. Yes, he didn't just throw out the foreclosure, but the mortgage itself, giving the owner the house free and clear. While this is the first case of that happening, more and more … [Read more...] about Most Mortgages Are Probably Invalid And Courts Are Starting To Notice
A Tax on Red Meat? Oh No You Don’t.
I wouldn't have even noticed this article from Peter Singer at the New York Daily News today had I not heard about it on both CNN and MSNBC first. (The frequently preachy Mika Brzezinski was going off on yet another tangent about how there should be a tax on red meat to offset the damage that diners are doing to themselves and the health care system. None of this seems to … [Read more...] about A Tax on Red Meat? Oh No You Don’t.
Texas, the Eyes of Justice Are Upon You (Guest Voice)
Texas, the Eyes of Justice Are Upon You by Bill Moyers and Michael Winship On October 13, we lost a resolute champion of the law, a man who left his impact on the lives of untold numbers of Americans. His very name made his life's work almost inevitable, a matter of destiny. William Wayne Justice was a Federal judge for the Eastern District of Texas. That's right, he … [Read more...] about Texas, the Eyes of Justice Are Upon You (Guest Voice)
The Answer
Q: Mr. President, do you prefer the "trigger" or "opt out" approaches to the public option? A: Yes. … [Read more...] about The Answer
The World Series: The Yankees Versus the Phillies
Or is it The Big Apple versus The Big Scrapple? … [Read more...] about The World Series: The Yankees Versus the Phillies
Has Malaysia Gone Islamic?
Has Malaysia gone Islamic? Maznah Mohamad, visiting senior research fellow at the Asia Research Institute of the National University of Singapore, looks at the issue on RealClearWorld. Here's how he begins his piece: In Malaysia's current political climate, it is no longer possible to distinguish Islamic radicals from Islamic moderates. Despite official boasting about the … [Read more...] about Has Malaysia Gone Islamic?
Could the U.S. see a Military Coup?
Are the nation’s fiscal, economic, military, political and social challenges setting us up for a Military Coup? Will the U.S. Military Industrial Complex, acting through our Joint Chiefs of Staff or some other high-level corps of U.S. Military officers, and supported by a variety of angry business leaders and extreme conservatives be so resentful of any changes to our national … [Read more...] about Could the U.S. see a Military Coup?