"Future news from September, 2012: After eight infuriated, highly-armed polar bears seize the U.N. General Assembly, the world suddenly realizes it confronts a new form of terrorism." As the climate Change Summit in Copenhagen draws ever closer, pessimism is growing over whether the biggest gas emitters will take action to stop what most scientists assure us will be a … [Read more...] about Climate Change: World Must Ratchet Up Pressure on Obama (Le Figaro, France)
Don’t Buy Health Care? Pay $25,000. Can’t Afford The Fine? Spend A Year In Jail.
Guest Post By Leonidas Leonidas is a frequent, right of center commenter on The Moderate Voice and has been invited as a Guest Voice. ********** Policio reports: Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) received a handwritten note Thursday from Joint Committee on Taxation Chief of Staff Tom Barthold confirming the penalty for failing to pay the up to $1,900 fee for not buying … [Read more...] about Don’t Buy Health Care? Pay $25,000. Can’t Afford The Fine? Spend A Year In Jail.
Andrew J. Bacevich: Turn the Hot War Into a Cold War
Having read two of Andrew J. Bacevich's books now (The New American Militarism and The Limits of Power: The End of American Exceptionalism) I know that he is always worth reading, even when you don't agree with his conclusions (although I mostly do). … [Read more...] about Andrew J. Bacevich: Turn the Hot War Into a Cold War
William Safire, 1929-2009
William Safire has died at the age of 79. He had pancreatic cancer. Same thing that killed Dan Fogelberg, although in his case at a much younger age. … [Read more...] about William Safire, 1929-2009
After 35 Years, A Case Of Tuna And Stolen Pension
It must be a bittersweet experience for my mother-in-law and hundreds of cannery workers being honored today for their contributions to a city's industry that was snuffed a generation ago. The San Diego Unified Port District spent a half-million dollars to erect a bronze sculpture and commemorate the site honoring tuna and albacore fishing and cannery workers at the … [Read more...] about After 35 Years, A Case Of Tuna And Stolen Pension
Streisand at the Village Vanguard
My friend Sam, who lives around the corner, wrote earlier in the week, "Saturday night Babs Streisand is giving a one time only night at the Village Vangard where she got her start. Can you imagine?" It was her first time back to the club in 48 years: Max Gordon, late owner of the Village Vanguard, liked to tell the possibly exaggerated story of the “little pisher” who hung … [Read more...] about Streisand at the Village Vanguard
Why Not Let Foreignors and Aliens Buy Into Health Insurance?
Despite all the dysfunctional attributes of the U.S. healthcare and health insurance industries, we do provide some people with the world’s best medical care as a result of cutting-edge technology and procedures provided by the world’s most talented physicians at some of our top institutions. People with real life-threatening diseases come from around the world to many … [Read more...] about Why Not Let Foreignors and Aliens Buy Into Health Insurance?
Iran Test Fires Missiles
Iran's in-your-face stance continues as it test fire short-range missiles, with some cable reports saying long range tests will come in coming months. The New York Times reports: Iran test-fired short-range missiles as its elite Revolutionary Guards began war games on Sunday aimed at boosting the Islamic Republic's deterrent capabilities, official media reported. The … [Read more...] about Iran Test Fires Missiles
America’s Arms Bazaar Comes To New Delhi
As the cartoon above says, War is Big Business. This major issue is discussed, if at all, in passing by the mainstream media. Newspapers in India's capital city had to borrow a news story from The Washington Post that "major US arms suppliers are wooing Indian defence agents and officials." Emily Wax of The Washington Post continues: Almost every weekend, there are cocktails … [Read more...] about America’s Arms Bazaar Comes To New Delhi
Tandoori Chicken Celebrates 80th Birthday
We are told that Tandoori murga (or chicken), India's contribution to the world of cuisine, was born in Peshawar in 1929. After India's bloody Partition, the shop (later known as "Moti Mahal") moved to Daryaganj in New Delhi, very close to the ancestral house of Pakistan's Pervez Musharraf. Tandoori chicken gained in popularity when India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal … [Read more...] about Tandoori Chicken Celebrates 80th Birthday
U.N.
David Fitzsimmons, The Arizona Star This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about U.N.
Further Thoughts on Kentucky Lynching
I am working on a roundup post of media coverage and blogger reaction to the Bill Sparkman lynching story, from all points of the political spectrum. For now, I want to share one particular thought that's been percolating in my head (ugh, terrible visuals on that!). First, however, I have to provide a bit of context for my thought. The controversy over this incident … [Read more...] about Further Thoughts on Kentucky Lynching
The Demise of the F-22 Raptor: The Story Behind the Story
By now, most of the stories behind the dazzling rise and ignominious demise of a proud, magnificent bird, the F-22 Raptor, have been told. Stories about the brilliant design and cutting edge manufacturing and assembly technology. A technology that has been described as "the only thing more complex than the human body." (I was fortunate to visit the “mile-long” Lockheed … [Read more...] about The Demise of the F-22 Raptor: The Story Behind the Story
Should Social Networks Be Non-Profits?
Bo Peabody in the WaPo: I launched the social networking site Tripod in 1995. By 1998, it was the eighth-largest site on the Web. But Tripod was never a successful business. Social networks aren't great places to advertise. You can't charge users for their services. And they never gain enough momentum to survive in the stock market. Indeed, no social network has ever made it … [Read more...] about Should Social Networks Be Non-Profits?
Artificial Retina Shows Concrete Results
Following up my Kurzweil Was Right post from the other day, The NYTimes today reports on an experiment testing whether electrodes implanted in the eye can restore sight. No miracle cure, and it doesn't work for glaucoma, the artificial retina produces the sensation of sight. It draws on cochlear implants for the deaf and is partly financed by a cochlear implant maker: The … [Read more...] about Artificial Retina Shows Concrete Results
Looney TUNes
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Looney TUNes
Obama’s JFK Test
The newest revelation of Iran's nuclear sneakiness echoes what happened in 1962 when the Soviets furtively put missiles into Cuba, but John F. Kennedy's problem was a faceoff for a few days compared to the complex struggle that will play out over the coming months. Yet the key issue is the same--testing an American president's skill and resolve by an adversary who may be … [Read more...] about Obama’s JFK Test
Obama Administration Still Fails To Recognize Honduran Government
Guest Post By Leonidas Leonidas is a frequent, right of center commenter on The Moderate Voice and has been invited as a Guest Voice. ********** The Congressional Research Service (CRS) has released a new report on the ousting of former President Manuel Zelaya. Among its findings: Available sources indicate that the judicial and legislative branches applied … [Read more...] about Obama Administration Still Fails To Recognize Honduran Government
Supreme Leader in Plea to Iranians Not to Fall for West’s ‘Soft War’: Kayhan, Islamic Republic of Iran
Unidentified members of Iran's august Assembly of Experts, purported under Iran's revolutionary constitution to oversee and be capable of removing that nation's 'supreme leader' who never faces the verdict of the average voter. (The same can apparently be said of that nation's president, but setting that aside for the moment ... While Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is … [Read more...] about Supreme Leader in Plea to Iranians Not to Fall for West’s ‘Soft War’: Kayhan, Islamic Republic of Iran
Barack Obama’s Weekly Address (Video): On G20 and Iran
President Barack Obama's weekly radio You Tube Internet address touches on the G20 -- and the ongoing crisis with Iran: … [Read more...] about Barack Obama’s Weekly Address (Video): On G20 and Iran