This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. UPDATE: Here's a video of Obama's signing and his comments: Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy … [Read more...] about Stemcell
Attention Rush And Sean
She must be a RINO: “I’m very grateful that President Obama has lifted the restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research,” [former first lady Nancy Reagan] wrote in a statement released shortly after Obama reversed the Bush administration limits. “These new rules will now make it possible for scientists to move forward. I urge researchers to make use of … [Read more...] about Attention Rush And Sean
Obama Creates Post, Appoints Ambassador-at-Large for International Women’s Issues
Major hat-tip to RHReality Check. From AFP: US President Barack Obama announced Friday the creation of a new foreign policy position designed to tackle global women's issues. Obama named Melanne Verveer, an aide in former president Bill Clinton's administration, as ambassador-at-large for international women's issues. She will serve at the State Department under … [Read more...] about Obama Creates Post, Appoints Ambassador-at-Large for International Women’s Issues
America’s Withdrawal and Iran’s Unquenched ‘Appetite for Expansion’: From Sotal Iraq
Unidentified members of Iran's 'Assembly of Experts' - the body that is designated to elect and 'oversee' the Supreme Leader. In some quarters of Iraq, there is growing alarm about the impending withdrawal of the United States and Iran's ongoing effort, as Aziz Al-Hajj of Iraq's Sotal Iraq newspaper writes, to "swallow up Iraq politically, economically and … [Read more...] about America’s Withdrawal and Iran’s Unquenched ‘Appetite for Expansion’: From Sotal Iraq
Top 10 Newspapers That Will Fold Or Go Digi By 1/10, Courtesy of TIME
Read it and shake your head - because, again, with this kind of thought (that advertisers will soon realize that no one clicks on Internet ads and will then come back to the newspapers and save them - no, really, that’s what’s being suggested) being proffered by the professional journalist atmosphere, they’re only tempting the fates as they scrunch the blinders … [Read more...] about Top 10 Newspapers That Will Fold Or Go Digi By 1/10, Courtesy of TIME
In Sacramento, The Homeless Shelters Are Full; Tent City “Houses” 1200 People
Longtime readers know that I have long thought a depression was inevitable for the US and the world in general because of the enormity of our debt. In the fall I wrote a guest post that took the unusual position that we embrace a deflationary deflation. The economic rationale is described succinctly in this post on Naked Capitalism that points out it is taking all the world's … [Read more...] about In Sacramento, The Homeless Shelters Are Full; Tent City “Houses” 1200 People
The Myth of Paid Content
I think that if I hear another newspaper person utter this phrase -- no more free content -- I will scream. It's either that or shoot the guy. (It's almost always a guy.) The latest missive to feature this demand comes from David Carr, writing in the Sunday New York Times (tip). Howard Kurtz alluded to it when writing about the demise of The Rocky Mountain News, asserting … [Read more...] about The Myth of Paid Content
Wired for War: Robots in the Battlefield
The video above is from the Army news channel "Live Fire" Benning Report on the Boston Dynamics "Big Dog" robot. Host Amy Gunn of the Fort Benning Public Affairs Office breathlessly tells us that the robotics revolution is here: Since 9/11 the army has effectively employed thousands of flying robots like the Raven [link] and the Predator [link] and ground-based robots like … [Read more...] about Wired for War: Robots in the Battlefield
Thank You Mr. President
Here's the shortest blog I ever wrote. I have two words for President Obama rescinding Bush's ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research today. It's an expression in Latin. Laudate deum. … [Read more...] about Thank You Mr. President
The Key To Our Healthcare Need is “Quality”
The Key To Our Healthcare Need is "Quality" by Jim Bell When President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into law the Social Security Acton August 14, 1935, the national focus on taking care of its citizens began with a simple idea to create a mandatory annuity with payroll deductions which, had they gone to an insurance policy, would have paid a much greater dividend in the … [Read more...] about The Key To Our Healthcare Need is “Quality”
Bye American (Guest Voice)
Bye American by Will Durst Can we stop with the waving of the sharp instruments for a minute and speak rationally to this whole ugly recession mess we find ourselves currently mired in? C’mon. You know what recession mess I’m talking about. You’re packing a bag lunch and taking mass transit to visit the public library to use their ancient computer to check out the job … [Read more...] about Bye American (Guest Voice)
Comment Box Problems
Currently, for those of you using Mozilla Firefox as a web browser, the comment box is pushed to the bottom of the site. Commenting still works but you will have to scroll to the bottom of the page in order to do this. I have notified Disqus (our comment hosting provider) about this and we are working to resolve this issue as soon as possible. Furthermore, the comment policy … [Read more...] about Comment Box Problems
The Ultimate Epithet: The Grandmother Who Climbed a Fence to Fight for Union Rights
By Mark Soifer My grandmother sailed from Russia in a cattle boat cradling her infant son, Joseph. She was not an admirer of the Czar. My grandfather followed soon after deserting the army and crossing the continent on foot. The family settled in Chester, Pennsylvania, an industrial town on the Delaware River near Philadelphia. My grandfather died of exposure to chemicals … [Read more...] about The Ultimate Epithet: The Grandmother Who Climbed a Fence to Fight for Union Rights
Spring Forward!
Happy Monday, and welcome to another week at The Moderate Voice. For those of you who were busy or out of town over the weekend, remember that we set the clocks forward yesterday. This means that most of you will be losing one hour of sleep. Unless, of course, you earn more than $250,000 per year, in which case you will lose two hours and eleven minutes. (Rimshot!) The good … [Read more...] about Spring Forward!
Rethinking The Mortgage Problem
Over the past few weeks there have been various discussions on how to resolve the mortgage and housing problem. Since this is an subject that crosses my desk with some regularity I have understandably given it a great deal of thought. In looking at a few of the proposed solutions I find that some could be quite helpful while others might not do much good, at least not in my … [Read more...] about Rethinking The Mortgage Problem
North Korean ‘Election’ Results
In a stunning triumph North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has won re-election to the North Korean legislature. He managed to win 100% on 100% turnout in his legislative district which means nobody in that district will die of lead poisioning tonight. Observers tensely await the outcome in the other districts to see how many other seats will be decided by 100% vote with 100% … [Read more...] about North Korean ‘Election’ Results
244-Year Old British Bank, Lloyds TSB, Nationalized
Some big names are going down in this crisis. We've already lost Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers - both of which date far into the 19th century. General Motors may be next in the American line of fire. But Great Britain, where modern industrial capitalism was born, has finally sealed the fate of one of its oldest firms. Lloyds TSB, first created in 1765, has now been taken … [Read more...] about 244-Year Old British Bank, Lloyds TSB, Nationalized
A Serious Blogger Needs Your Help ASAP (Things That Matter)
EDITOR's NOTE: This was posted this weekend and is being reposted now. The blogger, Kathy, is about $200 short of her goal as of Monday. Please read this (if you haven't yet) and if you agree, perhaps you can help her out. Here's her UPDATE. About two years ago I lost my father to lung cancer. I also just learned that a high school music teacher who was a mentor and dear … [Read more...] about A Serious Blogger Needs Your Help ASAP (Things That Matter)
World Gobbles Up US Treasuries to Fund Our Deficit
Traditionally, when the US runs a budget deficit it sets off a cycle of rising interest rates. After all, sale of US treasuries goes a long way toward financing the operations of the US government - particularly when tax revenues don't meet expenses. And when the US has has to increase the sale of treasuries to fund the deficit, investors can demand a higher yield in return. … [Read more...] about World Gobbles Up US Treasuries to Fund Our Deficit
Rush Limbaugh Is A Big …
Liberal comedian Al Franken wrote a book titled Rush Limbaugh Is A Big Fat Idiot. Conservative David Frum wrote this week's cover story for Newsweek Magazine under the title "Why Rush Is Wrong." I have avoided the comic opera now playing between Limbaugh and the White House which has borrowed Clintonian tactics of setting up Rush as a straw man. Despite how much Rush … [Read more...] about Rush Limbaugh Is A Big …