How many times do sentient killer robots have to turn against and enslave the human race in science fiction books and films before we realize that building killer sentient robots is generally not a good idea? The guy quoted in this article thinks half the U.S. military will be "half machine, half human" by 2015. Haven't the people working on this technology watched The Matrix? … [Read more...] about Will the Military be Half-Machine by 2015?
Stimulus Fine Tuning: The Way It Should Be Done
From a Tribune Co. report, this passage seems to signal the most reasonable and promising path forward: [Obama] met Wednesday with two Senate Republicans and a Democrat considered to be key moderates: Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, both Maine Republicans, and Sen. Ben Nelson, a Nebraska Democrat. The three are part of a group of senators seeking to "scrub" the … [Read more...] about Stimulus Fine Tuning: The Way It Should Be Done
Google Latitude: Cool or Scary ?
The folks at Google have unveiled their latest application and my own reaction to it has shifted between an initial 'Wow how cool is that' to a bit of 'Gee that might be a bit creepy'. At this point I am still not sure which side of the internal mental debate will win but I thought it worth a debate. The system is called Latitude and is a system to allow users to keep track … [Read more...] about Google Latitude: Cool or Scary ?
Salary Cap For Executives
Patrick Chappatte, The International Herald Tribune This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Salary Cap For Executives
Bonfire of the Vanities 2009
When Tom Wolfe dramatized the Age of Greed in the 1980s, his novel satirizing the downfall of a Wall Street Master of the Universe was not taken as prophecy, but reality is overtaking his art. Now David Brooks, the New York Times pop sociologist in residence, is declaring that "after the TARP, the auto bailout, the stimulus package, the Fed rescue packages and various other … [Read more...] about Bonfire of the Vanities 2009
Time to Roast Chicken Little-ism
Much needs to be done to right the US economy. Democrats and Republicans seem to agree on the need for stimulus, though not on the means for doing it. Unemployment is still too high. Solvent banks need to make loans. Corporate executives need to be reined in. Government money can't be doled out like penny candy. Unemployment insurance and Medicaid monies need to be available. … [Read more...] about Time to Roast Chicken Little-ism
A Conservative Take on Health Care Reform
I've told this story a few times, but I will tell it again: In November of 1996, I fell ill. It started as a flu which became pnuemonia and then a massive infection. The end result was that I was in the hospital for two weeks as they tried to get the infection under control. At the time, I didn't have health insurance. I was 27 and working for a coffee chain that did … [Read more...] about A Conservative Take on Health Care Reform
What Honeybee Insurance???
Kevin Drum noticed that Neil Cavuto has been carrying on for the past week about an item in the stimulus package. Cavuto calls it honeybee insurance: Mitch McConnell and David Vitter have joined in on the Senate floor to mock this disgraceful waste of taxpayer money. It's shocking! Now, you will be unsurprised to learn that the program in question isn't honeybee insurance at … [Read more...] about What Honeybee Insurance???
Quote Of The Day: Obama Let Guard Down And Is Losing Stimulus Fight To GOP
Our political Quote of the Day comes from Washington Post columnist E. J. Dionne, Jr. who details how President Barack Obama has begun quickly losing the stimulus fight to a defeated GOP: The irony of President Barack Obama's Blue Tuesday is that the wall-to-wall television interviews he granted were designed not to apologize for Tom Daschle's fall from grace but to fight … [Read more...] about Quote Of The Day: Obama Let Guard Down And Is Losing Stimulus Fight To GOP
The Goverati
Dr. Mark Drapeau writing at Read/WriteWeb has a piece today on Government 2.0: the rise of the goverati. What is the goverati? It is made up of people with first-hand knowledge of how the government operates, who understand how to use social software to accomplish a variety of government missions, and who want to use that knowledge for the benefit of all. The goverati … [Read more...] about The Goverati
What Would You Do ?
Every once in a while a program comes on to television that really catches your eye. In a world full of reality shows and numerous versions of American Idol, it is not often that you find one that tests you with some really good social commentary and observations on society. Well one new show that I think does this quite well is an ABC program called "What Would You Do … [Read more...] about What Would You Do ?
New Rule For Presidential Appointments
On the campaign trails and during the debates, presidential candidate Barack Obama argued the power of lobbyists had to be curbed and the Washington political culture changed. I said at the time, and I quote myself accurately, "lotsa luck, fella." Nary a honeymoon, not the first 100 days, but just 15 short days into his new administration, President Obama finds himself … [Read more...] about New Rule For Presidential Appointments
Obama’s Executive Pay Proposals: A Good Start But It Needs Work
As you have probably heard, President Obama has offered a plan to restrict the salaries paid to the officers of companies getting money from the federal bailout programs. The plan as proposed would limit pay to $ 500,000 per year although the officers could get stock compensation with the understanding that the stock could not be sold or vest until the government was fully … [Read more...] about Obama’s Executive Pay Proposals: A Good Start But It Needs Work
Is New Rochelle School Crossing The Line To Politicization With Pro-Obama Project?
When is an elementary school project a civics project and when does it cross the line into political indoctrination? Read THIS POST about a pro-Obama project at an elementary school in New Rochelle, NY. Does it cross the line? Give us your view in comments. … [Read more...] about Is New Rochelle School Crossing The Line To Politicization With Pro-Obama Project?
Contribute To The Moderate Voice’s Bailout
NOTE: This has run before but will be run periodically. There are newer posts under this so when you're done, keep scrolling. Every year at this time we hold TMV's annual fundraising drive. And this year, in keeping with the national craze, we're calling it The TMV Bailout. But unlike General Motors, which asked for billions, or the banks, that asked for billions, TMV's … [Read more...] about Contribute To The Moderate Voice’s Bailout
How do Obama’s Cabinet Nominations Stack Up to History?
With all of the attention being paid to the implosion of several nominees for President Obama's cabinet, it seems an apt time to put these nominations in historical context. How many presidential cabinet nominations have failed over the course of our nation's history? Which president holds the record for the most failed nominees? How does the current crop compare to their … [Read more...] about How do Obama’s Cabinet Nominations Stack Up to History?
How To Draw Obama (Guest Voice)
With a new President, it means cartoonists have to fine tune their skills at drawing the new Prez. In this Guest Voice, MSNBC blogger and cartoonist Daryl Cagle gives away a few of his secrets. How to Draw Obama by Daryl Cagle Obama seems like an easy guy to draw; he’s skinny, has a big chin, expressive eyebrows and lips. As it turns out, no matter how a cartoonist … [Read more...] about How To Draw Obama (Guest Voice)
What Is It With Democrats And Taxes ?
About three years ago it seemed like every time you turned on the television there was another Republican involved in a sex scandal. For some reason it appeared that Republicans just could not avoid being caught in bed (or bathroom) with someone and the party suffered for it. Despite the fact that undoubtedly Democrats were just as capable of having sex scandals, they just … [Read more...] about What Is It With Democrats And Taxes ?
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Playing it Straight
Alan Abramowitz on Playing it Straight: The Minnesota Model of Election Administration Late night comics have feasted on the disputed U.S. Senate race between the incumbent Norm Coleman and the Democratic challenger and former comedian Al Franken. News coverage has ridiculed the campaign's hypocrisy and hyperbole. Commentators have lampooned inconsistencies and missing … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Playing it Straight
Obama Cabinet Drama
Nate Beeler, The Washington Examiner This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Obama Cabinet Drama