What is common between Barack Obama and all these guys and gal...Monica Lewinsky, Napoleon Bonaparte, Oscar Peterson, Russell Baker, Dustin Hoffman, Louis Armstrong, Menachem Begin and Robert Redford? In Chinese astrology, as interpreted by my favourite Suzanne White, all of them are "Ox & Leo". (In my earlier posts I had mentioned about Suzanne's apt/fun descriptions about … [Read more...] about Barack Obama: Is This ‘Ox & Leo’ Powerhouse Infallible?
The Cost of Governing Afghanistan
Everything, it seems, has a price: Want to be a provincial police chief? It will cost you $100,000. Want to drive a convoy of trucks loaded with fuel across the country? Be prepared to pay $6,000 per truck, so the police will not tip off the Taliban. Need to settle a lawsuit over the ownership of your house? About $25,000, depending on the judge. “It is very … [Read more...] about The Cost of Governing Afghanistan
President-Elect Obama Is Getting Lots Of Advice
Hopefully, it'll be good advice. Here are some examples of good advice, via the late, great song parody writer Allan Sherman: … [Read more...] about President-Elect Obama Is Getting Lots Of Advice
Say No: Nicastro Asks for Bailout of Newspaper
There's a story told in my Old Country family, a type of 'the old man and the sea...' tale... about learning how to say No instead of continuing to make soulful responses to those who conduct themselves soullessly. In the case of the most recent 'wish' by a Connecticut lawmaker for the state's government to bail out a newspaper... being able to form the word no, and mean … [Read more...] about Say No: Nicastro Asks for Bailout of Newspaper
Let’s Get 2009 Off To A Showstopping Start
With a big, glitzy, rousing opening number. A bit of....classic Americana: … [Read more...] about Let’s Get 2009 Off To A Showstopping Start
The Joy of Sex Revised and Reviewed
From Ariel Levy's droll review of the new edition of the 1970s phenom, The Joy of Sex, which appears in this week's New Yorker: The book is still emphatically straight, but [British sexologist Susan] Quilliam has given it a gay-positive tone, in sharp contrast to [the original’s] advice that if you might be that way inclined it was better not to experiment too much with a … [Read more...] about The Joy of Sex Revised and Reviewed
The $6 Million Social Worker (Guest Voice)
Is the way people are paid in the United States way out of whack? In this Guest Voice post, journalism professor and author Walter Brasch looks at the issue. The $6 Million Social Worker by Walter Brasch The New York Yankees just bought a first baseman for $180 million. For the next eight years, Mark Teixeira will earn about $22.5 million a season. … [Read more...] about The $6 Million Social Worker (Guest Voice)
Gaza: People Standing Up, Governments Lying Down – Le Quotidien d’Oran of Algeria
To all readers of the Moderate Voice, HAPPY NEW YEAR from the people at WORLDMEETS.US Once again, America's image in the Muslim world is dropping due to Israel's use of U.S.-made weapons and Washington's perceived bias against the Palestinians and Arabs in general. So will Israel's latest military onslaught - which has resulted in large numbers of civilian casualties lead … [Read more...] about Gaza: People Standing Up, Governments Lying Down – Le Quotidien d’Oran of Algeria
230 Million People…
...now apparently more divided by a common language. The resistance reminds me a bit of wariness of attempts at metrifying the US. … [Read more...] about 230 Million People…
Una Vez Más: The Old Man and The Baby of New Year’s Iconology: A Lost Story
The Lost Story About What The Old Man and the New Baby Used to Mean for Human Action at New Year's We’re led to believe that New Year’s images are about the Old Year going out as a bent over old man… and the New Year toddling in as a grinning infant. That’s what the buycandy buywine buybeer folks would have us believe. But those are degraded images. Long ago, … [Read more...] about Una Vez Más: The Old Man and The Baby of New Year’s Iconology: A Lost Story
The Great Infrastructure Initiative Canard
We've all been hearing a lot about in-coming President Obama's plan to dramatically improve this nation's infrastructure with a huge new federal spending initiative—one akin to the way our national infrastructure was improved in the 1950s by the interstate highway building program. Sound great? Well, maybe not so great. Infrastructure improvements in this country … [Read more...] about The Great Infrastructure Initiative Canard
It’s 2009 And Still Counting in Minnesota
It is now, technically, a year later and the Coleman-Franken race is still on, albeit perhaps finally sputtering to an end---the ballots counting phase, that is. According to TPM Election Central: Al Franken could be declared the winner of the Minnesota recount as soon as Monday, but due to the peculiarities of Minnesota election law, Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) could … [Read more...] about It’s 2009 And Still Counting in Minnesota
Dear Bill – Just Say No
Rumors are now swirling that New York Governor may choose a "caretaker" Senator for Hillary Clinton's seat, as was also diligently reported below by our Editor-in-Chief. In general, this strikes me as a sound plan (and far better than looking at Carolyn Kennedy) but a more alarming prospect would be the idea of Bill Clinton as the caretaker in question. The former president … [Read more...] about Dear Bill – Just Say No
World Cartoonists Look At Young Year 2009
World cartoonists are taking a look at 2009, what could be ahead, and what kind of a year 2008 was. Here's a collection of some of the views of some of the world's top cartoonists: Cute baby: Cam Cardow, The Ottawa Citizen 2008-2009: Frederick Deligne, Nice-Matin, France … [Read more...] about World Cartoonists Look At Young Year 2009
Is Obama Bad for Bloggers?
Over two years and 2000 posts ago, George W. Bush made a blogger out of me. I was coasting along in octogenarian ease, writing an occasionally lofty OpEd piece or irate letter to the editor, when my reactions to what Bush was doing--rage, ridicule and disbelief--demanded a more immediate and unbuttoned outlet. Now, with Barack Obama on the horizon, a different set of … [Read more...] about Is Obama Bad for Bloggers?
New York Senate Seat: Kennedy Backlash Means “Place Holder” Clinton Or Cuomo?
Has Caroline Kennedy's push to fill Senator Hillary Clinton's remaining Senate seat time sparked a backlash so that what's likely to happen is that a big name "placeholder" will be asked to warm the seat for only two years instead? The AP is reporting that this could be case. And, indeed, it would seem the logical outcome if you've followed the stories about how New York … [Read more...] about New York Senate Seat: Kennedy Backlash Means “Place Holder” Clinton Or Cuomo?
Rumi: An Afghan-Born Poet Whom Americans Love
Mawlana Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Balkhi, whose 801st birth anniversary was celebrated last month, has for many years now remained the most popular poet in America. The translations of this 13th-century mystical Muslim scholar's - better known as Rumi - verse are hugely popular and have been used by Western pop stars such as Madonna. More here... A 13th-century Persian poet, … [Read more...] about Rumi: An Afghan-Born Poet Whom Americans Love
An Ode to Joe
Geoff Nunberg's pick for 2008's Word of the Year -- JOE. Give a listen. (The linguist can convey much more through the spoken word than in print): In 1942, FDR's vice president Henry Wallace made a famous speech where he described the 20th century as the Century of the Common Man, and for most of that period, the common man went by the name of Joe. The generic Joe Blow made … [Read more...] about An Ode to Joe
Yeah, Blagojevich is a Playground Pretender…But Burris Should Go to the Senate Anyway
Let me be clear about something at the outset: Based on the transcripts of some wiretapped conversations released by federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald, I have a decidedly negative impression of Illinois' Democratic governor, Rod Blagojevich. His profanity-laced declarations that he intended to sell his state's US Senate seat reminded me of a pathetic playground pretender … [Read more...] about Yeah, Blagojevich is a Playground Pretender…But Burris Should Go to the Senate Anyway
Australia: To Bare Or Not To Bare
Sydney's Bondy Beach is among a few designated beaches in Australia where top-less bathers are permitted to enjoy the sun, sand and the sea. In fact such beaches are a major draw for tourists too!!! But as Australians begin their long summer holidays this year, a campaign is on to tighten nudity laws. A Christian fundamentalist politician, the Rev Fred Nile, is calling for … [Read more...] about Australia: To Bare Or Not To Bare