Shawn Goldsmith, a Long Island teenager, has earned a place of pride in the history of Scouting. The Associated Press reports that the young lad has earned all 121 merit badges offered by the Boy Scouts of America. "It's an accomplishment the local arm of the organization calls 'an almost unheard-of feat'." Being an avid follower of the Scout movement worldwide and an old … [Read more...] about Shawn Goldsmith: A Scouting Legend
Music Review: “Still Swinging In Texas”
I thought I'd write my last post of the year on TMV on a subject I am not an expert on. ("What else is new?", you say). The subject is music, more specifically "Western Swing and Country Music." Although I am not an expert in music, especially Country and Western music, I don't let such a little thing keep me from recognizing and enjoying such fine music or from telling … [Read more...] about Music Review: “Still Swinging In Texas”
Buried By The Times
John Cole, The Scranton Times-Tribune … [Read more...] about Buried By The Times
Burris May Get Cut Off At The Pass
Fellow blogger Tony Campbell has already posted on the issues the Senate might face in trying to block the seating of Senate appointee Burris. However a new wrinkle has entered the fray as Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White has indicated that he may refuse to certify the appointment, which is required by Senate Rules. If White does refuse to certify the appointment, … [Read more...] about Burris May Get Cut Off At The Pass
NASA is NEP (Not Exactly Prompt)
I wish I had six years to finish work reports. Of course, our reports aren't 400 pages long. Then again, I have a team of three, and I suspect NASA has a few more. Is this seriously the best the agency can do? … [Read more...] about NASA is NEP (Not Exactly Prompt)
Why Thanks Folks!
On behalf of my fellow bloggers here at The Moderate Voice, we humbly thank you, our readers, for nominating us for the 2008 Weblog Awards. We are a finalist for Best Major Blog (Authority over 1001). The category looks like this: Best Major Blog (Authority over 1001) Outside the Beltway Dark Roasted Blend cjane enjoy it The Moderate … [Read more...] about Why Thanks Folks!
Why Barack Obama Is A “Magic Negro”
I've been mentally laughing uncontrollably due to the recent re-hashing of the Barack The Magic Negro tune and resulting commentary. I thought the song was funny back then and I still think it is funny. Why would this black guy find the song funny? One, because I have a jailhouse brand of humor at times and two, because any honest black person knows that many folks in the … [Read more...] about Why Barack Obama Is A “Magic Negro”
The Minimum Wage – Bad for the Middle Class
The theory behind the minimum wage is simple; to make sure that everyone with a job makes at least enough to get by. It is the right thing to do, right? Everyone needs a livable wage, right? Sure, but only if they earn it, right? Basic Economics: A product’s price is determined by the market, not the cost to make it. The profit a company makes on the product is determined … [Read more...] about The Minimum Wage – Bad for the Middle Class
‘The ‘Shipwreck’: Gaza Tamps Down Hopes for Obama: Le Temps of Switzerland
What will Israel's recent 'shock and awe' campaign in Gaza do to President-Elect Obama's potential to live up to the world's expectations? According to Swiss newspaper Le Temps, the prognosis is not good. The Le Temps editorial says in part: "We dreamed of a Barack Obama who would achieve in the coming months what his predecessor had failed to accomplish in two terms. … [Read more...] about ‘The ‘Shipwreck’: Gaza Tamps Down Hopes for Obama: Le Temps of Switzerland
Senate Posturing vs. State Sovereignty
First of all, let me apologize in advance for any misapplication of constitutional law that I may make over the next few paragraphs. I am not a constitutional scholar and cannot pretend to be one, however, I am somewhat familiar with the document... at least familiar enough to write a blog entry. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) stated that Blagojevich's pick of … [Read more...] about Senate Posturing vs. State Sovereignty
Change and Change: 2008 and 1968
Those years are like bookends to our times, when one period of American life ended and another began. After Democrats held the White House for 28 out of 36 years, the ground shifted in 1968 and, for 28 of the following 40, Republicans took control. In 1968, Richard Nixon promised to "Bring Us Together" just as, four decades later, Barack Obama offers "Change." Back … [Read more...] about Change and Change: 2008 and 1968
Detroit’s Big 3: A Modest Proposal
Over the weekend, Becker and Posner took their respective shots at the UAW ... and unions, in general. I believe great value can be offered by unions of freelancers -- e.g., common artisans whose pay is primarily derived from diverse but finite projects rather than from single-entity employers -- but I tend to share Posner's and Becker's doubts about the role and value of … [Read more...] about Detroit’s Big 3: A Modest Proposal
‘Dear Chip …’
An Open Letter to Mr. Chip Saltsman: Hello, my name is Dennis Sanders. I'm not anyone special, just some guy in Minnesota who blogs from time to time. I wanted to write to you about your little storm that has been brewing since you sent a holiday CD with a little ditty called "Barack the Magic Negro." I think the whole idea of sending out this CD was a major bad idea … [Read more...] about ‘Dear Chip …’
Bangladesh Elections: Secular Party Wins
South Asia, especially India, has reasons to celebrate the return of secular and democratic government in Bangladesh. Former Prime Minister Ms Sheikh Hasina's (photo above) Awami League has won a landslide victory in Bangladesh's election, reports the BBC. It is heartening that democracy has also returned to India's immediate neighbourhood, including Nepal, Bhutan and … [Read more...] about Bangladesh Elections: Secular Party Wins
The Top-Ten Comedic News Stories of 2008 (Guest Voice)
So 2008 was a sad, tragic, scary and catastrophic year? Think again: political humorist Will Durst offers this list of some of the funniest developments in the news: The Top-Ten Comedic News Stories of 2008 Raging Moderate, by Will Durst Okay. Just so you know: The Top-Ten Comedic News Stories of the Year are as different from the Top-Ten Legitimate News Stories of … [Read more...] about The Top-Ten Comedic News Stories of 2008 (Guest Voice)
McConnell’s Line in the Sand
And so we learn that Sen. Mitch McConnell, leader of a declining Republican caucus, wants "a weeklong cooling off period between when the [expected economic stimulus] bill is drafted and when it is voted on, allowing time to dissect it for signs of 'fraud and waste.'" Good for McConnell. Despite at least one, unkind protest over the Senator's sudden, rediscovered love for … [Read more...] about McConnell’s Line in the Sand
Farewell to All That — Bob Herbert Joins In
An awful lot has been said and written lately about the failed Bush Presidency and about his upcoming good riddance and good comeuppance. I have tried my hand at it. But today, New York Times columnist Bob Herbert truly says it all and says it best in his "Add Up the Damage." Of course, Bush defenders, if there are any left out there, will bristle because Herbert … [Read more...] about Farewell to All That — Bob Herbert Joins In
Repeating History in Afghanistan
I'm sometimes at a loss for words when writing about Afghanistan because I have family there, because I know many ordinary Afghans see the United States as an unwelcome occupying force at this point, because I believe that we've seriously dropped the ball and have an obligation to ensure the Taliban never regains power, and because I don't have a clue what the right strategy … [Read more...] about Repeating History in Afghanistan
Perspectives on Israel, Gaza
Per my upbringing, I'm instinctively pro-Israel. I'm also terribly un-educated on the names, faces, arguments, and counter-arguments surrounding the current conflict and the history leading up to it. I thus took a few minutes this morning to read several related items: one from New York, one from London, and one from Jerusalem. If you're similarly seeking perspective, I … [Read more...] about Perspectives on Israel, Gaza
Use Those Gift Cards Soon
It's always a warning we hear at holiday time, but given the economy, it is even more worth considering: Use those holiday gift cards soon. An estimated $24.9 billion was spent on gift cards this holiday season, according to the National Retail Federation. You were probably part of that statistic. While many people like to hold on to gift cards for something special to … [Read more...] about Use Those Gift Cards Soon