So many people have staggered away from Donald Trump's smoking wreckage, via resignation or removal, that it's tempting to employ black humor - to quip, for instance, that Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen quit because she wants to spend more time caging her family. But willfully separating migrant children from their parents, and losing track of how many … [Read more...] about Kirstjen Nielsen and the High Cost of Amoral Servitude
An analysis of nearly 4 million pitches shows just how many mistakes umpires make
Umpire Quinn Wolcott signals a strike out during an at-bat by Toronto Blue Jays’ Josh Thole. AP Photo/Ted S. Warren Mark T. Williams, Boston University Baseball is back, and fans can anticipate another season of amazing catches, overpowering pitching, tape-measure home runs – and, yes, controversial calls that lead to blow-ups between umpires and … [Read more...] about An analysis of nearly 4 million pitches shows just how many mistakes umpires make
No Vacancy (Cartoon)
Despite it all, Joe Biden should run
WASHINGTON -- It will be good for the country and the Democratic Party for Joe Biden to run for president. But it could be hell on him. If Biden backed off from running, he would be cast as a martyr to "political correctness" and "the new multiculturalism" by many of the same conservatives who would do everything they could to defeat him if he won the nomination. Faux … [Read more...] about Despite it all, Joe Biden should run
Sorry: TMV content delayed
OOPS! SORRY! Due to some logistical issues a good chunk of content for The Moderate Voice didn't get on today. It will resume shortly. … [Read more...] about Sorry: TMV content delayed
Marie Dancing Still: A Review of the 5th Avenue Theatre’s Production
Well, due to a prior engagement, I missed the opening night performance of Marie Dancing Still. Fortunately, Marie Dancing Still was still dancing still last night, which gave my wife and I the wonderful opportunity to see the most amazing dance sequence we have ever seen at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre or really on any stage. If that seems like hyperbole, then you most likely … [Read more...] about Marie Dancing Still: A Review of the 5th Avenue Theatre’s Production
NH Town Halls to Grill Candidates about Reforming Democracy
CONCORD, N.H. – New Hampshire voters are already getting plenty of chances to see presidential candidates in person. But a series of candidate forums starts this weekend to ask them how they'd work to reduce corruption in politics. The group Equal Citizens says democracy reforms – like ending gerrymandering or getting big money out of politics – are necessary before the … [Read more...] about NH Town Halls to Grill Candidates about Reforming Democracy
Why Are We So Bad At Science?
By John L. Micek What do most Americans know about science? If a March 28 Pew Research Center poll is to be believed - not nearly enough. And at a time when knowledge and facts are under assault as they have not been in recent memory, that's a problem. On the upside, about eight in 10 respondents to the new Pew poll knew that increase resistance is one of the big … [Read more...] about Why Are We So Bad At Science?
Pet owners want to be masters, not servants – which is why we value dogs more than cats
Colleen P. Kirk, New York Institute of Technology Cat videos may rule the internet, but dogs possess mastery of their owners’ hearts – at least if spending is any guide. Dog owners spend US$240 a month caring for their pets, compared with $193 for cats, according to the 2017-2018 National Pet Owners Survey from the American Pet Products Association. The extra money goes … [Read more...] about Pet owners want to be masters, not servants – which is why we value dogs more than cats
Trump is a knight errant just looking for his windmill
WASHINGTON -- President Trump really puts the "err" in knight errant. Cervantes tells us that Don Quixote attacked the windmill with his lance. This week, Trump also attacked the lowly turbine -- with misinformation. "If you have a windmill anywhere near your house, congratulations: Your house just went down 75% in value," the president told Republican donors Tuesday. … [Read more...] about Trump is a knight errant just looking for his windmill
A MULATTO, AN ALBINO, A MOSQUITO, MY LIBIDO
My first memory is standing at the top of the stairway in diapers, wondering if I could make it all the way down without falling. I had only an older brother at that time, and, although he is a hero of mine today, he was my monster back then. The best thing about my monster was that he was hilarious. The worst thing was that, as my toddles yielded to strides, his raids into my … [Read more...] about A MULATTO, AN ALBINO, A MOSQUITO, MY LIBIDO
Us (2019)
The list of horror movies that have won major Oscars isn’t long but it is impressive, from Rosemary’s Baby to The Exorcist to The Silence of the Lambs. It’s tough to break through the stereotype that the genre is meant mainly for cheap thrills. Just ask Stanley Kubrick (RIP), whose classic The Shining failed to snag even a single nomination from the Academy. While the year … [Read more...] about Us (2019)
Drug users are biggest casualties of global war on drugs says UNAIDS
About 99% of people who inject drugs are at high risk of HIV infection because they do not have enough access to harm reduction services and could face harsh punishments for using drugs, UNAIDS, the global agency combatting HIV/AIDS, said. New HIV infections among adults worldwide declined by 14% between 2011 and 2017, but there has been no decrease in the annual number of … [Read more...] about Drug users are biggest casualties of global war on drugs says UNAIDS
Unhinged at Fox News
The Fox News Channel should change its name to the Unhinged Right Channel. The latter name accurately describes what that channel has become. For example, here is an excerpt from a story published by Yahoo News. "A talk show host has threatened to 'duff [Tucker Carlson] so hard his bowtie would spin around like Daffy Duck's beak' after the Fox News presenter insulted … [Read more...] about Unhinged at Fox News
The Pot Calling the Kettle Black
It’s hard to believe the degree of hypocrisy in Donald Trump blasting Joe Biden for ‘touching women inappropriately,’ though we shouldn’t be surprised. Here we have the president who has admitted grabbing women by their genitals and being accused by numerous women of sexual harassment and sexual aggression taunting a man who hugged women (as well as men) as part of his warm … [Read more...] about The Pot Calling the Kettle Black
Exciting Hater Franchising Opportunities (Cartoon, Column and Video)
You don’t hear a lot of news out of the nation of Brunei. Your average schmoe probably forgets it exists, if he even knew it in the first place. Brunei is tiny and on the other side of the world. The population is only 430,000 people, which is fewer than the number living in Miami or Virginia Beach. actually owns a cattle farm in Australia that’s larger than … [Read more...] about Exciting Hater Franchising Opportunities (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Venezuela’s power struggle reaches a tense stalemate, as human suffering deepens
Venezuelans have faced food and medicine shortages since late 2015. Now power outages have cut off water supplies, too. AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko David Smilde, Tulane University Even in a country where crisis has become the norm, the past month has been eventful for Venezuela. On April 3 Juan Guaidó, the Venezuelan National Assembly president who … [Read more...] about Venezuela’s power struggle reaches a tense stalemate, as human suffering deepens
Cartoon: Barr Block
Aspiring journalists in Egypt know the perils of seeking the truth
By DAVID IGNATIUS Washington Post Writers Group CAIRO -- What do you say to a class of Egyptian journalism students who know that the price of speaking too freely -- telling truths that the government doesn't like -- could be imprisonment and worse? "Be careful," was my first admonition to the aspiring journalists gathered last weekend at the American University in … [Read more...] about Aspiring journalists in Egypt know the perils of seeking the truth
On a President’s Experience, Personality and Policies
The American people, methinks, deserve a president who at least has some experience to perform in the world’s most difficult and most important job. It would be nice if he also has the “personality.” But if “personality” includes honesty, morals and principles, personality becomes absolutely essential for the job. Finally, the utter absence of such experience and … [Read more...] about On a President’s Experience, Personality and Policies