One of my very first purchases when I arrived in the United States 60 years ago, was a 1957 edition of the Webster’s New World Dictionary. Even though there are now so many better and faster methods -- and yellowing and dog-eared as my dictionary is -- I still refer to it when I am not sure of the meaning or spelling of a certain word. So, when I learned that I was using … [Read more...] about Trump’s Historic Histrionics
Breaking Update – The Twelve Days of Trump
BREAKING UPDATE: Today, the Department of Defense made what perhaps could be sadly construed as a gruesome announcement. As we remember too well, four U.S. soldiers were killed on October 4 in Niger when their patrol of 12 U.S. Special Forces were ambushed by an ISIS-affiliated group. One of the soldiers killed was Sgt. La David T. Johnson. His body was recovered two … [Read more...] about Breaking Update – The Twelve Days of Trump
Cartoon: Trump Thanksgiving
Frum: GOP Blowing Tax Reform
David Frum points out the latest example (tax reform) of Republicans' inabilty to govern in The Atlantic. From the point of view of future U.S. growth and prosperity, the broad outline of tax reform seems obvious. Lower corporate rates to somewhere between 25 and 30 percent, the developed-world norm. Tighten collection so that the rate is actually paid. This is one reform that … [Read more...] about Frum: GOP Blowing Tax Reform
Speech is free. It’s transmission isn’t.
If one lives in the USA, then one has the right to speak one's mind without the government punishing one for doing so. That right is enshrined in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. What isn't enshrined in the First Amendment is a right to have someone else transmit one's speech to the general public. This particular fact seems to be lost to certain people, as a … [Read more...] about Speech is free. It’s transmission isn’t.
(UPDATE II) The Case For Trump’s Russia Collusion Is Made; We’re Just Filling In The Details
There is a glimmer of hope even as Donald Trump destroys the government, undermines our core values, tries to divide us with hate and fear mongering, further isolates America from the world community and becomes increasingly unhinged. This is because we are at the point in the movie known as the Russia scandal where the plot, star and supporting actors are well known even … [Read more...] about (UPDATE II) The Case For Trump’s Russia Collusion Is Made; We’re Just Filling In The Details
5 Minutes = 26+ Hours
Hackers. The name term is the rage these days. But for those of us in information technology hackers are old, new, and future destructive news that didn't start with Russia. The Moderate Voice got hit with it's worst hacking attempt in the 14 years this site has been up. We were breached, design elements deleted, hundreds of posts deleted and mucked up, etc. But we … [Read more...] about 5 Minutes = 26+ Hours
STRATCOM Commander Would Push Back on a Trump ‘Illegal’ Nuke Order
“We don’t swear allegiance to a colonel, we don’t swear allegiance to any individual. We swear an oath to an ideal as written in the Constitution and the people of this Command take that very seriously…” -- STRATCOM Commander, Air Force Gen. John E. Hyten The United States and Russia have the most powerful nuclear arsenals in the world -- sufficient to destroy the planet … [Read more...] about STRATCOM Commander Would Push Back on a Trump ‘Illegal’ Nuke Order
Last Week’s Election Portends A Gold Mine For House Democrats In 2018
In case nobody noticed, last week elections were held throughout the United States. The major races were mostly confined to the eastern part of the country, and they included the governorships of both New Jersey and Virginia. Yet it was the legislative elections, particularly in the Commonwealth that stole the show. Not only did the results give Democrats something to crow … [Read more...] about Last Week’s Election Portends A Gold Mine For House Democrats In 2018
Partisan outrage (Cartoon)
Clay Jones can be reached at [email protected] … [Read more...] about Partisan outrage (Cartoon)
More on the Harmful Effects of Social Media: Teen Suicides are on the Rise
Earlier this week, The Ring of Fire published a story on how those who created social media sites such as Facebook intentionally designed them to “hook” people – like an addictive drug. Recent statistics are now showing that social media shares something else with narcotics – it can be fatal. According to data from the Centers… … [Read more...] about More on the Harmful Effects of Social Media: Teen Suicides are on the Rise
These gruesome images of a mass whale slaughter are vile and disturbing
whaling in the faroe islands Warning: This article contains graphic content. New photos from the Sea Shepherd team show the aftermath of a mass slaughter of whales and dolphins in the waters near Europe. The Sea Shepherd organization, which gained fame from the “Whale Wars” TV series, was able to gain access to the scene by… … [Read more...] about These gruesome images of a mass whale slaughter are vile and disturbing
Russia investigation includes spectacular level of lies
By MICHAEL GERSON Washington Post Writers Group Columnis WASHINGTON -- I spent part of my convalescence from a recent illness reading some of the comprehensive timelines of the Russia investigation (which indicates, I suppose, a sickness of another sort). One, compiled by Politico, runs to nearly 12,000 words -- an almost book-length account of stupidity, cynicism, hubris … [Read more...] about Russia investigation includes spectacular level of lies
UN triggers talks on killer robots but haze persists
The United Nations is trying to break new ground as it grapples with the persisting lack of clarity about killer robots and their military and ethical implications for warfare and humankind as a whole. A first-of-its-kind UN conference laid some of the groundwork for in-depth discussions among governments with the participation of companies, academics and non-governmental … [Read more...] about UN triggers talks on killer robots but haze persists
The Times Still are A-Changin’
Our law school put on a show every year, spoofing the faculty. Ham that I am, I participated in all three shows. I want to tell you about one of them. It was 1977, and I was in my second year. Two classmates and I wrote the script, and two others penned lyrics for our song parodies. Except for two that I had written. One was a parody of Ray Charles’ "What I’d Say." It was … [Read more...] about The Times Still are A-Changin’
BAMA JEWY ROBO CALL (Cartoon and Column)
When you’re on the right side of an issue, you don’t have to make things up. That totally explains why Roy Moore, his wife, their racist lawyers, Breitbart, Alabama Republicans, and all the hideous goons on social media are making things up. I’m glad I’m not a conservative cartoonist, but if I was then I like to think I wouldn’t act like a hideous ogre and follow talking … [Read more...] about BAMA JEWY ROBO CALL (Cartoon and Column)
Dogs drastically lower risk of premature death, especially in people living alone
Credit: Pixabay. Swedish researchers have found a positive relationship between dog ownership and a lower risk of death due to cardiovascular diseases or to other causes. The association was particularly strong in the case of people living alone, suggesting the canine company does well to our health. A reason to live The team at Uppsala University… … [Read more...] about Dogs drastically lower risk of premature death, especially in people living alone
Cartoon: Trump attacks Al Franken
Will Al Franken Resign? Here’s What Might Happen
Embed from Getty Images Calls for Senator Al Franken's resignation were circulating on social media Thursday after news anchor Leeann Tweeden publicly accused the Minnesota Democrat of inappropriately kissing and groping her in 2006. Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin told reporters she thought Franken should step down. Comedian Kathy Griffin flatly tweeted that he should be … [Read more...] about Will Al Franken Resign? Here’s What Might Happen
Forget alternative facts. We’re now in an alternate reality.
WASHINGTON -- In the beginning, there were alternative facts. Now we are being governed in an alternate reality. Heading toward approval of their tax bill this week, House Republicans had a teensy problem: Their vaunted tax "cut" actually was a tax hike for millions of Americans. It lowered taxes by hundreds of billions of dollars on the wealthiest, but it raised the lowest … [Read more...] about Forget alternative facts. We’re now in an alternate reality.