Veracity Stew provides timely, insightful, and unique commentary on a mix of issues including politics, society, pop culture and the law. While we do embrace liberal perspectives, we also believe in being an equal opportunity critic of any public servant, public figure or corporate entity that behaves inappropriately. We always champion the underdog, believe that charity begins at home, and that the futures of education and science in America are threatened by those who would revise facts and history. Follow the stew on Twitter.
Veracity = habitual observance of truth in speech or statement; truthfulness
Stew = savory mix
Steve Moore (Co-founder/Managing Editor)
An unapologetic political know-it-all, as well as a well-traveled global-citizen, Steve has spent the last thirty years following politics, writing for magazines, protesting for gay rights, and volunteering with troubled youth. His political experience dates back to his teenage years, when he went door-to-door for Jimmy Carter’s re-election campaign, followed by a two year stint as a congressional page during the beginning of the Reagan era. When he isn’t wearing out shoes in protests or ranting against oppression and narrow minds, he loves collecting Disney memorabilia (he was once in the Goofy suit at Disneyland,) and spending time with his greatest joys, his godchildren Johnny, Molly, and Emma. Follow Steve on Twitter.
Jordan Franklin (Co-founder/Features Editor)
A lover of travel and adventure, Jordan has spent the last ten years between his native Northern California, and his adopted homes in Guadalajara, Mexico and New Orleans, Louisiana. With a degree in History of Latin America from Tulane University, Jordan is fluent in Spanish and loves all things Latino. A coffee shop bum, a sci-fi dork, a gaming geek, occasional chef and one opinionated S.O.B., his raging liberality is occasionally tempered with a conservative/libertarian streak that he often laments! Currently enrolled in grad school at the University of New Orleans, Jordan also enjoys teaching English and jumping out of planes. Follow Jordan on Twitter.
Beth Starbuck (Staff Blogger/Editor-at-Large)
An average Jane Q. Citizen and self-professed newshound, Beth is a native of Denver, Colorado: Land Of the Rocky Mountains and lots of Republican gun owners. She is a political independent with a strong leaning toward progressive reforms and social equality, but without a lot of schooling to speak of, she has been a student of life and experience, which have shaped her beliefs and ideals over the years. She is a published author and writes short story fiction in her spare time. She’s an animal lover, student of nature, and a major Doctor Who geek, as well. Follow Beth on Twitter.
Michael Wolfe (Contributor/Editor-at-Large)
Born, raised and eventually paroled from Long Island, New York, Michael grew up in a land of Republicans and uber-Christians. He briefly escaped to Marist College where he graduated with a degree in TV/Film. While in school he developed his sardonic commentary and polished his propensity for F-bombs as a weekly op-ed columnist, DJ and improv comedian.
After moving to New York, Michael has worked as an actor; appearing in commercials, independent films and on stage. As a writer, he has completed two books, eleven screenplays, three pilots and a slew of essays. Working for the Obama campaign and closely following the manner in the which the Republican party negotiates the political game has deepened his support for a compassionate welfare state and his loathing of all things conservative. Follow Michael on Twitter.
Norva Salley (Contributor/Editorial Board Member)
A native of The Netherlands, as well as a self-professed socialist, web-lurker, and connoisseur of salted licorice, Norva spends much of her time teaching her three daughters the ideals of civility and compassion while desiring to pwn them in World of Warcraft. When she wasn’t selling cookies with her Girl Scout troop, Norva was pursuing studies in Human Development and Family Sciences at Oregon State University while volunteering as a crisis counselor for victims of domestic violence. Norva is passionate about politics, human rights, and environmental issues and sometimes struggles to curtail her remarks around her more conservative acquaintances. She loves horror movies, Jane Austen novels, and long walks on the beach. Follow Norva on Twitter.
Chris Andoe (Contributor)
Chris is currently a staff writer at The Vital Voice. He’s also a storyteller and activist who wanders the West, from St. Louis to San Francisco. Known as “The Wandering Emperor” the crown wearing Andoe has been interviewed by NPR, CBS, and has been quoted everywhere from CNN to The St. Louis Post Dispatch. With his fearless style, curious nature, unique perspective and magnetic lust for life Andoe keeps his followers entertained with tales of his adventures. Whether climbing through abandoned buildings in East St. Louis or interviewing San Francisco’s most colorful characters he’s going to walk away with an entertaining story. Follow Chris on Twitter.
Joe the Nerd Ferraro (Contributor/Columnist)
Joe the Nerd (he’s looking to get his tag line back from the plumber guy) Ferraro is a husband, dad, computer nerd, and a general pain to the local government in Audubon, PA.
The 50-year-old father of 3 kids has been blogging under Joe the Nerd since 2006. His computer repair business, FindANerd.com, has been around since 2000 (hence the “Nerd” title).
For decades The Nerd has been in and out of local politics, helping good people of all stripes get elected; writing databases for candidates, and helping neighborhoods solve problems when the local government is behaving foolishly.
Joe gained national recognition during President Barack Obama’s appearance on Michael Smerconish’s radio show, when he asked Obama about health care reform, saying “I’m getting a little ticked off that it feels like the knees are buckling a little bit. We have overwhelming majorities in both the House and the Senate. And we own the whole shooting match. And I’m just getting…It’s very frustrating to watch you try and compromise with these people who aren’t willing to compromise with you.”
The Nerd has also coached any sport the kids have been involved in from baseball and basketball to soccer and lacrosse. Follow Joe the Nerd on Twitter.
Deb Della Piana (Contributor)
Definitely gay since the womb and a political junkie since high school, Deb survived 14 years of Catholic school to become a left-wing hippie freak. She became an avid blogger while writing for Hypocrisy.com, an experimental multi-partisan blogging site which has since folded. Deb not only writes, but is an artist and photographer in her spare time.
Deb lives in Stoneham, MA, with her partner, four children (ages 7-15), Tito the Schnauzer, a pet rat, a gerbil, two Japanese fighting fish and an aquarium that maintains life with varying levels of success. She actually does have a paying job, slinging cappuccinos and lattes for Starbucks. She likes to cook and is a rabid Red Sox fan. Follow Deb on Twitter.
Dana Love (Contributor)
History, animal rights, environmental issues, good music, religious debate, and books by the late Arthur Clarke sum up Dana’s current passions. A lifelong resident of Las Vegas, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and is looking forward to continuing his history education by earning a Master’s Degree in the next couple of years. A strong progressive, Dana believes intelligence- not religion, political pandering or intolerance- should govern our actions and decision making. A recent convert to the most green and socially responsible lifestyle, veganism, Dana loves leading a life based on rational decision making. Republican logic just does not jive with Dana because of the increasing reliance of the GOP on the fanatical and intolerant reasoning of the Religious Right for its policies and constituency.
Carla Lewis (Contributor)
This born again child of a part-time Southern Baptist missionary, Carla was once thought to be called by the Holy Spirit into the service of the church. Originally from Arkansas, this father of two migrated to East Tennessee to take a position as software developer in the mid-90s. She has been self-employed for the last eleven years as a software developer and network consultant after her on-the-job transition didn’t go quite the way she had hoped. To her knowledge, she is the only service member from the US Air Force to ever be discharged specifically for Gender Identity Disorder – before Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. She maintains the website for the Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition and serves on the board of directors of East Tennessee Equality Council, organizers of Knoxville annual gay pride event. A nerd at heart, Carla and her partner of seven years, Jaime, visit Dragon*Con every year like it is a religious quest. If they have any spare time they play with their four parrots, or drive their British sports cars. Follow Carla on Twitter.
Gabe Ortiz (Contributor)
A current resident of that cesspool of sin otherwise known as San Francisco, Gabe is the son of Mexican immigrants who came to the United States three decades ago to seek a better life (take that, Sarah “Real America” Palin). A graduate of San Francisco State University with a degree in ethnic studies, he’s a proud liberal passionate about all those things that Glenn Beck warns you about: human rights, minority rights, social justice, LGBT equality, education, worker’s rights, and truth. As a Catholic boy gone bad, Gabe enjoys nothing more than exposing religious fundamentalist and Republican hypocrisy, of which there seems to be a surplus these days. The piles of GOP BS have led him to become sometimes crass, sometimes opinionated, but always honest. When he isn’t busy reading his hate mail from right-wingers on Twitter, Gabe is a self-described cat lady with a love for wine, pop culture, and Stevie Nicks. Follow Gabe on Twitter.
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