UPDATE: Those who missed Trump’s 2019 Independence Day extravaganza, or who would like a do-over of this stirring event, can rest easier. They’ll get another chance to relish it in 2020, 2021 and many, many more Fourth of Julys. “Based on its tremendous success,” Trump says he has “made the decision to do it again next year and maybe we can say for the foreseeable … [Read more...] about Trump’s Independence Day Extravaganza. A Postscript (UPDATED)
Great Music – Chapter 43
Today we are going to return to the world of Classical Music with Maurice Ravel and his music. Classical music includes not only the giants of the genre, like Bach, Beethoven, Mozart etc but also lesser known musicians like Ravel who did not compose a huge catalog of music but left for those of us who follow, some real gems. Ravel was born in southern France in a little town … [Read more...] about Great Music – Chapter 43
Trump tried to make Independence Day all about him. He ended up looking small.
By EUGENE ROBINSON WASHINGTON -- President Trump chose the wrong backdrop for his attempt to make Independence Day all about himself. Standing beneath the majestic statue of Abraham Lincoln, occupying a space where great orators have stood, Trump looked and sounded quite small. He gave a triumphalist speech, of course. "Our nation is stronger today than it ever was. It is … [Read more...] about Trump tried to make Independence Day all about him. He ended up looking small.
Mad Magazine, R.I.P.
It is an ending that merits a national day of mourning. From CNN: "Once a cultural touchstone, Mad Magazine is halting the publication of new content and vanishing from newsstands." On his Twitter account, Weird Al Yankovic posted the following lament: … [Read more...] about Mad Magazine, R.I.P.
‘Child’s Play’ Surprisingly Pulls It Off
It's a sad state of affairs when so much of what is coming out of Hollywood these days are sequels and reboots. When's Child's Play (2019) was slated for release, it was expected to be an unnecessary addition to the killer doll franchise. However, while it still may be unnecessary, Child's Play actually proves itself to be a commendable adaptation updated for the present day; … [Read more...] about ‘Child’s Play’ Surprisingly Pulls It Off
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY
TMV wishes all of you and yours a wonderful 4th of July as all of us enjoy this holiday and reflect on its traditional meaning. Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay … [Read more...] about HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY
Trump’s ‘It’s All About Me,’ Fourth of July Extravaganza
The man who never served, who was enamored with the Bastille Day parade of 2017, the man who previously attempted to have a grand military parade in our nation’s capital that would have included “high-tech weaponry, tanks and other heavy equipment,” at costs estimated to be tens of millions of dollars, is now at it again, this time hijacking our nation’s Independence Day … [Read more...] about Trump’s ‘It’s All About Me,’ Fourth of July Extravaganza
Trump cannot rewrite the American story
ignatius-column-190703 806 words by DAVID IGNATIUS Washington Post Columnist WASHINGTON -- President Trump is trying, in his gaudy, self-glorying way, to refashion Independence Day in his own image, but he'll fail. The weight and momentum of this nation are strong enough after 243 years to survive his vain mischief. Americans, not least Trump supporters, know … [Read more...] about Trump cannot rewrite the American story
George Washington’s biggest battle? With his dentures, made from hippo ivory and maybe slaves’ teeth
George Washington faced many challenges regarding his teeth. National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC William Maloney, New York University We have all heard the tales about George Washington chopping down a cherry tree, throwing a silver dollar across the Potomac River and, of course, wearing wooden teeth. They are all just myths, but one thing is … [Read more...] about George Washington’s biggest battle? With his dentures, made from hippo ivory and maybe slaves’ teeth
NBC’s Debatable Debate Coverage
By Peter Funt Among the losers in the Democrats' opening presidential debate was NBC News. Faced with an unmanageable number of candidates, an awkward format, and miscast moderators - not to mention serious technical glitches - the network took a difficult situation and made it worse. Lester Holt, NBC's highest ranking journalist, was forced to split time in the opening … [Read more...] about NBC’s Debatable Debate Coverage
REPUBLICANS STAND ON BRITTLE GLASS
There are days when my mother’s observation about aging: “Every ten minutes it seems like it’s breakfast again” now reminds me less about aging and more about our own cultural amnesia. In Shakespeare’s, Richard III, the King explains his villainous acts to seize the throne by saying: “…my kingdom stands on brittle glass…But I am in so far in blood that sin will pluck on … [Read more...] about REPUBLICANS STAND ON BRITTLE GLASS
Never Again (Cartoon)
They Are Children
by Robert P. Coutinho At the risk of stating the obvious, I am writing to mention something that I have failed to see in any articles about one of the more recent scandals in the United States. The subject is the report given by court-appointed lawyers whose job was to make sure that the conditions in detention facilities were safe and sanitary. These facilities exist to … [Read more...] about They Are Children
Positive Reactions to Negative Endings
By Thomas Hoffman While it is not necessarily a tearjerker, the latest Avengers installment does not exactly contain an "upbeat ending." It is certainly a darker ending than it's rival DC's Justice League (2017), which despite the more upbeat ending, received much more negative reviews. The lack of a "happy ending" has not prevented the new Avengers movie from becoming the … [Read more...] about Positive Reactions to Negative Endings
Trump’s Iran conflict could be his undoing
Today, Iran let its stock of low-enriched uranium exceed the 300kg limit set by the 2015 nuclear deal from which President Donald Trump withdrew last December. The State Department promised more “maximum pressure” punishment. The deal’s other signatories-- France, Germany, Britain, Russia and China -- continue to support it although it allows them to impose harsh sanctions … [Read more...] about Trump’s Iran conflict could be his undoing
The 2020 issue that matters is democracy itself
WASHINGTON -- The future of American democracy will be on the ballot next year. No one should pretend otherwise. We witnessed President Trump's obvious disdain for democratic rights and liberties once again last week during his warm encounter in Japan with Russian strongman Vladimir Putin. And the U.S. Supreme Court's partisan, anti-democratic decision on gerrymandering, … [Read more...] about The 2020 issue that matters is democracy itself
The Kim-Trump pas de deux need not be fluff
Embed from Getty Images President Donald Trump’s historic footfall in North Korea today is heavy with symbolism and puts the wily Kim Jong-un in a category of his own as a partner for Trump even as the doomsday clock ticks on. Of course, this is an unprecedented moment of hope for a formal peace between the two enemies who merely ceased fire 66 years ago, to sign an … [Read more...] about The Kim-Trump pas de deux need not be fluff
Reparations for the Holocaust and for Slavery: Same, Different or Indifferent?
During the Holocaust, Nederlandse Spoorwegen, or NS (the Dutch national railway company), on behalf of the Nazi occupiers, operated the trains that transported more than 100,000 Dutch Jews, first to “transit camps” and then to the Dutch border. There, the Dutch Jews were transferred to German trains that would take them on to Nazi death camps such as Auschwitz and Sobibor. … [Read more...] about Reparations for the Holocaust and for Slavery: Same, Different or Indifferent?
Fighting words for a New Gilded Age – Democratic candidates are sounding a lot like Teddy Roosevelt
Jennifer Mercieca, Texas A&M University There was a Republican on the Democratic Party debate stage – a Progressive Republican who sometimes liked to “speak softly, and carry a big stick.” Did you notice him? “When I say that I am for the square deal,” said the politician, “I mean not merely that I stand for fair play under the present rules of the game, but that I stand … [Read more...] about Fighting words for a New Gilded Age – Democratic candidates are sounding a lot like Teddy Roosevelt
Welcome to Trump’s America (Cartoon, Column and Video)
I’ve been a cartoonist since 1990 and this might be the hardest cartoon I’ve ever had to draw. Shame on Donald Trump. Shame on Republicans. Shame on each and every single one of you who supports this. This cartoon was hard to draw but right now, it’s even harder to be a proud American. Watch me draw. Email Clay Jones at [email protected] … [Read more...] about Welcome to Trump’s America (Cartoon, Column and Video)