Great Music – Chapter 2 Ludwig van Beethoven was born in 1770 in Bonn, Germany. His father was his first piano teacher but he rapidly outgrew what local teachers could teach him. In 1787 he went to Vienna, Austria which at that point was the musical capital of the world. He studied under the direction of Franz Haydn among others. At this point in his life his renown was for … [Read more...] about Great Music – Chapter 2
The Biggest Story Of 2017: America’s President Is An Unapologetic Racist & Bigot
The scabrous underbelly of American society was on full display during the year just passed, and no aspect of it is more repulsive as we slink into 2018 than the reality that the president of the United States is an unapologetic racist and bigot. And that an appalling number of us -- beginning with the timorous congressional majority, denizens of the fever swamp formerly known … [Read more...] about The Biggest Story Of 2017: America’s President Is An Unapologetic Racist & Bigot
Jerusalem: an International City
Jerusalem is arguably the most important city in the world. It is certainly the most controversial, most fought-over city in the world. The city, founded 5000 years ago, has been attacked 52 times, captured and recaptured 44 times, besieged 23 times and destroyed twice. During its long history Jerusalem has become an epicenter of three world religions: Judaism, Christianity, … [Read more...] about Jerusalem: an International City
Something is wrong when Washington’s rhetoric matches North Korea’s
WASHINGTON -- My hope for the new year is that the United States doesn't bluster and blunder its way into a tragic, needless war. My fear is that the Trump administration is capable of doing just that. I confess to having paid less attention than I should to the increasingly apocalyptic rhetoric from the administration about the nuclear threat from North Korea. I'm not … [Read more...] about Something is wrong when Washington’s rhetoric matches North Korea’s
The word for 2018: Enough
WASHINGTON -- With New Year's resolutions and almost everything else in life, it's essential -- and often extremely difficult -- to set priorities. This applies especially to politics, now dominated by the provocations and outrages that emanate daily from President Trump and his White House. In 2018, Trump's abuses of power, his indifference to truth and his autocratic … [Read more...] about The word for 2018: Enough
A ‘monumental moment’ for fully legal marijuana in California
SACRAMENTO, Calif. ?? Will Senn has been waiting his whole life for this. Californians can now go to the store and buy marijuana, and his shop opened New Year's Day. Senn's Urbn Leaf in San Diego was among the first to get a state-issued license to sell marijuana for medical and recreational uses. He hired 15… … [Read more...] about A ‘monumental moment’ for fully legal marijuana in California
Automation isn’t automatic defeat of human relevancy (Guest Voice)
by Jordan Cooper Within the next few decades studies say almost half of American jobs will be phased out by technology. These Americans that lose their day jobs will be singled out as having jobs that are too ordinary. These Americans will have jobs that are considered too easy to foretell. These Americans’ job duties will be declared too predictable to need to be … [Read more...] about Automation isn’t automatic defeat of human relevancy (Guest Voice)
Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Trump and the Justice Dept.
OF RELATED INTEREST: --Why Trump’s War on the Deep State Is Failing—So Far --TRUMP ISN'T 'KING', CAN’T DO WHATEVER HE WANTS, BUSH ETHICS LAWYER WARNS --The One Half-True Thing Trump Said in Times Interview Was Scarier Than His Two Dozen Lies Mike Petesr is recognized as one of our nation’s most prominent cartoon artists for his outstanding work as both a political and … [Read more...] about Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Trump and the Justice Dept.
2018: (Political) Predictions and Resolutions
As is customary on the first day of the New Year pundits, politicians and mere mortals are busy making predictions and resolutions for the upcoming year. It should not be a surprise that, this year, most of these are Trump-focused. E.J. Dionne Jr., in his “This new year, tell Trump: Enough,” predicts, “In 2018, Trump’s abuses of power, his indifference to truth and his … [Read more...] about 2018: (Political) Predictions and Resolutions
Scientific Ways to Beat Seasonal Affective Disorder
Seasonal affective disorder, known colloquially as the winter blues, is a form of depression that affects nearly 10 million people every single year. While doctors may not know exactly what causes SAD, that doesn’t stop it from impacting the lives of millions of people. If you feel yourself experiencing seasonal depression like this, what can you do to help beat the symptoms? … [Read more...] about Scientific Ways to Beat Seasonal Affective Disorder
President Trump in 2017: A Pop Quiz
By Dick Polman In honor of Donald Trump's most towering achievement - no previous president can touch his talent for serial falsity - my pop quiz features only one question: Which of these blatant lies did Trump not utter in 2017? In other words, which lies are merely figments of my imagination (although he was fully capable of uttering all of them)? You'll find the … [Read more...] about President Trump in 2017: A Pop Quiz
Why America’s Rural Newspapers Still Matter
by Roz Brown ESPAÑOLA, N.M. – Sixty-three million or 16 percent of U.S. residents live in rural America and, while they increasingly embrace digital technology, they still rely on local newspapers to provide them with news the Internet can't. Al Cross, director of the Institute for Rural Journalism, says rural residents are 10 percent less likely to have broadband and … [Read more...] about Why America’s Rural Newspapers Still Matter
Energy Wars: Tariff Trouble
From Robert Dillon, former communications director of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee: "Suniva and SolarWorld, two bankrupt solar cell manufactures, have exploited a rarely used provision in the 1974 Trade Act to convince the International Trade Commission that they are entitled to protection from international competition. Following a hearing at the … [Read more...] about Energy Wars: Tariff Trouble
Happy Silence Breaking New Year
Email Clay Jones at [email protected] … [Read more...] about Happy Silence Breaking New Year
Iran protests rage: Fox News fasely says media is “hesitant” about covering it
Protests continue to rage in Iran, defying government warnings of a crackdown. The story's significance is noted by experts around the world and intense media coverage. But it's worth adding: Lenscrafters needs to send Fox News some free glasses because it's being put out that the mean, old, liberal media is ignoring the story. Nothing could be further from the truth (which … [Read more...] about Iran protests rage: Fox News fasely says media is “hesitant” about covering it
2017 Meant Pain, Demons for Many Women; Me Too (Guest Voice)
“Write hard and clear about what hurts.” –Ernest Hemingway 2017 hurt. It hurt a lot of people in a lot of ways. For most of us, the pain started in 2016. Many people sang the praises of 2017 as the new year, hoping for a reprieve. I was not one of them. All I could think this time last year was, “You guys know it’s just going to get worse, right?” And it did. 2017 … [Read more...] about 2017 Meant Pain, Demons for Many Women; Me Too (Guest Voice)
Russia supreme court rules Kremlin critic cannot run for president
This article titled "Russia supreme court rules Kremlin critic cannot run for president" was written by Marc Bennetts in Moscow, for theguardian.com on Saturday 30th December 2017 14.59 UTC Russia's supreme court has upheld a ban on the government critic Alexei Navalny from running for president, a decision he has vowed to respond to with nationwide… … [Read more...] about Russia supreme court rules Kremlin critic cannot run for president
Jewish History The Holocaust seen through its postal history
Holocaust Postal History by Justin Gordon; Six Point Watermark;© 2016; ISBN 9780997-840100; 138 pages plus glossaries, bibliography and index. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – The author of this richly illustrated book deserved compliments for his persistence as a collector, his clarity as a writer, and his ability as a researcher. No matter how many books on the … [Read more...] about Jewish History The Holocaust seen through its postal history
Learning to Spell Papadopoulos
"We've met the enemy," Walt Kelly's Pogo once said, " and it is us." Actually that epigram came from a poster exhibited at the first Earth Day celebration in 1970. It meant that we are killing our planet and therefore ourselves. It's recalled best through the Pogo comic panel and has become a touchstone of American self-destructiveness. The George Papadopoulos drunken … [Read more...] about Learning to Spell Papadopoulos
Why America needs Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney: Your country needs you. The 2012 Republican presidential nominee has been reluctant to announce a primary challenge to Sen. Orrin G. Hatch of Utah, the longest-serving Republican senator in history. But America needs Romney to step up, to restore dignity to the Senate - and to save the country from the embarrassment Hatch has become. Hatch, long the picture … [Read more...] about Why America needs Mitt Romney