"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
Little Red Russian Button (Cartoon and Column)
Alexei Navalny is a Russian anticorruption activist. The guy has spent years criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin, and he planned to run for that job, which will be decided in March. Putin thought otherwise. Navalny was convicted in a fraud case, which many believe was bogus. On Monday, the Kremlin barred him from running for president. He has called for a boycott of … [Read more...] about Little Red Russian Button (Cartoon and Column)
12 Most Anticipated Movies Of 2018
With 2017 coming to a close, movie buffs are looking forward to 2018. Although there are tons of movies set to be released in the new year, a few films have garnered more fan attention compared to others. Take a look at the 12 most anticipated movies that are scheduled to arrive in theaters in 2018:… … [Read more...] about 12 Most Anticipated Movies Of 2018
Yes, it’s freezing. But climate change is still real.
It’s cold this week. Really cold. Firefighters saw water freezing in their hoses as they fought a blaze south of Montreal Thursday night, and farmers in the upper Midwest are worried about the fate of their winter wheat crop. The bone-chilling temperatures that have settled over the central and eastern US and much of Canada this… … [Read more...] about Yes, it’s freezing. But climate change is still real.
Australia helped spark Russia-Trump probe: report
Information shared by Australia helped spark the FBI's probe into Russia's attempts to disrupt the US presidential election and possible collusion by Donald Trump's campaign, The New York Times reported Saturday. George Papadopoulos, a former Trump campaign foreign policy advisor who has pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI, told Australia's ex-foreign minister Alexander Downer … [Read more...] about Australia helped spark Russia-Trump probe: report
Trump Justice Department Pushes for Citizenship Question on Census, Alarming Experts
The Justice Department is pushing for a question on citizenship to be added to the 2020 census, a move that observers say could depress participation by immigrants who fear that the government could use the information against them. That, in turn, could have potentially large ripple effects for everything the once-a-decade census determines — from how… … [Read more...] about Trump Justice Department Pushes for Citizenship Question on Census, Alarming Experts
Cartoons: Putin’s investment in USA
Target pulls Jewish themed Cards Against Humanity pack after complaint
'Chosen People Pack' and 'Jew Pack', with jokes about the Holocaust and Jews liking money, still available via other online retailers US mega-retailer Target has apologized and pulled a Cards Against Humanity game pack off its shelves after complaints that the set is anti-Semitic. The “Chosen People expansion pack” of Cards Against Humanity, a game known… … [Read more...] about Target pulls Jewish themed Cards Against Humanity pack after complaint
Trump lies about legislative record; falls far short of Ike, the most comparable GOP president
On Wednesday, President Trump played golf in Florida at one of his golf courses. Then he told a whopper to West Palm Beach firefighters and paramedics. "We have signed more legislation than anybody. We have more legislation passed, including — the record was Harry Truman a long time ago, and we broke that record, so we got a lot done." Trump is the fifth Republican … [Read more...] about Trump lies about legislative record; falls far short of Ike, the most comparable GOP president
‘Obama – An Intimate Portrait’ — Or, Year In Review: 2009-2016, That Is.
"Hair like mine" It is tradition, this time of the year, to look back at the events, sights and sounds of the year we are about to leave behind -- whether good ones or bad ones. I’ll let others be the judge on the latter. (There will be plenty of opinions: “’Chaotic’ was the most common one-word summation of the year,” says the Washington Post. Historians at politico.com … [Read more...] about ‘Obama – An Intimate Portrait’ — Or, Year In Review: 2009-2016, That Is.
Bali declares ‘garbage emergency’ amid sea of waste
Bali's palm-fringed Kuta beach has long been a favourite with tourists seeking sun and surf, but nowadays its golden shoreline is disappearing under a mountain of garbage. Plastic straws and food packaging are strewn between sunbathers, while surfers bobbing behind the waves dodge waste flushed out from rivers or brought in by swirling currents. "When I… … [Read more...] about Bali declares ‘garbage emergency’ amid sea of waste
Great Music – Chapter 1
This is the first installment of a series I intend to write weekly introducing selected works of great music. As many of you know, my wife and I have been piano teachers for decades and we live and breathe music. Not all of you will agree with each of my choices of music but I hope everyone takes away a little something positive from the posts. While my music choices will be … [Read more...] about Great Music – Chapter 1
Go Easy on Justice League, Critics, The Superfriends have been through enough.
By Thomas Hoffman Bill Maher once commented that movies were being ruined because the majority of movie profits currently come from DVD sales. The DVD audience is a younger audience. Maher pointed out and rightfully so that this means in order to appeal to this younger market, movies mostly consist of “loud noises and things getting blown up.” Justice League made a … [Read more...] about Go Easy on Justice League, Critics, The Superfriends have been through enough.
With more to come, new JFK documents offer fresh leads 54 years later
WASHINGTON — Half-a-dozen 2017 releases of long-secret documents about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy have given plenty of new leads to those who don't believe alleged gunman Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. President Donald Trump promised via Twitter this fall that all the JFK assassination documents will be public by the end of April… … [Read more...] about With more to come, new JFK documents offer fresh leads 54 years later
Praying for democracy
My New Year's wish is for the health and resurgence of democracy. What follows is a slightly edited version of a morning prayer I offered last month at the Appleton Chapel of the Memorial Church at Harvard University. Let us say a prayer for democracy. But let us do more than pray. Let's ask ourselves what it means to live by a democratic ethic. "Here on earth," as John F. … [Read more...] about Praying for democracy
Poland edges away from Democracy
So far the 21st century is seeming a perilous place for late 20th century democracy values, norms and mores. There's now considerable concern over Poland's evolution in Europe. The Christian Science Monitor offers this editorial: The European Union has drawn a line in the sand with Poland. The issue is whether that country, which, along with nine other mostly Eastern European … [Read more...] about Poland edges away from Democracy
Tech Billionaires Make Largest Donation Ever to Preserve 24,000 Acres of California Coastline
Thanks to a $165 million donation from two tech billionaires, over 24,000 acres of pristine California coastline will be permanently protected in the years to come. The multi-million dollar contribution from Jack and Laura Dangermond, which was given to The Nature Conservancy (TNC), is the single largest philanthropic donation in the organization's history. MORE: Farmer … [Read more...] about Tech Billionaires Make Largest Donation Ever to Preserve 24,000 Acres of California Coastline
Defected Deflect (Cartoon and Column)
During the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump supporter Rudy Giuliani said he knew the FBI planned to review more emails tied to Hillary Clinton before FBI Director James Comey publicly announced that was what they were doing. Basically, he claimed the FBI LEAKED information to the Trump campaign, and he was proud of it. Giuliani said agents of the bureau were frustrated and … [Read more...] about Defected Deflect (Cartoon and Column)
Gallup Poll: Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton Retain Most Admired Titles
Start your countdown now to Donald Trump starting a string of anti-Obama and anti-Hillary Clinton tweets (but, wait, did he ever stop?). He won't like this Gallup Poll (on the other hand, he'll just dismiss it as fake which he does on any poll that doesn't put him first...which is a lot of polls these days): Americans once again are most likely to name Barack Obama and … [Read more...] about Gallup Poll: Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton Retain Most Admired Titles