Check out parts 1 to 4 of this 'greatest villain' series over at my blog, Chocolate Films. ... The very first time I saw Heath Ledger as The Joker in The Dark Knight, I knew instantly that I was watching something special – I genuinely believed I was watching history. In that darkened cinema room, I knew that I will still be speaking about this sadistic performance … [Read more...] about The Joker (the second greatest villian)
Cosby and Ghomeshi scandals open floodgates
The “clinking” of Bill Cosby’s belt buckle as he allegedly attempted a rape, the sound of a slap across a woman’s face after Jian Ghomeshi turned his stuffed toy “Big Ears Teddy” around. It’s the details that linger and horrify. In the headline-grabbing cases of famed American comic Bill Cosby and former CBC radio host Jian… … [Read more...] about Cosby and Ghomeshi scandals open floodgates
Contempt for a community
Joep Bertrams, The Netherlands[/caption WASHINGTON -- The name Ferguson should become shorthand for dehumanization. No one should have been surprised that police officer Darren Wilson was not charged in the killing of 18-year-old Michael Brown. I've written before, and likely will have to write again, about the tragically low value our society places on the … [Read more...] about Contempt for a community
Arrogant? Here’s how to become humble (Guest Voice)
[icopyright one button toolbar] Arrogant? Here’s how to become humble By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO– Of course, those who really need this article probably won’t read it. That’s the way arrogance works. It makes you feel that you are better than the next person, that you certainly don’t need to change, and besides, no one is really smart enough to teach you … [Read more...] about Arrogant? Here’s how to become humble (Guest Voice)
DA last minute pivot re legal use of force in Wilson case
[icopyright one button toolbar] Update 1: DA Robert McCulloch has a history with grand juries and cops that kill citizens Update 2: SCOTUS Justice Antonin Scalia wrote, in 1992, that the subject of a grand jury investigation, the suspect, has never "been thought to have a right to testify, or to have exculpatory evidence presented" and presenting exculpatory … [Read more...] about DA last minute pivot re legal use of force in Wilson case
More Evidence For A Different System Of Justice For The Police
[icopyright one button toolbar] Recently I discussed how the grand jury was used in Ferguson was an example of how justice is different for the police than it is for everyone else. The Washington Post also reports on unorthodox police practices in handling Darren Wilson after the shooting: When Ferguson, Mo., police officer Darren Wilson left the scene of the shooting … [Read more...] about More Evidence For A Different System Of Justice For The Police
Happy Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving from you and yours graphic via shutterstock.com … [Read more...] about Happy Thanksgiving
Stuff to be Thankful For
Stuff to be Thankful For Raging Moderate by Will Durst You got to love Thanksgiving. You do. It's the law. And be honest; doesn't a little tryptophan poisoning amongst family and friends sound pretty comforting right about now? What with Ebola infested ISIS members slithering across the border carrying photos of Bill Cosby ogling Kim Kardashian's butt? Besides, this … [Read more...] about Stuff to be Thankful For
A Military Thanksgiving
[icopyright one button toolbar] Wishing all our readers and their loved ones a very Happy Thanksgiving. Let us not forget our troops spending yet one more Thanksgiving away from their loved ones and those troops and their families who themselves need a helping hand at home this holiday. Below, some photos of troops helping troops this Thanksgiving and, below those, … [Read more...] about A Military Thanksgiving
Obama must reveal truth about CIA interrogations, UN experts say
Opponents of cloaking the Senate report on CIA interrogation practices in secrecy have won support from a top panel of United Nations human rights experts. They said significant secrecy would embolden torturers in other countries and should be rejected. In an open letter to President Barack Obama, seven rapporteurs to the UN Human Rights Council said, “Lasting security can … [Read more...] about Obama must reveal truth about CIA interrogations, UN experts say
The Ferguson grand jury proceedings, dissected
Prior coverage: We anticipated the decision, but nothing prepared us for this much bumbling If there is any justice in this world, the aftermath of the Ferguson grand jury proceedings could trigger a deep discussion of not only the racial divide in America but also much-needed reform of our "criminal justice system" and how we make our neighborhoods safe. I downloaded … [Read more...] about The Ferguson grand jury proceedings, dissected
Two Systems Of Justice: One For Police, One For Everyone Else
The grand jury's decision in Ferguson not to indict Darren Wilson in the death of Michael Brown demonstrates how we have two systems of justice in the United States. I am not referring only to the differences in treatment based upon race. This is clearly a major factor, but as it has already been discussed at length at many sources I am going instead to highlight another aspect … [Read more...] about Two Systems Of Justice: One For Police, One For Everyone Else
This Article Is About The Song ‘Alice’s Restaurant Massacree,’ But ‘Alice’s Restaurant Massacree’ Is Not The Name Of The Article, That’s Just The Name Of Song
In the 47 years since Arlo Guthrie recorded "Alice's Restaurant," the 18-plus minute song has become a Thanksgiving Day tradition -- and an ode to a simpler time even if its subtext is the Vietnam War. If you haven't heard "Alice's Restaurant," then you probably don't know that it's not really a song, but rather an 18-minute monologue with a little singing at the … [Read more...] about This Article Is About The Song ‘Alice’s Restaurant Massacree,’ But ‘Alice’s Restaurant Massacree’ Is Not The Name Of The Article, That’s Just The Name Of Song
Jurassic World trailer shows us life inside the new theme park, hints at hybrid dino experiment gone awry
Everything Mesozoic is new again: Jurassic World, the hotly anticipated fourth instalment in the dinosaur-theme-park thriller franchise, has its first official trailer. Due for release on June 12, 2015, the Steven Spielberg-produced film, which has taken a circuitous route to the big screen, is the long-awaited follow-up to 2001's Jurassic Park III. The film had originally… … [Read more...] about Jurassic World trailer shows us life inside the new theme park, hints at hybrid dino experiment gone awry
Hagel: Foreign Policy Failure Symptom
The following editorial appeared in the Chicago Tribune on Tuesday, Nov. 25: ——— Recent events have not cast a flattering light on President Barack Obama's approach to military and security matters. The rise of the Islamic State has forced him to reverse his withdrawal from Iraq. Vladimir Putin has seized Crimea from neighboring Ukraine and may… … [Read more...] about Hagel: Foreign Policy Failure Symptom
Schumer: Dems taking up ObamaCare early was strategical error
Sen. Charles Schumer (N.Y.) has come out and said in the open what I've been privately been told by Democrats for several years and have heard repeatedly if the topic turned to politics during my current special one year national and Canadian tour in my non-writing incarnation: when President Barack Obama opted to use his (and his party's) political chits to first tackle … [Read more...] about Schumer: Dems taking up ObamaCare early was strategical error
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Think About It
The unstated rules for male victims of female-perpetrated sexual abuse and assault I have a friend, an autistic man, who was ordered to have sex with a woman and was informed by her that he had no choice and so, even though he didn't want to he, went along because he was doing as he was told. That was how he lost his virginity: by being told he had to, that he had no … [Read more...] about Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Think About It
Thanksgiving 2034: Your Sneak Peek
Thanksgiving 2034: Your Sneak Peek Tyrades! By Danny Tyree There is no shortage of pundits who could do a worthy job of waxing philosophical about the things we should or shouldn't be thankful for at Thanksgiving 2014. Rather than get lost in the shuffle of those traditional analyses, I'm going to take a different approach. Employing the latest computer models, I shall … [Read more...] about Thanksgiving 2034: Your Sneak Peek
Will Global Warming skeptics ever get the apologies they deserve?
It’s all over the news; we’ve gone about 17 years without any meaningful increase in global temperatures, and the experts are now declaring we’re in the middle of a “pause” based on factors they think maybe they can explain and maybe they can’t; the consensus seems to be to try to explain it away by the oceans, but this is as sloppy as anything they ever accused the skeptics … [Read more...] about Will Global Warming skeptics ever get the apologies they deserve?
Forget Bipartisanship. Expect More Gridlock (Guest Voice)
All it took for Mitch McConnell to see eye-to-eye with Barack Obama was victory. After re-election in Kentucky, the presumptive Senate majority leader told reporters, “We ought to see what areas of agreement there are and see if we can make some progress for the country.” This is the same can-do note of cheery bipartisanship that… … [Read more...] about Forget Bipartisanship. Expect More Gridlock (Guest Voice)