Something people today have in common with civilizations past: a love of music. peepo/E+ via Getty Images Laura Dallman, University of Florida Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to … [Read more...] about Who invented music? The search for stone flutes, clay whistles and the dawn of song
He’s not even running — but US midterms could make or break Trump
Published by AFPWashington (AFP) - After losing the 2020 presidential election, Donald Trump could have worked on his golf swing or produced another book by the pool at his south Florida beach club. Instead he threw himself into the midterm election campaign with unprecedented gusto, staking his kingmaker reputation on a slew of controversial candidates in key primary races. … [Read more...] about He’s not even running — but US midterms could make or break Trump
Midterms: Four pivotal Senate battlegrounds
Published by AFPWashington (AFP) - The US midterm elections were once seen as a likely landslide victory for Republicans, as President Joe Biden's approval ratings slumped amid spiraling inflation, record migrant arrivals and rising violent crime. With a month to go, Democrats are banking on a much closer contest amid a series of legislative wins, improving gas prices and the … [Read more...] about Midterms: Four pivotal Senate battlegrounds
SHOCKED REPUBLICANS ARE STILL BACKING HERSCHEL WALKER? YOU SHOULDN’T BE.
With Georgia Republicans rallying around Herschel Walker – with evangelical Christians flocking to his “prayer luncheon” this week, with ex-House Speaker Newt Gingrich on TV hailing the Senate hopeful’s purported “deep commitment to Christ” – it’s clear the guy could abort a fetus in the middle of Fifth Avenue and never lose a right-wing vote. That might seem astounding, … [Read more...] about SHOCKED REPUBLICANS ARE STILL BACKING HERSCHEL WALKER? YOU SHOULDN’T BE.
Affirmative action bans make selective colleges less diverse – a national ban will do the same
Graduation is less likely for students at less selective schools. Andy Sacks via Getty Images Natasha Warikoo, Tufts University The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments in two lawsuits on Oct. 31, 2022, brought by a group that opposes affirmative action in college admissions. Here, Natasha Warikoo, a sociology professor at Tufts University and … [Read more...] about Affirmative action bans make selective colleges less diverse – a national ban will do the same
Politics: Look in the Mirror
by Don Hermann Do you like what you see? Do you know your country is falling apart? Do you feel any responsibility? Who do you think is responsible? Is it fixable? If you were in charge, what would you do? What’s going to happen to you and your family? Do you believe your politicians are looking out for you? If things continue on the current path, how are you going … [Read more...] about Politics: Look in the Mirror
Russia has mobilized for war many times before – sometimes it unified the nation, other times it ended in disaster
A Russian citizen being called up for duty. Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Eric Lohr, American University Vladimir Putin’s mobilization of 300,000 additional Russian soldiers to fight in Ukraine has gotten off to a rocky start. Nominally aimed at calling up reserve forces with prior combat experience, early reports suggest a broader … [Read more...] about Russia has mobilized for war many times before – sometimes it unified the nation, other times it ended in disaster
The Line Between Nationalism and Fascism
Right-wing nationalism and tribalism is a growing threat to democracies globally, with the boundary between nationalism and fascism often unclear. A number of supposed democracies are nationalist states verging on fascism. In many of these nations, nationalists were elected by popular vote and the nationalist leaders subsequently transformed the governments into fascistic … [Read more...] about The Line Between Nationalism and Fascism
Herschel Walker and Family Values
Is GOPer Herschel Walker’s Georgia Senate Campaign Quickly Imploding?
The Georgia U.S. Senate campaign of former NFL football player Herschel Walker, a candidate endorsed and some say picked by Donald Trump, looks like it's rapidly imploding. He is locked in a race with Democrat Sen. Raphael Warnock, who's campaigning for a full Senate term after he won a 2021 runoff that helped give Senate control to the Democrats. And, like in another … [Read more...] about Is GOPer Herschel Walker’s Georgia Senate Campaign Quickly Imploding?
Is Vladimir Putin’s Grip On Power Starting To Fray?
Published by BOOM LiveBy The Conversation Vladimir Putin's bizarre ceremonies formalising Russia's annexation of some 15% of Ukraine once again revealed the yawning chasm between Kremlin triumphalism and reality. Never mind Russian forces didn't even fully control the territories Putin brought under the Russian flag. Never mind Russia's "referendums" were a blatant fabrication … [Read more...] about Is Vladimir Putin’s Grip On Power Starting To Fray?
UN chief roundly condemns Russian annexation. It may be the start of Putin’s undoing.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is digging a deeper hole that might swallow him because of his unilateral annexation of four Ukrainian regions through military conquest. All the more since his conquest is so fragile that the Ukrainian military snatched back a strategic town within hours of his declaration. Earlier, it recaptured within a week territory that took his … [Read more...] about UN chief roundly condemns Russian annexation. It may be the start of Putin’s undoing.
Why do some people enjoy being scared?
Why do some people enjoy being scared? Why would anyone want to watch a movie that is designed to frighten people? For people who enjoy being scared, October is the best month of the year because that is when television networks bombard their viewers with horror movies and monster movies. One might even be able to watch a horror movie in a theater during October. If fear … [Read more...] about Why do some people enjoy being scared?
Russia plans to annex parts of Eastern Ukraine – an Eastern European expert explains 3 key things to know about the regions at stake
A woman votes in the controversial referendum in Donetsk, Ukraine on Sept. 27, 2022. Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Tatsiana Kulakevich, University of South Florida Russia is set to formally annex four occupied territories in eastern Ukraine, claiming the region as its own more than six months after it first invaded its neighboring country. … [Read more...] about Russia plans to annex parts of Eastern Ukraine – an Eastern European expert explains 3 key things to know about the regions at stake
WOMEN’S RIGHTS UNDER ATTACK WORLDWIDE
Even as more women appear to be participating in the political process worldwide and holding high offices, women’s rights in many nations appear to be under attack by the patriarchal order. This is true in both democratic and autocratic countries where men want the power to control women and their bodies. The most obvious and brutal suppression of women’s rights appear to be … [Read more...] about WOMEN’S RIGHTS UNDER ATTACK WORLDWIDE
HURRICANE RON (CARTOON, COLUMN AND VIDEO)
Hurricane Dorian was an extremely powerful category 5 storm that hit the Atlantic ocean in 2019. It decimated much of the Bahamas before traveling up the east coast hitting Florida, Georgia, North Carolina (where it made landfall), and Virginia. It even hit Newfoundland and Nova Scotia with hurricane-force winds before finally petering out over Greenland. Note that none of … [Read more...] about HURRICANE RON (CARTOON, COLUMN AND VIDEO)
TRUMP AND THE VERY BEST MIND LIKE YOU WOULDN’T BELIEVE
We’ve long been exposed to Don the Con’s superpowers, his ability to scam millions of presumably sane Americans and make them think his bullcrap doesn’t stink. But this week in an “exclusive” appearance on Faux News, he announced that we ain’t seen nothing yet. Turns out, he’s telepathic! He’s telepathic like you wouldn’t believe. Very stable telepathy. Everybody is coming … [Read more...] about TRUMP AND THE VERY BEST MIND LIKE YOU WOULDN’T BELIEVE
Review of The Griswolds’ Broadway Vacation at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre
The other day while driving with my 20-year-old son, I noticed an electric car I had never seen before. As we drove by the bright light blue sedan, we were unable to identify its make and model until we reached the front and saw its iconic emblem. Both of us responded with similar quizzical expressions: “I guess it’s a Mustang.” What followed was a long conversation about why … [Read more...] about Review of The Griswolds’ Broadway Vacation at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre
TELEPATHETIC TRUMP (CARTOON, COLUMN AND VIDE0)
Part of Trump’s defense for having classified government documents at Mar-a-Lago is that he declassified all of them. That doesn’t explain why he took the documents and worked so hard not to return them to the government. It doesn’t explain why he obstructed justice to keep them. It doesn’t explain why documents on the nuclear capabilities of our allies or the personal life of … [Read more...] about TELEPATHETIC TRUMP (CARTOON, COLUMN AND VIDE0)
Name-calling in politics grabs headlines, but voters don’t like it – and it could backfire in the 2022 midterm elections
A voter and her child cast a ballot during the midterm primary elections in Virginia in June 2022. Alex Wong/Getty Images Beth L. Fossen, Indiana University Spending on political advertising is setting records in the midterm elections. But evidence shows that negative messages might discourage voters from casting ballots altogether. As the 2022 … [Read more...] about Name-calling in politics grabs headlines, but voters don’t like it – and it could backfire in the 2022 midterm elections