We got a little snow yesterday here in Northern Virginia. We got between 12 and 14 inches which shuts everything down in this state. Hell, half an inch closes schools, makes everyone run to the stores, and drive like idiots. It makes Virginians post photos of their lawn furniture covered in snow which makes multiple unoriginal Canadians say, “We call that a ‘light dusting’. Har … [Read more...] about MAGA SNOW (CARTOON AND COLUMN)
Hollywood Walk of Fame is a sham!
The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a sham! Why? Because it does not include a star for iconic voice-actor Frank Welker. Yet, it has stars for fictional characters Snow White and Woody Woodpecker. That is insane! It is not as if the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce would never award a star to a voice actor. Mel Blanc received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on 08 February … [Read more...] about Hollywood Walk of Fame is a sham!
Zoos and aquariums shift to a new standard of ‘animal welfare’ that depends on deeper understanding of animals’ lives
Climbers must climb, diggers must dig and runners must run. Doris Rudd Designs, Photography/Moment via Getty Images Michael J. Renner, Drake University In 1980 I visited the zoo in a major U.S. city and found row after row of bare concrete boxes with jailhouse-style bars occupied by animals from around the world. The animals appeared to be in good … [Read more...] about Zoos and aquariums shift to a new standard of ‘animal welfare’ that depends on deeper understanding of animals’ lives
‘HANG MIKE PENCE’ DAY CELEBRATIONS (Cartoon)
Guinea Pig Might Be Coming to a High-End Restaurant Near You
Published by InsideHookBy Tobias Carroll What are your thoughts on guinea pigs? No, not as pets — as food. While the concept might make plenty of readers do a double take, there are parts of the world where guinea pigs are seen as closer to something to be farmed than something to be kept in the house as an adorable furry companion. In parts of South America where guinea pigs … [Read more...] about Guinea Pig Might Be Coming to a High-End Restaurant Near You
Democracy under siege: An hour-by-hour look at the assault on the U.S. Capitol
Published by ReutersBy Jan Wolfe WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Almost a year has passed since supporters of Donald Trump attacked the U.S. Capitol in a failed attempt to overturn his election defeat, the worst assault on the seat of the federal government since the War of 1812. Four people died on the day of the riot. About 140 police were injured during the multi-hour onslaught by … [Read more...] about Democracy under siege: An hour-by-hour look at the assault on the U.S. Capitol
Snowstorm strands drivers for hours and hours on Interstate 95
Published by AFPWashington (AFP) - The snow storm is over but the travel misery is not: drivers on a major highway outside Washington reported Tuesday they have been stuck in their cars for almost a day. One of the frustrated travelers was a US senator from Virginia, Tim Kaine, who got stranded driving back to Washington as Interstate 95 clogged with snow and spun-out cars, and … [Read more...] about Snowstorm strands drivers for hours and hours on Interstate 95
Will Bunch: America gave up on truly educating all its kids. Then Jan. 6 happened. Coincidence?
Published by The Philadelphia InquirerYou would never expect a weekslong trial in Harrisburg about such an important yet super-complicated issue — whether wide disparities in school funding across rural, urban and suburban school districts in Pennsylvania violate the state constitution — to create a viral moment that would rock social media. Yet a brief exchange between a … [Read more...] about Will Bunch: America gave up on truly educating all its kids. Then Jan. 6 happened. Coincidence?
Medal of Honor Recipients Talk to Young Americans
Beginning with the despicable January 6 insurrection and continuing throughout 2021 with those who would defend, justify, even glorify what very well may have been "treason of the blackest dye" in our nation’s history, honor has been in short supply in some circles this year. The definitions of honor that one can “Google” do not adequately capture the essence of that … [Read more...] about Medal of Honor Recipients Talk to Young Americans
Newspapers Squandered Their Monopoly-Era Profits and Now Blame Google and Facebook
by Chris Jennewein Three decades ago, when America’s local newspapers were at their peak, I attended a dinner for publishers at a mid-sized chain. After dinner, the president rose to speak and asked everyone to clap for one publisher whose newspaper had exceeded a 50% profit margin in the previous month. At a 50% margin, half of every dollar from subscribers and … [Read more...] about Newspapers Squandered Their Monopoly-Era Profits and Now Blame Google and Facebook
American support for conspiracy theories and armed rebellion isn’t new – we just didn’t believe it before the Capitol insurrection
Rioters are tear-gassed as they storm the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images Amanda J. Crawford, University of Connecticut Americans had to confront a new reality when an angry mob attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021: Some of their fellow citizens were in the grips of a false reality and had … [Read more...] about American support for conspiracy theories and armed rebellion isn’t new – we just didn’t believe it before the Capitol insurrection
Not all polarization is bad, but the US could be in trouble
For the first time, the United States has been classified as a “backsliding democracy” in a global assessment of democratic societies by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, an intergovernmental research group. One key reason the report cites is the continuing popularity among Republicans of false allegations of widespread voter fraud in the … [Read more...] about Not all polarization is bad, but the US could be in trouble
Senate’s Schumer eyes change to filibuster to advance voting rights bill
Published by ReutersWASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Senate will vote this month on whether to change its rules to make it easier to pass a bill protecting voting rights, top Democrat Chuck Schumer said on Monday, days before the anniversary of the deadly Jan. 6 attack the Capitol building. Schumer said the narrowly Democratic-controlled chamber needed to consider a change to its … [Read more...] about Senate’s Schumer eyes change to filibuster to advance voting rights bill
Andy Cohen Won’t Be Invited Back To CNN New Year’s Special Next Year
Published by Radar OnlineSenior CNN staffers are telling Radar that they are “embarrassed” to work for the news network following Andy Cohen’s drunken New Year’s special - and are happy that he won’t be invited back again next year. “We claim to be the most trusted network in news and yet CNN hires Andy Cohen to make a fool out of all of us New Year’s performance?" a top … [Read more...] about Andy Cohen Won’t Be Invited Back To CNN New Year’s Special Next Year
Crisis and Choice
Despite the Bill of Rights freedom is not without limits. Sometimes in crises democratic governments become dictatorial and mandate policies. In the United States there is historical precedence for national mandates. In the Civil War Abraham Lincoln did the following: he suspended the right of habius corpus, he imprisoned individuals without charge or trial for the duration of … [Read more...] about Crisis and Choice
The ‘sore loser effect’: Rejecting election results can destabilize democracy and drive terrorism
The Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol offers an example of how refusing to accept election results can lead to violence. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images James Piazza, Penn State An attendee at an October 2021 political rally hosted by right-wing activist Charlie Kirk asked: “How many elections are they going to steal before we … [Read more...] about The ‘sore loser effect’: Rejecting election results can destabilize democracy and drive terrorism
Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump subpoenaed in New York probe
Published by ReutersNEW YORK (Reuters) -New York's attorney general has subpoenaed two of Donald Trump's adult children, Donald Trump Jr and Ivanka Trump, as part of her civil probe into the former U.S. president's business practices and namesake company. The subpoenas from the office of Attorney General Letitia James were disclosed in a Monday filing with a New York state … [Read more...] about Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump subpoenaed in New York probe
Betty (Cartoon, Column and Video
Betty White defeated me. If you’ve been here more than twice, you are probably aware that I don’t like what we call in the business “obituary cartoons.” And even when I do draw them, I try not to use the pearly gates or Heaven tropes. Even in a week with some very high-profile deaths, John Madden, Arch Bishop Desmond Tuto, and Harry Reid, I didn’t draw an obit cartoon. … [Read more...] about Betty (Cartoon, Column and Video
Devastating Colorado fires cap a year of climate disasters in 2021, with one side of the country too wet, the other dangerously dry
Wildfires that swept through Sequoia National Forest in California in September 2021 were so severe they killed ancient trees that had adapted to survive fires. AP Photo/Noah Berger Shuang-Ye Wu, University of Dayton Alongside a lingering global pandemic, the year 2021 was filled with climate disasters, some so intense they surprised even the … [Read more...] about Devastating Colorado fires cap a year of climate disasters in 2021, with one side of the country too wet, the other dangerously dry
A year after Capitol riot, Americans fear for their democracy: polls
Published by AFPWashington (AFP) - One year after the violent assault on the US Capitol, Americans remain deeply concerned about the health of their democracy and about a third say violence against the government can sometimes be justified, according to two polls published Sunday. The January 6 attack on the seat of Congress, led by supporters of Donald Trump, was "a harbinger … [Read more...] about A year after Capitol riot, Americans fear for their democracy: polls