UPDATE II: Several reports indicate that the city of Rotterdam may approve the dismantling of the historic Hef Bridge to allow passage to open sea of billionaire Jeff Bezos’ $500 million superyacht. This, in spite of heavy opposition and threats to pelt the yacht with rotten eggs (“or, if one is a vegan, with tomatoes”) when it eventually sails through the dismantled … [Read more...] about The Hefbrug: A Bridge too Low. A Bridge too Far? (Updates)
Biden’s showdown with Putin undercuts his face-off with China
President Joe Biden seems to have won the first round by pushing Russia’s Vladimir Putin to start withdrawing at least a handful of troops massed along Ukraine's border. He may have set the ball rolling for the de-escalation he demanded from the start after Putin made the fateful choice of presenting a military fait accompli to Biden to coerce the 30 US-led NATO … [Read more...] about Biden’s showdown with Putin undercuts his face-off with China
Movie Review: Those Who Walk Away
Those Who Walk Away is loosely inspired by a short story about a community whose happiness and joy can only be sustained by torturing a young boy. The movie is a hybrid with completely different moods at the beginning and midpoint. It's not a cookie-cutter slasher horror film and is masterfully shot as a one-take movie (like Hitchcock's Rope and 1917), which gives the … [Read more...] about Movie Review: Those Who Walk Away
Canada in crisis: Why Justin Trudeau has invoked the Emergencies Act to end trucker protests
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, surrounded by key members of his cabinet, announces his government will invoke the Emergencies Act. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld Jack L. Rozdilsky, York University, Canada Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has invoked the Emergencies Act in an effort to quell the protests by truckers and other groups … [Read more...] about Canada in crisis: Why Justin Trudeau has invoked the Emergencies Act to end trucker protests
NATO: Russia is continuing its military build-up near Ukraine
Published by DPANATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says that the alliance has "not seen any de-escalation on the ground" despite announcements from Russia about the pullback of troops stationed near the Ukrainian border. "On the contrary, it appears that Russia continues the military build-up," Stoltenberg told reporters. "What we see is that they have increased the number … [Read more...] about NATO: Russia is continuing its military build-up near Ukraine
Biden gives Jan. 6 panel access to Trump’s White House visitor logs
Published by ReutersBy Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Joe Biden has rejected former President Donald Trump's executive privilege claims and ordered White House visitor logs to be released to the panel investigating the deadly Jan. 6, 2021 attack, according to a letter released on Wednesday. In a letter to the National Archives, Biden's White House counsel granted … [Read more...] about Biden gives Jan. 6 panel access to Trump’s White House visitor logs
5 things to know about why Russia might invade Ukraine – and why the US is involved
Tatsiana Kulakevich, University of South Florida U.S. officials ordered most of the U.S. embassy personnel in Kyiv to evacuate on Feb. 12, as they warned that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could come any day. President Joe Biden cautioned Russian President Vladimir Putin of “swift and severe” costs of any such invasion. Russia has amassed an estimated 100,000 troops along … [Read more...] about 5 things to know about why Russia might invade Ukraine – and why the US is involved
Russia says some troops pull back from near Ukraine, West says no proof yet
Published by ReutersBy Dmitry Antonov and Sarah Marsh MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia said on Tuesday some of its military units were returning to their bases after exercises near Ukraine and mocked repeated Western warnings about a looming invasion, but NATO said it had yet to see any sign of de-escalation on the ground. Russia did not say how many units were being withdrawn, and … [Read more...] about Russia says some troops pull back from near Ukraine, West says no proof yet
How Should White Nationalism Be Addressed?
White nationalism and white supremacy have always been woven into the American fabric, even before the Revolution. Over the last decade however, they have grown in power and adherents. Is it possible to subsume this movement into the maw of American democracy, taming its tendency towards violence and moderating its racial exclusiveness to promote its other ideas? Can … [Read more...] about How Should White Nationalism Be Addressed?
Trump’s accounting firm to Trump: You’re fired!
From Donald Trump's accounting firm Mazars USA to Donald Trump: You're fired. It says it can't stand behind The Trump Organization's 2011-2020 statements of financial condition. In essence: buh-bye! Donald J. Trump’s longtime accounting firm cut ties with him and his family business last week, saying it could no longer stand behind a decade of annual financial statements … [Read more...] about Trump’s accounting firm to Trump: You’re fired!
Report: Ukraine president says he’s been told Russia will attack Wednesday
Unless there is some near-miraculous breakthrough, Russia will attack Ukraine on Wednesday, February 16, according to Ukraine's President. NBC News reports: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday that his government has been told that Wednesday, Feb. 16, will be "the day of attack" when Russia invades Ukraine. The United States and its allies have … [Read more...] about Report: Ukraine president says he’s been told Russia will attack Wednesday
Russia keeps door open for diplomacy as Ukraine hints at concessions
Published by ReutersBy Darya Korsunskaya and Natalia Zinets MOSCOW/KYIV (Reuters) - Russia suggested on Monday that it was ready to keep talking to the West to try to defuse a security crisis in which it has massed a huge force within striking distance of Ukraine, while a Ukrainian official said Kyiv was prepared to make concessions to Moscow. In a televised exchange, President … [Read more...] about Russia keeps door open for diplomacy as Ukraine hints at concessions
German Chancellor Scholz: Act quickly in case of military aggression against Ukraine
Published by DPAGerman Chancellor Olaf Scholz sees the conflict between Russia and Ukraine as a "very, very serious threat to peace in Europe." In the event of military aggression against Ukraine, which would endanger its territorial integrity and sovereignty, there would be "tough reactions and sanctions," he said in Berlin on Sunday. These had been carefully prepared, Scholz … [Read more...] about German Chancellor Scholz: Act quickly in case of military aggression against Ukraine
How Russia hooked Europe on its oil and gas – and overcame US efforts to prevent energy dependence on Moscow
Is it a weapon or merely trade? AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky Ryan Haddad, University of Maryland The Biden administration hopes its threat of “severe economic consequences” deters Russia from invading Ukraine – an event Americans officials say could be imminent. In response, the U.S. said it may ban the export of microchips and other technologies to … [Read more...] about How Russia hooked Europe on its oil and gas – and overcame US efforts to prevent energy dependence on Moscow
Canada police begin clearing protesters blocking key U.S.-Canada bridge
Published by ReutersBy Kayla Tarnowski and Carlos Osorio WINDSOR, Ontario (Reuters) -Canadian police began clearing protesters blocking a key bridge linking Canada and the United States on Saturday, more than 12 hours after a court order came into effect that ended a blockade that had snarled international trade. The Ambassador Bridge, North America's busiest land border … [Read more...] about Canada police begin clearing protesters blocking key U.S.-Canada bridge
BINGEING NEW TV SHOWS WON’T LAST LONG
by Peter Funt Nine years ago this month Netflix changed how we watch television. The streaming service released an entire season of its political drama “House of Cards” at once, enabling viewers to binge on 13 episodes. Consumers were torn over whether bingeing was a luxury or, as with a gallon of ice cream or a fifth of vodka, too much of a good thing. Regardless, the … [Read more...] about BINGEING NEW TV SHOWS WON’T LAST LONG
Dissecting the Ongoing Wave of Antisemitism
By Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA — Never would we expect Nazis assaulting an American Jew near Disney World. Or anywhere else in this nation. Yet authorities report that Nazis did in Orlando nearly two weeks ago what Nazis commonly did in Germany 85 years ago. Furthermore, the victim – identified as David Newstat, a student at the nearby University of Central Florida – … [Read more...] about Dissecting the Ongoing Wave of Antisemitism
GAZPACHO POLICE (CARTOON AND COLUMN)
I knew there was going to be a lot of Soup Nazi jokes after Marjorie Taylor Greene had a flub and said “gazpacho” instead of “Gestapo” in one of her bewildering brain-dead yee-haw rants. But then I thought that it’ll be OK to use Soup Nazi in a cartoon, despite all the memes and possibly other cartoons because everyone else would miss the context. Hell, even while reading … [Read more...] about GAZPACHO POLICE (CARTOON AND COLUMN)
US says more Russian troops mass near Ukraine, invasion can come at any time
Published by ReutersBy Tom Balmforth and Humeyra Pamuk MOSCOW/ADELAIDE (Reuters) - Russia is massing yet more troops near Ukraine and an invasion could come at any time, perhaps before the end of this month's Winter Olympics, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday. Moscow, for its part, ramped up its truculent response towards a Western diplomatic push to defuse … [Read more...] about US says more Russian troops mass near Ukraine, invasion can come at any time
Flushing the Legal Commode
Haberman book: Flushed papers found clogging Trump WH toilet Mike Allen / Axios — While President Trump was in office, staff in the White House residence periodically discovered wads of printed paper clogging a toilet — and believed the president had flushed pieces of paper, Maggie Haberman scoops in her forthcoming book, “Confidence Man.” The existence of documents … [Read more...] about Flushing the Legal Commode