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
Twitter permanently bans U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene
Published by ReutersBy Katanga Johnson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Twitter Inc on Sunday said it permanently banned the personal account of Republican U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene for tweets that repeatedly violated the social media's misinformation policy on COVID-19. The congresswoman from Georgia is the first member of Congress to ever have a Twitter account … [Read more...] about Twitter permanently bans U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene
UN scrambles to save Libya but renewed war grows more likely
Failure to hold national presidential elections in Libya has opened a Pandora’s Box of potential troubles and significantly weakened United Nations efforts to bring normalcy to the lives of its seven million war weary people. This is bad news for the President Joe Biden because he is desperately trying to disentangle the US from the mess in the larger Middle East over which … [Read more...] about UN scrambles to save Libya but renewed war grows more likely
Hippos swam to England. Why did Robin Hood do it, too?
In the 1993 film Robin Hood: Men in Tights, Robin of Loxley is shown swimming all the way from Jerusalem to England. Why he swam will be explained shortly, but first ... If you think that it would be impossible for a man to swim from Jerusalem to England, then consider this historical fact: Ancient hippos swam to England, too. From the University of Leicester, 04 … [Read more...] about Hippos swam to England. Why did Robin Hood do it, too?
We’ve been hunting animals into extinction for 1.5 million years
By Daniel T Cross Sustainability Times Humans have had a impact on animal extinctions far longer than commonly thought and our ancestors were hunting species of megafauna into extinction as far back in time as 1.5 million years ago. This is according to a team of scientists at Tel Aviv University in Israel who examined fossil records and argue in a study that … [Read more...] about We’ve been hunting animals into extinction for 1.5 million years
Betty White’s, America’s Golden Girl, ‘Other Job’
While this author ended his 2021 writing on a “positive note,” of course we were all deeply saddened by the loss of America’s “Golden Girl,” Betty White, who died on the last day of 2021 at age 99. Numerous pieces have already been written about this much beloved icon, including one at the New York Times recalling Betty White’s life and career as “a Television Golden Girl … [Read more...] about Betty White’s, America’s Golden Girl, ‘Other Job’
Year in review 2021
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HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Photo 167813570 © Nadezda Murmakova | Dreamstime.com … [Read more...] about HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Ending 2021 on a Positive Note
It is good to be able to close out this "annus horribilis" on a positive note. Up to the beginning of this year, while there are several local and state monuments and memorials commemorating the more than four million Americans who served in World War I, there was no true “national” monument. Finally, in January 2013, Congress established the World War One Centennial … [Read more...] about Ending 2021 on a Positive Note
RADAR TRIBUTE — Thank You For Being Our Friend: How Betty White Stole Our Hearts
Published by Radar OnlineShe grew up surrounded by laughter, then went on to become one of the best — and most beloved — comedic actresses ever. Betty White’s big break came in 1949 when she took a job as the “Girl Friday” to host Al Jarvis on a new show called Hollywood on Television. She didn’t realize she’d be expected to go live on the air for five-and-a-half hours a day, … [Read more...] about RADAR TRIBUTE — Thank You For Being Our Friend: How Betty White Stole Our Hearts