John Belushi and the ancient Romans certainly had a hot time. After all, they ran around wearing bed sheets for clothes. If the bed sheets were the kind stolen from high-priced hotels, then there may have been enough threads to keep them warm during cool weather. However, not many ancient Romans could afford to stay in a high-priced hotels. So, they were stuck … [Read more...] about John Belushi and the ancient Romans had a hot time.
Critical race theory: What it is and what it isn’t
President Lyndon Johnson signing the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which aimed to do away with racial discrimination in the law. But discrimination persisted. AP file photo David Miguel Gray, University of Memphis U.S. Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana sent a letter to fellow Republicans on June 24, 2021, stating: “As Republicans, we reject the racial essentialism … [Read more...] about Critical race theory: What it is and what it isn’t
Fathers
By Jane Knox June was the month we celebrate Father’s Day. The storyteller in me desires to honor Father’s Day with an exploration of a universal story. This is an opportunity for me to dive deeper into the meaning of the father figure, both universally and personally. This month, I’m reflecting on the archetypal father illustrated in The Complete Grimm’s Fairytales called … [Read more...] about Fathers
Trump company’s CFO surrenders ahead of expected unveiling of criminal tax charges
Published by ReutersBy Karen Freifeld, Jonathan Stempel and Jan Wolfe NEW YORK (Reuters) -The Trump Organization's chief financial officer surrendered to authorities on Thursday, as he and Donald Trump's namesake company prepare to face the first criminal charges from a probe that has hovered over the former president for years. Allen Weisselberg, a longtime Trump business … [Read more...] about Trump company’s CFO surrenders ahead of expected unveiling of criminal tax charges
FOX NEWS’ TUCKER HATES OUR TROOPS (Cartoon, Column and Video)
In a recent commentary on the military, Tucker Carlson relied on his vast military experience. Oh, I’m sorry. He relied on his vast Swiss boarding school experience. I lied. His experience with Swiss boarding schools isn’t vast. He was kicked out. Apparently, he was too white. I hope that didn’t enrage him. Tucker has attended at least two private schools and and one … [Read more...] about FOX NEWS’ TUCKER HATES OUR TROOPS (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Cosby’s release leaves accusers dismayed, but women’s advocates say no court can erase their ‘courage and resolve’
Published by The Philadelphia InquirerPHILADELPHIA — It was late morning in Las Vegas when a caretaker told Autumn Burns that Bill Cosby was about to be released from prison. Assuming it had to be a joke, Burns responded: “Oh, come on.” Then the news flickered on, and Burns, who is 74 and blind, listened closely. The anchor confirmed it. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court had … [Read more...] about Cosby’s release leaves accusers dismayed, but women’s advocates say no court can erase their ‘courage and resolve’
A Drumbeat of Antisemitism in San Diego, Across the U.S.
by Donald H. Harrison TMV Columnist Near the San Diego State University campus, in San Diego’s daily newspaper, in speeches by members of Congress, and in an apology forced upon a children’s book executive for speaking out against antisemitism, the drumbeat of hatred against our fellow Jews grows increasingly persistent. Security camera footage shows that the large … [Read more...] about A Drumbeat of Antisemitism in San Diego, Across the U.S.
‘A Day of Rage’ – A New York Times Visual of What Really Happened on January 6
The New York Times has spent several months collecting, filing motions to unseal, analyzing, and investigating thousands of videos and radio communications from that fateful day to “get to the bottom" of the January 6 riots. They have synchronized and mapped that material into a “40-minute panoramic take on Jan. 6…providing the most complete picture of what happened – and … [Read more...] about ‘A Day of Rage’ – A New York Times Visual of What Really Happened on January 6
Court overturns Bill Cosby sexual assault conviction, orders release
Published by Reuters(Reuters) -Pennsylvania's highest court on Wednesday overturned Bill Cosby's sexual assault conviction and ordered that he be released from prison immediately. The decision by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court came after Cosby had served more than two years of a potential three- to 10-year sentence, following his 2018 conviction. The court found that a previous … [Read more...] about Court overturns Bill Cosby sexual assault conviction, orders release
Threat to Biden infrastructure plan now comes from liberal leaders
Published by NJ.comPresident Biden nearly scuttled the bipartisan infrastructure deal last week by inserting his foot in his mouth, but he recovered over the weekend and put the compromise back on track. Now, progressives like Sen. Bernie Sanders and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are doing their best to kill it again, and it looks like their problem has deeper roots. If they don’t … [Read more...] about Threat to Biden infrastructure plan now comes from liberal leaders
Trump Organization, CFO expected to be charged Thursday -WSJ
Published by Reuters(Reuters) -Former U.S. President Donald Trump's namesake company and its chief financial officer are expected to be charged on Thursday with tax-related crimes by Manhattan's district attorney, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. Charges have been expected to focus mainly on whether Trump Organization CFO … [Read more...] about Trump Organization, CFO expected to be charged Thursday -WSJ
Partisanship vs. Centrism
Gallop polls in the first quarter of 2021 showed that more Americans were Democrats than Republicans, but the largest bloc of voters identified as independents or centrists. 30 percent of people in the survey called themselves Democrats, 25 percent Republicans, 19 percent were independents who leaned Democratic and 15 percent were independents who leaned Republican. Thus, … [Read more...] about Partisanship vs. Centrism
Will Bunch: The real crisis for American democracy is our cowardly inability to tax the rich
In 2018 — after his then-planetary-record net worth had hit $131 billion, yet right before the pandemic that would make his Amazon the alpha and omega of online shopping for so many American families — Jeff Bezos admitted he had so much money the only thing he could think to do with it was to blast himself into space. He told a reporter that year: “The only way that I can see … [Read more...] about Will Bunch: The real crisis for American democracy is our cowardly inability to tax the rich
Biden to visit Florida condo collapse site as hope dims for rescue
Surfside (United States) (AFP) - US President Joe Biden will visit the site of a deadly apartment building collapse in southern Florida later this week, the White House announced Tuesday, as rescuers scoured the wreckage in an increasingly desperate search for survivors. A 12-story oceanfront condominium in Surfside, a neighborhood near Miami, pancaked into rubble in the early … [Read more...] about Biden to visit Florida condo collapse site as hope dims for rescue
“You can’t f—ing talk to me like that!” Trump said: new revelations and statements confirm belief Trump governed with anger, rage, delusions and lies
"You can't f---ing talk to me like that!" then-President Donald Trump yelled Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as Miley called Trump on his exaggerations about last summer's racial protests. Trump had wanted to put Miley in charge of a crackdown. Axios reports this excerpt from The Wall Street Journal's Michael Bender in his forthcoming book, "Frankly, We … [Read more...] about “You can’t f—ing talk to me like that!” Trump said: new revelations and statements confirm belief Trump governed with anger, rage, delusions and lies
California’s famed Venice Beach grapples with homeless problem
Venice (United States) (AFP) - Ah yes, Venice Beach in California: synonymous with sun, surf, palm trees and, now, homeless people. As many as 200 tents line the oceanfront in this Los Angeles-area town that for decades has been a lure for surfers and tourists. The area is a chaotic jumble of any material that can create shelter, and of waste and detritus, amid appalling … [Read more...] about California’s famed Venice Beach grapples with homeless problem
Republicans Senate negotiators ready to move forward on infrastructure after Biden walkback
By Doina Chiacu WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Republican Senate negotiators on an infrastructure deal were optimistic about a $1.2 trillion bipartisan bill on Sunday after President Joe Biden withdrew his threat to veto the measure unless a separate Democratic spending plan also passes Congress. U.S. Senator Rob Portman said he and his fellow negotiators were "blindsided" by Biden's … [Read more...] about Republicans Senate negotiators ready to move forward on infrastructure after Biden walkback
Grim Gun Violence Milestone
This weekend, our nation reached (and then surpassed) another grim milestone with the 300th mass shooting in 2021. A little less than two weeks ago, the mass shooting in my hometown, Austin, Texas, brought the number of such tragedies in our country in 2021 to 260. In a piece at the time lamenting and railing against the senseless loss of lives, I wrote about the … [Read more...] about Grim Gun Violence Milestone
Once upon a time, T-Rex visited Alaska.
Once upon a time, T-Rex visited Alaska. No, not the character "Rex" in the Toy Story films, although that particular toy may be owned by children in Alaska. Instead, this is the T-Rex that visited Alaska: From New Scientist, 24 June 2021: "The Prince Creek fossil site is the furthest north that dinosaurs have been confirmed to have lived. Accessing … [Read more...] about Once upon a time, T-Rex visited Alaska.
What today’s GOP demonstrates about the dangers of partisan conformity
Rep. Liz Cheney talks to reporters after House Republicans voted to remove her as conference chair on May 12, 2021, in Washington, D.C. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Robert B. Talisse, Vanderbilt University Directly following the 2020 election, Republicans seemed to be through with Donald Trump. Party leaders stopped speaking to him and voters began … [Read more...] about What today’s GOP demonstrates about the dangers of partisan conformity