In a bit of encouraging news as the coronavirus rages through the US and elsewhere, World Health Organization (WHO) scientists said currently approved vaccines should work well on new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. The variants are worrisome because they may propagate faster but they “do not seem to cause more severe illness or a higher death rate or … [Read more...] about Current vaccines should work with new variants of COVID-19 but reinfections are possible, WHO says.
The insurrection at the Capitol challenged how US media frames unrest and shapes public opinion
Trashed equipment for media outlets at the Capitol … but not reputations? Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Danielle K. Kilgo, University of Minnesota The chaos at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday wasn’t typical. Nor was the coverage. Footage carried live by cable news and clips and photos shared across social media were jolting. One image … [Read more...] about The insurrection at the Capitol challenged how US media frames unrest and shapes public opinion
‘Post-9/11 era is over’: Mob attack to haunt Biden on world stage
Washington (AFP) - President-elect Joe Biden has vowed to restore a global leadership role for the United States, but he will be haunted by a final act of his predecessor -- inciting a mob to trash the US Capitol. Allied democracies voiced shock, and authoritarian states alleged US hypocrisy after Donald Trump's supporters stormed and defiled the seat of US democracy to disrupt … [Read more...] about ‘Post-9/11 era is over’: Mob attack to haunt Biden on world stage
‘Et tu Brute‘ in the Time of Trump
“The saddest thing about betrayal is that it never comes from your enemies.” - Anonymous There are numerous stories about betrayal throughout history. Dating back to Biblical times – in Luke 22:56-61 – we learn about how the apostle Peter betrays Jesus, not once, not twice, but three times before the rooster crows. During the Renaissance, in what is perhaps the most … [Read more...] about ‘Et tu Brute‘ in the Time of Trump
BREAKING: Twitter permanently suspends Donald Trump’s Twitter account
Twitter finally had enough. After letting Donald Trump back on after a 12 hour suspension, they have permanently ended his account. Here's the full Twitter announcement. Permanent suspension of @realDonaldTrump After close review of recent Tweets from the @realDonaldTrump account and the context around them — specifically how they are being received and interpreted on … [Read more...] about BREAKING: Twitter permanently suspends Donald Trump’s Twitter account
Trump says he won’t attend Biden inauguration. Biden says: Good.
As a disgraced President Donald Trump faces calls a new impeachment, he announced that he will not be attending President-elect Joe Biden's January 20th inauguration. And Biden, in effect, said: Good. "I was told on the way over here, that he indicated he wasn't going to show up at the inauguration. One of the few things he and I have ever agreed on. It's a good thing, … [Read more...] about Trump says he won’t attend Biden inauguration. Biden says: Good.
Impeaching Trump may not end the nightmare
It took four hours for law enforcement to clear the Capitol of Donald Trump’s deluded insurgents but it may take years to push him out of American politics. He finally made what sounded like a concession speech and promised that his “focus now turns to ensuring a smooth orderly and seamless transition of power.” But for his supporters, ominously added, “our incredible … [Read more...] about Impeaching Trump may not end the nightmare
Was it a coup? No, but siege on US Capitol was the election violence of a fragile democracy
Insurrection at the US Capitol, Jan. 6, 2021. Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Clayton Besaw, University of Central Florida and Matthew Frank, University of Denver Did the United States just have a coup attempt? Supporters of President Donald Trump, following his encouragement, stormed the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, disrupting … [Read more...] about Was it a coup? No, but siege on US Capitol was the election violence of a fragile democracy
Calls mount for Trump’s immediate removal from office
Washington (AFP) - The US Senate's top Democrat called on Thursday for President Donald Trump's immediate removal from office after his supporters stormed the Capitol in a shocking assault on the heart of American democracy. "What happened at the US Capitol yesterday was an insurrection against the United States, incited by the president," Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer … [Read more...] about Calls mount for Trump’s immediate removal from office
Facebook bans Trump ‘indefinitely’ for inciting violence
San Francisco (AFP) - Facebook banned President Donald Trump from the platform "indefinitely" due to his efforts to incite violence at the US Capitol, chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said Thursday. Zuckerberg said the 24-hour ban announced Wednesday on Trump's accounts including on Instagram was extended because of Trump's "use of our platform to incite violent insurrection … [Read more...] about Facebook bans Trump ‘indefinitely’ for inciting violence
Trump defeated roundly by American democracy
Finally, Donald Trump has been defeated, roundly. But Joe Biden’s victory, though consecrated on January 20, will take a long time to settle. The win so far is for American democracy. Trump axed himself in the foot so thoroughly that his “Trumpism” may never take hold now. He will be remembered in history as the messiah whose disciples failed to overthrow American … [Read more...] about Trump defeated roundly by American democracy
Reverend Warnock and His ‘Brother’ Jon Go to Washington
The “Only in America” days may be back again. And, yes, "it’s official. Georgia Democratic Senators-elect Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff are going to Washington." Raphael Warnock, an African American who grew up along with 11 other brothers and sisters in the Kayton Homes public housing project in Savannah, Georgia, and whose mother picked “somebody else’s cotton,” … [Read more...] about Reverend Warnock and His ‘Brother’ Jon Go to Washington
Utah’s Lamar Clark went from 44 straight knockouts to being KO’d by Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali)
Ever heard of heavyweight boxer Lamar Clark, of Utah? Probably not, but 60 plus years ago Clark, born in Cedar City, Utah, was briefly a hot commodity in the sport. The heavyweight, who fought mostly in Northern Utah, including Ogden, scored 44 consecutive knockouts, including six in one night! Not all the KOs were sanctioned, although most likely shouldn't have been as Clark, … [Read more...] about Utah’s Lamar Clark went from 44 straight knockouts to being KO’d by Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali)
TRUMP PROTESTORS BREACH CAPITOL AFTER TRUMP ENCOURAGES THEM: Certification Stalled
It's no longer a quiet coup attempt. President Donald Trump today delivered a speech to protestors today saying he'd never concede and encouraged his protestors to go do the Capitol. Protestors stormed the Capitol building and more police are coming in. Cable News is covered this in great detail. Axios: Capitol police ordered lawmakers and reporters to shelter in … [Read more...] about TRUMP PROTESTORS BREACH CAPITOL AFTER TRUMP ENCOURAGES THEM: Certification Stalled
Democratic Senate win a game-changer for Biden
Washington (AFP) - The projected Democratic takeover of the US Senate is a game-changer for President-elect Joe Biden, who will be able to push through his key goals and nominations without systematic Republican obstruction. Raphael Warnock, a pastor, and young political star Jon Ossoff held leads in dual-seat Senate runoffs in Georgia over Republican incumbents closely allied … [Read more...] about Democratic Senate win a game-changer for Biden
ANOTHER PERFECT BEAUTIFUL TRUMP CALL
Leave it to Trump to cap off his catastrophic tenure by tripling down on the criminal behavior that got him impeached in the first place. It’s safe to assume that Brad Raffensperger, Georgia’s Republican secretary of state, never imagined he’d be muscled like Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky. Spineless Senate Republicans exonerated Trump last winter after he tried to extort … [Read more...] about ANOTHER PERFECT BEAUTIFUL TRUMP CALL
The Time to Question the Election Results Has Passed. Overthrowing the Results is ‘Sedition, Plain and Simple’
An interesting opinion piece – a letter to the American people -- appeared Sunday in the Washington Post. The piece warns Americans that “[T]he time for questioning the [election]results has passed,” and: Efforts to involve the U.S. armed forces in resolving election disputes would take us into dangerous, unlawful and unconstitutional territory. Civilian and military … [Read more...] about The Time to Question the Election Results Has Passed. Overthrowing the Results is ‘Sedition, Plain and Simple’
Dad Made Dirty Movies a fun read on the life of cult films director Stephen C. Apostolof
Review by Doug Gibson There's a lengthy passage in the biography, "Dad Made Dirty Movies: The Erotic World of Stephen C. Apostolof," McFarland, 2020, in which our subject Apostolof is in dire straights. It's 1978 and his film, "Hot Ice," is a flop. "Hot Ice" is -- by design -- not a soft-core porn film. It's an attempt to make a light-hearted R-rated diamond heist … [Read more...] about Dad Made Dirty Movies a fun read on the life of cult films director Stephen C. Apostolof
I blame Max Headroom for Donald Trump’s popularity.
I blame Max Headroom for Donald Trump's popularity. If you do not know who Max Headroom is, then watch the first 30 seconds of the following: You have to watch the entire film to understand what I am talking about. For those of you who have already seen the film, you might get the connection between it and Donald Trump. That connection is the blipvert. I … [Read more...] about I blame Max Headroom for Donald Trump’s popularity.
Bombshell Washington Post audio: ‘I just want to find 11,780 votes’ Trump tries to bully Georgia Secretary of State to get winning total for him
The Washington Post has published this bombshell: President Trump urged fellow Republican Brad Raffensperger, the Georgia secretary of state, to “find” enough votes to overturn his defeat in an extraordinary one-hour phone call Saturday that election experts said raised legal questions. The Washington Post obtained a recording of the conversation in which Trump … [Read more...] about Bombshell Washington Post audio: ‘I just want to find 11,780 votes’ Trump tries to bully Georgia Secretary of State to get winning total for him