How can America solve its problem with guns? Our nation has more deaths and serious injuries due to guns than any other nation in the world. In fact, we probably have more gun deaths than all the other nations in the world combined. Recently, we have seen mass killings by guns on at least a weekly basis. Yet we can’t seem to get a handle on the gun dilemma and cut down on gun … [Read more...] about Needed Gun Laws
‘Last Straw’: Americans confront racism, violence in Chauvin trial
By Brad Brooks (Reuters) - The trial and conviction of former Minneapolis policeman Derek Chauvin for murdering George Floyd came with America at a crossroads, a moment of anguish, but also of possibility, which historians and activists compared to the Civil Rights era. From policing and race relations to the criminal justice system, the three-week trial of Derek Chauvin became … [Read more...] about ‘Last Straw’: Americans confront racism, violence in Chauvin trial
Derek Chauvin: convicted Floyd killer, face of US police brutality
Minneapolis (AFP) - Derek Chauvin, the former police officer convicted Tuesday of murdering George Floyd, had a record of using excessive force before the unarmed Black man died under his knee in a crime prosecutors branded a "shocking abuse of authority." Chauvin, described by colleagues as rigid and silent, knelt on the 46-year-old Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes on a … [Read more...] about Derek Chauvin: convicted Floyd killer, face of US police brutality
CHAUVIN VERDICT(CARTOON)
Breaking: Derek Chauvin found guilty on all three counts in death of George Floyd
The jury has spoken: former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin has been convicted on all charges in the death of George Floyd. The Washington Post: Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has been convicted of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the death of George Floyd on Memorial Day. He was immediately remanded … [Read more...] about Breaking: Derek Chauvin found guilty on all three counts in death of George Floyd
Will Bunch: In cities across the country, cops flood the zone, violate our rights — and make us less safe
After a veteran officer — also head of their police union — shot and killed a 20-year-old unarmed Black motorist named Daunte Wright during a traffic stop over expired tags and a dangling air freshener, you might think cops in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, would have at least a brief moment of reflection, even contrition. Yeah, right. Instead, officers in the Minneapolis suburb — … [Read more...] about Will Bunch: In cities across the country, cops flood the zone, violate our rights — and make us less safe
Russia detains Navalny allies, raids offices on eve of protest
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian police detained several allies of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny on Tuesday and raided two of his regional offices, a protest monitoring group said, a day before his supporters plan to stage mass protests over his deteriorating health in jail. Navalny, 44, President Vladimir Putin's staunchest critic, declared a hunger strike three weeks ago to demand … [Read more...] about Russia detains Navalny allies, raids offices on eve of protest
Murderer or ‘reasonable officer?’ Jury begins deliberations in Chauvin trial
By Jonathan Allen MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) - Jurors in the murder trial of Derek Chauvin began deliberations on Monday after a prosecutor implored them to "believe your eyes" as he replayed video of the former Minneapolis police officer kneeling on a dying George Floyd's neck. Chauvin's lead lawyer, Eric Nelson, countered in his own closing argument that Chauvin behaved as any … [Read more...] about Murderer or ‘reasonable officer?’ Jury begins deliberations in Chauvin trial
OBEDIENCE
“The disappearance of a sense of responsibility is the most far-reaching consequence of submission to authority”. - Stanley Milgram, "Obedience to Authority", 1974 A week ago, I received a death threat on Facebook. It was in response to a discussion about gun control, something that I strongly advocate. It was a display of male dominance that went like this: “Debby … [Read more...] about OBEDIENCE
Democratic bill attempts to undo voter restrictions of past 15 years
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and fellow Democrats address reporters on H.R. 1 at the Capitol in Washington on March 3, 2021. J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photos Nicholas Espíritu, University of California, Los Angeles The recent national elections — conducted in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic — highlighted difficulties Americans face to … [Read more...] about Democratic bill attempts to undo voter restrictions of past 15 years
Satire: Short Takes
By Laurie Baron, Ph.D Bernie Madoff died in prison this week. In accordance with his will, his tombstone will be shaped like a pyramid. Matt Gaetz cancelled his appearance as a contestant on the Underage Bachelorette. The FDA and CDC ordered a temporary suspension in the use of the Johnson and Johnson Covid-19 vaccine after six cases of a rare blood clotting disease … [Read more...] about Satire: Short Takes
Bush, in op-ed and book, steps into US migration debate
Washington (AFP) - Former president George W. Bush has stepped into the US debate on immigration, saying migrants are "a force for good" and arguing for a gradual process to allow undocumented immigrants to earn legal status. Bush, a past governor of Texas -- a border state heavily impacted by migration -- made his points in an op-ed article in the Washington Post previewing … [Read more...] about Bush, in op-ed and book, steps into US migration debate
Spin around Mars makes Ingenuity first craft to fly on another planet
NASA's Ingenuity helicopter has completed a flight on Mars, becoming the first man-made craft to take to the sky on another planet, the US space agency said on Monday. The tiny helicopter, which weighs 1.8 kilograms and is powered by four lithium batteries, took off at about 6:34 am (1046 GMT) and flew about 3 metres into the air, briefly hovered in place for 30 seconds and … [Read more...] about Spin around Mars makes Ingenuity first craft to fly on another planet
A Sunday Evening Fluff Piece
While browsing through previous writings in preparation for my "Afghanistan: It’s Done. No More. 3.0," I came across a piece on military family separations. The article describes some of the sacrifices our military women and men make when they decide to serve their country: Not being there for the birth of your first child; missing out on your children’s birthdays, … [Read more...] about A Sunday Evening Fluff Piece
Sikhs in America: A religious community long misunderstood is mourning deaths in Indianapolis mass shooting
Members of the Sikh community in Indianapolis gather after a mass shooting in which eight people, including four Sikhs, died, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Jon Cherry/Getty Images Simran Jeet Singh, Union Theological Seminary On April 16, 2021, a gunman opened fire at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis killing eight people and injuring several others before … [Read more...] about Sikhs in America: A religious community long misunderstood is mourning deaths in Indianapolis mass shooting
GUN CONTROL ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY RIGHT NOW (CARTOON, COLUMN AND VIDEO)
Another day in America, another mass shooting. After a recent mass shooting when Democrats in the Senate said we need legislation to stop this insanity, and not JUST thoughts and prayers, Senator Ted Cruz, the most disingenuous sonofabitch who has ever hatched from an egg, was livid. How dare Democrats play “theatrics” by attacking thoughts and prayers and instead, … [Read more...] about GUN CONTROL ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY RIGHT NOW (CARTOON, COLUMN AND VIDEO)
Poll: Most Americans want to end lifetime Supreme Court appointments but nix expanded court.
A new Ipsos/Reuters finds most Americans want Supreme Court reform--but not the kind many Democrats have in mind. They support term limits on Supreme Court justices, but not expansion of the court, a change advocated by many progressives. Reuters reports: A majority of Americans want to end lifetime appointments for U.S. Supreme Court justices, according to an Ipsos … [Read more...] about Poll: Most Americans want to end lifetime Supreme Court appointments but nix expanded court.
GOP Struggling To Harm Biden
Thus far, Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. has proven himself to be a competent, decent President of the USA. That fact has become a problem for people who are opposed to any Democrat occupying the Oval Office. Now, a 17 April 2021 article from The Hill elaborates as to why that is so. Regarding how to respond to that headline, I believe that Grumpy Cat said it best: If … [Read more...] about GOP Struggling To Harm Biden
Vaccination rates break down along party lines
21st century politics so far has been marked by mega-polarization and a Golden Age of Misinformation (and lies) for political gain. So this New York Times report is jarring - but not surprising. About 31 percent of adults in the United States have now been fully vaccinated. Scientists have estimated that 70 to 90 percent of the total population must acquire resistance … [Read more...] about Vaccination rates break down along party lines
Are mass shootings an American epidemic?
Police stand near the scene where multiple people were shot at the FedEx Ground facility on April 16, 2021, in Indianapolis. AP Photo/Michael Conroy Lacey Wallace, Penn State The U.S. has suffered yet another mass shooting, with a deadly attack in a FedEx facility in Indianapolis. This was the fifth mass shooting in five weeks, including a shooting at … [Read more...] about Are mass shootings an American epidemic?