By Matt BershadkerToday’s industrial farms raise massive numbers of pigs, chickens, turkeys, and cows in intensive confinement, mired in their own waste and lacking enough space to simply move about freely. These farms also breed animals for extreme growth and production rates that further endanger their health and welfare. Conditions like these have torturous consequences … [Read more...] about Not just cruel to animals, these farms may breed the next pandemic
Brother Did You Know…
Did you know that black persons bleed, breathe, cry, laugh - just like you and I? Did you know that black persons have feelings, pride, aspirations, self-respect - just like you and I? Did you know that black persons feel pain, suffer rejection and humiliation, experience joy and sadness, fall in love - just like you and I? Did you know that black persons have … [Read more...] about Brother Did You Know…
Fatal shooting of Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta sparks new protests, shuts down freeways and more (PHOTOS)
ATLANTA — Atlanta’s police chief resigned Saturday hours after a black man was fatally shot by an officer in a struggle following a field sobriety test. Authorities said the slain man had grabbed an officer’s Taser, but was running away when he was shot.Police Chief Erika Shields stepped down as the killing of 27-year-old Rayshard Brooks sparked a new wave of protests in … [Read more...] about Fatal shooting of Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta sparks new protests, shuts down freeways and more (PHOTOS)
Atlanta’s police city resigns after officer kills black man at Wendy’s
Washington (AFP) - The police chief in the US city of Atlanta resigned after an officer fatally shot a black man during an arrest, the mayor said Saturday, with the new killing injecting fresh anger into protests against racism and police brutality.Demonstrators blocked an interstate highway and set alight the Wendy's where 27-year-old Rayshard Brooks was killed late Saturday, … [Read more...] about Atlanta’s police city resigns after officer kills black man at Wendy’s
Full Moon Falsehood Still Being Spread
An old falsehood about full moons is still being promoted by people who are either naive about science or anti-science. From History.com: "Since ancient times, full moons have been associated with odd or insane behavior ... Even today, despite studies discrediting the hypothesis, some people think full moons make everyone a little loony." From Florida Today: "It has … [Read more...] about Full Moon Falsehood Still Being Spread
What They Really Mean When They Say: Protesting is OK, But Looters Must Be Stopped
by Barry Berman Don’t be fooled. This is code. Once again, the world is divided into two sides. Side A: There are those who believe that people of color have been cruelly, criminally, and systemically held down for centuries. These protests, to them, are triggered by a boiling point, horrifically represented by a tortuous murder captured on video. The protests are not … [Read more...] about What They Really Mean When They Say: Protesting is OK, But Looters Must Be Stopped
Quote of the Day: Donald Trump on the Chokehold
"I think the concept of chokehold sounds so innocent, so perfect." --Donald Trump on Fox News. … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Donald Trump on the Chokehold
Many land animals ‘will go extinct’ in just two decades
By Daniel T Cross Sustainability Times The northern white rhinoceros. The passenger pigeon. The Javan tiger. The golden toad. The Pinta Island tortoise. These are just some of the dozens of land-based vertebrate species that have gone extinct over the past century. Many more will likely follow them into oblivion soon, a team of scientists warns in a new study, which … [Read more...] about Many land animals ‘will go extinct’ in just two decades
Why soldiers might disobey the president’s orders to occupy US cities
Members of the military wearing U.S. Army Special Forces insignia block protesters near Lafayette Park and the White House on June 3, 2020. Drew Angerer/Getty Images Marcus Hedahl, United States Naval Academy and Bradley Jay Strawser, Naval Postgraduate School President Donald Trump has announced he was considering sending the federal military into … [Read more...] about Why soldiers might disobey the president’s orders to occupy US cities
#UglyPresident (Political video)
The latest political video from Meidas Touch is #UglyPresident" which uses Donald Trump's comments about the demonstrations and law enforcement clampdown alongside actual footage: … [Read more...] about #UglyPresident (Political video)
A Template for Trump’s Commencement Address to the West Point Class of 2020 (UPDATED)
UPDATE: As the day nears when Trump will give the commencement address at West Point and in view of his recent disgraceful politicizing of the military and past “self-indulgent, campaign-style” speeches at similar events, questions arise – according to the Washington Post - as to whether Trump will once again choose the commencement “as another way to try and wrap himself … [Read more...] about A Template for Trump’s Commencement Address to the West Point Class of 2020 (UPDATED)
Top general says he was wrong to appear with Trump at church photo op
Washington (AFP) - America's top general said Thursday he was wrong to appear with President Donald Trump in a photo op near the White House last week, staged after the area was forcefully cleared of anti-racism protesters."I should not have been there. My presence in that moment and in that environment created a perception of military involvement in domestic politics," General … [Read more...] about Top general says he was wrong to appear with Trump at church photo op
Thai elephants’ mass migration to village brings new stress
Huay Pakoot (Thailand) (AFP) - A thousand elephants threatened by starvation have journeyed through the hills of northern Thailand, making a slow migration home from tourist sites forced shut by the pandemic.Home for some of the animals is the northern village of Huay Pakoot, where generations of ethnic Karen mahouts -- or elephant handlers -- have been rearing the giant … [Read more...] about Thai elephants’ mass migration to village brings new stress
The Pusher (Cartoon, Column and Video)
The reason Donald Trump is NOT my president isn’t that I don’t like him or disagree with his politics. George W. Bush was my president and I didn’t like him. Donald Trump is not my president because he’s not a president. Donald Trump hasn’t taken one moment to be presidential. I found it funny that he and his campaign promised he would be presidential after he was … [Read more...] about The Pusher (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Starbucks to close up to 400 U.S. stores
Coffee giant Starbucks announced Wednesday in an SEC filing it will close up to 400 company-operated stores over the next 18 months.There are over 250 Starbucks locations in New Jersey but it is unknown if any will be impacted. A Starbucks spokesperson didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.Starbucks said it expects to lose up to $3.2 billion in revenue due to the … [Read more...] about Starbucks to close up to 400 U.S. stores
When Quarantine Feels So Good
by Daniel Sherman In these languid days of early summer, lazy mid-mornings are up and stretching. They are full of energy and striving, but strive for nothing at all, mostly. They are found in the cracks of broken-bottle sidewalks, green shoots aiming straight for the sun. The force that through the green fuse…. but we can’t be taxed to recall the rest. The weeds … [Read more...] about When Quarantine Feels So Good
Using the military to quash protests can erode democracy – as Latin America well knows
A Chilean soldier stands guard at a ransacked supermarket in Santiago, October 2019. Marcelo Hernandez/Getty Images Kristina Mani, Oberlin College and Conservatory President Donald Trump on June 7 withdrew National Guard troops from Washington, D.C., but his threat to “deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem” of civil unrest … [Read more...] about Using the military to quash protests can erode democracy – as Latin America well knows
Why do police unions talk and act like the Mafia? How can we stop them?
Finally! After an unforgettable week in which America — already reeling from the brutal caught-on-video Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd, on top of a pandemic, a recession and … everything — watched with dropped jaw literally dozens of videos of police clubbing, shoving or driving into peaceful protesters, or tear-gassing them and even maiming some for life with … [Read more...] about Why do police unions talk and act like the Mafia? How can we stop them?
‘DEFUND THE POLICE’ A SLOGAN RIPE FOR REPUBLICAN EXPLOITATION
The good news for America is that Donald Trump is crashing his presidency the same way he bankrupted casinos, with recent polls showing him significantly trailing Joe Biden. His own advisers reportedly say that his internal numbers are “brutal.” The bad news for America – potentially – is that Trump may have found a life preserver to which he can cling, and perhaps slow his … [Read more...] about ‘DEFUND THE POLICE’ A SLOGAN RIPE FOR REPUBLICAN EXPLOITATION
Science of ‘Seinfeld’
Actors Jason Alexander (George), Jerry Seinfeld (Jerry), Michael Richards (Kramer) and Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Elaine) stand behind bars in a scene during the last days of filming the final episode in Studio City, California, April 3, 1998. David Hume Kennerly/Getty Images Bill Sullivan, Indiana University It’s been 31 years since a groundbreaking show … [Read more...] about Science of ‘Seinfeld’