Turkey releasing murderers – but not political opponents – from prison amid coronavirus pandemic
Released prisoners sit in a bus outside Ankara, Turkey – while government critics remain behind bars due to Turkey’s sweeping terror laws. AP Ahmet T. Kuru, San Diego State University Turkey has begun to release about 90,000 prison inmates, half of them temporarily and the other half permanently, to prevent COVID-19’s spread and to ease overcrowding. … [Read more...] about Turkey releasing murderers – but not political opponents – from prison amid coronavirus pandemic
US job losses soar past 26 mn as states move to reopen
Washington (AFP) - Job losses from the coronavirus pandemic in the United States climbed to 26.4 million on Thursday, as Congress is poised to approve a new stimulus measure and governors in some states move to slowly reopen businesses.Sobering data released by the Labor Department showed 4.4 million Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits in the week that ended April … [Read more...] about US job losses soar past 26 mn as states move to reopen
The Good, Bad and Opportunity in Every Situation
Just when the stress level of sheltering-at-home is nearing its breaking point, with a 34.1% increase in prescriptions for anxiety medications, now comes even more worry about protecting our health from COVID-19 upon the reopening of public places. It is too soon? Is it not soon enough? What steps will businesses actually take to insure they’re meeting health standards? Do … [Read more...] about The Good, Bad and Opportunity in Every Situation
‘Abe’ Focuses On Family Struggle and Cultural Identity
Growing up in Brooklyn, with a Jewish mother (Dagmara Dominczyk) and atheist father (Arian Moayed), 12-year-old Abe (Noah Schnapp) is in the middle of discovering who he is and what he believes in. Abe's mother comes from a long line of Jewish tradition and his father, despite being an atheist himself, comes from a Muslim family. These two halves of Abe's identity clash against … [Read more...] about ‘Abe’ Focuses On Family Struggle and Cultural Identity
Two Grumpy Texas Octogenarians Disagree with their Lieutenant Governor
About a month ago, when the United States became the country hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic, with at least 81,321 confirmed infections and more than 1,000 deaths, Texas lieutenant governor Dan Patrick was already pushing for the country to get back to work. During an interview Patrick gave Fox around that time, Tucker Carlson quoted from “a very long and thoughtful” … [Read more...] about Two Grumpy Texas Octogenarians Disagree with their Lieutenant Governor
Trump wants sports back – but fans aren’t so sure
The parking lot of Citifield, the home of the New York Mets, sits empty. AP Photo/John Minchillo Murray Edelman, Seton Hall University CC BY-ND Some politicians, media figures and business leaders are clamoring for sectors of the economy to re-open in the near … [Read more...] about Trump wants sports back – but fans aren’t so sure
Coronavirus deaths greater where Fox News viewers watched ‘Hannity’ more than Tucker Carlson, study says
CHICAGO — A new study published by the University of Chicago’s Becker Friedman Institute for Economics makes a claim that will strike many as incendiary: “Greater viewership of ‘Hannity’ relative to ‘Tucker Carlson Tonight’ is strongly associated with a greater number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the early stages of the pandemic,” says the paper.The working paper is called … [Read more...] about Coronavirus deaths greater where Fox News viewers watched ‘Hannity’ more than Tucker Carlson, study says
Live from Planet Television, Donald Trump – Every Night!
Deprived of rallies to inflate his ego, the president muscles in on sickness and death. by Michael Winship As we all know, Donald J. Trump sees the entire world as one big television show—about him. Everything is weighed against the success of his former NBC reality show “The Apprentice,” and frankly, as far as Trump’s concerned, the world just isn’t measuring up. … [Read more...] about Live from Planet Television, Donald Trump – Every Night!
The Little-Known Story of Friesland’s (The Netherlands) Rescue of Jewish Children During the Holocaust
As a teenager in the Netherlands, in geography class, I learned all about Friesland, the northernmost of The Netherlands' 11 provinces, after Groningen. I learned about Friesland’s beautiful, lake-filled open spaces, its distinct language -- (West) Frisian -- its long history and unique culture. Of course, we learned about – and followed – the famous “Elfstedentocht”' … [Read more...] about The Little-Known Story of Friesland’s (The Netherlands) Rescue of Jewish Children During the Holocaust
Trump, Fox News are trying to gin up a new tea party to distract you from their deadly failures
One carried a sign with Patrick Henry’s famed Revolutionary-era quote — “Give me liberty or give me death!” — and parked herself in front of a shuttered Baskin-Robbins to show her determination to risk everything for the freedom to go down that Rocky Road one more time. Nearby in the conservative California enclave of Huntington Beach, a fellow protester covered himself … [Read more...] about Trump, Fox News are trying to gin up a new tea party to distract you from their deadly failures
Global tourism industry may shrink by more than 50% due to the pandemic
Global tourism industry may shrink by more than 50% due to the pandemic Mothballed Delta Air Lines planes parked at Kansas City International Airport in Missouri. AP Photo/Charlie Riedel Faizan Ali, University of South Florida and Cihan Cobanoglu, University of South Florida … [Read more...] about Global tourism industry may shrink by more than 50% due to the pandemic
THE TRUMP BLAME GAME (Cartoon)
Holocaust Remembrance Day 2020
21 April 2020 is Holocaust Remembrance Day. This blogger wishes to honor a holocaust survivor who is still alive and living in the USA. That person is Robert Max Widerman, born 01 March 1926. Widerman was a teenager when he was placed on Transport 37 to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Tablet Magazine cites Widerman's description of that train ride: "The moaning and crying … [Read more...] about Holocaust Remembrance Day 2020
Succeed or Recede. You CAN’T?
“Why can’t things ever go right, just once in my life?” “I’m such a ________.” “I’ll never be as good as ___________.” “Why don’t things ever go my way?” “Why can’t I ever succeed, just once in my life?” Sound familiar? Perhaps you’re exasperated with many of the behavior and habit change schemes aimed at helping you overcome these types of demoralizing thoughts. … [Read more...] about Succeed or Recede. You CAN’T?
MAGA MONKEYS (Cartoon, Column and Video)
As I’m sure you’re aware of now, the MAGAt teabagger gang is at it again. Trump cultists are protesting the government’s stay-at-home orders in several states. They’re anxious to get the economy rolling again, to get back to work, to resume earning a living, and to just get out of the house. We all have that frustration. We all want to earn a living, feed our families, and … [Read more...] about MAGA MONKEYS (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Cautious optimism as Europe reopens
A tourist gives food to pigeons in Piazza del Duomo, Milan. Photo: AFPEuropean residents and medical personnel stay cautiously optimistic toward the governments' fast resumption plan, which some deemed as a forced move under the pressure of stagnant economy while some countries in the continent have not yet reached the epidemic peak.Some reached by the Global Times suggested … [Read more...] about Cautious optimism as Europe reopens
GOP and White House Under Fire: Hotel and Restaurant Chains Helped Deplete PPP Small Business Program
The White House and the Republican Party are now under fire because big hotel and restaurant chains played a major role in quickly depleting the Paycheck Protection Program part of the economic stimulus program. One big company, Shake Shack, has announced that it's giving the money it got back. Even some GOPers are either speaking out about it, or moving to try and pass a … [Read more...] about GOP and White House Under Fire: Hotel and Restaurant Chains Helped Deplete PPP Small Business Program
What Will It Be for Captain Brett Crozier?
It is widely anticipated that Admiral Michael M. Gilday, the chief of naval operations, will soon – perhaps as early as this week -- decide what the fate of Captain Brett Crozier, the commander of the ill-fated Theodore Roosevelt, will be. Navy Captain Crozier was removed from command by the (former) Acting Secretary of the Navy after Crozier pled for assistance in … [Read more...] about What Will It Be for Captain Brett Crozier?
Destroy the Post Office and you destroy democracy. Maybe that’s Trump’s plan?
When you think of democracy in America, you probably think of those dudes in their powdered wigs striking a pose at Independence Hall, or — more modernly — people standing on line for five hours just to cast a vote. You probably don’t think of the U.S. Post Office — no, that’s Cliff on “Cheers” or “Seinfeld’s” Newman, avatars for what too many view as America’s oddest job.Maybe … [Read more...] about Destroy the Post Office and you destroy democracy. Maybe that’s Trump’s plan?