Brussels (AFP) - Another horror day of the coronavirus pandemic saw the global death toll pass 94,000, although there were tentative signs of hope that the crisis was peaking in the United States and Europe.The picture of the unfolding economic catastrophe also became clearer with the IMF warning of a Great Depression and data showing 17 million Americans lost their jobs, but a … [Read more...] about Global virus death toll passes 94,000, but some signs of hope
TRUMP’S COVID 19 RESPONSE TIME (Cartoon)
Virus death toll tops 100,000 as locked down Easter kicks off
Rome (AFP) - The global coronavirus death toll topped 100,000 Friday as Easter celebrations around the world kicked off in near-empty churches with billions of people stuck indoors to halt the pandemic's deadly worldwide march. The grim milestone came as the World Health Organization issued a dire warning that prematurely lifting lockdown restrictions -- which have kept more … [Read more...] about Virus death toll tops 100,000 as locked down Easter kicks off
‘Tiger King’ and America’s captive tiger problem
Many breeders say they’re stewards of conservation, but no captive tiger has ever been released into the wild. AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian Allison Skidmore, University of California, Santa Cruz Editor’s note: Netflix’s new docuseries “Tiger King” takes viewers into the strange world of big cat collectors. Featuring eccentric characters with names like … [Read more...] about ‘Tiger King’ and America’s captive tiger problem
Growing Radishes in Anxious Times (Breaking Update)
UPDATE: It has now been two weeks since our first radish harvest and with some trepidation we just concluded our second radish (singular) harvest. As one can see from our place setting (below), we had already lowered our expectations, but we were not quite prepared for this dismal outcome: worse than the first crop. We had hoped that our little farm would satisfy … [Read more...] about Growing Radishes in Anxious Times (Breaking Update)
What C.O.V.I.D. Really Means
Seems that with WAZE, Google Maps, and other similar apps everyone these days has their own “navi” system. Only problem is, the other day I plugged “Happiness” into one of these and the app exploded! I asked Siri, Alexa and even my Apple watch…no help. Could COVID19 have infected my course-plotting devices? Of course not. But during these sheltered-at-home days, any journey out … [Read more...] about What C.O.V.I.D. Really Means
An Excuse to Attack Belief in God
Some atheists are using Pandemic 2020 as an excuse to attack any belief in God's existence. It is one thing to reject belief in God's existence. It is another thing to attack people who believe in God's existence because a plague has occurred. Atheists doing the latter come across as tone-deaf bullies. What they are doing helps nobody. Sure, some theists have acted … [Read more...] about An Excuse to Attack Belief in God
Trump’s utter lack of grief, empathy is the coronavirus dog that didn’t bark
If you’d spent the last five years trapped in a cave somewhere, you’d probably bet that Queens-accented kid from a place called Jamaica Estates would be better at relating to the sorrows and stresses of the everyday citizen than a real-life queen who grew up on actual country estates or in Buckingham Palace, always at a remove from the commoners.But if you’re like most people … [Read more...] about Trump’s utter lack of grief, empathy is the coronavirus dog that didn’t bark
Past Presidents define us: A perversion of national ideals
April 13 is Thomas Jefferson’s birthday. A Founding Father, he wrote the Declaration of Independence and was part of the group who drafted our Constitution and the Bill of Rights. He and other significant presidents have much to teach us. Jefferson articulated the ideals that define our republic. We are a nation not of peoples but of ideals. They unite us into one nation (E … [Read more...] about Past Presidents define us: A perversion of national ideals
Why your local store keeps running out of flour, toilet paper and prescription drugs
Flour has been in short supply in recent weeks. Gregory Rec/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images) Nada R. Sanders, Northeastern University Retailers are frequently running out of everything from flour and fresh meat to toilet paper and pharmaceuticals as supply chains hammered by the coronavirus struggle to keep up with stockpiling consumers. … [Read more...] about Why your local store keeps running out of flour, toilet paper and prescription drugs
Brutal propaganda war over coronavirus means facts matter more than ever
Rarely has accurate information been more vital than at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.Yet a global disinformation war is being waged at full force.China and Russia push conspiracy theories worldwide about the origin of the virus. Autocrats from Cambodia to Saudi Arabia to Turkey censor reporting on the virus.Meantime, President Donald Trump blasts journalists who question … [Read more...] about Brutal propaganda war over coronavirus means facts matter more than ever
Our Military During Coronavirus – An Update (Breaking Updates)
Breaking Update: The Navy Times is now reporting a Theodore Roosevelt sailor who tested positive for COVID-19 on March 30 was found unresponsive Thursday morning and moved to an intensive care unit at a nearby hospital in Guam. There are now more than 400 confirmed coronavirus cases from the aircraft carrier. Some more grim numbers: 3,265 VA patients have tested … [Read more...] about Our Military During Coronavirus – An Update (Breaking Updates)
Bernie drops out, as Democrats pick pragmatism over consistency
Closing the door on another presidential run. Patrick Semansky/AP Photo Adam Hodges, University of Colorado Boulder In many ways, Bernie Sanders is the anti-Trump. And, in important ways, he ran his campaign as the anti-Biden. Sanders bowed out of the Democratic nomination race on April 8, repeating his runner-up status from four years earlier. His … [Read more...] about Bernie drops out, as Democrats pick pragmatism over consistency
A SHOOTING ON FIFTH AVENUE
“The concept is very simple: there are three ways to react when faced with a decision: Yes, No, or Maybe. Marlboro does not believe in Maybes.” – Philip Morris International These are the words of a man who knows his shit, because there are no maybes in Marlboro Country. There are only winners and losers. There are Republican presidents who are deciders who can run the … [Read more...] about A SHOOTING ON FIFTH AVENUE
Joe Biden bursts from twilight of career onto biggest stage
Washington (AFP) - He has been scarred by tragedy and failed presidential runs, stumbles while speaking and is 77. But those same frailties, coupled with unmatched Washington experience, are exactly what Joe Biden bets will win over Americans tired of his polar opposite -- Donald Trump.If Trump brought brash and bombast to the White House, wrecking everything from convention to … [Read more...] about Joe Biden bursts from twilight of career onto biggest stage
Mixed Messages
Has America ever had a period or a president who floods the airways with a tidal wave of mixed messages and lies. Whether because of ambivalence, uncertainty, forgetfulness, change of mind, stupidity, or differing advice, the nation has never had so many contradictory messages emanating from the leader of the free world and broadcast out daily. (His press conferences appear to … [Read more...] about Mixed Messages
Editorial: Pearl Harbor, 9/11 and coronavirus: Yet again, we say ‘never again’
U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams said more than he may have intended Sunday when he compared this week’s expected surge in coronavirus deaths to “our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment.”Inconveniently for his boss, President Donald Trump, the comparison was to two other disasters that caught our nation similarly unprepared.The failures this time, however, were even more … [Read more...] about Editorial: Pearl Harbor, 9/11 and coronavirus: Yet again, we say ‘never again’
COVID-19: A Time for Above or Below the Neck Eating?
Obesity-related conditions seem to be linked to a worsened effect of COVID-19, according to the World Obesity Federation. The European Association for the Study of Obesity, along with other North American obesity related organizations, have noted, “If you are living with overweight, obesity or diabetes, you are not at an increased risk for developing COVID-19 – but you may be … [Read more...] about COVID-19: A Time for Above or Below the Neck Eating?
Acting Navy Secretary Resigns After Uproar Due to His Comments About an Aircraft Carrier Commander Who Cared for his Crew (FINAL, FINAL UPDATE)
Final, final update: So I “fibbed” when I said the update, below, would be the “final” update. But, hey I have more than 16,000 fibs to go to match or beat the current record. Anyway, thought you might like to know: According to the Washington Post, the flight the former Navy Secretary Thomas Modly took to Guam to demean and insult the captain of the Theodore … [Read more...] about Acting Navy Secretary Resigns After Uproar Due to His Comments About an Aircraft Carrier Commander Who Cared for his Crew (FINAL, FINAL UPDATE)
Pandas use lockdown privacy to mate after a decade of trying
Hong Kong (AFP) - Stuck at home with no visitors and not much else to do, a pair of pandas in Hong Kong finally decided to give mating a go after a decade of dodging the issue.Like half the planet, Ying Ying and Le Le have only really had each other for company since coronavirus-caused lockdowns shut off the flow of guests to their themepark pad.And like couples everywhere, … [Read more...] about Pandas use lockdown privacy to mate after a decade of trying