If I ask you to picture a frozen potato product, I'm guessing many of you will see tater tots, those little deep-fried chunks of grated potato. Others may see French fries, plain or crinkled. Still others, hash browns. Unless you've been following business or legal news, you may not know that four potato conglomerates have been charged with price-fixing (a violation of the … [Read more...] about It’s not your imagination: frozen potato prices have skyrocketed (and farmers aren’t the beneficiaries)
A Very Happy Thanksgiving to our Military Men and Women Serving Away from Home
Once again this Thanksgiving more than 200,000 active-duty soldiers, Marines, airmen and sailors will be serving the holiday away from home on bases, posts and ships in more than 170 countries around the world and on “the Seven Seas.” Having served away from home during several holidays, I know first-hand the feelings of loneliness and homesickness such holidays can … [Read more...] about A Very Happy Thanksgiving to our Military Men and Women Serving Away from Home
How Trump Plans to Seize the Power of the Purse From Congress
How Trump Plans to Seize the Power of the Purse From Congressby Molly ReddenProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox.Donald Trump is entering his second term with vows to cut a vast array of government services and a radical plan to do so. Rather than relying on his party’s … [Read more...] about How Trump Plans to Seize the Power of the Purse From Congress
AI, blockchain, and the coming online economic boom
by Peter Roff There’s a boom coming. Bitcoin has arrived, and its price is setting records. Artificial Intelligence is hot. And the American people just elected a president with a deregulatory mindset. All the ingredients are there. If everything is handled right, America will soon embark on a period of extended wealth creation rarely seen in modern history. For that to … [Read more...] about AI, blockchain, and the coming online economic boom
UN offers cautious welcome to Israel-Lebanon ceasefire accord
UN chief Antonio Guterres welcomed the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon saying he hoped it would “put an end to the violence, destruction and suffering the people of both countries have been experiencing”. He also called for full respect and swift implementation all commitments made under the agreement, in a statement issued by his spokesperson. UN Special Coordinator … [Read more...] about UN offers cautious welcome to Israel-Lebanon ceasefire accord
For the first time the world is close to eliminating a cancer, says UN health chief
A ray of good news for women in these troubled times: the world is close to eliminating a cancer for the first time. “Cervical cancer can not only be stopped; it could become the first cancer to be eliminated,” the chief of the United Nations global health agency said. Every year, over 350,000 women die from cervical cancer and another 660,000 are diagnosed with the disease. … [Read more...] about For the first time the world is close to eliminating a cancer, says UN health chief
As Trump touts plans for immigrant roundup, militias are standing back, but standing by
Civilian paramilitaries, like these pictured in 2016, patrol areas of the U.S.-Mexico border searching for immigrants and drug smugglers. John Moore/Getty Images Amy Cooter, Middlebury President-elect Donald Trump has reaffirmed that once he takes office he plans to declare a national emergency and use the military on American streets to … [Read more...] about As Trump touts plans for immigrant roundup, militias are standing back, but standing by
TURKEYS DISCUSS TRUMP APPOINTMENTS (CARTOON)
Landslide? Trump’s ultimate goal is minority rule.
by Elwood Watson Donald Trump kept telling us he’d be a threat to democracy if re-elected president. Now he’s showing us. Several months ago on his Truth Social website, Trump threatened to “expel” and “cast out” government workers who oppose his radical views, describing them as a “sick political class” that hates the country. The 2024 election, he wrote, “is our final … [Read more...] about Landslide? Trump’s ultimate goal is minority rule.
The Ultimate Conceptual Duct Tape Art (Updates)
UPDATE II: The Chinese cryptocurrency entrepreneur who bought the duct-taped banana from Sotheby's for $6.2 million (including auction costs) wants to thank and support the sidewalk vendor who sold the banana to Sotheby’s for 35 or 25 cents. However, there are vagaries, complications and “the realities of a New York City street vendor’s life,” involved. Read more … [Read more...] about The Ultimate Conceptual Duct Tape Art (Updates)
A Wyoming voter carries four times the influence of a Michigan voter in this Presidential election
Because the U.S. president is elected by the Electoral College, this year a voter in Wyoming carries four times the influence of a voter in Michigan. Voters in 25 states have about one-third to one-quarter the influence of Wyoming voters. Voters in 29 states plus the District of Columbia (DC) have less influence than voters in the other 21 states.* The Electoral College … [Read more...] about A Wyoming voter carries four times the influence of a Michigan voter in this Presidential election
To some ancient Romans, gladiators were the embodiment of tyranny
Paul Mescal as Lucius in ‘Gladiator II.’ Paramount John M. Oksanish, Wake Forest University Neither “Gladiator” nor its cinematic sequel is particularly concerned with historical fact. For one thing, the emperor Marcus Aurelius had no intention of restoring the republic. Gladiatorial contests were abhorrent displays of cruelty, but they … [Read more...] about To some ancient Romans, gladiators were the embodiment of tyranny
USA PLUTOCRACY CONSTITUTION (CARTOON)
Morning Joe Gets Antsy
Deep Space Homer is the 15th episode of the fifth season of The Simpsons in which Homer goes to space. At some point during the adventure, Homer accidentally releases some ants that were aboard for a space study or something like that. Unfortunately, this happens rightbefore Kent Brockman, Springfield’s news anchor, conducts a live stream interview with the astronauts and … [Read more...] about Morning Joe Gets Antsy
Presidents often claim mandates – especially when they want to expand their power or are on the defensive
Donald Trump at an election night celebration early on Nov. 6, 2024, when he claimed “an unprecedented and powerful mandate” from voters. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Julia R. Azari, Marquette University Shortly after the 2024 election was called in Donald Trump’s favor, he declared that voters had given him “an unprecedented and powerful … [Read more...] about Presidents often claim mandates – especially when they want to expand their power or are on the defensive
WHERE I WAS WHEN JOHN F. KENNEDY WAS SHOT
November 22, 1963 had started out as a typical day at Amity Junior High School in Orange, CT for me - and an exciting and scary one for me since I was schedule to do something at the end of the school day that I had never done before. I was running for Vice President of the student council, which meant I had to do a speech. . I really had zero chance: I was not well-known, I … [Read more...] about WHERE I WAS WHEN JOHN F. KENNEDY WAS SHOT
TRUMP AG DRAMA: GAETZ WITH DRAWS, PAM BONDI IS NAMED
In a day of heightened political drama, scandal-tinged former Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew from being President-Elect Donald Trump's pick for Attorney General - which was quickly followed by the news that Trump is naming his former defense attorney, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. Next to Gaetz, Bondi looks like Mother Teresa. The Bulwark offers these details on ow … [Read more...] about TRUMP AG DRAMA: GAETZ WITH DRAWS, PAM BONDI IS NAMED
Putting the Fox in the Henhouse
Donald Trump has made some bad choices for cabinet positions in his administration, placing America’s future in jeopardy with unqualified personnel to run government agencies. However, two of them stand out as particularly unfortunate- Matt Gaetz for Attorney General and Robert Kennedy, Jr as head of health and human services. That means that Kennedy will control the Food and … [Read more...] about Putting the Fox in the Henhouse
What mandate? Trump has now received less than 50% of the votes cast
News media pundits are still crowing about Donald Trump's "decisive" victory based on a lot of states showing up as red in the Electoral College tally. Actual votes counted? A different picture, but don't expect to see it in traditional news. As of 6 pm Pacific on Monday, the University of Florida Election Lab reports 155,803,701 ballots cast. CNN reports Trump has … [Read more...] about What mandate? Trump has now received less than 50% of the votes cast
UN health body sounds alarm on burgeoning diabetes epidemic
Diabetes, a potentially debilitating, painful and fatal disease, is burgeoning worldwide affecting more than 800 million adults and has quadrupled in the past 30 years, reaching new heights as an epidemic. “We have seen an alarming rise in diabetes over the past three decades, which reflects the increase in obesity, compounded by the impacts of the marketing of unhealthy … [Read more...] about UN health body sounds alarm on burgeoning diabetes epidemic