The very urgent need for a vaccine for Covid-19 has finally brought together a number of international entities in an unprecedented act of cooperation sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO) to speed up research, development and distribution. The goal is to develop and deliver reliable vaccines quickly, hopefully by spring 2021, although vaccines can take up to 10 … [Read more...] about WHO tries to speed up Covid-19 vaccines but US and China stay out
‘Reopen’ protest movement created, boosted by fake grassroots tactics
Protesters seeking relief from lockdown restrictions, like these in Missouri, are being marshaled and egged on by conservative political operatives. AP Photo/Jeff Roberson Marc Ambinder, University of Southern California, Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism Many Americans have been under strict stay-at-home orders, or at least … [Read more...] about ‘Reopen’ protest movement created, boosted by fake grassroots tactics
An Atheist Perspective of Our Current Illness(es)
All the toxic monotheisms are ganging up on us: Passover, Easter and Ramadan are all on at about the same time like a perfect storm of nonsense. We've got the cross worshipers from Jerusalem, the book worshipers (also Jerusalem - what *is* it about that hot shabby city?) and the stone worshipers (Arabia) having their BIG DAYS at this time, a festival of evidence-free fairy … [Read more...] about An Atheist Perspective of Our Current Illness(es)
Israel’s New Government
At least in theory, Israel has temporarily solved their governing crisis. Likud lead by Benjamin Netanyahu has signed an agreement with Benny Gantz of the Blue and White party to form a coalition government, avoiding a 4th election. There are some troubling clauses in the Coalition agreement. First, Netanyahu will serve as Prime Minister for the first 18 months. Bibi is … [Read more...] about Israel’s New Government
AMERICA’S DUMBEST GOVERNOR IS FIXIN’ TO GET MORE PEOPLE KILLED
It was already clear, two years ago, that Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp had a screw loose. In a TV ad during his successful gubernatorial campaign, the right-wing businessman displayed his handguns and rifles – standard procedure in the South, where it’s de rigueur for a Republican to flaunt manly manliness – but he decided to go a step further. He brandished a double-barreled … [Read more...] about AMERICA’S DUMBEST GOVERNOR IS FIXIN’ TO GET MORE PEOPLE KILLED
TRUMPY BUBBLES (Cartoon Column and Video)
To all those liberals who still haven’t gotten over that Bernie Sanders will not be the Democratic Party’s nominee and are on a scorched-Earth campaign promoting that Joe Biden is senile (I’m looking at you, Ted Rall): Joe Biden’s not the candidate telling people to ingest bleach and eat lightbulbs. During yesterday’s sh--show disguised as an informative press conference on … [Read more...] about TRUMPY BUBBLES (Cartoon Column and Video)
Editorial: Feds seize Florida’s coronavirus masks. They don’t care if we live or die
There’s giving with one hand and taking with the other.Then there’s the Trump administration, which goes one better — or worse.After telling governors early in the coronavirus crisis that they were on their own when it comes to securing protective equipment for first responders who are tending to coronavirus patients, the Trump administration not only has been consistent in its … [Read more...] about Editorial: Feds seize Florida’s coronavirus masks. They don’t care if we live or die
Trump’s Chlorox your way to coronavirus health? Experts (and Chlorox) say N0: Trump walks it back
Is injecting yourself with disinfectants possibly a cure or treatment for coronavirus? At Donald Trump's Thursday press conference briefing he raised the issue unprompted with this comment: “I see the disinfectant that knocks it out in a minute, one minute. And is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside, or almost a cleaning? Because you see it gets … [Read more...] about Trump’s Chlorox your way to coronavirus health? Experts (and Chlorox) say N0: Trump walks it back
King Don
All rights reserved. Copyright Donar, Political Graffiti … [Read more...] about King Don
How Chronic Stress Affects Your Health
Chronic stress is bad for your health. That statement summarizes finding by medical scientists researching the link between stress and health. States medical researcher Sheldon Cohen et al., "Chronic psychological stress is associated with a greater risk of depression, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, upper respiratory infections, and poorer wound … [Read more...] about How Chronic Stress Affects Your Health
BREAKING NEWS: Navy Recommends Capt. Brett E. Crozier Be Restored to Command of the Theodore Roosevelt.
In deciding the fate of Captain Brett Crozier, the former commanding officer of the ill-fated Theodore Roosevelt, the Navy had several choices. Among them: • It could fully exonerate Crozier and reinstate him as commander of the Roosevelt or put him in command of another ship. • It could take administrative action against the Captain • It could uphold the firing of … [Read more...] about BREAKING NEWS: Navy Recommends Capt. Brett E. Crozier Be Restored to Command of the Theodore Roosevelt.
RENTED A TENT
“How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?” – John Kerry before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on April 23, 1971 At some point in this space opera, it will dawn on all but the most demented that the universe is laughing at us in that grainy radio signal language heard by Ohio State University’s “Big Ear” radio telescope in 1977. The transmission … [Read more...] about RENTED A TENT
Wingnut Liberation (Cartoon)
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