Published by AFPLondon (AFP) - A jury in the UK on Wednesday found Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey not guilty of nine sex offences against four men alleged to have occurred between 2001 and 2013. Jurors at Southwark Crown Court in south London reached majority decisions on the nine counts, which included sexual assault, after more than 12 hours of deliberations. The jury began … [Read more...] about Actor Kevin Spacey found not guilty of UK sex offences
UN struggles to restore Ukraine grain exports while US looks for safe options.
Russia’s suspension of UN-sponsored safe passage of merchant ships carrying Ukrainian grain exports out of the Black Sea threatens vast swathes of poor country populations with hunger while also changing the nature of the war in Ukraine. The shock to Ukraine is huge because harvesting season is at hand and wheat and other grains could simply rot because of lack of means to … [Read more...] about UN struggles to restore Ukraine grain exports while US looks for safe options.
The Florida ‘Slavery Skills’ Scandal: Fox News Doubles Down (Updates)
UPDATE II: Add Republican Senator and presidential candidate Tim Scott to the growing list of Republicans criticizing Florida governor Ron DeSantis and his education department for the “slavery benefits” position. “There is no silver lining in slavery,” Scott said. “Slavery was really about separating families, about mutilating humans and even raping their wives. It was … [Read more...] about The Florida ‘Slavery Skills’ Scandal: Fox News Doubles Down (Updates)
We Must Stop Putting Lipstick on the Pigs of History (Updated)
UPDATE: Read HERE how DeSantis and Florida officials are deflecting criticism of the new “Standards for Black History” by characterizing such criticism as “dishonest and a political stunt perpetrated by Democrats like Vice President Kamala Harris to tarnish Florida.” Original Post: Note: The author does not intend to, by rhetorical comparison, satire or other, … [Read more...] about We Must Stop Putting Lipstick on the Pigs of History (Updated)
FLORIDUH HISTORY LESSONS (COLUMN, CARTOON AND VIDEO)
White privilege is banning Critical Race Theory where it doesn’t exist, banning an Advanced Placement course on African-American Studies, denying systemic racism, claiming Colin Kaepernick’s silent protests were attacks on veterans, and installing courses that teach children slavery had benefits for Black people. White privilege is also being able to claim there’s no such thing … [Read more...] about FLORIDUH HISTORY LESSONS (COLUMN, CARTOON AND VIDEO)
THE DAWN OF WOKE (CARTOON)
LITTLE TINY RONNIE
by Don Hermann Columnist It’s not difficult to figure what Little Tiny Ronnie DeSantis is about. He comes out of the Trump playbook of communicating. Fake this. Fake that. Act tough. Take on Minority Groups. Make it tough for them to vote. Interfere with the curriculum at schools. Rewrite books to minimize African American History. Do the same with the horror stories … [Read more...] about LITTLE TINY RONNIE
BEWARE THE BARBIE MOVIE (CARTOON)
Why Russia pulled out of its grain deal with Ukraine – and what that means for the global food system
The grain deal allowed Ukrainian corn and other products to reach ports in Lebanon and elsewhere. AP Photo/Hassan Ammar Anna Nagurney, UMass Amherst The Russia-Ukraine grain deal that has been critical to keeping global food prices stable and preventing famine is currently in tatters. On July 17, 2023, Russia said it was pulling out of the year-old … [Read more...] about Why Russia pulled out of its grain deal with Ukraine – and what that means for the global food system
Tony Bennett: the timeless visionary who, with a nod to America’s musical heritage, embraced the future
Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga in 2015. Charles Sykes/Invision/AP Jose Valentino Ruiz, University of Florida In the history of American popular music, there have been few luminaries as enduring and innovative as Tony Bennett. With a career that spanned almost 80 years, Bennett’s smooth tones, unique phrasing and visionary musical collaborations left an … [Read more...] about Tony Bennett: the timeless visionary who, with a nod to America’s musical heritage, embraced the future
Winning isn’t easy
by Don Hermann Columnist You’ve got to be hungry. You’ve got to feel it in your bones. Especially when it comes to something as important as the state of our country. Your future, your family’s future is on the line. Your livelihood is at stake. Your way of life is at stake. Your Social Security, your Medical Coverage, your kids’ education are all at stake. What books … [Read more...] about Winning isn’t easy
As heat records fall, how hot is too hot for the human body?
Outdoor workers face higher risks on hot, humid days. AP Photo/Swoan Parker W. Larry Kenney, Penn State; Daniel Vecellio, Penn State; Rachel Cottle, Penn State, and S. Tony Wolf, Penn State Extreme heat has been breaking records across Europe, Asia and North America, with millions of people sweltering in heat and humidity well above “normal” for days … [Read more...] about As heat records fall, how hot is too hot for the human body?
Global Warming Is Real
If anyone doubted that global warming is a major threat to our planet and human life, weather-related problems this summer should have dispelled that notion. The sojourn of humans on the Earth is transient and it is our responsibility to protect the environment and ecosystems we inherited for the generations to follow and the other species with which we share the planet. Many … [Read more...] about Global Warming Is Real
RFK VERSUS RFK JR (CARTOON)
TINY TARGET (CARTOON AND COLUMN)
When the news broke that Donald Trump received a letter from Special Counsel Jack Smith on Sunday night that he’s a target in the criminal investigation over the January 6 insurrection, several thoughts came to my mind. One: They didn’t send that letter through FedEx. I was told Friday that a package would arrive on Saturday, and then told on Saturday that it would be here … [Read more...] about TINY TARGET (CARTOON AND COLUMN)
What is a target letter? 3 things to know about how the Justice Department notifies suspects, like Donald Trump, ahead of possible charges
Former President Donald Trump appears at a campaign event in Florida for his reelection in July 2023. Giorgio Viera/AFP via Getty Images Gabriel J. Chin, University of California, Davis Former President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on July 18, 2023, that he had received a letter from the Department of Justice, notifying him that that he was “a … [Read more...] about What is a target letter? 3 things to know about how the Justice Department notifies suspects, like Donald Trump, ahead of possible charges
Trump says he expects to be indicted in Capitol riot probe
Published by AFPWashington (AFP) - Former US president Donald Trump said Tuesday he expected to be charged over the January 6 attack on the US Capitol -- an indictment that would ramp up his legal woes as he makes another White House run. Trump, the front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, is already facing criminal charges brought by special counsel Jack … [Read more...] about Trump says he expects to be indicted in Capitol riot probe
The Lost Holocaust Train
In one of her most recent books, Door Hun Ogen (Through Their Eyes) (below), well-known Dutch author Femmetje de Wind publishes a collection of heartrending interviews by young people of their Jewish grandparents, great-grandparents and other relatives who survived the Holocaust during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. One of the stories is by 10-year-old Joshua … [Read more...] about The Lost Holocaust Train
A TRIO OF TRUMP LAWYERS HAVE DESTROYED THEIR REPUTATIONS AND CAREERS
While pondering the pathetic fates of three Trump legal eagles – Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman, and Lin Wood – I’m reminded of a line from an old Jackson Browne song: “The strangled cries of lawyers in love“ Plus, this old cliche: “When you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas.“ It’s been satisfying to see those guys suffer the consequences of fronting for a … [Read more...] about A TRIO OF TRUMP LAWYERS HAVE DESTROYED THEIR REPUTATIONS AND CAREERS
White House hopeful DeSantis loses steam, struggling with image
Published by AFPWashington (AFP) - Long viewed as the most formidable challenger to Donald Trump in the Republican US presidential nominating contest, Ron DeSantis boasts a record of ultra-conservative legislative wins and a pile of campaign cash. Yet the self-styled tip of the spear in what he says is the struggle against the creeping imposition of "cultural Marxism" hasn't … [Read more...] about White House hopeful DeSantis loses steam, struggling with image