by Jane Knox I was 20. It was New Year’s Eve day and there was a letter in the mailbox from Hugh. He was to be my date for that evening. The letter stated he was marrying someone else. I had no idea he was seeing anyone else! I was invested in the relationship and I’d hoped for a future with him. I felt powerless, sad, angry, grief-stricken. Blindsided. Recently, I was … [Read more...] about Rejection: A New Year’s Gift
UKRAINE GANGSTERISM (Cartoon)
Iran: There is another path
A small breach has appeared in recent days that could permit the sending of wider peace feelers to Iran if President Donald Trump is willing to stand up to those around him who want regime change in Tehran. His draconian maximum pressure economic sanctions on Iran are starting to show results. Remarkably, many ordinary citizens are daring to face police repression, even … [Read more...] about Iran: There is another path
HOUSE SENDS IMPEACHMENT ARTICLES TO THE SENATE
Did you think it began earlier? Donald Trump has been impeached and now the questions is whether he's the first President in American history to be removed from office. It is (1) unlikely given the historical record (2) as likely as a cabbage sprouting wings and flying to mars with the currrent GOpers in the Senate, who embody the success of Trump's hostile take over of the … [Read more...] about HOUSE SENDS IMPEACHMENT ARTICLES TO THE SENATE
Think twice before shouting your virtues online – moral grandstanding is toxic
Those who are the loudest in their morality may not be the most moral among us. www.shutterstock.com Joshua B. Grubbs, Bowling Green State University In an era of bitter partisanship, political infighting and ostracization of those with unpopular views, Americans actually agree on one thing: 85% say political discourse has gotten worse over the last … [Read more...] about Think twice before shouting your virtues online – moral grandstanding is toxic
Lying Liars (Cartoon)
Democracy Protests
In 2019 pro-democracy protests occurred around the world: Hong Kong, Chile, Ecuador. Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Russia, Venezuela and others. Why are these protests occurring now? Freedom House, a nonpartisan organization that tracks global democracy, reports that the markers of global democracy have declined for the 13th year in a row. People around the world, particularly … [Read more...] about Democracy Protests
DEMOCRATS’ DO NOT DO LIST
by Peter Funt Here are 10 things Democratic presidential candidates should avoid saying Jan. 14 in the year’s first debate: 10 – “Everyone on the stage tonight would be a better president than Donald Trump.” That crowd-pleaser is usually said by a candidate who has been attacked and doesn’t have a good answer. Let’s stipulate that a potted geranium would be a better … [Read more...] about DEMOCRATS’ DO NOT DO LIST
It’s Deja Vu Time: Russians Hacked Ukrainian Gas Company at Center of Impeachment
Well waddaya know? I'm tempted to do a straight news story here but, honestly, everyone including a can of Chef Boyardee canned ravioli on the shelf at Safeway knows what's going on here. Unless it's just a coincidence that, as the New York Times now reports, Russians have hacked the Ukrainian Gas Company at the center of impeachment. You know, the one that Hunter Biden … [Read more...] about It’s Deja Vu Time: Russians Hacked Ukrainian Gas Company at Center of Impeachment
Great Music – Chapter 59
His week we are going to take a trip into the world of hard core rock. The band is Foreigner and the song is “I want To Know What Love is”. The song was written by band members Mick Jones and Lou Gramm. As a musician, I have always been fascinated by emotion. A song is nothing more than a collection of sound frequencies of variable duration. Why do certain collections of … [Read more...] about Great Music – Chapter 59
Trump has an exceptional opportunity in Iran for regime change
An exceptional opportunity has opened to weaken Iran’s blood-stained regime because of the outrage of many Iranians at the downing of a Ukrainian passenger aircraft killing all 176 people aboard. To take advantage of the opportunity, President Donald Trump should start pulling American troops out of Iraq and Syria as soon as possible. That could help him win the November … [Read more...] about Trump has an exceptional opportunity in Iran for regime change
Is political tribalism leading to more political hypocrisy?
Is political tribalism is leading to more political hypocrisy? The Christian Science Monitor has an article that strikes a nerve with me. I almost want to quite watching news or reading Twitter (which I have concluded even though I do it is a waste of my time on this earth). Hypocrisy in politics is a time-honored tradition. Republicans slam Democrats for doing and … [Read more...] about Is political tribalism leading to more political hypocrisy?
MICHAEL CORLEONE COULD TEACH TRUMP A LESSON ABOUT IRAN
Before Donald Trump began to slur his words and concoct fake verbs like “tolerize,” he declared on Wednesday that “as long as I’m president of the United States, Iran will never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon…Their pursuit of nuclear weapons threatens the civilized world. We’ll never let that happen.” Great. If that’s what he wants, perhaps he’d take a deal that among … [Read more...] about MICHAEL CORLEONE COULD TEACH TRUMP A LESSON ABOUT IRAN
YOU CAN’T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT
Three Democratic candidates for president walk into a bar. The first one says, “I’m going to beat Donald Trump by re-starting the Bolshevik Revolution”. The second one says, “I’m going to beat Donald Trump by breaking up the big banks and sticking it to the man.” The third one says, “I’ll be in my trailer. Call me on the horn when they’re ready for my cameo in The Way … [Read more...] about YOU CAN’T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT
Killing of Soleimani evokes dark history of political assassinations in the formative days of Shiite Islam
Iranians publicly mourn the death of Gen. Qassem Soleimani four days after he was killed in a US drone strike, Jan 7., 2020. Babek Jeddi/SOPA Images via Getty Deina Abdelkader, University of Massachusetts Lowell Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who promoted the religious and political influence of the Iranian regime across the Middle East with covert military … [Read more...] about Killing of Soleimani evokes dark history of political assassinations in the formative days of Shiite Islam
Michael Bloomberg Wants to be Your Pre$ident. Maybe.
Michael Bloomberg, former three-time mayor of the City of New York, has launched his campaign with a TV blitz costing $150 million. That’s a lot of Simoleans, double the amount spent by Tom Steyer, the only other bona fide billionaire in the race. Steyer's spending laps the amounts spent by the conventional candidates. Unlike Bloomberg, Steyer has been running in traffic, … [Read more...] about Michael Bloomberg Wants to be Your Pre$ident. Maybe.
The Mediterranean Sea was once dried out.
The Mediterranean Sea was once dried out, leaving behind a mile-high layer of salt all across the sea floor. This ancient phenomenon is know as the Messinian Salinity Crisis. Here is an explanation by University of Maryland professor Daniel Kirk-Davidoff: "In 1970, an undersea drilling project began taking samples of the Mediterranean’s ocean floor. They discovered an … [Read more...] about The Mediterranean Sea was once dried out.
A General’s Letter Creates Mass Confusion (UPDATES)
Quick, brief summary/update: On Sunday, the Iraqi Parliament, in a politically significant move, voted to request that the U.S. withdraw its troops from Iraq. Almost immediately, Trump threatened Iraq with serious repercussions On Monday, a letter drafted by Marine Corps Brig. Gen. William H. Seely to Iraqi military officials stated: “In due deference to the … [Read more...] about A General’s Letter Creates Mass Confusion (UPDATES)
What to make of the standoff with Iran
What to make of the standoff with Iran after Iranian ballistic missiles hit two bases in Iraq without casualties and Trump did not return fire? Best way to think of it is by considering short, medium and long term goals of Iran and the United States in the region. Then we can see where this recent standoff leaves things. For Iran, the short term goal after the killing of … [Read more...] about What to make of the standoff with Iran
Trump and Advisors: Coming or Going?
Does Trump and his coterie of brilliant advisors led by Mike Pompeo know whether they are coming or going in terms of dealing with Iran? Since the assassination of General Suliemani, the administration has given conflicting signals of what we can expect in the future. First we were told the killing of Suliemani was to abort an imminent threat against American personnel in the … [Read more...] about Trump and Advisors: Coming or Going?