From History.com: "On January 1, 1890, members of the Valley Hunt Club paraded their flower-festooned horse-and-buggies through the streets of Pasadena, California, and spent the afternoon competing in foot races and tug-of-war contests. In the years following that first Tournament of Roses parade, the post-procession athletic contests evolved to include polo matches and even … [Read more...] about Happy 130th Anniversary, Rose Parade!
‘Little Women’ Illuminates the Screen with An Amazing Ensemble
To offer any real criticism of Little Women, directed by Greta Gerwig, would be to just nit-pick some minor details or issues. Overall, this film is an excellent work that creatively retells the classic story. It's more than yet another adaptation of the book, and that's where this film works the best. Little Women follows Jo March (Saoirse Ronan) as she looks back on her … [Read more...] about ‘Little Women’ Illuminates the Screen with An Amazing Ensemble
Some Housekeeping at the End of the Teens
I have been blogging since 2004, which is fifteen years. I have been contributing to the Jon Swift Roundup since 2010 which is ten years now. I had originally met "Batocchio" when he was substituting for Mike Finnegan at "Mike's Blog Roundup" on Crooks and Liars, which has been a fan and promoter of my blogging for more than a decade now (going back to 2007) and past Mike's … [Read more...] about Some Housekeeping at the End of the Teens
The Worst Films of 2019
I don't like to focus on the negative, but this year, it was too easy to narrow down a list for the worst movies of the year. Of course, this list is my opinion. Not everybody will agree and that is exactly how film criticism should be. Which movies do you think are the worst of 2019? 10. Isn't It Romantic Mostly unfunny and too on the nose, Isn't It Romantic is a movie … [Read more...] about The Worst Films of 2019
The Year 2019, for Better or for Worse… (With Video Update)
UPDATE: Came across a delightful video of a conversation President Obama had a couple of years ago with young Greta Thunberg. (Courtesy The Obama Foundation) Original Post: As we close out yet another tumultuous year, it is an appropriate time to consider the person who has been “both a snapshot of where the world is and a picture of where it’s going.” … [Read more...] about The Year 2019, for Better or for Worse… (With Video Update)
TO SEE A WORLD
To see a World in a Grain of Sand And a Heaven in a Wild Flower Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand And Eternity in an hour – William Blake, 1863 Democrats and perhaps a few Republicans express the same sentiment regarding the decline of American culture since Donald Trump’s election. While all acknowledge that America often fails to live up to its own beliefs and … [Read more...] about TO SEE A WORLD
2019 in review
David Donar. All rights reserved. Copyright Donar, Political Graffiti … [Read more...] about 2019 in review
Donald Trump’s Blanket (Mike Peters Guest Cartoon)
Of related interest: --Putin Thanks Trump for Helping Russia Thwart Terrorist Attack --Trump Touts Support From Putin Over Impeachment --The Russification of the Republican Party Mike Peters is recognized as one of our nation’s most prominent cartoon artists for his outstanding work as both a political and comic strip cartoonist. His favorite expression “WHAT A HOOT” … [Read more...] about Donald Trump’s Blanket (Mike Peters Guest Cartoon)
Fat City is the finest novel about boxing out there
I've decided to throw up a book review I had published too many years ago in the long-gone Salt Lake City Event magazine. It is of the novel, Fat City, by Leonard Gardner. It's the best boxing novel published since The Harder They Fall. It's also a great John Huston-directed film. Things are slow in December in the fight game, so enjoy this review. Buy it here. --- Fat … [Read more...] about Fat City is the finest novel about boxing out there
Military Faces Risks from Rising Seas, Climate Change
by Nadia Ramlagan, Public News Service - NC RALEIGH, N.C. -- The U.S. Senate soon is expected to consider the National Defense Authorization Act, which passed in the House last week. For the first time, the bill provides funding that would help the military reduce security risks from climate change, including at vulnerable coastal military bases such as Marine Corps Base … [Read more...] about Military Faces Risks from Rising Seas, Climate Change
Trump Asks Russia (Cartoon)
Democracy’s crown of thorns
Whatever awaits President Donald Trump, a crown of thorns has already fallen upon liberal democracy around the world. Following his impeachment by Congress, politicians heaping blame on Trump are riding the donkey backwards grasping its tail. Others wring their hands as the elephant hobbled by its mahout writhes in the dust. Liberal democracy is young compared to the … [Read more...] about Democracy’s crown of thorns
NY Machete Hanukkah Attack: Part of a Growing Troubling Pattern.
Embed from Getty Images The emergency lights are now flashing in many Jewish synagogues, homes and among many Jews in America. At a time when antisemitism is rising in the world and in the United States, the most recent horrific event, a string of stabbings during a Hanukkah celebration at a rabbi's Monsey, New York, is part of a larger pattern of attacks on Orthodox … [Read more...] about NY Machete Hanukkah Attack: Part of a Growing Troubling Pattern.
Santa and Green Energy
Santa Claus brags about the fact that his sleigh is powered by "green energy" because it is pulled by reindeer. Well, Santa may be getting a new mode of transportation after what happened during this year's Christmas Eve. Click here to see what happened. Anyway, green energy has both its advocates and its opponents. Advocates correctly point out that the use of … [Read more...] about Santa and Green Energy
Elect Me Once, Shame on Me…
Seventeen years ago, before a Nashville audience of teachers, parents and schoolchildren, then-President George W. Bush (I never thought I would miss him!), referring to Iraq’s Saddam Hussein’s and his regime’s alleged deceit, said: There's an old saying in Tennessee -- I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee -- that says, fool me once, shame on -- shame on you. Fool … [Read more...] about Elect Me Once, Shame on Me…
Statistic of the decade: The massive deforestation of the Amazon
Aerial view of deforested area of the Amazon rainforest. PARALAXIS/Shutterstock.com Liberty Vittert, Washington University in St Louis This year, I was on the judging panel for the Royal Statistical Society’s International Statistic of the Decade. Much like Oxford English Dictionary’s “Word of the Year” competition, the international statistic is … [Read more...] about Statistic of the decade: The massive deforestation of the Amazon
IMUS IN THE MOURNING (Cartoon and Column)
Radio shock jock Don Imus died yesterday at the age of 79. While he pioneered the “shock jock” genre that was eventually taken over by Howard Stern, Imus was at times, a little too shocking. A shock jock says things that can’t be said on the radio until they say it. It’s why people listen. But Imus said things that nobody should say on the radio or anywhere…unless they’re a … [Read more...] about IMUS IN THE MOURNING (Cartoon and Column)
Federal Report: Trump’s Tariffs Backfired
The Department of Oops: President Donald Trump’s strategy to use import tariffs to protect and boost U.S. manufacturers backfired and led to job losses and higher prices, according to a Federal Reserve study released this week. “We find that the 2018 tariffs are associated with relative reductions in manufacturing employment and relative increases in producer prices,” … [Read more...] about Federal Report: Trump’s Tariffs Backfired
Political evangelicals defend their hired mercenary Donald Trump.
[Click here to see what Nancy Pelosi gave Donald Trump as a 2019 Christmas gift.] By way of election, now-impeached POTUS Donald Trump is the hired mercenary of America's political evangelicals. That is why the latter don't care what bad things Trump said or did prior to him being elected POTUS. That is why they don't care what bad things that Trump has said or … [Read more...] about Political evangelicals defend their hired mercenary Donald Trump.
Whine Cave
David Donar. All rights reserved. Copyright Donar, Political Graffiti … [Read more...] about Whine Cave