Here's How to Improve Water Quality Water quality remains a top-of-mind issue for many environmentalists. Every living being needs water to survive, but many of the world's sources have become polluted. Most of this pollution comes from humans, which exemplifies the outsized role people play in affecting the environment. Fortunately, not all the news is bad — many have created … [Read more...] about Here’s How to Improve Water Quality
‘Citizen K’ Grapples With the Truth of Russian Politics and Corruption
To make an excellent documentary, you need a good story. For it to be captivating, its subject needs to be able to pull in the viewer and keep them glued as events unfold. This is precisely what happens with Citizen K, which focuses on Russian oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky, his business interests following the fall of the Soviet Union, his relationship with Vladimir Putin, … [Read more...] about ‘Citizen K’ Grapples With the Truth of Russian Politics and Corruption
Thank fungi for cheese, wine and beer this holiday season
These foods are all dependent on microorganisms for their distinctive flavor. margouillat photo/Shutterstock.com Antonis Rokas, Vanderbilt University It’s hard to imagine a holiday table without bread, meat, vegetables, wine, beer or a board of French cheeses for those with more adventurous palates. Savoring these delicacies with family and friends is … [Read more...] about Thank fungi for cheese, wine and beer this holiday season
IMPEACHMENT WISHBONE (Cartoon)
Conspiracy or Merely Clueless?
A very strange story broke today: Multiple Women Recall Sexual Misconduct and Retaliation by Gordon Sondland ProPublica — Three women recall Sondland made unwanted sexual contact in business settings. One says he exposed himself. All recall professional retaliation after they rejected him. Sondland denies the allegations.... Using the #MeToo movement, a … [Read more...] about Conspiracy or Merely Clueless?
UN: The world is barreling towards climate catastrophes (as Trump fiddles)
Many countries, most prominently the United States, continue to drag their feet on dealing with the adverse consequences of climate change, despite repeated and dire warnings by United Nations-led experts about imminent dangers, including catastrophic weather patterns. A new UN Environment Programme (UNEP) report warns that the world is headed towards global temperature … [Read more...] about UN: The world is barreling towards climate catastrophes (as Trump fiddles)
Why Bother?
David Donar. All rights reserved. Copyright Donar, Political Graffiti … [Read more...] about Why Bother?
Wishing Our Readers a Wonderful, ‘Thawed-Turkey’ Thanksgiving
Most of our readers know that I love satire, but probably not too many realize I am also, at times, a little bit sadistic and can also be a little bit of a freeloader. With Thanksgiving and the holidays around the corner, I have decided to repent, come clean and hopefully receive forgiveness. So here it goes: My favorite Thanksgiving-eve routine is to, first, go to my … [Read more...] about Wishing Our Readers a Wonderful, ‘Thawed-Turkey’ Thanksgiving
Can Air Pollution Lead to Alzheimer’s Disease?
Image Source: Pixabay Alzheimer's disease robs millions of people of the joy of their retirement years. Instead of spending days playing with their grandchildren, sufferers may struggle to remember their names. Many can no longer live independently and lament burdening their family members. Scientists have struggled to discover the root cause of this condition. Recently, … [Read more...] about Can Air Pollution Lead to Alzheimer’s Disease?
Train Wreck At Mark Penn Station
You might remember the name: Former Clinton strategist Mark Penn counsels President Trump on impeachment Washington Post — As President Trump's White House battles impeachment, he turned to a familiar face last week: Mark Penn, one of President Bill Clinton's top strategists. — Penn came to the Oval Office for more than an hour last Monday … Mark Penn was pollster and … [Read more...] about Train Wreck At Mark Penn Station
Is the United States ‘Starting to Look Like Ukraine’ Did in the Past?
Trump, as the commander in chief, of course has the power to interfere and manipulate the military justice system, as he has done time and time again and has more aggressively and unabashedly done in trying to dictate “special treatment for Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher,” the Navy Seal accused of committing war crimes during a 2017 deployment in Iraq. Gallagher was … [Read more...] about Is the United States ‘Starting to Look Like Ukraine’ Did in the Past?
OUR TOWER OF BABEL
Ritual is a way to stifle the ravages of anxiety and fear – a way to firmly seat us in the present and detach us from an uncharted future. Some people dread what has come to be known as America’s Holiday Season, but the discomfort emanates, not from the moral lessons contained in these rituals, but because each person seated at the communal table has diverged far from … [Read more...] about OUR TOWER OF BABEL
Kaepernick’s woes continue.
Colin Kaepernick's woes continue, as revealed in the below video clip from ESPN. Here is more from ESPN senior writer Adam Schefter: "Some sources speculated that there had been teams interested in making a move with Kaepernick, and could in the weeks after his workout. But nothing has materialized, and nothing is expected to at this time." If the opinion of a … [Read more...] about Kaepernick’s woes continue.
Cartel sieges leave Mexicans wondering if criminals run the country
Clouds of smoke from burning cars mark the skyline of Culiacan, Mexico, during a 12-hour siege by the Sinaloa Cartel, Oct. 17, 2019. AP Photo/Hector Parra Angélica Durán-Martínez, University of Massachusetts Lowell Recent deadly attacks by criminal organizations have instilled fear across Mexico. In mid-October, shootouts between cartels and police … [Read more...] about Cartel sieges leave Mexicans wondering if criminals run the country
Political Evangelicals vs Christianity
A certain voting bloc in the USA has allegedly been linked to Christianity. Yet, what the voting bloc is doing has nothing to do with Christianity. The American media call that voting bloc Evangelicals. Doing so eliminates the original meaning of the word evangelical. Originally, the word was used to identify a person bearing the good news of what Messiah Jesus has done … [Read more...] about Political Evangelicals vs Christianity
Is Donald Trump Winning?
One of my favorite, must-read bloggers, Martin Longman, raises the issue of whether Donald Trump is winning on impeachment in a post on his website Progress Pond. First of all, my own firm belief is that (1) the GOP Senate will never ever convict him, no matter what comes out about him on Ukraine or Russia. We are in a era of acute political tribalism, virtual propaganda … [Read more...] about Is Donald Trump Winning?
When de-aging De Niro and Pacino, ‘Irishman’ animators tried to avoid pitfalls of the past
Moshe Mahler, Carnegie Mellon University If you thought 76-year-old Robert De Niro and 79-year-old Al Pacino were done starring in blockbuster gangster films, think again. Both assume lead roles in Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman,” which chronicles the life of hitman Frank Sheeran and labor union leader Jimmy Hoffa over several decades. Different actors weren’t cast … [Read more...] about When de-aging De Niro and Pacino, ‘Irishman’ animators tried to avoid pitfalls of the past
History Surprise: King Richard the Lionheart was a Frenchman.
"Despite being born in England, Richard may not have spoken English." That comment about King Richard the Lionheart is from former BBC television producer and historian Douglas Boyd. In 8 facts about Richard the Lionheart, Boyd writes, "Richard did not spend a great deal of time in England and he may not have learned to speak English. In his whole reign, he spent no more … [Read more...] about History Surprise: King Richard the Lionheart was a Frenchman.
IMPEACHMENT GOP (Cartoon)
A major democracy fights to maintain the rule of law – this time, it’s Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. AP/Oded Balilty David A. Frank, University of Oregon Israeli Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit charged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with three counts of corruption on Nov. 21. At the same moment, former White House Russia expert Fiona Hill was testifying before the House Intelligence Committee about … [Read more...] about A major democracy fights to maintain the rule of law – this time, it’s Israel