All of us, at one time or another, have experienced the ups and downs of Love. It is one of the hardest things in Life to navigate and come out undamaged or unaffected. As I have written before, modern music with lyrics adds a tremendous emotional kick to the music. With Classical music it takes a tuned ear to relate to the underlying emotion of the music. The music I have … [Read more...] about Great Music – Chapter 56
AMBASSADOR GOES FULL AGATHA CHRISTIE ON THE TRUMP REGIME
Do you remember the climax of Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express?” It turned out all the murder suspects were guilty. And as Trump’s handpicked ambassador, Gordon Sondland, publicly declared during Wednesday’s House impeachment hearing, all the suspects in the illegal scheme to squeeze Ukraine for fake Biden dirt are guilty. Starting at the very top, with … [Read more...] about AMBASSADOR GOES FULL AGATHA CHRISTIE ON THE TRUMP REGIME
Where we are after the public hearings on Trump’s impeachment
Impeac The evidence that Trump conditioned release of Congressionally authorized defense aid and a coveted White House visit on the announcement of a bogus investigation into the Bidens is overwhelming. Everybody tasked with Ukraine policy testified that they understood the President's orders to be to link the aid release with the investigation announcement. Some of these … [Read more...] about Where we are after the public hearings on Trump’s impeachment
What’s It All About ?
It should be clear to almost every American by now that the impeachment hearings are all about our democracy- at least clear to those Americans who have given it a moment’s thought. The president of the United States withheld military assistance to Ukraine, an ally fighting an invasion by Russia, to get Ukrainian officials to dig up dirt on the president’s political opponent. … [Read more...] about What’s It All About ?
Old religious tensions resurge in Bolivia after ouster of longtime indigenous president
Supporters of former Bolivian president Evo Morales rally with indigenous flags outside the city of Cochabamba, Bolivia, Nov. 18, 2019. AP Photo/Juan Karita Matthew Peter Casey, Arizona State University Days after the powerful Bolivian leader Evo Morales was forced to resign as president after allegations of election fraud, Bolivia’s new interim … [Read more...] about Old religious tensions resurge in Bolivia after ouster of longtime indigenous president
Fox Skews (Cartoon)
Another John Dean Moment
I've seen this once before, and what he says is true: Gordon Sondland Leaves Us With No Other Option Noah Bookbinder / New York Times History will remember Wednesday as the day a United States ambassador testified under oath before Congress and laid out a clear, simple and damning case that President Trump abused the power of his office and committed bribery, an act for … [Read more...] about Another John Dean Moment
Walter Reed Diagnosis: Sondlanditis
Washington DC – – November 20, 2019 After Gordon Sondland’s testimony this morning, it looks like there has been a lot of lying going on, and a lot of people are going to be compromised, if not outright punished. Including the prevaricator in chief. The whole thing, including the impeachment itself, is now near-farce. Whatever you may think of the underlying behavior, … [Read more...] about Walter Reed Diagnosis: Sondlanditis
Two Facial Recognition Technology Bills Are Introduced in Australia
Image Source: Pixabay The Australian government made a big push recently to normalize and even institutionalize the use of facial recognition technology. The plan received so much attention when it was made public, including vocal protest from rights groups, that elements within the Australian government almost immediately put the brakes on the whole thing — for now, at … [Read more...] about Two Facial Recognition Technology Bills Are Introduced in Australia
Chile’s political crisis is another brutal legacy of long-dead dictator Pinochet
Protest music in Santiago, Chile, Nov. 12, 2019. AP Photo/Esteban Felix Paul W. Posner, Clark University After weeks of intense, sometimes violent nationwide protests, Chilean President Sebastian Piñera has relented to demands to rewrite the Chilean Constitution. The protesters say they want a new constitution to address Chile’s severe social and … [Read more...] about Chile’s political crisis is another brutal legacy of long-dead dictator Pinochet
U.S. Now Considers Israeli Settlements to be Legal
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made an announcement that it is now official U.S. policy that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are no longer illegal and that Israel is free to build wherever it wants in the West Bank. Pompeo said this does not mean that Israel owns the West Bank and this new policy does not preclude a peace settlement. As you can imagine this policy … [Read more...] about U.S. Now Considers Israeli Settlements to be Legal
Trump’s assent to Israeli settlements could lead to apartheid, UN expert
President Donald Trump’s decision to no longer treat Israeli settlements as being inconsistent with international law could lead to an apartheid situation, a UN human rights expert warned today. It could be the “very last nail in the coffin” of a two-state solution and has undermined the rules-based international order. “This will only confirm a one state reality … [Read more...] about Trump’s assent to Israeli settlements could lead to apartheid, UN expert
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Mr. Rogers did testify before the United States Senate. In 1969, President Richard Nixon was being tricky and tried to cut funding to the Public Broadcasting Network (in case you’re a Republican, PBS) from $20 million to $10 million. Fred Rogers only spoke for six minutes. He used that time tell the Senate Subcommittee on Communication what he thought his job entailed, … [Read more...] about A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Is there hope for a Hong Kong revolution?
Hong Kong protesters shelter behind a thin barrier – and umbrellas – as police fire tear gas and encircle a group of demonstrators. AP Photo/Vincent Yu Paul Monod, Middlebury Hong Kong may seem like an unlikely place for a revolution. In this relatively affluent and privileged city, young people might be expected to be more concerned with making money … [Read more...] about Is there hope for a Hong Kong revolution?
Colin Kaepernick wants to be a circus star.
P.T. Barnum would have loved Colin Kaepernick. The Greatest Showman valued anyone who could attract attention to his circus, and Kaepernick would have fit the bill. That much was revealed on 16 November 2019 when Kaepernick chose to not participate in a private work-out session arranged by the NFL. Here is ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith's description of what … [Read more...] about Colin Kaepernick wants to be a circus star.
Least Surprising Crime in History, Alleged
In perhaps the least surprising scandal in human history, House investigating whether Trump lied to Mueller Katelyn Polantz / CNN Washington (CNN) The House of Representatives is now investigating whether President Donald Trump lied to special counsel Robert Mueller in written answers he provided in the Russia investigation, the House's general counsel said in federal … [Read more...] about Least Surprising Crime in History, Alleged
Tacking Early to the Middle
Another wild week in American politics, and that’s not counting the impeachment inquiry. It’s doubtful that any Democratic strategist follows Revolted Colonies. Yet, a few must’ve have figured out themselves that Warren and Sanders are too scary for American prime-time. Biden is not a strong enough candidate, no matter what the polls say (rather, said; we’ll get back to that). … [Read more...] about Tacking Early to the Middle
Socrates and the Barbarians
Or, Use The Mace (If Needs Be) The food fight continues to clatter off the rails: Rishika Dugyala / Politico: Trump labels top Pence aide a ‘Never Trumper’ — President Donald Trump on Sunday labeled one of his vice president's top national security aides a “Never Trumper,” a day after it was disclosed that she had said the president's July call with Ukraine was “unusual … [Read more...] about Socrates and the Barbarians
Impeachment is gaining credibility but also making Ukraine more vulnerable
With the public hearings so far, a more convincing case has emerged to believe that President Donald Trump deliberately abused his position of power to intimidate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky into taking actions that could favor Trump’s reelection in 2020. So, the fast-moving attempt by House Democrats to impeach Trump is starting to look a little bit less like … [Read more...] about Impeachment is gaining credibility but also making Ukraine more vulnerable
SINKING LIKE A STONE (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Yesterday was historic. We got to witness a public hearing in only the third impeachment inquiry in our nation’s history. We got to watch a president intimidate a witness while she was testifying. We may have seen a new article of impeachment created in real-time. And finally, a federal court found Trump confidant and partner-in-crime Roger Stone guilty on seven counts of … [Read more...] about SINKING LIKE A STONE (Cartoon, Column and Video)