An article by Phineas Rueckert during Women’s History Month 2018 is about “12 Badass Women Who Changed the Course of Human History.” Among them: Amelia Earhart, Marie Curie, Sandra Day O’Connor and Madeleine Albright. On the second day of the House’s public impeachment hearings on Donald J. Trump, I was spellbound by the gripping testimony of the former U.S. Ambassador … [Read more...] about Marie Yovanovitch, a Watershed in the Impeachment Hearings
Trump needs to go.
On 20 January 2021, Donald J. Trump needs to be moving out of the White House. Impeachment or no impeachment, Trump has clearly demonstrated that he doesn't deserve another term as POTUS. As a blogger, I am trying to stay out of politics, but Trump's Twitter attack on former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch was the last straw for me. In short, Trump is the … [Read more...] about Trump needs to go.
Indiana Jones got lucky with a refrigerator.
Indiana Jones got lucky with a refrigerator. The movie Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull contains what has to be the most harrowing escape scene in cinematic history. Here is the scene: Cutting to the chase: Although Dr. Jones took a wild ride, he was still better off than the real American soldiers who took part in the 1957 war games that … [Read more...] about Indiana Jones got lucky with a refrigerator.
Roger Stone Guilty On All Counts In 2016 Election Wikileaks Related Case
Trump political associate Roger Stone, known as a master of the dirty trick, has just been found guilty of lying to Congress in a case related to the stolen Democratic emails. Longtime Trump associate Roger Stone was found guilty of lying to Congress and other charges in a case that has shed new light on President Donald Trump's anticipation of the release of stolen … [Read more...] about Roger Stone Guilty On All Counts In 2016 Election Wikileaks Related Case
Republicans Question the Impeachment Witnesses (Cartoon)
Evidence Mounts E-Cigarettes Not Healthy Alternative
Eric Galatas, Public News Service - NE LINCOLN, Neb. – In the wake of recent reports of fatal lung illness connected with the use of e-cigarettes, including a Douglas County resident in September, new research seems to confirm concerns about the health impacts of vaping. A study by Boston University researchers found that e-cigarettes altered cholesterol levels, and Dr. … [Read more...] about Evidence Mounts E-Cigarettes Not Healthy Alternative
POO-FLINGING REPUBLICANS (Cartoon and Column)
Jim Jordan has a law degree but he never took the bar examination. It’s a good thing, too, because, there are some legal details he doesn’t understand, like corroborating witnesses. Jordan pointed out that neither William B. Taylor Jr., the top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine, nor George Kent, a deputy assistant secretary of State specializing in Ukrainian matters, had never spoken … [Read more...] about POO-FLINGING REPUBLICANS (Cartoon and Column)
Impeachment: Two quotes that defined the first day of public hearings
Top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine William Taylor, left, and Foreign Service officer George Kent are sworn in before the House Intelligence Committee during the first public impeachment hearing. AP/Jim Lo Scalzo/Pool Photo Kirsten Carlson, Wayne State University and Chris Edelson, American University School of Public Affairs Editor’s note: Wednesday was the … [Read more...] about Impeachment: Two quotes that defined the first day of public hearings
Gun Violence White Noise
Yet another school shooting and no doubt members of Congress (Republicans in particular) will rush forward, roll up their sleeves and do absolutely nothing to address the problem. Of course in this case it appears the gun rights side can take advantage of the fact that the shooter used a handgun and therefore new legislation would not have prevented this incident. Never mind … [Read more...] about Gun Violence White Noise
“Country Before Party” for Democracy and Brexit
In the books that shall be written about how the United Kingdom became again a self-determined, democratic nation, Nigel Farage will be identified as the sine qua non of Brexit. We forever owe him a great debt of gratitude. Given the importance and nature of his achievement, his likeness in bronze would not be out of place within striking distance of parliament. When I … [Read more...] about “Country Before Party” for Democracy and Brexit
Impeachment and Patriotism
America and its democracy are currently facing the greatest crisis since the Nixon years. It all comes down to Republican partisans putting party before country. Led by President Trump who maneuvered to get out of the draft during the Vietnam War and who has always placed his business interests and himself before his country, the GOP is almost unanimous in its support of this … [Read more...] about Impeachment and Patriotism
Waltzing Matilda – An In Depth Impeachment Analysis
Sometimes the past is prologue, or so it is said. After watching today's House impeachment hearings I was reminded most of "Tom Traubert's Blues", the 1976 Tom Waits song often called "Waltzing Matilda". I found myself filling in the speaking parts from Trump to Schiff to various witnesses and Republican defenders. Take a listen and see if it generates a response in your … [Read more...] about Waltzing Matilda – An In Depth Impeachment Analysis
Memoir explores the books of John D. Fitzgerald, Utah storyteller
Review by Doug Gibson There are many fans of the late writer, John D. Fitzgerald. I agree with the description of him as "Utah's Mark Twain." 60-plus years ago he wrote a trilogy of novels about the Fitzgerald family, where a transplanted Pennsylvanian emigrated to Utah to find his wayward brother and also found love with a young Mormon woman. "Papa Married a Mormon" and … [Read more...] about Memoir explores the books of John D. Fitzgerald, Utah storyteller
Impeachment Hearings (Cartoon)
House impeachment inquiry may help restore the political and social norms that Trump flouts
Trump has broken a lot of norms. AP Photo/Seth Wenig Sunita Sah, Cornell University President Donald Trump regularly uses blatant violations of long-established social and political norms to signal his “authenticity” to supporters. Asking foreign countries to investigate and deliver dirt on his political opponents, which prompted an impeachment … [Read more...] about House impeachment inquiry may help restore the political and social norms that Trump flouts
George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four Is Upon Us
On the eve of historical impeachment hearings against Donald Trump, many believe that we are living through times that can be described as the fulfillment of George Orwell’s Dystopia. We seem to be living Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four in a bizarre Orwellian Trumpian Oceania, where up is down, down is up, untruth is truth, life imitates satire and alternative facts replace … [Read more...] about George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four Is Upon Us
Our Veterans: Who Are They?
Today we are pausing to honor and thank the men and women who have served and sacrificed in all branches of our military. We know that there are approximately 18.2 million living veterans. But what else do we know about them? To learn more about these men and women, we go to USAFacts, "a non-partisan, not-for-profit civic initiative” with no political agenda or … [Read more...] about Our Veterans: Who Are They?
Great Music – Chapter 55
This week I am going to write a slight twist on the usual music article. This week the article will focus primarily about the performer, rather than the actual music. This week I feature Ittzhak Perlman who is generally regarded as the world’s best violinist. Perlman represents many aspects of Life which are very meaningful to me personally. Perlman was born in Tel Aviv in … [Read more...] about Great Music – Chapter 55
Cartoon: Non-disclosure
Mike Slosberg is a cartoonist and novelist. He lives with his wife and hundreds of drawing pens on the Upper Westside of Manhattan, New York. You can see more of his cartoons and learn about his books by going to: mikeslosbergbooks.com … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Non-disclosure
Why tyranny could be the inevitable outcome of democracy
At the dawn of democracy, Plato foresaw an unfortunate end. vangelis aragiannis/Shutterstock.com Lawrence Torcello, Rochester Institute of Technology Plato, one of the earliest thinkers and writers about democracy, predicted that letting people govern themselves would eventually lead the masses to support the rule of tyrants. When I tell my … [Read more...] about Why tyranny could be the inevitable outcome of democracy