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
Great Music – Chapter 56
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)