"Courage isn’t a brilliant dash A daring deed in a moment’s flash; It isn’t an instantaneous thing Born of despair with a sudden spring. But it’s something deep in the soul of man That is working always to serve some plan." - Edgar A. Guest August 7 was National Purple Heart Day. Because our nation was still reeling from a horrific weekend that saw 82 men, women and … [Read more...] about National Purple Heart Day – Belatedly
YOU KNEW DAMN WELL I WAS A SNAKE
“The more outré and grotesque an incident is, the more carefully it deserves to be examined.” - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle In the beginning, there was oil. Long story short: and then we broke the world. Yes, to be sure, there has been much pith and moment in the intervening years. A German Jew discovered the relationship between mass and energy, changed the world forever, and … [Read more...] about YOU KNEW DAMN WELL I WAS A SNAKE
I’ll Bet on News Over Views
By Peter Funt Back when I was a rookie editor in ABC's Manhattan newsroom we used to place bets - actual cash wagers - on how the New York Times would design the next day's front page. Rather than wait until morning for results we gathered around a radio to savor the 9 p.m. broadcast on WQXR, which began: "Front Page! Tomorrow's New York Times! What will it look like?" A … [Read more...] about I’ll Bet on News Over Views
Republicans didn’t used to be this way
By Joseph Lentz Republicans didn't used to be this way. Back in the day, they believed for the most part that integrity, truth, honor, and improving ones self were desirable goals, or at least not liabilities. But those Republicans are mostly gone now, have died out, or been ousted from the party. The GOP is now about raw power by any means necessary, the operative word … [Read more...] about Republicans didn’t used to be this way
“National conservatism” is “Elizabeth Warren conservatism”
By George Will Washington Post Columnist WASHINGTON -- Regimes, however intellectually disreputable, rarely are unable to attract intellectuals eager to rationalize the regimes' behavior. America's current administration has "national conservatives." They advocate unprecedented expansion of government in order to purge America of excessive respect for market forces, and to … [Read more...] about “National conservatism” is “Elizabeth Warren conservatism”
Death of the department store: don’t just blame the internet, it’s to do with a dwindling middle class
Barneys, Madison Avenue, New York. Department stores that were once the pinnacle of middle-class aspiration are losing out to discount shops and luxury retailers. www.shutterstock.com Jason Pallant, Swinburne University of Technology and Sean Sands, Swinburne University of Technology Barneys, the iconic chain of upscale New York department stores … [Read more...] about Death of the department store: don’t just blame the internet, it’s to do with a dwindling middle class
Massshooting golden oldies (Cartoon)
The real tragedy: Wayne LaPierre fears for his own safety
WASHINGTON -- After two horrific mass shootings, we come together as a nation to confront an urgent question: How are we going to keep Wayne LaPierre safe? The longtime head of the National Rifle Association, it turns out, is worried sick about his personal safety in this gun culture. After the Sandy Hook massacre in 2012, he and his wife bravely waited out the uproar on … [Read more...] about The real tragedy: Wayne LaPierre fears for his own safety
The forgotten history of segregated swimming pools and amusement parks
The forgotten history of segregated swimming pools and amusement parks When a group of white and African American integrationists entered a St. Augustine, Fla. segregated hotel pool in 1964, the hotel manager poured acid into it. AP Photo Victoria W. Wolcott, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York Summers … [Read more...] about The forgotten history of segregated swimming pools and amusement parks
Cartoon: Suicide Watch
A suicide watch is meant to prevent a prisoner from taking his own life, not just to observe it, right? Pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, who was being held in the Metropolitical Correctional Center while facing federal sex trafficking charges killed himself by hanging himself Saturday morning. He was placed on suicide watch three weeks ago after he was found unresponsive in his … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Suicide Watch
Great Music – Chapter 46
A change of pace. While in last week’s chapter I promised more music from current composers, I have changed my mind for just this week considering the tragic events of this week. After being absorbed by television shows about the killings in El Paso and Dayton, I took to music as a way of dealing with grief. Even though I knew no one involved in these events, they still hit me … [Read more...] about Great Music – Chapter 46
Bombshell: Epstein found dead in jail cell in apparent suicide
And now a bombshell of a story. One that has occurred in a way and with timing that seems like something out of a movie or TV series: Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his jail cell which is leading some on twitter to suggest that rich and powerful people who may have been at risk of being exposed as having participated in his world of sexual abuse are now breathing a sigh of … [Read more...] about Bombshell: Epstein found dead in jail cell in apparent suicide
KASHMIR AND WHY IT IS RELEVANT FOR THE WORLD NOW
Kashmir a Muslim majority state, in the Himalayas is contested between India, Pakistan, and China for over 70 years now. Recently it has become a flashpoint as bordering on ethnic cleansing, India has revoked its constitutional rights and protection inherent to its Muslim identity and geography and against the UN resolutions and prior commitments. This piles on the already … [Read more...] about KASHMIR AND WHY IT IS RELEVANT FOR THE WORLD NOW
Trump grotesquely made his visits to Dayton and El Paso all about him
WASHINGTON -- It is not just his stoking of white supremacist sentiment that makes Donald Trump such a dangerously unfit president. It's also the corruption, the weakness, the ignorance, the incompetence and the stunning lack of empathy -- all of which we saw this week on grotesque display. What kind of man visits two grieving communities, shattered by horrific mass … [Read more...] about Trump grotesquely made his visits to Dayton and El Paso all about him
Five Stars to Burger King’s (Meatless) The Impossible Whopper
BRAVO Burger King and The Impossible Burger for joining forces to create meat-from-plants The Impossible Whopper. The fast-food giant today began nationally rolling out its Impossible Whopper, which had been tested in a few parts of the country. The idea is to reportedly try it out for about a month nationally and then decide whether to make it a permanent part of the menu. … [Read more...] about Five Stars to Burger King’s (Meatless) The Impossible Whopper
Celebrating Woodstock, Snoopy’s Feathered Friend
The Woodstock music festival of 1969 was not the kind of event that the late Charles M. Schulz would have attended, but that didn't stop him from naming a Peanuts character after the event. Now, the Charles M. Schulz Museum is celebrating Snoopy's feathered friend Woodstock. CBS News has the story in the below video. Featured Image by Author … [Read more...] about Celebrating Woodstock, Snoopy’s Feathered Friend
Whatever ‘happened’ to King Kong’s Carl Denham? Read this book
A couple of years ago, author and scholar Frank Dello Stritto penned the "history" of the ill-fated "wolfman." It was titled "A Werewolf Remembers: The Testament of Lawrence Stewart Talbot." It weaved Talbot's life through half a century of history, connecting him through several scores of films and film characters. It was a unique, scholarly page-turner capable of seducing … [Read more...] about Whatever ‘happened’ to King Kong’s Carl Denham? Read this book
Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Donald Trump and Guns
Of related interest: --Trump’s Reelection Strategy Makes a Gun Bill Unlikely --Trump to NRA Bigwigs: Get Better Lawyers --Trump says NRA's views will be 'fully represented' in gun reform talks.-- 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 … [Read more...] about Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Donald Trump and Guns
Guns, Guns, and More Guns
Americans civilians possess more guns than the entire rest of the world in total. We also have more civilian gun deaths in America than in any other nation aside from Afghanistan. Could there be some connection? President Trump blames the recent mass murders on mental illness and violent computer games. Is he claiming that more Americans are mentally ill proportionately than in … [Read more...] about Guns, Guns, and More Guns
Americans’ support for immigration is at record highs – but the government is out of sync with their views
Americans’ support for immigration is at record highs – but the government is out of sync with their views Polls show that Americans feel more welcoming toward immigrants than they have in the past. Evgenia Parajanian/Shutterstock.com Mariano Sana, Vanderbilt University Since its start, the Trump administration has … [Read more...] about Americans’ support for immigration is at record highs – but the government is out of sync with their views