After being out of commission for a couple of weeks with a fried hard drive, I want to continue the Great Music series. This week I want to focus on the composer, John Williams. Many of you may not be familiar with his name but ALL of you are familiar with his music. In the last 30 years I would guess that everyone in America has heard his music and probably half the population … [Read more...] about Great Music – Chapter 40
How the new ‘Aladdin’ stacks up against a century of Hollywood stereotyping
In the live-action ‘Aladdin,’ Mena Massoud stars Aladdin, while Will Smith plays the Genie. Daniel Smith/Walt Disney Pictures Evelyn Alsultany, University of Southern California Though critically acclaimed and widely beloved, the 1992 animated “Aladdin” feature had some serious issues with stereotyping. Disney wanted to avoid repeating these same … [Read more...] about How the new ‘Aladdin’ stacks up against a century of Hollywood stereotyping
Barr’s Master’s Voice
The calmest of times
It is the best of times. It is the worst of times. In our current age of foolishness, things are "incredible," "thriving," "booming," "prospering," "tremendous," "beautiful," "very much happy" -- the "greatest," "best" and "most." It is also a "disaster," a "mess," "disintegrating," "really bad," "even worse" than the "worst," "ridiculous," "nasty" and "fake"- with … [Read more...] about The calmest of times
(UPDATE) Military Weekend: ‘One of the Last of…’
UPDATE: In a sad beginning to this Memorial Day weekend, another Navajo Code Talker, John D. Pinto, died Friday at age 94. John D. Pinto (Courtesy New Mexico State Legislature) Pinto served in the U.S. Marines in World War II as a Navajo Code talker and went on to become the longest-serving senator in New Mexico, with his service beginning in 1977. USA … [Read more...] about (UPDATE) Military Weekend: ‘One of the Last of…’
Empty Boots Memorial Day (Cartoons)
Theresa May resigns as British prime minister – here’s where it all went wrong
Nicholas Allen, Royal Holloway Europe has claimed the career of yet another Conservative prime minister. After less than three years in office, Theresa May has suffered a catastrophic loss of confidence in her leadership among MPs and cabinet ministers. She has finally faced up to the demands from within her party and announced her resignation. Indicating her intention to … [Read more...] about Theresa May resigns as British prime minister – here’s where it all went wrong
Meet the Conservative Republican Who’s Putting Country Over Party
Justin Amash, a rare Republican congressman who refuses to genuflect at Donald Trump's feet, has been taking heat lately for daring to speak his mind. But bless his heart, he couldn't care less. On Sunday, Trump called him "a loser." (The "loser" won re-election last year by 10 points, bucking the blue wave.) House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy derided Amash as an attention … [Read more...] about Meet the Conservative Republican Who’s Putting Country Over Party
Impeaching Trump would accomplish nothing.
Before Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives put any work into impeaching President Donald Trump, they need to consider what happened when previous Presidents were impeached. From Time magazine: "Impeaching a American President is rare. It’s only happened twice in American history — to Presidents Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton — and neither of those times … [Read more...] about Impeaching Trump would accomplish nothing.
Pelosi got the better of Trump, again
WASHINGTON -- Once again, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is large and in charge. Once again, President Trump is frantic and rattled. Once again, a tough and powerful woman is driving an insecure man out of his mind. I don't think Pelosi's strategy of resisting a formal impeachment inquiry can last forever, but I have to admit it's working. She looks like a responsible public … [Read more...] about Pelosi got the better of Trump, again
SHAKE IT FOR TRUMP (Cartoon and Column)
Donald Trump is the boy who cried, “Infrastructure Week” as in, he never had any intention of working on infrastructure with Speaker Nancy Pelosi or Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. The Democrats went to the White House to work with Trump on infrastructure, something he claims he’d be very good at because he lives in a structure, but instead, he used it as a ploy to … [Read more...] about SHAKE IT FOR TRUMP (Cartoon and Column)
Narendra Modi has won the largest election in the world. What will this mean for India?
Narendra Modi’s image was ubiquitous on the campaign trail – a sign of how much Indians have gravitated toward his cult of personality and nationalist rhetoric. Harish Tyagi/AAP Amitabh Mattoo, University of Melbourne The resounding victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) coalition in India’s federal election represents a key marker in the modern … [Read more...] about Narendra Modi has won the largest election in the world. What will this mean for India?
Of ‘Dits and Dahs’ and of Remembrance
The author is not quite as old as the “technique” mentioned in this article, but just admitting to having used it should be a dead giveaway to his age. Tomorrow, May 24, is the 175th anniversary of the first Morse code message sent across a “long” distance over an experimental wire line -- that is the 35 miles between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Md. On that day, 175 … [Read more...] about Of ‘Dits and Dahs’ and of Remembrance
Trump seems to be transparently mad
This is not the work of an orderly mind. President Trump stormed into the Cabinet Room 15 minutes late Wednesday morning and immediately proceeded to blow up a long-planned meeting with Democratic leaders about an infrastructure bill. He raged against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., for the terrible, horrible things she has said about him, and he vowed not to work on … [Read more...] about Trump seems to be transparently mad
What Happened to Belief in Scientific Data?
America used to be the leading nation in scientific research, coming up with new discoveries and inventions that improved the lot of mankind and the nation’s economy. Scientific concepts were taught in the schools and the average American believed in the empirical principles that science had uncovered. Though the United States is still probably the leader in scientific … [Read more...] about What Happened to Belief in Scientific Data?
Trump goes on strike
WASHINGTON -- It's often said that when our founders wrote the Constitution, they had a leader like Donald Trump in mind when they included various safeguards for our liberties and against abuses of presidential power. I think that gets it wrong. The founders could not have imagined a president like Trump. They certainly never expected that a president would go on … [Read more...] about Trump goes on strike
THE MODERN PROMETHEUS
What happens if everyone is bought off? When the rules, so carefully crafted by the wisdom of enlightened men, are casually cast off and no longer circumscribe our actions. When Prometheus was punished by the gods for flouting their wisdom - their rules - he was chained to a rock, so that an eagle could peck out his liver. And each night his liver would grow back, only to be … [Read more...] about THE MODERN PROMETHEUS
Trump Cover Up
David Donar. All rights reserved. Copyright Donar, Political Graffiti … [Read more...] about Trump Cover Up
Senior officer Justin D’Amico caught in web of lies surrounding Eric Garner’s death
New York City Police Officer Justin D'Amico testified publicly about the death of Eric Garner for the first time this week. In so doing, he exposed a web of lies, lies that could very well have led to Officer Daniel Pantaleo skating after a medical examiner ruled that Garner's death was a homicide. D'Amico was the senior officer that fateful day in July 2014; he was the … [Read more...] about Senior officer Justin D’Amico caught in web of lies surrounding Eric Garner’s death
How Our Media Promotes High Conflict Personalities—and What We Can Do About It
By Bill Eddy, LCSW, JD If we regularly listen to the radio or watch the news, it seems like the worst of times: Conflict! Crisis! Chaos! Polarization! Widespread anxiety! And yet, it’s the best of times in many ways: less hunger, longer lives, less war, more choices, low unemployment, high stock market, and so forth. Why is this? I believe that today’s media is becoming … [Read more...] about How Our Media Promotes High Conflict Personalities—and What We Can Do About It