WASHINGTON -- President Trump's immigration policy has crossed the line from gratuitous cruelty to flat-out sadism. Perhaps he enjoys seeing innocent children warehoused in filth and squalor. Perhaps he thinks that's what America is all about. Is he right, Trump supporters? Is he right, Republicans in Congress? Is this what you want? A team of lawyers, tasked with monitoring … [Read more...] about A humanitarian crisis of Trump’s making
Kushner’s Deal of the Century
By now many of you have read news articles about the Bahrain summit where Kushner is trying to convince Arab countries to contribute $50 billion to implement the financial side of Kushner’s Israeli-Palestinian peace deal. Some Arab countries are represented at the meeting but as expected the Palestinians are boycotting the meeting. According to a meeting David Friedman, … [Read more...] about Kushner’s Deal of the Century
NO SOAP FOR YOU (Cartoon, Column and Video)
The accusation that detention centers holding migrant children are concentration camps doesn’t necessarily mean they’re being compared to Nazi death camps. But, there are definitely some soap Nazis among Customs and Border Protection. In fact, this week, the Trump administration went to court to argue that migrant children detained at the U.S.-Mexico border do not require … [Read more...] about NO SOAP FOR YOU (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Great Music – Chapter 42
This week in Great Music, I am going to diverge from the beaten path a bit. I had one of my piano students ask me “ Why do you love music so much?” As I tried to formulate an answer for the student, I discovered I had no easy answer and told him I’ll tell you next week. I could see the disappointment on his face, but I knew I could not express it adequately in words, yet. So … [Read more...] about Great Music – Chapter 42
Streaming at 9 pm Eastern: The Investigation
Law Works is streaming (and recording) a 10-act performance art presentation with actors reading sections of the Mueller Report on stage, on camera. John Lithgow plays Donald Trump. Archived streams: Facebook Live | YouTube There are no details "about" Law Works on its website. The one-night-only event is being performed in front of a live audience in New … [Read more...] about Streaming at 9 pm Eastern: The Investigation
Cartoon: Immigrant Outrage
Is cutting Central American aid going to help stop the flow of migrants
Some USAID programs seek to help raise living standards for families like this one in Western Honduras. USAID-ACCESO/Fintrac Inc., CC BY-SA Carmen Monico, Elon University President Donald Trump has long made blocking the thousands of Central Americans who head to the southern U.S. border, most of them seeking asylum, from entering and staying in the … [Read more...] about Is cutting Central American aid going to help stop the flow of migrants
Bernie Sanders is FDR’s unimaginative echo
By GEORGE F. WILL Washington Post Columnist WASHINGTON -- That the Democrats' two evenings of dueling oratory snippets this week are called "debates" validates Finley Peter Dunne's prediction that "when we Americans are through with the English language, it will look as if it had been run over by a musical comedy." Already a linguistic casualty of the campaign is the noun … [Read more...] about Bernie Sanders is FDR’s unimaginative echo
Anti-Biden Foolishness
Being that Joe Biden is the current front-runner in the Democratic presidential race, it is inevitable that his Democratic opponents will attempt to discredit him. Apparently, at least a couple of those opponents are so scared of his presidential campaign that they have twisted his words. In short, Biden described how he is able to maintain civility even when forced to … [Read more...] about Anti-Biden Foolishness
Why Some Switch Political Parties
I may be wrong, but I believe that individuals reveal some of their most personal beliefs, traits and values when they open up to discuss why they have certain political affiliations and/or why, over the course of time, they change such affiliations and loyalties. I did so about a decade ago when I wrote about why I left the Republican Party and became a Democrat. Our … [Read more...] about Why Some Switch Political Parties
APRÈS NOUS, LE DELUGE
"If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail". - Abraham Maslow Swashbuckling bravado in the hands of a coward often leads to a feast of humble pie - like this week’s serving of crow in the case of Iran. NATO thinks Trump is a dim bulb; Putin has him on a dimmer switch; and China can see him in the dark. But this Bungler in Chief is the avatar of those in the … [Read more...] about APRÈS NOUS, LE DELUGE
Strive (2019)
Strive is the story of a young girl who is trying, against all the odds, to find success in her life. Growing up in the projects of Harlem, Kalani (Joi Starr) has to deal with a rough community, poverty, drug use, crime, and so much more. She is, in many ways, responsible for her family, especially when her mother isn't around. Kalani's brother is dealing drugs, and her sister … [Read more...] about Strive (2019)
Toy Story 4 (2019)
It was nine years ago when many of us were shedding tears over what was then thought to be the last Toy Story movie. Andy had grown up, and his toys were embarking on a new adventure, with a new kid to call their own, and so it felt fitting to call it the end. Now, just shy of twenty-five years since the original Toy Story that introduced us to Woody, Buzz, and the rest of … [Read more...] about Toy Story 4 (2019)
Why I Am Not A Republican
I used to be a nominal Republican. I wasn’t a registered Republican because I was thrilled about the GOP. Instead, I registered as a Republican so that I could vote in primary elections. I try to be pragmatic when it comes to politics. Being that my state is a solid-red state, I knew that it was far more likely that a Republican would be elected to Congress than a Democrat … [Read more...] about Why I Am Not A Republican
Yes Cacao: Turning delicious cacao bars into healthy art (Food Review)
The organic food industry is booming as an increasing number of Americans -- a good number of them not health food purists -- seek better, more nutritious and less processed food and beverages. The growth in health food and healthier beverages can be seen across the boards in the U.S., in every region. CostCo for a while offered delicious blueberry muffins with zucchini as … [Read more...] about Yes Cacao: Turning delicious cacao bars into healthy art (Food Review)
Yet Another Diaspora. This Time on Our Own Doorstep (UPDATE)
UPDATE: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) has just published the latest annual “Global Trends - Forced Displacement” report for 2018 and, as feared (below), the global population of forcibly displaced increased by 2.3 million people in the past year. Also as expected, the huge number of people fleeing Venezuela was a significant factor in the … [Read more...] about Yet Another Diaspora. This Time on Our Own Doorstep (UPDATE)
Iran Shoots Down U.S. Drone
The top news thus far today is that Iran has – and the U.S. Central Command has confirmed – shot down a U.S. surveillance drone that allegedly violated its airspace near the Strait of Hormuz. The president has just released a short, terse, ominous tweet: "Iran made a very big mistake!" Added: The Pentagon has released a map showing where they say the aircraft was shot … [Read more...] about Iran Shoots Down U.S. Drone
Same Old, Same Old
Can Trump win using the same tactics and strategy from 2016? In his first rally of the 2020 campaign in Orlando which was held on Tuesday, it seemed as if he didn’t stray from his previous scenario. If the campaign speeches, bluster and bullshit are the same as in 2016, will he be able to hold his base for the next seventeen months and bring some of the swing voters over to his … [Read more...] about Same Old, Same Old
Let’s talk about what really matters in 2020: Hillary Clinton’s emails
WASHINGTON -- President Trump was up early the day he formally kicked off his re-election campaign, contemplating the issue that has consumed much of his presidency. He was thinking about Hillary Clinton's emails. "Wow! The State Department said it has identified 30 Security Incidents involving current or former employees and their handling of Crooked Hillary Clinton's … [Read more...] about Let’s talk about what really matters in 2020: Hillary Clinton’s emails
The Murder Rate Is Down. It Has Nothing To Do With Crime
' by Thomas Hoffman With the nationwide Democratic Primaries approaching, many eyes are on another primary in New York City. Queens is about to elect its next District Attorney for the first time in decades. With Queens on the brink of electing a new District Attorney, and the old fashioned “hard-on-crime” Richard Brown gone from office (even earlier than planned due to … [Read more...] about The Murder Rate Is Down. It Has Nothing To Do With Crime