There has always been opposition to childhood vaccinations. Ever since 1796 when Edward Jenner inoculated a young boy with a small amount of cowpox, a disease affecting cattle, as protection against smallpox, some parents have resisted vaccinating their children. The opposition to vaccinations existed for two main reasons. First, the idea of injecting a small amount of an … [Read more...] about Measles, Autism and Conspiracies
LEAVING THE HURD (Column and Cartoon)
The Republican Party has been exercising racism for decades, but until now, there were always people like Will Hurd among its members, other than the black thing of course. For example, before Donald Trump came along, you could easily get a hell of a lot more than four votes from Republicans in the House of Representatives to condemn a racist comment. The Grand Old Party has … [Read more...] about LEAVING THE HURD (Column and Cartoon)
#MoscowMitch: McConnell’s new posture toward Moscow
"Moscow Mitch" was red hot. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, on the Senate floor Monday, denounced critics (including me) who say his recent blocking of efforts to fortify defenses against another Russian attack on U.S. elections are aiding and abetting Vladimir Putin. "For decades, I have used my Senate seat to stand up to Russia," the Kentucky Republican … [Read more...] about #MoscowMitch: McConnell’s new posture toward Moscow
Puerto Ricans unite against Rosselló – and more than a decade of cultural trauma
Puerto Ricans unite against Rosselló – and more than a decade of cultural trauma Elizabeth Aranda, University of South Florida and Alessandra Rosa, University of South Florida Puerto Ricans wrote a new chapter in their history on July 24. Governor Ricardo Rosselló finally resigned after 12 days of massive protests in Puerto Rico, as well as protests abroad, that … [Read more...] about Puerto Ricans unite against Rosselló – and more than a decade of cultural trauma
At the Democratic debate, much conflict but little clarity
WASHINGTON -- After the second two-night Democratic candidates' "debate," Joe Biden remains a vulnerable front-runner. And it's definitely time to start winnowing the field. I put the word debate in quotes because this week's encounter, hosted by CNN, was structured to maximize conflict and minimize clarity. In a typical exchange, one of the moderators -- network stalwarts … [Read more...] about At the Democratic debate, much conflict but little clarity
#MoscowMitch (Cartoon)
Re- Writing History With Quentin Tarantino
By Thomas Hoffman Once Upon a Time In Hollywood is Quentin Tarantino’s latest emotional rollercoaster. Like Inglourious Basterds, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood provides a fictional twist on historical events. Unlike Inglourious Basterds, which has you on the edge of your seat for every minute, Once a Upon a Time does not take you to the edge of our seats until the … [Read more...] about Re- Writing History With Quentin Tarantino
Is nuclear power worth its difficulties?
Is nuclear power an energy panacea or a disaster waiting to strike? The answer depends on who you ask. People who have invested in the nuclear power industry want more nuclear power production in order to make a positive return on their investments. Some climate alarmists want more nuclear power production because they believe it to be a solution to global … [Read more...] about Is nuclear power worth its difficulties?
Breaking Update: Another Trump Loyalist Replaces a True Patriot
UPDATE: Trump Drops Plans to Nominate John Ratcliffe as Director of National Intelligence Trump's Tweet: Our great Republican Congressman John Ratcliffe is being treated very unfairly by the LameStream Media. Rather than going through months of slander and libel, I explained to John how miserable it would be for him and his family to deal with these people.... … [Read more...] about Breaking Update: Another Trump Loyalist Replaces a True Patriot
OUR LIBERTARIAN THUNDERDOME
“How did you go bankrupt? Two ways. Gradually, then suddenly.” – Ernest Hemingway, The Sun Also Rises And that’s where Republicans are taking us. Today’s Republican Party is cobbled together as an alignment between many disparate interest groups, from Evangelical Christians to Neo Nazis. It has strayed from the path of moral universalism, and has blackened the soul of … [Read more...] about OUR LIBERTARIAN THUNDERDOME
More cult TV includes ‘The Avengers,’ ‘Rocky Jones – Space Ranger’
By STEVE D. STONES This is part two of a three part series on cult television shows. Here at Plan 9 Crunch, we acknowledge the importance of television as part of the “cult-dom” culture that we are passionate in writing about and documenting on this blog site. Part One is here. Here are five more “cultish” TV titles: The Avengers – Mandrake – episode … [Read more...] about More cult TV includes ‘The Avengers,’ ‘Rocky Jones – Space Ranger’
#MoscowMitch (Cartoon, Column and Video)
The owner of one of the online news sites who subscribes to my cartoons emailed asking if I was going to draw a cartoon about Mitch McConnell. He mentioned that “MoscowMitch” was trending on Twitter and that the Senate Majority Leader was upset over this, which meant the editor was going to run every single anti-McConnell cartoon and the least flattering photos he can find of … [Read more...] about #MoscowMitch (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Joe Biden was brilliantly and gloriously adequate
WASHINGTON -- Joe Biden was good enough. And that, in itself, was a victory. His fellow Democrats began attacking him in the very first minute of Wednesday night's debate, and they didn't stop. They attacked him on health care. They attacked him on immigration. They attacked him on crime. They attacked him on inequality, race, climate change, trade, equality, abortion and … [Read more...] about Joe Biden was brilliantly and gloriously adequate
More Central American migrants take shelter in churches, recalling 1980s sanctuary movement
Honduran migrant Vicky Chavez with her daughter Issabella on May 31, 2018 in the First Unitarian Church in Salt Lake City, where she sought protection from deportation in late 2017. AP Photo/Rick Bowmer Mario Garcia, University of California, Santa Barbara The ongoing threat of mass immigration raids is terrifying immigrant communities across the … [Read more...] about More Central American migrants take shelter in churches, recalling 1980s sanctuary movement
Moscow Mitch Cocktail Special
Black bears adapt to life near humans by burning the midnight oil
Black bear near military housing at Eglin Air Force Base in the Florida Panhandle, May 17, 2010. USAF/Kathy Gault Kathy Zeller, University of Massachusetts Amherst Amid reports that human activities are pushing many wild species to the edge of extinction, it’s easy to miss the fact that some animal populations are expanding. Across North America, a … [Read more...] about Black bears adapt to life near humans by burning the midnight oil
The first night of the CNN debate showed just how fractious the Democratic primary fight may get
Embed from Getty Images It was the Detroit Donnybrook. Tuesday's Democratic debate was choppy but passionate, opening up wide philosophical divisions within the party's presidential field and providing sound bites critical of progressive ideas and candidates that Republicans are certain to use in 2020. Moderate candidates trailing in the polls went in determined to … [Read more...] about The first night of the CNN debate showed just how fractious the Democratic primary fight may get
Trump, Impeachment and #MoscowMitch
WASHINGTON -- Nothing unites Democrats more than a deep belief that President Trump must be driven from office. And right now, nothing divides Democrats more than finding the best way to bring this about. Trump is not a political genius. He is president because of our outdated and undemocratic Electoral College. What he is skilled at is taking advantage of his opponents' … [Read more...] about Trump, Impeachment and #MoscowMitch
Mitch (Cartoon)
FOOTNOTE: #MoscowMitch is trending bigtime on Twitter. Senator McConnell is not happy about that. So we need to run less more cartoons on this subject. … [Read more...] about Mitch (Cartoon)
GREAT MUSIC – Chapter 45
For the next few weeks I’m going off on a tangent and showing you some music written by people still alive and writing as opposed to the “old dead white guys” of Classical music. Don’t worry I will return to them in the future. To start this process I want to introduce you to an Italian composer by the name of Ludvicio Einaudi. Einaudi was born in Turin, Italy in 1955 and … [Read more...] about GREAT MUSIC – Chapter 45