You don’t hear a lot of news out of the nation of Brunei. Your average schmoe probably forgets it exists, if he even knew it in the first place. Brunei is tiny and on the other side of the world. The population is only 430,000 people, which is fewer than the number living in Miami or Virginia Beach. actually owns a cattle farm in Australia that’s larger than … [Read more...] about Exciting Hater Franchising Opportunities (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Venezuela’s power struggle reaches a tense stalemate, as human suffering deepens
Venezuelans have faced food and medicine shortages since late 2015. Now power outages have cut off water supplies, too. AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko David Smilde, Tulane University Even in a country where crisis has become the norm, the past month has been eventful for Venezuela. On April 3 Juan Guaidó, the Venezuelan National Assembly president who … [Read more...] about Venezuela’s power struggle reaches a tense stalemate, as human suffering deepens
Cartoon: Barr Block
Aspiring journalists in Egypt know the perils of seeking the truth
By DAVID IGNATIUS Washington Post Writers Group CAIRO -- What do you say to a class of Egyptian journalism students who know that the price of speaking too freely -- telling truths that the government doesn't like -- could be imprisonment and worse? "Be careful," was my first admonition to the aspiring journalists gathered last weekend at the American University in … [Read more...] about Aspiring journalists in Egypt know the perils of seeking the truth
On a President’s Experience, Personality and Policies
The American people, methinks, deserve a president who at least has some experience to perform in the world’s most difficult and most important job. It would be nice if he also has the “personality.” But if “personality” includes honesty, morals and principles, personality becomes absolutely essential for the job. Finally, the utter absence of such experience and … [Read more...] about On a President’s Experience, Personality and Policies
NYT: Some on Mueller’s Team Say Report Was More Damaging Than Barr Revealed
The New York Times reports that some of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team members say the report as briefly summarized by Attorney General William Barr -- which led President Donald Trump to declare himself totally and completely exonerated -- was more damaging that Barr revealed. This comes as the clamor for the full report to be released increases, and as Barr missed a … [Read more...] about NYT: Some on Mueller’s Team Say Report Was More Damaging Than Barr Revealed
Health Care Stupidity is a Republican Preexisting Condition
Donald Trump is celebrating his fake "complete exoneration" by pledging anew to throw 20 million people off their Obamacare coverage. Is this guy politically stupid, or what? What a gift for the Democrats, who recently scored their biggest House midterm sweep since 1974 by decimating the GOP on health care. If Trump truly intends to revive the issue in 2020 by taking yet … [Read more...] about Health Care Stupidity is a Republican Preexisting Condition
Bernie Sanders has emerged as the Donald Trump of the left
WASHINGTON -- In politics, as in physics, every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Hence, Sen. Bernie Sanders' emergence as the Donald Trump of the left. Fundraising and polls show that many Democrats think the best answer to an angry old white guy with crazy hair, New York accent and flair for demagoguery is, well, another angry old white guy with crazy hair, New … [Read more...] about Bernie Sanders has emerged as the Donald Trump of the left
Creeper 2020
There have been times when a man has walked up behind me and started rubbing my shoulders. Is that weird? I think so. Did I enjoy it? No…well maybe a little. But still, don’t do that. Not just to me, but to anyone. While it creeped me out, that sort of behavior probably extends to intimidation when it’s done to a woman. So, men…while we’re at it, don’t go around rubbing … [Read more...] about Creeper 2020
Anti-vaxxers appear to be losing ground in the online vaccine debate
Scientific evidence is clear: Vaccination is good for people and society. Online discussions are increasingly reflecting that reality. gorillaimages/Shutterstock.com Filippo Menczer, Indiana University and Pik-Mai Hui, Indiana University As measles outbreaks spread across the U.S., our new look at how information about vaccine safety and reliability … [Read more...] about Anti-vaxxers appear to be losing ground in the online vaccine debate
NRA going out of business sale (Cartoon)
UN sounds new alarms about acute world hunger
Embed from Getty Images About 284 million people are facing acute or very severe hunger and malnutrition around the world, a new United Nations report said today. An earlier report found that 821 million people are living with chronic hunger. More than 143 million people in 42 countries are just one step away from facing acute hunger and another 113 million people in 53 … [Read more...] about UN sounds new alarms about acute world hunger
Let’s talk about race and the news media.
On Wednesday afternoon, a man went on a shooting spree in a Seattle neighborhood, killing two people and seriously injuring several others, including a Metro bus driver. Initial news stories identified him ONLY as a man. No name. No description. No photos. … [Read more...] about Let’s talk about race and the news media.
What’s in Your Name?
[This is an update to a story written 10 years ago] Our names, especially our last names -- or surnames -- are very important to us. They, their origins and their “evolvement” or change represent our heritage, our family history and sometimes contain surprises for us. For example, our family name, de Wind, has not always been that. Back in the 18th century it was … [Read more...] about What’s in Your Name?
It’s Trump who’s obsessed with Russia
WASHINGTON -- Overreach and overkill are two of the most common errors in politics. A week after the release of Attorney General William Barr's gloss on Robert Mueller's report, it's clear that President Trump's characteristic response -- to lash out at enemies and entangle his party in his obsessions -- has prevented Republicans from using the end of the special counsel's … [Read more...] about It’s Trump who’s obsessed with Russia
Will the (Military) Band Play On?
For the past several years, especially around the Christmas holidays, I have written about, and shared with readers, the wonderful music performed by military groups, bands and orchestras. Every time I wrote such an article, I expected the question to be raised, “Aren’t our military supposed to just fight, fly, march and ply the oceans?” That question has not been asked … [Read more...] about Will the (Military) Band Play On?
Facebook Launches Facebook Junior
In an April 1st surprise, Facebook CEO and chairman Mark Zuckerberg announced today that his company will be launching a new social media platform geared towards elementary students and preschoolers, called Facebook Junior. Zuckerberg mentioned in today’s press conference that Facebook is trying to address the decline they have seen in high school and college users by reaching … [Read more...] about Facebook Launches Facebook Junior
Dumbo (2019)
When Disney began its quest to turn their classic animations into live-action adaptations, it's likely that nobody that thought Dumbo would be one of them. Sure enough, at the end of March, we're given a live-action reimagining of the classic, floppy-eared elephant, Dumbo. More than any other Disney project, Dumbo has carried with it a big question. What would the story be? … [Read more...] about Dumbo (2019)
Mueller’s impacts could unlock allied anger at Trump’s imperial foreign policies
Squabbling over the Robert Mueller findings will run its marathon but other nations now perceive that the House’s recently-minted Democratic majority can no longer seriously wound President Donald Trump and may have to give up on impeachment. Loud rhetoric will continue in America after Attorney General William Barr publishes a redacted Mueller report. But the wait and see … [Read more...] about Mueller’s impacts could unlock allied anger at Trump’s imperial foreign policies
National Vietnam War Veterans Day
Friday March 29 was National Vietnam War Veterans Day. On that day, 46 years ago, the last US combat troops left Vietnam and the last prisoners of war (POWs) held in North Vietnam came home. It is a recognition extended to men and women who served on active duty in the U.S. armed forces from Nov. 1, 1955 to May 15, 1975, whether in peacetime or war. Nine million Americans … [Read more...] about National Vietnam War Veterans Day