According to unofficial and somewhat dated reports, one of Qin Shi Huang’s major campaign promises to the hordes when running for emperor of a unified China was to (re)build a “Great Wall of China” which, he promised, the XiongNu to the North would pay for. Qin’s battle cry was “Build that Wall” "Build and move on." Of course, the XiongNu never paid for the earthen … [Read more...] about Trump’s Wall: A Sign of Failure
Putin Winning (Cartoon)
How Much Can America Take?
It never stops. There’s never a day that goes by where there’s not a major dust-up over something generated by Trump. Dominating the airways, he cannot keep his mouth shut and his words carry us from one bizarre situation to another. Though there’s always something new that has arisen or that’s on the horizon, there are certain phrases that are repetitive, either on Twitter, … [Read more...] about How Much Can America Take?
Vanity, Vanity, all is Vanity
[ Title cite: Ecclesiastes 1:2] Hannity, Hannity, fatter than a Manatee... ~ John Cleese, from a poem by Yes, Virginia, this IS a fisking, but a needed and almost never seen in my writings, fisking of a Lonesome Rhodes sort of display in the mass media that ought to shock us, both as an absurdist but dangerous defense of the Madness of Donald Trump, and as a … [Read more...] about Vanity, Vanity, all is Vanity
Another of the Last ‘Code Talkers’ Dies
I have always been fascinated by and admired a group of brave men who served in the Pacific Theater during World War II: Native Americans who used their ancient Navajo language as an unbreakable code to transmit secret messages, stymieing the enemy. From a 2008 CIA piece: The Navajo language seemed to be the perfect option as a code because it is not written and very few … [Read more...] about Another of the Last ‘Code Talkers’ Dies
Fast Food Traitor (Cartoon and Column)
I drew this because too many people asked me to do a hamburger cartoon. In case you didn’t watch the news, Putin, I mean Trump hosted Clemson University’s football team for winning the national championship. Since there’s a government shutdown and the staff of the White House is depleted, Trump served fast food. There were Big Macs, pizza, Whoppers, and other fast food junk … [Read more...] about Fast Food Traitor (Cartoon and Column)
The politics of fear: How fear goes tribal, allowing us to be manipulate
White nationalists clash with protesters at the Aug. 12, 2017 Charlottesville, Va. rally that turned deadly violent. Steve Helber/AP Photo Arash Javanbakht, Wayne State University Fear is arguably as old as life. It is deeply ingrained in the living organisms that have survived extinction through billions of years of evolution. Its roots are deep in … [Read more...] about The politics of fear: How fear goes tribal, allowing us to be manipulate
Please help Donald Trump find work during the shutdown
WASHINGTON -- President Trump needs a job. The government is shuttered, and the president has nothing to do. "I am in the White House waiting for you!" he tweeted plaintively to Democrats on Saturday. "I'm in the White House, waiting," the underemployed executive tweeted again on Sunday. "I've been waiting all weekend," he tweeted on Monday. "I am all alone (poor … [Read more...] about Please help Donald Trump find work during the shutdown
Theresa May Brexit deal hammered in parliament, but be wary of prospects of a new ‘consensus’ approach
Simon Usherwood, University of Surrey Another day, another record. The 230 majority against the motion to approve Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement on the UK’s exit from the EU smashes pretty much any parliamentary record one cares to discover. That May’s immediate response was to make time for the house to debate and vote on Labour’s motion of no-confidence in her the … [Read more...] about Theresa May Brexit deal hammered in parliament, but be wary of prospects of a new ‘consensus’ approach
Tantrum (Cartoon)
6 Tips for Preparing Heavy Equipment for Winter
Heavy equipment can be challenging to maintain throughout the year. In the winter, when temperatures drop and snow starts to fall, it becomes even more difficult. In the immortal words of Ned Stark, winter is coming — and it's expected to get worse as climate change continues to ravage our planet. If you keep a fleet of heavy machinery, what can you do to prepare it for the … [Read more...] about 6 Tips for Preparing Heavy Equipment for Winter
With foreign bureaus slashed, freelancers are filling the void – at their own risk
Documentary filmmaker Janet Jarman works on her film about midwives in Mexico. Matt Cipollone, CC BY Bill Gentile, American University School of Communication When Time magazine named journalists who faced persecution, arrest or murder as their 2018 Person of the Year, it described them as “The Guardians” in the “War on Truth.” It was a forceful … [Read more...] about With foreign bureaus slashed, freelancers are filling the void – at their own risk
How about some good news for a change?
"We sure could use a little good news today." That is the ending statement of a song recorded by Canadian singer Anne Murray and released in 1983. That lament is applicable right now. So, how about some good news for a change? 1. A would-be mugger gets his just desserts. 2. Families of Sandy Hook victims score a legal victory. 3. Finally, a pardon for the … [Read more...] about How about some good news for a change?
Why are Republicans suddenly outraged over King’s racism?
WASHINGTON -- Republicans are shocked, shocked, to learn that Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, is a dyed-in-the-wool racist. Also that snow is cold, the ocean is wet and the sky is often blue. The clamor of GOP voices denouncing King's latest racist eruption is more amusing than inspiring. Where have his Republican colleagues been all these years? Surely the "party of Lincoln" is … [Read more...] about Why are Republicans suddenly outraged over King’s racism?
Is U.S. Freedom of the Press in Jeopardy? (Updated)
UPDATE: And now this, “Rosenstein, DOJ exploring ways to more easily spy on journalists” The Hill: For months now, the Department of Justice (DOJ) quietly has been working on a revision to its guidelines governing how, when and why prosecutors can obtain the records of journalists, particularly in leak cases. Read more here Original Post: In a … [Read more...] about Is U.S. Freedom of the Press in Jeopardy? (Updated)
Sharia Republicans (Cartoon, Column and Video)
The Republican Party has been struggling to attract members and voters who aren’t white or Christian. Well, they’re not actually struggling because they’re not really trying to attract people who aren’t white Christians. Or if they are, they’re doing a very bad job with it. Iowa Republican congressman Steve King has a history of racism. Last Thursday, King defended white … [Read more...] about Sharia Republicans (Cartoon, Column and Video)
The media’s bias should be toward democracy
WASHINGTON -- The belief that constitutional democracy is superior to other forms of government rests in part on its capacity to encourage open debate and thus social learning. Social learning is underrated. Citizens can and do learn together and from each other. They pick up tidbits and cues from the public debate and then argue over back fences or kitchen tables, in their … [Read more...] about The media’s bias should be toward democracy
President Trump has a strange sense of honor
WASHINGTON -- President Trump, on his way to a border photo op that even he reportedly thought pointless, gave insight this last week into the thinking that faked an immigration crisis, shut down the government and gave him the "absolute right" to use emergency powers to circumvent Congress. Asked an unrelated question on the White House South Lawn on Thursday, Trump … [Read more...] about President Trump has a strange sense of honor
How will Trump’s tantrum end?
President Trump's tantrum (a.k.a. government shutdown) is now the longest of its kind in U.S. history. As Politico reports, ". . . there appears to be no end in sight. As Trump repeatedly declares he won't reopen the government unless he gets funding for his border wall, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) are adamant that … [Read more...] about How will Trump’s tantrum end?
Congressional Democrat Does Right Thing. Constituents Shocked.
A congressional Democrat's constituents are in shock over the fact that the Democrat did the right thing. First, here is the background story as provided by Steve Cortes: When I think of the fraternal Catholic organization the Knights of Columbus, I mostly recall pancakes and basketball. In my parish when I grew up, the Knights regularly served pancake breakfasts to … [Read more...] about Congressional Democrat Does Right Thing. Constituents Shocked.