A musical that repeatedly proports “the sun will come out tomorrow” seems appropriate for audiences used to perpetually cloudy, dark, rain-slogged Pacific Northwest winters. Consequently, Annie finds itself back in Seattle once again championing the infectiously optimistic, dare I say escapist, mantra that “tomorrow there will be sun.” Despite my preconceived cynical … [Read more...] about Annie at The 5th Avenue Theatre: A Not So Cynical Review
George H. W. Bush: A Life of Distinguished Service to the Nation (UPDATED)
UPDATE: This morning on ABC’s “This Week,” George Stephanopoulos along with former secretaries of state James A. Baker III and Colin L. Powell reflected on the life of George H. W. Bush. All three paid eloquent and memorable tribute to our 41st President. I would like to selectively focus on some of Colin Powell's words in the context of the political nightmare our … [Read more...] about George H. W. Bush: A Life of Distinguished Service to the Nation (UPDATED)
President George H. W. Bush Dies
Former President George H.W. Bush has died at the age of 94, only a few months after the death of his wife Barbara. No official cause of death has been announced yet, it looks like the funeral will be on Wednesday According to a tweet from a Bush family spokesman, his final words were directed to his son George, saying "I love you too" Tributes have been flowing in all … [Read more...] about President George H. W. Bush Dies
López Obrador takes power in Mexico after an unstable transition and broken campaign promises
Luis Gómez Romero, University of Wollongong Five months after he won a landslide victory in Mexico’s 2018 presidential election on promises to “transform” the country, leftist Andrés Manuel López Obrador will be sworn into office on Dec. 1. The prolonged transition period – currently one of the the world’s lengthiest – has given Mexicans a preview of what presidential … [Read more...] about López Obrador takes power in Mexico after an unstable transition and broken campaign promises
How will Humans escape Earth’s destruction?
How will Humans escape Earth's destruction? If astronomers are correct, then a day is coming when planet Earth will no longer be able to support Human life. Before Humans try to escape into deep space, we need to consider how cosmic radiation could affect the Human body. From Discover.com, 01 October 2018: Deep-Space Could Seriously Damage Astronaut GI Tracts, a New Study … [Read more...] about How will Humans escape Earth’s destruction?
Trump won’t go down without a fight
WASHINGTON -- It didn't take long Thursday for President Trump's tweeted complaint about the Robert Mueller probe -- "will it just go on forever?" -- to look like wishful thinking. Michael Cohen's blockbuster court appearance made it clear that Trump is (BEG ITAL)really(END ITAL) going to hate the way the investigation ends. Unless, of course, the president tries to end it … [Read more...] about Trump won’t go down without a fight
MORGEN DIE WELT
We are at a liminal moment in our political history when the least educated among us have been crudely manipulated by a comically villainous president – a Tartuffe for the working class. They cheer his acts of cruelty as if they were attending a monster truck rally; their rictus grins of triumph and retribution provide a blood-red backdrop at his rallies; they … [Read more...] about MORGEN DIE WELT
Will Trump pardon Manafort?
Donald Trump and Paul Manafort in 2016. Mark Reinstein/MediaPunch /IPX Austin Sarat, Amherst College Paul Manafort, President Donald Trump’s former campaign manager, may be hoping for a presidential pardon. In September, Manafort pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obstruct justice and conspiracy against the U.S. He also agreed to cooperate with … [Read more...] about Will Trump pardon Manafort?
Does Trump’s great gut mean a tiny brain?
Embed from Getty Images WASHINGTON -- It should go down in history as the "I Have a Gut" speech. President Trump, asked Tuesday by The Washington Post's Philip Rucker and Josh Dawsey about the Fed's interest-rate hikes, gave a gastrointestinal response. "They're making a mistake," he said, "because I have a gut, and my gut tells me more sometimes than anybody else's … [Read more...] about Does Trump’s great gut mean a tiny brain?
Trump loves kids. So his border guards are firing tear gas at them.
"I love babies. I hear that baby cry, I like it. What a baby. What a beautiful baby. Don't worry. Don't worry." -- Donald Trump in 2016, when a baby cried during a campaign speech "Actually, I was only kidding. You can get the baby out of here." -- Trump, two minutes later WASHINGTON -- President Trump loves kids. This is why his border guards are firing tear gas at … [Read more...] about Trump loves kids. So his border guards are firing tear gas at them.
Cartoon: Eat Your Own (Cartoon, Column and Video)
I lived in Mississippi for seven years and in Virginia for the past twenty. Yet, I feel I know and understand Mississippi better than I do Virginia. I felt I was in touch with more people across the state than I am in Virginia. Mississippi is a small state and that means the newspaper community is also small. I was self-syndicating my cartoons to Mississippi newspapers … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Eat Your Own (Cartoon, Column and Video)
How local journalism can upend the ‘fake news’ narrative
Local journalists are often the only journalists that most people will ever meet. teka12/Shutterstock.com Damian Radcliffe, University of Oregon “For the first time media is the least trusted institution globally,” Edelman, the global PR and marketing firm concluded in its annual worldwide study on trust in institutions like the media, business and … [Read more...] about How local journalism can upend the ‘fake news’ narrative
How a Saudi family feud fueled paranoia that led to Khashoggi’s murder
by David Ignatius Washington Post Writers Group Columnist WASHINGTON -- Behind the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi lies a power struggle within the Saudi royal family that helped feed the paranoia and recklessness of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Eventually, this rage in the royal court led to the murder of a Washington Post journalist. The opening scenes of this … [Read more...] about How a Saudi family feud fueled paranoia that led to Khashoggi’s murder
Has America Now Placed an Official Dollar Figure on Human Life? (UPDATE)
UPDATE: While the man who seems to balance the value of the life of U.S. resident and Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi against the value of a potential arms sale appeared very subdued, two other strongmenn who have actually ordered the killing of journalists (and many others) were ebullient at the G-20 in Buenos Aires. As can be seen in this video, Russian … [Read more...] about Has America Now Placed an Official Dollar Figure on Human Life? (UPDATE)
The world is on fire, and the president is playing with matches
WASHINGTON -- Climate change is happening "primarily as a result of human activities" and its damaging impacts -- severe droughts, deadly wildfires, monster tropical storms, punishing heat waves -- "are already being felt in the United States." That's not me talking. It's the conclusion of the U.S. government, in an alarming new report the Trump administration doesn't want you … [Read more...] about The world is on fire, and the president is playing with matches
Cartoon: Trump’s Pardon
Mike Slosberg is a cartoonist and novelist. He lives with his wife and hundreds of drawing pens on the Upper Westside of Manhattan, New York. You can see more of his cartoons and learn about his books by going to: mikeslosbergbooks.com … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Trump’s Pardon
Cartoon: The Very Hungry Putin
The Wall and All
Trump is threatening a government shutdown if Congress does not provide him with money to build his wall at the border with Mexico. This is the same Donald Trump who promised that Mexico would pay for the wall so why is he making these demands on the U.S. Congress. With our huge national debt and yearly deficits, building this wall would be a waste of billions of dollars which … [Read more...] about The Wall and All
‘Young Enough to Be Shot in Our Schools…Young Enough to Speak Out’
Remember the February 14 mass shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., a little over eight months ago, but perhaps now a blurred, distant memory because there have been so many other gun tragedies since then? Remember the 17 young students and teachers who would never come home again? Remember, one month later, the March for Our Lives, where … [Read more...] about ‘Young Enough to Be Shot in Our Schools…Young Enough to Speak Out’
In Trump era, life imitates melodrama
By Michael Gerson Washington Post Writers Group Columnist WASHINGTON -- The new History Channel documentary on the Watergate scandal may not be great art, but it is timely as heck. It describes (and, unfortunately, re-enacts) the downward spiral of Richard Nixon's administration into paranoia, criminal conspiracy, self-delusion and ruin. Ken Burns it is not. But the … [Read more...] about In Trump era, life imitates melodrama