(A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: I value your comments, especially when they add to or amplify the subjects of my columns. But I am no longer able to reply because of a well-known glitch in the Disqus system that Joe and Tyrone have been unable to interest the clowns at Disqus in addressing. My sincere apologies.) It sure is reassuring to know that there are so many people … [Read more...] about Despite The Crazytown Showdown, Trump’s Grip On The National Gonads Remains Firm
The Resistance Strikes Back
The New York Times today is running an op-ed piece authored by a senior member of the Trump administration, whose identity is known to the Publisher. The author described the Near Future Ex-President of the United States as being unfit for office. He identifies himself a member of the Resistance — a group of high-ranking officials, staying in the government to avert … [Read more...] about The Resistance Strikes Back
Fear Woodward (Cartoon, Column and Video)
In 1991, I met editorial cartoonist Draper Hill at my first cartoonist convention, and he drew me a doodle of Richard Nixon. Next to that drawing, he wrote something like, “too bad you won’t ever have the likes of me to cover.” So, basically, this is all Draper’s fault. He jinxed us with that drawing. Draper, who passed away in 2009, loved drawing Nixon. I saw him draw for a … [Read more...] about Fear Woodward (Cartoon, Column and Video)
White House, Trump Furious: New York Times Anonymous Insider Op Ed Calls Trump “Unstable, Half-Baked, Ill-Informed, Reckless”
Only a few days after Bob Woodward's book "Fear" was pitchforked into the headlines by teaser leaks that portrayed a White House suffering a "nervous breakdown" with some aides quietly working to thwart and contain Donald Trump, the New York Times delivered a double whammy: an op-ed reportedly written by a White House "senior official" (NY Times editors know who he/she is) the … [Read more...] about White House, Trump Furious: New York Times Anonymous Insider Op Ed Calls Trump “Unstable, Half-Baked, Ill-Informed, Reckless”
UN tries to bring ray of hope to Yemen
A small ray of optimism may be opening for Yemen’s devastated people partly because of new consultations sponsored by the United Nations in Geneva. Reporting on his discussions with a large spectrum of leaders and people in Yemen over the last seven months, UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths said today, “We have all agreed that time has come to begin a new process, to … [Read more...] about UN tries to bring ray of hope to Yemen
(BREAKING UPDATE) Protecting the Nation from the President
BREAKING UPDATE: Confirming just about every claim the anonymous New York Times op-ed writer made against Trump – unmoored, amoral, impetuous, impulsive, erratic, adversarial, petty and ineffective – the unhinged president is now demanding that Attorney General Jeff Sessions investigate the source of the Times op-ed, alleging that the exercise of the writer’s right to … [Read more...] about (BREAKING UPDATE) Protecting the Nation from the President
What’s at stake in November? Democracy.
WASHINGTON -- President Trump's incoherence grows to keep pace with his desperation. These days he makes less sense than ever -- a sign that this malignant presidency has entered a new, more dangerous phase. I can't be the only one who thinks he sounds less like an elected official than like the leader of some apocalyptic cult. Look at the way he rails against the news media … [Read more...] about What’s at stake in November? Democracy.
Never have we seen such a spectacle
WASHINGTON -- Brett M. Kavanaugh's Supreme Court confirmation hearing is scheduled to last all week. Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley lost control after just 13 words. "Good morning," he said. "I welcome everyone to this confirmation hearing on the nomination of --" "Mr. Chairman?" interrupted Sen. Kamala D. Harris (Calif.), a junior Democrat on the … [Read more...] about Never have we seen such a spectacle
How slot machines work – and why you should think twice before playing them
A night at the slots. CC BY-SA Anthony Frederick Lucas, University of Nevada, Las Vegas The gaming industry is big business in the U.S., contributing an estimated US$240 billion to the economy each year, while generating $38 billion in tax revenues and supporting 17 million jobs. What people may not realize is that slot machines, video poker … [Read more...] about How slot machines work – and why you should think twice before playing them
Cartoon: Fear
What Happened to the Republican Party?
Is getting re-elected inevitably the most important consideration for a politician? Aren’t there more critical factors like maintaining one’s moral stances and ethical beliefs? Shouldn’t what is good for the nation take precedence over allegiance to one’s political party or the leader of the party? And how can a political party once associated with certain ideas and policies … [Read more...] about What Happened to the Republican Party?
The Andy Clyde Columbia Comedies — a vintage comedy review
Review by Doug Gibson Vintage comedy star Andy Clyde enjoyed a long career. He gained prominence in the silent era and was still making audiences laugh in the 1960s as a character on TV series (including The Real McCoys) and a memorable guest spot as an impoverished maker-of-berries-for women's-hats in The Andy Griffith Show. It's interesting that his longest running gig, … [Read more...] about The Andy Clyde Columbia Comedies — a vintage comedy review
Bob Woodward’s new book: reveals a ‘nervous breakdown’ of Trump’s presidency
Legendary Washington Post reporter/editor Bob Woodward's book "Fear" isn't out until Sept. 11, but details are now being leaked (and it's already a best seller on Amazon...I ordered my Kindle copy today). And the White House is already trying to discredit it saying it's a collection of things that never happened leaked by "disgruntled" former employees., I've always … [Read more...] about Bob Woodward’s new book: reveals a ‘nervous breakdown’ of Trump’s presidency
Weaponizing Grief
The term “weaponizing” has been in the modern military jargon for nearly 70 years. But, for better or for worse and for centuries, armies around the world have been “weaponizing” objects, animals – even people. Livius Drusus describes how animals were used as “warheads” or “delivery systems” to terrify the enemy. They included pigs (“burning pigs”), venomous snakes … [Read more...] about Weaponizing Grief
This Month in Religion: Catholicism and Islam in psychology
It’s been a lively month for Catholic and Islamic communities of faith. Visiting Ireland on the first Papal visit in 40 years Pope Francis found a country utterly changed from the Ireland his predecessor visited. The dark, suspicious theocracy of the 1970s has given way to a modern, tolerant nation where a plebiscite permitting gay marriage won and divorce, contraception and … [Read more...] about This Month in Religion: Catholicism and Islam in psychology
Puzzle (2018)
Most of what we see at the theater these days is loud, in your face, and fast paced. Such little time is spent on those small, discreet realities of life and we often don't get to see them told on the big screen. Puzzle, however, is a quiet, sweet story about finding yourself and having purpose and understanding in life. Puzzle follows Agnes (Kelly Macdonald), a stay at … [Read more...] about Puzzle (2018)
Labor Day Gets No Respect
Raging Moderate by Will Durst Let us take a few minutes to talk about the most underrated holiday of them all: Labor Day. Poor baby. It gets less respect than a MAGA hat at a Bernie Sanders rally. Like a half-eaten chocolate chip cookie in the Great British Bake Off. Or a Super Soaker at a Northern Idaho gun show. The trailer for a Pauly Shore movie at the Tribeca Film … [Read more...] about Labor Day Gets No Respect
Trump’s words don’t buy dinner
BOSTON -- Two Labor Days into Trump's presidency, what has happened to the working class? After Election Day 2016, we heard again and again about how Trump had thrilled the those who labor and are heavily burdened, particularly those among them who are white. There was nonstop commentary on just how out of touch citizens in the big and prosperous metropolitan areas had … [Read more...] about Trump’s words don’t buy dinner
Lindsey Graham Is Trump’s New Poodle As Momentum Builds To Ax Jeff Sessions
The most popular dish of September at the White House commissary may well turn out to be Fricassee of Jeff Sessions. The attorney general, who has been on Donald Trump's chopping block since he recused himself from the Russia investigation a mere six weeks into his then already embattled presidency, has appeared to grow a semblance of a spine in rebuffing Trump's demands … [Read more...] about Lindsey Graham Is Trump’s New Poodle As Momentum Builds To Ax Jeff Sessions
The Happytime Murders (2018)
It was never a question that The Happytime Murders was going to be bad. It was just a question of how bad it would be, and what would make it that way. And, in keeping up with its promise, The Happytime Murders proved itself to be one of the worst films of 2018. This film is the story of puppet Phil Phillips and human Connie Edwards (Melissa McCarthy) and their bitter … [Read more...] about The Happytime Murders (2018)