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.) There is an important subtext to the Showdown at Crazytown, … [Read more...] about Crazytown Showdown: Conservatives Win While America & Honest Abe Take A Beating
What Is the Body Neutrality Movement All About?
Everyone tells us we should love our bodies no matter what. While the intentions behind this advice are sound, many find that simply being told to love their bodies is a bit disingenuous in a world where people are still very much judged by their appearance. Enter the body neutrality movement. What is it? What Is Body Neutrality? Body neutrality focuses upon developing … [Read more...] about What Is the Body Neutrality Movement All About?
Planting, Growing and Eating
What do you plant? Not big, not small; what pleases you. I just planted a mature Haas avocado tree, a lemon tree, some tomatoes and some chilies. That equals guacamole. YUM. I have a relatively large (ten yards long) two tier redwood planter with a drip system and I am wondering how others would use it for food / accents. Cheers, KP … [Read more...] about Planting, Growing and Eating
America is still free, and the people will be heard
"Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble." -- First Amendment to the Constitution, ratified Dec. 15, 1791 "I don't know why they don't take care of a situation like that. I think it's embarrassing for the country to allow protesters." -- President Trump, Sept. 4, 2018 WASHINGTON … [Read more...] about America is still free, and the people will be heard
Plagiarists or innovators? The Led Zeppelin paradox endures
Robert Plant, the lead singer of Led Zeppelin, performs in Hamburg, Germany in 1973. Heinrich Klaffs, CC BY-NC-SA Aram Sinnreich, American University School of Communication Fifty years ago – in September 1968 – the legendary rock band Led Zeppelin first performed together, kicking off a Scandinavian tour billed as the New Yardbirds. The new, … [Read more...] about Plagiarists or innovators? The Led Zeppelin paradox endures
Despite The Crazytown Showdown, Trump’s Grip On The National Gonads Remains Firm
(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