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)
Making the sick healthy and the healthy even better: Psychedelic Therapy
Major depressive disorders (6.7%), PTSD (8%) and other anxiety disorders together emiserate a substantial percentage of humanity. Clinicians differ about the efficacy of our first line of defense against the above: SSRI anti-depressants and their newer cousins SSNIs. The latest meta-studies inform us they do work very well for many. But they also loose efficacy over time, … [Read more...] about Making the sick healthy and the healthy even better: Psychedelic Therapy
Google Gestapo (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Yesterday, an editor of a newspaper that will never run my work wrote to ask why do all my cartoons bash “our” president. He said he wanted more conservative and Trump-friendly cartoons to “match his readership.” Obviously, his newspaper isn’t showing up in the top search results when Trump Googles himself. The people who call liberals “snowflakes” are whining again. Donald … [Read more...] about Google Gestapo (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Great Music – Chapter 31 Born On The 4th of July
This week we take a little detour into the world of movie music. This week YMV had an article by E.J. Dionne on “Can we Escape 1968” and it got me thinking about that era and in particular a specific movie. Some of the best music ever written was done for movies. While the music might be good, when it is coupled with images playing on the screen at the same time it packs a … [Read more...] about Great Music – Chapter 31 Born On The 4th of July
Could Andrew Gillum be the next governor of Florida?
Andrew Gillum with wife R. Jai Gillum addresses supporters after winning the Democrat primary for governor. AP Photo/Steve Cannon Sharon Austin, University of Florida Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum electrified Democrats with his surprising victory in the Florida’s Democratic primary – but will he go on to win in the general election? Come … [Read more...] about Could Andrew Gillum be the next governor of Florida?
Cartoon: Daily Briefing
(UPDATE) John S. McCain, a Navy Man’s Man
UPDATE: Sen. John McCain honored with a "missing man" formation flyover at the site of his private burial service at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, below (Screen capture CNN News) Original Post Today, Captain John S. McCain will be laid to rest. While he could have been interned at Arlington National Cemetery, McCain chose to rest at Annapolis next to a … [Read more...] about (UPDATE) John S. McCain, a Navy Man’s Man
Rebuke to Trump by Meghan McCain, and Obama at John McCain’s funeral service
John McCain carefully planned his funeral service. And it wasn't just perfunctory: there were some clear messages. The contrast between the current occupant of the White House and McCain, McCain's daughter Meghan, and former President's Barack Obama and George W. Bush could not have been more stark. The three talked about the more lofty values, practices and goals of political … [Read more...] about Rebuke to Trump by Meghan McCain, and Obama at John McCain’s funeral service
A Post-McCain America
As the nation said its final farewell to Senator John McCain this morning, the realization of an America without one of its heroes and leaders sets in. Meghan McCain, the late Senator's daughter, eulogized her father and offered a pointed rebuttal to Donald Trump in saying, “The America of John McCain has no need to be made great again because America was always great.” … [Read more...] about A Post-McCain America
Rest in peace, Lindsey Graham
WASHINGTON -- We lost two mavericks within a week. Last Saturday, we lost the legendary John McCain. On Tuesday, we lost his loyal sidekick, Sen. Lindsey O. Graham. Graham remains alive and well, but after serving for two decades as Robin to McCain's Batman, Graham buried whatever remained of his own reputation for iconoclasm even before his partner's funeral. On … [Read more...] about Rest in peace, Lindsey Graham
Washington Post/ABC News Poll: 60 percent disapprove of Trump, while clear majorities back Mueller and Sessions
Donald Trump was recently braggging on Twitter that he had a 52% favorable rating...a slight "mistake" (that was his disapproval rating.) And, also for Trump -- and possibly for the GOP in the mid-terms --the latest Washington Post/ABC News poll finds he has a 60 percent disapproval rating. Plus, there are some other tidbits of bad news for Trump, suggesting that his campaign … [Read more...] about Washington Post/ABC News Poll: 60 percent disapprove of Trump, while clear majorities back Mueller and Sessions
Why Is Democracy So Difficult?
In 5000 years of recorded history the vast majority of governments have been non-democracies. Some have resulted from strongman power struggles, and others have been hereditary monarchies, but few have been democratic. Historically democracy has been a brief flame that has sputtered and died. The classical Greek city-state of Athens is known as ‘the cradle of democracy’. … [Read more...] about Why Is Democracy So Difficult?
Why The President Of The United States Sulks While We Pay Our Respects To McCain
Let's be very clear why Donald Trump will not be attending the memorial service for John MccCain at the Washington National Cathredral on Saturday. He probably will be playing golf and that, of course, has much to do with the refusal of the man Barrack Obama called "the lion of the Senate" to kiss his ring. But the biggest reason writ plain and simple is that Trump has failed … [Read more...] about Why The President Of The United States Sulks While We Pay Our Respects To McCain
Labor Day Reflections
The work we do matters, and Labor Day is the perfect time to reflect on why it’s important, how we think about work and the way we as a society treat those who do it. Going to work is about more than just clocking in and doing what you have to do to collect your paycheck. Labor Day is a celebration of the deeper meaning of work. It recognizes the massive societal and … [Read more...] about Labor Day Reflections
Ethnocentrism, Race and Culture
Whenever one grows up in an environment with limited interaction with people of other races and cultures, one becomes guilty of ethnocentrism without being aware of it. As anthropologist Ken Barger explains, "Everyone is ethnocentric, and there is no way not to be ethnocentric... it cannot be avoided, nor can it be willed away by a positive or well-meaning attitude." No, … [Read more...] about Ethnocentrism, Race and Culture
The Democrats are a menace to public safety
WASHINGTON -- So President Trump is worried there will be violence if the Democrats win in November. "They will overturn everything that we've done, and they'll do it quickly and violently -- and violently," Trump reportedly told evangelical Christian leaders at a private White House dinner Monday. Citing Antifa (anarchists, not Democrats) and "some of these groups," Trump … [Read more...] about The Democrats are a menace to public safety