Cyberattacks target Americans’ thinking. Fancy Tapis/Shutterstock.com Richard Forno, University of Maryland, Baltimore County The Russian attacks on the 2016 U.S. presidential election and the country’s continuing election-related hacking have happened across all three dimensions of cyberspace – physical, informational and cognitive. The first two are … [Read more...] about Weaponized information seeks a new target in cyberspace: Users’ minds
Democrats vs. Science
Way too many Democrats have proven themselves to be clueless when it comes to Science. Case in point, here is an excerpt from the science report Two Millennia of South Atlantic Convergence Zone Variability Reconstructed From Isotopic Proxies (08 May 2018). Using stalagmites from caves in the SACZ region of Brazil that formed during the last two millennia, we can … [Read more...] about Democrats vs. Science
Putin, Trump and the Reactionary International
WASHINGTON -- The links among Vladimir Putin, President Trump, and segments of both the Republican Party and the American conservative movement seem bizarre. How can this be, given the Russian president's KGB pedigree and a Cold War history during which antipathy toward the Soviet Union held the right together? In truth, there is nothing illogical about the ideological … [Read more...] about Putin, Trump and the Reactionary International
A brief history of ketchup
Heinz is why ketchup seemed to become distinctly American. Reuters/Mike Blake Ken Albala, University of the Pacific Trade wars have an interesting way of revealing cultural stereotypes. Countries often propose tariffs not on the most valuable items in their trading relationships – since that would be painful to them as well – but rather products … [Read more...] about A brief history of ketchup
Great Music – Chapter 26
A few weeks ago I introduced Ludvico Einaudi from Italy to TMV as an excellent contemporary composer. This week I want to introduce a contemporary French composer to TMV, Yann Tiersen. I am often asked by my piano students why we spend all this time on music by “old dead white guys”. How come we don’t play music by people still living? This often leads to an interesting … [Read more...] about Great Music – Chapter 26
Top Koch network official warns Trump White House “divisiveness” causing long-term damage
The divisiness of the Trump White House and some of its policies is increasingly beginning to concern the Koch Brothers and their Koch network. CNN reports: The influential conservative Koch network opened up their summer meeting with an emphasis on bipartisanship while also delivering sharp critiques of President Donald Trump and his administration. "The divisiveness … [Read more...] about Top Koch network official warns Trump White House “divisiveness” causing long-term damage
Shame, Shame On Donald Trump & A Belated Tip Of The Hatlo To The News Media
The mainstream news media shares much of the blame for the Donald Trump presidency. The news media did not take Trump seriously until it was much too late and the Washington press corps, in particular, still hasn't figured out how to cover him by being deferential to the office but not the malignant narcissist who occupies it. All that noted, and with Trump's perfidious and … [Read more...] about Shame, Shame On Donald Trump & A Belated Tip Of The Hatlo To The News Media
Facebook’s Off the Mark Zuckerberg
By Blair Bess Every time Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg opens his mouth he somehow manages to stick his foot in it. It's not so much what he says that is harmful to both himself and his company, it's how he says it. Last week, Zuckerberg managed to infuriate a large segment of the population by defending Facebook's policy to permit blatantly anti-Semitic posts on the site. … [Read more...] about Facebook’s Off the Mark Zuckerberg
Spending time with Daddy (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Recent nightly breaking Trump news consisted of Michael Cohen revealing that Donald Trump knew beforehand of Russian spies visiting Trump Tower to dish stolen dirt on Hillary Clinton. The Russians met with Donald Trump Jr., then campaign manager and current jail occupant Paul Manafort and Jared Kushner before the election. Why is this important? Trump has denied any … [Read more...] about Spending time with Daddy (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Three questions about Tequila answered
An agave plant cutter, or ‘jimador,’ cuts the tips off from agave branches at a Jose Cuervo blue agave field. AP Photo/Guillermo Arias Jeffrey Miller, Colorado State University In less than a decade, worldwide sales of tequila have doubled, while sales of premium and ultra-premium brands have shot up by 292 percent and 706 percent, respectively. In … [Read more...] about Three questions about Tequila answered
Oh, Where Have You Gone, Robert Mueller? Our Nation Turns Its Lonely Eyes To You
It by now a forgone conclusion that presidential candidate Donald Trump knew in advance of the most pungent and thoroughly documented example of collusion between his campaign and Russia -- the infamous June 9, 2016 Trump Tower meeting called by Donald "If What You Say Is True I Love It" Trump Jr. Steve Bannon has said as much ("The chance that Don. Jr did not walk these … [Read more...] about Oh, Where Have You Gone, Robert Mueller? Our Nation Turns Its Lonely Eyes To You
How the Russian government used disinformation and cyber warfare in 2016 election – an ethical hacker explains
Outside forces pushed the American people farther apart. Delpixel/Shutterstock.com Timothy Summers, University of Maryland The Soviet Union and now Russia under Vladimir Putin have waged a political power struggle against the West for nearly a century. Spreading false and distorted information – called “dezinformatsiya” after the Russian word for … [Read more...] about How the Russian government used disinformation and cyber warfare in 2016 election – an ethical hacker explains
Donald Trump is a Con Artist
Gratitude is due Andrew Sullivan for calling Donald Trump what he is in New York Magazine. Con men usually know that a con has a life span, and not a long one. At some point, it will collapse because it is, in fact, bullshit. By then, the best con men have made the sale — think of “Trump University” — and moved on. They also know that keeping the suckers sealed off from … [Read more...] about Donald Trump is a Con Artist
Will the Emoluments Case Against Trump Become the Crack in the Dam? (UPDATE: ‘On Second Thought…’)
UPDATE: The piece below concludes with the dreadful realization that perhaps nothing -- “not even the ‘Fifth Avenue’ scenario” – might bring Trump down. However, lurking in the back of my mind –- should such a miracle on 5th Avenue or anywhere else ever occur -- has been the alarming thought that we may be jumping from the frying pan into the fire. Why? Well, there … [Read more...] about Will the Emoluments Case Against Trump Become the Crack in the Dam? (UPDATE: ‘On Second Thought…’)
God and Science
The relationship between Theism and Science has been debated for generations. All too often, people are given the impression that one cannot believe in the existence of God or the supernatural and at the same time believe what Science says about nature. In reality, Science does not require atheism, as indicated by the following statements by scientists. Stephen Jay Gould, … [Read more...] about God and Science
Cartoon: Shellgame
Race of mass shooters influences how the media cover their crimes, new study shows
Race of mass shooters influences how the media cover their crimes, new study shows If a news report mentions a shooter’s tough childhood, chances are he’s white. ASAG Studio Laura Frizzell, The Ohio State University; Sadé L. Lindsay, The Ohio State University, and Scott Duxbury, The Ohio State University On Jan. 24, 2014, … [Read more...] about Race of mass shooters influences how the media cover their crimes, new study shows
Mike Peter Guest Cartoon: Trump’s Fake News
Of related interest: --Once again, ‘fake news’ decried by Trump turns out to be true --Stormy Daniels' attorney, Michael Avenatti, says 3 other women claim they were paid by AMI, Donald Trump, Michael Cohen --FOR THE TRUMP WHITE HOUSE, EVEN THE WEATHER HAS BECOME FAKE NEWS --Joe Scarborough Hails Shepard Smith as ‘American Hero’ for ‘Speaking the Truth to Those Who Need to … [Read more...] about Mike Peter Guest Cartoon: Trump’s Fake News
The Totally Unexpected: What It May Take To Demolish The So-Called Trump Presidency
Apologies for the crudeness of the analogy, but if you think of Donald Trump as two pounds of spit in a one-pound bag, it is difficult to escape the conclusion that sooner or later the bag has to burst. The question is when and because of what. Robert Mueller? Michael Cohen? Stormy Daniels? Or something Totally Unexpected? I'm casting my vote for Totally Unexpected. … [Read more...] about The Totally Unexpected: What It May Take To Demolish The So-Called Trump Presidency
Chemo Kitchen Cookbook: a Kickstarter countdown
About half of cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy find that food may taste different. It can be too sweet, too salty, too bitter or bland. The Chemo Kitchen Cookbook is a collection of recipes written by award-winning chefs, created specifically for people going through taste change during cancer treatment. It's coming to you from Seattle via Kickstarter; order your … [Read more...] about Chemo Kitchen Cookbook: a Kickstarter countdown