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)
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