Funeral services took place for Benjamin Andrew Wheeler, one of the students killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, while a hearse with another shooting victim drives by. AP Photo/Julio Cortez Enrique Armijo, Elon University Alex Jones, a well-known media personality, falsely claims you were an accomplice in faking the murder of your own … [Read more...] about Falsehoods, Sandy Hook and suing Alex Jones
Trump lulled Barr into thinking it’s safe to be racist
WASHINGTON -- President Trump wants to create a safe public space for ugly, unvarnished, unambiguous racism, which he knows he can exploit for political advantage. This cynical and destructive ploy must not be allowed to succeed. Witness Trump's reaction to the Roseanne Barr self-immolation. The president frequently airs his opinions via Twitter within minutes of seeing … [Read more...] about Trump lulled Barr into thinking it’s safe to be racist
Ambien Tweeting (Cartoon, Column and Video)
After Roseanne blamed Ambien for her racist tweeting, I made a joke in yesterday’s blog that the drug will need to place on its warning label; “May cause racist tweeting.” Sure enough, after I did that, the company that makes Ambien, Sanofi US, issued a statement which read, “People of all races, religions and nationalities work at Sanofi every day to improve the lives of … [Read more...] about Ambien Tweeting (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Immigration agents X-raying migrants to determine age isn’t just illegal, it’s a misuse of science
Immigration agents X-raying migrants to determine age isn't just illegal, it's a misuse of science Teeth and bones can tell something about age – but not someone’s birthday. Journal of Forensic Dental Sciences, CC BY-NC-SA Elizabeth A. DiGangi, Binghamton University, State University of New York A teenager’s father is … [Read more...] about Immigration agents X-raying migrants to determine age isn’t just illegal, it’s a misuse of science
What has Trey Gowdy been smoking?
WASHINGTON -- What has Trey Gowdy been smoking? And can we order it in bulk? The South Carolina Republican, who roared into Congress in the tea-party election of 2010, has been one of the most partisan, vitriolic and conspiracy-minded legislators in his eight years here. As recently as January, he was demanding answers about a bogus "secret society" within the FBI and … [Read more...] about What has Trey Gowdy been smoking?
The Monster Tu Quoque Stalks the Land
The Sleep of Reason breeds monsters -- Goya Greetings and happy Decoration Day (stolen from the GAR and thence the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War) by a Congress that names military bases after traitor generals. This is actually a fine segue into what I'm here to talk to you about. I awakened this morning with this topic and title in my head. And then I saw this, … [Read more...] about The Monster Tu Quoque Stalks the Land
Why ABC reacted so swiftly to Roseanne’s racist tweet
Anjana Susarla, Michigan State University ABC Entertainment, which produced the revamped version of “Roseanne,” is the latest company to learn the challenge of doing business in an age when citizen activism is amplified by social media. The network canceled the hit show after its star, Roseanne Barr, sent a racist tweet – since deleted – that prompted outrage and a … [Read more...] about Why ABC reacted so swiftly to Roseanne’s racist tweet
How Much Trouble Is That Little Misha Cohen In? Let Us Count The Several Ways.
Pick one: Will the end of the Donald Trump presidency have more to do with a special counsel who has dug deeply into the campaign of then-candidate Trump's collusion with Kremlin lowlifes, a rampantly corrupt fixer with a reputation for making Trump's problems go away, or a porn star whom Trump bedded with a streak so stubborn and a lawyer so clever that one particular problem … [Read more...] about How Much Trouble Is That Little Misha Cohen In? Let Us Count The Several Ways.
Rosanne Banned (Cartoon, Column and Video)
I’ve said it here before and I’m going to say it again. I don’t know who said it first, and maybe someone will inform me (update: I’ve been informed it was Maya Angelou. I knew that and forgot it). But, when someone tells you who they are, believe them. As you see people deflect and/or defend Roseanne Barr over her racist tweet on Tuesday, believe them. They’re showing you who … [Read more...] about Rosanne Banned (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Call out the lies — and the hatred
DIONNE-COLUMN-ADV180530-1STLD-WRITETHRU 777 words Call out the lies -- and the hatred The Washington Post · E.J. DIONNE JR. · May 30, 2018 - 3:02 PM WASHINGTON -- By now, we know that President Trump is a lying demagogue. Since this is not said often enough, he has been allowed to routinize lying and enshrine the vilest forms of divisiveness as a normal part of our … [Read more...] about Call out the lies — and the hatred
The ape insult: a short history of a racist idea
The ape insult: a short history of a racist idea Most us know that calling someone an ape is racist, but few of us understand why. The Hornet magazine, 1871 James Bradley, University of Melbourne Most us know that calling someone an ape is racist, but few of us understand why apes are associated in the European imagination … [Read more...] about The ape insult: a short history of a racist idea
Diplomatic Switcheroo in Chinas
Last week the small, landlocked West African nation of Burkina Faso severed diplomatic relations with Taiwan – Republic of China - in favor of the People’s Republic. It was a little known sign of the times, part of a larger, longer dynamic in East Asian politics and a move pursuant to the One China Policy. That’s a long standing unofficial compromise which serves the interests … [Read more...] about Diplomatic Switcheroo in Chinas
Trump’s not a liar — he’s a madman
WASHINGTON -- Even by President Trump's standards, this Memorial Day weekend was memorable for the sheer volume of balderdash, bunk, poppycock and patent nonsense flowing from the White House. Balderdash: Trump went after the "failing and corrupt" New York Times for citing a senior White House official "who doesn't exist" and admonished the newspaper to "use real people, not … [Read more...] about Trump’s not a liar — he’s a madman
Got Compassion (Cartoon and Column)
The United States government has been separating immigrant children from their parents in Trump’s New World Order of Chaos and Uncaring. Just in case that’s not heartless enough, they’ve also lost track of nearly 1,500 children who crossed the border alone (that is, unaccompanied by adults). Christian conservatives are outraged. They’re demanding answers, justice, … [Read more...] about Got Compassion (Cartoon and Column)
Cartoons: Roseanne Barr Barred
Peer rejection isn’t the culprit behind school shootings
Peer rejection is common among school shooters, but does that explain their actions? Sabphoto/www.shutterstock.om Jennifer Watling Neal, Michigan State University Whenever a school shooting takes place, the focus often turns to the social life of the shooters, and people conclude that they suffered from some type of peer rejection or victimization. … [Read more...] about Peer rejection isn’t the culprit behind school shootings
Roseanne triple barred after racist twitter rant: looses show, talent agency and past show syndication
It's now clear there are some boundaries in the age of Donald Trump as President. Yes, there are limits to hurling partisan invective and indulging in public displays on Twitter of outright racism. Perhaps not (yet) for Trump, but for others like comedian Roseanne Barr's reboot of Rosanne. After a remarkable morning on Twitter that ended in her giving what many felt was an … [Read more...] about Roseanne triple barred after racist twitter rant: looses show, talent agency and past show syndication
Great Music Chapter 19
Last week, I introduced you to one of Sergi Rachmaninoff’s more bombastic piano pieces, the Prelude in C# minor. In case some of you thought that piece was representative of Rachmaninoff’s musical style, this week will show you one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever composed. Insert here a moment of silence to build anticipation: Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini This … [Read more...] about Great Music Chapter 19
Another Academy Class Flies Off Into the Wild Blue Yonder
It is that time of the year again, “When jubilant high school seniors receive their diplomas…When more reflective college graduates flip their tassels from one side of the mortarboards to the other…When Service Academies and College Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) graduates proudly render their first salute as commissioned officers, equally jubilantly toss their hats … [Read more...] about Another Academy Class Flies Off Into the Wild Blue Yonder
California Dreaming
California is supposedly the land of the American dream, where a girl can become a star overnight and a guy who can code can establish another billion dollar start-up in Silicon Valley. Its economy is equivalent to about the sixth largest nation in the world. If anything good can happen in America, it can happen in California. But bad things also happen in California. There are … [Read more...] about California Dreaming