A manchild at the wheel, a raccoon gnawing at the nation’s wires, a walking calamity that lurks around every corner. by Michael Winship know that some find it odious to compare Donald Trump to Adolph Hitler, that doing so violates what’s known as Godwin’s Law. That’s the idea first put forward in 1990 by author Mike Godwin that morphed into the notion that in an … [Read more...] about Mayhem Is Our President
Media Accosted (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Donald Trump took his traveling freak show to Tampa Tuesday night and it was a coming out party for the worst of us. He continued his war against the media, where he’s labeled them in the past as scum, dishonest, terrible people, bad actors, liars, fake news, and even the enemy of the American people. During the presidential campaign, he would single out MSNBC’s Katy Tur at … [Read more...] about Media Accosted (Cartoon, Column and Video)
The deep cynicism of Bernie Sanders’ chief strategist
ASHINGTON -- Tad Devine, during his run as chief strategist for the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign, railed against the corrupting influence of money in politics. He repeatedly echoed the Sanders message that "our economy is rigged," that "special interests" buy politicians, that "all of the new wealth is going to the top of America," that there is a "corrupt system of … [Read more...] about The deep cynicism of Bernie Sanders’ chief strategist
The Perils of ‘Mistranslation’
I have occasionally commented on the perils of being multilingual, especially when one starts to lose fluency in one of those languages and must quickly translate thoughts in one language into words in another language. I think of the time when I visited my native country several years ago and laughed aloud when I read in a local Spanish language newspaper that an American … [Read more...] about The Perils of ‘Mistranslation’
UN says Trump increases risk of violence against American journalists
President Donald Trump’s repeated attacks on US media increase the risk of violence against journalists and violate press freedoms and international human rights law. “We are especially concerned that these attacks increase the risk of journalists being targeted with violence,” two UN human rights experts said in a statement today. “These attacks run counter to the … [Read more...] about UN says Trump increases risk of violence against American journalists
Rising suicides in Mexico expose the mental health toll of living with extreme, chronic violence
New suicide data indicates that years of record bloodshed in Mexico have traumatized residents in places where the violence is most concentrated. Reuters/Jorge Lopez Cecilia Farfán-Méndez, University of California San Diego Mexico has suffered one of the world’s highest murder rates for over a decade, a consequence of the government’s aggressive, … [Read more...] about Rising suicides in Mexico expose the mental health toll of living with extreme, chronic violence
Why Trump isn’t fighting the bots
WASHINGTON -- Here is the issue raised by Facebook's revelations this week about disinformation that we need to face squarely: The political interests of the president of the United States coincide with the purposes of foreign forces using social media to divide us along the lines of race and culture. President Trump's refusal to make combating Russian interference a high … [Read more...] about Why Trump isn’t fighting the bots
Logic from Rudy (Cartoon and Column)
Rudy Giuliani has taken on the Trump talking point that collusion is not a crime. This means he, like many other Republicans and Trump sycophants, are OK with treason, cooperating with a hostile foreign government to gain the presidency through illicit means. Collusion by itself is not a crime, but collusion doesn’t come alone. It comes with conspiracy and all sorts of … [Read more...] about Logic from Rudy (Cartoon and Column)
The infantilization of Western culture
> What happens when an entire society succumbs to childlike behavior and discourse? Elantseva Marina Simon Gottschalk, University of Nevada, Las Vegas If you regularly watch TV, you’ve probably seen a cartoon bear pitching you toilet paper, a gecko with a British accent selling you auto insurance and a bunny in sunglasses … [Read more...] about The infantilization of Western culture
(UPDATED) Scandal Goalposts Haven’t Merely Been Moved, They’ve Been Obliterated
I have said it thrice: What I tell you three times is true. ~ THE HUNTING OF THE SNARK Is the ground moving under our feet and the Russia scandal is entering a new and perhaps penultimate phase with Donald Trump and his handlers, as well as the Vichy Republican congressional sycophancy, turning up the volume on bizarre double talk and no longer denying campaign contacts … [Read more...] about (UPDATED) Scandal Goalposts Haven’t Merely Been Moved, They’ve Been Obliterated
Credible Liars (Cartoon, Column and Video)
It takes some serious gaslighting, chutzpah, and cajones to discredit someone while defending Donald Trump by accusing them of being a liar. It’s similar to when a Republican congressman pointed out FBI agent Peter Strzok’s infidelity while defending Trump. What’s next? Going after guys with bad comb overs? A few weeks ago, Rudy Giuliani defended Trump by standing up for his … [Read more...] about Credible Liars (Cartoon, Column and Video)
The lifesaving power of gratitude (or, why you should write that thank you note)
An attitude of gratitude may relieve stress, which in turn may lead to better health. michaelhelm/Shutterstock.com Richard Gunderman, Indiana University Gratitude may be more beneficial than we commonly suppose. One recent study asked subjects to write a note of thanks to someone and then estimate how surprised and happy the recipient would feel – an … [Read more...] about The lifesaving power of gratitude (or, why you should write that thank you note)
Does the Trump administration not view Central American immigrants as fully human?
WASHINGTON -- As of Monday, 711 children who were effectively kidnapped and held hostage by the Trump administration remain in government custody, supposedly "ineligible" to be reunited with their families. What happens to them now? The government won't say, apparently doesn't know and evidently doesn't care. U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw, who had ordered that those … [Read more...] about Does the Trump administration not view Central American immigrants as fully human?
Recycle your aluminum, people
Aluminum is everywhere. As a lightweight, durable, and incredibly abundant metal, it has found its way into thousands of finished products, both domestically and around the world. Modern industrial superpowers — particularly India and China — hold some of the largest reserves of aluminum and aluminum ore, further adding to its global market necessity. However, as probably … [Read more...] about Recycle your aluminum, people
Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: American Girl Migrant Doll
OF RELATED INTEREST: --In My Iowa Town, We Need Immigrants --Trump Repeats, and Inflates, Inaccurate Claims About NATO and Immigration --Trump tweets his most disgusting excuse yet for holding 650 kids hostage Mike Peters is recognized as one of our nation’s most prominent cartoon artists for his outstanding work as both a political and comic strip cartoonist. His … [Read more...] about Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: American Girl Migrant Doll
Weaponized information seeks a new target in cyberspace: Users’ minds
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