The UN chief has launched a bold if surprising initiative to promote a new agenda for disarmament of both nuclear and conventional weapons, including small arms. This at a time when several countries are being armed to the teeth and wars catastrophic for civilians are rife. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ push for disarmament by all countries for all kinds of lethal … [Read more...] about We are one error away from catastrophe, UN chief warns at launch of new disarmament agenda
Trump Does Right Thing. Obama Didn’t. Neither Did Bush 43.
"President Donald Trump granted a full, posthumous pardon for Jack Johnson, the first black heavyweight boxing champion, who was convicted of racially tinged federal morals charges more than a century ago." - Bloomberg, "Trump, With Sylvester Stallone Alongside Him, Pardons Jack Johnson" "Under the Obama administration, the Department of Justice opted not to recommend a … [Read more...] about Trump Does Right Thing. Obama Didn’t. Neither Did Bush 43.
Whatever Happened to…Malaysia Airlines Flight 370?
CODA: I have had the fortune and the honor to write at TMV for many years. Many of the stories and events I have written on, at the time had no conclusion, no ending, no resolution, no closure. Eventually, some stories disappear completely from the public limelight and are forgotten. Eventually, some stories reappear with a significant update, reach a dramatic end … [Read more...] about Whatever Happened to…Malaysia Airlines Flight 370?
The Impact of the Internet of Things on Sustainability
The Internet of Things — or IoT — is hooking up everyday things such as refrigerators and watches to the internet. It’s relatively new when you think of the lifespan of digital technologies. In recent decades, it has transformed the way that individuals do business, shop, communicate and lead their everyday lives. Wireless connectivity has weaved its way into every aspect our … [Read more...] about The Impact of the Internet of Things on Sustainability
Populusque Romanus
After an impasse that lasted nearly three months, Italy will soon have a government -- and it is one that should be of great concern to the United States and to supporters of liberal democracy. The Five Star Movement, founded by demagogic comedian Beppe Grillo and currently fronted by 31-year-old legislator Luigi Di Maio, took one-third of the vote in the March 4 election. … [Read more...] about Populusque Romanus
Point The Trigger Finger at Everyone Else
No matter what the gun rights advocates say, all these deaths are about a country with far too many guns, plain and simple, full stop. By Michael Winship Friday afternoon, I was walking across my West Village neighborhood running some errands. Here and there my path crossed with college students in graduation gowns from NYU, Columbia and The New School. It’s that time … [Read more...] about Point The Trigger Finger at Everyone Else
Why we need to rethink how to teach the Holocaust
Photos and history of Holocaust victims frame the ceiling of the Hall of Names at Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem. White House photo by Chris Greenberg Alan Marcus, University of Connecticut A recent national survey reported that millennials are struggling with their knowledge of the Holocaust. The survey results show that 22 percent of … [Read more...] about Why we need to rethink how to teach the Holocaust
House conservatives demand an investigation – of Hillary Clinton
WASHINGTON -- Robert S. Mueller III's investigation has won indictments against President Trump's former campaign chairman and 16 others and has secured guilty pleas from five people, including Trump's former national security adviser and two campaign advisers. This can mean only one thing: It is time to reopen the investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails. Federal … [Read more...] about House conservatives demand an investigation – of Hillary Clinton
Cartoon: Monetizing of the Presidency
Trump’s Misplaced Anxiety (UPDATED)
UPDATE: Former FBI Director James Comey this morning answered Trump’s tweets that referred to our investigative agencies as “Criminal Deep State”: Facts matter. The FBI’s use of Confidential Human Sources (the actual term) is tightly regulated and essential to protecting the country. Attacks on the FBI and lying about its work will do lasting damage to our country. … [Read more...] about Trump’s Misplaced Anxiety (UPDATED)
Will Donald Trump & His Banana Republicans Spell Electoral Doom For The GOP? Maybe.
Here are a couple of facts to make your head explode. A mere 15 bills that are not ceremonial in nature or rescind existing laws have passed Congress since Donald Trump became president. This includes a bill sent to the president this week that rescinds a law forbidding discrimination in car loans. (I am not making this up.) Meanwhile, the august House Rules Committee … [Read more...] about Will Donald Trump & His Banana Republicans Spell Electoral Doom For The GOP? Maybe.
(UPDATES) Amy McGrath, a Marine Combat Fighter Pilot on a New Mission
Back in August 2017, Lt. Col. Amy McGrath, a retired Marine Corps combat fighter pilot and mother of three, announced that she was running for the seat of Andy Barr, the current U.S. House Representative of Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District. The post below tells the story of the first female Marine to fly in an F-18 in combat but whose new mission is “to take on a … [Read more...] about (UPDATES) Amy McGrath, a Marine Combat Fighter Pilot on a New Mission
The Banana States of America
ASHINGTON -- By one key measure, it is now official: This is the most authoritarian Congress in history. The House Rules Committee, meeting in its ornate chamber on the third floor of the Capitol on Monday night, sent two bills to the House floor under "closed" rules -- that is, legislation that must be rubber stamped in toto, without being amended by so much as a comma. … [Read more...] about The Banana States of America
Cartoon: Another Democracy Bites the Dust
Supreme Court Ruling Called Blow to Workers’ Rights
NEW YORK – Civil-rights advocates say a Supreme Court ruling handed down Monday will sweep many discrimination and harassment claims against employers under the rug. The ruling in Epic Systems v. Lewis says corporations can require employees to sign arbitration clauses that keep them from joining class-action lawsuits over wage and civil-rights violations, including … [Read more...] about Supreme Court Ruling Called Blow to Workers’ Rights
DOJ Happy Place (Cartoon, Column and Video)
For a bunch of people who hate “fake” investigations, they sure do like calling for them. Or in this case, demanding. In case you haven’t noticed, Trump and his defenders don’t even argue the facts anymore in defending him on charges of collusion with Russia and obstruction. Instead, they attack the Department of Justice and the FBI. A few weeks ago while screaming at the … [Read more...] about DOJ Happy Place (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Cheating workers out of wages is easier than ever
Labor laws are often based on how we worked decades ago. AP Photo/Richard Sheinwald Elizabeth C. Tippett, University of Oregon Jara Neal Willis, a nurse at a hospital in Texas, usually clocked in a few minutes before the start of her shift and stayed late whenever her patients needed help. Her lunch breaks were often cut short by requests from … [Read more...] about Cheating workers out of wages is easier than ever
Poli-Takes: The Rattling Of The Cages:
The past two weeks saw clarity on the road to November as eight states held primaries. While nothing attracted the attention of the ideological slugfest that was the Dan Lipinski-Marie Newman Democratic primary in Illinois last arch, there were some closely watched races that yielded better clues as to what we might be looking at in Congress and the statehouses in November and … [Read more...] about Poli-Takes: The Rattling Of The Cages:
Russia, Putin lead the way in exploiting democracy’s lost promise
Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a Cabinet meeting in Moscow’s Kremlin. AP/Mikhail Klimentyev/Sputnik Brian Grodsky, University of Maryland, Baltimore County How do you give democracy a bad name? You fail to deliver on its promise. People fighting for democracy want individual rights and freedoms, but they also want and expect economic … [Read more...] about Russia, Putin lead the way in exploiting democracy’s lost promise
Why I Try Not to Debate Politics on Facebook
I was sitting in my living room with a mug of coffee and a novel. As I reached the end of a thrilling chapter, I heard a knock at the door. When I opened it, I saw my old college friend Anne. This was a surprise; we had kept in touch but had not seen each other in some time. I started to greet her, but she interrupted me with a brief, impassioned pronouncement on a … [Read more...] about Why I Try Not to Debate Politics on Facebook