By Blair Bess We, in America, have been living in alternate states of reality for quite some time. They are neither red or blue. They are states of consciousness and perception. New borders and boundaries have been erected to divide us. They're often alphanumeric in construction; rising and falling with every stroke of a keyboard, button-push of a remote control, or swipe … [Read more...] about The Alternate States of America
A Cosby Sweater (Cartoon, Column and Video)
The man once revered as America’s dad was convicted Thursday on three counts of sexual assault. The 7-man, 5-woman jury took less than two days to convict Bill Cosby for drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand, a Temple University women’s basketball operations director who is three decades younger than the man who used to appear in commercials with children hawking … [Read more...] about A Cosby Sweater (Cartoon, Column and Video)
The internet is designed for corporations, not people
Conversations on Facebook ethics are part of a bigger conversation about information architecture. AP Photo/Alastair Grant Gordon Hull, University of North Carolina – Charlotte Urban spaces are often designed to be subtly hostile to certain uses. Think about, for example, the seat partitions on bus terminal benches that make it harder for the homeless … [Read more...] about The internet is designed for corporations, not people
Defenders of Freedom Purge Those Who Exhibit It
The "constitutional" Right, ever solicitous of rights and sechlike just engaged in a massive blog purge: ‘Mass firing’ at conservative site RedState Brian Stelter / CNNMoney Salem Media, owner of the influential conservative outlet RedState, froze the site on Friday and dismissed many of its writers. — Bloggers were locked out of their accounts — some just temporarily, … [Read more...] about Defenders of Freedom Purge Those Who Exhibit It
Cohen needs to ask himself: Does Trump have my back?
WASHINGTON -- Michael Cohen reportedly said he'd rather jump out of a building than turn on President Trump. I wonder what he's thinking as the floors whiz by. Cohen has been Trump's lawyer, finder of deals and devoted "Ray Donovan"-style fixer of problems for a decade. At least that's what Cohen (BEG ITAL)thought(END ITAL) he was. In a phone interview Thursday with his … [Read more...] about Cohen needs to ask himself: Does Trump have my back?
Talks of Decriminalizing Marijuana Are Back in Action
April 20 is nearly synonymous with marijuana use, so it seems appropriate lawmakers would have introduced a bill decriminalizing its use in the United States on that date. This bill would cover the entire country — regardless of existing state-based marijuana laws — removing the drug's Schedule 1 classification. What are the details of the bill, and what would it mean for … [Read more...] about Talks of Decriminalizing Marijuana Are Back in Action
It Was Another Big Week For Putin’s Useful Idiot. ‘Fox & Friends’ Sure Thought So.
And so the curtain crashes down on another frighteningly bizarre week in the improbable presidency of Vladimir Putin's "useful idiot," which is a Russian term for an unwitting collaborator. Donald Trump is a useful idiot because of how hard he is working to undermine American democratic institutions in service of knocking the U.S. from its perch and returning Russia to the … [Read more...] about It Was Another Big Week For Putin’s Useful Idiot. ‘Fox & Friends’ Sure Thought So.
Cosby: GUILTY GUILTY GUILTY on three counts
Embed from Getty Images Once iconic comedy and television star Bill Cosby has been found guilty by jury of sexually assaulting and drugging a woman at his home 14 years ago. Cosby was long considered a comedian who worked "clean" and was nicknamed "America's Dad" in a comedy show that ran 8 seasons starting in 1984. It was considered an authentic family values show with a … [Read more...] about Cosby: GUILTY GUILTY GUILTY on three counts
Melting Arctic sends a message: Climate change is here in a big way
Melting Arctic sends a message: Climate change is here in a big way Scientists on Arctic sea ice in the Chukchi Sea, surrounded by melt ponds, July 4, 2010. NASA/Kathryn Hansen Mark Serreze, University of Colorado Scientists have known for a long time that as climate change started to heat up the Earth, its effects would … [Read more...] about Melting Arctic sends a message: Climate change is here in a big way
Thoughts on a 49th anniversary
If all of you will indulge me, I’d like to take a few moments of your time to express my astonishment and good fortune to be celebrating our 49th Wedding Anniversary today. To make it through the slings and arrows of modern life for almost 50 years relatively unscathed is unusual. The story starts almost 50 years ago. I worked at the Prudential Regional Home Office in … [Read more...] about Thoughts on a 49th anniversary
Macron on Trumpism: Non!
WASHINGTON -- The early story line about President Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron focused on their "bromance" and Trump's puerile claim to dominance when he brushed what he said was dandruff off Macron's suit. But on the last day of his state visit on Wednesday, Macron showed he will not be trifled with. He used a speech to a joint session of Congress to engage … [Read more...] about Macron on Trumpism: Non!
Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Trump Tough on Russia
OF RELATED INTEREST: --Trump discussed adoption policy with Putin one day before 'dictating' son's statement about 'adoptions' --Does the Kremlin have compromising Trump info? --Everything We Know About Russia and President Trump 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 … [Read more...] about Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Trump Tough on Russia
Immigration policies can make the difference between life and death for newborn US children
An immigrant woman shows the footprints of her daughter who was born in the in the U.S. AP Photo/Eric Gay Maria Rodriguez, Oregon Health & Science University and Jens Hainmueller, Stanford University The health of children born to unauthorized immigrants – who are U.S. citizens – is affected by local and federal immigration policies. There are as many … [Read more...] about Immigration policies can make the difference between life and death for newborn US children
The Elephant in the Room
Donald Trump’s presence has become so overwhelming in the American media (and probably most of the world’s), that one would probably have to go to the middle of the Sahara Desert to escape from the ubiquity of the Trump visage and the commentary about his actions, remarks, or tweets. He is literally everywhere and dominating America as no other president or individual has ever … [Read more...] about The Elephant in the Room
‘Schoolhouse Rock’ Innovator Bob Dorough (December 12, 1923 ~ April 23, 2018)
If you include the rhythms Bob Dorough beat out on his highchair tray back in Cherry Hill, Arkansas as a toddler, the bebop jazz legend and lifelong hipster composed, arranged and performed music for an extraordinary 10 decades. That seems like an awfully long time until you consider that one of the things that makes jazz so special, which is to say so timelessly vibrant, … [Read more...] about ‘Schoolhouse Rock’ Innovator Bob Dorough (December 12, 1923 ~ April 23, 2018)
The Amazing Flipping Cohen
How can you flip if there’s nothing to flip about? That’s the question behind all the speculation over whether President Trump’s personal attorney Michael Cohen, who has in the past proudly said that he “would take a bullet” for Trump, will cooperate with prosecutors to avoid prison time. Even Trump, in a three-part weekend tweet slamming a New York Times story on Cohen, … [Read more...] about The Amazing Flipping Cohen
Trump calls the Russia lawsuit ‘funny.’ He once sued to prove he wasn’t an orangutan.
WASHINGTON -- "So funny," President Trump remarked of the Democratic National Committee's lawsuit against the Trump campaign, the Russian government and WikiLeaks. Hilarious. Almost as funny as when Trump sued Palm Beach County, Florida, because of the "malicious" jet noise above Mar-a-Lago. Or when Trump sued Bill Maher after the comedian challenged Trump to prove he … [Read more...] about Trump calls the Russia lawsuit ‘funny.’ He once sued to prove he wasn’t an orangutan.
Like a Glove (Cartoon and Column)
The Democratic National Committee is suing Wikileaks, Russia, and the Donald Trump presidential campaign for conspiring to disrupt the 2016 election in favor of Trump. Republicans say this lawsuit is frivolous and without merit and seek to have it dismissed. While the House committee studying collusion between Trump and Russia say there isn’t any evidence, the facts say … [Read more...] about Like a Glove (Cartoon and Column)
Is It Possible to Rationally Discuss Immigration?
Immigration has always been one of the most emotional issues in American politics, dating back to colonial days and continuing into the eras of mass legal migration from Europe at the start of the 20th century and from Asia a half-century ago. In a nation where racial tensions and economic resentments are easily exploitable, populists have emphasized the issue for their own … [Read more...] about Is It Possible to Rationally Discuss Immigration?
Why losing a dog can be harder than losing a relative or friend
Dogs are a big part of their owners’ routines – which makes their loss even more jarring. 'Silhouette' via www.shutterstock.com Frank T. McAndrew, Knox College Recently, my wife and I went through one of the more excruciating experiences of our lives – the euthanasia of our beloved dog, Murphy. I remember making eye contact with Murphy moments before … [Read more...] about Why losing a dog can be harder than losing a relative or friend