WASHINGTON -- Are you old enough to remember when the Republican Party had principles and a backbone? It seems so long ago. If you do recall that bygone time, you might expect that said principles and backbone will assert themselves, sooner or later, against President Trump. Stop waiting, because it's not going to happen. The pompous GOP credo was apparently a sham all … [Read more...] about Trump’s foreign policy: Embracing Russia and bashing Canada
Pope Francis: A Man Of His Word (2018)
Pope Francis: A Man Of His Word is the latest project from Academy Award nominee, filmmaker, and documentarian Wim Wenders. Pope Francis lends a friendly hand to audiences, inspiring and, even, commanding them to be better people in this world. Taking advantage of his popularity, extending far beyond those who are Catholic, Wenders has given Pope Francis the platform to … [Read more...] about Pope Francis: A Man Of His Word (2018)
Ugly American Baby (Cartoon and Column)
Donald Trump attended the G7 Summit against his will. He didn’t want to go, probably because he had spent the week insulting our allies while lobbying for Vladimir Putin. Trump arrived late to the summit and he left early. He agreed to a communiqué (which is a big word for Trump) by the allies but withdrew while on his flight to Singapore because the Prime Minister of Canada … [Read more...] about Ugly American Baby (Cartoon and Column)
Why did the television reboot become all the rage?
Dr. James Francis, Jr., Texas A&M University Designer Yves Saint Laurent once said, “Fashions fade, style is eternal.” The same could be said for television: When a popular show concludes, it lives on in syndication and Blu-ray. But recently, TV immortality has assumed a new form. Networks and streaming services are increasingly pulling from the past to flood the … [Read more...] about Why did the television reboot become all the rage?
The Kindest Cut: Circumcision
Times change, knowledge increases, things improve: that’s civilization. But progress is uneven, often because of regressive beliefs slowing it down, screwing it up, or in some cases trying to reverse it. Half a century ago 64% of boys in the US were circumcised; now the rate is 40%. Much to the wailing of religious minorities, the practice is now out of style in favor of the … [Read more...] about The Kindest Cut: Circumcision
Aligning High School and College Curriculum
by Dale Schlundt The demands and constraints on secondary educators means that it can be difficult to provide students with all of the vital skills needed for college success. This is the mission of the Texas Regional Alignment Network, which will be holding its second annual College and Career Readiness Symposium on June 25th in San Antonio, TX, to bridge the gap … [Read more...] about Aligning High School and College Curriculum
Trump’s presidency marks the first time in 24 years that the federal bench is becoming less diverse
President Trump’s judicial nominee Thomas Alvin Farr. AP Photo/Alex Brandon Rorie Solberg, Oregon State University and Eric N. Waltenburg, Purdue University President Donald Trump and his Republican allies in the Senate are pushing through nominations for federal judges at an unusually fast pace ahead of the 2018 midterm elections. That’s when the GOP … [Read more...] about Trump’s presidency marks the first time in 24 years that the federal bench is becoming less diverse
Trump Hospitality
Copyright 2018 David Donar. All rights reserved. Copyright Donar, Political Graffiti … [Read more...] about Trump Hospitality
Cartoon: G7 2008
The refuge of sports
WASHINGTON -- I suspect I share this with many others: Over the last 500 or so days, I often wanted to ditch politics entirely. Sports became my shelter from the storm, a field of competition in which performance can be judged with a degree of objectivity and blustery hot takes on Twitter do not threaten the republic. True, it says something about my attitudes toward … [Read more...] about The refuge of sports
Rules-based trade made the world rich. Trump’s policies may make it poorer
Trump against the world? Jesco Denzel/German Federal Government via AP Amitrajeet A. Batabyal, Rochester Institute of Technology Nations sell goods and services to each other because this exchange is generally mutually beneficial. It’s easy to understand that Iceland should not be growing its own oranges, given its climate. Instead, Iceland should … [Read more...] about Rules-based trade made the world rich. Trump’s policies may make it poorer
Cartoon: G7 Meeting in Canada
It’s Time For Paul Manafort To Trade In His Designer Threads For A Prison Jumpsuit
(UPDATE: Manafort's bail was revoked on June 15 and he was sent to jail to await trial.) Of all the bad actors who attached themselves to Donald Trump in the course of the Russia scandal, former campaign manager Paul Manafort may be the baddest, and so it would be fitting -- and overdue, as well -- if he ends up trading one of his Italian designer business suits for an … [Read more...] about It’s Time For Paul Manafort To Trade In His Designer Threads For A Prison Jumpsuit
Of Special Relationships and ‘Special Places’ (UPDATES)
CODA: Former Secretary of Defense William Cohen has aptly referred to Trump's foreign policy towards our allies as "a wrecking ball." Hence the change in image, courtesy donkeyhotey.com. UPDATE II: In a symbolic vote of solidarity, “Canada’s House of Commons on Monday unanimously condemned the personal attacks on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau by U.S. President Donald … [Read more...] about Of Special Relationships and ‘Special Places’ (UPDATES)
Solo (2018)
It's the action-packed, gun-slinging, ship-racing Star Wars story we've all been promised. Almost. Solo: A Star Wars Story is Disney's most recent venture into a galaxy far, far away, following the young Han Solo and how he became the Solo we all came to know in the original Star Wars trilogy. This Solo is played by Alden Ehrenreich, who has taken on the role from Harrison … [Read more...] about Solo (2018)
2018 Warrior Games, Concluded but not Forgotten
The Department of Defense Warrior Games were established in 2010 “as a way to enhance the recovery and rehabilitation of wounded, ill and injured service members and to expose them to adaptive sports.” I have tried to write about these noble Games, and about a similar event -- The Invictus Games, inspired by the Warrior Games – on a regular basis. Alas, that did not … [Read more...] about 2018 Warrior Games, Concluded but not Forgotten
We’ll get through this, America — even L’Affaire Chick-fil-A
WASHINGTON -- It was another one of those weeks in which the wheels seemed to come off the axle of the American motor coach. President Trump speculated about his power to pardon himself for crimes, and his lawyer said the president could shoot the now-former FBI director with legal impunity. Trump is feuding with Canada and our closest allies in Europe, but is looking … [Read more...] about We’ll get through this, America — even L’Affaire Chick-fil-A
‘Jurassic Park’ made a dinosaur-sized leap forward in computer-generated animation on screen, 25 years ago
Computer-generated dinosaurs walk the Earth. Universal Pictures Studios Adam Bargteil, University of Maryland, Baltimore County With 25 years of hindsight, “Jurassic Park” marks a pivotal point in the history of visual effects in film. It came 11 years after 1982’s “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” debuted computer-generated imagery for a visual … [Read more...] about ‘Jurassic Park’ made a dinosaur-sized leap forward in computer-generated animation on screen, 25 years ago
Overboard (2018)
Overboard, unfortunately, deserves little thought or consideration. It is a mediocre attempt at comedy and, while very few remakes live up to their originals, Overboard does even worse than what would normally be expected. The only saving grace this film has is its Mexican soap opera-esque storyline, much of it being in Spanish, with Eugenio Derbez and his wealthy family. … [Read more...] about Overboard (2018)
A Review of The 5th Avenue Theatre’s Production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame
The 5th Avenue Theatre’s presentation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame may have songs and movie title lettering from its Disney film predecessor, but this Seattle production has abandoned any pretense of Disney’s “Happiest Place on Earth” motif to thoroughly ground the musical in the tormented source material of Victor Hugo’s original novel. The themes are deep, dark, bleak and … [Read more...] about A Review of The 5th Avenue Theatre’s Production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame