On Wednesday, President Trump played golf in Florida at one of his golf courses. Then he told a whopper to West Palm Beach firefighters and paramedics. "We have signed more legislation than anybody. We have more legislation passed, including — the record was Harry Truman a long time ago, and we broke that record, so we got a lot done." Trump is the fifth Republican … [Read more...] about Trump lies about legislative record; falls far short of Ike, the most comparable GOP president
‘Obama – An Intimate Portrait’ — Or, Year In Review: 2009-2016, That Is.
"Hair like mine" It is tradition, this time of the year, to look back at the events, sights and sounds of the year we are about to leave behind -- whether good ones or bad ones. I’ll let others be the judge on the latter. (There will be plenty of opinions: “’Chaotic’ was the most common one-word summation of the year,” says the Washington Post. Historians at politico.com … [Read more...] about ‘Obama – An Intimate Portrait’ — Or, Year In Review: 2009-2016, That Is.
Bali declares ‘garbage emergency’ amid sea of waste
Bali's palm-fringed Kuta beach has long been a favourite with tourists seeking sun and surf, but nowadays its golden shoreline is disappearing under a mountain of garbage. Plastic straws and food packaging are strewn between sunbathers, while surfers bobbing behind the waves dodge waste flushed out from rivers or brought in by swirling currents. "When I… … [Read more...] about Bali declares ‘garbage emergency’ amid sea of waste
Great Music – Chapter 1
This is the first installment of a series I intend to write weekly introducing selected works of great music. As many of you know, my wife and I have been piano teachers for decades and we live and breathe music. Not all of you will agree with each of my choices of music but I hope everyone takes away a little something positive from the posts. While my music choices will be … [Read more...] about Great Music – Chapter 1
Go Easy on Justice League, Critics, The Superfriends have been through enough.
By Thomas Hoffman Bill Maher once commented that movies were being ruined because the majority of movie profits currently come from DVD sales. The DVD audience is a younger audience. Maher pointed out and rightfully so that this means in order to appeal to this younger market, movies mostly consist of “loud noises and things getting blown up.” Justice League made a … [Read more...] about Go Easy on Justice League, Critics, The Superfriends have been through enough.
With more to come, new JFK documents offer fresh leads 54 years later
WASHINGTON — Half-a-dozen 2017 releases of long-secret documents about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy have given plenty of new leads to those who don't believe alleged gunman Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. President Donald Trump promised via Twitter this fall that all the JFK assassination documents will be public by the end of April… … [Read more...] about With more to come, new JFK documents offer fresh leads 54 years later
Praying for democracy
My New Year's wish is for the health and resurgence of democracy. What follows is a slightly edited version of a morning prayer I offered last month at the Appleton Chapel of the Memorial Church at Harvard University. Let us say a prayer for democracy. But let us do more than pray. Let's ask ourselves what it means to live by a democratic ethic. "Here on earth," as John F. … [Read more...] about Praying for democracy
Poland edges away from Democracy
So far the 21st century is seeming a perilous place for late 20th century democracy values, norms and mores. There's now considerable concern over Poland's evolution in Europe. The Christian Science Monitor offers this editorial: The European Union has drawn a line in the sand with Poland. The issue is whether that country, which, along with nine other mostly Eastern European … [Read more...] about Poland edges away from Democracy
Tech Billionaires Make Largest Donation Ever to Preserve 24,000 Acres of California Coastline
Thanks to a $165 million donation from two tech billionaires, over 24,000 acres of pristine California coastline will be permanently protected in the years to come. The multi-million dollar contribution from Jack and Laura Dangermond, which was given to The Nature Conservancy (TNC), is the single largest philanthropic donation in the organization's history. MORE: Farmer … [Read more...] about Tech Billionaires Make Largest Donation Ever to Preserve 24,000 Acres of California Coastline
Defected Deflect (Cartoon and Column)
During the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump supporter Rudy Giuliani said he knew the FBI planned to review more emails tied to Hillary Clinton before FBI Director James Comey publicly announced that was what they were doing. Basically, he claimed the FBI LEAKED information to the Trump campaign, and he was proud of it. Giuliani said agents of the bureau were frustrated and … [Read more...] about Defected Deflect (Cartoon and Column)
Gallup Poll: Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton Retain Most Admired Titles
Start your countdown now to Donald Trump starting a string of anti-Obama and anti-Hillary Clinton tweets (but, wait, did he ever stop?). He won't like this Gallup Poll (on the other hand, he'll just dismiss it as fake which he does on any poll that doesn't put him first...which is a lot of polls these days): Americans once again are most likely to name Barack Obama and … [Read more...] about Gallup Poll: Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton Retain Most Admired Titles
Cartoon: Return Policy
Russia Wants Americans To Doubt Mueller, Experts Warn
Russian meddling in the 2016 election was apparently just the prequel. Now America's former Cold War rival is using social media to undermine Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe, a former CIA official and a former Republican congressman said Monday night. Michael Morell, who ran the CIA, and Michael Rogers, former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee,… … [Read more...] about Russia Wants Americans To Doubt Mueller, Experts Warn
Science Bullies
In case you have missed it, science bullies are attacking anyone who dares to blow the whistle on flaws in their work. For example, here is what one such bully posted on Twitter: Now, here are excerpts from Dr. Judith Curry's 03/29/17 testimony before Congress. "I am increasingly concerned that both the climate change problem and its solution have been vastly … [Read more...] about Science Bullies
What We Discovered During a Year of Documenting Hate
The days after Election Day last year seemed to bring with them a rise in hate crimes and bias incidents. Reports filled social media and appeared in local news. There were the letters calling for the genocide of Muslims that were sent to Islamic centers from California to Ohio. And the swastikas that were scrawled on… … [Read more...] about What We Discovered During a Year of Documenting Hate
Year in Review (Cartoon and Column)
I made a comment on social media yesterday that I hate the year in review crap that consumes media during the last week of the year. I don’t need a summary of 2017. I was there. I lived it. I covered it. I drew up, down, and all over that mother. Some friends and followers thought I was complaining I didn’t have a cartoon subject yesterday. I’m not complaining about a lack … [Read more...] about Year in Review (Cartoon and Column)
Anger
I’m trying to figure out what has happened to this country that makes people so mean. This is especially important during this Holiday period where showing the best we can be is the very essence of the Holidays. This morning I witnessed a very ugly scene at our local Grocery Store. I needed to pick up about 10 little things that I had forgotten. I was in line at the … [Read more...] about Anger
Democrat Doublespeak
When is a tax hike on the wealthy a tax cut for them? Answer: When congressional Democrats say so. That is the message that congressional Democrats have been giving the public in response to the federal tax legislation that President Trump signed into law on 12/22/17. This tax hike on the wealthy isn't just from the federal government. CBS News reports, "Families earning the … [Read more...] about Democrat Doublespeak
Voters should use ballot box to control Trump in 2018
WASHINGTON -- Grit your teeth. Persevere. Just a few more days and this awful, rotten, no-good, ridiculous, rancorous, sordid, disgraceful year in the civic life of our nation will be over. Here's hoping that we all -- particularly special counsel Robert Mueller -- have a better 2018. Many of us began 2017 with the consoling thought that the Donald Trump presidency couldn't … [Read more...] about Voters should use ballot box to control Trump in 2018
Protesters get ready in case Trump fires Mueller
WASHINGTON — Organizers have stashed bullhorns in apartments and offices near Manhattan's Times Square. They've stockpiled hot chocolate mix and sleeping bags in Salt Lake City. And they've started arranging carpools in Houston. Across the country, activists are making plans, collecting supplies and raising money to swiftly launch hundreds of street protests if President Donald … [Read more...] about Protesters get ready in case Trump fires Mueller