Our grandson – our only grandson – is leaving for college in a few days. It will be his first time really away from home. His parents (our daughter and our son-in-law) have been extremely busy with the myriad of preparations, orientations and arrangements that this momentous step in a young man’s life – and theirs – entail. And that is a good thing, as it leaves less … [Read more...] about Grandchildren Also Leave for College
The Ultimate Fixer-Upper: An Island Fortress
The message on “workaway.info” (a site to promote worldwide “fair exchange, volunteering and work opportunities between budget travelers, language learners or culture seekers…”) is both intriguing and understated. Here is part of it: "We are a British couple restoring a property in L’Isle Jourdain, Vienne [France], parts of which are 1,000 years old. We began this project … [Read more...] about The Ultimate Fixer-Upper: An Island Fortress
Imagining Russia post-Putin
By Peter Rutland, Professor of Government, Wesleyan University. Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks to the students on July 21, 2017. Alexei Nikolsky/via AP On July 21, Vladimir Putin was asked at an audience with schoolchildren what he will do when he retires. He replied, “I haven’t decided yet if I will leave the presidency.” While everyone… … [Read more...] about Imagining Russia post-Putin
Cartoon and Column: GENERALS AND HANDBAGS
Occasionally I’ll make a sarcastic post on social media, and last week I wrote, “Ivanka Trump is excited to work “alongside” Kelly. I’m sure the GENERAL is excited to be working alongside a mediocre fashion designer.” I also posted, “If anyone looked at me the way Mike Pence looks at Donald Trump, I’d get a restraining order.” Seriously, the guy has an expression of warm … [Read more...] about Cartoon and Column: GENERALS AND HANDBAGS
Tough new sanctions approved by UN could cost North Korea $1 billion in exports annually
NEW YORK—The U.N. Security Council on Saturday unanimously approved a sanctions resolution that the United States said was the strictest imposed "on any country in a generation," banning North Korea from exporting many of its most lucrative products, ranging from coal to iron ore to seafood and even some of its artwork. The tough new sanctions… … [Read more...] about Tough new sanctions approved by UN could cost North Korea $1 billion in exports annually
(UPDATE) ‘Semper Fi’ in a Trump White House
Update: Margaret Sullivan at the Washington Post believes that an even tougher job for new White House Chief of Staff, General John Kelly, than bringing order and discipline to the people’s house might be “hacking through the thicket of lies that the Trump White House produces…” “The prospects for that are grim,” says Sullivan, mentioning both the Post’s and the New … [Read more...] about (UPDATE) ‘Semper Fi’ in a Trump White House
Dunkirk, Wonder Woman and the End of Idealism
by Neal Gabler Among the many casualties of the Trump administration — competence, expertise, facts, morality, compassion and courtesy, to name just a few — one has been scarcely mentioned, though it constitutes a large part of our national consciousness: idealism. Americans are basically pragmatists. We are a cold-eyed, realistic, largely self-interested bunch, which is … [Read more...] about Dunkirk, Wonder Woman and the End of Idealism
There’s no such thing as a Trump Democrat
WASHINGTON -- Do you believe in mermaids, unicorns and fairies? If so, you may have taken interest in a new mythical creature that appeared during the 2016 election: the Trump Democrat. It has become an article of faith that an unusually large number of people who voted for Barack Obama in 2008 or 2012 switched sides and voted for Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton. It … [Read more...] about There’s no such thing as a Trump Democrat
Study: Climate Change Will Bring 50-Fold Rise in Europe Weather-related Deaths
A new study shows that deaths that result from extreme weather in Europe could increase 50 times by the end of the century if the effects of global warming are not curbed. In the study published Saturday by The Lancet Planetary Health journal, scientists say weather-related disasters could kill more than 152,000 people a year by… … [Read more...] about Study: Climate Change Will Bring 50-Fold Rise in Europe Weather-related Deaths
Fox News personality Eric Bolling suspended as network investigates sex texts
NEW YORK — Eric Bolling, co-host of Fox News Channel's "Fox News Specialists," was suspended by the network on Saturday amid allegations that he used his cellphone to send lewd pictures to female colleagues. Bolling, 54, becomes the third Fox News personality to be removed from the air this year because of allegations of inappropriate behavior… … [Read more...] about Fox News personality Eric Bolling suspended as network investigates sex texts
Cartoon: Trump takes a dump
Yesterday I tweeted, “it’s going to be a very racist day at the White House,” and that was before I knew Stephen Miller was going to speak. Wednesday, the Trump administration rolled out a plan to sue colleges they’re accusing to have discriminated against white people with affirmative action programs and a new immigration plan that will give preference to those who speak … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Trump takes a dump
Ideologues present propaganda as “news”
This is not what technological optimists foresaw when the Internet launched a million publishers after making the printing press quasi-obsolete. In a saga that began in late 2016, the estranged mother of a 17-year-old learned that she had begun hormone treatments. Identified in a Minnesota court only as E.J.K., she had lived in a dysfunctional family dynamic where "unstable … [Read more...] about Ideologues present propaganda as “news”
Leaks? Leaks! LEAKS?!??
Today's screaming headlines: Paul Ryan: Intel leaks ‘the problem of the leaker, not the journalist’ Joe Concha / The Hill Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) defended journalists Friday, saying that while intelligence leaks compromise national security, it's "the problem of the leaker, not the journalist. Leaks are concerning because leaks can often compromise national … [Read more...] about Leaks? Leaks! LEAKS?!??
Military Weekend: Your U.S. Air Force
Although they have probably not been missed, I have been somewhat remiss with “Military Weekend” posts. This weekend, your U.S. Air Force at work, including one organization that has been somewhat in the news this week in view of North Korea’s budding intercontinental ballistic missile capabilities, the Air Force Global Strike Command, responsible for the nation's three … [Read more...] about Military Weekend: Your U.S. Air Force
‘Cosmopolitan’ is a dog whistle word once used in Nazi Germany and Communist Russia
The White House press briefing on Wednesday was a little strange. Trump policy advisor Stephen Miller was at the podium to defend the president’s new immigration proposal, which would prioritize high-skilled immigrants who already speak English. Miller faced pushback from reporters, including a heated back-and-forth with CNN’s Jim Acosta, who quoted the Statue of Liberty’s … [Read more...] about ‘Cosmopolitan’ is a dog whistle word once used in Nazi Germany and Communist Russia
It Seems Like Trump Can’t Dance To The Russian Bear’s Tune Anymore. Or Can He?
Vladimir Putin is only the latest person to learn to his dismay that if you try to get close to Donald Trump, you get burned. But unlike Anthony Scaramucci, Reince Priebus, Chris Christie and . . . well, the 62 million people who voted for him, there is a divine thug-meets-thug serendipitousness about this bit of political arson. Putin thought he was doing a proklyatyy … [Read more...] about It Seems Like Trump Can’t Dance To The Russian Bear’s Tune Anymore. Or Can He?
Trump lashes out at ‘fake’ Russia story; W.Va. crowd chants, ‘Lock her up!’
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump called the Russia investigation "a total fabrication" and "an excuse for the greatest loss in the history of American politics" at a rowdy rally Thursday soon after news broke that special counsel Robert S. Mueller III had convened a criminal grand jury. Blaming Democrats even as the Justice Department special counsel… … [Read more...] about Trump lashes out at ‘fake’ Russia story; W.Va. crowd chants, ‘Lock her up!’
Mueller works with grand jury as senators try to protect his inquiry
WASHINGTON — Special Counsel Robert Mueller III received a bipartisan boost from Capitol Hill on Thursday, even as news broke that he'd moved to a more serious phase of his investigation of Russia's meddling in the 2016 election and whether Donald Trump's campaign or associates colluded with Moscow to help him win the presidency. In a… … [Read more...] about Mueller works with grand jury as senators try to protect his inquiry
Cartoon: Statue of Bigotry
Copyright 2017 David Donar. All rights reserved. Copyright Donar, Political Graffiti … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Statue of Bigotry
Fire Hannity Effort Intensifies
Efforts to get Fox News to fire commentator Sean Hannity have intensified in recent days, amid allegations that the network collaborated with the White House in promulgating a conspiracy theory that sought to cast blame on Democratic operatives for the 2016 murder of Democratic National Committee staffer Seth Rich, who was killed while walking home from… … [Read more...] about Fire Hannity Effort Intensifies