Published by AFPSalinas (United States) (AFP) - The latest in a damaging succession of storm systems blew into California on Saturday, bringing heavy flooding to already waterlogged regions and threatening snowfalls of up to six feet (two meters) in areas. The latest system was expected to bring "heavy lower-elevation rain, significant mountain snow, and strong winds," with … [Read more...] about New storms hitting California as it faces already ‘disastrous’ floods
I CAN DREAM CAN’T I?
' by Don Hermann I CAN DREAM, CAN'T I That Hate is not a solution for fear or lack of understanding. That the Civil War did end. That minority leaders act more like Martin Luther King, Jr and devote more time to being active and less time writing books and showing up on TV. That Congress act more like adults and less like children. That Elon Musk uses … [Read more...] about I CAN DREAM CAN’T I?
FALSE EQUIVALENCE COPS ON THE BIDEN CLASSIFIED DOCUMENT CASE
When news broke the other day that President Biden’s lawyers had found a few documents with classified markings in a think-tank office he once used, we all knew that MAGA’s false equivalence cops would spring into action. Their predictable message, aimed primarily at low-information nitwits: Trump is innocent because he and Biden did the same thing! Um, no. They didn’t do … [Read more...] about FALSE EQUIVALENCE COPS ON THE BIDEN CLASSIFIED DOCUMENT CASE
Joe Biden’s Compassion Is the Secret to His Growing Presidential Success
by Molly Bowman-Styles I hug trees. What began as an expression of childhood wonder has blossomed into a reverential gesture of gratitude for the gifts of beauty, shade, and kinship these majestic sentries of time and place provide. In a kinder world, hugging a tree would feel as natural as shaking the hand of a respected colleague or wrapping a loved one in a warm … [Read more...] about Joe Biden’s Compassion Is the Secret to His Growing Presidential Success
Meditation and mindfulness offer an abundance of health benefits and may be as effective as medication for treating certain conditions
People of any age or walk of life can access and benefit from meditation. Daniel de la Hoz/iStock via Getty Images Plus Hilary A. Marusak, Wayne State University Many people look to diet trends or new exercise regimens – often with questionable benefit – to get a healthier start on the new year. But there is one strategy that’s been shown time and … [Read more...] about Meditation and mindfulness offer an abundance of health benefits and may be as effective as medication for treating certain conditions
APPLES AND ORANGES AND WHATABOUTS (CARTOON, COLUMN AND VIDEO)
Goons tweet at me quite often. I do enjoy hitting their nerves and that I’m so important to them so I don’t block them unless they become annoying trolls. I would rather mute them than block them. Plus, when you block them, they boast about it. I have one consistent MAGAt who’s anonymous with only 30 followers. He tweeted at me last night. After news broke that a few … [Read more...] about APPLES AND ORANGES AND WHATABOUTS (CARTOON, COLUMN AND VIDEO)
5 types of threat – how those who want to divide us use language to stoke violence
Military police clash with supporters of Brazilian former President Jair Bolsonaro after an invasion to Planalto Presidential Palace in Brasilia on January 8, 2023. Sergio Lima/AFP via Getty Images. H. Colleen Sinclair, Louisiana State University Events like the riots in Brazil, the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection two years before it and the mass … [Read more...] about 5 types of threat – how those who want to divide us use language to stoke violence
Presumed Do-Nothing Congress
The control of the House of Representatives into Republican hands and the chaotic and traumatic election of Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House is predictive of government gridlock and dysfunction. McCarthy squandered much of the power of the Speaker’s position in order to get elected and it is hard to imagine how he will be able to govern with any degree of efficiency. The … [Read more...] about Presumed Do-Nothing Congress
The 118th Congress: Those Under Investigation to Investigate the Investigators (UPDATES)
UPDATE II: As expected, on a party-line vote of 221 to 211, Republicans approved the formation of a Select Subcommittee to investigate the “Weaponization” of the Federal Government, to be chaired by Trump’s close buddy, Jim Jordan, who himself “was deeply involved in Mr. Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.” As Jordan will have extensive subpoena … [Read more...] about The 118th Congress: Those Under Investigation to Investigate the Investigators (UPDATES)
KEVIN MCCARTHY’S VERSION OF WINNING
LIARS, SPEAKERS, AND SWEARERS (CARTOON, COLUMN AND VIDEO)
Yes, I stayed up all night to watch Kevin McCarthy finally become the Speaker of the House after 15 ballots. One thing that’s for certain is that McCarthy enters the office as the weakest Speaker in House history. There are actually a lot of certainties with this, one being that the Goon Caucus or Chaos Caucus which consisted of nihilists like Matt Gaetz, Lauren Boebert, … [Read more...] about LIARS, SPEAKERS, AND SWEARERS (CARTOON, COLUMN AND VIDEO)
SQUEAKER OF THE HOUSE (CARTOON)
Russia’s woes set to worsen as Ukraine readies to receive new offensive weapons
While US Congress fights chaos to find a speaker, Germany, Europe’s reluctant warrior, is in the throes of sea change. It is gearing up to provide armored infantry fighting vehicles and a Patriot air defense battery to harden Ukraine’s fierce response to Russia’s unwarranted invasion. The government of pacifist post-World War II Germany took the very painful decision to … [Read more...] about Russia’s woes set to worsen as Ukraine readies to receive new offensive weapons
On #Jan6th anniversary, Biden honors 12 with the Presidential Citizens Medal
Friday, 06 January 2023, marks the second anniversary of a Trump-inspired insurrection that attempted to overturn the results of the November 2020 presidential election. To mark the moment, President Joe Biden is presenting the first Presidential Citizens Medals of his administration at noon (EDT). The 12 people being honored played important roles in the election (five) and … [Read more...] about On #Jan6th anniversary, Biden honors 12 with the Presidential Citizens Medal
Talking across the political aisle isn’t a cure-all – but it does help reduce hostility
Americans tend to not cross their political divides amicably. New research shows what helps this actually happen. Orbon Alija, CC BY Dominik Stecu?a, Colorado State University and Matthew Levendusky, University of Pennsylvania Simmering tension in American politics came to a head two years ago, when a mob of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol … [Read more...] about Talking across the political aisle isn’t a cure-all – but it does help reduce hostility
MCCARTHY SPEAKER FIASCO (CARTOON)
Four ways Netanyahu’s new far-right government threatens Israeli democracy
Israelis protest the new government – the most far-right, religiously conservative in history – on Dec. 29, 2022, outside the Knesset, Israel’s parliament. Eyal Warshavsky/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Boaz Atzili, American University School of International Service Democracy is not just about holding elections. It is a set of … [Read more...] about Four ways Netanyahu’s new far-right government threatens Israeli democracy
PACHYDERM PROBLEMS (CARTOON, COLUMN AND VIDEO)
Republicans have made a lot of promises about how they’ll use their House majority. They’re going to close the border, go after “unelected” bureaucrats, they’re going to cut spending, they’re gonna conduct multiple investigations after more investigations, blah, blah, blah. Legislate and govern? They can’t even get through the door. Earlier this week, two members of the Goon … [Read more...] about PACHYDERM PROBLEMS (CARTOON, COLUMN AND VIDEO)
Republican Party vs. Reality
Dear Republican Party: Reality called. It wants you to get in touch. It has what you're lacking: A clue. By that, I don't mean the board game. By browsing what Republicans are saying on Twitter, one sees that these space cases are in need of a reality check. For example, this is what one such critter tweeted at the start of the New Year: Oh, wait, wrong … [Read more...] about Republican Party vs. Reality
How a Brave Ukrainian Woman Went from Teaching How to Prepare Tea to Learning How to Fight for her Country
During the sacred days of Christmas and into New Year’s Eve and Day, the residents of Kyiv endured some of the cruelest missile and drone attacks of the year-long ruthless Russian aggression against Ukraine. A so-called “special military operation” that has already claimed more than 6,800 Ukrainian civilian lives, 428 of them children. Neither hospitals – not even a … [Read more...] about How a Brave Ukrainian Woman Went from Teaching How to Prepare Tea to Learning How to Fight for her Country