Star Wars: The Force Awakens Violates Laws of the Universe by Thomas Hoffman A short while ago, in a movie theater very near, I saw the first Star Wars film I actually enjoyed in years. The Force Awakens re-awakened my interest in Star Wars. However, all Star Wars movies have flaws, and this one was no exception. This Star Wars film violates the laws of the universe. The … [Read more...] about Star Wars: The Force Awakens Violates Laws of the Universe (Guest Voice)
Conservatives versus “conservatives”
I guess we owe the right an apology for understanding them all too well. They are having a fight among themselves that is more hurtful and meaningful than is their fight against librulism and goddam Obamaists. Their struggles been going on forever, or so it seems. Very few, if any, in their party handle the public spotlight with grace. They have stacked up a lousy economic … [Read more...] about Conservatives versus “conservatives”
Violating the Constitution is Not a Public Right
by Walter Brasch For at least 17 years, the officials of Monroeville, Pa., a 30,000 population Pittsburgh suburb, have recited the Lord’s Prayer before every council meeting. This violates the First Amendment. And it’s not even a gray area. Finally, the ACLU sent the council a letter, threatening to file a lawsuit. The response by Bruce Dice, the city solicitor, was … [Read more...] about Violating the Constitution is Not a Public Right
Future Work Environment
Education may not have been a prerequisite for the jobs most factory workers previously performed, but now that many manufacturing positions have migrated from the developed world, workers may not have the knowledge or skill set to perform jobs in a high tech environment. New factory jobs may require computer proficiency to run the machines that fabricate numerous products. … [Read more...] about Future Work Environment
North Korea Says It Has Tested Hydrogen Bomb
North Korea has successfully conducted a hydrogen bomb test, the country reportedly announced Wednesday. The announcement came hours after South Korea’s meteorological service detected a 5.1-magnitude “artificial earthquake” near Pyongyang’s main nuclear test site. China, Japan and South Korea earlier said that there were indications the tremor was man-made, suspecting that … [Read more...] about North Korea Says It Has Tested Hydrogen Bomb
Benefits Seen Two Years After Legalization Of Marijuana In Colorado
AlterNet noted the two year anniversary of legalized marijuana in Colorado, describing the economic benefits along with the decrease in incarceration: 1) Thousands Not Arrested for Marijuana in Colorado This initial and foundational aspect of marijuana legalization is often overlooked – marijuana arrests in Colorado have plummeted. We’ve seen possession, cultivation and … [Read more...] about Benefits Seen Two Years After Legalization Of Marijuana In Colorado
10 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Vote for Donald Trump
10 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Vote for Donald Trump by Chris Jennewein Donald Trump’s campaign for the Republican nomination has dominated the American political news cycle for six months. If you haven’t followed the daily developments, here’s a short list to cut through the media clutter and help you make your decision about whether to vote for him in the upcoming caucuses … [Read more...] about 10 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Vote for Donald Trump
The Saudi-Iran crisis is rooted in a centuries-old power struggle
Since Saudi Arabia’s execution of Shiite cleric Nimr Baqr al-Nimr, tensions have ratcheted up between the Sunni-ruled Gulf state and Shiite Iran, with talk of a widening sectarian conflict. But are there irreconcilable differences between the two branches of Islam? And if not, what is fuelling the hostility that threatens to spill over in the volatile… … [Read more...] about The Saudi-Iran crisis is rooted in a centuries-old power struggle
Helping Hands with the Mississippi River Floods
As floodwaters around St. Louis and more northern points around the Mississippi River recede, “deadly floodwaters continue to surge slowly southward” and points south are bracing for the worst. Accuweather.com reports that the Mississippi River is expected to reach moderate or major flood stage at many locations in Tennessee, Arkansas, this week and that "[F]looding along … [Read more...] about Helping Hands with the Mississippi River Floods
Obama, wiping tears, makes new push to tighten gun rules
By Roberta Rampton and Ayesha Rascoe WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Tuesday described new steps his administration will take to tighten gun rules and urged Americans to vote for candidates who do more to prevent gun violence, wiping back tears as he remembered children who died in a mass shooting. As Obama delivered a powerful address in the White House, … [Read more...] about Obama, wiping tears, makes new push to tighten gun rules
Is “the Impossible” the real 2016 contender?
Since starting my little experiment with blogging in December 2003, one recurring theme has been the conventional wisdom. I've often reflected it, been influenced by it, but noted at regular intervals not to TRUST IT. (I did one special column on it). It's conveniently swept under the rug when proven wrong and immediately replaced by a new highly touted and parroted … [Read more...] about Is “the Impossible” the real 2016 contender?
Poll: Clinton maintains significant lead over Sanders heading into primaries
A new poll shows former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton holds a significant nationwide lead over Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders as Democrats get ready to head to the polls for primaries. Once again it needs to be noted: a)polls are snapshots in time b)one poll does not a trend make because a trend comes from a combination of polls c)polls are not always right but they are … [Read more...] about Poll: Clinton maintains significant lead over Sanders heading into primaries
Cartoon: The Recruiter
See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about Cartoon: The Recruiter
Militias and the Perils of Polarization
Just when you thought America couldn’t slip any farther down the slope from which no civilization ever returns, it seems we’ve just slipped a little deeper. If you hoped, as I did, that the new year would see us rebound from the atrocities of 2015 (mass shootings, police brutality, two-way racial animosities, totalitarian PC warriors on campus, Donald Trump), forget it. The … [Read more...] about Militias and the Perils of Polarization
Donald Trump lowers the bar again: “Mexican border” in his political ad REALLY was Morocco
Pundits have it all wrong. Yes, Donald Trump's campaign has lowered the bar again but what we're really seeing is our political and media culture being turned into one big, spectacular version of the dance the "limbo." The dance originated in Trinidad and in its most popular universal incarnation a bar is lowered and dancers have to try to go under it without falling or … [Read more...] about Donald Trump lowers the bar again: “Mexican border” in his political ad REALLY was Morocco
Support For Abortion Rights Increases As Republicans Enact More Restrictions
The Republican Party remains out of sync with the views of the American people on abortion rights. An Associated Press-GfK poll reported: Support for legal abortion in the U.S. has edged up to its highest level in the past two years, with an Associated Press-GfK poll showing an apparent increase in support among Democrats and Republicans alike over the last year. Nearly six … [Read more...] about Support For Abortion Rights Increases As Republicans Enact More Restrictions
New Keyboard
I received my new keyboard. Amazon Prime and the USPS manged to get through the snow and ice yesterday. My old keyboard had become as dysfunctional as the US Congress. Apparently the combination of spilled wine and cigarette ashes create a concrete like substance that might make a great building material but plays hell with keyboards. So I hope I can start posting again. … [Read more...] about New Keyboard
Bill Clinton’s Sexual History? Really? Again?
Bill Clinton's Sexual History? Really? Again? By Dick Polman Donald Trump is out of his mind (nothing new there) if he really thinks that he can taint Hillary Clinton by recycling her husband's infidelities. How can he, or any other Republican, hope to gain traction in 2016 with a tactic that backfired so abysmally in the last century? Trump says that Bill has "a … [Read more...] about Bill Clinton’s Sexual History? Really? Again?
Trump’s popularity not shared with associates (Guest Voice)
Trump's popularity not shared with associates by Jordan Cooper Trump's media maven-like prowess doesn't spread to his subordinates. He was the owner of the Miss Universe pageant but these beautiful women sometimes get less media coverage than a drink special at a college pub. You'll see former winners of smaller pageants like Eva Longoria and Oprah Winfrey be regulars in … [Read more...] about Trump’s popularity not shared with associates (Guest Voice)
Obama and guns: Five moves that would cut the death toll (Guest Editorial)
As President Obama searches for ways to use his executive power to reduce gun violence, we can only hope he is feeling feisty enough to push to the limits of the law. Guns kills more than 30,000 Americans each year, about two-thirds of them suicides, a sickening tally that the Islamic State will never be able… … [Read more...] about Obama and guns: Five moves that would cut the death toll (Guest Editorial)