A new Gallup Poll finds that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton remains the world's most admired woman for a record 20th time. It also finds President Barack Obama is the most admired man. Perhaps the biggest surprise (but perhaps not to some) is that there's a tie for second most admired man: Pope Frances and billionaire GOP Presidential front runner Donald … [Read more...] about Gallup Poll: Clinton Most Admired Woman for Record 20th Time
Trump’s Outrageous Statements Distract From Flaws In Other Candidates of Both Parties
One of the many problems with Donald Trump’s outrageous statements (undoubtedly made more to attract attention and support from a certain segment of the Republican Party than out of conviction) is that it might be making people fail to realize that many other candidates running also have positions which in a normal year might disqualify them from serious consideration. This is … [Read more...] about Trump’s Outrageous Statements Distract From Flaws In Other Candidates of Both Parties
Global Warming- Are We Out of the Woods?
The Earth warmed more in the last three decades of the 20th century than in the previous 1400 years with rising temperatures accelerating at the start of the 21st century. Human activity has been mainly responsible. Changes in weather patterns, areas of drought, and heightened ocean levels can all be anticipated as atmospheric warming increases further. This will result in … [Read more...] about Global Warming- Are We Out of the Woods?
‘STAR WAR: THE FORCE AWAKENS’ FILM REVIEW (NO SPOILERS)
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Film Review) Cinema of Change at its Best by Robert Rippberger There is no other film that has made more of an indelible mark on history and pop culture than Star Wars. In its most recent installment, ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens,’ the franchise succeeds stronger than ever in captivating now a third generation of moviegoers. Captained by … [Read more...] about ‘STAR WAR: THE FORCE AWAKENS’ FILM REVIEW (NO SPOILERS)
Answer to Trivia Question
In his blog post of 12/21/15, this writer asks the following trivia question: In an episode of a long-running American TV show, one of the main characters claims to have given up atheism for Lent. Can you name that TV character? (By “long-running” the author means that the show lasted for at least ten seasons.) Click here to see who that TV character is. … [Read more...] about Answer to Trivia Question
Why 2015 was the year that changed TV forever
Amanda Lotz, University of Michigan "The end of television" is a headline that's been liberally thrown around for the past 15 years. Indeed, the past year saw audiences becoming more and more amenable to adopting new ways to watch TV shows, with live audiences for broadcast and cable programs declining sharply. Even entities like ESPN –… … [Read more...] about Why 2015 was the year that changed TV forever
A Mini-Psychological Portrait of Donald Trump (Guest Voice)
A Mini-Psychological Portrait of Donald Trump by Jordan Cooper Donald Trump was sent to a military school in his childhood because he wasn't being accepted and couldn't come into agreement with his classmates, schoolmates, and teachers. Donald Trump didn't get accepted to an Ivy League school, upon his graduation from high school, even though he came from a very wealthy … [Read more...] about A Mini-Psychological Portrait of Donald Trump (Guest Voice)
Bernie Sanders’ lessons for capitalists
WASHINGTON -- There is an irony to the presidential candidacy of Bernie Sanders: The senator from Vermont is often cast as exotic because he calls himself a "democratic socialist." Yet the most important issue in politics throughout the Western democracies is whether the economic and social world that social democrats built can survive the coming decades. Let's deal … [Read more...] about Bernie Sanders’ lessons for capitalists
SciFi Weekend: Star Wars, The Force Awakens; Doctor Who, The Husbands of River Song
The Force Awakens was the sequel to Star Wars we were looking for after the original trilogy. While J.J. Abrams has never understood Star Trek, he is a perfect fit for a franchise such as Star Wars which centers more on action and mythology than the type of ideas which characterize Star Trek when done well. Rather than rejecting parts of of the original as with Star Trek, J.J. … [Read more...] about SciFi Weekend: Star Wars, The Force Awakens; Doctor Who, The Husbands of River Song
Half a million kids survived Romania’s ‘slaughterhouses of souls.’ Will they ever heal?
BUCHAREST, Romania — Daniel Rucareanu remembers clearly when his best friend at the orphanage, Florin, slapped him. The night supervisor in the boys’ communist Romanian orphanage caught the fifth graders fighting in their dorm room. As punishment he ordered them to hit each other. Daniel was first. He hesitated and, in the end, barely touched Florin.… … [Read more...] about Half a million kids survived Romania’s ‘slaughterhouses of souls.’ Will they ever heal?
NFL Catch
https://politicalgraffiti.wordpress.com/2015/12/27/nfl-catch/ Copyright 2015 David Donar. All rights reserved.Copyright Donar, Political Graffiti … [Read more...] about NFL Catch
Sen. Sanders’ Broad Appeal to Populism
I wouldn't be the first to say that populism is a very complex thing. Just because the rules the game are rigged, doesn't mean those deprived of a fair chance will agree about who is to blame. Sometimes things get truly confusing when both seething radical conservatives and vocal leftist activists agree that something is rotten before marching off in very different … [Read more...] about Sen. Sanders’ Broad Appeal to Populism
#MediaResolutions (Guest Voice)
#MediaResolutions By Peter Funt My personal New Year's resolutions are usually epic fails, so this year I'm making a dozen resolutions for the media, starting with... 1. No more "Breaking News." This resolution is especially important if you work at a cable news channel where the term has lost whatever smidgen of relevance it once had, and is now indistinguishable from … [Read more...] about #MediaResolutions (Guest Voice)
Star Wars Poised to Hit Record for Fastest Film to Reach $1B
Walt Disney Company's (NYSE:DIS) " Star Wars: The Force Awakens" is poised to hit the record to become the fastest film to reach a worldwide ticket sales of $1 billion. Star Wars: The Force Awakens opened in some international markets on December 18 and in theaters across the United States on December 18. Since its debut,… … [Read more...] about Star Wars Poised to Hit Record for Fastest Film to Reach $1B
Cartoon: Concussion
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: Concussion
Hillary Clinton: target of gutter politics, sexism and Clinton Derangement Syndrome?
Before there was Bush Derangement Syndrome and Obama Derangement Syndrome there was Clinton Derangement Syndrome -- which thrives today among many when it comes to Hillary Clinton. She has her supporters, and then those who disagree with some of her positions, or those who are perhaps not enamored of her personality. But to those who aren't red-faced sufferers of outright … [Read more...] about Hillary Clinton: target of gutter politics, sexism and Clinton Derangement Syndrome?
Top Syrian rebel leader killed in air strike in Damascus suburb
By Suleiman Al-Khalidi BEIRUT (Reuters) - A top Syrian rebel leader and head of the most powerful insurgent group in the eastern suburbs of Damascus was killed in an aerial raid that targeted the group's headquarters, rebel sources and the Syrian army said on Friday. The death of Zahran Alloush, 44, head of Jaysh al Islam, is a big blow to rebel control of the rural … [Read more...] about Top Syrian rebel leader killed in air strike in Damascus suburb
This Jew embraces the Christmas birth of hope
Even if we don’t formally celebrate Christmas, we in the Jewish community need honor and venerate its true meaning and implication. Though this December holiday season has been too often co-opted by commercial anxiety and undeniable stress, we recognize the feelings of hope and serenity that are at last realized now in so many homes. We join in the sense of family reunion, … [Read more...] about This Jew embraces the Christmas birth of hope
iDigitalTimes’ Top 10 Movies of 2015
In a year where there is no clear, or typical, front runner for The Acadamy Award for Best Picture, there seems to be nearly a dozen movies in consideration. When the iDigi staff started to comb through the movies we saw this year, we initially thought we had the same problem. While our opinions varied widely… … [Read more...] about iDigitalTimes’ Top 10 Movies of 2015
Christmas
Well Christmas is over. I spent it this year with my younger brother who now lives with me, better than the previous 2 years when I spent it alone, When I was growing up Christmas was a huge family extravaganza. Dozens of relatives and much joy. I didn't even hear from my sister today although I did hear from a cousin and an old friend who is Jewish. When I worked for the … [Read more...] about Christmas