The Man Who Fell To Earth - Bowie's 70s Sci-Fi Epic: By Steve D. Stones "The strange thing about television is that it tells you nothing. It shows you everything." - Thomas Newton (David Bowie) David Bowie was truly a unique artist who constantly reinvented himself and perfromed in a range of styles and genres. His theatrical and androgynist appearance made … [Read more...] about The Man Who Fell To Earth – Bowie’s 70s Sci-Fi Epic
A Large Problem for Circuses
By May, there will be no more elephants in the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey circus. The circus management had originally said it would cease using elephants by 2018, but revised its estimate by two years. Management said the cost to retire the elephants to the Ringling Brothers Center for Animal Conservation in Florida is less than it had first anticipated. The 13 Asian … [Read more...] about A Large Problem for Circuses
Why Trump Won’t Be President
David Roberts explains why one-trick pony Donald Trump won't be President on vox.com. One of the best things I've read this year about Trump's appeal is by Josh Marshall. It hearkens back to his (legendary in some circles) 2004 post about "bitch-slap politics." Marshall has wisely abandoned that term, but the concept behind it has never been more relevant. It's about dominance … [Read more...] about Why Trump Won’t Be President
Pope Francis Does It Again
Pope Francis has done it again. He has shown humility and grace in his official capacity as the global leader of the Roman Catholic Church. From Reuters: "Pope Francis asked Protestants and other Christian Churches for forgiveness for past persecution by Catholics as the Vatican announced on Monday he would visit Sweden later in the year to mark the 500th anniversary of the … [Read more...] about Pope Francis Does It Again
Trump v Trump “debate” with Colbert as moderator highlights flip-flops
"If Fox News has no Trump, then I'm all Trump." That's how Stephen Colbert introduced an exclusive presidential debate, Trump v Trump, in his Thursday night show. In case you're still digging out from last weekend's blizzard, this week's installment of the political reality TV show otherwise known as the Republican presidential campaign featured a kindergarten-level spat … [Read more...] about Trump v Trump “debate” with Colbert as moderator highlights flip-flops
Washington Post Editorial Board Spreading Fictions About Bernie Sanders
The Washington Post has carried op-eds both in support of Bernie Sanders and in opposition to him. I looked at a couple of them yesterday. The Post followed this up with an editorial full of right wing attacks on Sanders which were out of touch with reality. Bernie Sanders has responded: At a breakfast with reporters here Thursday that was hosted by Bloomberg Politics, … [Read more...] about Washington Post Editorial Board Spreading Fictions About Bernie Sanders
(Updated) State Department: Clinton E-Mails Contained Top Secret Information
Update: Please scroll down to the bottom to read excerpts from the transcript of State Department spokesman John Kirby’s briefing on this issue. Original Post: In what could spell trouble for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton just three days before the Iowa caucuses, the State Department is saying that seven private Clinton email “chains” will be withheld … [Read more...] about (Updated) State Department: Clinton E-Mails Contained Top Secret Information
International Holocaust Remembrance Day: Still Not Listening?
Wednesday, January 27, was the 71st anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp -- an International Holocaust Remembrance Day. On the 69th anniversary I wrote about how the Dutch Jewish population, including the de Wind family, was immensely and disproportionately affected by the Holocaust. But, I also wrote, that the article was about more: “about … [Read more...] about International Holocaust Remembrance Day: Still Not Listening?
Is the Republican Party fracturing and about to be completely transformed?
This Presidential election cycle has been marked by one constant: how wrong many pundits and analysts have been who've insisted with great certainty that showman-businessman Donald Trump could NEVER get the nomination -- just as many of them (and people in comments on blogs and Facebook) are now insisting he could NEVER be elected. Clearly, they have been wrong and could be … [Read more...] about Is the Republican Party fracturing and about to be completely transformed?
Republican Fox News Debate: With spotlight on and Trump offstage, Cruz fails to shine
DES MOINES, Iowa — Donald Trump's absence left a huge vacuum at the Republican debate Thursday night, and politicians, like nature, abhor a vacuum. That doesn't mean they have what it takes to fill it. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz tried. This could have been a huge moment for him. At center stage by default, he got… … [Read more...] about Republican Fox News Debate: With spotlight on and Trump offstage, Cruz fails to shine
Trump Supporters Have One Trait in Common
Trump Supporters Have One Trait in Common By John L. Micek You've probably heard all sorts of adjectives attached to supporters of GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump. Blue-collar. White. Poor. Under-educated. Angry. Some of those undoubtedly apply. But here's one you probably didn't see coming: Authoritarian. That's the surprise finding of a recent poll by … [Read more...] about Trump Supporters Have One Trait in Common
Cartoon: Kryptonite Kelly
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: Kryptonite Kelly
Trump turns on the theatrics for veterans event
DES MOINES, Iowa — Donald Trump upped the ante on his feud with Fox News on Thursday, counterprogramming his own made-for-television special that aired at the same time as the cable network's Republican debate. While his competitors for the GOP nomination butted heads over policy at an event hall a few miles away, Trump worked a… … [Read more...] about Trump turns on the theatrics for veterans event
Cartoon: Missing Trump
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: Missing Trump
Is Trump Using Our Veterans as Political Props?
Our Managing Editor, Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés, has just posted an interesting piece on the ongoing controversy where GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump is boycotting the GOP presidential debate in favor of “holding his own pro-veterans event during the debate to raise money for veterans.” While, as of this writing, the Wounded Warriors Project has not been contacted … [Read more...] about Is Trump Using Our Veterans as Political Props?
‘Lovesong’ Just Can’t Commit (Sundance Film Festival 2016)
2.5/5 You don’t know true heartbreak until you’ve watched a bad film in the same room as the people who made it. After being dragged through the mud by the movie itself, we sit through a Q&A listening to the filmmakers explain to a packed audience what their mess of a film was intended to be about. We’re treated to an elaboration that’s heartfelt, intelligent, and … [Read more...] about ‘Lovesong’ Just Can’t Commit (Sundance Film Festival 2016)
Taiwan proposes peace road map for South China Sea but disappoints US
By Brij Khindaria Taiwan proposed a road map today for a South China Sea peace initiative as a step towards defusing rising tensions between the US and China, which are locked in a risky tango in the South China Sea. The tensions might result in a limited naval confrontation because Beijing is moving quickly to stake physical ownership over hundreds of islands in the … [Read more...] about Taiwan proposes peace road map for South China Sea but disappoints US
Trump & Wounded Warriors Non-profit: Mired in Months of Ongoing Charges: Huge % of Donations NOT going to Vets
Many opinions: Trump originally repeated that it was 'Wounded Warriors' that he was going to make an event for and give money to, instead of attending the debate-- because he was upset about a woman interviewer from Fox having the ability to question him during the debate. If in fact it is THE Wounded Warriors charity, it could be an example of Trump not choosing wisely, … [Read more...] about Trump & Wounded Warriors Non-profit: Mired in Months of Ongoing Charges: Huge % of Donations NOT going to Vets
At start of campaign, the last gasp of political parties?
WASHINGTON — As the nation begins the process of electing a new president, the roles of the Republican and Democratic parties are undergoing fundamental shifts that are threatening their impact on both elections and policy. Built in the 19th century, grown dominant in the 20th, they are largely out of date in this new age. They… … [Read more...] about At start of campaign, the last gasp of political parties?
Ezra Klein, Hillary Clinton and H.L. Mencken
After reading Ezra Klein's remarks about the "hidden Hillary Clinton", I was reminded of an essay I read in during my senior year in high school. The essay, entitled "The Politician", was written by H.L. Mencken. In his essay, Mr. Mencken describes a political candidate who begins with the intention of telling the truth always, but quickly discovers that being so honest about … [Read more...] about Ezra Klein, Hillary Clinton and H.L. Mencken