What most people don't realize is that lawns were originally a status symbol. Having a lawn meant you affluent enough that you didn't have to use every square inch of your real estate to grow food. Lawns have become a big part of both the urban and suburban landscape. But few really like the maintenance they require. A recent essay by an Ohio woman who refuses to mow her … [Read more...] about Lawns
Lawns
A Beloved TV Character Grossly Misunderstood
Master Sergeant Hans Schultz of the old TV show "Hogan's Heroes" is many things, but a Nazi isn't one of them. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . In one of his previous posts, this … [Read more...] about A Beloved TV Character Grossly Misunderstood
“Women Betrayed” Rally
"I support the rights of women, but I don’t think that means we should be required to secure our liberation from the blood of our children." . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The above-quoted statement was made by a female participant in the "Women Betrayed" rally that took place in Washington, D.C. on July 28, 2015. It was … [Read more...] about “Women Betrayed” Rally
Liberty Enlightening The World
She arrived in New York harbor 130 years on June 17, 1885. A gift from the citizens of France to the citizens of the United States. She came in pieces and had to be assembled. She was named "Liberty Enlightening the World" by her creator, Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi. At her dedication ceremony on October 28, 1886, President Grover Cleveland said, "We will not forget that … [Read more...] about Liberty Enlightening The World
Buses or Boxcars? Trump’s Scary Deportation Plan (Guest Voice)
Buses or Boxcars? Trump’s Scary Deportation Plan by Chris Jennewein Weeks of over-the-top comments from Presidential hopeful Donald Trump have numbed us to what may be his most outrageous—and truly scary—remark. In an interview with CNN last week, he said America should deport all 11 million undocumented immigrants then let the “good ones” back in, but without an … [Read more...] about Buses or Boxcars? Trump’s Scary Deportation Plan (Guest Voice)
Poll: Latinos REALLY dislike Donald Trump
What's the phrase? "In your dreams..." Donald Trumps contention that if he gets the GOP Presidential nomination he'll get the Hispanic vote just begs for that phrase. He's gone down so far in the polls with Latinos it's clear the GOP would face a major route (unless some Republican-governed states' efforts to keep Latino and other voters from the polls worked) if he's the … [Read more...] about Poll: Latinos REALLY dislike Donald Trump
And the Winner IS…
The first of many televised presidential forums occurred last night without The Donald but featured most of the other candidates for the Republican nomination. Most of them held their own and a few of them answered their questions intelligently. According to the Bloomberg Politics National Poll, Trump still trumps the field by 11 points. The stakes at Thursday's debate for … [Read more...] about And the Winner IS…
Cartoon: Cecil the Lion
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: Cecil the Lion
The struggle against Republican efforts to restrict voting
It's been going on for years -- decades -- and the Republican party continues to work, too often successfully and with the support of an embarrassing Supreme Court majority, to put barriers between eligible voters and the voting booth. The state-level action also comes amid a renewed push in Congress—mainly by Democrats—to reauthorize the Voting Rights Act and respond … [Read more...] about The struggle against Republican efforts to restrict voting
Cartoon: Outrage of the Day
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: Outrage of the Day
Major U.S. Airlines End Trophy Hunter Shipments after Cecil the Lion Outcry
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Three U.S. airlines have banned the transport of lion, leopard, elephant, rhino or buffalo killed by trophy hunters, in the latest fallout from the killing of Zimbabwe's Cecil the lion last month.American Airlines said on Tuesday it would join Delta Airlines and United Airlines in banning the transport of animals known in Africa as the "big five", coined by … [Read more...] about Major U.S. Airlines End Trophy Hunter Shipments after Cecil the Lion Outcry
(UPDATE) How Can Republican Voters Really Trust their Presidential Candidates?
Update: The background to this satire piece was Gov. Scott Walker’s (repeated) refusal to say whether he thinks president Obama is a Christian. Most recently, according to Time magazine: As someone who is a believer myself, I don’t presume to know someone’s beliefs about whether they follow Christ or not, unless I’ve actually talked with him… Now, all satire … [Read more...] about (UPDATE) How Can Republican Voters Really Trust their Presidential Candidates?
Fiscal Conservative?
Now I must admit I've always seen Scott Walker as a slimy Koch brothers sock puppet. He tries to pass himself off as a fiscal conservative. But in his personal life not so much, Scott Walker Is Paying 27.24 Percent Interest on $10,000-Plus in Credit-Card Debt. The Republican presidential candidate has cast himself as both a fiscal conservative leader and a penny-pinching … [Read more...] about Fiscal Conservative?
GOP Effort To Defund Planned Parenthood Fails
WASHINGTON -- An effort to revoke federal funding for Planned Parenthood in the wake of controversial videos taken inside the organization failed to clear a procedural hurdle in the Senate. Democrats successfully blocked the legislation with a 53 to 46 vote; 60 votes were needed to advance the legislation in the chamber. The bill, authored by… … [Read more...] about GOP Effort To Defund Planned Parenthood Fails
Finding Neverland
As a 69 year old male I hate movies that make me cry. I watched one of those movies tonight, Finding Neverland. It is the story of James Barrie who created the classic Peter Pan. It stared Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet and was a wonderful movie in spite of being a real tear jerker at the end. I recommend it although have lots of tissues close at hand. … [Read more...] about Finding Neverland
The DNC’s Sergeant Schultz
Debbie Wasserman Schultz doesn't seem to know the answer to an important question about her own party. Here is an excerpt from the transcript of the 08/02/15 edition of Meet The Press. If Reince Priebus were to refuse to answer an important question about the GOP asked by journalists, then he would be raked over the coals by Democratic pundits. It remains to be seen … [Read more...] about The DNC’s Sergeant Schultz
Trump is Upping the Ante on Crazy
Josh Marshall breaks down Donald Trump's redefinition of crazy on Talking Points Memo. Several days ago, perennial presidential candidate Mike Huckabee charged that President Obama was ready to lead Israeli Jews "to the ovens." A few days later, he said he might use not only the FBI but even the US military to prevent abortions. And around the same time, Ted Cruz called Obama … [Read more...] about Trump is Upping the Ante on Crazy
Keystone Pipeline Irrelevant
Still a lot of talk about the Keystone Pipeline. I see oil today is a $47 a barrel. That is over $30 a barrel less than is required to make the Alberta tar sands economical which is why any new projects have been cancelled and why production at existing projects is slowly being shut down. The result is the Keystone pipeline is now effectively irrelevant. The oil price is not … [Read more...] about Keystone Pipeline Irrelevant
People v. Obama: “No” to the Iran Deal
"There's not a lot of love for the proposed nuclear deal with Iran. Only a bare majority of Democrats support the pact." . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The above-quoted statement was made by Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac … [Read more...] about People v. Obama: “No” to the Iran Deal
The California Wildfires
Once again, Air Force Reservists and Air National Guardsmen are assisting in fighting ongoing wildfires in Northern California. “Nearly 1,100 California Guard soldiers and airmen on a state active-duty status, along with 11 Guard helicopters, are supporting [The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection] and the California Office of Emergency Management at fires in the … [Read more...] about The California Wildfires