Amid numerous allegations of sexual misconduct by Bill Cosby, the Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art has said it will post a sign Wednesday at an exhibition featuring works from the comedian's collection, reported the Associated Press. The sign will clarify that the exhibition is concerned with the art and isn't a tribute to Cosby. The… … [Read more...] about Smithsonian Art Museum To Post Sign About Bill Cosby
The National Anthem
Thursday June 4, 2015, my co-worker was listening to the first game of the NBA Championship. When I heard the announcement that the National Anthem was about to be sung, I walked closer to the radio. As the first notes were played, I placed my hand over my heart. My co-worker saw me and he, too, placed his hand over his heart. We stood silently, hands on our hearts, … [Read more...] about The National Anthem
(Update – More Photos) A Photo of Pluto ‘Worth Sharing’
Update 2: NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft has sent back the first close-up images of Pluto and its largest moon, Charon. Enjoy: All photos, captions and graphic: NASA New close-up images of a region near Pluto’s equator reveal a giant surprise -- a range of youthful mountains rising as high as 11,000 feet (3,500 meters) above the surface of the icy … [Read more...] about (Update – More Photos) A Photo of Pluto ‘Worth Sharing’
Driverless Cars Will Send U.S. Cities Scrambling for Revenue
Before we know it, self-driving cars will be everywhere. Once the stuff of science fiction, we’ll soon be seeing people asleep at the wheel. Or maybe there won’t be a wheel at all, and we’ll be free to climb into the back seat to sneak in some more sleep on the way to work. Or finish reading the paper. Or just take in the scenery, for once. While Google used to be the only … [Read more...] about Driverless Cars Will Send U.S. Cities Scrambling for Revenue
Donald Trump Praising Barack Obama (2009-10) And David Letterman Mocking Trump
“I would hire him. He’s handled the tremendous mess he walked into very well. He still has a daunting task ahead of him but he appears to be equal to the challenge. He has kept his eye on both national and international issues and his visits to foreign countries have shown him to be warmly received, which is certainly a change from the last Administration.” --Donald Trump in … [Read more...] about Donald Trump Praising Barack Obama (2009-10) And David Letterman Mocking Trump
Congress Versus Circus
If you've ever wondered what is the difference between Congress and a circus, then have we got a story for you. The following satire is a whimsical look at American politics from the viewpoint of a being from another planet. Readers are advised to not be eating or drinking anything while reading this post. Readers are also advised to hide their cats ... just in … [Read more...] about Congress Versus Circus
Scott Walker’s Delusion
Scott Walker's Delusion By Dick Polman When I heard the news about the nuclear deal with Iran, I decided to seek out the sage wisdom of Scott Walker. Because surely, with his vast national security experience - fighting unionized workers, lobbying for a Milwaukee Bucks arena, running a state that ranks 38th in the nation in job creation - he would know what's best for … [Read more...] about Scott Walker’s Delusion
Congo looks to insect farming in fight against hunger
By Aaron RossKINSHASA (Reuters) - There is no shortage of protein in Kinshasa's Gambela Market, from cows to antelope and snakes. But it is the blue and silver bowls brimming with twitching crickets, termites and slithering mealworms that do the briskest trade.Experts hope that the love of edible insects in Democratic Republic of Congo may hold the key to tackling widespread … [Read more...] about Congo looks to insect farming in fight against hunger
Iran nuke deal depends on most intrusive inspection system ever
WASHINGTON — The success of the historic accord reached Tuesday to prevent Iran from using its nuclear program to secretly build weapons will hinge on the most intrusive international monitoring system ever devised by the U.N. nuclear watchdog to detect cheating. Designed to scrutinize every part of Tehran's program, the system will rely on scores of… … [Read more...] about Iran nuke deal depends on most intrusive inspection system ever
The Past Through Pictures X
There are times that you plan your photos but sometimes it's just a mater of being at the right place at the right time with the right lens on your camera. And another: The list of links to past posts is getting a bit long so I will put up a link to the last post in the European series and you can find other links at the bottom of that post. The Path Through … [Read more...] about The Past Through Pictures X
Could there be hope for Martin O’Malley?
Anything can happen in politics. We've all seen improbable outcomes. Though pundits will sometimes deny this, it is usually unwise to suggest there is, in an absolute sense, no hope once a candidate decides to jump in. And, no, I'm not talking about Donald Trump and the embarrassment his current small degree of success is causing for anyone with a conscience nor how so many of … [Read more...] about Could there be hope for Martin O’Malley?
Iran nuclear deal is high risk but seems unavoidable – Part 1 of 2
Today’s nuclear deal with Iran could be inimical for Israel but seems unavoidable, given the growing military and political instability in the Middle East. Secretary of State John Kerry has won a good deal but its critics are also correct when they say that Iran will be free to do whatever it likes after 15 -20 years. Its armament in both nuclear and conventional weapons … [Read more...] about Iran nuclear deal is high risk but seems unavoidable – Part 1 of 2
Iran nuclear deal is high risk but seems unavoidable – Part 2 of 2
At this time of high risk in the region, the deal with Iran even if shaky seems unavoidable. It offers the only available opportunity to improve the terrain for US-led moves to promote regional stability for America’s sake and that of Israel and other allies. Failure to win signatures in Vienna would have sent a resentful Iran sulking into new conspiratorial huddles … [Read more...] about Iran nuclear deal is high risk but seems unavoidable – Part 2 of 2
Military Weekend (Update)
Update: In response to and in honor of a U.S. Air Force wife who attended more air shows “than fields got dandelions,” I added a photo of the U.S. Air Force’s flight demonstration team, the Thunderbirds, at the end of this post. Well, the U.S. Navy has a “pretty good” flight demonstration team, too, the Blue Angels. They fly sleek McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornets, … [Read more...] about Military Weekend (Update)
Hillary Clinton Tries To Sound Like Sanders & O’Malley While Avoiding Specifics
Hillary Clinton’s big economic speech has mostly been greeted with yawns. Previously the conventional wisdom was that Hillary Clinton was one of Wall Street’s favorite candidates, and her speech has not changed this. She did include a number of points which sounded good, but lacked any specifics to make a convincing case that she would really bring about any changes. Politico … [Read more...] about Hillary Clinton Tries To Sound Like Sanders & O’Malley While Avoiding Specifics
Hooked on Histrionics
The past four weeks have been an exciting time for anyone who enjoys watching others flip out. The shrill screeds that have been presented have been quite entertaining. They are enough to make one sit back with a bowl of popcorn and enjoy the show. The current fuss about artifacts of the old Confederacy is silly, so silly that not even John Cleese would walk this … [Read more...] about Hooked on Histrionics
Ah, equal rights, we are moving closer…
Thursday June 25 and Friday June 26, 2015 were good days, actually great days, for equal rights. On Thursday, The Supreme Court upheld, for the second time, that the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, is constitutional. The decision means that everyone must have equal access to healthcare, not just the well-off and well-paid. While not a perfect system, the ACA has … [Read more...] about Ah, equal rights, we are moving closer…
GOP begins to panic
The steady, boring, always-get-it-right political analysts are now predicting Republican failure in 2016 -- a year that should belong to the GOP. As Greg Sargent reports in the Washington Post, 2016 is shaping up as "brutal" for the right. It's all about the major change in demographics: America is no longer majority "white." In 1980, when nonwhite voters were … [Read more...] about GOP begins to panic
Politix Update: Please Don’t Throw Us In The Briar Patch, Mister Trump!
Every political news story has a narrative arc: Initial reports followed by subsequent reports followed by what-it-all-means analyses followed, sooner or later, by diminished interest and then inevitable flame out, often only a few days after the story broke. That was the likely course following Donald Trump's announcement on June 16 that he was running for president. … [Read more...] about Politix Update: Please Don’t Throw Us In The Briar Patch, Mister Trump!
Cuddling With Your Pet Chicken Will Make You Sick
Of the nearly 200 Salmonella poisoning cases that have been reported throughout the U.S. by June 29, an alarming 86 percent have been linked to direct contact with live chickens and other poultry. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that the public avoid contact with chickens to prevent this outbreak from spreading, for… … [Read more...] about Cuddling With Your Pet Chicken Will Make You Sick