"I would like to speak briefly and simply about a serious national condition. It is a national feeling of fear and frustration that could result in national suicide and the end of everything that we Americans hold dear.... I speak as briefly as possible because too much harm has already been done with irresponsible words of bitterness and selfish political opportunism. I … [Read more...] about Words of wisdom
Gawker To Staff: Be Nice Or Leave
Gawker Media is offering severance pay to any employees unwilling to submit to a more gentle editorial tone, according to a leaked memo from company President Heather Dietrick obtained by International Business Times. "[W]e'll be offering severance to those who do not wish to continue at the company under a modified version of the editorial vision,"… … [Read more...] about Gawker To Staff: Be Nice Or Leave
Book Review: “Review: Vampire Over London: Bela Lugosi in Britain
Review: Vampire Over London: Bela Lugosi in Britain Review by Doug Gibson Fifteen years ago, Frank J. Dello Stritto and Andi Brooks published "Vampire Over London: Bela Lugosi in Britain." The book was unique in that it broke new ground in the history of an iconic actor, Bela Lugosi, who even then had a career that had been well analyzed. "Vampire Over London" erased a myth … [Read more...] about Book Review: “Review: Vampire Over London: Bela Lugosi in Britain
Fracking, gas money and the message in media headlines
by MARK LICHTY On June 5, the Pocono Record carried a story with the headline, “Fracking Can be Done Safely, EPA says.” That headline is at best misleading. It gives the impression that it is being done safely, which in many cases is not true. The study did conclude that wells were being contaminated by fracking, which until this point the EPA had been denying. The … [Read more...] about Fracking, gas money and the message in media headlines
Lafayette shooting renews debate on movie theater security
Moviegoer Melissa Holt took in a screening of the animated film "Minions" at the ArcLight Cinemas in Hollywood on Friday with little worry about her safety. But the day after the deadly shooting at a movie theater in Lafayette, La., Holt said she'd be OK with additional security measures at multiplexes. "If that's something they need… … [Read more...] about Lafayette shooting renews debate on movie theater security
Trump: Rising From the GOP’s Ashes (Guest Voice)
Trump: Rising From the GOP's Ashes By Tina Dupuy There's no shortage of publicity maestro, name-emblazer Donald Trump think pieces on the Internet these days. Most will attribute his straight talk to his more-than-likely-fleeting frontrunner status. Others point to some anger or racism the Trump Brand Name has tapped into. The rest? Apologists or denouncers. But all seem to … [Read more...] about Trump: Rising From the GOP’s Ashes (Guest Voice)
Turkey joins battle against Islamic State in Syria
BEIRUT — Turkey has long been a reluctant partner in the U.S.-led campaign against Islamic State militants. Since the U.S. first launched airstrikes in Iraq nearly a year ago, leaders in Ankara had refused to join in, and until this week, had barred coalition warplanes from even using Turkish air bases to mount attacks in neighboring… … [Read more...] about Turkey joins battle against Islamic State in Syria
Shale Oil Fracking Boom and Bust
To get the WTI oil price, please enable Javascript. Oil closed at slightly above $48 a barrel on Friday. Now fracking shale oil has been unprofitable for several months but the decline in the price came as a bit of a surprise as this time of year stocks of crude oil should be declining but instead they continue to rise. Oil prices, which began dropping in mid-June when New … [Read more...] about Shale Oil Fracking Boom and Bust
What Should Gun Laws Look Like?
By Kevin Purcell There has been significant movement on some hot button issues over the last five to ten years. Some top leaders in both parties have evolved relatively quickly, as have many/most Americans. I think we can also see significant movement when it comes to updated, common sense guns laws. There is no shortage of comments pages and posts … [Read more...] about What Should Gun Laws Look Like?
Democratic Party Panic
"Hillary Rodham Clinton’s standing is falling among Democrats, and voters view her as less decisive and inspiring than when she launched her presidential campaign just three months ago, according to a new Associated Press-GfK poll." The above quote comes from an analysis of a AP-GfK Poll that was published on July 16th. It isn't the only recent poll that presents bad … [Read more...] about Democratic Party Panic
Who wants odds on the first GOP hopeful to quit?
It's Friday. And while Donald has provided hours of comic relief over the past week, and many weeks before, there is never enough humour to go around, so here's something else that's funny, both in a ha ha and a strange sort of way. Former New York Gov. George Pataki is still running for the GOP presidential nomination. Yeah, I know. I forgot too. Not only that, but he … [Read more...] about Who wants odds on the first GOP hopeful to quit?
The Past Through Pictures XV
I did go through a still life period. It didn't last long but it was rewarding. I tilted this one "Gothic pears. And how about some warm apples? 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 Pictures VIII The Past … [Read more...] about The Past Through Pictures XV
A Return To An Economy Of Artisans And Farmers?
There is a very long but very worthwhile read in the Atlantic, A World Without Work. Although outsourcing is given much of the blame for the decline of manufacturing jobs in the United States it''s probably industrial robots that are more responsible. In some cases the are simply more efficient and in other cases, like the circuit boards in the device you are reading this … [Read more...] about A Return To An Economy Of Artisans And Farmers?
Conservative columnist Mona Charin: Trump movement not going anywhere and not good for GOPers
Conservative columnist and author Mona Charin is among some other Republicans who say the Donald Trump movement (and critics do think of it as a movement -- in more than one meaning of the word) a)isn't going anywhere b)doesn't represent the view of many Republicans c)is not going anywhere. Here's a chunk of her piece in RealClearPolitics: Ah, they say, but Republicans are … [Read more...] about Conservative columnist Mona Charin: Trump movement not going anywhere and not good for GOPers
New Trailer Released for Upcoming James Bond Film ‘Spectre’ (VIDEO)
The 24th installment in the James Bond empire is due to hit screens in the U.K. on October 26 and in the U.S. on November 6. Daniel Craig makes his fourth appearance as Bond in Spectre. A new trailer for the film posted on YouTube Tuesday promises a return of the age-old formula of guns, girls,… … [Read more...] about New Trailer Released for Upcoming James Bond Film ‘Spectre’ (VIDEO)
Don’t shrug off Scott Walker
You think the '50's are long gone? Think again. Comparing Scott Walker with fellow Wisconsinite, Joe McCarthy, isn't a stretch. The same dangerous DNA is at work. ... He is not as outrageous as Donald Trump and Sen.Ted Cruz (R-Tex.), but his technique of scapegoating unions for the nation’s ills is no less demagogic. Sixty-five years ago, another man from Wisconsin … [Read more...] about Don’t shrug off Scott Walker
Pew Research Center Poll: Republican Party’s Favorability Rating Nosedives
Bad news for the GOP: the party's favorability rating is in a nosedive and -- by comparison -- the Democrats are looking better to more voters. Results of a new poll by the respected Pew Research Center: The Republican Party’s image has grown more negative over the first half of this year. Currently, 32% have a favorable impression of the Republican Party, while 60% have … [Read more...] about Pew Research Center Poll: Republican Party’s Favorability Rating Nosedives
World Cartoonists Look at Donald Trump (Cartoon Roundup)
Cartoonists around the world are having fun making some points about Donald Trump and his zooming to the top of the GOP polls. A sampling: See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license these cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about World Cartoonists Look at Donald Trump (Cartoon Roundup)
Gunman opens fire in Louisiana movie theater: three dead, seven injured
Update as of 12:09 a.m. EDT: Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal arrived at a hospital where victims of the Lafayette movie theatre shooting are being treated, according to local reports. Jindal called for prayers for the families of those killed in Thursday shooting. "This is an awful night for Lafayette. This is an awful night for Louisiana.… … [Read more...] about Gunman opens fire in Louisiana movie theater: three dead, seven injured
Trump has the GOP establishment’s number
WASHINGTON -- The problems that bother us most are the ones we bring on ourselves. This is why Republicans are so out of sorts with Donald Trump. The party created the rough beast it is now trying to slay. When Trump gave out Lindsey Graham's cellphone number on Tuesday at an event in the South Carolina senator's home state, he did it to show he wasn't backing down … [Read more...] about Trump has the GOP establishment’s number