Thomas Edison had many good ideas. The talking doll was not one of them. Despite his hard work, creepy-looking dolls with tiny phonographs inside of them did not become a success when they were introduced to the public in 1890. According to Mental Floss, Old Thomas sold only 500 and lost a large sum of money.… … [Read more...] about Thomas Edison’s talking dolls will ruin your day
Jeb Bush
Jeb Bush has always been marketed as the "smarter brother." Although I'll admit that is a rather low bar I could never see it. My first real impressions of Jeb Bush came when he was still the governor of Florida. I'm thinking of course of the Terri Shiavo debacle. The efforts to keep her mindless body alive was opposed by a vast majority of Americans including … [Read more...] about Jeb Bush
David Cameron’s wizardry
WASHINGTON -- Prime Minister David Cameron's surprising success in winning an outright majority of seats in Britain's Parliament is the result of a paradox: The center in Britain held and flew apart at the same time. Neither the polls nor the pundits predicted the extent of Cameron's triumph in Thursday's voting. While they have something to answer for, their … [Read more...] about David Cameron’s wizardry
Dick Cheney Announces Run for President, Promises Minimum of Two Wars (Guest Voice)
JACKSON, W.Y. (The Nil Admirari): Former Vice President Dick Cheney announced today he was running for president and hoped to be the Republican nominee. Cheney said his presidency would strive "to complete the important work started by President George W. Bush and repair the damage President Obama has done." "George W. Bush was always selfishly getting in the way of my goals … [Read more...] about Dick Cheney Announces Run for President, Promises Minimum of Two Wars (Guest Voice)
Is Hillary Clinton ready to defend herself against the inevitable social media onslaught?
Dylan Byers is saying what a lot of people are saying, which is that this presidential election is Hillary Clinton's to lose. He does some compelling Electoral College math suggesting an extremely strong starting position for Mrs. Clinton as he notes the difficulty Republicans will have "shifting the map" given how poorly some of the GOP's entrenched positions play in states … [Read more...] about Is Hillary Clinton ready to defend herself against the inevitable social media onslaught?
Mark Halperin’s Interview with Ted Cuz: so Halperin determines who is “really” sufficiently Cuban or Hispanic? UPDATED
Department of WOW. I never thought I'd be writing a defense of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who just had an interview with perhaps respected-too-much journalist Mark Halperin of Bloomberg News. I can visualize my journalism profs at the Medill School of Journalism raising both eyebrows if I had asked a Hispanic officeholder the questions Halperin asked of Cruz, as detailed by Ruben … [Read more...] about Mark Halperin’s Interview with Ted Cuz: so Halperin determines who is “really” sufficiently Cuban or Hispanic? UPDATED
SciFi Weekend: Finales Including Last Man on Earth & Gotham; Marvel and DC News; New Shows, Returning Shows, And Cancellations
The Last Man on Earth started out strong (my initial review here) but it was apparent in the early episodes that the story would have to evolve over time. The initial stories with just Will Forte (Phil), and even those with the edition of Kristen Schaal (Carol), could not go on for very long. Unfortunately the series got bogged down way too long with a variation on a simple … [Read more...] about SciFi Weekend: Finales Including Last Man on Earth & Gotham; Marvel and DC News; New Shows, Returning Shows, And Cancellations
Jeb Bush Rounds Out His Team (Updated)
[icopyright one button toolbar] Update: In an interview on Fox News’ "The Kelly File" to be aired Monday, May 11, Jeb Bush once again narrows the gap between him and his brother George W. Bush. Jeb Bush says that he would have authorized the 2003 invasion of Iraq and rushes to add, “and so would have Hillary Clinton, just to remind everybody.” That should clear the … [Read more...] about Jeb Bush Rounds Out His Team (Updated)
Study: Bullying by peers has effects later in life
Yes, bullying matters and stopping it matters. A new study shows it has effects in later years: Bullying can be defined by many things. It's teasing, name-calling, stereotyping, fighting, exclusion, spreading rumors, public shaming and aggressive intimidation. It can be in person and online. But it can no longer be considered a rite of passage that strengthens character, … [Read more...] about Study: Bullying by peers has effects later in life
A Motherless Mother’s Day
A Motherless Mother's Day By Christine Flowers "Orphan" is a very empty word. It conjures up images of loss, of being rootless, of unwanted and untenable liberty. When I think of "Orphan," I think of something flying around in the great human universe, searching for its home. Today, I'm an orphan. That sounds silly, given the fact that I've been able to vote for over … [Read more...] about A Motherless Mother’s Day
Happy Mothers Day Helen Gandelman
OH SHE IS MISSED BUT WE ARE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE HAD HER AS A MOTHER AND AS A FRIEND: Happy Mother's Day, Helen Gandelman. WOW: your kids, relatives and all who knew you were so lucky to have come in contact with you, with your pizzazz, wonderful humor and incredible caring spirit. And YES it is true: parents can achieve immortality when they're really more enduring than … [Read more...] about Happy Mothers Day Helen Gandelman
8 ‘Mad Men’ Series Finale Theories
AMC's hit series Mad Men is coming to an end after seven seasons. With the series finale only a few weeks away, the show is winding down and fan speculation of what will happen is only getting more intense. Prior to the final stretch, it was revealed that the finale will focus on the six original… … [Read more...] about 8 ‘Mad Men’ Series Finale Theories
A Mother’s Day Picture
My late mother lived for her garden and flowers. She especially loved her collection of Iris. This one is striking because of it's lack of color. … [Read more...] about A Mother’s Day Picture
Cartoon: Mother’s 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: Mother’s Day
Humans Have Been Eating This GMO Food For 8,000 Years
The terms “natural” and GMOs should never sit side-by-side when describing a food product — at least according to anti-GMO advocates. But a new study brings to our attention that a few truly natural GMOs — crops whose genomes were naturally altered through bacteria — exist. And one of them is a very common vegetable: the… … [Read more...] about Humans Have Been Eating This GMO Food For 8,000 Years
GOP Populism?
Ed Kilgore explores what may seem like a contradiction in terms--Republican populism--on Talking Points Memo. What’s been missing for a good long while in the GOP is any serious effort to do what Nixon did: make Republican economic policies working-class-friendly. But now, as Democrats have more or less in concert decided to struggle towards a “populist” economic message that … [Read more...] about GOP Populism?
Treasure We Could Give To Others on Mother’s Day
Dear Brave Souls: SOME WAYS TO SEE MOTHER'S DAY In the United States, it is Mother's Day. It is a time that began long ago to recognize women who are mothers. Over time, it is clear to me that the designated day is to remember those 'mothers' who have walked with... mothers who walked with their own and others' children, family members, parents, village and tribal … [Read more...] about Treasure We Could Give To Others on Mother’s Day
Will Character Attacks on Hillary Work?
[icopyright one button toolbar] Although Jeff Greenfield at the Daily Beast frames it more definitively --"Why Character Attacks on Hillary Won’t Work" -- and gives reasons for saying so, I see it more as a question, “Will Character Attacks on Hillary Work?” Greenfield poses that if you’re Martin O’Malley, or one of the other Democrats pondering a race against Hillary … [Read more...] about Will Character Attacks on Hillary Work?
Mother’s Day 2015 – Who Are ‘Military Moms’?
[icopyright one button toolbar] When I was in the military and my wife became a Mom, I considered her to be a “military Mom.” She had to put up with separations and absences, suffer through innumerable relocations, share in the rigors and demands of military life and endure many other hardships and frustrations. But that is nothing compared to the “other” military … [Read more...] about Mother’s Day 2015 – Who Are ‘Military Moms’?
A Different Kind Of Mother’s Day
Every few years my birthday falls on Mother's Day. This used to be an occasion of great celebration. This is one of those years when my birthday coincides with Mother's Day but since my mother passed away two and a half years ago this one will be very different. For one thing I will spend it alone. The only relative I have in the area is a cousin and she will be spending … [Read more...] about A Different Kind Of Mother’s Day