Encyclopedia Britannica is turning 250: A history of the handy guide to the world's accumulated knowledge - CBS News

Neat.

The Border Dividing Ireland Has Long Been Invisible. Brexit Threatens to Make It Real. - The New York Times

It is really hard to imagine a solution short of reunification or a new referendum in the UK.

Show 1146: Why You Should Share Your Stories - The People's Pharmacy

Interesting.

Show 1145: Are Big Corporations Hacking the American Mind? - The People's Pharmacy

Great stuff.

Sun AM

I sure missed the NYT and CBS Sunday Morning yesterday, the first due to bad roads and the second due to opportunistic television stations.

Opinion | The War on Truth Spreads - The New York Times

We cannot afford to let the other side win this war.

What These Medical Journals Don’t Reveal: Top Doctors’ Ties to Industry - The New York Times

Sunshine is the best medecine!

Drugs

This is really bad. 

Rex Tillerson just exposed Donald Trump's greatest weakness - CNNPolitics

What an abysnal picture this confirms.

Foist on the rest of the world, but not in our backyard?

This is atrocious!

Donald Trump Says He's Most Thankful for Himself on Thanksgiving

Each TRUMP day outdoes the previous one in its slide straight down hill.

Chief Justice Defends Judicial Independence After Trump Attacks ‘Obama Judge’ - The New York Times

Thank God.

Trump statement on Saudi crown prince and the killing Jamal Khashoggi - CNNPolitics

It is so embarrassing to be a citizen of the country that elected TRUMP.

Matthew Whitaker's Appointment as Acting Attorney General: Three Lingering Questions - Lawfare

Law can be challenging and critical. This needs to be decided clearly and decisively. It will be a supreme, so to speak, test of our judicial system at this awful time in our country's life.

Macron’s Response to Trump: ‘I Do Not Do Policy or Diplomacy by Tweets’ - The New York Times

The sad part of all this is that the facts no longer speak for themselves, and, worse, far too many ignorant people just don't care. Bravo, once again, for the civility and appropriateness of President MACRON. He reminds us of what US democracy elected two years ago and how unclear is the future of US thinking. How do supporters of TRUMP ever get back to embracing historic US values that President MACRON can articulate better than anyone I have heard speak int eh Republican Party. Or is that the Republic Party?

Trump's Paris trip marked by missed moments -- and a dire warning - CNNPolitics

Excellent summary of a disastrous presidential weekend trip to France.

Document : le discours d’Emmanuel Macron à l’Arc de Triomphe

Bravo!

Yesterday

Three words come to mind in the wake of results from voting yesterday:
-selfishness
-ignorance
-racism
These were yesterday's winners when we look at the big picture results.

TRUMP enforcement

This is very disturbing. 

« Guns in America » la Une incroyable du Time - France 2 - 01-11-2018

We have let down the world.

Opinion | I’m a Child of Immigrants. And I Have a Plan to Fix Immigration. - The New York Times

I find this very compelling.

Guns in America: What 245 Americans Think About the Issue | Time

Alas, I cannot seem to make this work. Looks promising but I cannot say for sure.

‘The Simpsons’ and ‘Bob’s Burgers’ adjust up, ‘Madam Secretary’ and ‘Alec Baldwin Show’ adjust down: Sunday final ratings – TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com

Pretty interesting to see how some millions of Americans watch TV.

Washington Post publisher calls Saudi announcement on Khashoggi a 'coverup' - CNN

Thank God the Washington Post continues to fight for our most important principles.

TRUMP, KAVANAUGH and newspapers

I plan to write about what it is that they all share and why newspapers need to commit to showing us all the importance of facts, investigations, proof, etc. 

Opinion | Hit Pause on Brett Kavanaugh - The New York Times

I agree completely!

In Flood-Hit Public Housing, a Reminder That the Poor Bear Brunt of Storms’ Fury - The New York Times

I hope we can refocus ourselves on more than Florence.

In Flood-Hit Public Housing, a Reminder That the Poor Bear Brunt of Storms’ Fury - The New York Times

Our NC shame.

VIDEO. Les six chiffres qui montrent l'ampleur de la pauvreté en France

So triste.

U.S. Has Highest Share of Foreign-Born Since 1910, With More Coming From Asia - The New York Times

This is making America better!

Opinion | Confirmed: Brett Kavanaugh Can’t Be Trusted - The New York Times

Thank God for The New York Times.

A Black Restaurant Owner Says He Tried Assisting a White Patron in Distress. Police Arrested Him. - The New York Times

There is so much more work to be done. We are so far from where we should be. This sounds inexcusable.

Trump blasts Sessions over indictments of GOP congressmen ahead of midterms - CBS News

We need to ignore these narcissitic nothings, and concentrate on why the rule of law is so important. Let us redouble our efforts to explain how our system works, why, and, above all, why it is so critical to our democracy. And then move our thoughts to the next President, leaving this one in the dustbin of posterity.

More Than 9 in 10 People Breathe Bad Air, W.H.O. Study Says - The New York Times

Where are the 92% and how are we all ranked?

‘Overtourism’ Worries Europe. How Much Did Technology Help Get Us There? - The New York Times

I would never have guessed how much this has grown.

Ron DeSantis Tells Florida Not To 'Monkey This Up' By Electing Andrew Gillum | HuffPost

One can only hope that there is some sense of decency among Florida voters and that this candidate will receive the electoral condemnation he merits.

Add, not remove

I think the answer lies in adding a lot more, not tearing down.

Residents: 12. Average Age: 75. Biggest Challenge: Avoiding Extinction. - The New York Times

Fascinating story.

Opinion | School Choice Is the Enemy of Justice - The New York Times

This whole concept of charter and similar "choices" has always bothered me immensely; I cannot reconcile it with a national commitment to everyone's right to the same educational opportunities.

Trump calls Omarosa a 'dog' in latest attack on ex-aide - CNNPolitics

When will we finally see an organized effort to Dump TRUMP? So far, I have seen just a lot of jaw-boning and no clear action plan. It is a lot more important than D v. R. We need to focus on removing him from office, legally and quickly.

Meeting Registration

This sure seems important.

White House Weighs Another Reduction in Refugees Admitted to U.S. - The New York Times

What will it take for us to remove him, legally, from office? Why are we not trying harder?

Israel Passes Controversial Law Reserving National Self-Determination For Jews : NPR

Why we support such segregation and discrimination is clearr; those who claim that the Israeli lobby has a stranglehold on the US have it just about right, however offensive the actions of this country are.

Who Is Bill Browder, Kremlin Foe Singled Out in Putin’s Offer? - The New York Times

It's tough to imagine a more complex picture emerging.

Nights Are Warming Faster Than Days. Here’s Why That’s Dangerous. - The New York Times

We need to make all this a national crisis that demands a crisis response.

Famous Essayists from France | List of Top French Essayists

Compare with this!

Famous Essayists from the United States | List of Top American Essayists

Interesting list.

NBC News poll: Most want vote on Trump Supreme Court nominee before midterms

Unexpected result (for me). Huge split between Republicans and Democrats help explain it, and reinforces fear about how we govern our country in the years ahead.

How do we fix this?

I think this is a much bigger problem than we are ALL willing to admit.

Opinion | Bigoted and Feckless, the Travel Ban Is Pure Trump - The New York Times

It is not the Supreme Court that is most at fault; the wrongdoers are we, and we need to make democracy work by convinvincing our fellow Americans that there is more right in this editorial than in what TRUMP says and does and that the editorial is what we want the US to be, not what TRUMP opines.

Really troubling

This is wrong on every front except making it public and talking about it.

Parents and children

This is from 4 years ago; I sense we have no well-established policy and the country needs one to deal with children of arrested parents at all levels of government and in all jurisdictions.

https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/07/31/children-left-behind-parents-arrested/13333909/

Some number of people were focused on this back then at least http://www.theiacp.org/model-policy/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2017/07/Safeguarding-Children-of-Arrested-Parents-Final_Web_v3.pdf

I continue to believe that this issue of separating children is really two issues and we seem hopelessly unable to resolve either one – either some agreement on how many people we allow into the country each year and how we regulate that process and the other, what our national policy should be when a parent is arrested and detained for any alleged crime.

A good summary.

Who's watching the kids when parents get arrested?

We need to spend a lot more time on this.

White House rips MSNBC's Joe Scarborough for 'Nazi' comment | Fox News

In France, Joe would wind up getting prosecuted for the Nazi reference. But that is not the point; the point is whether we are treating parents and children fairly under all our laws. The White House guy has a point that is getting missed in all this. Bottom line is that we have to come together on a sane immigration policy and enforcement measures. The real fight is over how many people we welcome to the US each year. Everything is "easy" after we reach agreement on that.

Opinion | Seizing Children From Parents at the Border Is Immoral. Here’s What We Can Do About It. - The New York Times

Why has it taken so long for this sort of pro-activist editorial to appear in the Times? I do not recall seeing this previously.

Next in Irish Voters’ Cross Hairs? A Law Banning Blasphemy - The New York Times

There is hope!

Trump torpedoes G7 effort to ease trade spat, threatens auto tariffs

I still have not seen a clear analysis of this.

Samantha Bee Apologizes for a Slur Against Ivanka Trump - The New York Times

This sure gets complicated, but why not as they say, just clean it up a little. Are that many viewers going to walk away if Samantha stays out of the gutter?

Opinion | Roseanne Barr’s Right to Offend and Our Right to Say No - The New York Times

I think this oversimplifies something far more complex and even more frightening: what we don't know about stupidity and mean people. It is a near-deadly mix.

Democratic Candidate Who Criticized Israel Faces Charges of Anti-Semitism - The New York Times

Israel simply does not merit its perceved status. It is just another country with a murky history.

TRUMP

This is good.

Opinion | John Kelly’s Ancestors Wouldn’t Have Fit In Either - The New York Times

I embrace this fully as well.

Meghan Markle Introduces the British Monarchy to the African-American Experience - The New York Times

Super!

Houston Police Chief Says He Has ‘Hit Rock Bottom’ on Gun Rights Arguments - The New York Times

Why do so many people have such trouble embracing this? I surely do not. It is how I feel.

Gina Haspel Portrays C.I.A. Torture as a Bad Idea in ‘Hindsight’ - The New York Times

She should not be confirmed to lead the CIA. Period. She sets an example of moral depravity for all of us and the rest of the world. Who could want that?

Michigan bookstore collects meaningful messages with a typewriter - NBC News

I love it!

96-Year-Old Secretary Quietly Amasses Fortune, Then Donates $8.2 Million - The New York Times

She deserves lots of emulation!

Opinion | A Cheat Sheet to the Trump Circus - The New York Times

All newspapers should do a lot more of this kind of informing.

Opinion | Michelle Wolf Did What Comedians Are Supposed to Do - The New York Times

Excellent commentary.

The stories behind Craigslist Confessional - CBS News

There is a lot to be said for telling your own story.

Modi Xi

How interesting to compare and contrast relations between MODI and XI and those between TRUMP and PUTIN when it comes to getting elected.

IOP holds reverse town hall on gun control to hear student voices - The Daily Tar Heel

And after this, what's next?

Search | Public Radio International

Irish lighthouse story today well worth finding!

Great environment news!

I sure hope this works out!

Opinion | Trump Seethes, and the Rest of Us Should Tremble - The New York Times

Captures my fears precisely.

Bill Of The Month | Kaiser Health News

This is great!

'HEADLINERS: Robert Mueller' airs Sunday, April 8 on MSNBC | MSNBC

Stunningly well done.

A Billionaire Keeps Pushing to Impeach Trump. Democrats Are Rattled. - The New York Times

I think he is a very positive force, unfortunately needed amidst the timid.

Jamaica: Homes Made from Waste? Entrepreneur Pioneers Climate-Friendly Construction | infoDev

What an opportunity!

Opinion | The Contract With Authoritarianism - The New York Times

Really interesting stuff.

Opinion | The True Damage of Trump’s ‘Fake News’ - The New York Times

It's a travesty.

impeach both trump and pence - Google Search

What a dream-come-true this would be!

Excellence, Explained - 1A

Very impressive.

A majority of Americans are ready to protest. Here's what's got them fired up.

Source of some hope!

Guns | Gallup Historical Trends

Embarrassing on most levels.

Guns, too

Get rid of all gun sales; then I'll be impressed. Not this.

18-year-old charged with attempted murder in shooting at Durham Walmart :: WRAL.com

Too many guns.

John Paul Stevens: Repeal the Second Amendment - The New York Times

I'd like to wear this on a t-shirt! And try to get millions to join me and Justice STEVENS.

Former Supreme Court justice Stevens wants to repeal Second Amendment

I support Justice STEVENS fully.

Martin Luther King's Granddaughter Speaks at March | Time

Why shouldn't this be the focus?

Martin Luther King's Granddaughter Speaks at March | Time: "“I have a dream that enough is enough. And that this should be a gun-free world, period.”"

It is for me!

How American Citizens Are Trapped In Djibouti : NPR

Not my America.

Justice Dept. Proposes Banning Bump Stocks, Setting Aside Its Own Recommendations - The New York Times

They get no points from me on this one. It is the right thing to do but it was the right thing to do ages ago, at least when TRUMP first came to office. Not sure about about OBAMA move; need to study that.

McMaster to Resign as National Security Adviser, and Will Be Replaced by John Bolton - The New York Times

Le pire.

More too little

....too late.

Citigroup Sets Restrictions on Gun Sales by Business Partners - The New York Times

Unimpressively too little.

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch counts 1.8 trillion pieces of trash, mostly plastic

This is one problem we humans can solve if we put our brains and braun to work!

Bigger Is Not Better for Ocean Conservation - The New York Times

Super.

Measuring animal intelligence - CBS News

Go, dogs!

Too, too many guns

How can anyone think otherwise - this from The Trace today:
"Four 1-year-olds were fatally shot in the U.S. in the last week. On March 10, Gabriela Farias, 1, was found shot to death along with her mother in Ocala National Forest in central Florida. Her father was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound and later died. In the early morning hours of March 12, Ja’Mariel Laique Tanksley, 1, was fatally shot during an argument between her babysitter and the woman’s brother in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Later that day in Mobile, Alabama, a 2-year-old boy found a 9mm handgun in his parents’ bedroom and unintentionally killed his 1-year-old brother with it. And on March 14, Laylay Briggs, 1, was shot by her father, who also killed his stepfather, half-brother, and 16-year-old son in a home in Brooklyn, New York. The gunman’s father said Laylay “was so beautiful. She was so loved.”" 

Candor

Very helpful.

Search results | The White House

As expected, nothing on the home page of the White House about Russia on any subject. And then look at these search results. Last mention of Russia more than 6 months ago!

Unbecoming

He certainly is. Aren't we entitled to have a President and a Gentleman in office?

Trump Finds Unlikely Culprit in School Shootings: Obama Discipline Policies - The New York Times

Really bad.

Disgraceful

So much disgrace.

Italy Has Dumped America. For Russia. - The New York Times

Soberingly spot on.

Times Scholarship Winners Excelled Through Adversity - The New York Times

This is a picture of the US as it is and forever should be!

The Daily 202: Trump reversal of elephant trophy ban underscores the need to watch what he does, not what he says - The Washington Post

How did we wind up with a President who teaches us to loathe him more and more each day?

Turn Prisons Into Colleges - The New York Times

This should be a no-brainer! Do it!

Bricklayers Think They’re Safe From Robots. Decide for Yourself. - The New York Times

So much wrapped up in this story!

Big Investors Have Clout. They Can Use It With Gun Makers. - The New York Times

Super!

NC schools reporting fewer crimes, guns and suspensions | News & Observer

Fewer guns, less crime!

Amazon.com : Crosman SNR357 (black/Grey) : Sports & Outdoors

This is awful. Amazon should be ashamed. I am as a shareholder.

Weapons and related items - Amazon Seller Central

I wonder if this could not be even more restrictive?

BlackRock turns up the pressure on gun makers - Mar. 2, 2018

This is mostly excellent news!

There’s an Awful Lot We Still Don’t Know About Guns - The New York Times

To read.

The World Is Embracing S.U.V.s. That’s Bad News for the Climate. - The New York Times

It's all ego and macho driven. We pay the price.

How to Buy a Gun in 15 Countries - The New York Times

Make it harder, period!

In Pictures: Couples Clutching AR-15 Rifles Renew Wedding Vows at Controversial Pennsylvania Church

It does not get more repulsive than this.

The Cruel Ploy of Taking Immigrant Kids From Their Parents - The New York Times

Unconscionable.

A-H

Recall TRUMP's scurrilous characterization of many countries in the developing world. It struck me that the word "a--h---" that he chose to use has a lot of other applications, starting with the idea that good stuff regularly slips through the crack, along with mostly bad. I have not fully grasped exactly how TRUMP fits, so to speak, into that, but I am sure he does. 

Mosquitoes and guns

The current proposals to restrict a few guns, including purchase, is akin to going after a mosquito outbreak with a fly swatter. You may catch a few mosquitoes, but you'll never beat the swarm. So, too, with guns. They are mosquitoes with bullets.

Walmart to Raise Age to Buy Guns and Ammunition to 21 - The New York Times

A start. Stop selling them all.

Walmart to Raise Age to Buy Guns and Ammunition to 21 - The New York Times

A start. Stop selling them all.

Trump Calls Sessions’s Handling of FISA Abuse Allegations ‘Disgraceful’ - The New York Times

Yes, TRUMP, you are just that - DISGRACEFUL.

Dick’s Sporting Goods, Major Gun Retailer, Stops Selling Assault-Style Weapons - The New York Times

A first step on the route to removing ALL guns from their stores!

No Bail Hearings for Detained Immigrants, Justices Rule - The New York Times

My intitial reaction is very negative.

Georgia Republicans Vow to Kill Airline Tax-Cut Bill After Delta Ends N.R.A. Discount - The New York Times

The NRA tentacles are pernicious.

Ivanka Trump: 'I believe my father's denials' of sexual misconduct - BBC News

Inexcusable.

In Age Of Division, Author Says 'It's Better Than It Looks' When You Stick To The Facts : NPR

This looks worthwhile.

Without Policy Consensus, National Gun Control Debate Still Lacks Action : NPR

Doomed, I fear.

These Companies Are Sticking By The NRA (UPDATED) | HuffPost

Let's make it zero!

Doctor Visit Guide - Well Guides - The New York Times

Good!

I’m Glad I Got Booed at CPAC - The New York Times

Impressive lady.

Honoring World War II vets before it's too late - CBS News

This is wonderful!

UNC students join Parkland survivors in the fight to end gun violence - The Daily Tar Heel

Sorry, this turnout is pitiful on a campus with, what, 25,000 students? The commitment of Parkland does not seem to have embraced Chapel Hill for whatever reason.

NRA Boycott: Full List of Companies That Cut Ties With Gun Lobby Over Florida Shooting

I will surely keep this list handy so as to patronize them in thanks for their action!

confirmation bias - Google Search

Central to so much today, from TRUMP on up.

Cute!

Nice piece.

The State Of Current Gun Laws : NPR

Important contribution.

Will more young people support gun control after Parkland? Recent history suggests no. - CNNPolitics

This is surely discouraging.

How Banks Could Control Gun Sales if Washington Won’t - The New York Times

This should not be a subject for debate. Just do it!!!!

Florida teacher pulled students to safety in her classroom amid a 'barrage of bullets'

I just learned that she is a graduate of my high school.

America's gun culture vs. the world in 5 charts - CNN

This continues to astound me.

Gun Violence by the Numbers

Horrid.

UNC students honor Parkland victims, rally against gun violence | News & Observer

This is all BS as the students would say. Action!

Free Speech and the Necessity of Discomfort - The New York Times

Bravo!

Why Americans Could Believe the Worst From Russian Trolls - The New York Times

We can fix it and the job started yesterday and days previous. It is tomorrow's tasks that most need doing, today if we can.

Guns in America

Looking forward to reading this.

Hundreds of Durham high school students walk out of class to demand stronger gun laws | WNCN

Elect better people.

Where the N.R.A. Speaks First and Loudest - The New York Times

Answer awful speech with good speech.

42 U.S. Code § 4321 - Congressional declaration of purpose | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute

How I would start the National Firearms Policy Act, based on the National Environmental Policy Act:

"The purposes of this chapter are: To declare a national policy which will encourage productive and enjoyable harmony between man and firearms; to promote efforts which will prevent or eliminate injuries to people and property and stimulate the health and welfare of man; to enrich the understanding of the risks to health and safety posed by firearms and their misuse; and to establish a Council on Firearms Policy."

I would continue to say the following:

"It is the policy of the United States that firearms are inherently dangerous and should be available only to, and capable of being used by, qualified members of US military forces, national guards, police forces, and private, licensed security personnel. All other uses are discouraged in the interest of protecting national health and safety. Towatrd this end, no person under 21 should be permitted to own, carry, or use in any manner any firearm unless a specfic finding is made in the case of each by a panel of experts."

"Anyone alleged to have owned, carried, or used any firearm in violation of this law shall be subject to exclusive prosecution in federal court."

The Common Good - Kindle edition by Robert B. Reich. Politics & Social Sciences Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

We need a National Firearms Policy Act!

MCCROW

What happened to this site?

Get Out of Facebook and Into the N.R.A.’s Face - The New York Times

Those of us older than most students need to help in any way the strudents want us. Off Facebook and on the street, for example.

After Florida School Shooting, Russian ‘Bot’ Army Pounced - The New York Times

And TRUMP sits on his cheeseburger, oblivious or complicit.

TRUMP the PETULANT

Yes!!!

Technology is the enemy

We need to learn to be grown-ups and not narcisistic nabobs of nothing.

Russian Meddling Was a Drop in an Ocean of American-made Discord - The New York Times

So much work to be done to fix this mess before it fixes us.

Letting American Kids Die - The New York Times

The way it is and we have to change it!

Whatever Trump Is Hiding Is Hurting All of Us Now - The New York Times

Code red it is. FRIEDMAN has it just right, alas. Bull's eye.

Florida students plead with Congress: It’s about the guns - The Washington Post

It surely is about the guns.

Florida students plead with Congress: It’s about the guns - The Washington Post

It surely is about the guns.

What Explains U.S. Mass Shootings? International Comparisons Suggest an Answer - The New York Times

We need to change the course of our aircraft carrier from saluting a perceived inherent right to have a gun to a widely supported policy that only law enforcement should have guns of any kind. Thet requires stupendous leadership and we are tragically not even in sight of that.

Why Does Trump Ignore Top Officials’ Warnings on Russia? - The New York Times

There has to be a better answer to this question.

ms 13 huntington high - Google Search

Yikes, my high school!

Durham’s Best (OK, Only) Rare Tuba Museum Opens to the Public | Arts Feature | Indy Week

I love it! Another piece on this 8/30/16 on Morning Edition NPR.

Trump Mocks ‘Little Adam Schiff’ as House Democrats Push to Release a Rival Memo - The New York Times

There is no point in tossing garbage back at the thrower. Instead, it is a time to thank Rep SCHIFF for his steadfast support of the truth and the American people. That's the right response.

Katie Roiphe on the #MeToo thought police - CBS News

Bravo!

A Democratic Ticket for 2020? - The New York Times

Political egos will be the death of all of us.

'Nas Daily' Creator Trades High-Paying Tech Job For Viral Travel Vlog | Here & Now

Neat.

Rep. Joe Kennedy Discusses The Democratic Agenda Going Forward : NPR

Super impressive performance last night.

Rep. Joe Kennedy Discusses The Democratic Agenda Going Forward : NPR

Super impressive performance last night.

Transcript: Trump’s First State of the Union Speech, Annotated - The New York Times

I hope the Times will continue to flesh this out. It is a good first draft of history, but let's get more of it right.

Museum Told White House: No Van Gogh, but Here’s a Gold Toilet - The New York Times

Parfait!

"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" No Good Reason (TV Episode 2017) - IMDb

Everyone should watch this episode, especially the last 10 minutes.

Save the Children Is Attacked in Afghanistan; ISIS Claims Responsibility - The New York Times

What a grotesque distortion of humanity. These people are sub-human or an entirely different form of life, such as it is.

Undocumented Irish Caught In Trump's Immigration Dragnet : NPR

Laws are laws. Right is right. How do we rationalize this?

Interview: Harold Evans, Author Of 'Do I Make Myself Clear?' : NPR

Good for him!

The Post

After watching The Post today, I began to wonder whether reporters today - and their organizations (or lack thereof) - are working hard enough to dig out facts for us. Take Donald TRUMP's tax returns. Why has no one been able to turn up copies of these? I am sure Special Counsel MUELLER has had no trouble getting them. I think too many reporters, and their paymasters, have gotten really lazy. God forbid they might burn some shoe leather, non?

Our Mission | Urban Sketchers

This would be fun if I could draw!

What Comes After the Media Men List? ‘A Lot of Hard Work’ - The New York Times

Good for her!

2017 Was One of the Hottest Years on Record. And That Was Without El Niño. - The New York Times

The future is getting much scarier.

Rule

I keep thinking of something I heard Jon MEACHAM say not to long ago - something to the effect that we are in the midst of a national experiment in narcissistic rule. Wow. 

Merit

The more I think about it, the more it seems to me that the idea of allowing in only the best and brightest is an awful idea. It is veiled racism and as I have written elsewhere at least elitism in a place where it should not be. 

Sens. Cotton and Perdue are outed for lying on Trump’s behalf - The Washington Post

They ought to resign. There is no place for people like this in the US Senate.

Jimmy Fallon Sings James Taylor-Inspired Trump Parody - Rolling Stone

Love it!

Donald Trump & Immigration: Merit-Based System Is the Solution | National Review

The more I think about merit-based immigration, the more discriminatory it seems. The only fair system is one that does as we are supposed to do in the US treat everyone equally and put all the names in hat. For those who like the merit idea, how would you feel about limiting tourists and other visitors from overseas using the same test? This is its own form of racism or at least elitism.

Dutch Reporters Show How to Keep American Officials Honest - The New York Times

This ought to be on the front page. And reporters need to stick with important questions, and no others, until they get answers.

To: CNN Re: Apples, Bananas and TRUMP

The wonderful CNN promotion on an apple always remaining an apple and can never be a banana ought to be justification for them to do this: Announce publicly that CNN will create an arbitration process to get closer to the truth of who is lying about what President TRUMP may have said at the meeting last week about Haiti, Africa, and elsewhere. The people in the meeting have taken irreconcilable positions on what happened. There was an apple there and other cannot turn it into a banana. So, CNN, announce that you will commission a rapid process to get to the truth. Imagine that. To get there, CNN will name one highly regarded person to be their member of the arbitration panel. Republicans present at the meeting and Democrats present can each nominate two more arbitrators, and the President can nominate a fourth. Each entity can do so, or decline by a deadline of three days. At that point, whoever has been named can meet and select together one more arbitrator. That means a maximum of 5 on the panel. They will be given a week to carry out the arbitration process and to render an opinion on what the President said or did not say. Imagine actually coming as close to the truth as anyone could hope to come on this matter.
With that decision in hand, the rest of us can then turn to convincing the respective houses of Congress to censure and remove whomever turns out to be a liar on this matter, trying to transform fruits and screw with our democratic process.  

To the editor of Le Soleil in Dakar, Senegal

"Cher Monsieur,

Je suis americain. J’habite aux Etats-Unis dans l’etat du Caroline du Nord.

Il y a Presque cinquante ans, j’ai fait ma premiere visite en Afrique et c’etait le Senegal ou je suis arrive premierement.

J’etais immediatement accepte par tous les Senegelais, et j’ai trouve le pays et surtout le people comme les gens spectaculaire dans tous les aspects.

Pendant ma visite, j’ai visite les bureau de Le Soleil parce que en commencant ma carriere a cet epoque, j’avais decide de poursuivre la presse avec la loi. J’ai devenu avocat americain pour la presse americaine et international.

Mais, je vous ecrit a ce moment ma tristesse, parce j’ai un niveau de la honte plus grand que je peux jamais imaginer.

Le President des Etats-Unis a dit aujourd’hui qu’un grand morceau de la population mondiale est simplement les gens au plus bas imaginable.

Je vous ecrit pour dire qu’a ce moment, nous sommes tous Senegelais, Africain, Centre-Americain.

Pour moi, je partage les mauvais mots de notre President avec tous et toutes la-bas, parce que pour moi, c’etait vous ET moi qui etait le cible de ces mots.

Je suis avec vous et pas de tout avec lui.

Nous allons trouver dans notre pays democratique le moyens legaux de remplacer ce President avec quelqu’un d’autre. Nous chercherons les autres qui sont avec vous, avec moi, dans cet effort.

Le moment va revenir quand je peux visiter le Senegal avec un souris sur ma face et fiere de se presenter mon passeport americain a l’entrée.

A ce moment, j’ai seulement ma honte a vous presenter.

Sincerement,
Terry MAGUIRE

Chapel Hill, NC Etats-Unis"

TerryMaguire (@TerryMaguire) | Twitter

Will try to get better at this!

Trump provoque un tollé mondial après ses propos sur les "pays de merde" - Le Point

It really is a tragedy for everyone.

Maybe Trump Is Not Mentally Ill. Maybe He’s Just a Jerk. - The New York Times

So let us get him tested!

Whether Trump used crude language at meeting depends on who is talking

The US is indeed so much better than TRUMP and we need to focus on a really US plan to deprive him of power and the Presidency in the shortest amount of time. Let's all redouble our efforts to show the world than our President serves at the pleasure of the people and compliance with the law. We must make the political process work its will to reduce his power base, seek psychiatric analysis and diagnosis, and move as fast as we possibly can to the next President.

Is Mr. Trump Nuts? - The New York Times

An extremely poorly-reasoned editorial. The point of many psychiatrists is not an assertion that the President is crazy, but rather that he appears unstable enough to cause real harm to us and to him. What I want to know is what a psychiatrist would recommend as a next step if presented with a patient exhibiting all of the actions noted in this editorial. Do a poll of psychiatrists, commissioned byThe New York Times, and then tell us what you learn. Let's get that one done and move wherever THAT might lead us.

Oprah, Don’t Do It - The New York Times

He has been out of the country too long.

Paroles France Gall - Résiste - Paroles.net (clip, musique, traduction)

We lost her today, but not these words that surely need to be sung a lot today in the US.

5 things you need to know to stay healthy and fit

This sounded like good advice.

FRANKEN

I agree with her.

Hawaii and Puerto Rico: Different Paths, Different Economies - Puerto Rico Report

Would like to work more on this.

Tom Brokaw: You Can Find the Entire World Inside Your Hospital - The New York Times

Wonderful piece!

North Carolina Symphony - Meet a Musician

This looks like a nice feature. But where are the ones that have been posted already? Do these musicians simply go away after their moments of fame on the home page of the orchestra?

North Carolina Symphony

We attended the New Year's Eve concert. Why is it that the orchestra removes any trace of that event the next day, except for a promo video, now of no use? Is there no history? What happened to Aundi Marie MOORE who was featured to sing as recently at 23 November 2017? No explanation. Does no one care?

Taking Out the Trash? That’s Still a Man’s Job, Even for the Liberal Coastal Elite - The New York Times

Sure rings true for me!