Displaying 361 To 390 Of 13,190 Comments THE TEXT: President Obama’s Address to the Nation on ISIS Kalima, the BBC World News Report on PBS led off with the Trump comments this evening and they actually had to prefaced the segment with comments about having initially suspected that it was a hoax! They literally had to investigate whether or not Trump had actually said (or really meant) those words. Now that really says something. When a long-standing, well-recognized and respected news organization has to sort out whether the person who’s in the lead for the GOP nomination is clowning around or not. » Posted By kesmarn On December 7, 2015 @ 4:35 pm Thanks so much, AdLib. We celebrated my son-in-law’s birthday last night so I missed the President’s address. It’s always so good to have a written form of his words to refer to. Poor Prez! He’s had to become something of a re-incarnation of FDR in so many ways, hasn’t he? Dealing with a huge financial crisis. Piloting the nation through war and natural disasters. And — maybe more importantly than anything — calming the fears of a jittery population. While Trump tosses out silly pablum — as though he’s addressing a nation of children (“You’ll never be afraid again. And you won’t even have to sacrifice anything!”), the President gives an adult speech to people that he’s assuming will be able to respond as adults. (Please be right, Mr. President!) As he always has — he’s asking us to choose between fear and hope. Between anger and love. Let’s just hope the nation is able to listen to its better angels (and he is one of them) and make the right choices. » Posted By kesmarn On December 7, 2015 @ 2:50 pm Weekend Music Thread – Get The Party Started I’m so out of the loop, I’d never heard of her until this evening, when someone recommended her, Kalima. She died in 1996 at the age of only 33. And she’d never really made a name for herself — except locally in the DC area. I think if she’d lived longer she would have been a major star. A really extraordinary vocalist. I think I’ve listened to about 10 of her songs on YouTube tonight, when I really should have been getting this laundry done! đ » Posted By kesmarn On December 5, 2015 @ 9:02 pm Absolutely! Wait’ll you hear her version of John Lennon’s “Imagine”! What a vocalist.
» Posted By kesmarn On December 5, 2015 @ 8:34 pm I don’t know that this would be considered party music, but I just discovered it, and it’s so pretty I couldn’t resist posting it: Eva Cassidy, “Over the Rainbow”
» Posted By kesmarn On December 5, 2015 @ 8:11 pm The Greatest Supporter of Terrorism in America is the NRA AdLib, I hope you won’t mind (and I think you won’t) that I shared the link to this article with a guy who is a former Chair of his county’s Democratic Party in North Carolina and an ardent anti-NRA activist. (Has been for a while.) He has nearly 5000 followers on FB and is still very active in NC politics. The more exposure this article (and the Planet) gets on this issue, the better. And this is so logical and very well written. Thanks again for getting facts out there in a style that’s rational and readable! » Posted By kesmarn On December 3, 2015 @ 8:34 pm A Thanksgiving Tradition – 2015 Glad you enjoyed this one!! đ » Posted By kesmarn On November 28, 2015 @ 8:15 am Thank you so much AdLib and Kalima for the kind words, and you know how very much those feelings are reciprocated! I’m so grateful for you and every other Planeteer who has made the Planet such a completely wonderful and unique place for over 6 years now. I’m so sorry that I’m a day late in sending wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving to everyone on the Planet and their families and friends as well. I was hostess, chef and scullery maid for the family gathering this year. And to those of you who know about a few major health challenges I had a couple of years ago, just being able to do that was an honor and a privilege. But it did temporarily keep me off the Planet yesterday, unfortunately! (I really do have to master the art of simultaneously blogging and peeling potatoes.) AdLib, I just loved this article. (Although I have one tiny quibble. I think Trump is not as thankful as he should be for melanin, and tends to take too much pride in his lack of it!) The thankful list for the Prez was just perfect — especially that part about the “self destructive nature of willful ignorance.” Oh yeah! [img]https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-0/p403x403/12250010_1226505297366622_1324496408495003799_n.jpg?oh=8a6fc9addbb4a41ddfbd9a8f56f11923&oe=56EA5D69[/img] » Posted By kesmarn On November 27, 2015 @ 3:42 pm Republican Governors Revel in Their Cowardice And Prejudice While Empowering ISIS Great minds, AdLib! You and Paul Krugman are on exactly the same page today. (Link to his “Fearing the Fear” article is in our Twitter feed.) As you pointed out so eloquently, the craven GOP governors who are looking for their smelling salts and fainting couches as they battle the “vapors” are playing right into the hands of Daesh. We have a history of having taken in Cuban refugees (right, Ted Cruz?) and Hungarian refugees in 1956 (Surely there must have been some pinkos in their midst). But now — all of a sudden — refugees fleeing horrible violence are too “scawy” for us to handle. Don’t you have to wonder how things will play out in Germany over the next few months? What we do know at this point is that there are a heckuva lot of Syrian refugees in their country and so far the Cologne Cathedral has not been blown to bits. Could that be in part because so far these Muslims have been treated like human beings? If only these GOP governors could display one tenth of the courage that this little woman did during the London blitz in WWII. Even when Buckingham Palace sustained significant damage, the Queen Mum didn’t run. She kept calm and carried on: http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/08/17/article-1206978-0056AF8100000258-147_634x668.jpg » Posted By kesmarn On November 16, 2015 @ 5:02 pm Morning Blog 6th Anniverary Edition This was such a tragedy for this town — which I gather is not all that easy for rescuers and supplies to get to. And then — as you in Japan know all too well — there were the inevitable aftershocks that interfered with people’s efforts to dig survivors out of the rubble. Really, really sad. » Posted By kesmarn On August 26, 2016 @ 3:31 pm Good evening/morning, Kalima! At last — a moment to sit down and respond to this great collection of news stories on Morning Blog. I’m hoping you and the rest of Tokyo get a break from this heat wave in the near future. We had a batch of the same weather and it was really miserable. Things are a bit cooler now — but also very rainy. A much needed break, but it still feels “swampy”! I just have to start out by saying how much I loved the BBC documentary on the historical role of Islam as a sort of curator of history, culture and learning over the centuries. If it weren’t for Islamic civilization’s conscientious efforts to preserve the learning of earlier eras (including Greek philosophy, medicine and math) we might just be emerging from the dark ages even as we speak! Thanks so much for linking to the film. But — going from the sublime to the ridiculous — then we have Nasty Nigel Farage of Britain. With his unenviable history going back to early adolescence of being a racist bigot. To hear him speak now, you’d think he was still 12 years old, trying to shock his classmates and teachers with his absurd babbling. In fact, his recent speech at the EU Conference sounded just like a junior high student cackling over a perceived temporary victory: “You laughed at me before; but you’re not laughing now!” Really, Nigel. Grow up. And then we have another adolescent with delusions of grandeur — David Cameron. Nothing like raiding the bank and the PM’s little box of medals and trinkets to reward every lackey who functioned as one of his enablers while he demolished the British economy. Even public relations hacks are suddenly worthy of the Order of the British Empire — as long as David doesn’t have to pay for any of it. On a happier note — some more mature (and more optimistic) reflection on the fact that the Sanders campaign ideals live on in the continuing movement that he’s supporting. A movement that will encourage young progressives to run for office, be active in their local communities and engage in public service. Long after November, those ideals will shine on, thanks to Bernie. He’s left an enduring mark in history. I thought Robert Reich had a very interesting comment on the latest developments with the Clinton email story, so I’ll include it here: This is the kind of thing I worry about. And it didn’t even come via wikileaks. Itâs from the State Department. A new batch of emails released yesterday by the Department shows sometimes overlapping interests between the Clinton Foundation and the State Department when Hillary served as secretary of state, raising new questions about whether the Foundation rewarded its donors with access and influence at the Department. In one such communication, a Clinton Foundation executive in 2009 sought to put a billionaire donor in touch with the United States ambassador to Lebanon because of the donorâs interests there. In another, the Foundation appeared to push aides to Mrs. Clinton to help find a job for a Foundation associate. Her aides indicated that the department was working on the request. The State Department turned the new emails over to a conservative advocacy group, Judicial Watch, as part of a lawsuit that the group brought under the Freedom of Information Act. But why werenât these emails released before? Why werenât they included in the 55,000 pages of emails Hillary previously gave the State Department, that she said represented all her work-related emails? What do you think? I think he raises some great points. I really appreciated the N Y Times article on the way that both the Trump and Clinton campaigns tend to avoid mentioning a large and growing group in the American population: the poor. There’s a lot of rhetoric about helping the middle class. But the poor seem to be invisible to both mainstream candidates. Paul Krugman nailed it again in his “Pieces of Silver” article. His main point being that now is the time for the GOP to denounce Trump and his ideas. Waiting until after he loses the election to say: “Oh well, we never did approve of him,” is not going to cut it. The bottom line of the piece is that there’s a large subset of the Republican Party that is willing to sell out its principles totally — for the promise of tax cuts for the wealthy. Shameful. The story of the conditions of refugees on the Island of Nauru is horrifying. Australia has to recognize what is going on here and remedy it. To say “Oh well… both major parties agree that there’s no solution to the problem” (which I have heard) is a huge moral evil. No matter how they deny it. On a final note: I really recommend that if folks get the chance they watch the film: “The Caliph.” It’s a really well-made summary of the history of Islamic Civilization. I wish it had been available back in the dark ages when I was in college. I loved my Islamic Civ classes, but this would have made them even better! » Posted By kesmarn On August 17, 2016 @ 5:25 pm The news sources are saying tonight that this one appears to be untreated mental illness rather than terrorism, Kalima. Still tragic, but at least the Muslim community in London won’t have to cope with even more mistrust and potential hostility, I hope. I hear that the woman who was killed was an American who was due to leave for home the following day. Now a grieving family won’t be anticipating a homecoming — but a funeral instead. So sad. » Posted By kesmarn On August 4, 2016 @ 4:47 pm Horrible. The fact that this one is not assumed to be related to terrorism doesn’t make it any the less awful. Prayers for the victims and their families. » Posted By kesmarn On July 25, 2016 @ 5:03 pm These poor people! They were totally unable to fight back. This was a home for the disabled! And I’m sure many of them were sleeping at 2:30 a.m. and had no idea what was happening. Prayers for them all and their grieving and heartsick relatives. » Posted By kesmarn On July 25, 2016 @ 5:00 pm Kalima, I can’t bring myself to hit the “thumbs up” button on this sad story. Poor Germany! The teenager who was wielding a knife on a train was the horrifying story just a few days ago and now this. The days when people all over the world could safely gather in public for celebration, vacationing, travel, shopping or even mourning seem to be drifting further and further into the past. Now it seems the whole world is afflicted with fear and anger that lead to violence. I wish there were a clear, simple path to peace, but I don’t have the wisdom to understand how we can find it. Prayers for Germany. And the world. » Posted By kesmarn On July 22, 2016 @ 6:40 pm If we could only get through one week…just a week. Without something horrible like this happening. Murder on a massive scale. So utterly disheartening! Prayers for the suffering people of France. » Posted By kesmarn On July 14, 2016 @ 7:01 pm Kalima, I had to read one paragraph twice to make sure my eyes weren’t playing tricks on me. Farage actually described his own party as “turkeys voting for Christmas”! Is this all some kind of sick joke for him? I swear I could see mirth in his eyes — especially when he talked about the prospect of seeing more countries leaving the EU. It’s as though he, Johnson and Cameron played a huge prank — or tried to pull off a spectacular bluff — only to have it called. Then they all tuck tail and run. Leaving a gigantic mess behind for others to clean up. (Reminds me of Dubya, Rumsfeld, Rice, Cheney et al.) The GOP and the Tories — parties of chaos. » Posted By kesmarn On July 4, 2016 @ 3:37 pm Oh yes! There’s almost a mirror-like situation here in the US, as you know. It’s so frustrating to see people who have already been exploited so terribly voting for people who will exploit them even more! You want to scream: “WHY?” Like you, I completely sympathize with and understand their anger. It’s just the methods of “making a statement” and the choices of leadership that leave me shaking my head. Like many others, I’m left wondering whether Boris Johnson and Trump are “brothers from another mother.” They’re so similar. » Posted By kesmarn On June 25, 2016 @ 6:46 am That Cassidy article really is excellent. (He’s one of my favorites at the New Yorker.) This paragraph really nails it: For the past half century, the major political parties, on both sides of the Atlantic, have promulgated the idea that free trade and globalization are the keys to prosperity. If you pressed the mainstream economists who advise these parties, they might concede that trade creates losers as well as winners, and that the argument for ever more global integration implicitly assumes that the winners will compensate the losers. But the fact that such a sharing of the gains has been sorely lacking was regarded as a relatively minor detail, and certainly not as a justification for calling a halt to the entire process. » Posted By kesmarn On June 24, 2016 @ 5:04 pm Kalima, this one paragraph is so eloquent and — I believe — so very true: The reason people are dissatisfied is not because of the EU, the problems they face are a direct result of the governmentâs drastic cuts. People are voting to leave mainly out of anger at the government and inequality, the banks responsible for the financial crash getting away with their crimes, the slow assassination of our NHS, and not out of concerns about the EU. The EU is being used as a scapegoat by dishonest politicians who have ruined the country. And I suspect the same can be said of a certain subset of Trump’s supporters. They’re motivated by reasons other than the single-issue of xenophobia (although that’s undeniably a factor) — and one of those motives is the way globalization has helped only the very wealthy and left the working class far behind. Neglected by both parties. The GOP is primarily to blame of course, but the Democratic Party is not totally without blame here either — starting with Bill Clinton’s extremely business-friendly policies in the 1990s, including NAFTA. So people — wrongly and unfortunately — turn to Trump. This vote was not the most effective way to deal with that frustration by a long shot. But it didn’t come from nowhere. The misery of the working class in Britain and here in the US has been ignored for far too long. » Posted By kesmarn On June 24, 2016 @ 4:35 pm Good morning/night, Kalima! Plenty of heat combined with not enough rain. That’s the story here in Ohio too. The farmers are starting to get worried now. Today’s promised rain didn’t materialize, so now they’re holding out hopes for Wednesday. Fingers crossed. I’m right with Nirek on the use of the word “meltdown” regarding the situation in Fukushima back in 2011. Merely refusing to use the word doesn’t change the reality of the situation. By TEPCO’s own standards, there was indeed a meltdown. And then some. This sort of dancing around verbally — rather than giving clear explanations — is what causes people to lose trust in businesses and governments alike. Such a tragedy — the loss of Jo Cox in England. I’ve seen interviews with her constituents on the BBC and they seemed to really love her. “She were a real woman and she were a real public servant,” they said in their uniquely Northern England style. If there’s a small silver lining in her death, it may be that there’s movement toward voting later this week to stay in the EU. As to her killer? Here’s a man like the Orlando gunman who seems to have also fallen through the cracks in the (much weakened) mental health system in the UK. Saving money on health care ends up being much more costly in other ways in the long run. Will the Tories ever figure that out? Polly Toynbee — such a clear thinker and writer. She could well have been describing America too when she wrote: “Something close to a chilling culture war is breaking out in Britain, a divide deeper than I have ever known…” Severe income inequality is damaging the social fabric in countries around the globe. Politicians who refuse to recognize that are going to be cast aside before they know what hit them before much longer. Poor Germany has had its hand full with trying to keep order in public places. The latest is the violence committed by the Russian soccer fans in the Cologne Cathedral square. Just between us, I have to say that when we were in Chicago last year with the Fave, there were some Russian tourists there (mostly younger males) who really behaved like thugs. Pushing, line-jumping and shoving others out of their way. I made some loud comments about the “Russian Mafia” (much to my family’s dismay…LOL), but at that point they suddenly didn’t understand English for some reason. E J Dionne’s article was excellent as usual. I was relieved to see the stats he included — the ones that verified that most Independent voters do not support Trump. I actually wasn’t sure about that, and was happy to learn it. A heart-breaking story about the “comfort women” in the Philippines. (I’m always a little uncomfortable with that term…seems that “rape victims/survivors” would be more accurate.) Japan should recognize them, apologize to them, and pay reparations. Even that could never compensate them adequately for what they went through. Loved the wonderful photos from Tagong, the Tibetan town in Szechuan province. Those traditional ways of life are fast disappearing around the world. Thanks so much for all the hard work and time that goes into these wonderful editions of Morning Blog, Kalima! They’re a gift to the Planet! » Posted By kesmarn On June 20, 2016 @ 8:49 pm A really shocking story about those abused nursing home patients, Kalima. What a tragedy. The families must have felt so terrible, even though they’d tried to do what they could to investigate. It’s the people who don’t have the means or the opportunity to pick up the phone and call an attorney who really suffer, isn’t it? The elderly, the poor, the mentally ill and children. » Posted By kesmarn On May 6, 2016 @ 5:24 pm Good night/morning, Kalima! I’m only about half way through reading this amazing edition of Morning Blog, but I just have to stop and take time out to recommend a few articles! One in particular, I feel is almost a must-read (although I try not to arm-twist!). It’s the one on the treatment of the mentally ill in the Florida prison system. (The heading is Madness for those who are searching.) Truly disturbing, shocking… horrifying… There aren’t enough words. The old black and white film “Bedlam” was made before any of us were born, but it’s worth watching. It details the horrors of the treatment of the mentally ill in England in the late 18th century, and subsequent efforts at reform. Well, it appears we’ve actually gone downhill from the “Bedlam” Era. It’s hard to imagine that things could possibly be worse. Sadists who are looking for work that fits their personalities would feel right at home in these Florida prisons. It’s that bad. The other terrific articles are the one on the refugee children of Calais (the BBC is also following this story on their Nightly News Hour) and the one about America’s first super model. (“The Curse of Beauty”). Fascinating! Thanks so much for these pieces — which I would never have found without MB! » Posted By kesmarn On May 5, 2016 @ 6:13 pm So…Trump’s foreign policy team includes a guy who uses his college experience at a model U.N. as an asset on his resume? A former Blackwater (Xe) executive? And an old Poppy Bush era re-tread with a history of shady deals? Greaaaat… Please, let us all wake up simultaneously and realize that this was all a bad dream… đ » Posted By kesmarn On March 22, 2016 @ 6:56 pm Nirek, I’m so sorry to hear of your fall on the ice. (One thing after another it seem at some times, no?) I hope you can get that surgery soon and that you’ll be on the mend in no time. Prayers for you and for the whole family. Bernie’s going to hang in there and fight the good fight, and I think all of the rest of us — his supporters — are going to do the same thing! » Posted By kesmarn On March 18, 2016 @ 10:36 am Thanks for the link to that excellent article, Kalima. Trump and Sanders really are polar opposites aren’t they? It is ironic that they grew up in such relatively close proximity to each other. Neither one had a lot of environmental exposure to minority kids growing up in his own neighborhood, but Bernie was able to connect with the Civil Right movement, while The Donald just became more and more oblivious as time went on. In my opinion, Bernie is the one who’s truly rich. » Posted By kesmarn On March 17, 2016 @ 6:34 pm Good night/morning, Kalima! I thought of you and the whole K household on the 11th. And like you, I can’t seem to believe that it’s already been 5 years since the great earthquake-flood-nuclear disaster. I remember that night (it was late night here) vividly — being on the Planet and waiting for word that you and the your hubby and the felines were okay. Our b’ito and K-Quark were still with us at that time and we all felt like family waiting for one very important member to report in. What a relief it was to finally make contact! And I remember the after shocks you all felt for days afterward. The transportation difficulties and the concerns about being able to get basic supplies there in Tokyo. Japan really rallied magnificently during that time and pulled together. It’s been a crazy weekend here, starting with the Bernie Sanders rally on Friday, so this is the first chance I’ve had to get to this film. But I’m going to watch it tonight. Then I hope to dig in to all those great-looking articles! Prayers and good wishes to you and to all the people of Japan (slightly belated) on this 5th anniversary. You’re in our thoughts and we’re so grateful that you’re with us today! Now to that film… » Posted By kesmarn On March 13, 2016 @ 6:14 pm Good night/morning, Kalima! Just after the midnight hour here, so I’ll keep this one fairly short. So good to hear that your little feline feuders were able to make peace before one of them departed for the heavenly realm. Funny how critters seem to sense it when big changes are about to happen — much more so than humans. Speaking of felines, wasn’t that a wonderful story about “The Refugee Cat”? An ending that was so upbeat that I had to cry a few happy tears. There are some good people in this troubled old world. A not so happy ending to the story about the Japanese driver who went up onto the sidewalk and hit 11 people — killing two and injuring nine. I can only think there must have been some kind of health problem with the driver — heart attack or stroke? So sad for all the families too. I was appalled by the story of David Cameron proudly boasting about arms sales to Saudi Arabia. Leave it to a greedy toff like him to think only about making obscene profits — even when human lives are being sacrificed for them on an almost daily basis. Good for the EU for putting an arms embargo in place. Cameron is as bad as Cheney — if not worse. That “jungle” in Calais — full of refugees trying to make it to England — is a remarkable story. They had a theater, restaurants, shops and a school in their little shanty village. Trying to cling to the remnants of civilized life in the midst of squalor. As you probably saw today, the camp was raided, people tear-gassed. One misery after another for these long-suffering people. Their courage and even good-humor is so striking — under the most trying of conditions too. The stories of the Syrian refugees in Gaza are another example of the same thing. These are remarkable people. I went to my local Middle Eastern market today and every time I go there, I’m reminded of how kind and hard-working these people are. They’re an inspiration. Unlike Donald Trump. Endorsed by the KKK and Chris Christie. “Trumpty-Dumpty and the Haters.” Sounds like a name for a lousy garage band. And meanwhile Ben Carson is insisting that the President isn’t Black enough. I love Al Sharpton’s response: “If you mean that you have to hit your mother with a hammer and try to stab your brother in order to be Black — you don’t want to go there, Dr. Ben.” In North Korea, things are getting more and more ominous. It seems Kim has now killed over 100 senior military people. As the article said — this can’t go on much longer. Surely the military is going to rise up against this madman. These bully dictators always end up the same way. They overplay their hands and sow the seeds of their own destruction. If Kimmy could have induced his lazy brain to read some history instead of playing so many video games, he would have learned that. On a happier, final note, though — wasn’t that the sweetest video of little Virginia McLaurin dancing with the President and the First Lady at the age of 106? She’s seen some unbelievable changes in her long life. Her words: “Now I can die happy.” » Posted By kesmarn On February 29, 2016 @ 9:40 pm Nirek, I’m so sorry to read that your wife is having health problems — and serious ones, it sounds like. Many prayers for both of you and for the rest of the family. And I hope you’re able to get some rest for yourself too after a very difficult week. And Kalima, you’re so brave to get these MB updates out when you’ve had two heart-breaking losses on the home front — with losing those feline friends who truly get to be members of the family over the years. You’re in our hearts, and many prayers too for the K household as everyone goes through that grieving process in his or her own way. Hoping that time and sweet memories are a source of some consolation. Now to dig in to this collection of the latest news from around the world… gratefully. » Posted By kesmarn On February 26, 2016 @ 4:05 pm Good evening/morning, Kalima! So many great articles in this edition of MB. But there’s one that I’d really love to highlight and that is E J Dionne’s article about how — no matter how much fun it may be to watch the GOP self-destruct — it’s really not good for the country. There was one paragraph that I found really compelling: And they should acknowledge that a conservatism focused so obsessively on lower taxes for the wealthy and deregulation of the economy has little to say to the Americans with modest incomes who form Trumpâs base. National Review, the founding magazine of Goldwater conservatism, acknowledged this month in its widely debated âAgainst Trumpâ editorial that if conservatives âcannot advance a compelling working-class agenda, the legitimate anxieties and discontents of blue-collar voters will be exploited by demagogues.â Thatâs true. But if conservatives continue to put relief for the âmakersâ and âjob creatorsâ at the heart of their governing program â as all their presidential candidates are doing this year â such voters will continue to wonder how seriously the rightâs politicians are taking their struggles, their fears and their aspirations. I’m not particularly optimistic that the GOP will heed his wake-up call, but it was an eloquent one and I’m glad he made it. Lots of other wonderful stuff in this MB, but I wanted to get the word out on this particular one. Now — final wish in this comment — no more earthquakes! Life holds enough ups and downs without Mother Nature throwing in a bunch more. Stay safe. » Posted By kesmarn On February 14, 2016 @ 5:04 pmComments Posted By kesmarn
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