Global

One of the many interesting details to be learned by understanding human psychology is how a person's unconscious fear works in a myriad of ways to make them believe that they bear no responsibility for a particular problem.

This psychological dysfunctionality cripples a substantial portion of the human population in ways that work against the possibility of achieving worthwhile outcomes for themselves, other individuals, communities and the world as a whole. In an era when human extinction is now a likely near-term outcome of this dysfunctionality, it is obviously particularly problematic. So why does this happen and how does it manifest?

he federal lawsuit, titled Katie Johnson v. Donald J. Trump and Jeffrey E. Epstein, accuses Trump and Epstein of rape and other sexual assaults during the summer of 1994, when plaintiff was 13 years old. Attorney Garten denied the accusations and cast doubt on the existence of the plaintiff.

The Chilcot report's "findings" have virtually all been part of the public record for a decade, and it avoids key pieces of evidence. Its recommendations are essentially to continue using war as a threat and a tool of foreign policy, but to please try not to lie so much, make sure to win over a bit more of the public, and don't promise any positive outcomes given the likelihood of catastrophe.

The report is a confused jumble, given that it records evidence of the supreme crime but tries to excuse it. The closer you get to the beginning of the executive summary, the more the report reads as if written by the very criminals it's reporting on. Yet the report makes clear, as we always knew, that even in 2001-2003 there were honest people working in the British, as also in the U.S., government -- some of whom became whistleblowers, others of whom accurately identified the planned war as a crime that would endanger rather than protect, but stayed in their jobs when the war was launched.

BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thailand's Constitutional Court has upheld a law
that metes out 10 years imprisonment to anyone who voices an opinion
about the junta's favored draft constitution, or campaigns for or
against it before a scheduled nationwide August 7 referendum.
   "If the draft constitution does not pass, a new one has to be
written," coup-installed Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said on June
28, one day before the court ruling.
   The court's decision and Mr. Prayuth's orchestration of a new
constitution contrast sharply with dissidents, politicians, local
media, Thai and international human rights groups and others who have
asked that the draft and referendum be open to public debate,
criticism and changes.
   Voters decide on the junta's draft constitution on August 7 by
casting a "yes" or "no" vote.
   Some see the referendum as a popularity test of the junta as it
enters a third year in power.
   Before retiring as army chief and general, Mr. Prayuth led
Thailand's U.S.-trained military in a bloodless May 2014 coup against

I’ve just ended two weeks visiting cities in four regions of Russia. The one question that was asked over and over was, “Why does America hate us? Why do you demonize us?” Most would add a cavaet– “I like American people and I think YOU like us individually but why does the American government hate our government?”

This article is a composite of the comments and questions that were asked to our 20 person delegation and to me as an individual. I do not attempt to defend the views but offer them as an insight into the thinking of many of the persons we came into contact in meetings and on the streets.

None of the questions, comments or views tell the full story, but I hope they give a feel for the desire of the ordinary Russian that her country and its citizens are respected as a sovereign nation with a long history and that it is not demonized as an outlaw state or an “evil” nation.  Russia has its flaws and room for improvement in many areas, just as every nation does, including for sure, the United States.

New Russia Looks Like You-Private Business, Elections, Mobile Phones, Cars, Traffic Jams

Clare Hanrahan's memoir The Half Life of a Free Radical: Growing Up Irish Catholic in Jim Crow Memphis is a remarkable feat: part Jack Kerouac, part Dorothy Day, part Howard Zinn, and a bit of Forest Gump.

“Please be gentle.”

The story is too easy to believe. At the Memphis airport, a confused, nervous teenager sets off the metal detector — possibly because she has sequins on her shirt — and is told she needs to come to a “sterile area.” Armed guards show up to escort her. She’s terrified.

This happened a year ago. The girl, then 18, is Hannah Cohen. She was flying — at least that was the idea — back to Chattanooga with her mother, Shirley Cohen, who had just passed through the checkpoint and was waiting for Hannah when, according to a lawsuit the family recently filed, a TSA horror story began.

With a major vote coming up for the city, a city that I am extremely proud to call home... I felt it is important to write about Columbus possibly going to a district system for City Council. The Free Press’ coverage has been good on this, but there are a few things they have missed in this conversation over Columbus and districts. This proposed plan would change the Council from the current seven members citywide to a group of 13 made up of 10 districts and three at-large. The City would have 240 days from the date the voters approve this plan to get the ball moving on this change. This what we are voting for on August 2nd.

On this, I am asking you the reader to Vote Yes for this plan. Originally, I had my doubts about this plan. The truth is as we grow in a world-class city we need to have a system that will keep up with growth. This plan is our best shot to do that to move Columbus forward. There have been arguments placed for it and against it. I would like to address them at this time.