Headlines

Republicans suddenly find a bailout they can back

Coronavirus live update: Japanese flu drug could be effective treatment, Scotland to close schools

Mnuchin warns jobless rate could hit 20% ...

Utah: 5.7 mag earthquake

Surgeon General: 15 days of social distancing ‘likely not going to be enough’ to shalt coronavirus

Coronavirus lives for hours in air particles and days on surfaces, new study shows

People with type A blood more likely to catch [coronavirus]?

Italy death toll rises 16% in 24 hours

Iraqi officials say rockets strike Baghdad’s Green Zone

Rates rapidly reverse higher on growing costs to combat crisis, 10-year Treasury yield hits 1.2%

Dreadful choice for global leaders: Wreck economy or kill millions

Hungary declares successful isolation of coronavirus

Headlines

Air Force crew made an odd stop on a a routine trip: Trump’s Scottish resort

Trump’s recession toolkit could include tax cuts and infrastructure spending

[Mick] Jagger blasts Trump for bad manners, lies ...

Joe Biden promises environmentalist: ‘Were hoping to end fossil fuels’

Boris Johnson warned he could be jailed if he refuses to delay Brexit

Top MIT official resigns over financial connections to Jeffery Epstein

NC: They survived Dorian but wonder how many more hurricanes they can withstand ...

Europe will not accept U.S. ruling on Boeing 737 Max safety

Iran now using advanced centrifuges, violating nuclear deal

Bill Gates is funding chemical clouds to help stop global warming

Texas Republicans sound alarm about rapidly-evolving state ...

Progress: Kamala agrees with voter who sez Trump ‘retarded’ ... ‘Well said’

Beam Me Up Scottie

This year the Commonwealth Games are being held in Scotland. As part of the opening ceremony cute little Scottie dogs were used to lead each country's athletic contingent into the arena. Oops! Malaysia, a predominantly Muslim country, has taken umbrage at this symbolism ... for Muslims consider dogs to be unclean and are not supposed to be touched (except when they are being slaughtered for dinner?) For details read: UK Telegraph Story.

Political correctness has progressed to the point were the taboos of every possible faction in the world must be kowtowed to ... if just one member thereof expresses offense. How about this complaint? I am offended by people who are offended by the celebration of Christmas. Does this mean that they must now bend to my will as I am supposed to bend to theirs? That'll be the day ...

A House Divided

There are more than a few political commentators who are mewing that, since the majority of Crimeans (but not the 96% as the recent voting indicated) believe that this part of Ukraine should be reunited with Russia, who are we or others to object? Interesting point … but then one must also ask why were not the Confederate States allowed to secede from the United States back in the early 1860’s? Why cannot all or part of Montreal split from Canada whenever it chooses? If Scotland soon votes to depart the United Kingdom should this be opposed or even penalized in some way?  Venice, from Italy?

As long as we are exploring the notion of national self-determination, why cannot Chechnya or other predominately Muslim republics secede unopposed from the Russian Federation? Isn’t what is good for the sow bear also good for the boar bear?  Why are not Tibet or other western Chinese provinces allowed to go their own way independent of Bejing’s tight control?

And how about the real poser … what if large portions of the American southwest, including California, now that they are predominately Hispanic, vote to rejoin Mexico?  Should this be permitted … or even encouraged? One could argue that this might significantly shift the United States’political balance rightward … and also relieve much fiscal stress on other neighboring American states.

President Abraham Lincoln once said, “A house divided cannot stand.” But as that other U.S. President, slick Willy Clinton, might have added, “It all depends on what your definition of ‘house’ is.”