Author: Michael A. Ventrella

by

Australian heat wave counters American snow

Australia is now suffering one of the worst heat waves in history.

Yes, it’s summer there. And it’s tremendously hot.Australia But you’d never know that from climate changes deniers here in the northern part of the globe, who apparently think that the entire planet is experiencing the record cold and snow we’re getting. “Can’t be global warming with all this snow!” say people who have no background whatsoever in climatology.

This is exactly what climate change scientists predicted years ago, though. An increase in temperature on the planet leads to extreme weather of all kinds. Among those who study climate, this is no surprise whatsoever.

Most of the people who object to climate change are doing so for political reasons anyway. They don’t like Al Gore so therefore they have to object to science. I mean, you never hear of these people objecting to the theory of gravity or arguing that math isn’t real. They’re like creationists who object to evolution because it violates their pre-conceived notions.

I’m still waiting for someone to explain to me why the vast majority of scientists from around the world would become part of a grand conspiracy, working together in secret, to promote a scientific theory which would give them absolutely no benefit whatsoever. It’s certainly much more believable that the small percentage of scientists who get grants from major oil companies to “prove” that climate change is not real are part of a conspiracy, isn’t it? After all, they profit from such a conclusion.

It’s like the deniers are expecting all the climatologists to suddenly say, with an evil laugh, “Now that you agree there is climate change, you are under our control! Muahahahaha!” and then demand nothing because it’s not like they can solve it.

Editorial cartoon: the anti-Cupid

by

But Sharia Law Wants the Same Thing…

Not too long ago, Alabama residents passed a law saying that Sharia Law will never become part of Alabama’s laws, by gum, despite the fact that it would never happen anyway and such a thing is already prohibited by the Constitution which, you know, has been around for 225 years or so. There’s that very first amendment which clearly prohibits the establishment of any religious law in the country.  MOORE TEN COMMANDMENTS

But gosh darn it, the Founding Fathers didn’t mean to include Christian law! That’s a whole ‘nother thing! (Secret answer: Yes they did, in very specific terms.)

Judge Roy Moore is a shining example of how one can graduate law school and still be as stupid about the law as the day you go in. He’s the guy you may remember who was slapped down by the federal courts and lost his job because he installed a huge monument to the Ten Commandments in the courthouse.

Down there in Alabama, however, they’re still fighting the Civil War. They won’t acknowledge that the Constitution applies to them. So they said “screw you, yankees” and surrounded Judge Moore with the traditional flag of Traitors to This Country (the Confederate one) and praised him mightily. They then elected him to the Alabama Supreme Court, where he now is telling people that despite the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution, they don’t have to accept gay marriage in Alabama because God’s law supercedes the Constitution.

He just don’t learn, do he?  “This power over marriage, which came from God under our organic law, is not to be redefined by the United States Supreme Court or any federal court,” Justice Moore told “Fox News Sunday.”  This raises an important question: Is organic law free-range?*

The federal courts have said “Nuh uh” and many of the lower courts in Alabama are now allowing people in love to get married, despite statues of Jesus weeping all over Montgomery. Moore still insists that his god told him to hate gay people, and that was more important than a federal judge.

I can’t wait for the Contempt charges to be filed against this guy. Pass the popcorn!

The ironic part of all of this? Sharia Law also prohibits gay marriage. So it’s not the result of the law that is important to them — it’s which god gets to decide it.

 

*Trick question!  There is no such thing as “organic law” except what Judge Moore pulled out of his ass.

Editorial cartoon: Obviously qualified

by

Top 100 Beatles Solo Songs

In the seven years the Beatles recorded together, they created amazing music.  I’ve previously listed the Top 100 Beatles songs and a few weeks ago listed all the Beatles solo singles.  Today I present my Top 100 Beatles solo songs.

This is not a list of their “greatest hits” – I paid no attention to whether a song was a hit single.  Just because “Ebony and Ivory” may be one of Paul’s biggest hits doesn’t mean it’s one of his best songs. Beatles70

Since Paul has been making music continuously for the past 45 years or so, most of these are his.  John, after all, only had a few years to produce music, George also died too soon, and Ringo is, well, Ringo.  (His best stuff was when he was with producer and writer Mark Hudson.)

The list is organized chronologically by Beatle.

This is my opinion only.  Your mileage may vary.  However, if you are looking to expand your post-Beatles library of songs, might I suggest the following?

JOHN

  1. Instant Karma (We All Shine On)
  2. God
  3. Hold On
  4. Imagine
  5. Jealous Guy
  6. Gimme Some Truth
  7. Woman is the Nigger of the World
  8. Mind Games
  9. Out the Blue
  10. I Know (I Know)
  11. Intuition
  12. #9 Dream
  13. Whatever Gets You Through The Night
  14. Nobody Loves You When You’re Down and Out
  15. (Just Like) Starting Over
  16. Nobody Told Me

PAUL

  1. Maybe I’m Amazed
  2. Junk
  3. Every Night
  4. Teddy Boy
  5. Another Day
  6. Too Many People
  7. Dear Boy
  8. Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey
  9. Heart of the Country
  10. Monkberry Moon Delight
  11. The Back Seat of My Car
  12. Give Ireland Back to the Irish
  13. Tomorrow
  14. Hi Hi Hi
  15. Big Barn Bed
  16. Single Pigeon
  17. I Lie Around
  18. Live and Let Die
  19. Helen Wheels
  20. Band on the Run
  21. Jet
  22. Mrs. Vandebilt
  23. Junior’s Farm
  24. Venus and Mars/Rock Show
  25. Magneto and Titanium Man
  26. Girl’s School
  27. Getting Closer
  28. Spin It On
  29. Temporary Secretary
  30. Take it Away
  31. Press
  32. Back on My Feet
  33. My Brave Face
  34. You Want Her Too
  35. This One
  36. Mistress and Maid
  37. Calico Skies
  38. Young Boy
  39. Beautiful Night
  40. Jenny Wren
  41. Fine Line
  42. English Tea
  43. Ever Present Past
  44. The End of the End
  45. Nod Your Head
  46. Save Us
  47. Queeny Eye

GEORGE

  1. My Sweet Lord
  2. What is Life
  3. All Things Must Pass
  4. Apple Scruffs
  5. Beware of Darkness
  6. Isn’t it a Pity
  7. Living in the Material World
  8. Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)
  9. Don’t Let Me Wait Too Long
  10. Dark Horse
  11. Crackerbox Palace
  12. It’s What You Value
  13. Woman Don’t You Cry For Me
  14. This Song
  15. Deep Blue
  16. Dream Away
  17. All Those Years Ago
  18. Got My Mind Set on You
  19. Devil’s Radio
  20. When We Was Fab
  21. P2 Vatican Blues (Last Saturday Night)
  22. Any Road

RINGO

  1. It Don’t Come Easy
  2. Back Off Boogaloo
  3. I’m The Greatest
  4. Photograph
  5. Goodnight Vienna
  6. Weight of the World
  7. One
  8. Vertical Man
  9. La De Da
  10. Elizabeth Reigns
  11. Never Without You
  12. Missouri Loves Company
  13. Fading In Fading Out
  14. Some People
  15. Don’t Hang Up

Editorial Cartoon: Way too kinky

by

Governor Wolf’s First Month: Not Like He Didn’t Tell You

With today’s announcement of a moratorium on the death penalty in Pennsylvania, newly elected Governor Tom Wolf has made good on his campaign promises in many ways that make liberals happy.Governor-Wolf2-300x221

Also in his first month, he has:

  • Expanded Obamacare by adding the medicare provisions, allowing millions of Pennsylvanians to get health care who could not afford to do so before
  • Banned all gifts to the Executive branch and demanded that the legislature do the same
  • Made a clear non-discriminatory policy for his administration (including appointing a transgender woman as our Physician General)
  • Signed a moratorium on drilling in state parks and lands
  • Advocated making medical marijuana legal in the state

This is indeed what we elected him for.  It’s not like these are surprise actions;  he campaigned as a Democrat and was elected, and is doing exactly what he said he would.

Maybe if Democrats in other states had acted like Democrats, they might have won their races, too.

Now it’s been announced that the 2016 Democratic Presidential convention will be held in Philadelphia.  This will be a good time for Wolf to bring himself to a national presence.

Let’s hope he doesn’t let us down by then.  So far, I am very impressed.

Editorial cartoon: History repeats itself

by

Republicans: “Nice country you got here. Shame if something were to happen to it.”

Republicans have pledged to not fund Homeland Security because Obama is allowing immigrants with children to not be deported under very strict circumstances (the old Reagan immigration policy).

Got that?  All of us will be at risk unless we kick families out of the country to fend for themselves, Lord-of-the-Flies style.

Republican political advisers Doug and Dimsdale Piranha

Republican political advisers Doug and Dimsdale Piranha

And then they want to blame Democrats. “If there is a successful attack during a DHS shutdown, we should build a number of coffins outside each Democratic office and say, ‘You are responsible for these dead Americans,’” said Republican Senator Mark Kirk.

So they admit to their blackmail and say that if people die because of it, it’s the fault of the ones who refuse to be blackmailed.

But then something amazing happened. Some Republicans looked at the polls for once and realized their position is hugely unpopular. Over 60% of Americans favor Obama’s immigration policy.

Senator Kirk was the first one to pedal backwards, saying “I generally agree with the Democratic position here.”  No more talk about coffins.

At least for now.  Give it another week.  Something else equally as deplorable is certain to happen.

Editorial cartoon: The victim has no choice