The pale young man with the bowl haircut had driven to Charleston, South Carolina, alone and armed, with a singleness of purpose. There, in the centuries-old port city with its graceful antebellum townhouses and slender church spires, he would attempt to make his mark, consummate his desires, fulfill his earthly purpose. He stepped inside the sanctuary of historic Emanuel … [Read more...] about Death in Charleston: a Moderately Speculative Postmortem
The Charleston Massacre: ‘While GOP Candidates Stammer…’
I do not often cut-and-paste large sections of articles from a leading newspaper. However, the facts that I am on travel and that an excellent article sometimes cannot/should not be paraphrased prompts me to quote parts of Anne Gearan’s “While GOP candidates stammer, Clinton directly confronts race,” in today’s Washington Post. First, Gearan laments that few of the … [Read more...] about The Charleston Massacre: ‘While GOP Candidates Stammer…’
Trump- An American Icon
Donald Trump's entry into the Republican presidential race is another indication of the sad state of America’s political system. As an American icon, he represents vanity and greed, and all the things that are bad about the nation. His main qualifications for office are his wealth and his fame, declaring that only someone “really rich” like himself will be able to turn America … [Read more...] about Trump- An American Icon
On Google’s White House and the Future of Technology Policy
That Obama’s White House has maintained close ties with Google over the years is hardly a secret. Our President is probably the biggest science and tech enthusiast to ever occupy the Oval Office—a distinction that has resulted in some more-or-less unprecedented forward strides in the realms of (for example) cybersecurity and biological research. However: while Google is … [Read more...] about On Google’s White House and the Future of Technology Policy
Reflections On Fifty Years Of The Grateful Dead: “Once In A While You Can Get Shown The Light In The Strangest Of Places If You Look At It Right’
Asked to name my all-time favorite Grateful Dead show, I typically respond, "Which year?" "No, which show?" "Okay, how about May 8, 1977 in Hamilton, New York?" "Howcum?" "Because it was just about perfect. The Dead had just finished recording the seminal Terrapin Station album and were unbelievably loose. They had been on a roll all spring with … [Read more...] about Reflections On Fifty Years Of The Grateful Dead: “Once In A While You Can Get Shown The Light In The Strangest Of Places If You Look At It Right’
The Revolution is Not Coming (At Least Not This Week)
Hasn't Bernie-mania been fun so far? Yes, in Colorado over the weekend Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders tore it up with a crowd of nearly 5,000 in Denver, his largest since announcing for the Democratic nomination in May. The 73-year-old Independent spoke for an hour and hit a nerve on economic issues as he advocated for an end to income inequality as well as a higher … [Read more...] about The Revolution is Not Coming (At Least Not This Week)
True Blue Americans See Red Over Displays Of Rebel Flag
Support For The Stars And Bars Flagging, Except in: Georgia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Florida, Alabama The View From The U.S. Virgin Islands By JOHN McCARTHY TMV Columnist One of the things to come out of the debate over what is wrong with South Carolina after nine African-American citizens were massacred Wednesday in an historically black church is the symbolism of the … [Read more...] about True Blue Americans See Red Over Displays Of Rebel Flag
It’s Not About The Flag, Idiots!!
It is not often I use this forum to lash out at folks on either side of the political spectrum; however, today I am compelled to lash out at everyone who is engaging in the ridiculous rhetoric that the removal of a piece of cloth is going to solve the racial injustice of South Carolina or any other person of color living in the United States of America. To set the record … [Read more...] about It’s Not About The Flag, Idiots!!
Take Down That Damn Secessionist Flag South Carolina!
A Schizephrenic Southern Splinter State The Confederate Flag Flies At Full Staff The View From The U.S. Virgin Islands By JOHN McCARTHY TMV Columnist There’s no denying it. South Carolina has a violent and racist past, with some tolerance mixed in. The mere name “South Carolina” – suggests that it broke away from a larger Carolina – and that would be true. The … [Read more...] about Take Down That Damn Secessionist Flag South Carolina!
Ben Carson criticizes other Republicans for not calling Charleston murders “racist”
It's not often I agree with Republican Presidential candidate Ben Carson. But he has bluntly called out the other Republicans running for President who refuse to call the murders of 9 people by a self-admitted racist who wanted to kill African-Americans "racist." He didn't mince words: Republican presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson on Monday knocked some of the 2016 … [Read more...] about Ben Carson criticizes other Republicans for not calling Charleston murders “racist”
Middle Finger Emoji Can Get You Jail Time In UAE
The middle finger emoji can convey a lot of sentiments — you can use it to display anger and when goofing around. But if you're traveling abroad, then be wary of where and how you use emoji as the icon can potentially put you in jail. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has passed a new Cyber… … [Read more...] about Middle Finger Emoji Can Get You Jail Time In UAE
Charleston shooting: Leader of group cited in ‘Dylann Roof manifesto’ donated to top Republicans
Why is that conservative Republicans have been twisting themselves into political pretzels trying to avoid saying that the massacre by 9 innocents in a church in Charleston was racist when shooter Dylann Roof is clearly a self-avowed racist? That has been a lingering question. Now the Guardian reports that some key Republicans were getting campaign donations from the leader of … [Read more...] about Charleston shooting: Leader of group cited in ‘Dylann Roof manifesto’ donated to top Republicans
Republicans and Denial of Racism
It comes as little surprise that Dylaan Roof, the shooter in Charleston, had posted a racist manifesto and pictures with other racist symbols: Dylann Roof spat on and burned the American flag, but waved the Confederate. He posed for pictures wearing a No. 88 T-shirt, had 88 Facebook friends and wrote that number — white supremacist code for “Heil Hitler”— in the South … [Read more...] about Republicans and Denial of Racism
Esprit De Corp
After talking to a dear friend I served in the military with I started thinking - always a dangerous thing in my case. Yes, I'm going to get a bit philosophical on you and apologize in advance. There are times I feel sorry for those who never served in the military because there is nothing like the bonds that develop between individuals that serve together. My late father … [Read more...] about Esprit De Corp
Politix Update: All Bow Down To The Republican Doctrine Of Perpetual War. Yes, You.
I picked the morning paper off the floor / It was full of other people's little wars / Wouldn't they like their peace / Don't we get bored / And we call for the three great stimulants / Of the exhausted ones /Artifice brutality and innocence ~ JONI MITCHELL "The Three Great Stimulants" While no one would accuse presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary … [Read more...] about Politix Update: All Bow Down To The Republican Doctrine Of Perpetual War. Yes, You.
Charleston and the politics of evasion
WASHINGTON -- We Americans are exceptionally good at evasion when we want to be. Our skills in this sphere are particularly impressive on the matter of race and the subject of guns. Nonsense, you say. Have we not been talking about race and racism for our entire history? Our conversations have been especially intense in recent years -- about the response to President … [Read more...] about Charleston and the politics of evasion
Political Mobilization: Researchers Seek Participants in Online Study (Guest Voice)
Political Mobilization: Researchers Seek Participants in Online Study My name is Raynee Gutting and I am conducting an online survey about people’s personal characteristics and beliefs, and how people become politically active and engaged. The study is brief and interesting, and should help me understand how individuals think about important political issues and American … [Read more...] about Political Mobilization: Researchers Seek Participants in Online Study (Guest Voice)
Cartoon: Rebel Flag
See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Rebel Flag
SciFi Weekend: Season Finales of Orphan Black, Game of Thrones, and Veep; Hannibal And Creating Monsters; Breaking Bad Cast News
Orphan Black concluded its third season with more answers, bigger questions, a cliff hanger, and several clones together. Last season ended with the clone dance party, and this season began with Helena's dream baby shower. In the third season finale, History Yet To Be Written, several clones were together, seemingly out of danger for the moment, at Alison's victory dinner. … [Read more...] about SciFi Weekend: Season Finales of Orphan Black, Game of Thrones, and Veep; Hannibal And Creating Monsters; Breaking Bad Cast News
After Deadly Shooting, Searching For A Silver Lining
CHARLESTON, South Carolina -- Amid sun, sweat and tears, hundreds gathered Sunday outside the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in downtown Charleston, their dresses, shirts and parasols forming a vivid sea of oranges, pinks, greens and blues that occasionally swayed in unison when the sermon, broadcast on speakers outside the church, turned to song. It was… … [Read more...] about After Deadly Shooting, Searching For A Silver Lining