Reading time – 3:00; Viewing time – 4:24 . . . Times were dark and we were heading down the dismal spiral of the Vietnam war. There was the draft and all the guys knew that we would spend a minimum of two years in the military. It’s just the way things were. And there… [read more]
The Bullet-Head Zone
Reading time – 1:52; Viewing time – 3:03 . . . In the wake of the slaughter of 17 students and teachers and the wounding of 14 others in Parkland, FL, Wayne LaPierre, the executive director of the NRA, gave a speech to the attendees of the CPAC conference. This is the association that used… [read more]
An Astonishing Ability To Do The Wrong Thing
Reading time – 75 seconds . . . Russia invaded Ukraine so Obama put sanctions on them. Trump removed them. 17 people were murdered in Florida. Trump said congratulations to the first responders and told Jeff Sessions to look into prosecuting Hillary. Kim Jong-Un launched a ballistic missile. Trump insulted him and indirectly dared him… [read more]
Make This Go Viral
Reading time – 1:58; Viewing time – 3:06 . . . There are few things that cause a more visceral and instantaneous reaction to protect than something that threatens our children. There are existential forces at work and you don’t need anyone to explain it to you. Somehow, though, there are some Americans who just… [read more]
The “T” Word
Reading time – 3:13; Viewing time – 4:18 . . . In Brené Brown’s new book, Braving the Wilderness, she quotes Harry G. Frankfurt in differentiating between liars and bullshitters. The liar rejects the authority of the truth; the bullshitter pays no attention to the truth at all. She also quotes Brandolini’s Law: “The amount… [read more]
Comrade Nunes
On February 2, 2018 Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) released the memo written by his staff at his direction. He claimed and continues to claim that it exposes wrongdoing by the FBI, as well as offering evidence of exoneration of the President of all crimes. You’ve likely heard more than you can stand about the memo,… [read more]
Fable
Reading time – 2:10; Viewing time – 3:25 . . . Once upon a time there was a democratic republic called the United States of America. It was thought of by many as the shining city on a hill. It was the best hope for millions coming there from around the world and proved to… [read more]
Best Metaphor
Reading time – 43 seconds . . . Crozet, VA, January 31, 2018, 3:10PM EST The Amtrak train left the station this morning carrying GOP members of Congress and their families to their annual party conference at a retreat facility in West Virginia. The train crashed into a garbage truck at a crossing near the… [read more]
Invertebrates
Not so long ago the Republican Party proudly boasted of being the party that stood for law and order. They let us know in no uncertain terms that they were the guys who would defend against international threats. They were the tough guys who were best suited to ensure our national security. Now, though, they… [read more]
A Challenge For Moderates
Reading time – 4:51; Viewing time – 7:44 . . . Preface If in these darkly polarized times you and I aren’t in the same bubble, if our notions about politics, policies and what it means to be an American aren’t in lock step, try this on for size and decide then how far apart… [read more]
