Here’s a fabulous set of interviews of Noam Chomsky and economist Dr. Robert (Bob) Pollin at UMass Amherst’s Political Economy Research Institute (PERI), on the Green New Deal. Long-time readers will remember that Bob was good enough to let me use an interview I conducted with him as a chapter in my second book, Is Renewable Really Doable? back in 2011. If you want to see a resume that’s as long as your arm, you may want to check this out. (more…)
I guess we’re all wondering how it was possible that security at the U.S. Capitol was so weak on January 6th that the building was easily compromised by hundreds of angry Trump supporters. I know I personally have invested a lot of mental cycles into this matter.
But now it seems quite plausible that no one anticipated that loyal followers of the “law and order” party, and the backers of “blue lives matter” would smash into the most central icon of American democracy and beat a policeman to death with a fire extinguisher. (more…)
What lies ahead for the United States? We talk about a return to normality, but how is anything like that possible knowing that our country is filled with people that have the same political sensibilities as the twisted jackass pictured here?
People of decency would love to follow Joe Biden’s direction and, to whatever degree possible, re-establish some level of national unity, but now that all this is out in the open, and there are still Trump flags flying all around the country, it’s not going to be an easy task.
Psychologists counsel the emotionally wounded to “find a new normal,” meaning to stop expecting to live life as it was before experiencing a certain trauma. Maybe that’s the best we can hope for: a new normal that includes accepting the fact that we live among tens of millions of despicable human beings, and there’s not a goddamn thing we can do about that.
The funny part about this, if there is one, is that this moron thinks supporting terrorists has political legs.
Yes, we’re a tragically screwed up country, but there is a limit. Backing for Trump dropped like a rock yesterday, as it became clear to millions of his ex-supporters exactly what a vile and sociopathic person he is. Better late than never.
This iconic image of QAnon supporter and white supremacist Richard Barnett, sitting behind Nancy Pelosi’s desk after having stormed the Capitol, has a kind of irony to it, in that he’s far more likely to die in prison than in some sort of gun battle.
Since terrible people are all over our news at this point, it seems a good time to talk about Brian May, virtuoso guitarist with a doctorate in astrophysics, and fiercely dedicated to animal rights.
I was driving somewhere about two years ago, minding my own business, listening to NPR. Imagine my delight to hear Terry Gross interview him on her long-running radio program Fresh Air.
More here.
Here’s a concept I just came across:
There are years that ask questions and years that answer. -Zora Neale Hurston (pictured), folklorist and writer (7 Jan 1891-1960)
Interesting, but doesn’t it seem that each year both asks and answers questions? (more…)
As a reader commented: Newark is one of the cities that has already been doing the work of defunding by building up social services and changing police culture. Great progress, but still a long way to go.
Exactly right. The word “defund” was a terrible choice, but once one understands what it actually means, virtually anyone would be in favor of it.
Do you have a crazy but unarmed guy running through the street naked? An eight-year-old acting up in school? A potential suicide? You don’t need a guy with a gun; you need someone with good communication skills, trained for that ad hoc purpose–and a cell phone to call 911 if somehow the matter gets out of hand and force is ultimately required.
Anyone who believes that tiny, robotically driven, electrically powered mowers are the future of lawn care can plunk down $100K and buy a franchise. On the other hand, anyone who, like me, sees this as preposterous, would do well to stay away, far away.
Over the coming 15 years or so, the citizens of Earth will experience great change. From the standpoint of the energy and transportation sectors, that will mean decarbonization, both in our grid-mix and in our automobiles.
The years between 2030 and 2035 are the endpoints that a number of the states here at home and many countries in the EU have designated as the last date at which new gas- and diesel-powered cars can be sold. (more…)
