It affects no one except (in the U.S.):
• 204,340 dead plus their families and friends
• Another 6.7 million people suffering from the disease, plus their families and friends
• The owners of 20% of all small businesses that are closed (more…)
Appealing to evangelical Christians is a key part of Trump’s re-election strategy, but what sort of American isn’t deeply rattled by top-listed candidate for the U.S. Supreme Court whose life’s mission is to transform the United States into a “Kingdom of God?”
No, that’s not a misquote; Amy Coney Barrett said, “(A) legal career is but a means to an end … and that end is building the Kingdom of God.”
I read an article in Christianity Today, hoping it would say something like: (more…)
Yesterday, police uncovered another ghastly hate crime, this one in Iowa, outside of a community well known for white supremacist activity. A black grandfather’s body was founding burning, lying in a ditch.
It’s not news to Americans that the incidence of race-based crimes and hate-group activity is skyrocketing. And, as shown below, it’s really not news to anyone anywhere that the image of the U.S. on the world stage has taken a terrible hit. (more…)
If you object to vulgar language, you’re going to want to skip this one. If, on the other hand, you’re not offended, I hope you’ll check out this wonderful video that describes Australia’s approach to climate change mitigation.
In the United States, the facts and figures aren’t identical, but Americans will note the striking (and disgusting) similarity between the Aussies and us.
I’ve heard this argument, and I’m sure there is some truth to it. After all, more than 90% of the news we receive comes from one of only six different corporate entities, and making money with news means sensationalized journalism.
But look at it this way: 70,000 children, many under four years old, either are or are not in cages. The Russians either have or have not put bounties on the heads of U.S. troops. Climate change either is or is not destroying the quality of our planet. The U.S. president either did or did not lie about what we knew about the pandemic.
Now, as it turns out all of these four things are true; there is no credible evidence that suggests that any of these is false.
OK, how upset should we be? What actions should we take to remedy these situations? 
That part may be controversial, but the facts themselves are not in doubt.
We can get rid of the news, but that doesn’t get rid of the problem. Or, as Aldous Huxley said…..
Occasionally I like to apply some mathematics to claims that are made about renewable energy technology.
Pictured here is something called Kitepower, another variation on the theme that we’ve seen so many times over the years. (more…)
A failing educational system, a television “news” channel based on falsity and twisted half-truths, denial of science, a voracious appetite for presidential lies.
A breeding ground for tyranny.
Prejudice. Judging before the fact. A preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience. I find myself doing that nowadays, and it doesn’t make me proud of myself.
The photo here depicts a woman at a political rally, but for which party? She’s not wearing a red hat, or carrying a confederate flag. She could be arguing why it’s important for the next president to replace RBG or explaining why black lives matter.
Nonetheless, I look at her and say: Trump Supporter.
Maybe this is just a poor excuse, but I can’t help myself.
Here’s a chart showing the number of acres consumed by wildfires in California since 1990. Keep in mind that, at 2.2 million acres, we’re only part way through the fire season; that’s because of the hot, dry, Santa Ana and Diablo winds that start blowing as we move into the fall.
Here’s my suggestion for a tourism slogan that I think would work well, since it’s honest, and candor is in short supply:
Get here now. The United States is diseased and dying, flouting health regulations, under water, on fire, economically depressed, ignoring science, besieged by neo-Nazi violence and police homicides, regressing 75 years socially and judicially, and under the leadership of a criminal sociopath. Almost half of us want four more years of this, but in case that doesn’t happen, make your travel plans today.
Kidding aside, this really is a historic time in world history. People have been claiming that we’re seeing the end of the American Empire for decades now, but most of us thought that this would be a slow process. Then came the man in orange.
Since the United States has ~4% of the world’s population and ~24% of COVID-19 fatalities, it’s pretty clear to anyone that Trump’s claim is just one more of his endless stream of lies.
But let’s admit something critically important: that the blame needs to be shared. (more…)
