politics
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The Immorality of the Lynch Mob
One of the worst habits of intellectual ages gone by is the tendency to make sweeping generalizations about the nature or character of entire cultures, societies, nations, or other abstract assemblages of of people. I say “ages gone by,” but I really ought to admit that this is a bad habit of all ages, and… Continue reading
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Some Political Vignettes of the United States
Idly formulated and illustrative of nothing. Healthcare Eliza: When I’m talking about universal healthcare, I mean that every one should have access to the care they need, regardless of their ability to pay.Sam: That sounds nice, but what about the people who don’t deserve it?Eliza: I don’t think “deserving” enters into it. Why waste time… Continue reading
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Sure, let’s talk about a National Divorce
A certain member of the House of Representatives called recently, not for the first time, for the negotiation of a separation of the United States into two parts. I thought this was rather cavalier of her, considering how hard she has worked to allow her chosen dictator and the party he has enslaved to get… Continue reading
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Political Murder
How horrible it must be, to love somebody who dies, and then to hear some stranger say that they are not especially moved by their death. I would hate to be in that position. I would want people to share, even in a small way, in my loss. That’s the human tendency: to seek comfort… Continue reading
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The unexpected loss of a favored place
It was the “Library of Black Excellence” that first drew Ariele and me to Epilogue Kitchen, an award winning restaurant in Salem, Oregon. I love things that double as libraries, and more generally places that celebrate books and their ability to propagate wisdom and ideas. That Epilogue placed itself in service of noble ideas and… Continue reading
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Superman is a Human Being
I want to talk about my favorite moment from the new Superman movie. Yes, I saw the new Superman movie; perhaps you’re thinking, “of course you saw the new Superman movie, this is exactly the sort of movie you go to see.” There’s something to that, as I am a huge nerd. I was always… Continue reading
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I don’t see how I can post about politics anymore
I don’t have the heart to say I told you so. The last few days I’ve been getting the same old pleas to call my Senators and Representatives if I live in a Republican state or district, and tell them to oppose the bill that will cut taxes for the rich, slash funding for Medicaid,… Continue reading
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Juneteenth
The other day, I was picking my wife up from work at the library. I arrived on the periphery of her conversation with a coworker, who was exasperated by a recent interaction with a patron. This patron was a person I have never knowingly laid eyes upon, but I understand her to be a white… Continue reading
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No Kings
The President is attempting a military occupation of Los Angeles; his secretary of Homeland Security is calling it a “liberation” from their duly elected mayor and governor. Her goons put handcuffs on a United States Senator and wrestled him to the ground for daring to confront her with questions. I understand the President’s poll numbers… Continue reading
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Stopgap
There won’t be a significant post this weekend, except for this one. There are a couple of reasons for this, and I’ll start with the one that would seem to be the most important: my computer is in the shop! Recently I purchased a new computer to replace the one I’ve had since 2011 or… Continue reading
Ink Tea Stone Leaf 