November 19, 2018

Well, it's official , I'm a progressive activist....

https://hiddentribes.us/quiz/

Progressive Activists have strong ideological views, high levels of engagement with political issues, and the highest levels of education and socioeconomic status. Their own circumstances are secure. They feel safer than any group, which perhaps frees them to devote more attention to larger issues of social justice in their society. They have an outsized role in public debates, even though they comprise a small portion of the total population, about one in 12 Americans. They are highly sensitive to issues of fairness and equity in society, particularly regarding race, gender, and other minority group identities. Their emphasis on unjust power structures leads them to be very pessimistic about fairness in America. They are uncomfortable with nationalism and ambivalent about America’s role in the world.

Doesn't say anything about being a sucker for on line quizzes. I guess that can be assumed.

September 7, 2018

During Nixion's Last Year in Office...

I've read over the years that during Nixon's last year in office, as he was going off the rails, he would call for hair-brained bombing missions and other military actions to be taken, often while drunk. The generals would put him off by telling him the weather wasn't right at the time, and that they would start the planning process. Then they would do nothing, and he would forget about it... until the next episode.

I don't recall anyone complaining that they were "subverting democracy" or that they should have acted with "honor" and resign. My impression is that it was understood that they were in a tight spot and they did what they had to do.

I recall a discussion on NPR a few months ago between two foreign policy experts who were both dismayed that Trump did not seem to understand the full consequences of initiating a nuclear exchange. That this would be an existential threat to all human kind. One of them stated that in extremis he hopped that legal means could be found for stopping him. The reply was "any means" and he had to agree.

My opinion is that those around Dotard 45 should be doing what they can to prevent him from doing what he might. And an "honorable resignation" isn't necessarily an effective action to take, especially if you are not a top tier cabinet member. If you resigned and wrote a letter to the editor, you would be quickly replaced and forgotten. If you were to write an anonymous expose for the New Your Times, you might have something of a positive impact.

Bless his / her pointed little head.

July 16, 2018

Pink is the New Black....

.... in balaclavas. Pussy Riot's statement on disrupting the World Cup. We ARE Pussy Riot!!!!

February 19, 2018

Turn OFF Fox News !!!!

A couple years ago Color of Change started a campaign to Turn Off Fox News, and sent out bumper stickers. Actually, they were about the right size to palm and sort of covertly slap onto a public TV screen. (But that would be wrong.)

Since then, whenever I'm in a public place and Fox News is on, I ask for the channel to be changed, and basically all the time, the employees are happy to oblige. I usually ask for CNN.

So, this happens every time I go to the local Burger King. Fox is always on and I always get it flipped. But Friday they were already tuned into CNN and the breaking news was Muller's Russian indictments. I was going over some eMails, but keeping my ear on the development. Then I hear a loud, obnoxious voice instructing one of the employees to turn the channel to.... FOX.

I turned to him and said, excuse me, but I'm listening to the broadcast. He pointed out (loud and not polite) that I was reading my eMail - I told him I'm a multi-itasker, and that the news is an important development. He scoffed and (yes, loud and not polite) "well enjoy your fake news". I answered that it is journalism, not fake news. Just then CNN displayed its logo and announced "First, The Facts".

He sat down next to me, but when I didn't budge, he picked up his tray and headed to other side of the room. All along the way he kept blathering out loud that he was a friend of the owner, that the owner liked Fox news, and he was going to talk to the owner about this! So I said, equally loud, that I wanted to talk to the owner also. I got out my flip phone and walked over to his table and told him I would give him my phone number so he could pass it on to the owner and the owner could give me a call. This startled him and he told me to stay away from his table. I let him know that he was the one who cried out "fake news" and I just answered; he was the one who threatened to "talk to the owner" and I just answered. I told him that if didn't have anything more to say, I wouldn't have anything more to say - but if he did, I would.

That shut him up. He finished his meal in silence and left.

TURN OFF FOX NEWS!