politics
Politics does not dictate our collective cultural mindset as much as it simply reflects it; We've got to look in the mirror sometimes, and we've got one.
An Open Letter To Kathy Griffin
Dear Kathy Griffin, I love you. Truly I do. Your special brand of saying what's on your mind, with a side of crass jokes is what has made you one of the most successful female comics in the business. Your Cher stories are quoted on my Facebook ad nauseam. Your take on the Kardashians always makes me smile and secretly envy that you've met them. Heck, you even made me sort of like Anderson Cooper with your New Years Eve specials. But this week, you went too far and I think that you know it.
By Edward Anderson9 years ago in The Swamp
A Grim Fairy Tale, the Paris Environmental Accord and Its Repudiation
I am a very strong believer in protecting and preserving the environment but I am not a believer in deceptive use of smoke and mirrors to obfuscate that goal. The recently rejected Paris “Accord” was, in my opinion, not only inadequate, but fraudulent. It is non-binding for heavens sakes! How much more than that do real environmentalists (as opposed to political opportunists) need to know? It’s as though the nuclear non-proliferation treaty were non-binding and merely aspirational. Or criminal laws just suggestions. Aspirations are fine for what they’re worth, especially when, as in the Paris Accord, they include details and targets, a positive thing. But to fool progressives into thinking that they are more than wishful thinking and to deflect real efforts to create binding standards likely to be complied with is malevolent.
By Guillermo Calvo9 years ago in The Swamp
Dear Donald... You're An Idiot for Refusing the Paris Accord
Dear Donald, I am an American citizen—one of which would have rather voted for a baked potato as president than you. So, I may be biased. I'm not particularly fond of your anti-gay, anti-woman, or anti-poor legislation.
By Cato Conroy9 years ago in The Swamp
Epiphanies, Personal and Public
Epistemology and ontology are sciences concerned with truth, whether it exists and whether even if it does exist, it is ascertainable. They are fields of great interest to academics, especially philosophers, but provide scant confidence or comfort to the population at large which finds them ethereal, esoteric and of little quotidian use. The language of academia seems mystifying to most people. Take theories for example. Most people consider a theory an unproven hunch (e.g., the theory of evolution as perceived by creationists) but in the world of academia, theory is as close to truth as we ever get. What most people perceive as theories, academics and scientist refer to as thesis and hypothesis which evolve into the realm of theory only when successfully put to proof. The truth is that popular truths like gravity and basic mathematics are “mere” theories” while many concepts the public views as theories are mere thesis or hypothesis (e.g., intelligent design).
By Guillermo Calvo9 years ago in The Swamp
Beyond #Covfefe: Tweet Fails That Could End The World. Top Story - May 2017.
It happened around midnight. Trump, hoping to create a stirring speech for his worried, disillusioned and at times, angry, countrymen, had taken to Twitter. He wanted to say something powerful - perhaps about the death of the Great Barrier Reef, or about the Russian investigations.
By Frank White9 years ago in The Swamp
Donald and Jared Don't F*** with the Russians or the CIA
Rauri Chisholm who with his wife Janet Chisholm, two of my family’s closest friends when I was growing up, were top agents in MI6 and ran the star British agent Oleg Penkovsky in Moscow in the early 1960s. Penkovsky was the spy whose disclosures sparked the Cuban missile crisis. In fact it was Rauri who recruited me for the Foreign Office, where I served for two years in Iran.
By Felicity Harley9 years ago in The Swamp
Money and the Individualist–Collectivist Divide
Politics, in large measure, deals with the art of reconciling individual and collective interests. The overwhelming majority of humanity (with the possible exception of abandoned children who grew up as hermits) inhabits both spheres. The hardiest individuals generally use money and tools and roads and water supplies, perhaps listen to radio and television, read and frequently form parts of families. The most dedicated collectivist does some things alone and usually, at least at times, values privacy.
By Guillermo Calvo9 years ago in The Swamp
Laura Kuenssberg
A few years ago I wrote a Blog where I questioned the so called 'impartiality' of the BBC. It wasn't the first time I had noticed a stream of blatant propaganda which could only benefit the Conservative Party, aired by the BBC in the guise of unbiased news. Usually it would be a tabloid style report, that tried to pour scorn on anyone who opposed the Tory stances. After a while I started to see a pattern of deceit appearing that was then impossible to be unseen once gazed upon. A channel that I trusted because of their supposed impartiality, were starting to take on some of the traits normally seen on a state media channel in a far flung eastern realm. In that time there has been one member of the BBC political team who has left me flabbergasted by the rhetoric and her complete disregard for impartiality. I got so angry recently by her behaviour that I decided I needed to investigate who Laura Kuenssberg actually is? Why does she seem to support the UK Conservatives? But most of all what made her like this? A public stooge with a separate agenda than the one dictated to her by the BBC charter. My investigation led me back through her family history to try and discover the seeds of potential influence. To search for the root of influence I started to regard those who obviously have had influence over Kuenssberg through her life, her parents and grandparents. Recently David Cameron became offended when people questioned his father's offshore banking. I understand people being protective over their family, but this isn't name calling in the school yard and defensive reactions just increases suspicion. I'm sure Laura Kuenssberg may be offended by me including her family in this Blog, but people will ask questions when she is appearing to use a public platform with a hidden agenda.
By Johnny Vedmore9 years ago in The Swamp
