Washington is busy screaming and crying over Putin's military adventure in Syria, and Moscow is pumping out the propaganda about how they are "destroying" terrorists by the score, the actual facts on the ground is that not all that much has changed.
Russia's offensive ismaking minimal gains
Back when I lived in Arkansas (1984-2000), I would frequently be told, upon seeing outrageous behavior on the part of one of that state's citizens, "You've got to remember, This is Arkansas." As if that simple statement implied that Arkansans were not subject to the laws of the United States or the societal expectation of Planet Earth.
It frustrated me no end.
It got so I would say
Arkansas is a really beautiful place to live, except for the people who live there.
I imagine people in other places may have similar stories...or perhaps, ones that are in total opposition.
The news spins:
Per an e-mail I received from CREDO action --
"You can only be in a bubble for fifteen minutes at a time. Then you run out of oxygen."
So does it seem like pretty much all the world is just Bad and Wrong? Here, there, all and everywhere?
Well, maybe, in truth, it's not so bad.
Like, can you still breathe? Still? Try it. Still. Breathe. Just breathe.
The stealthy, Eric Schmidt-backed startup that’s working to put Hillary Clinton in the White House
An under-the-radar startup funded by billionaire Eric Schmidt has become a major technology vendor for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, underscoring the bonds between Silicon Valley and Democratic politics.
Putin has outmaneuvered Obama. Washington is trapped by its own political rhetoric.
At least that is how this news story will appear to the war hawks and hard-core partisans.
Of course the first part of this is...or should be...quite obvious. How about people stop murdering trans women of color?
It's time to do more than just solve each homicide as they happen. It's time to do more than just arrest these horrific people who commit these violent crimes. It's time to do the work beforehand.
--Nellie Fitzpatrick, mayor's liaison to the LGBT community in Philadelphia
It is not enough to light candles.
--Suffok, MA, District Attorney DanConley
Of course being murdered is only one of the leading causes of our demise. Another one is suicide.
This evening's music features two artists too obscure to have a wikipedia entry, blues, soul and r&b singer Tiny Powell who began his career singing in gospel groups, and Chicago blues harmonica player Little Willie Anderson. Enjoy!
Tiny Powell - Take Me With You
Per SFGATE, California is now a "right to dry" state after Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill Thursday restricting homeowners associations from banning clotheslines, which the groups deemed unsightly additions to neighborhoods.
The article, Brown signs bill reversing bans on clotheslines - SFGate, makes it clear that renters have those rights.
Now, the law states landlords must allow tenants to air-dry their clothes in their own backyard if they wish, as long as "the clothesline or drying rack will not interfere with the maintenance of the rental property and the use of the clothesline or drying rack does not violate reasonable time or location restrictions imposed by the landlord."
I am enjoying the Republicans effort to select a new house leader.
Kevin McCarthy Suggests House Republicans Are Ungovernable, May Need To 'Hit Rock Bottom'
In the wake of Rep. Kevin McCarthy withdrawing his candidacy to replace Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), the California Republican speculated that the House could be ungovernable.
We appear to be reaching the "Thanks but no thanks" moment in our relationship with Iraq.
They are debating our rights again in Massachusetts. I hate when that happens. It always makes me feel so scummy.
The legislators are discussing H. 1577 and S. 735 which would increase the scope of the current anti-discrimination laws to protect transgender people in public places.
Currently it is illegal to refuse to hire someone who is transgender but totally legal to refuse to provide service to that same person.
Massachusetts lawmakers in 2011 passed a law adding transgender individuals to the list of protected classes from employment or housing discrimination, but stopped short of including public accommodations protections. Other states — 17 in total — have passed similar laws offering such expanded protections.
This evening's music features blues guitarist and singer Larry Johnson. Enjoy!
Larry Johnson - Hear The Angels Singing
I'm having a hard time dealing with the 'world as we find it' these days. I find myself focusing on local, state and regional as far as politics go. Politics, local, regional, national and global are not really separate from the global society at large. They seem to be a symptom of the general malice the world at large is suffering under. I do not blame ordinary people however as they really do not have any meaningful choice about the direction or agenda that is imposed on them.
The 1848 Revolution
"We are sleeping together on a volcano . . . A wind of revolution blows, the storm is on the horizon."
- Alexis de Tocqueville
