Saturday, September 11, 2021
TEDx speakers
They come to stand on the big red dot in center stage, to tell about who they are and what they believe in, what they have learned. They speak of personal life experiences, of their particular point of view. They invite you to consider all those things, and to be responsive to it, out loud or even if only in your own thoughts. Yesterday at MSU--Metropolitan State University--in Denver, the speakers were all from the local community: a revelation and celebration of who we live among, of the...
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Monday, August 30, 2021
Afghanistan: It's complicated.
Critics of every administration have always tended to grab onto pieces of any situation and frame them to make that administration look bad. It's politics, it's what politicians do. But this situation like most cannot be defined or described in a few words of clever snark. Those who go there only demonstrate how little they understand the big picture, and how manipulative they are willing to be despite reason or fairness. The first angle of attack from every side is assigning blame. The...
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Saturday, August 28, 2021
Clarification
Senator Manchin and many others seem to be equating and conflating the Taliban with Isis. This illustrates the problem of forming opinions with not-quite-full information, with basing opinions on emotional reactions which, while legitimate and sincere, are based on conjecture and speculation, not to mention, personal prejudices. This latest attack has been claimed by a particular branch of Isis that is hostile to the Taliban, and has a vested interest in creating more trouble between the US and...
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Monday, August 16, 2021
Afghanistan
My heart weeps for the women of Afghanistan. For the mothers, the daughters, the sisters: All who could not flee the oncoming wave of Taliban's twisted, religious self-righteousness. It will be bad for everyone, but especially for the women and girls. My heart aches for all the translators, guides, and mediators who aided the war against the Taliban, who, even if they could be pulled out themselves, have left behind families through whom they will be punished. For all the US servicemen and women...
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Sunday, August 15, 2021
Give the Earth a day off.
Running a/c, binging tv shows and movies, online surfing and searching, letting your vehicle idle... Many casual activities have unseen, unnoticed energy costs and make greater demands on the planet's resources than we realize. What if we all turned off all these things even one day a week, to see what kind of difference our casual and recreational activities make when amplified by millions? How about a Monday? Saturday? Sunday? Stay home, read an actual book, a real newspaper... Eat fresh food,...
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Friday, August 13, 2021
Changing the Narratives of Power
I recently watched a film that showed the bigotry and hostility in America towards Asians. Not just the historic stuff, but that it still is an active influence. For the first time, seeing that only some Americans promoted it, I became very much more aware of the way Euro-Americans have controlled the narrative that only they are legitimate Americans, that it is their 'right' to be in charge, to make all the rules, to define all the truths and beliefs of America. In fact, to define America. I...
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Sunday, August 8, 2021
Cave Bears and Pretty Girl with a hatchet
Watching The Rising Hawk: 13th century, has Mongols, Carpathian scenery... Sure, why not? I like all that stuff in a fantasy film. Turned it off after the first great hunt scene: girl falls into a cavern, looks occupied, a big open space with a stack of firewood. To the side is light and an opening to the rest of the cave. Does she go explore what appears to be a sunlit entrance? No. She blows a little hunting horn several times. The cave bear--of course there's a bear!--wanders into the chamber...
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Thursday, August 5, 2021
the bad words
First of all, words are not bad. It takes emotional filters to make them seem bad. It takes intent on the part of the speaker, even of the listener, to make a word bad. Lenny Bruce said it well in his 'Hard Words' bit. It's accessible in this article on the topic. https://medium.com/applaudience/lenny-bruce-are-there-any-niggers-here-tonight-71c6cf9f2a2c George Carlin is also mentioned in the article, as he also spoke of the power of words to hurt and manipulate--or not. All that said by way of...
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Thursday, July 29, 2021
They are the champions!
Each woman who stands up against the storm of the world's displeasure empowers the next, and the next. I salute Naomi Osaka for risking the lightning strike! I wonder if her taking a stand against exploitation and abuse in the name of Sport actually gave Simone Biles the push to standing up for herself. And Sunisa Lee, another American took gold for the US Gymnastics Team because Biles stepped aside, and that also makes me happy. I have wondered how much the controversy over Biles' amazing...
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Monday, July 26, 2021
Bubblewrap.
Bubblewrap. My mom used to fall down a lot, and we told her we should wrap her in bubblewrap. Today, talking about bumping into things a lot due to my wonky eyesight, the topic came up again. Bubblewrap hat... maybe a turban! Because it would be so elegant. Then this: *scene on a bus, train, or any mode of public transportation, maybe an elevator* 'pop' "Stop it." 'pop... pop pop...' "Cut it out!" "Just one more..." 'pop' 'pop pop pop' "No! No more! I don't even know you!" 'pop pop pop pop...' "...
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