Twenty five years after 9-11, we will wake up to a different world however intentional its creation

Aerial view of Lower Manhattan with the Twin Towers at sunset

In the minute or so it took to turn off the car and walk less than fifty yards to my cubicle, the second plane hit the other tower and I sat down at my desk in a completely different world. Of course, the real question was what that world would look like.  When the first… Continue reading Twenty five years after 9-11, we will wake up to a different world however intentional its creation

The quality of life canard and the irresistible appeal of nostalgia

Retro 1980s gadgets, cassette tapes, games, and memorabilia on a table

Though some might claim otherwise, I was there and few would really want to go back to a time when our lives were shorter, far less convenient, far less mobile, and far more of a pain in the ass in almost every measurable way. Over the past several weeks, more than one person has mentioned… Continue reading The quality of life canard and the irresistible appeal of nostalgia

No, the real problem with Ceuta being invaded by 60,000 migrants isn’t Republicans or other right wing politicians, it’s the invasion itself

World map with refugee silhouettes walking along migration paths across continents

The Atlantic makes the bizarre argument that conservatives are responsible for 60,000 people storming a peaceful beach in a Spanish territory in North Africa while completely ignoring the obvious role of lax immigration policies around the world. Last week, much of America and the rest of the world was shocked by videos from Ceuta, a… Continue reading No, the real problem with Ceuta being invaded by 60,000 migrants isn’t Republicans or other right wing politicians, it’s the invasion itself

Me, my dogs, and our long march together through evolutionary time

As my lovely wife is fond of saying, we and our beloved doggies are thrown together by fate, but I want to go much further back in time than she’s normally thinking to consider what fate had in store up to a hundred million years ago when humans and canines were one species.  Since every… Continue reading Me, my dogs, and our long march together through evolutionary time

Trump and the truth about Russia

Contrary to the conventional wisdom, President Trump was by far the most active opponent of Russia since Ronald Reagan and three key policy decisions in stark contrast with his predecessors prove it. It’s become a popular refrain in the mainstream media:  President Donald Trump was weak in his dealings with Russia, either because Russian President… Continue reading Trump and the truth about Russia

Trump and the truth about NATO that the establishment refuses to admit

For reasons that remain unexplained, but likely have to do with money and a penchant for talk over action, the conventional wisdom will simply not admit that President Trump is in good company with his skepticism, none other than George Washington himself. Last weekend, former President Donald Trump provoked somewhat bipartisan outrage in establishment circles… Continue reading Trump and the truth about NATO that the establishment refuses to admit

Greta Van Fleet and the insatiable need to rock

There’s little doubt the 80s rocked, but sadly both the word “rock,” whether as a noun, verb, adjective, or possible adverb form along with the genre itself fell out of favor in the early 1990s for reasons that remain entirely unexplained - perhaps until now. There’s little doubt the 80s rocked.  If the 70s were… Continue reading Greta Van Fleet and the insatiable need to rock

Trump and the impossible abortion question

The former President isn’t abandoning his position or expecting his supporters to move left on the controversial topic. He’s expecting them to accept reality and trusting in their ability to act rationally, leading rather than hiding behind a pro-life slogan that has no chance of actually becoming law.  On Sunday, former President Donald Trump angered… Continue reading Trump and the impossible abortion question

Coronavirus and abortion: Why can’t we be more like Europe?

European countries used to be a beacon for progressives eager to expand social programs and promote “democratic socialism,” but the comparison has fallen out of favor during the pandemic because it’s no longer politically useful.  Europe has taken a more reasonable approach to vaccines, including analyzing their real risks, and abortion than American progressives will… Continue reading Coronavirus and abortion: Why can’t we be more like Europe?

Operation: Mindcrime: How Queensryche’s masterful concept album changed my life

I was twelve years old when Queensryche released their rock opera, combining hair metal essentials with a subversive storyline about a heroin addicted assassin working for an underground revolution.  For me, it radically changed my perspective on what a genre could be, introducing concepts I’d learn more about and fully embrace in the years to… Continue reading Operation: Mindcrime: How Queensryche’s masterful concept album changed my life