Bill Nye joins a pantheon of progressive science figures on GMOs

I guess the assumption will be that Monsanto bought him off. He joins a slew of progressive scientists including Neil DeGrasse Tyson and E.O. Wilson.  The Union of Concerned Scientists is in very cautious support of the technology, while advocating strict regulation. What I would like to know is if there are any major progressive science figures remaining, excluding those who are selling books or are on speaking tours in opposition to GMOs, who continue to view the technology as inherently dangerous. And just to clarify, I am not necessarily “pro-GMO.”  I believe like any other technology, there are good and bad applications.  But I do believe there is a plethora of misinformation fueling the opposition.

Almost makes me reconsider my opposition to the death penalty

This guy is just asking for it!

Too bad he’s on death row and isn’t an American citizen.  Otherwise he could run for Senate in Missouri.

Topic on KHSU Tonight – Islamaphobia

KHSU show tonight – my guest is Sohaib Awan who serves the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association as the Chairman of its Muslim Writers Guild, working with Muslim youth around the country to encourage them to take to the pen in defense and clarification of Islam.  We’ll be discussing Islamaphobia in light of the recent violence and depressing headlines.  7:00 – call in format as usual.

Michael Harrington vs. William Buckley – Classic Firing Line

What I find the most interesting about this debate is the complete disconnect in language between the respective ideologies.  Harrington had written The Other America which is said to have inspired Johnson’s War on Poverty.  It was written at a time when the US was at its wealthiest in terms of an expansive middle class, and Harrington brought to the attention of national politics that there remained a large underclass, not all of it urban and non-white.  Harrington lamented the inadequacy of the Johnson programs for their lack of economic development plans (rejected at the time because in the words of my high school history teacher they “wreaked of socialism.”).  And as industry moved out of the cities, and began to move out of the country entirely, the urban decay became visible due to the influence of a media which actually did try to cover some of the issues, and conservatives no longer denied the existence of poverty, but blamed it on what passed for our social services (nowhere near as extensive as those of Europe, but very extensive compared even to the New Deal).

But this clip comes from a time when poverty was still largely invisible, only made visible by Harrington’s book, which Buckley attempted to dismiss.  He wants to define poverty in spiritual terms, where Harrington focused on modern definitions – income ratios to costs of basic necessities, a science in its infancy at the time, at least in the US.

Here’s a talk he gave about the difference between socialism and liberalism.

And here he is debating Milton Friedman – in a video edited by some right wing group to emphasize where they believe Friedman won debating points, completely unaware that Friedman’s dire prophecies about Medicare never came to fruition, as a friend of mine who just retired noted that he was really happy to be able to abandon his crappy Blue Cross/Blue Shield plan for real care.

White Privilege on the Bus

Study seems to show that white passengers more are likely to get free ride than black.  I would like to know more about the study – the controls, etc.  But it only confirms what most of us know, even if many of us don’t acknowledge it.

I do remember the Eddie Murphy skit, which was hilarious.  But it would help if the article writer mentioned (if he knew) that it was a play on Black Like Me.

Continuing the Critical Thinking Theme on ATR

Continuing with the theme of critical thinking, Bob Froehlich and Julia Minton will join Eric Kirk to discuss the mechanics of changing one’s mind on an important issue – at what point should one invest time and effort to research the validity of our premises and the soundness of our arguments?  Join them to discuss the matter tonight at 7:00 on All things Reconsidered.

Andy Griffith explains the 4th Amendment to a potential Young Republican

Too bad Richie Cunningham isn’t in Congress.

And actually, there’s a bit of 6th Amendment issue mixed in.

1950s values, right conservatives?

Some Beautiful Things to See and Read

I haven’t plugged another blog in quite a while.  The local blogosphere is past its peak in terms of volume, as other social media with more bells and whistles have drawn energy away from this kind of medium.  But maybe the good stuff has managed to withstand the ravages of fashion.

The State is Concentric and the Individual is Eccentric isn’t a new blog.  In fact, it’s been around almost as long as mine.  kaivalya has posted here on occasion.  kaivalya doesn’t post much, but what you’ll find is beautiful photography and some words put together with enlightened brevity, with wit and soul.  And the photography isn’t just pretty.  She sees what’s in the objects and scenes, and grasps the moment to convey it beautifully.

I know that my blog list is way out of date, with many a dead link.  And probably I’m missing a number of thriving blogs.  One of these weekends I’ll clean it up.  Not sure I even remember how to add a link, but I’ll figure it out.

Potential Sewage Emergency in Redway

Stop pooping and save water!

More as the story develops.

Anarchists vs. ISIS

Anarchists vs. ISIS is the story, and again, maybe there’s a bit of typical left-romanticization in these stories – photos of good-looking young women with assault rifles have generated youth would-be revolutionary solidarity activist capital since the Sandinistas and FMLN.  It always seems so good to be true.

And here’s an article in a semi-mainstream liberal online magazine, also with lots of photos of the women – apparently the strategy is that the fanatics back off when they approach because if they’re killed by a woman in combat they don’t go to Heaven.

But what’s missing here are the articles from the mainstream media about atrocities committed by this group – so far none reported.  Yet the PKK does remain on our government’s list of terror groups.  There was a Commentary (a conservative magazine) article whining about the group’s Marxist influences, as this group is doing what four local governments and one superpower can’t seem to do.  They’re defeating ISIS.  And they’ve fought Iran.  Hussein.   Bashar al-Assad.  But they’ve also fought Turkey, and Turkey is a NATO ally, so, it is what it is.

Are they the real thing?  And given that four local governments, one superpower, and a very powerful fanatic group don’t like them – can they survive?

Photo is from the TPM article linked above.