Opinion
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
On Newtown: Stop micromanaging the debate
Posted by Julie Garisto on Wed, Dec 19, 2012 at 11:02 AM
Thursday, September 20, 2012
I Am Choice's "Get Out the Vote" campaign launches in opposition of Amendment 6
Posted by Arielle Stevenson on Thu, Sep 20, 2012 at 1:24 PM
- JANELLE IRWIN, WMNF
At the time, The Sun Sentinel reported that, "among his proposals, Martinez wants a state law requiring women seeking abortions be tested if they are at least 20 weeks pregnant a reduction of the states current 24-week standard. If doctors determine that the fetus can survive outside the womb, abortion would be allowed only to save the woman's life, under the governor's proposal."
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Political Wizards Turn Immigration Reform into Racial Profiling
Posted by Samuel Johnson on Tue, Aug 21, 2012 at 4:00 PM
On Monday the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in Atlanta ruled that at least one derisive feature of the Georgia and Alabama immigration laws will be left intact. The so called “show me your papers” provision is intended to allow law enforcement to more verdantly apprehend illegal immigrants who are suspected of a criminal wrongdoing.
Friday, August 17, 2012
Pussy Riot found guilty
Russian punk rockers Pussy Riot face two years of jailtime for hooliganism.
Posted by Arielle Stevenson on Fri, Aug 17, 2012 at 11:05 AM
- ASSOCIATED PRESS
Radical Canadian femme rocker Peaches wrote Free Pussy Riot, in solidarity with the band. The Knife, Lykke Li, Miike Snow and others joined Peaches in the video.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
RNC closures are a little too sobering
Posted by Cecelia Messina on Wed, Aug 15, 2012 at 10:10 AM
- LONGORIAWINE.COM
Pour the man (or woman) a glass of Longoria Pinot Grigio from Santa Barbara County. There’s no relation between our Longoria and their Longoria except that they’re both tops in their field. The crisp refreshing flavors of the wine will help quench that parched feeling Florida heat gives and pairs well with one of our area favorites at the Hurricane — blackened grouper sandwich.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
The price of corn versus the price of freedom
Posted by Samuel Johnson on Tue, Aug 14, 2012 at 3:29 PM
"Politicks are now nothing more than means of rising in the world. With this sole view do men engage in politicks, and their whole conduct proceeds upon it."
Dr. Samuel Johnson (1791)
A few weeks ago with little fanfare and almost negative column inches the US Senate approved an extension of the Farm Bill with minor cuts. Despite the horrendous weather conditions in the plains states (i.e Corn Belt) and the failing harvest, the proposed extension of the Farm Bill will include a lavish provision for crop insurance programs that will protect farmers against both natural disaster and market fluctuations. Recently spin doctors in the media have ominously foretold that the price of diary and meat will to go through the roof in the last quarter of the year.
That hits all of US consumers hard in the wallet as we attempt to buy those government subsidized groceries. It's apparent that the Farm Bill of 2008 needs to be meaningfully overhauled AGAIN. However, when the US House of Representatives finally gets around to drafting their version it is likely to be a near carbon copy of the Senate's bill. The extension is slated to dole out about $96 billion a year to subsidies on “specialty crops” (read: primarily corn and soy) about $50 billion which will be in direct payments to mostly large agribusinesses.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Meditating on Moss: A Green History
Posted by Samuel Johnson on Sat, Aug 4, 2012 at 2:58 PM
When you conjure up images of European medieval woodland landscapes, as depicted in fairy tales and hero's adventures, the scenery is often an iconic archetype. The mosaic of images probably contains languidly moving brooks flanked by dense arboreal vistas and most certainly there is a vibrant lush green carpet stretching in all directions on the forest floor. This expansive and luxuriant green blanket is composed of an interwoven series of a singular and amazing plant; moss.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Deifying Politicians
Posted by Samuel Johnson on Mon, Jul 23, 2012 at 12:32 PM
The hagiographies of Catholic saints provide an insightful and useful blueprint to dissecting the populistic veneration of political figures when their biographies get a revisionist treatment. However, potential Catholic saints are scrutinized on the merits of their wonders before their canonization as a bona fide Saint. If the Pontiff is swayed by the empirically fuzzy proof then the dead person enters an undefined period of beatification. The beatification marks a cooling off period whereby more “proofs” of exceptional earthly divinity are gathered and filed away. Once enough evidence has been amassed the reigning Pope can cast off the beatification and officially canonize the Saint “in waiting”.
Monday, July 16, 2012
A Remedy for Societal Discord: 5 American Fakelore Heroes
Posted by Samuel Johnson on Mon, Jul 16, 2012 at 7:31 AM
Myths, folklore and heroes' tales are at their root contextually more than the just the sum of their parts. Fakelore differs from folklore in that fakelore is consciously manufactured yarning whereas folklore has a more organic genesis. Joseph Campbell, the eminent mythologist, comparative religion scholar and de facto philosopher, wrote extensively on folklore and hero's and is considered the foremost expert on the cultural roles myths play. In his seminal book “Hero with a Thousand Faces” Campbell elucidates how the tale of a hero is formed; “A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.” A hero's tale is single type of myth which conforms to one or more of the four functional types of myths Campbell defines.
The five American fakelore heroes which follow are examples of the “sociological” function which heroes' tales provide. The sociological function of heroes' tales is that they, in a broad sense, reinforce and justify a particular social or cultural stability. That mechanism of coalescence into an accepted social order through a mythological hero's tale is at the core of these five American fakelore examples. Each hero is an amalgamation of specific demographics which are reflected in the attributes of the heroes and their unique tribulations and triumphs. Curiously, these five American fakelore heroes emerged from the 19th century as America was reflecting inwardly on the effects of modernization and industrialization.
Naturally, the obvious question would be; which cultural and social catalysts are subconsciously at work now helping to shape future fakelore heroes' tales?
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Voting in E (Flat) Harmony
Posted by Samuel Johnson on Tue, Jun 26, 2012 at 8:42 AM
In the midst of the hostile and bitchy fervor of the 2012 American Presidential campaigns it seems appropriate to pause and reflect. Reflect on what really binds us all during this virulent political climate.
The talking head pundits would have us believe that the country is horrifically divided and that the other guys are plotting and conspiring away in their evil alchemy crypt. Each faction scheming in their respective murky lair on how to suspend the constitution and install either a nefarious North Korean styled socialism or setting up an ultra fascist potentate. Busy busy busy constructing an eerie social wedge to be driven between the socio-economic classes. A wedge so malevolent and derisive that it will put all the peoples of the United States into a tailspin while the political alchemist skulks in a corner and laughs sinisterly all the way to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
