everything we know about politics is wrong (paranoia run amuck version)

Soundtrack in my head: Talking Heads, "Life During Wartime" geralt / Pixabay In my last three posts I talked about the revelation of the mass surveillance program in which our emails, internet searches, and mobile phone data are collected, stored and subject to review by the U.S. government at any time. It could be said … Continue reading everything we know about politics is wrong (paranoia run amuck version)

everything we know about politics is wrong (creeping authoritarianism version)

In my last post I wrote about the PRISM surveillance scandal and how creeping authoritarianism is oozing outward from the United States government/ Why would this happen? A number of theories abound, of course--everything from the Illuminati to the United Nations to the accusation that President Obama is a socialist. What has been very noteworthy … Continue reading everything we know about politics is wrong (creeping authoritarianism version)

everything we know about politics is wrong (Big Brother version)

Uncle Sam has hit the fan. He has removed his disguise, and we now realize that it's Big Brother behind the mask. The events of the several weeks should erase any doubt that the U.S. government has gone off the Big Brother deep end. Revelations of systematic monitoring and reading of our electronic communications and … Continue reading everything we know about politics is wrong (Big Brother version)

bury my heart at Schoolhouse Rock–the depth of American Indian genocide denial

Soundtrack in my head: Buffy Sainte Marie, "Now that the Buffalo's Gone" rauschenberger / Pixabay Recently, I've been struck by the extent of American Indian genocide denial. Certainly, there is debate over the extent to which this was, in fact, a genocide.  The guesses about the number of people living in the Americas immediately before … Continue reading bury my heart at Schoolhouse Rock–the depth of American Indian genocide denial

women (and some men) are having a field day with BIC pens on Amazon.com

Soundtrack in my head: Aretha Franklin, "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" StockSnap / Pixabay A 16-pack of "BIC Cristal Pens for Her" has attracted a lot of attention on Amazon.com  Many things on the Internet "go viral," but this is the first time I've seen a product on Amazon.com get so much … Continue reading women (and some men) are having a field day with BIC pens on Amazon.com

the mad dash to prepare for December 21, 2012. you know, the first day of winter. what did you think I was talking about?

Soundtrack in my head: The The, "This Is The Day" Comfreak / Pixabay As the days and hours counted down to December 21, 2012, Woodman's, Copps', Willy Street Co-op and other grocery stores reported extreme crowds and long lines as panicked Madisonians rushed to ensure they would have enough food, water and other provisions for … Continue reading the mad dash to prepare for December 21, 2012. you know, the first day of winter. what did you think I was talking about?

’tis the season to, um, well, you know…

Soundtrack in my head: Eurythmics, "Winter Wonderland" Now that I'm a graduate student, Christmas season gets kind of lost in the hustle and bustle of the end of the semester.  Four weeks, five papers, one class presentation, one exam, yeah.  So posts have been slim pickings this month.  But I thought I'd post a cute … Continue reading ’tis the season to, um, well, you know…