Tag Archives: politics

Rational Bias

Posted on May 5, 2013 by

(Picture from here.) We humans have a strong bias that our decisions are based on an intelligent, rational cognitive process. It’s embedded in our language– that was a “stupid decision.” However, anybody who has lived a fairly full life must … Continue reading →


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La Guantanamera

Posted on April 29, 2013 by

by Ursula K. Le Guin After the Boston Marathon bombing people kept talking about Americans standing together, standing tall. I didn’t understand. Americans grieving together, bowing down in sorrow together — I could understand that. We needed to mourn together … Continue reading →


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How to make the electoral process more interesting

Posted on November 17, 2012 by

With this week’s elections for the new police commissioners setting a new UK peacetime record for apathy – only 15% of voters turned out and one polling station in Wales had no one turn up to vote at all – … Continue reading →


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Is the Election Over Yet?

Posted on November 1, 2012 by

by Nancy Jane Moore The U.S. election is next Tuesday. I can hardly wait for Wednesday, when the damn thing will be over. At last. Of course, it’ll only be a short time — maybe a year — before the … Continue reading →


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Posted in Community, Rants | Tagged | 4 Comments

Restraint

Posted on October 8, 2012 by

Restraint by Ursula K. Le Guin I’m fascinated by this historical snippet from the New York Times’ “On This Day” feature: “On October 5, 1947, in the first televised White House address, President Truman asked Americans to refrain from eating … Continue reading →


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47% Moocher
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Posted on September 20, 2012 by

When I was a pup, getting my career started, I worked through a number of years during which I didn’t make enough money to pay federal income taxes. I did pay self-employment tax, which is essentially both halves of the … Continue reading →


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Where Have All the Liars Gone?

Posted on September 3, 2012 by

by Ursula K. Le Guin What’s happened to the word “lying,” anyhow? Nobody tells a lie any more. “Deciding to ignore the facts,” “not fact-checking,” “stretching the truth,” “not telling the entire truth,” — in covering speeches by Romney, Ryan, … Continue reading →


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Silly Season

Posted on July 29, 2012 by

As my comrades behind the scenes at BVC discuss misheard lyrics (Bathroom on the Right, anyone?) and misread book titles (Torched by an Angel!), I realized we’re in the heart of the Silly Season. Traditionally, this applies to news—a time … Continue reading →


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Willard’s Favorite Year

Posted on April 7, 2012 by

When former governor Willard “Mitt” Romney repeats his campaign catch phrase, “Take Back America,” and reminisces about how wonderful America was before it all changed for the worse, I wish somebody would ask him exactly what year he was waxing … Continue reading →


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Contraception

Posted on March 29, 2012 by

The discussion is about contraception: Hormonal birth control pills, taken by women, chosen by women, under the control of women. The discussion is about contraception. Hormonal birth control pills can be used to combat acne, endometriosis, irregular periods. Nevertheless, the … Continue reading →


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Posted in Book View Cafe | Tagged , , | 13 Comments