Tag Archives: UCLA

Blessed are the Ignorant: Rick Santorum Adds a Beatitude to the Sermon on the Mount

“Blessed are ye who lack degrees, for such is the Party of God.” And they applauded. What manner of man is this? _____ “But woe unto those that are educated, for they art snobs.” Here’s a transcript of Rick Santorum’s exact … Continue reading

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Six years later, I collapse (my defenses) and listen to Jared Diamond present the broad outlines of his book, “Collapse” (Viking 2004)

Back in December of 2004, when Jared Diamond’s Collapse  came out, I decided that I wouldn’t buy it. I simply didn’t want a Paul Ehrlich-1970s-style-downer book about the environment marring my otherwise sunny disposition. I’m not brave Oedipus: I don’t necessarily … Continue reading

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Creation vs. Evolution Watch: A Trojan Horse at UCLA?

This past week a group of Evangelicals came onto the UCLA campus in Westwood and gave away 2000 free copies of Charles Darwin’s Origin of Species (1859). But, as usual, there is a catch to such things. The edition of … Continue reading

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Bad News for Democrats

When the midterm elections hit in the Fall of 2010, it’s probably not likely that the unemployment picture will look all that much better than it does today (at least if a Wall Street Journal panel of economists’ forecasting is in … Continue reading

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On Saturday, I Saw Chris Hedges, One of My Favorite Authors, at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books

I admit it. If Chris Hedges had a fan club, and sent its members David Cassidy-like studio photos and groovy stickers for your school folders, I’d join it. And on Saturday, at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at UCLA, he … Continue reading

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Shepherd Smith is My Hero

It’s nice to see someone at Fox News with moral clarity on Bush era torture:

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“Let’s Go to Lunch?”: A YouTube Video by Santi Tafarella

Okay, I’m addicted to making YouTube videos now. Here’s my third attempt. A college student, on hearing a passing ambulence, expresses existential angst to another college student, who, in the midst of her angst, adds to it by inviting her … Continue reading

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A Lover Not a Fighter: Obama Reaches Out to Iran

This blew me away. The tone is so refreshing—and different—from the previous administration:

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Bearing Witness to the Holocaust: A German Jewish Girl Who Was Part of the Kindertransport (1939)

This German Jewish girl (age 7) was part of the Kindertransport that, in 1939, got 10,000 Jewish children out of Nazi-controlled areas of Europe. Her name: Dorrith Oppenheim. She ended up in Scotland. Her parents died at Auschwitz in 1944. More … Continue reading

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The Universal Declaration of Human Rights Set in Motion Typography

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Wall Street Apocalypse Now?

I’m not sure what to make of this, but it appears that at least some “people-in-the-know” on Wall Street are getting spooked—survivalist-style spooked. I suppose that, without credit moving through the system, that supply lines of goods and services could … Continue reading

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Four Weeks in and Here’s the Big Picture: Obama’s Winning!

This today in the NY Times: Just four weeks into Mr. Obama’s presidency, the Democrats boasted that they had already approved three major bills: a measure to curb pay-discrimination against women in the workplace, a broad expansion of the state … Continue reading

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David Frum on the Republican War on Obama

Conservative David Frum thinks the Republican party needs to start working and compromising with the Democrats, and not spend the next several years in a Rush Limbaugh-style war against all things Obama. He thinks that if the Republican party doesn’t … Continue reading

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Bearing Witness to the Holocaust: Mass Grave at Bergen-Belsen, May, 1945

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Bearing Witness to the Holocaust: Dachau, 1945

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New and Improved Republican Memes!

What the Republican Party urgently needs now is (drum role, please) . . . new and improved message memes! Translation: Sell the same shit in different verbal packaging. In other words, just say things like this (and the Republicans will … Continue reading

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“In walks these three girls in nothing but bathing suits”: See Here John Updike, in a 1995 Interview, Discussing His Short Story, “A & P”

Part one: Part two:

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No Bible Used at Obama’s Second Oath-Taking

I read in the NY Times this morning that Justice Roberts had administered to President Obama the oath of office one more time (to correct the flubbed wording on Inauguration Day). But I also noticed that, rather deep in the article, … Continue reading

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I Love Obama

It’s such a relief to know that we’ll soon have a thoughtful, sensible, open-minded president with a hard core of common sense and moderation:

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Senator Al Franken of Minnesota?

FiveThirtyEight.com gives the details of today’s absentee ballot counting here. Money quote: Minnesota took until 5 PM today to begin actually counting rejected absentee ballots, as the Canvassing Board sorted through various legal objections, underwent the arduous task of physically … Continue reading

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