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January 4th, 2009
 | 10:44 pm - between the horizon and the sweet hereafter
Do not believe everything that's foisted on the tube as "history." It ain't.
Here's a legacy of the Bush years that we will be stuck with for decades to come. The neoCons wanted to kill centralized government of any size larger than what existed in the immediate post-colonial era, and as part of that they did their best to bankrupt states. Now, states are considering selling off their parks and roads -- and I have serious doubts that turning your highway into a toll road will put money into American hands. It's just as likely to leach funding for a foreign investor. I believe that infrastructure should belong -- in full title, forever -- to the municipality in which it exists and/or the people who paid for its construction, and no private entity should be involved in profitmaking that was not there from the first. The New York State Thruway was planned to be private from the start; the tolls pay for the repairs and the services and the snowplowing, and the money stays within the state. Not so with some newer privatizations.
In Illinois, silencing freedom of speech at the Waukegan City Council.
In Arizona, it's easier not to enforce the laws.
In Tennessee, the cost of coal is not clean.
In Pakistan, girls attending school after Jan. 15 will be killed.
In the Mideast, murdering civilians in Gaza.
In Britain, businesses at risk.
Best religion writing of 2008 -- a long list of good articles. And -- an excellent example -- The Sexual Threat to Fundamentalism.
Where child porn is concerned, what exactly is a 'written depiction of obscenity' and how does that affect fanfic and manga and similar concerns?
A focus on violence by soldiers returning from the war/occupation -- yes, there is a problem. (NYTimes)
De Re Coquinaria Pegasi, the Pegasus Galaxy cookbook.
Supporting Campbell's Soup as it sides with gay and lesbian couples.
Passively heated houses.
Looking for that unavailable small press or less-known science fiction novel? Check out Basement Full of Books.
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InsaneJournal |