Category: Commentaries
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Code of conduct for SCOTUS: It’s a start, but quite inadequate
Well, the United States Supreme Court finally came out with a Code of Conduct for itself. The 14-page document was released on November 13, 2023, most likely as a response to increasing calls in the halls of Congress for such a code, in light of recent revelations about potential conflicts of interest among some of…
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Tink and Ram 5
“Ram, something’s been bothering me since our last meeting,” said Tink, breaking the silence, taking a sip of her coffee. “Well, when you were talking about that time,” she continued, “you used the terms ‘chinks’ and ‘gooks.’ I was a little taken aback by the terms. Never heard you describe people that way before.” “Never had…
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Opting Out of the Holidays: A Feminist Revenge Fantasy for Moms
She stormed back into the living room. Exact scene. Football. Devices. Dirty sneakers. No drinks, no fire, no move to get grandma or butter. Charlotte had read an article about imagined future nostalgia, an ingrained drive in people – specifically mothers – to curate a perfect holiday so that their children will reminisce fondly about holidays…
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Israel-Hamas war is as senseless as it is tragic
What Hamas did in early October cannot be excused on any level. The outright murder of civilians, including, as war always does, women and children is simply not pardonable. It was an act both foolhardy and stupid and would never accomplish anything other than the utmost disdain from all reasonable people. And the almost-immediate official…
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Tink and Ram 4
“Mornin’, Ram.” “Mornin’, Tink,” he responded as she took her place in the chair on the opposite side of the thirty-inch round metal table which was part of the grouping of tables on the sidewalk in front of the storefront café that specialized in breakfast and lunch. “Nice change from the park bench,” Tink continued,…
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Survey reveals most Americans oppose book bans; partisan divisions revealed
At the beginning of September 2022, the EveryLibrary Institute commissioned Embold Research to do a national survey regarding book banning. Embold Research can be found online, and the content of that survey can be found on the EveryLibrary website including the questions as posed in the survey. The survey included 1,223 registered voters and has…
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He got the wrong guy
Nov. 22, 1963 was the day of the most significant murder of the 20th century, and every anniversary of that fateful day in Dallas brings another round of Camelot nostalgia and renewed interest in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. With this month marking the 60th year since the young statesman was killed as…
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Tink and Ram 3
Following a short pause while they both accustomed themselves to their new location, Tink asked, “Ram, do you believe in reincarnation?” “What?” was his somewhat startled response. “Whatever brought that up?” “Oh, I just thought it was an interesting subject. I was watching an old movie last night that had something to do with reincarnation…
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Just Rambling: Humanist group forming in Winchester
A couple of months ago, I happened to be discussing this with a friend who shares my Humanist life stance. Together, we decided to test the waters to see if there were others in Clark County who would be interested in starting a Facebook group for local Humanists. Within 24 hours, we had 24 members.…
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The tyranny of the minority
There should be little doubt in anyone’s mind that the Congress and our political system are in the throes of some pretty awful disabilities right now. A new book The Tyranny of the Minority by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt (available at the Clark County Public Library) provides good historical insight as to how we…