Search Results for: police state

Junction City, Off the Record: Tales From Ogden, Utah’s Notorious Underworld in the Roaring ‘Twenties

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The newly published book, Junction City, Off the Record: Tales From Ogden, Utah’s Notorious Underworld in the Roaring ‘Twenties, by Jim Spas, my one time brother in law, is worthy of a close look. Jim comes originally from New York State, but has lived in the west for most of his life. He has a … Continue reading Junction City, Off the Record: Tales From Ogden, Utah’s Notorious Underworld in the Roaring ‘Twenties →


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Is Blackface Ever Racist?

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In order to answer this question, we have to talk about Jim. Jim Crow. The term “Jim Crow” can refer to the set of laws based on the claim that black people in America are inferior to whites, are to be kept from opportunity, and segregated. Lynching is an option. The law implements this philosophy … Continue reading Is Blackface Ever Racist? →


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Political costs of black lives not actually mattering

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The real cost, the important cost, of black lives not mattering to the white establishment, the police, and others, is of course uncalled for injury and death of, mainly, young black men, but also anyone of color regardless of gender or age. But here I simply want to point out a different thing, which will … Continue reading Political costs of black lives not actually mattering →


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I for one welcome Donald Trump’s policy to arm half the teachers …

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… because of this: Some of my best friends are teachers, including my wife. Overall, teachers are the best people. When I imagine a trained armed force larger than the United States Marine Corps, made up of 100% teachers, teachers ready to put things right, I get all giddy. But seriously…


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Gun Control and School Shootings

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When a school shooting happens, good people become horrified and many ask for better gun laws. The answer that comes from the anti-safeguard lobby, those who mainly want guns to be unregulated with respect to ownership, safety, use, or disposition, is that such laws would not have stopped the tragedy that prompted the conversation. They … Continue reading Gun Control and School Shootings →


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Minnesota Vikings: The Chance of Victory and the Psychology of Defeat

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I had been living in Minnesota for just about a year when the Vikings played the Falcons in the playoffs that one time. I was living, as it happens, in the city of Falcon Heights. You know about Falcon Heights, very likely, even if you don’t know you do. Ever heard of the Great Minnesota … Continue reading Minnesota Vikings: The Chance of Victory and the Psychology of Defeat →


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Falsehood: “People, not guns, kill people”

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Yes, of course, you need a person (usually) to pull the trigger. But it is abundance of and ease of access to guns that causes the United States to be off the charts in woundings and killings from firearms. This is what the research has shown for a very long time and continues to show. … Continue reading Falsehood: “People, not guns, kill people” →


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Is this terrorism?

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Is a particular act an act of terrorism? Is a particular person a terrorist? People want the label applied to acts and people that are readily and resoundingly vilified. It hardly matters if the person is an actual official terrorist. If they killed someone and you are really really mad at them you want them … Continue reading Is this terrorism? →


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When translations go bad, bad things can happen

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The gift shop had a key chain with a miniature hominid skull (KNM-ER 1470) on it. I saw the price tag, and it looked very expensive. I’m not sure if it looked expensive because I had just arrived in-county and had not yet adapted to the local currency, or if was because I had just … Continue reading When translations go bad, bad things can happen →


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That Columbus Day is Evil: A truth and a falsehood

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Update: Long after I penned this essay, Cambridge MA (which is not Boston but is near and different from Boston) renamed Columbus Day “Indigenous People’s Day.” The photograph above is of the Columbus Statue in the North End, doused with red paint in 2006. Columbus Day has become a holiday of disdain, and there are … Continue reading That Columbus Day is Evil: A truth and a falsehood →


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Trump to Cops: You should do more to physically harm American citizens

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And the cops cheered. Trump gave a talk to a gathering of police out on Long Island, earlier today. It went horribly. There are cops that are going to take Trump’s lead, take what he said seriously, and because of that, they are going to harm or kill Americans and end their own careers, destroying … Continue reading Trump to Cops: You should do more to physically harm American citizens →


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Science and the Fourth of July

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Science and The American Experiment Click here to find out how attacking science is attacking the Declaration of Independence. Read this book to discover the link between science and democracy. We have Three Years to safeguard our climate, and the world probably needs America to take part in that. From the Striving to Kill Civilization … Continue reading Science and the Fourth of July →


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Who shot first?

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No, this is not about that. I believe it is true that for decades, shooters and politically violent people (two overlapping categories) in the US were right wingers, almost always. Case in point: the white supremacists who have now all been handed (a little bit of) jail time for emptying a pistol into a crowd … Continue reading Who shot first? →


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