The War on Truth…

GIF Image Source: Nathan Rabin’s Happy Place Blog Topics: Civics, Civil Rights, Civilization, Democracy, Environment, Existentialism “It’s a Good Life” is the eighth episode of the third season of the American television series The Twilight Zone, and the 73rd overall. It was written by series creator/showrunner Rod Serling, based on the 1953 short story “It’sContinue reading “The War on Truth…”

Eugenics…

Topics: Civics, Civil Rights, Civilization, Democracy, Economics, Education, Existentialism Carrie Buck and her mother (left panel) were both labelled as “feebleminded,” shorthand for unintelligent and undesirable. In the 1927 the Supreme Court case, Buck v. Bell, judges endorsed the surgical sterilization of Carrie Buck, who was pregnant due to rape at age 16. Officials atContinue reading “Eugenics…”

Allegory…

Why is Plato’s Allegory of the Cave Still Relevant? Source: A Change For Better Topics: Artificial Intelligence, Civics, Civilization, Democracy, Existentialism, Fascism This is another conversation with Claude.ai that I found enlightening. It allows me to experiment with artificial intelligence and pose questions that I hope are carefully thought through, to see how the appContinue reading “Allegory…”

Now What?..

Students enter Harvard Yard, on the university’s main campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Credit: John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty “Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.” “There was truth and there was untruth, and if you clung to the truth even against the whole world, you were notContinue reading “Now What?..”

Memorials, and Directions…

Topics: African Americans, Civics, Civil Rights, Democracy, Existentialism, Human Rights It’s been a while since I’ve posted. I’ve been busy at my federal work, a large part of it after rescinding all previous telework agreements. I am now commuting an hour and ten minutes to and from my work site five days a week, inContinue reading “Memorials, and Directions…”

March Madness…

In 2012 the 1895 pastel-on-cardboard version fetched almost $120 million (£75 million) at Sotheby’s in New York (Credit: The Scream 1895/Edvard Munch) Topics: Civics, Civil Rights, Civilization, Democracy, Existentialism, Fascism An entry in Munch’s diary, dated 22 January 1892, recorded the inspiration for The Scream: “I was walking along the road with two friends –Continue reading “March Madness…”

Dr. Carter G. Woodson…

The Origins of Black History Month: Carter G. Woodson’s Act to Remember, State Senator Lena Taylor, Feb 11, 2019 Topics: African Americans, Black History Month, Carl Sagan, Carter G. Woodson, Democracy, Diversity in Science, Existentialism, Women in Science “If you can control a man’s thinking you do not have to worry about his action. WhenContinue reading “Dr. Carter G. Woodson…”

Comorbidities…

Topics: Civics, Civil Rights, Civilization, Democracy, Existentialism, Fascism John D. Rockefeller, the founder of the Standard Oil Company, the first billionaire of the United States of America, and once the richest man on Earth was asked by a reporter, “How much money is enough?” He calmly replied, “Just a little bit more.” Siddhartha Rastogi, CNBCContinue reading “Comorbidities…”

Lead, Iron, and Empires…

Ice sample on the melter during continuous ice core chemical analyses at the Desert Research Institute (Credit: Sylvain Masclin) Topics: Chemistry, Civilization, Democracy, Environment, Existentialism It’s perhaps historically appropriate that the word “ironic” contains “iron.” Mining and smelting minerals like iron represented technological highs at the Roman Empire’s peak. But those activities also produced enoughContinue reading “Lead, Iron, and Empires…”

Gatsby and Ash Heaps…

Topics: Civics, Civil Rights, Civilization, Climate Change, Democracy, Existentialism Ref: https://litkicks.com/ingatsbystracks/, In Gatsby’s Tracks: Locating the Valley of Ashes in a 1924 Photo. The ash heap was a metaphor for the rot and decay of modern life as the author depicted it in the novel: The spot where Fitzgerald had a vision would soon becomeContinue reading “Gatsby and Ash Heaps…”