First, do no harm
As Planet Earth continues to hemorrhage crude oil from its wound — with a worst-case estimate of as much as 100,000 barrels a day — we grope, beyond our anger and guilt, simply to imagine what damage we have done in the pursuit of human empowerment.
This is bigger than BP, blameworthy though the company may be. This is bigger than any sort of “us vs. them” scenario we can think of. It’s a crisis of civilization, which means all of us.
If we drive, use energy, buy products wrapped in absurd, throwaway plastic — if we live at all — it cuts across our lives. The roots of this disaster, and, God help us, the ones to come, are political and corporate and governmental, and they are also intensely personal. We all collude in society’s “addiction” to oil, or what I would call its sense of entitlement: This is our planet. We’re the boss.
What we’re truly addicted to, or at least inextricably caught up in, is what my friend Jim Oberg calls “doomsday capitalism” and its need for reckless, unlimited economic growth. With this system operative, we trend toward war, empire and exploitation.
This is bigger than BP, blameworthy though the company may be. This is bigger than any sort of “us vs. them” scenario we can think of. It’s a crisis of civilization, which means all of us.
If we drive, use energy, buy products wrapped in absurd, throwaway plastic — if we live at all — it cuts across our lives. The roots of this disaster, and, God help us, the ones to come, are political and corporate and governmental, and they are also intensely personal. We all collude in society’s “addiction” to oil, or what I would call its sense of entitlement: This is our planet. We’re the boss.
What we’re truly addicted to, or at least inextricably caught up in, is what my friend Jim Oberg calls “doomsday capitalism” and its need for reckless, unlimited economic growth. With this system operative, we trend toward war, empire and exploitation.
You got it coming!....A fabulous CHICAGO
Okay, so I'm a sucker for watching two fantastically beautiful and talented women put on an impeccable show.
That would be Brenda Braxton and Bonnie Langford, the terrific co-stars of the truly wonderful CHICAGO that just opened at the Palace.
We're slated to see a similar duet when WICKED thankfully comes next month.
But from start to finish, this CHICAGO is truly special. Many of us will unavoidably compare it to the star-studded movie that got all that hype and won all those Academy Awards.
But I, for one, VASTLY prefer this one. The presentation is simple, unpretentious and both completely professional and personally engaging.
Braxton and Langford carried off their demanding, athletic and operatic leads with grace and charm. We---my 11-year-old daughter, Shoshanna, who was mesmerized for the entire performance---and I were engaged, amused, entertained and ultimately in awe.
That would be Brenda Braxton and Bonnie Langford, the terrific co-stars of the truly wonderful CHICAGO that just opened at the Palace.
We're slated to see a similar duet when WICKED thankfully comes next month.
But from start to finish, this CHICAGO is truly special. Many of us will unavoidably compare it to the star-studded movie that got all that hype and won all those Academy Awards.
But I, for one, VASTLY prefer this one. The presentation is simple, unpretentious and both completely professional and personally engaging.
Braxton and Langford carried off their demanding, athletic and operatic leads with grace and charm. We---my 11-year-old daughter, Shoshanna, who was mesmerized for the entire performance---and I were engaged, amused, entertained and ultimately in awe.
David's slingshot
“All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” — 1 Samuel 17:47
I’ve heard the Palestinians called “Hitler’s last victims.” That starts to get at the history of all this — the seed that sprouts anew every generation. Israel, born of the Holocaust, brings to the world not some new way of envisioning a nation, not an experiment in compassion between and among peoples, but the old cruelty, the old wish to be rid of an inconvenience, to grind a defenseless “enemy” out of existence.
Maybe the Gaza blockade, which has wreaked economic devastation on the region, destroyed its infrastructure and kept one and a half million people “food insecure” for the last year and a half, will now be broken by world opinion. Let us hope so, for Israel’s sake as well as the Palestinians’.
I’ve heard the Palestinians called “Hitler’s last victims.” That starts to get at the history of all this — the seed that sprouts anew every generation. Israel, born of the Holocaust, brings to the world not some new way of envisioning a nation, not an experiment in compassion between and among peoples, but the old cruelty, the old wish to be rid of an inconvenience, to grind a defenseless “enemy” out of existence.
Maybe the Gaza blockade, which has wreaked economic devastation on the region, destroyed its infrastructure and kept one and a half million people “food insecure” for the last year and a half, will now be broken by world opinion. Let us hope so, for Israel’s sake as well as the Palestinians’.
California's Prop. 14: A bad deal for democracy
In this state, the Democratic and Republican parties rarely agree on anything -- but both oppose Proposition 14. Although its misleading ballot title promises to increase the "right to participate in primary elections," the measure actually imposes major new limits on voters.
By eliminating party primaries, Proposition 14 would deny all political parties -- and their voters -- the right to choose a nominee to run in a general election.
Instead, the top two vote-getters on a single all-inclusive primary ballot would square off in the general election, regardless of party affiliation.
In the process, the measure -- an amendment to the state constitution -- would exclude small parties from the November ballot.
As debates over Proposition 14 heat up, a stark reality shouldn't get lost in the rhetorical shuffle: This measure is on the June 8 ballot only because the state legislature put it there.
Most notably, Proposition 14 owes its existence to many Democratic lawmakers who are now denouncing it.
By eliminating party primaries, Proposition 14 would deny all political parties -- and their voters -- the right to choose a nominee to run in a general election.
Instead, the top two vote-getters on a single all-inclusive primary ballot would square off in the general election, regardless of party affiliation.
In the process, the measure -- an amendment to the state constitution -- would exclude small parties from the November ballot.
As debates over Proposition 14 heat up, a stark reality shouldn't get lost in the rhetorical shuffle: This measure is on the June 8 ballot only because the state legislature put it there.
Most notably, Proposition 14 owes its existence to many Democratic lawmakers who are now denouncing it.
Congratulations on a job well done
Hi,
I just wanted to congratulate you guys on being the most illegitimate organization I can remember encountering. You must be so proud that the amount of people who give credence to the crap that you put out can be counted on one hand. Kudos!
Good luck pushing your liberal socialist agenda on Americans who have absolutely no interest in listening to what you have to say. How appropriate it is that an organization that calls itself "Free Press" is supporting a call for censorship on talk radio, cable and the internet. Do you really think that by doing that people might actually come to you to listen to your ridiculous propaganda?
In truth, I actually pity the fact that when your time comes to move on to a better place your greatest achievement may be the fact that you worked for this pitiful excuse for a media organization. But hey, best of luck either way. Maybe, if you're lucky, your servers will crash so that you can quietly crawl away and not be heard from again, and you can just blame it on bad technology.
I just wanted to congratulate you guys on being the most illegitimate organization I can remember encountering. You must be so proud that the amount of people who give credence to the crap that you put out can be counted on one hand. Kudos!
Good luck pushing your liberal socialist agenda on Americans who have absolutely no interest in listening to what you have to say. How appropriate it is that an organization that calls itself "Free Press" is supporting a call for censorship on talk radio, cable and the internet. Do you really think that by doing that people might actually come to you to listen to your ridiculous propaganda?
In truth, I actually pity the fact that when your time comes to move on to a better place your greatest achievement may be the fact that you worked for this pitiful excuse for a media organization. But hey, best of luck either way. Maybe, if you're lucky, your servers will crash so that you can quietly crawl away and not be heard from again, and you can just blame it on bad technology.