Commenter John Tyler reminds us of this famous saying by Beria, the notorious head of Stalin’s secret police: “Show me the man and I’ll show you the crime.” As with some of our current political prosecutors, the idea is that … Continue reading →
Here’s another recommended aritcle, this one on the parallels between cancel culture and what’s happening to Russia right now in terms of sanctions by private companies or private groups in particular. The excesses have been piling up. Don’t play Tchaikovsky? … Continue reading →
Recently on this blog and elsewhere I’ve seen variants of the question “doesn’t it bother you that on the issue of Ukraine you are in some sort of agreement with Democrats?” – only it’s often asked in a way that … Continue reading →
Recently I’ve made some comparisons to Munich and Neville Chamberlain’s surrender of the Sudetenland to Hitler. But I didn’t go into any real depth while referencing him. But then I realized that his name has become synonymous for “surrender” and … Continue reading →
I was plowing through some of Putin’s speeches and it occurred to me suddenly that he might be described as a Slavophile. It’s a term I remember from a class I took in college called “Russian Intellectual History.” But I … Continue reading →
This article is worth reading: Many have slotted this drama [in Canada] into a familiar framework of right-wing populists versus left-wing elites. But a different way of looking at it may be more helpful in explaining not only what has … Continue reading →
Commenter John Tyler asks: There never is a shortage of jack-booted enforcers to impose a government’s will upon the citizenry. This time Canada is the venue. So, ladies and gents, what is about the Canadian personality or culture that enables … Continue reading →
For me, the 1980s are somewhat of a blur, because I spent them having a baby and then raising that baby and intermittently working part-time. I was exhausted much of the time, and not really part of the zeitgeist. Which … Continue reading →
On the previous thread on COVID hope and fear, David Foster offered this quote from Arthur Koestler, as related by Koestler’s friend Richard Hillary: K has a theory for this. He believes there are two planes of existence which he … Continue reading →
Commenter “Rufus T. Firefly” writes: I’ll admit I had a bias. My bias was hoping that COVID-19 would not be as terminal as predicted. I followed any reasonable, valid sign that gave credence to that hope. And, most all of … Continue reading →
I’ve long been pretty cynical about politics and politicians, and I’ve gotten much more so over the years. Unfortunately, I think that increasing cynicism is justified. But despite that, I’m not the most cynical person in the world about politics. … Continue reading →
Here’s a companion piece to the video in yesterday’s open thread: Hey, why not sneak in a Bee Gees tune, who with 1000+ songs have one for everything? Originally released in 1975, this is a slightly later live version (and … Continue reading →