Motley Moose – Archive

Since 2008 – Progress Through Politics

Archive for July 2013

Back to Antebellum South?

I apologize up front.  I am not the person to write this.  I admit to being white and somewhat privileged.  While I went to public school, it was a high quality public school in a comfortable suburb.  We had one token black family in my high school.  Therefore, my opinions here are not from an experiential viewpoint but are from somewhere else.

The Daily F Bomb, Thursday 7/18/13

Interrogatories

What famous painting that you have actually stood in front of most impressed you?

It was published 88 years ago today. Have you ever read Mein Kampf?

Of all the literary birthdays today (Thackeray, Jessamyn West, Clifford Odets, Hunter S. Thompson), or those who died today (Alger, Austen) who have you read? Who did you like the best?

It’s National Caviar Day. What do you think of caviar?

The Twitter Emitter

Tisha B’Av & Climate Change: James Hansen, A Modern Day Jeremiah?

I joined a Progressive Reform Synagogue about a year and a half ago. I first wrote about an experience I had there in this diary. Last year I wasn’t too active beyond taking my daughter to Hebrew and Sunday School, a few Friday Night Services here and there and the High Holy Days. I really had no idea how involved the Social Justice and Food Justice committees were in educating and organizing the congregation. I only just became involved a couple weeks before NetrootsNation2013 when I received an email from the Rabbi about my protesting the Keystone Pipeline, would I like to join a meeting about incorporating Climate Change into a Friday Night Service? Um, yes.

I was one of a panel of three in which we were asked to bring awareness about Climate Change to our congregation in the context of the upcoming Tisha B’Av and to describe our personal connection to Climate Change. I learned about the association between Tisha B’Av and Climate Change initially from our Rabbi and then through reading the work of Rabbi Arthur Waskow. I am often amazed at the depth of knowledge and feeling that some people are capable of conveying, and these two Rabbi’s are no exception.

I experienced a lot of anxiety about writing this presentation, I felt lost, like an outsider trying to talk about something of which she really doesn’t understand. My original draft had nothing original in it. So I took a break and read some diaries on Daily Kos, and I found my inspiration.

Some things deserve the honor of our tears and our sadness.

was written in a comment in response to a writer’s grief. What I followed that sentence up with is block quoted below and was presented to the congregation.

What are you reading? July 17, 2013

For those who are new … we discuss books.  I list what I’m reading, and people comment with what they’re reading.  Sometimes, on Sundays, I post a special edition on a particular genre or topic.

If you like to trade books, try bookmooch

I’ve written some book reviews on Yahoo Voices:

Book reviews on Yahoo

Just finished

Spell it Out by David Crystal.  The history of English spelling and why it’s so weird and why “rules” don’t work. Very interesting, but it all sort of blends together.

(started and finished) Arguably by Christopher Hitchens. A collection of essays from the first 10 years of this century. Hitchens was very knowledgable and he wrote very well. The interest of these essays for me varied, but most are well done (even when infuriating).

Now reading

Thinking, fast and slow  by Daniel Kahneman.  Kahneman, most famous for his work with the late Amos Tversky, is one of the leading psychologists of the times. Here, he posits that our brains have two systems: A fast one and a slow one. Neither is better, but they are good at different things. This is a brilliant book: Full of insight and very well written, as well.

On politics: A history of political thought from Herodotus to the present by Alan Ryan. What the subtitle says – a history of political thought.  But he should add the adjective “Western” or something as he doesn’t discuss other traditions or writings.

Algorithms Unlocked  by Thomas Corman  A gentle introduction to computer algorithms

Robert Oppenheimer: A life in the center by Ray Monk  Oppenheimer was one of the most interesting people of the 20th century. In this biography Monk (a wonderful writer) attempts to cover both his physics and his many other interests.

Eminence: Cardinal Richelieu and the Rise of France by Jean-Vincent Blanchard.  Richelieu, best known to many from The Three Musketeers was a master of the dark arts of politics. And 16th and 17th century politics was no place for wusses.

Just started

nothing this week (but see above)

The Daily F Bomb, Wednesday 7/17/13

Interrogatories

Have you been to any of the Disney theme parks? Which one, and how did you like it?

Who would you like to see tried before the International Criminal Court? (Not the present leader, please, this is a pie-free zone.)

How much do you miss Walter Cronkite? Huntley and Brinkley? Edward R. Murrow? Could any of them get a job on TV today?

What’s your favorite movie made before you were born?

The Twitter Emitter

Wednesday Watering Hole: Check In & Hangout for the Herd

Good morning, Moosekind. Don’t forget to let your peeps know where to find you.


  PLEASE Do Not Recommend the check-in diary! 

        Recs on the weather jar comment are still welcome.

The common Moose, Alces alces, unlike other members of the deer family, is a solitary animal that doesn’t form herds. Not so its rarer but nearest relative, Alces purplius, the Motley Moose. Though sometimes solitary, the Motley Moose herds in ever shifting groups at the local watering hole to exchange news and just pass the time.

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Justice is not color blind


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As we continue to protest and question the acquittal of George Zimmerman for killing Trayvon Martin in cold blood, I’ve read a bunch of news stories, and comments touting the belief that “justice is color blind.” One of the people who shouted the loudest was hypocritical and hypobigotal Texas Governor Rick Perry.  

Those people who willfully ignore reams of data and statistics showing it is not, are those who are busy dismantling civil rights gains as fast as they can, from the Roberts Court 5, to states like North Carolina, which recently repealed the Racial Justice Act, which included dealing with racial bias in jury selection.

Let’s be clear. We don’t live in a “post-racial” America.  

Trayvon Martin and My Old Doctor

Hiya Mooose.

I am desolate.  

I’ve been trying for the last few days to put out something anything about the Trayvon Martin case, but I couldn’t get past my 5 MFer rule.  That means no publish if I use 5 MFers in a paragraph.  

I hope I can someday speak of going forward, but unfortunately today is not that day.

I just kicked this out in the last half an hour, and since it didn’t have any MRers in it, I thought I’d share.

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