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I am a freer thinker and a beer drinker I am a non-smoking bachelor who… more »
TMI
- Cowgirls, Inc. or Pony
- Barsuk or Fantagraphics
- Elliott Bay or Amazon
- Frank Gehry or Rem Koolhaas
- Dan Savage or Charles Mudede
11:08 AM
lark commented on No One Gave a Damn When Bush Used the IRS to You Know What.
lark commented on No One Gave a Damn When Bush Used the IRS to You Know What.
Charles,
Appreciate the acknowledgement.
Your observation about Obama's trip to Africa (vis-a-vis George W. Bush) is intriguing. Right now, given Chinese influence in Africa it is more important than ever for a US President (any POTUS, BTW) to visit and involve himself with Africans.
However, I too find it unfortunate that Obama can't visit Kenya. Their president (former?) is being tried by the International High Court for crimes against humanity(?). But, I'm glad Obama is going to the continent.
Finally, one other nod to Obama. His speech at Morehouse, yesterday was good and necessary.
Appreciate the acknowledgement.
Your observation about Obama's trip to Africa (vis-a-vis George W. Bush) is intriguing. Right now, given Chinese influence in Africa it is more important than ever for a US President (any POTUS, BTW) to visit and involve himself with Africans.
However, I too find it unfortunate that Obama can't visit Kenya. Their president (former?) is being tried by the International High Court for crimes against humanity(?). But, I'm glad Obama is going to the continent.
Finally, one other nod to Obama. His speech at Morehouse, yesterday was good and necessary.
10:51 AM
lark commented on A Teen's Dream Comes True!.
lark commented on A Teen's Dream Comes True!.
Good Morning Charles,
Indeed, I find this silly. It reminded me of that youngster who had cancer and Make-a-Wish Foundation granted his request to shoot a bear in Alaska year ago.
Indeed, I find this silly. It reminded me of that youngster who had cancer and Make-a-Wish Foundation granted his request to shoot a bear in Alaska year ago.
May 18
lark commented on The Best of Slog: A Week of Poor People, Bigots, and Failed Candidates.
lark commented on The Best of Slog: A Week of Poor People, Bigots, and Failed Candidates.
@10 Thanks. I am undertaking this at a leisurely pace. So, it's quite doable by 60 y/o.
@11 So far, my favorite is Springfield, IL (Illinois is my home state). Enormous amount of history concerning Lincoln & Douglas. They restored the edifice last summer(?).
@12 Been to Juneau, tiny & remote but pleasantly surprised.
@11 So far, my favorite is Springfield, IL (Illinois is my home state). Enormous amount of history concerning Lincoln & Douglas. They restored the edifice last summer(?).
@12 Been to Juneau, tiny & remote but pleasantly surprised.
May 18
lark commented on The Best of Slog: A Week of Poor People, Bigots, and Failed Candidates.
lark commented on The Best of Slog: A Week of Poor People, Bigots, and Failed Candidates.
BTW, I am on a quest to see all 50 state capitols. Bagged 12 so far. Highly recommend it. Consider, this if you are visiting say, Salt Lake City, Denver or Boston for business or family check out the Capitol buildings. All are State Capitols.
May 17
lark commented on Meanwhile in Toronto.
lark commented on Meanwhile in Toronto.
Well, at least Mayor Ford has something in common with Marion Berry, former mayor of Washington, DC. :)
BTW, speaking of mounds of coke from Canada, check this hill of "coke" out:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/18/busine…
It covers a city block in Detroit. Yikes!
BTW, speaking of mounds of coke from Canada, check this hill of "coke" out:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/18/busine…
It covers a city block in Detroit. Yikes!
May 17
lark commented on America Doesn't Care About Black People.
lark commented on America Doesn't Care About Black People.
Good Morning Charles,
I believe I just read in the paper that the two shooters were apprehended. My understanding is they were brothers. That is, siblings. While the incident is most unfortunate, I am grateful no one was killed.
I remain dubious about your posting title that "America Doesn't Care About Black People" and "That black hole is black skin". I simply don't agree with that.
However, I do remain baffled at what I call the "Great Tragedy" in American society: urban violence or black on black violence. No sugar coating it.
Consider this from the Pew Charitable Trust:
The Pew report also said:
-The gun suicide rate is 6.3 per 100,000 people, and there were 19,392 suicides by firearms in 2010. That rate has declined more slowly than the firearms homicide rate, with 6 in 10 gun deaths now suicides, the highest proportion since at least 1981.
-More than 8 in 10 victims of gun homicides are men and boys.
-Fifty-five percent of gun homicide victims in 2010 were black, far beyond their 13 percent share of the population.
This is extraordinary. And, most tragic. Seems an entire generation of young men are being killed by other young men. It is catastrophic. Too many children are being raised w/o their father (yes, I do believe there is a correlation). I am at a loss and greatly saddened by it. These are our fellow Americans. Our fellow humans.
It greatly dissappoints me that Pres. Obama doesn't put this tragedy at the top of his priorities. He can at least mention its urgency. It's actually a public health concern. Just ask the Mothers' Day parade participants and onlookers in NO. Bloody sad.
More...
I believe I just read in the paper that the two shooters were apprehended. My understanding is they were brothers. That is, siblings. While the incident is most unfortunate, I am grateful no one was killed.
I remain dubious about your posting title that "America Doesn't Care About Black People" and "That black hole is black skin". I simply don't agree with that.
However, I do remain baffled at what I call the "Great Tragedy" in American society: urban violence or black on black violence. No sugar coating it.
Consider this from the Pew Charitable Trust:
The Pew report also said:
-The gun suicide rate is 6.3 per 100,000 people, and there were 19,392 suicides by firearms in 2010. That rate has declined more slowly than the firearms homicide rate, with 6 in 10 gun deaths now suicides, the highest proportion since at least 1981.
-More than 8 in 10 victims of gun homicides are men and boys.
-Fifty-five percent of gun homicide victims in 2010 were black, far beyond their 13 percent share of the population.
This is extraordinary. And, most tragic. Seems an entire generation of young men are being killed by other young men. It is catastrophic. Too many children are being raised w/o their father (yes, I do believe there is a correlation). I am at a loss and greatly saddened by it. These are our fellow Americans. Our fellow humans.
It greatly dissappoints me that Pres. Obama doesn't put this tragedy at the top of his priorities. He can at least mention its urgency. It's actually a public health concern. Just ask the Mothers' Day parade participants and onlookers in NO. Bloody sad.
May 16
lark commented on The Most Racially Intolerant Countries in the World?.
lark commented on The Most Racially Intolerant Countries in the World?.
Good Morning Charles,
That observation by those economists is interesting but I'm not so sure of the standard. It might need to be tweaked. @1 & @2 have valid points. I've always believed that America is a far more tolerant (not overtly racist) nation than most and has been for quite awhile (with or w/o Obama as President). I've believed that for about 20 years.
And, yes, I agree cosmopolitanism and density are not a given. I believe a lot depends on cultures that foster pluralism and whether the population is more homogeneous vs. heterogeneous. I believe America has done a pretty good job of pluralism and is largely heterogeneous. Many countries don't or can't even attempt to foster pluralism. Still, it is an interesting observation.
BTW, Charles I discovered this fascinating article by Ta-Nehisi Coates of The Atlantic on race as a social construct:
http://www.theatlantic.com/national/arch…
I agree with the content of the article. It was a good read.
More...
That observation by those economists is interesting but I'm not so sure of the standard. It might need to be tweaked. @1 & @2 have valid points. I've always believed that America is a far more tolerant (not overtly racist) nation than most and has been for quite awhile (with or w/o Obama as President). I've believed that for about 20 years.
And, yes, I agree cosmopolitanism and density are not a given. I believe a lot depends on cultures that foster pluralism and whether the population is more homogeneous vs. heterogeneous. I believe America has done a pretty good job of pluralism and is largely heterogeneous. Many countries don't or can't even attempt to foster pluralism. Still, it is an interesting observation.
BTW, Charles I discovered this fascinating article by Ta-Nehisi Coates of The Atlantic on race as a social construct:
http://www.theatlantic.com/national/arch…
I agree with the content of the article. It was a good read.
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