Welcome! This is an unapologetic, agenda-free zone. Just commentaries on current events that’ll move you to think, laugh, rage, and even cry.
Dear Readers, I have agreed to do my part to keep awareness of this unfolding humanitarian catastrophe alive by reprising my commentary entitled ‘Somalia: another drought and famine crisis in Africa’, which was originally published on July 22 and republished on August 4. I’ve agreed to republish it again today, August 17, on August 24,… Read more.
A quick browse of my commentaries on previous MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) will attest to the fact that my review of this annual show is invariably as informed (and I hope as entertaining) as that of any music industry critic. But watching Kanye and Jay Z perform at this year’s show, I could not… Read more.
The U.S. spent hundreds of billions liberating Afghanistan only to have President Karzai call U.S. soldiers occupiers. It has spent tens of billions propping up Pakistan’s military only to have the Pakistanis conspire with the Taliban and al-Qaeda to kill U.S. soldiers. Now the Libyan rebels who begged (and are still begging) for help in… Read more.
From North Carolina to Pennsylvania, Hurricane Irene appeared to have fallen short of the doomsday predictions… Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell had initially warned that Irene could be a “catastrophic” monster with record storm surges of up to 8 feet. (‘Little damage seen…’, Associated Press, August 28, 2011) No shit. Now we’re being treated to the… Read more.
News outlets cover natural disasters purportedly as a public service. But there’s no denying that such coverage is a ratings boon for their bottom line – catering as it does to the perverse thrill of suspense that keeps us fixated on the hype of impending doom…. (Katrina’s coming, Katrina’s coming, The iPINIONS Journal, August 29,… Read more.
A 5.8 magnitude earthquake hit the DC metropolitan area about an hour ago. It was the largest earthquake to hit this area in over 100 years. The epicenter was in southern Virginia, but reports are that it could be felt as far away as Canada. It was pretty scary for the 45 seconds while it… Read more.
College players accepting perks is as common as restaurant servers taking tips. Indeed, it’s an open secret that “boosters” ply football players with perks. And they do this for one simple, unvarnished reason: to boost players’ performance on the field. Yet the NCAA never fails to feign moral outrage anew every time this open secret makes news. Such was… Read more.
Leave it to a bunch of knucklehead kids to turn the wholesome notion of flash mobs into just another form of juvenile delinquency. Remember when flash mobs were choirs and dance troupes striking up entertaining and heart-warming performances in public places? In fact, one of my favorite TV commercials is the one for AT&T’s 4G… Read more.
