Welcome! This is an unapologetic, agenda-free zone. Just commentaries on current events that’ll move you to think, laugh, rage, and even cry.
Just two weeks ago New York City policemen killed a knife-wielding man in broad daylight in Times Square. On that occasion they had plenty of time to clear bystanders from their line of fire. Therefore, nobody was injured when two trigger-happy policemen fired 12 shots between them from just three feet away. Local authorities have not… Read more.
When I began commenting on the deaths of famous people four years ago, the last thing I wanted was to contribute to our culture’s perverse fascination with celebrities. In fact, I only began this feature as a lark to propagate the superstition that the deaths of famous people come in threes. Therefore, I hereby declare… Read more.
NOTE: Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission is the 2010 case in which the Supreme Court ruled that corporations and unions have a First Amendment right to spend as much money as they like as an expression of free speech. In other words, corporations are people too, bro! Read more.
The entire world seems shocked by the BREAKING NEWS that the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has stripped Lance Armstrong of all cycling titles and prize money won since 1998 and banned him from the sport for life. Most notably this includes stripping him of his seven Tour de France titles. But I am not: 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…. [But] Americans are blessed with the technology, escape routes… Read more.
I remember well the prevailing view that Mainland Chinese leaders would have a difficult time inspiring loyalty among Hong Kong Chinese after “the handover” in 1997. Which is why it is more than ironic that it’s a Hong-Kong based group that is leading nationalistic protests against Japan over ownership and control of the Senkakus Islands… Read more.
My regard for the media is such that it would not surprise me if they tried to hype the eating of a ham sandwich as an historic event. This essentially is what I think of the way they hyped the latest attempt by Diana Nyad to become the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida… Read more.
I trust my commentaries make it plain that I am far too cynical (aka informed) to be disappointed by anything in American politics. And nothing justifies my cynicism quite like the way political debates and election campaigns have been reduced to little more than hurling partisan talking points that have no regard for objective facts.… Read more.
Such is the nature of groupthink among Western commentators that you’d be hard-pressed to find any who support, as I do, Russia’s decision on Friday to incarcerate three Pussy Rioters. The nature of their political hooliganism warrants prosecution. Likewise, you’d be hard-pressed to find any who oppose, as I do, Ecuador’s decision that same day to… Read more.
Related commentaries: Biden, shut up! Read more.
