I got an email announcing the opening of this new news site, Truthdig.com, under the motto that, as stated by A.J. Liebling, “Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one.” This month there’s a feature by Orville Schell called China: Boom or Boomerang? that looks promising. Check it out.
Tag: politics
What It’s Like
Marvin linked to these very interesting and worthwhile essays by someone using the handle Darksyde, which describe what it’s like for an atheist to live in American (or any) society. What it’s Like to be an Atheist Why I’m an Atheist Not recommended reading for those who don’t want an honest, no-holds-barred look at what it feels like to be in a minority in terms of absence of religious belief. But if you’ve ever wondered why atheists sometimes seem so angry and almost evangelical in their fervor, especially the first essay is worth reading, even if you know you’ll disagree …
The Viridian Design Movement
As usual, the latest Viridian Note by Bruce Sterling is worth a read. It’s mainly about a piece by Al Gore published in Salon. One very funny, but sadly necessary, link in the Note is to this article in the New Yorker, which mocks the moronic Intelligent Design hokum that is so popular in America.
Sobering, But, Well…
John Taylor Gatto knows a thing or two about the American school system… and, I’d argue, his points translate to all kinds of other school systems. Here are a couple of worthwhile, angering, stirring essays: The Six-Lesson Schoolteacher How public education cripples our kids, and why
Animals in a horror world of our making – Paul Sheehan – Opinion – smh.com.au
Regular reader Mer passed on a link to this article: Animals in a horror world of our making, which deals with “Voiceless”, an Australian human-treatment-for-animals group seeking to deliver facts and implicit moral choices instead of shrill politics and condemnations common to the animal rights movement. And it also tells the story of an interesting Chef in Paris who’ve gone non-meat and whose cuisine is low-impact, organic, and as fresh as you can get anywhere.