argentina is as european as it gets without literally being on the european cont.

it is whiter than the us. they killed all the indigonous peple and it is all people of spanish, italian and german decent. they basically picked an italian pope. exotic to the extent he is argentine italian. but that is all they did. it is cool for latin america. people are exited.

what is art, really?

it takes some sort of medium, i have to make something different out of materials available. but that thing, if it is a song, and i never right it down and i play it once for myself and nobody but me ever reacts to it out of love, hate or even indifference, is that art? is a spray painted hate message on a wall art? it takes existing mediums and creates something to be experienced by others. inow, most definitions i find lacking. what makes art? not just good art vs. bad art, but art vs. not art.

Something I find troubling in the rape prevention discussion at DU

On the one hand, I certainly believe that we need to start educating young men and boys about the fact that 'no' means 'no.' If there are no rapists there is no rape.

However, there is an odd idea that seems to inform some opinions on the subject - and that is the notion that any amount of of common sensical advice on how to stay safe is blaming victims. Apparently if I don't tell my teenage niece to sleep with her doors unlocked and her windows open I am perpetuating a rape culture. I don't blame anyone but rapists for rape. I don't blame anyone but car thieves for car theft but I take my keys out of the ignition and lock the doors. Should I stop that? Am I blaming victims of car theft by doing that and encouraging others to do so? I think not. And so when I tell my niece to park in well lit areas I am not perpetuating rape culture, I am simply giving good advice, and hopefully help perpetuate her continued well-being.

So what do you think?

Encouraging potential victims to take crime prevention measures is:

bush's war of aggression against iraq

was the most tragic and far-reaching consequence of the scotus stopping the state of florida from following its constitution and counting its votes accordingly.

this country and the world changed, for the worse, because of all that.

jesus wept

if abraham lincoln had a drone (i don't know with a time machine or whatever)

would he have been justified in using it on confederate military or political leadership?

Newt Gingrich: I'd Go On 'Celebrity Apprentice,' Donald Trump Is A 'Phenomenon'

very good michael lind essay on how the shrinking right views the growing left

uh, like where is my star?

answer me that one!

i bemoan

as congress fights over how rich the rich may be regardless of the plight of the poor

please read these quotes from Jesus. I post them not to make a religious point but to put the thoughts of the man (who the reactionaries caim as their own) in perspective.
Luke 12
13 One of the men in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, our father just died and left some things for us. Tell my brother to share them with me.”

14 But Jesus said to him, “Who said I should be your judge or decide how to divide your father’s things between you two?” 15 Then Jesus said to them, “Be careful and guard against all kinds of greed. People do not get life from the many things they own.”

16 Then Jesus used this story: “There was a rich man who had some land. His land grew a very good crop of food. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What will I do? I have no place to keep all my crops.’

18 “Then he said, ‘I know what I will do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger barns! I will put all my wheat and good things together in my new barns. 19 Then I can say to myself, I have many good things stored. I have saved enough for many years. Rest, eat, drink, and enjoy life!’

20 “But God said to that man ‘Foolish man! Tonight you will die. So what about the things you prepared for yourself? Who will get those things now?’

21 “This is how it will be for anyone who saves things only for himself. To God that person is not rich.”



Whatsoever you do to the least of my people, that you do unto me.”

Matthew 25: 35-40
"‘For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 38 ‘And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 39 ‘When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 “The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’ "