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@hereblog-blog
What's worse:
school administrators withholding a valedictorian's high school diploma because she used the word "hell" in her graduation speech, or a valedictorian using the word "hell" in her graduation speech because she was inspired by the Twilight books?
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Chemical signaling isn't "talking"
This piece of so-called science journalism, titled "Scientists Confirm that Plants Talk and Listen To Each Other, Communication Crucial for Survival," displays a rather stunning level of scientific incompetence, assuming conclusions that are not justified on the basis of the study and omitting caveats that would put this information in accurate perspective.
For example, one plant reacting chemically to a certain stimuli and another plant's reacting chemically to that first chemical reaction do not constitute genuine instances of "talking" and "listening." Though there is some definition of "communication" that might be applicable here, it isn't the conscious sort that could be relevant to deciding whether or not plants are anywhere near the level of animals in terms of the moral consideration they deserve.
One of the great and incredibly misinformed aspects of conventional living is the belief that adhering to the status quo renders one ideologically neutral. For some of these (by loose definition, very average) people, that fallacious premise rationalizes the tyranny of “personal choices,” in which a convoluted principle against spreading one’s principles – usually amounting to the advancement of a “freedom to oppress” – emerges. For other status quo adherents, this faux neutrality rationalizes a conceit in which anyone who bucks the status quo in a way that threatens convention is seen as a threat – not just to the status quo, but to the practitioners of that status quo. (The response is not then “Am I correct?” as it should be, but instead: “Am I offended?”) Anyway, I don’t know which response is worse, but here’s a maddening example of the latter, made worse because it is perpetrated by those who have made careers out of using their brains.
The intellectual bankruptcy of corporatism (Kevin O'Leary) goes up against the intellectual richness of basic realism (Christopher Hedges). Spoiler alert: Corporatism gets destroyed.
I'm just now catching Van Jones' speech at Occupy Wall Street a few days ago, and it's pretty darn good. I don't know if it's the first use of the term, but in the video he calls bankers "banksters," which, insofar as it calls to mind the word "gangsters," is far more accurate. By the way, if you haven't witnessed the "human mic" concept that is a central functional element of the movement (because protesters can't use amplification devices in the park where they/we are hunkered down), this is a great opportunity.
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What do you get when you mix utter ignorance and a mind able to ask, 'Why'?
David Brin, Earth
The Reagan Admin's response to AIDS in 1982, years before it stopped ignoring the epidemic
Q: Larry, does the President have any reaction to the announcement -- the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, that AIDS is now an epidemic and have over 600 cases?
Mr. Speakes: What's AIDS?
Q: Over a third of them have died. It's known as "gay plague." (Laughter.) No, it is. I mean it's a pretty serious thing that one in every three people that get this have died. And I wondered if the President is aware of it?
Mr. Speakes: I don't have it. Do you? (Laughter.)
Q: No, I don't.
Mr. Speakes: You didn't answer my question.
Q: Well, I just wondered, does the President ...
Mr. Speakes: How do you know? (Laughter.)
Q: In other words, the White House looks on this as a great joke?
Mr. Speakes: No, I don't know anything about it, Lester.
Q: Does the President, does anyone in the White House know about this epidemic, Larry?
Mr. Speakes: I don't think so. I don't think there's been any ...
Q: Nobody knows?
Mr. Speakes: There has been no personal experience here, Lester.
Q: No, I mean, I thought you were keeping ...
Mr. Speakes: I checked thoroughly with Dr. Ruge this morning and he's had no -- (laughter) -- no patients suffering from AIDS or whatever it is.
Q: The President doesn't have gay plague, is that what you're saying or what?
Mr. Speakes: No, I didn't say that.
Q: Didn't say that?
Mr. Speakes: I thought I heard you on the State Department over there. Why didn't you stay there? (Laughter.)
Q: Because I love you Larry, that's why. (Laughter.)
Mr. Speakes: Oh I see. Just don't put it in those terms, Lester. (Laughter.)
Q: Oh, I retract that.
Mr. Speakes: I hope so.
Q: It's too late.
Acknowledgement: This transcript was quoted at the beginning of Jon Cohen's book, Shots in the Dark: The Wayward Search for an AIDS Vaccine, 2001. http://www.amazon.com/Shots-Dark-Wayward-Search-Vaccine/dp/0393050270
Via The Ethical Man:
A great organization called Vegan Mainstream wants to increase their FB page by 1,000 followers in the next 36 hours. Ambitious to be sure, but I think they can do it. For one thing, it’s tied in to a compelling theme that resonates with the vegan movement’s fashion insurgence — “Veganism: The New Black.” For another, we at The Ethical Man are providing a… modest… and thematically appropriate gift package to the person who manages to recruit the most likes for VM:
Okay, maybe “modest” is the wrong word!
If you’d like a shot at winning this great collection, check out VM’s run-down of the way this thing will work. Good luck!
New band photos for HERE, in advance of our debut record. Can you see the story they tell? Photographed by Jasmine Wilson - www.JasmineMaika.com
100 shows for Haiti: Lights Resolve, Sainthood Reps, and HERE
Folks, we've got an amazing show coming up on January 6th. Not only will there be three great bands (including Derrick Sherman of Brand New), but it will be for the worthy cause of helping Haiti get back on its feet after last January's devastating earthquake. With 100 shows happening around the country, we have a chance to make a big difference together.
Here are the details:
What: 100 Shows for Haiti, LI edition Bands: Lights Resolve, Sainthood Reps (w/ Derrick Sherman of Brand New!), and HERE Where: The Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island, NY / 38 Old Country Rd / Garden City, NY (map) When: Thursday, January 6th, 6-10pm Cost: $10, with all proceeds going to Haiti Mass Transit: LIRR to Mineola station (30 mins from NYC)
A big thanks to Andy at Sparrow Media for making it happen. See you there!
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I'm hesitant to bring a side argument of the vegan movement (so-called "welfarism" vs. so-called "abolitionism") to the fore, but this is just too good not to post. Enjoy.
Via theethicalman:
Remember when I asked you to vote to support my friend Nell’s pursuit of a fashion blogging position with Sunglass Hut? Well, it paid off. Nell was selected as one of ten finalists to compete in a grueling, hardcore, winner-take-all, month-long blog-off. And deservedly so. Her experience, sophisticated aesthetic sense, and inimitable drive make her uniquely qualified. My only reservation is that she will take the position so seriously that it becomes even harder to make a date with her. But friends forgive. Check out Nell’s finalist blog, and remember to comment, rate, and otherwise interact as much as you’d like. Engagement is one of the key metrics they’re using to pick the final winner, so every positive thing you do will help Nell finally earn a well paid position doing what she’s been tirelessly doing for years as an under-appreciated contributor to Paper, Interview, NBC, OurStage, and so many more. Thanks, Dan
Nell is a great supporter of HERE (see that quote up there on the sidebar, for example!). Please help her out. Thanks guys.
This is just some of the cruelty you're supporting when you eat a turkey on Thanksgiving. After the initial mutilations and indignities featured in this video, those birds that survive are subjected to daily terrors right up through the slaughter.
It's easy to go vegetarian, if not vegan, on Thanksgiving. Think about it, and take a look at these mouthwatering cruelty-free holiday recipes collected by the New York Times. (Read the paper's entire vegetarian Thanksgiving blog series here.)
Our great friend Nell is in a position to win an amazing fashion blogger position with Sunglass Hut. She’s near the top of the pack, but she needs our votes to bring it home. Voting ends tomorrow, so please — take a minute (literally 60 seconds) to vote right now. Once you’ve voted, you’ll receive an email requiring a single-click confirmation of your vote. And that’s it — you’re done.
Nell deserves this. She’s been busting it for years in the toughest town in the world (ahem, New York City!), trying to make it as a journalist. She’s relentlessly covered fashion, music, film premieres, underground events, and general nightlife for Interview, NBC, Fabric, Time Out New York, OurStage, and at least 10 other publishers. Nobody deserves this more than her. Nobody! (Read a profile of her at Pomp & Circumstance, which she also writes for.)
Fortunately for the world, Nell has ethics. She’s vegan-friendly and passionately anti-fur. She’ll be a stronger voice for animals than just about any other mainstream fashion commentators. She’s also a total cutie:
So, let’s get her there! All you have to do is take a minute (probably less) and vote. You can vote multiple times using each of your various email addresses once, so feel free to double, triple, or quadruple your impact. Vote, vote, vote!
Thanks guys, Dan
(via The Ethical Man)
Bipartisanship is for suckers
Obama spoke yesterday, doing his best to self-destructively misinterpret the recent election results:
I neglected some things that matter a lot to people, and rightly so [such as] maintaining a bipartisan tone in Washington...
No. No. No. Nobody cares about bipartisanship. Nobody. They care about results. The only reason you think otherwise is because Republicans have learned they can cow you with it.
Obama also said he should have "[made] sure that the policy decisions that I made were fully debated with the American people." If you think people care about bipartisanship, here's a good start: Make the argument that bipartisanship is a two-way street -- and since Republicans just won't obey traffic lights, it's our moral obligation to get them off the road.
Honestly, does he think the media or the public want a policy debate? Does he think they're even mentally equipped for one? More than enough people to make up the margin between victory and defeat on election day don't know anything about policy. They just know a leader when they see one.
In the absence of leadership, the media will amplify the loudest voices, and the mindless middle will vote for them. Be strong and you'll attract the center, because the center is ruled by social and psychological cues, not policy calculation.
Obama's apologies for not being even more reasonable in the face of Republican obstructionism are laughably weak. The irony is doubled, given that he thinks doing so will somehow improve Democratic electoral prospects.
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Proposition B is very similar to Obamacare. They’re expecting all the breeders to sit there and pay for exorbitant amounts of care that are not needed. Like adequate food, adequate water, adequate space…
Anita Andrews, director of the so-called Alliance for Truth, who wouldn't know truth if it was staring her in her stupid, stupid face. Prop B recently passed with only 52% of the vote (a shamefully thin but good-enough margin) in Missouri, establishing basic minimum care standards in large pet breeding facilities in Missouri. (h/t Green Is The New Red)
Mix is DONE.
MIX. IS. DONE!
