Category: Culture
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A Berning Desire
When it first became apparent that Bernie Sanders would not win the Democratic nomination for President, I was sad. He seemed like the only answer to a political system that has over time put more and more power and influence in the hands of moneyed interests who are motivated by greed and privilege, not the greater good.…
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The Tomato Manifesto
Imagine yourself at a nice little cocktail party, enjoying your favorite adult beverage and perusing a modest yet enticing buffet of appetizers, hors d’oeuvres, tapas, snacks, or whatever it is that you personally like to call them. A plate of crudites has been presented, and cute little cherry tomatoes are among the offerings. You…
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The Joys of Agnosticism
There used to be a merry-go-round in the park where I would play as a child. About eight feet in diameter, its smooth metal deck sat centered on a very well-worn and well-lubricated hub, so that there was almost no limit to the speed with which it could be spun. Grab bars stood sentry at…
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Pray for Paris, or Don’t
Bonjour, America: in less than 24 hours, the rhetoric about Paris has become divisive. I can’t say I’m surprised. When I went to bed seeing #prayforparis becoming so popular, I felt uneasy about the implications, but I also realized that I was overthinking it. This morning, while some encourage us to pray for Paris, others…
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Let Ray Play
I don’t like Ray Rice. He is a cry-baby on the field, and he played for the Baltimore Ravens, a team that all Bengals fans in all of Bengaldom the world over are sworn to despise with the same vitriol that we despise the Pittsburgh Steelers. To make matters even worse, he’s a wife-beater too.…
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The Berlin Wall
Condensed into a 2-minute comment, and delivered at a special streetcar hearing in Cincinnati Council Chamber today: 50 years ago, John F Kennedy praised the accomplishments of post-war Germany, saying that “the true German miracle has been your rejection of the past for the future–your reconciliation with France, your participation in the building of Europe, your leading…