Archive for April, 2017

Marching For Science And Momma (April 24, 2017)

Posted in Environment, Gender, Global Climate Change, Global Warming, Greece, International Finance, International Monetary Fund, Journalism, Newspapers, Press/Media, Trumpi on April 24, 2017 by e-commentary.org

. . .

K          “What if as many folks had rallied in support of Galileo?”

J          “Signs intoning ‘No sides in science’ and ‘Science not silence’ and ‘Don’t let scientists go extinct’ floated amid and among the rising sea of concerned citizens.  ‘Free Galileo’ was raised toward the heavens.”

. . .

K          “In January, the pink pussy hats responded to the red Make America Great Again baseball caps.  On Saturday, a few white lab coats and many rain coats shielded the folks who marched peacefully on a gray rainy day.” 

J          “The women’s jaunt planned on the Mall in January gestated into an impromptu march from the foot of Capitol Hill to the White House and spawned the March for Science in April.  The March for Science and Earth Day Network started south of the White House and moved to the Capitol.  Going full circle.  And going forward.”

K          “The Women’s March was an emotional release and catharsis.  The March for Science was an intellectual rally and resurgence.”

J          “A walk is an antidote to insanity and irrationality.”

. . .

K          “At the same time the people were marching in the streets, the big money players were machinating in the suites.  The ‘green eye shade’ types at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded that Greece has recovered slightly and thus needs to be burdened substantially.”

. . .

K          “The next public gig in Washington is the ‘(Former) Bikers for Trump Rally’ on October 14 to ride to the White House and Congress from all over the country.”

J          “The ‘What happened Donnie?  Ride and Rally’.  Everyone hates to be conned, yet so many of his supporters simply cannot repudiate him because he is their last hope.  By October, a few of his black leather and blue collar supporters may accept that they were bamboozled.”

K          “Sturgis runs from August 4 until 13 and Daytona from March 9 until 18, 2018.  October is a great time for the last long fall ride.”

J          “Somebody needs to inflame and inspire the national imagination.”

. . .

[See the e-commentary at “Happy Birthday Earth Day (April 23, 2012)”, “Women’s March On Washington (Woodstock With Conviction) / Coronation (January 23, 2017)” and the discussion of some of the underlying issues involving Greece and the IMF at “‘Grexit’, ‘GrexEUnt’, Percolating Problems:  PIIGS, BRICS, EU, EC, ECB, IMF, NATO, WTO, WTF, WAR (February 23, 2015)”.]

Bumper stickers of the week:

March on

“There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there always has been.  The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that ‘my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.’”  Isaac Asimov, “A Cult of Ignorance”, Newsweek, January 21, 1980.  

Signs of the times on the Washington Mall:

Free Galileo

You must be smoking deGrasse if you de-Nye the facts

Science is good

Good science is better

Great science is best

Geology rocks

There is no PLANet B

This is not a moment, it is a movement

Make America 90   49   18 Again

Evidence based governance

What do you call a female scientist?  Scientist

4   28 58   To   1 68

Ignorance is a dish best served at absolute zero

Delusion is not the solution to pollution

Support 21   53   E   7   58

Factism Trumps Fascism

Facts are non-partisan

Make 95   68   53   20 Scientific Again

You can fool the voters but not the atmosphere

Repent the end is NIH

The elements of outraged disbelief  74   90   9

Science:  Because you can’t pray a rocket into space.

Free entropy

So bad that even introverts are here

Resistance is not futile:  It is voltage divided by current

Fact-based policy not policy-based alt.facts

In science we trust

Clinical research is healthy for children and other living things (on a yellow poster with a flower)

The Endangered Species Act is endangered

No science, no chance

This is what a scientist looks like

More mitosis, less division

Save our planet, plant a tree

Stem cells have potential and without them our children don’t

Science Trumps ignorance

Noah saved us once  Let NOAA save us now

They drowned the last climate deniers

Atoms and Trump both make up things

Science is not an opinion

Make America hypothesize again

It’s not rocket science, actually it is

Defiance for science

Extinction is forever  Animals need science

Don’t let science go extinct

Alternative facts are for quacks

Evolution:  Happened.  Climate change:  Happening.  Recognition:  Must happen

There are no jobs on a dead planet

I love science because God created it

I’m with her [arrow pointing to picture of the beautiful blue marble]

Make Earth great again

No science no beer

Dear future generations:  We’re sorry

Science is peer-reviewed not politician-reviewed

Not a sign type of person but geez

Let the forest be with you

Distinguish sense from nonsense

Science fights bad shit with evidence

I’ve reached my 100º C (212º F)

Your momma’s so hot

All the good chemistry jokes argon

Make America think again

Stop plate tectonics

Don’t frack with our future

Act like a proton; think positively

Keep calm and trust science

Resist [resistance symbol]

Veterans for science

_________________________________________________

“Proper press credentials”; “Are your papers in order?”:

From: e-commentator
Sent: Thursday, April 13, 2017 1:37 PM
To: International Monetary Fund SEC, Press <PRESS@imf.org>; IMF Media Relations <Media@imf.org>
Subject: IMF Meetings – Press Credentials

Dear sir or madam,

I am a journalist whose work appears weekly at www.e-commentary.org. and includes regular commentary on and about the IMF (e.g. https://e-commentary.org/category/international-monetary-fund/ and the AIIB, CFETS, NDB, CIPS and SWIFT.

I am interested in applying for press credentials for next week’s IMF meetings.

Thank you for your attention to this request.  Best wishes.

[e-commentator]

 

From: Elnagar, Randa Mohamed [mailto:RElnagar@imf.org]
Sent: Thursday, April 13, 2017 9:52 AM
To: [e-commentator]

Cc: COMMRAST
Subject: RE: IMF Meetings – Press Credentials

We will need proper press credentials issued by a US media organization and a letter of assignment from them to approve your accreditation.

Thank you.

 

From: e-commentator
Sent: Friday, April 14, 2017 2:40 PM

To: Elnagar, Randa Mohamed <RElnagar@imf.org>
Cc: COMMRAST <COMMRAST@imf.org>
Subject: RE: IMF Meetings – Press Credentials

Dear Mr. Elnagar,

The nature of news, news gathering and the media has changed and expanded in America.  www.e-commentary.org provides weekly electronic commentary that has been uploaded since the first week of January, 2005.  You can confirm this contention by reviewing the site.  This note authorizes [e-commentator] to attend the IMF public press conferences.  He can provide a passport and valid state driver’s license for identification.  This note suffices to obtain press credentials.

Thank you for your attention to this request.  Best wishes.

[e-commentator]

 

From: Elnagar, Randa Mohamed [mailto:RElnagar@imf.org]
Sent: Friday, April 14, 2017 10:51 AM
To: [e-commentator]
Cc: COMMRAST; Gaviria, Angela
Subject: RE: IMF Meetings – Press Credentials

Dear Mr. [e-commentator],

Unfortunately, the IMF does not issue register press/media without proper press credentials issues from either the country of origin (in case of non-U.S. nationals), or press credentials issues from the U.S. State Department, the White House, or the U.S. Treasury.

We apologize for the inconvenience.

Thank you.

Randa

 

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Trumpi Goes Neocon; Capitulates In Syria; Supports ISIS; Attacks Without Provocation (April 17, 2017)

Posted in Bush, Deep State, Kleptocracy, Neoconservatives, O'Bama, Rule of Law, Russia, Syria, Trumpi, Wall Street, War, War and Wall Street Party on April 17, 2017 by e-commentary.org

. . .

K          “Trumpi capitulated.  He is no different after all.  Tossing five dozen Tomahawks was his initiation into the gang of Washington chickenhawks.”

J          “My first thought was that he took off his mask and revealed himself, but we cannot forget that he does know what he is doing or  why he is doing it or even who he is.  How would the public react if the newspapers and antisocial media sites reported that Trumpi supports ISIS.  Attacking Syria is attacking a country that is attacking ISIS.”

K          “His first Hundred Days have been pockmarked by chaos, confusion and complete capitulation to the ‘War and Wall Street Party’.  Trumpi lacks the strength, the courage, the experience, the maturity and the integrity to disregard the Neoconservatives and to deep six the amoebic and amorphous swamp beast they call the Deep State.”

J          “So now forces are being unleashed to deep six the world.  Bummer.”

K          “What Bush somehow managed to avoid and what O’Bama somewhat skillfully managed to avoid may be coming to a planet near you.  Will it be an expanded proxy war or a full contact world war.” 

. . .

[See “Women for Syria: A Day of Action” held on April 13.]

[See the recent interview with Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard and the interview with retired Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson for some perspective.]

[See the e-commentary at “Seriously Sizing Up Syria Seizing Up (October 12, 2015)”, “The Drums of War (February 20, 2012)”, “Syria: Gas and Fog (August 26, 2013)”, “Time To Talk:  Hear The Guitar (December 9, 2013)”, “The Percolating Middle East (February 22, 2016)” and “Smedley And Ernest On Our Friend ‘War’; The ‘Racket’ Continues (September 7, 2015)”.]

Bumper stickers of the week:

Without evidence or authorization . . . from Congress or the United Nations Security Council

Smoke and mirrors so often hide the true source of gas.

Too many drums; not enough guitars.

Pay your taxes; buy a bomb.

Pay your taxes; buy a guitar.

Make America Grating Again. 

Make America Psycho Again.

Political Experience: 0 + Military Experience: 0 + Economic Experience: 0 + Diplomatic Experience: 0 = ?

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Second Annual Pushitzer Prize In Commentary For 2017 (April 10, 2017)

Posted in Awards / Incentives, Journalism, Newspapers, Press/Media, Pulitzer, Pushitzer, Security State, WikiLeaks on April 10, 2017 by e-commentary.org

. . .

            “The envelope please.  . . .  This year’s Pushitzer Prize in Commentary is awarded to . . . WikiLeaks.  For releasing some of the raw material that is shaping the public conversation.  . . .  The award recognizes that WikiLeaks’ motives are not unalloyed and not without an agenda.  This year’s award does not canonize the recipient yet does acknowledge the importance of disclosing information in an age where the government/corporations know almost everything about the people and the people know very little about the government/corporations.”

. . .

[Please send nominations for the Pushitzer Prize in Commentary for 2018 and a supporting letter by January 26, 2018 to e-ssay@gci.net and send the entry fee to your favorite charity.]

[See the e-commentary at “First Annual Pushitzer Prize In Commentary For 2016 (April 18, 2016)”.]

Bumper sticker of the week:

For good and honest stuff

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The “I” Gene; The “We” Gene: Searching For The Genie In All Of Us (April 3, 2017)

Posted in Awards / Incentives, Book Reference, Community, Genetics, Genius, Song Reference on April 3, 2017 by e-commentary.org

. . .

K          “As the philosopher and geneticist John Prine observes, ‘You are what you are, and you ain’t what you ain’t’ in this life.”

. . .

K          “Someday someone will discover that each of us is born with either a dominant ‘I’ gene or a dominant ‘We’ gene.”

J          “The ‘Tom’ gene versus the ‘Huck’ gene.”

K          “The ‘Fear’ gene versus the ‘Hope’ gene.”

J          “The ‘Take’ gene versus the ‘Give’ gene.”

K          “The ‘Reagan’ gene versus the ‘La Follette’ gene.”

J          “The ‘Do not let them immanentize the Eschaton’ gene versus the ‘Do let them immanentize the Eschaton’ gene.”

. . .

K          “As the play plays out, epigenetics play a part.  We need to ‘mind our p’s and q’s’ and also mine our ‘a’s’ and ‘g’s’ and ‘c’s’ and ‘t’s’ for insight.”

J          “Nurture can temper nature.  A person with access to more resources is able, if so inclined, to give things away, material and spiritual.  A little more truck allows us to be a little more Huck.” 

K          “And yet Nature is providing all of us with dwindling resources.”

J          “So, if Tom is a huckster once in a while, is Huck a tomster once in a while?  . . .  No.  Maybe not.”

. . .

K          “So many of the events today are calculated and calibrated to induce fear and trigger the Tom and the Take and the Reagan gene in all of us.”

J          “Research is likely to be advanced if we elect politicians who believe in science and perhaps more importantly in the scientific method.  They should give a Crawfoord for any advance in understanding.”

. . . 

[See the e-commentary at “Immanentize The Eschaton.  Say What? (August 22, 2016)”, “Humanity’s Motto:  To Enslave And To Colonize (January 27, 2014)” and “A Taxing Explanation (August 22, 2011)” and the discussion of Martin Luther King’s famous Riverside Speech fifty years ago on April 4, 1967 at “Bush Escalates World War III (January 15, 2007)”.]

Bumper stickers of the week:

I, Tom, fear; We, Huck, hope.

I, Tom, fear and take; We, Huck, hope and give.

I, Tom, fear, take, vote for Reagan and do not let them immanentize the Eschaton; We, Huck, hope, give, vote for La Follette and do let them immanentize the Eschaton.

What if they made a “WePhone”?

“I Me Mine” Beatles (1970)

“America is, and always has been, undecided about whether it will be the United States of Tom or the United States of Huck.  The United States of Tom looks at misery and says:  Hey, I didn’t do it.  It looks at inequity and says:  All my life I busted my butt to get where I am, so don’t come crying to me.  Tom likes kings, codified nobility, unquestioned privilege.  Huck likes people, fair play, spreading the truck around.  Whereas Tom knows, Huck wonders.  Whereas Huck hopes, Tom presumes.  Whereas Huck cares, Tom denies.  These two parts of the American Psyche have been at war since the beginning of the nation, and come to think of it, these two parts of the World Psyche have been at war since the beginning of the world, and the hope of the nation and of the world is to embrace the Huck part and send the Tom part back up the river, where it belongs.”  George Saunders, “The United States of Huck” The Braindead Megaphone (2007).

“Moral certainty is always a sign of cultural inferiority.  The more uncivilized the man, the surer he is that he knows precisely what is right and what is wrong.  All human progress, even in morals, has been the work of men who have doubted the current moral values, not of men who have whooped them up and tried to enforce them.  The truly civilized man is always skeptical and tolerant, in this field as in all others.  His culture is based on ‘I am not too sure’.”  H.L. Mencken

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