Many thanks to Beverly Holley & Philip Fine for their financial help. Year to date: $1,842.14.
We've been remiss for not covering in detail the US government shutdown and the crisis of the debt ceiling, but there are so many crises nowadays that we don't know where to turn our attention. When you have a member of Congress, Florida Representative (and Tea Party wingnut) Ted Yoho, saying that a federal default would not be bad; saying "I think, personally, it would bring stability to the world markets," then you know that the loonies have been released from the zoo and we are fast becoming a nation led by ignocracy. Gilles d'Aymery, as you well know, is a contrarian, though he's not a total moron. He is shying away from the usual pebbles that are spewed out by doctrinarians, and is keeping his eyes and mind on what is really happening in the Greater Middle East. It's much bigger than one would think and it's not all about oil. He will have more to say on that topic. Meanwhile, from Manuel García's perspective, humanity is terminally delirious with fossil fuel fever, and the shale oil and tar sands black gold rush is an anthropogenic increase of world entropy; and from Michael Barker's view, famed environmentalist Laurens Van Der Post's mythical life has exerted a significant influence on modern-day environmentalism.
Social media may have fueled the fires of the Arab Spring (a.k.a. the Wikileaks Revolution), but Harvey Whitney, Jr. examines it from a different vantage point, as he analyzes the gospel and flawed etymology of said "media." Some fresh news crossed Peter Byrne's desk in the past fortnight and Nobel Prize-winner for literature Alice Munro dispelled his nightmare about Ontario, while Paul Buhle recommends an innovative work of panoramic comic art by Joe Sacco, the kind of artist whose every work deserves careful scrutiny. We close with the poetry of David Francis; Guido Monte's fragments with Adele Ward; and your letters that keep coming on Syria, along with a defense of Whitehall, New York.
# # # # #
Gilles d'Aymery: Turmoil In The Greater Middle East
The author attempts to connect the dots between the turbulent events unfolding in the Greater Middle East. More...
Manuel García, Jr.: Black Gold, Maximum Entropy
The shale oil and tar sands black gold rush is an anthropogenic increase of world entropy. More...
Michael Barker: Who Was Laurens Van Der Post? - Part I of II
Examination of the Jungian legacy of famed environmentalist Laurens Van Der Post. More...
Harvey E. Whitney, Jr.: The Gospel And Flawed Etymology Of "Social Media"
A look at the anti-social problems with social media. More...
Peter Byrne: Alice Munro's Nobel Prize For Literature
Nobel Prize-winner for literature Alice Munro dispelled Peter Byrne's nightmare about Ontario. More...
Paul Buhle: Joe Sacco's Great War Panorama
An innovative work of comic art by Joe Sacco, the kind of artist whose every work deserves careful scrutiny. More...
David Francis: Who's Taking Care Of Her Own?
A poem for the nanny who takes care of others -- who takes care of her own? More...
Guido Monte & Adele Ward: Fragments with Adele
Other fragments by Guido Monte, mixed with verses by Adele Ward: They say we are all one. More...
Clearing up some confusion on the US position on Syria, and a defense of Whitehall, New York. More...
# # # # #
Let us know if you wish to receive an e-mail regarding each new edition (twice a month) with the Note from the Editors, and please become a subscriber. See our Donate page.
« Previous | Current Issue | Next »