Many thanks to Patrick McClung who sent us a financial contribution all the way from Bulgaria in appreciation of our take on the U.S., Russia, Ukraine, and Crimea. Thank you Pat. Good readers, we are in April. Time to start contributing, if you please.
As tensions between Russia and Ukraine continue to mount, the U.S. is increasing its funding of the latter (as is typical, in the form of bank bailouts...), along with more "democracy promoting" measures that do nothing of the sort. Look, after 49 years, America's still meddling in Cuba -- at least this time by planting social media and not assassins! As Michael Barker explains, elite manipulation of social change is nothing new, and far-sighted members of the ruling class take great pride in trying to stay one step ahead of those they wish to dominate. Case in point: Peter Ackerman and the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict. In the U.S., it's been a fabulous week for the elite, thanks to the Supreme Court's ruling that unlimited campaign contributions are an expression of free speech, one-upping its prior ruling that corporations are people. Jan Baughman has a few thoughts on the matter, while Glenn Reed does the smart thing and takes a break from human follies to listen to the bird songs that evoke the spirit of a place.
Books are Raju Peddada's source of comfort; or as he puts it, objects of infinite beauty crafted to carry profound freight that can shape or destroy us. Raju tells how he was recently rescued by Plutarch. For Peter Byrne, they are his life blood; herein he considers Canadian culture through the writing of literary critic Edmund Wilson. We close this short edition with the poetry of Guido Monte on Greek myths. Gilles d'Aymery is off with a virulent San Francisco flu that keeps him in bed. He's been off the computer for almost two weeks.
# # # # #
Michael Barker: Ruling-Class Peace?
A critique of the founder of the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict. More...
Glenn Reed: Bird Sounds And The Spirit Of Place
Bird sounds evoke the spirit of a place if one just listens. More...
Jan Baughman: The New World Of Expensive Speech
The Supreme Court, with its ruling on McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission, has made political influence unaffordable for all but the wealthy elite. More...
Raju Peddada: How Plutarch Rescued Me
To the author, books are objects of infinite beauty crafted to carry profound freight that can shape or destroy us. More...
Peter Byrne: Cold Quebec's Boiling Point
Edmund Wilson's appraisal of Canadian culture, O Canada, An American's Notes on Canadian Culture. More...
Guido Monte: Greek Myths
Guido Monte remembers the old Greek myths. 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 »