Category: government

The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie

On By Rick McIn books, government, philosophyLeave a comment

HeroesThe 5th book in the First Law series world is probably the weakest. But I have to admit the plot is tight. There are few enough key characters you can actually follow the story easily.

Bremer dan Gorst, disgraced master swordsman, has sworn to reclaim his stolen honour on the battlefield. Obsessed with redemption …

Prince Calder isn’t interested in honour, and still less in getting himself killed. All he wants is power, and he’ll tell any lie, use any trick, and betray any friend to get it. Just as long as he doesn’t have to fight for it himself.

Curnden Craw, the last honest man in the North, has gained nothing from a life of warfare but swollen knees and frayed nerves. He hardly even cares who wins any more, he just wants to do the right thing. But can he even tell what that is with the world burning down around him?

Over three bloody days of battle, the fate of the North will be decided. But with both sides riddled by intrigues, follies, feuds and petty jealousies, it is unlikely to be the noblest hearts, or even the strongest arms that prevail…

Three men. One battle. No Heroes.

wikia

WhirrunThe most compelling character by far is this oddball.

Whirrun of Bligh – a famous hero from the utmost North, who wields the Father of Swords.

He’s the most philosophical character. Most of the book is man-to-man fighting, while discussing the stupidity of war.

Drumpf would ban gun-free zones

On By Rick McIn ethics, firearms, GOP USA, governmentLeave a comment

… “There’s no more gun-free zones” in a Trump presidency, the candidate said in Vermont on Thursday evening, singling out schools and military bases. …

Politico

He thinks there would be fewer innocent young people killed by fire arms in schools. Obviously that’s wrong.

More guns = more accidents & more suicides & more thefts. That’s statistics. 😦

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List of school shootings in the United States

Indigenous peoples in Brazil

On By Rick McIn ethics, governmentLeave a comment

At the time of European contact, some of the indigenous people were traditionally mostly semi-nomadic tribes who subsisted on hunting, fishing, gathering, and migrant agriculture. Many of the estimated 2,000 nations and tribes which existed in the 16th century suffered extinction as a consequence of the European settlement, and many were assimilated into the Brazilian population.

The indigenous population was largely killed off by European diseases, declining from a pre-Columbian high of millions to some 300,000 (1997), grouped into some 200 tribes. …

When the Portuguese explorers first arrived in Brazil in April 1500, they found, to their astonishment, a wide coastline rich in resources, teeming with hundreds of thousands of Indigenous people living in a “paradise” of natural riches. …

Measles, smallpox, tuberculosis, and influenza killed tens of thousands. The diseases spread quickly along the indigenous trade routes, and whole tribes were likely annihilated without ever coming in direct contact with Europeans.

wikipedia

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When you see a bearded man arrive waving a crucifix, start worrying. 😦

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Rio Olympics behind schedule

On By Rick McIn government, gymnastics, sport - amateurLeave a comment

I’m flying back to Rio today.

Here’s the best summary of the many problems remaining with only 3 months left.

Rio de Janeiro in upheaval with 100 days until the Olympic opening ceremony

Rio Mascots

woe is Brazil

On By Rick McIn economics, government, travelLeave a comment

I’m in an affluent part of Rio hanging out with Olympians. Life is good.

But this nation has big problems.

Economist – Brazil’s crisis – Irredeemable?

A former star of the emerging world faces a lost decade

Brazil

Gandhi’s Seven Social Sins

On By Rick McIn economics, education, ethics, government, philosophyLeave a comment

Seven Social Sins, sometimes called the Seven Blunders of the World, is a list that Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi published in his weekly newspaper Young India on October 22, 1925.

… he gave this same list to his grandson, Arun Gandhi, written on a piece of paper on their final day together shortly before his assassination.

Wealth without work.
Pleasure without conscience.
Knowledge without character.
Commerce without morality.
Science without humanity.
Worship without sacrifice.
Politics without principle.

Though I feel Hillary will make a better President than Bernie, I’m happy to see some of Gandhi’s philosophy debated.

Bernie Hillary

Thanks Tony.

House of Cards (season 4)

On By Rick McIn economics, ethics, government, TVLeave a comment

The fourth season has received generally positive reviews from critics.

On Metacritic, the season has a score of 76 out of 100 based on 17 reviews.

On Rotten Tomatoes, the season has a score of 89 out of 100, with an average rating of 8.1/10 based on 27 reviews. The site’s critical consensus reads, “House of Cards retains its binge-worthiness by ratcheting up the drama, and deepening Robin Wright’s role even further.”

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It’s must watch TV. Addressing the issues of the day, especially the Donald Drumpf phenomenon. Evil in power.

That said, the plot line is pretty stupid. I’m surprised those writers cannot do better with the talent they’ve got.

It was great to see Robin Wright have a bigger role, but that’s about the only improvement this season.

Doug Stamper is good. Still.

Joel Kinnaman as Will Conway, Republican Governor of New York and Nominee for President of the United States running against Frank was a good choice.

But House of Cards could be much better.

Click PLAY or watch a trailer on YouTube.

Thou shalt not kill.

On By Rick McIn ethics, GOP USA, government, things getting betterLeave a comment

Christ was sentenced to be killed by the government of the day. That was wrong.

jesus-christ-carrying-cross

“Thou shalt not kill.”

In America, however, most Christians still support capital punishment. That seems a disconnect to me.

A poll by the Pew Research Center in March found that 56% of Americans back the death penalty while 38% oppose it. Catholics were slightly less supportive (approving it by 53% to 42%) than average, whereas Protestants were more keen. Among white evangelicals, some 71% agreed with execution and only 25% were against. Black Protestants felt differently; 37% agree with the death penalty while 58% oppose it.

But even in America, support for the death penalty is waning, falling from 80% in 1994. …

Economist

Tea Party types, in general, believe in Capital Punishment. Surprisingly it’s not one of their “15 Non-negotiable Core Beliefs”.

Almost anything supported by the Tea Party, I oppose.