Category: government

Burn Book by Kara Swisher

On By Rick McIn Amazon, Apple, audiocasts, books, economics, education, ethics, Facebook, government, internet, TwitterLeave a comment

Kara Swisher is today the #1 reporter covering the business of the internet.

Her mentor, Walt Mossberg.

The first of her 2-book memoir is a hit.

An entertaining read, even if you care nothing about the history of the internet.

Burn Book: A Tech Love Story by Kara Swisher

Almost everyone in Tech picks up the phone when Kara calls.

She’s a pugnacious interviewer who won’t back down to anyone.

I only follow Swisher because she launched Pivot, a semi-weekly news commentary podcast co-hosted by Swisher and Scott Galloway.

She’s a very hard worker. Extremely well connected. And a competent interviewer.

But Prof. Galloway is my guru in ALL things business. Swisher was smart — as well — to sign up Galloway.

In her new book, Swisher reflects back on some of the biggest stories she’s covered. And her opinions of some of the Tech giants.

John McLaughlin comes across worst. Also, Rupert Murdoch, her long time boss.

Mark Zuckerberg stories are embarrassing. Facebook evil.

She’s fascinated by Elon Musk — but entirely disappointed since he bought Twitter and made his legacy being something of a right wing troll.

I was surprised how much she admired Steve Jobs. A well known asshole, but one who slung less B.S. than the rest.

Tunnel in the Sky by Robert Heinlein

On By Rick McIn books, ethics, government, health & fitness, human rights, philosophyLeave a comment

Like most teen boys my age, I read every Heinlein book I could get my hands on.

Tunnel in the Sky (1955) … a group of students sent on a survival test to an uninhabited planet, who soon realise they are stranded there. The themes of the work include the difficulties of growing up and the nature of man as a social animal.

His juvenile books are rollicking adventures. No profanity.

But on another level, Heinlein was a provocative philosopher on matters of personal freedom, particularly sexual freedom, libertarianism, religion, politics, and government.

Heinlein wrote strong female characters decades before it was cool. 😀

My main takeaway from Tunnel is the truism that rule of law must come first.

Everything else, later.

If you don’t have enforceable laws, wannabe dictators will insist criminals are tourists.

Here’s Georgia GOP Andrew Clyde barricading the doors of the Senate. He later called those attacking him tourists.

Trump called them “political prisoners.” And “hostages.”

Any objective person would want those breaking into their home or business arrested.  To deny this fact is to deny rule of law.

As in Lord of the Flies, which had been published a year earlier, isolation reveals the true natures of the students as individuals. The Heinlein book is more optimistic, however.

The colony of young people in Tunnel do establish rule of law.  Democracy. 

In any case, it’s still worth reading Heinlein books today. They are thought provoking.

On American Imperialism

On By Rick McIn books, economics, GOP USA, government, human rights, things getting betterLeave a comment

My love / hate relationship with the USA started early.

In University 1983, one of my textbooks in a sociology course was:

Under The Eagle: United States Intervention in Central America and the Caribbean

The history of the USA is damning.

No wonder Putin and others keep pointing out past wars started by the USA.

I spent a lot of time on a term paper: The Rise of American Imperialism and Precipitating Factors

Super critical of most American interventions in their part of the world.

I particularly criticized puppet dictators supported by Washington: Samoza, Trujillo, Batista, etc.

I only got a C+ / B- on the paper. 😀

Free Municipal Campgrounds for the Houseless

On By Rick McIn economics, ethics, government, human rightsLeave a comment

Housing is an increasingly urgent issue. 

Canada’s population grew by 1.2 million in 2023, the highest ever annual increase.  And there are not enough homes for those kind of numbers — even if they could afford them.

Multiple approaches are needed to increase housing supply, including turning unused office spaces into apartments and condos. 

Short term ➙ easiest is to provide free, safe temporary accommodation for anyone.

Nobody wants people living illegally or legally in tents nearby. THEREFORE the goal should be to be to offer a better alternative, indoor or outdoor. I’d call it a municipal FREE CAMPGROUND.

Volunteer organizations could provide meals and medical advice. Help folks try to get out.

I made this image with Microsoft Creator AI.

Long term ➙ we need more “Housing First” initiatives. 

Rather than moving homeless individuals through different “levels” of housing, whereby each level moves them closer to “independent housing” (for example: from the streets to a public shelter, and from a public shelter to a transitional housing program, and from there to their own apartment or house in the community), Housing First moves the homeless individual or household immediately from the streets or homeless shelters into their own accommodation. …

… housing is a basic human right, and so should not be denied to anyone, even if they are abusing alcohol or other substances. The Housing First model, thus, is philosophically in contrast to models that require the homeless to abjure substance-abuse and seek treatment in exchange for housing.

Finland and Denmark are the only European Union countries where homelessness is currently falling. …

Since its launch in 2008, the number of homeless people in Finland has decreased by roughly 30%, and the number of long-term homeless people has fallen by more than 35%.

“Sleeping rough”, the practice of sleeping outside, has been largely eradicated in Helsinki, where only one 50-bed night shelter remains. …

Wikipedia
Housing First unit in Finland

Providing housing first to people living on the street has worked surprisingly well where it’s been tried around the world.

2024’s Top Geopolitical Risks

On By Rick McIn bad news, economics, ethics, GOP USA, government, human rights, IslamLeave a comment

January 2024.

Even if Trump loses the election, the USA will be further divided and destabilized through the election cycle, exactly what Xi, Putin, and the rest of American enemies want.

I’ve been trying to avoid coverage of Gaza — as it’s so depressing.

In fact, I gave up on that issue decades ago concluding that successive Israeli governments were horrible — and successive Palestinian governments even worse. My friend Mike taught school in Libya and Egypt for many years, coming away very sympathetic for innocent Palestinians.

NOW I find myself brought up to speed by listening to an excellent podcast interview with Ian Bremmer.

Search “Conversation with Ian Bremmer — 2024’s Top Geopolitical Risks”

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Not as good — but similar — is his recent TED talk.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. (43min)

As a happy Canadian, I didn’t suffer in any way from the G.W. Bush recession of 2008 nor Trump’s incompetent 4 years — and I MIGHT survive another 4 years of the emotional toddler as President.

But I’m worried about 2024.

As Bremmer points out, once Trump gets the GOP nomination, all Republicans will have to fall in line with that idiot — or vote for Biden.  Or NOT VOTE.

As for Russia, as Economist said at the very beginning, there’s no scenario where Russia wins their invasion of Ukraine. Even if they eventually control all of that nation, the population will be uncooperative with Putin for decades to come. The rest of the world will be leery of Putin-land for decades. Russian assets will stay frozen. And at least a million Russians who fled the nation will mostly not return.

NATO is much strengthened, as well.

When Abortion is Denied

On By Rick McIn economics, education, ethics, GOP USA, government, happiness, health & fitness, human rightsLeave a comment

Diana Greene Foster is a professor at the University of California, San Francisco.

She led the ten-year nationwide Turnaway Study analyzing the health and wellbeing of women who seek abortion in the United States — including those who do not receive one — and in 2020 published a book, The Turnaway Study: Ten Years, a Thousand Women, and the Consequences of Having—or Being Denied—an Abortion, on her findings.

In 2023, she was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship in recognition of her scientific work, including the book and more than 120 scientific papers. …

In 2022, she was recognized as one of the ten people who shaped science that year by Nature.

One of the most expert in the field.

Here’s a fascinating new TED Talk. Unsurprisingly, the women forced to carry a child to term have worse consequences than those who have the freedom to make the choice to abort.

Anti-choice advocates in the USA often simultaneously deny raises in minimum wage, health care for children, maternity leave, and even free school lunch. Pro birth. But not pro life.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Abbott Elementary – season 2

On By Rick McIn economics, education, GOP USA, government, humour, TVLeave a comment

Hilarious mockumentary sitcom.

Season 2 is still charming.

Abbott Elementary stars 4 ft 11 inch (149.9 cm)​​ Quinta Brunson as Janine Teagues, a perpetually optimistic second-grade teacher at the underfunded Abbott Elementary, a predominantly Black school in Philadelphia. 

William Stanford Davis as Mr. Johnson, the school’s eccentric, overqualified and talented, custodian is my favourite character.

It’s an insight into the American public school system. ReTrumplicans insist on reducing funding for public education, while subsidizing rich kids in private schools.

The GOP later complains about crime when these same underfunded kids can’t make it in a nation with poor health care and a $7.25 / hour minimum wage.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

For kids, this is a silly show making fun of teachers.

For adults, there are many funny little details. This typical school group photo, for example. 😀

Charlie Chaplin’s Great Dictator speech

On By Rick McIn education, ethics, government, moviesLeave a comment

The Great Dictator is a 1940 American anti-war political satire black comedy film written, directed, produced, scored by, and starring British comedian Charlie Chaplin …

Chaplin’s film advanced a stirring condemnation of the German and Italian dictators Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, as well as fascism, antisemitism, and the Nazis.

Mocking Hitler

At the time of its first release, the United States was still formally at peace with Nazi Germany and neutral during what were the early days of World War II.

Chaplin plays both leading roles: a ruthless fascist dictator and a persecuted Jewish barber.

It’s best remembered for this speech.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Culper Ring trilogy by Brad Meltzer

On By Rick McIn books, governmentLeave a comment
  1. The Inner Circle
  2. The Fifth Assassin
  3. The President’s Shadow

I’m not much of a fan of thrillers, especially political thrillers.

And didn’t manage to get through all 3 books.

Beecher White is an interesting character, however. A government archivist in Washington D.C.

I did enjoy enjoy reading about the archives and historical anecdotes.

Author Brad Meltzer is interesting, too.

His novels touch on the political thriller, legal thriller and conspiracy fiction genres, …

… Meltzer counts former Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush as fans, and both have helped him with his research. …

The Culper Ring books imagine that a secret spy ring, founded in real life by George Washington, continues to exist today. 

Though they didn’t work for me, many others really enjoy these books.

Of the 3 books, I felt the first — Inner Circle — was best. And I did finish that one. 😀

You could try it and see if you want to continue with the trilogy.

Wade Davis – The Wayfinders

On By Rick McIn books, climate change, ethics, government, health & fitness, things getting worse, travelLeave a comment

I’ve been a fan of Wade Davis for decades.

An academic and adventurer. He crossed the Darién Gap at age-20, for example.

This book is a summary of his Massey Lectures:

The Wayfinders: Why Ancient Wisdom Matters in the Modern World (The CBC Massey Lectures 2009) 

Very good. Smart and succinct.

Davis compares cultures quickly and easily, looking for lessons for us who haven’t lived with Amazon tribes for years.

Of the thousand key point, one really struck me. His discussion of how the British — on arrival — could not understand the Australian aborigines.

These are and were a people with no notion of linear time.

Theirs was one of the great experiments in human thought. The notion that the world existed as a perfect whole, and that the singular duty of humanity was to maintain through ritual activity the land precisely as it existed when the Rainbow Serpent embarked on the journey of creation.

… But in life there is only the Dreaming, in which every thought, every plant and animal, are inextricably linked as a single impulse, the inspiration of the first dawning.

Had humanity followed this track, it is true that we would have never placed a man on the moon.

But we would most certainly not be speaking of our capacity to compromise the life support of the planet. I have never in all of my travels been so moved by a vision of another possibility, born literally 55,000 years ago.

TED Blog

Edmund Wade Davis CM (born December 14, 1953) is a Canadian cultural anthropologist, ethnobotanist, author, and photographer.

Davis came to prominence with his 1985 best-selling book The Serpent and the Rainbow about the zombies of Haiti. He is professor of anthropology and the BC Leadership Chair in Cultures and Ecosystems at Risk at the University of British Columbia.