For the Record

The descent into market barbarism continues...

with the latest absurdist 'White Paper' in the U.K, according to which universities are to be ranked by job prospects and salaries of graduates.  Some pushback here; summary here.

Abbas bids for U.N. recognition of Palestinian statehood

An historic and overdue move.

Finally, repeal of 'don't ask, don't tell'

On the one hand, the welcome end of another vestige of a pre-enlightened age.  On the other hand, we're supposed to be happy that non-hets can now happily sign up to be cannon fodder?

Mutilation and murder of 13-year-old Hamza al-Khateeb

The tender age of this poor soul only underscores what so many of all ages have been subjected to, now more than technologically efficient ever.  It is so hard and horrible to believe that in this day and age, entire countries are still ruled by force, fear, and torture.  May the socio-political world quickly evolve for everyone on earth.

In the meantime, I share with anyone who happens to be reading this a thought about suffering, relevant, perhaps to the problem of evil.  I am inclined to believe, for reasons that are hard to articulate but that I nonetheless find compelling, that we are not here only for the moment.  Roughly, I am inclined to think that the life that any of us are currently experiencing is just one small part of a much larger journey.  The experience of pain is one aspect of that journey.  Those who experience great pain, I comfort myself in thinking, are probably further along that particular road... in seeing or somehow knowing, in particular, that we are not our pain.  I hope and, though I would not characterize my sentiment as religious per se, pray that Hamza is now experiencing a delightful and appreciative existence, wherever he may be.

International panel points out futility of "war on drugs"; urges decriminalization of pot and focusing efforts on organized crime, not users

A welcome statement of the obvious.

Largest U.S. corporations made 170 billion and paid -1.5% taxes

Yes, you've heard it before and it's still going on.  The institutionally rich get massively richer and yet, remarkably, pay no taxes.  No wonder there's no money available for health care or schools or other social services.  Ah, remember the good old days, when corporations were limited franchises, granted (at least ostensibly) in the public interest, and dissolved in a couple of years.  How times, and the metaphysics of persons, have changed.

Worth viewing: a short interview with Matt Taibi...

... talking about U.S. politics.  Not too much to be optimistic about, but hearing the truth laid bare in Taibi's mellow way is satisfying, in a Chomsky-esque kind of way.

U.S. house passes 690 billion defense budget

That's 690 University of Torontos, each serving 70,000 students.

400 people in U.S. have as much wealth as bottom 50%

Sacrifice, people, sacrifice!

Orange still my favorite color

Torontoist presents a brilliant, powerful endorsement of Smilin Jack's NDP in the vote tomorrow. Punch line:

And it is idealism, at this time, that Canada needs. We have had almost a decade of cold, callous government from Stephen Harper's Tories and to a lesser extent from Paul Martin's Liberals before them. The Tories see government as an impediment; the Liberals all too often use it for inducement, to bribe voters into supporting the Grits rather than offering a coherent platform, as evidence by Michael Ignatieff's scattershot campaigning in recent months. The NDP looks upon us and tells us that we are Canadians: that we are a society that believes in helping one another, in helping the downtrodden and weak, not because it is economically expedient or eventually profitable, but because it is right, and that this is worth fighting for.

That is why Jack Layton and his party have skyrocketed in the polls. That is why they deserve your vote, and our endorsement.