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The Wordsmiths Forge showcases the writing of Elizabeth Barrette in nonfiction, fiction, and poetry. It also provides a virtual living room for discussing topics such as environmental and social issues, current events, intentional community, network
Recent Posts Tagged With 'news'
Forward and Back
America is a very slow learner when it comes to the importance of treating people decently and equally. But at this point, I've about lowered my standards to being glad gays aren't among those officially declared "nonpersons."Deb Price | The 20...
This is why...
... governments need supervision from the citizens of their nation. Because if you give people power without holding them responsible for what they do, they tend to do evil. Any time people can "disappear" in a justice system without requ...
Another one bites the dust ...
... in the distinction between human behavior and animal behavior. Specifically, it was supposed to be the case that animal calls were considered "not language" for lack of modularity. They couldn't combine one type of call with another t...
Rings around the solar system...
... are found in some startling places. Space never ceases to amaze and delight me. As above, so below....
Another reason...
... for people to avoid serving in the military. Gee, if the brass work a little harder, they could totally depopulate what's left of our armed forces.Yana Kunichoff | Women Soldiers in Iraq Who Become Pregnant Face Court-MartialYana Kunichoff,...
Solar Villages
One nifty thing about renewable energy is that it's scattered all over the Earth. A given source may not be available everywhere, but most places are within easy reach of some or another source(s) of renewable energy. That's terrific...
Money as the Root of Starvation
This article discusses how market dynamics can lead to famines. It's pretty straightforward: when a culture believes that everything must be owned by somebody, and that it's okay to kill people for not having enough money, a typical r...
Spine, What Spine?
I am once again disappointed and disgusted with the Democratic Party. The whole point to having more than one political party is so they will offer different things and give people a choice. This does not work if one party caves whenever ...
Wildlife Victories in 2009
It's been a challenging year in many ways, but we've had some worthwhile victories along the way. Here's a slideshow of some wildlife victories....
Call for Good News
I often blog a lot about intense and controversial topics, because part of my responsibility includes spreading information. Too much of that can lead to burnout, though, both for readers and for bloggers.So, I'm making an effort to increase the amou...
Due Process Is Dead
"Notes from Underground" has a post (unfortunately, without a direct link; here is a related one) about the official sanction of nonpersons in America, and how it's now considered okay to torture people. Unless you consider that ...
Funding Social Programs That Work
I'm not a fan of throwing money at problems without making sure the solution actually works. So I'm really intrigued by this article about the White House seeking to identify social programs that show measurable improvements so that they can be...
Where Our Priorities Are
Apparently, Americans consider it more important to kill people and take their stuff than to save lives and give people what they need to survive. This is where our money goes. I'm disgusted by it.Jeremy Scahill | Stunning Statistics Abou...
Space: It\'s Wet Up There!
I was delighted by this space exploration news.Glint of Sunlight Confirms Liquid in Northern Lake District of TitanPASADENA, Calif. -- NASA's Cassini Spacecraft has captured the first flash of sunlight reflected off a lake on Saturn's moon Titan, con...
Wearing out the Military
This article takes a detailed look at several ways in which America is wearing out our military.“They’re Wasted”: The Price of Pushing Our Troops Too FarWhen I was on active duty in the military, an Army friend used to remind me: “Any day you...
The World as a Village
I think there's a lot of truth in this article:Jean-Marc Vittori | The World Is a Village Without a MayorJean-Marc Vittori, Les Echos: "More and more, the world is a village. What happens at one end of the planet may directly influence the events tha...
Health Care and Christmas
I note that all the politicians making decisions about other people's health care enjoy a lovely taxpayer-funded socialized medicine insurance package. I think if they botch this, they should all get coal in their stockings. Because hey, most of them...
Toxic Corn
For some years now, I have suspected that genetically modified corn (and possibly other crops) are behind some of the rise in health problems. In particular, I'm seeing a lot more people with food allergies, including some intermittent ones.&nb...
A resource-based economy
Fascinating idea, but I'm not sure humans are mature enough for it. *ponder* Though it's very close in concept to how many tribal economies are run. We sure don't have the technological capacity for that side of it as described, but...
Don\'t Nuke the Climate
I like their slogan. It neatly conveys the idea that nuclear power is not in any way Earth-friendly.Nuclear Power Protested from Copenhagen to WashingtonSue Sturgis, Facing South: "At the U.N. Climate Summit in Copenhagen yesterday, members of ...
War Bonds, Not War Taxes
I think America's current wars, plural, are wrong and stupid and should be stopped immediately. However, I'm in favor of war bonds. I greatly prefer war bonds to a war tax. This is because bonds are voluntary expenditures while taxe...
House Approves Financial Regulation
I was pleased by this news. I don't think it goes far enough, but it's a step in the right direction.House Approves Sweeping Regulatory Reform PackageBrady Dennis, The Washington Post: "More than a year after the near-collapse of Wall Street pl...
More Green Jobs
For best results, aim to accomplish multiple goals simultaneously. In this case, the President seeks to create green jobs, which will lower unemployment, boost the economy, move America toward energy independence so we don't have to rely on oil...
Transparency in Science
This article concerns transparency in science. I've personally witness enough climate change to be confident of its veracity regardless of the "dubious emails," but I'm generally in favor of more transparency. Transparent science is good....
Texas Accidentally Bans All Marriages
I was direly amused by this article. We did warn people that attacks on gay marriage undermine all marriages. I think the goddesses of matrimony are getting pissed. That's not a good thing for mortals....
Createspace Expands Options
I was delighted to hear from haikujaguar that Createspace is expanding its distribution to brick-and-mortar bookstores. This will be very helpful for people who want to turn their cyberfunded project into a hardcopy book....
Global Warming Is Real
My partner Doug sent me this link for an article on global warming. The lead is long, but there's some valid stuff farther down.The climate is warming. It is almost certain this is caused by emissions of greenhouse gases caused by human activity. No...
Fading Dreams
America is becoming more and more a place where a few people have vast amounts of wealth, and the vast majority scrabble for the basics. Lords and peasants, all over again -- without even the old noblesse oblige. It's disgraceful.Henry A. Giroux | ...
Victims of Climate Change
These victims of climate change are poor farmers. How long do you think it will be before people with guns decide that climate change is ruining their lives, and decide to share their misery with the rich nations they consider responsible?Angry Gree...
Squelching the Lobbyists
I was delighted by this news, courtesy of ladyqkat. This may help reduce corporate interest and restore voter influence.Lobbyists pushed off federal advisory panels New White House initiative to curb influence could affect thousands WASHINGTON - Hun...
