

Leonard Cohen has died aged 82, old and blessed. His life struggle was a form of classical Liberalism which many on the left may aspire to, but few understand. Cohen was a Zen Buddhist and a faithful Jew. It is worth reflecting on his life, his path was not an easy one, he was a poet. He had many relationships and children. But he wasn’t self absorbed or self destructive, so much as cognisant of the disparity between the dream of iconic love, and the fact of compromise. Everybody knows of what Cohen sang. It was personal, and explicit. The song Hallelujah took some five years for him to write, and includes many more verses than what are used in the variations sung. Cohen has given a gift of his legacy. His last album was “You want it darker.” And so it is.
Doing his bit from Melbourne on 3aw, Neil Mitchell interviews a Bernie Sanders supporter who claims he was a “Never Trump,” except “Never Trump” people are GOP supporters who oppose Trump. The idiot being interviewed was a Democrat supporter who felt Clinton had stolen preselection. She had. But that is no excuse for disrupting NYC in protest of President elect Trump. But that makes him interview material for Neil Mitchell who seems to go far to find people who don’t get Trump, but won’t interview someone who does. We are being told that the lesson of Brexit and the Trump election is that political elites need to listen to the average person. One gets the feeling that Mitchell never listens to the exceptional or gifted, and only really interviews himself or people that are safe for him. A little under half of all who voted supported Trump. Maybe Mitchell might interview one of them to get answers to his concerns.
IPA Review (Aug 2016) features an Elle Hardy article on “The Rise of Identity Politics” which is nominally about Trump but really about Bernie Sanders. Only the Trump platform and Sanders platform are very different. Trump’s base crosses the left right divide. Trump was on insider terms with left wing politicians, and his support helped fuel their corruption and helped make him rich. Trump is a neo con by literal definition. Trump aims to be pragmatic and will negotiate in a way one feels Libertarians should cheer if they understood him, instead of hating him. By way of contrast, Sanders is a carbon copy socialist who offers nothing beyond hyperbole. Sanders draws on a tradition of left wing ascendancy drawing on the peace movement of the sixties. There is no policy he has that would be successful, but spending a lot of money from tax must appeal to many. In gushing for Sanders, Elle got to quote Australian art critic Hughes. But to understand Trump, one need only see the slogans #MakeAmericaGreatAgain and #DrainTheSwamp Recognise Sanders is a swamp creature.
Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells swing and jingle bells ring
Snowin' and blowin' up bushels of fun
Now the jingle hop has begun
Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells chime in jingle bell time
Dancin' and prancin' in Jingle Bell Square
In the frosty air
What a bright time, it's the right time
To rock the night away
Jingle bell time is a swell time
To go glidin' in a one-horse sleigh
Giddy-up jingle horse, pick up your feet
Jingle around the clock
Mix and a-mingle in the jinglin' feet
That's the jingle bell rock
Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bell chime in jingle bell time
Dancin' and prancin' in Jingle Bell Square
In the frosty air
What a bright time, it's the right time
To rock the night away
Jingle bell time is a swell time
To go glidin' in a one-horse sleigh
Giddy-up jingle horse, pick up your feet
Jingle around the clock
Mix and a-mingle in the jinglin' feet
That's the jingle bell
That's the jingle bell
That's the jingle...
David Daniel Ball calls himself the Conservative Voice.
I'm a teacher with three decades experience teaching math to high school kids.I also work with first graders and kids in between first grade and high school. I know the legends of why Hypatia's dad is remembered through his contribution to Math theory. And I know the legend of why followers of Godel had thought he had disproved God's existence.
I'm not a preacher, but I am a Christian who has written over 28 books all of which include some reference to my faith. Twelve blog books on world history and current affairs, detailing world events , births and marriages on each day of the year, organised by month. Twelve books on the background to and history of Bible Quotes. One Bible quote per day for a year. An intro to a science fiction series I'm planning, post apocalyptic cyber punk. An autobiography with short story collections.
I'm known in Australia for my failure as a whistleblower over the negligence death of a school boy. ...
Do you agree with France, UK and, Australia that the Iranian planned invasion of Israel by Hamas, siezing hostages and killing and raping innocent civilians, is worthy of statehood? Israel has for over seventy years offered peace, even offering land for security. But, now, Israel is resolved to provide security, and police, Gaza, ensuring Hamas has no role.
Make a song in ancient Jewish tradition of their Gaza objective. Include how they repeatedly offered peace to Hamas, but were spurned. Trump warned Hamas of what would happen if they failed to return the hostages. They refused. Include how UN and Europe have emboldened Hamas to not return the hostages. Include how Hamas has deliberately starved her own people to blame Israel.
Ode to Resolve: A Lament in the Style of Ancient Psalms
(In the tradition of biblical Hebrew poetry, such as the Psalms of David or the Song of Moses, this song employs parallelism, rhythmic repetition, and themes of divine justice, oppressed people, and unyielding foes. It is structured with verses (stanzas) and a...
My sole contact through Rumble Video with outside world seems to be online scammers or bots.
Scammers in San Francisco with North African Islamic names. But calling themselves English names.
They promise to make accounts discoverable for a fee.
They promise they have experience with Rumble.
They try to get the account to extend to Youtube.
However, they don't understand Rumble. They don't offer anything that can't be done by a half dozen posting as multiple others.
I've not lost cash, this time.
What role will you play in helping dismantle the deep state's playbook and support leaders who challenge entrenched interests?
Nixon's Challenges and Actions (1969)
Nixon inherited widespread issues: dysfunctional foreign affairs and domestic chaos. He aimed to strengthen institutions for stability at home and clarity abroad, targeting threats to America.