Privatization or Grabification?

Listen to the Audio and/or Subscribe to the Podcast Full Transcript: In 1985 Mikhail Gorbachev was promoting glasnost (“openness”) and perestroika (“restructuring”) in an attempt to overcome the Soviet Union’s economic stagnation and stunted growth. These initiatives promised the “utmost respect for the individual citizen and favorable consideration for protecting one’s personal dignity.” By creating … Read more

Microcontrollers & Microprocessors

Listen to the Audio and/or Subscribe to the Podcast Full Transcript: Computers are mathematical processors. And, because information in almost all forms can be reduced to a binary form, computers can handle far more than math. Through the Internet of Things, we’ve come to rely on a variety of small devices to exercise control over … Read more

Sincerity

Full Transcript: I recall reading long ago that the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven are sincerity, more sincerity, and more sincerity. That really didn’t resonate with me at first because I believed then, as I do now, that we are justified by faith and faith alone. Of course, over the years, we each learn … Read more

MAGAlomania

Listen to the Audio and/or Subscribe to the Podcast Full Transcript: The fall of the Soviet Union was a vindication for the strategy of the first civilian Director of Central Intelligence, Allen Dulles. His plan to bankrupt the Russians through an arms race, a space race, and any other competition the adversary could not afford, … Read more

Equal Justice

Listen to the Audio and/or Subscribe to the Podcast Full Transcript: In this segment, we continue our discussion with Ramona Johnson. This time focusing on whether equal justice under law can become real. Among the points raised within this segment are the racial profiling and poverty factors as they result in an unequal application of … Read more

The Nuclear Family

Full Transcript: Trinities, triunities, and triodities are visible throughout the observable universes. In the disciplinary practices of all sentient beings; facts, meanings, and values come to mind in ways that cause us to ask ourselves: “What is it?” – “What does that mean?” – “Is it, somehow worth something?” Everyone understands that any country, charity, … Read more

Gesture Politics

Listen to the Audio and/or Subscribe to the Podcast Full Transcript: Way back in 2005, The New York Times used the expression “gesture politics” to describe the substitution of symbols and empty promises for policy. Today, gestures towards bipartisanship and voting integrity together with a feigned respect for the United States constitution ring hollow. The … Read more

21st Century Policing

Listen to the Audio and/or Subscribe to the Podcast Full Transcript: Continuing our discussion with Ramona Johnson we focus on some practical considerations with respect to police reform. Our takeaways from this segment underscore the fact that more creativity, research, and real world experience must be brought to bear before we will know precisely how … Read more

Race Wars

Full Transcript: The territory of northern Oklahoma had been established for the resettlement of Native Americans that had been subjected to a forced march along the Trail of Tears from the southeastern United States. Once admitted as a state in 1907, the newly created state legislature passed racial segregation laws as its first order of … Read more

Masquerading in Conservative Garb

Listen to the Audio and/or Subscribe to the Podcast Full Transcript: Edmond Burke is best known for the quote: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” He was also the first and, some would say, the best advocate of conservatism. He held that rulers are only … Read more