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Trump, Taiwan, and the Weapons Deal

The president-elect stumbles over the protocols of geopolitics and war, tweeting all the way.

It’s not just insane. It’s awkward.

“Since 1979,” the Guardian points out, “the U.S. has acknowledged Beijing’s claim that Taiwan is part of China, with relations governed by the ‘One China’ set of protocols.”

Life on Earth is Dying


On the day that you read this article, 200 species of life on Earth (plants, birds, animals, fish, amphibians, insects, reptiles) will cease to exist. Tomorrow, another 200 species will vanish forever.

The human onslaught to destroy life on Earth is unprecedented in Earth's history. Planet Earth is now experiencing its sixth mass extinction event and Homo sapiens sapiens is the cause. Moreover, this mass extinction event is accelerating and is so comprehensive in its impact that the piecemeal measures being taken by the United Nations, international agencies and governments constitute a tokenism that is breathtaking in the extreme.

And it is no longer the case that mainly 'invisible' species are vanishing: those insects, amphibians and small animals about which you had never even heard, assuming they have been identified and given a name by humans.

Student activists to OSU administration: The clock is ticking on Wendy’s contract

The Student/Farmworker Alliance held yet another protest on the Ohio State University campus on November 15. The student organization is engaged in a protracted struggle with OSU that began in April 2014, when they asked the university to terminate its contract with the Wendy’s Corporation. The fast food chain operates a restaurant in OSU’s Wexner Medical Center.

At issue is the human rights of farm workers in Wendy’s supply chain. Wendy's has refused to join the Fair Food Program developed by the Florida-based Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW). Joining the Fair Food Program would alleviate the poverty of farm workers who harvest the fresh tomatoes used in the Wendy's sandwiches and salads. The CIW's program also promotes a safer, more humane working environment, including zero tolerance for sexual harassment and slave labor — abuses still common in the agricultural industry.

U.S. 2016 Unadjusted Exit Poll Discrepancies Fit Political, not Statistical, Patterns

Chart showing exit polls are out of the margin of error

The article is contained in the attached PDF document. 

Free Press December Second Saturday Salon

Sat, December 10, 6:30-11pm, 1021 E. Broad St.

(parking on street, in driveway or parking lot in rear)

Join progressive friends for food, drink and great music. Bob Fitrakis will speak  about the recount. 

Free, no RSVP required. 

colsfreepress@gmail.com or 614-253-2571

Establishment Politics Will Not Solve the Challenges Our City Faces

People holding a Yes We Can sign outside a brick building

I am an elected member of the Franklin County Democratic Party (FCDP) Central Committee. On Wednesday evening, I got an email on FCDP letterhead with an announcement from Columbus City Attorney Rick Pfeiffer. His message to the Democratic Party Executive Committee was that he will not be seeking re-election for City Attorney. He closed with an endorsement for his successor, City Council President Zach Klein.

I read this not so much as an endorsement, but as marching orders to support the candidate hand-picked by the party elite.

This morning I got confirmation. I received an email from Mayor Andrew Ginther announcing that he is also endorsing Zach Klein for City Attorney. There hasn’t been any Central Committee or Executive Committee meeting to discuss, and there certainly hasn’t been a broader conversation to get feedback from the public. This is what our democracy looks like in Columbus. I wish I could say I was surprised.

Can We Make 2016 Educational?

Dark haired woman leaning over a keyboard with a band on a stage

In the beginning of 2016 I hoped: if we get over this election we will be one step closer to a social evolution. Today, I think. Well. 2017 brings us the dystopian future of 2004.  So forgive me how far this thing goes back.

Benefactor of the Unfortunate Election Columbus Hip Hop Album of the Year

Blueprint – Vigilante Genesis

Did I say 2004?

Well, I’m going to jump to 1988 when Iran-Contra proved the government can wage War on Drugs while selling guns on live television. George Bush Sr. used race-baiting to win the election despite the Iran-Contra hearings existing.

At the same time, Public Enemy’s “It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back” and Boogie Down Productions “By Any Means Necessary” are released.

The impact of the Futuristic Hip Hop P.E. created coupled with BDP’s illustration of how someone could be both a revolutionary, and a graffiti writing BBOY was obviously influential on the work by people like Aesop Rock & Blueprint who rose to fame in the Post-911 era where George Bush JR. lied to us to destabilize Iraq, which created ISIS.

Overlooked, then near the top: DeWeese flourishes as one of nation’s top middle blockers at Wisconsin-Green Bay

Young woman with long blonde hair in a green sports jersey

When she was a senior at Worthington Kilbourne High School, Lydia DeWeese wasn’t sure she had what it takes to play volleyball at the Division I collegiate level. This season, the middle blocker for the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay proved she did.

As of Nov. 26, the 6-foot-2 junior was ranked second nationally in blocks with 115 and fourth in blocks per set (1.63) for the Phoenix, which finished with a 21-9 record this season. Not too shabby for a player who worried she might get lost in the recruiting shuffle.

“I really didn’t even plan on playing college volleyball until I was a junior in high school,” said DeWeese, who led the Horizon League in blocks and hitting percentage this season. “I didn’t play on any national teams, which is what you have to do to be discovered by a Division I school.

Socially Just Dining: Special Holiday Edition

Close up photo of a plate of food

One of the most beautiful holidays I can remember since I became vegan happened in the earlier days of my vegan advocacy. It was 2002, and a non-vegan family I had been recently introduced to, made the most heart-warming and functional suggestion a non-vegan family could possibly make to welcome a vegan into their family. They invited me to share the holidays with them, yet the invitation alone, wasn’t what blew me away. It was the fact that, not only were they curious about veganism, they wanted to know ALL about it. It was also the fact that they asked me to share with them all my favorite vegan holiday recipes, and most amazing, was that they volunteered to get ALL the ingredients necessary, and to all pitch in to make a completely vegan ThanksLiving dinner! It was a fantasy come-true. If that fantasy family does not happen in your life, you can always go to meetup.com (and/or Facebook) and join The Columbus Vegan Meetupgroup and attend one of the many gatherings that are happening in throughout the holiday season.

I'm writing a book. It's called 50 Shades of Christmas

Four middle aged white guys, some in suits, standing together with their arms around each other

It's about me and Hillary, mostly, and how she blows off steam after a major disappointment in life by flying secretly into Columbus, then takes a special Ultra-Secret Uber to my pad where she works off her angst kama sutra kamikaze-style.

On me. It's wild. Unreal.

We met at a fund-raiser in Lima years ago, at the tank plant."Save the tank and let's get spanked," I wittily broke the ice with her at the hor d'oeuvres where she was sucking up the sushi with a hose from her purse. We got to talking about love and war. We clicked like a crazed gigolo Goober of Mayberry and a frisky Aunt Bee. We began our body work later that night. She got really limber after a few sessions. But that was long ago and many primaries away. Sigh.

Nowaday's it ain't purdy, as we used to say in Texas, in one of my many unpublished daydream novels, this energy-work she and I do.

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