Author Archives: jsl915@aol.com

In the Times, he explicates the ideological backstory behind S& P’s downgrading of France’s bond rating. “France has committed the unforgivable sin of being fiscally responsible without inflicting pain on the poor and unlucky. And it must be punished.”

I was at the Met Opera Halloween Eve for a lovely performance of Britten’s Midsummer Night’s Dream—fittingly programmed for that night of traditionally blurred and heightened identities. And any number of people in the audience had gotten into the act. … Continue reading →

Senator Sanders, via Reader Supported News “Interestingly, the so-called congressional ‘deficit hawks’ — Congressman Paul Ryan, Senator Jeff Sessions and other conservative Republicans — all voted for those measures that increased the deficit. These are the same folks who now … Continue reading →

In City Arts I review the Met Opera’s Norma.

Last month, the violent arrests of students peacefully protesting General David Petraeus’s City College faculty appointment was caught on video.  Read Steve Horn at firedoglake.com.

Did you know, by the way, that I am a (non-card-carrying) member of the Mayflower Society? When I was born my mother’s aunt Blanche, sister to my grandfather Allyn’s mother Maud, enrolled me forthwith. My parents questioned the Society’s conservatism, … Continue reading →

I took my aunt to New York City Ballet while she was here. At intermission she turned to me and said, “Real life is a lot better than TV!” She’d seen Jewels on TV, she thought it was the Paris … Continue reading →

Paul Krugman in the Times talks about the way the U.S. “news media” [he uses those words w/o quotations] legitimizes the snake oil spiels of deficit frauds telling us we have no right to the benefits that we’ve paid for: … Continue reading →

The Commondreams.org headline says it all: Beyond Tipping Point: Global Warming Has Raised Arctic Temps to Hottest in 120,000 Years Nevertheless there’s more important info in the article by Sarah Lazare.

Jon Queally reports and aggregates at Commondreams.org.