Finneran's Wake

Gone are those optimistic days of youth when the glasses through which we viewed the world were "rose"-tinged. Now, it seems, everything is colored red. The red of communist China, that is. Into every institution that color has bled: from finance, to tech, to politics, to sports, to entertainment, it suffuses them all. Schweizer's book examines, with a fearless eye, how deeply entangled our venal, purchasable American elites are with the opportunistic Chinese Communist Party. A quick and distressing read.

If there's a book of which you'd like me to compose a review, email me its title at [email protected]

This week's "Concise Recap" on Finneran's Wake!

For those short on time, but on long on curiosity; for those to whom news and politics are an interest, but whose time is limited.

The three most important news items of which you should be aware, with which you should be fluent, all brought to you in a half-hour's time:

1.) A shooting in Tulsa leaves four people dead, of whom two were orthopaedic physicians. How the media covered this and previous shootings.

2.) The "Depp-Heard" Dénouement: The Trial of the Year Concludes.

3.) Pride Month Begins And, With It, The Commencement of June

4.) BONUS

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A candid book review of Robin DiAngelo's best-selling work, "White Fragility". Disclaimer: I am a white person. Worse still--a white man! And I'm not infrequently fragile. And yet, despite that, I'll review this hugely influential book critically and fairly. You'll hear DiAngelo's most salient points, and how they might be examined.

If there's a book of which you'd like me to compose a review, email me at [email protected].

An honest book review of Ibram X. Kendi's 2019 best-seller, "How To Be An Anti-Racist". Dare I treat it critically?

Yes.

If there's a book of which you'd like me to write and record a review, email me at [email protected], or send a message through social media.

Welcome to Part II of my first "Ticklish Topic": Abortion

In this, part two of a two-part series, I'll list for you the two strongest arguments against abortion--arguments by which you might be repulsed, persuaded, enflamed, or unmoved. You'll have to e-mail me and let me your response...

I should say, the goal isn't to win you, my dear listener, to one side or to the other of this debate, but to the elucidate the issue for you. I want you to see through it more clearly than ever before, to penetrate all the dense political jargon, the misleading euphemisms, and the fog of cant by which this topic is clouded. I want you to feel confident about your position, settled in your reasoning, affirmed of your logic when this topic arises over the course of the next few months, on which you might be called upon to give an opinion.

Listen to this and the next episode , and you'll be well-equipped.

In ascending order of their relative strength, the best arguments against abortion would be

1.) The "Future-Like-Ours" Argument

2.) The "Difference-In-Degree" Argument

Do you find these compelling?

Visit Part I for the Three Arguments FOR abortion.

This week's "Concise Recap" on Finneran's Wake!

For those short on time, but on long on curiosity; for those to whom news and politics are an interest, but whose time is limited.

The three most important news items of which you should be aware, with which you should be fluent, all brought to you in a half-hour's time:

1.) A mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas left 21 people dead, of whom 19 were children. This is the second mass shooting in as many weeks.

2.) Political responses to the aforementioned.

3.) President Biden asserts America’s commitment to defend the island of Taiwan in the case of a Chinese invasion.

To the inimitable Duke Ellington, to whom I am, in more ways than one, indebted--thank you.

The inaugural "Concise Recap" on Finneran's Wake! For those short on time, but on long on curiosity; for those to whom news and politics are an interest, but whose time is limited.

The three most important news items of which you should be aware, with which you should be fluent, all brought to you in a half-hour's time:

1.) A racially-motivated shooting in Buffalo claimed the lives of 10 people, whom the assailant–a young white supremacist–deliberately targeted.

2.) The stock market suffered its worst week since the beginning of the COVID pandemic. The financial future of the country appears to be, at best, inauspicious.

3.) The Disinformation Governance Board, whose creation was announced just three weeks ago, has dissolved.

An enduring thanks to Duke Ellington for his musical contribution, and his inimitable genius.

Welcome to my first "Ticklish Topic": Abortion

In this, part one of a two-part series, I'll list for you the three strongest arguments in favor of abortion--arguments by which you might be repulsed, persuaded, enflamed, or unmoved. You'll have to e-mail me and let me your response...

I should say, the goal isn't to win you, my dear listener, to one side or to the other of this debate, but to the elucidate the issue for you. I want you to see through it more clearly than ever before, to penetrate all the dense political jargon, the misleading euphemisms, and the fog of cant by which this topic is clouded. I want you to feel confident about your position, settled in your reasoning, affirmed of your logic when this topic arises over the course of the next few months, on which you might be called upon to give an opinion.

Listen to this and the next episode , and you'll be well-equipped.

In ascending order of their relative strength, the best arguments for abortion would be

1.) The Argument from History (or Long-Established Custom)

2.) The Argument from Bodily Autonomy

3.) The Argument from the Prioritization of the Woman's Health

Do you find these compelling?

Stay tuned for Part Two!

A political Poem

A political poem