Eponymous - or "danagol rants"

I realize Danagol has been ranting - and also, from time to time speaking out forcefully but reasonably - on the subject of Police abuses in the United States. I wouldn't blame anyone if they were sick to their guttiwuts from all my rhetoric. But I must add.... that it should be obvious by now I feel it's relatively inconsequential, that some folks are "sick of all this sick shit." Fact is, I matter less than the things I say, or propagate, in the context of this blog. We need to diagnose police abuses and harassment, and properly condemn murders by our public servants in the field of law enforcement when they take place; we supposedly hold our police officers to a higher standard than the errant meth-lab tweaker or urban gang-banger. And we must propose solutions to vexing societal problems, such as the ones I've been protesting, in my imperfect way. I proposed, a while back on various forums, a Socialist or at least a mixed-economy, of the type formerly found in Sweden and Norway. A "mixed" economy ought to possess the "best" qualities of Capitalism, though they be few and far between, in my estimation. I think our Laissez Faire structuring of the American economy leads to a wide and unnecessary array of social pathologies that would be substantially ameliorated, if we as a people were truly resolved to try another approach. Y'all have other solutions you'd like to propose, no doubt, and I'd like to hear them. But I feel no obligation, neither social nor digital, to cease and desist with the postings I've been posting. Let the people speak in regard to my postings - I DO want to read their responses. But I offer no guarantee (why the hell should I?) that I'm gonna change my methods. I AM one stubborn schmuck when I feel a crucial principle or two is involved! NO APOLOGIES.

"Aquarius"

I really want to see this, but the look of the characters, from what I can see on this preview, isn't quite right. They should have cast someone who actually LOOKED like Charlie Manson, with an accent closer to Charles Manson's West Virginia twang. Also, the girls/women, or most of them anyway, are wearing either too much makeup, or just the wrong sort of cosmetics. Also, the girls/women cast are too skinny, as is the fashion in this different era of 2015. Women back in 1967-1969 didn't need to starve themselves to appear to be attractive - on the contrary, they could be what present-day fashion calls "fat," and still be considered quite sexy. I look forward to seeing "Aquarius" come May 28, but the producer should have strived harder to get the ambiance right. The David Duchovny character, however, is at least pretty authentic-looking, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0l-JIiuQXGE

Winter's Bone

I remember reading a review of this film a few years' back. I knew I must see it, but I filed the memory away in the deeper recesses of my consciousness. Watched it the other night - and it didn't disappoint. I've always winced at jokes about "White Trash," "Oakies" and "Arkies." My own family, half of it anyway, hails from Black River Falls, WI - not all that different in a socioeconomic context, from the setting of "Winter's Bone.". I couldn't help but have my emotions manipulated while I watched, if "manipulated" is the right word. And the scenery from a part of rural America I've never visited was.... evocative. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0XS6BAoB9Y

Aw. Ow, Ouch! Things ain't no fun no more....

I really miss the bad old days of the latter Cold War, when at least we knew who our Frenemies were! It's hard to believe now, but President Ronald Rogaine could be a bit of fun, with his fully-demented, rather cordial, dysfunctional, kinda joshing anger and hatred. I'm not unaware of the slaughter and suffering the Reaganauts caused, what with the Central American Death Squad Syndrome, and the like. I don't mean to downplay the down-side of the '70's and '80's. But at least the denizens of the "other side" were good for a laugh and a half. Where are all the fine ideological adversaries I used to enjoy sparring with - nowadays, the ignorance of the "average Tea Bagger" is to such a point, my opponents don't even rise to the level where I might confer on them a minimal measure of respect. To say nothing of the "I-couldn't-care-less" crowd. There's just no satisfaction to be gained anymore. Practically all my real fiends from back in the day are either too busy, too alienated, moved too far away, dead or.... a couple are in prison of course, despite their advanced age. I mean you'd think they would have "chilled" as regards their traditional "criminal activity." There just ain't no fun in it anymore. Shucks, gawsh, gadzooks and egads! Very nearly all the drugs I used to enjoy in great profusion don't do anything positive for me, now. I never saw THAT one coming, and THAT''s really weird, Things just ain't the same, ain't now and never will be, no-how. Worse yet, the "MUSIC" the kids like these days.... It's just NOISE!

Looks to me like Tony Robinson was murdered

You can watch the dash cam video, which had been suppressed, interestingly, until Tuesday, May 12. Judge for yourselves. MY conclusion is that a scared cop - who'd already been rewarded by the department for killing a man back in 2007, committed murder when he fired SEVEN shots into Tony Robinson, regardless of what kind of provocation said cop allegedly endured. Maybe second-degree murder, but murder nonetheless. http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/crime_and_courts/attorneys-experts-draw-differing-conclusions-from-video-of-tony-robinson/article_5421a2e8-855e-5904-a7d8-768ebe886bd9.html If you've no Madison.com account, you can watch it here: http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/12/us/tony-robinson-madison-killing-investigation/

"Legalize it!" AGAIN, I implore the states and feds to implement sane drug policies!

Illegal drugs are, needless to say, illegal. But the criteria explaining why they are banned are arbitrary at best. Alcohol is not illegal, except in certain specified circumstances (open container in a moving vehicle, etc.) for adults. Coffee is a much more serious drug than acknowledged, but it's legal. Marijuana is thankfully legal in Colorado and Washington, but the Federal Government stubbornly refuses to see sense with respect to cannabis policy. A wide variety of prescription drugs - many far more damaging than marijuana or "shrooms" - are legal with a doctor's authorization. Our punitive and regressive policies of prohibition do more harm than the drugs that they outlaw. We need full legalization, with social and medical oversight. I've been to Holland, and while hard drugs are still illegal there, the overall situation is far better! “Penalties against possession of a drug should not be more damaging to an individual than the use of the drug itself; and where they are, they should be changed. Nowhere is this more clear than in the laws against possession of marijuana in private for personal use... Therefore, I support legislation amending Federal law to eliminate all Federal criminal penalties for the possession of up to one ounce [28g] of marijuana.”

Walk Tall, kids. And be proud of your principled defiance!

The superintendent is WRONG. Well before the Tony Robinson killing, Madison (or for that matter, most American) kids have had a lot of legitimate grievances. The schools, for whatever reasons, are completely prison-like institutions. Many are constructed by the very same corporations that built America's ultra-modern, entirely barbaric penal facilities. Students have been expelled for infractions as minor as bringing a Midol tablet to school. Ever since the 1990's, the children haven't really been allowed to be.... well, children. This has gotta stop, and something's gotta give. Walk out kids, and remember to ALWAYS walk tall and proud! What the F does the "Super" have against principled, non-violent protest, anyway? http://www.channel3000.com/news/education/school-district-encourages-parents-to-talk-to-children-about-protests/32929778

Climate Change and the terrible specter of Progress

How do you know the Republicans have it bass ackwards on the subject of evolution? They started with Abe Lincoln, and ended up with Scott Walker! http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/may/05/america-politicians-evolution-climate-change

Statistics don't lie. Or do they?

As an amateur statistician, I gotta "love" these statistical anomalies. http://dailykos.com/story/2015/05/03/1381214/-The-most-racist-areas-in-the-United-States?detail=email

Go ahead: make my day. Privatize Everything

I wouldn't worry too much - you can always drive on your personal, privatized highways. If you got the money, honey. http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/05/04/five-step-process-privatize-everything