Stickybuffalo.com

Evidence continues to mount that post-census redistricting will not be the armageddon which some of us thought it would be, for all that the new map still looks discouraging.

God fucking dammit, is it or is it not about high time someone fucking messed with Texas already?

So, that’s something of a relief. Of course, redistricting is still a complicated mess, and even long-serving, historically “safe” members of congress can find themselves no longer to voters’ tastes after things shake out; just ask Jim Leach.

My own congressman, the unashamedly-liberal Dennis Kucinich, has apparently given thought to this situation and decided to explore “taking his talents” elsewhere, much like another controversial Clevelander who bailed out on the Forest City and, though much-criticised for the move, now seems to be thriving.

Thus far, though, Dennis seems to be meeting with much less enthusiasm from prospective new “fanbases” than LeBron James did. (more…)

Happy Earth Day… for someone…?

Difficult to see who, precisely, would find much cause for celebration in regards to Earth Day this year. Aside from those who have decided that their own, short-term interests are threatened by environmental protection goals. Or those who probably have no material interest under threat, but simply identify with the former group, due to “identity politics.”

For those people, Earth Day 2011 may very well seem like an occasion for celebratory chortling and sneering. For any of us who take an active interest in the preservation of the only habitat of the only known example of intelligent life in existence, however, today feels a lot more like an occasion for grim despair.

Honestly, even with all of the ways that I am a misfit, a square peg in a round hole, a bookish atheist liberal in 21st-century America, in other words… I’m not sure that there is any issue which makes me feel more completely out of step with the society and culture around me than “the environment.”

(more…)

So, one of the 100-some categories which have been created in SB’s WordPress system is “Year in Review.” Apparently it’s been used before not once, but twice: two years ago both Charlie and Josh assigned a post to this category. Given that it’s there, then, and that fast away the old year passeth, I suppose I might as well do a 2010 Year in Review of sorts.

I think the lead item, at least in reflecting on 2010, has to be The Gulf Oil Spill by BP.

Be honest, now: it’s hard to even believe that was this year, isn’t it? It feels like it was all so long ago, though of course the consequences are still playing out and will probably continue to do so for years. But it’s long-gone from the public consciousness, in sharp contrast to the weeks (which seemed like months) during which it was a full-scale four-alarm national obsession.

And at this point it’s really hard to avoid wondering, at least quietly, if it might all have been a bit of an overreaction…? Personally I think that it was, and at the same time, was just the opposite. (more…)