Dennis Miller Radio: Soup of the Day - Tissue of Lies

Dennis Miller Radio: Soup of the Day - Tissue of Lies

Milton Friedman Crushes Man's 3 Questions like Dixie Cups

Street Cred Can Be Insurmountable Because Progressives Rule!

Ah, if only I could finish writing a song that would be much easier to absorb than text, especially if the tune were so catchy as to....oh well, you get the idea. My brother was a top honors Stanford Graduate. I remember a book he passed to my Dad, then on to me, Allan Bloom's, "The Closing Of The American Mind" in 1988.

It was the very beginning of what we have come to view as "political correctness" and, in effect, the polarity within our culture that has delivered us to this point where the majority of us are incapable of discussing, let alone dissolving our differences. What exists is an annoying self righteousness on "both sides" that would certainly make Jesus blush. The link is to Amazon, because I find the comments so all encompassing. Mr Bloom's assertions were not political but philosophical in nature. Over the years since 1988, there has been a subtle selection process that has modified free debate in American Universities. I was so glad to hear about Bruce Bawer's new book, "The Victim's Revolution" that picks up where Bloom lets off.

It was refreshing that Mr. Bawer references Mr. Bloom. < An eye-opening critique of the identity-based revolution that has transformed American campuses and its effect on politics and society today. The 1960s and ’70s were a time of dramatic upheaval in American universities as a new generation of scholar-activists rejected traditional humanism in favor of a radical ideology that denied esthetic merit and objective truth. In The Victims’ Revolution, critic and scholar Bruce Bawer provides the first true history of this radical movement and a sweeping assessment of its intellectual and cultural fruits. Once, Bawer argues, the purpose of higher education had been to introduce students to the legacy of Western civilization—“the best that has been thought and said.” The new generation of radical educators sought instead to unmask the West as the perpetrator of global injustice. Age-old values of goodness, truth, and beauty were disparaged as mere weapons in an ongoing struggle of the powerful against the powerless. Shifting the focus of the humanities to the purported victims of Western colonialism, imperialism, and capitalism, the new politicized approach to the humanities gave rise to a series of identity-based programs, including Women’s Studies, Black Studies and Chicano Studies. As a result, the serious and objective study of human civilization and culture was replaced by “theoretical” approaches emphasizing group identity, victimhood, and lockstep “progressive” politics. What have the advocates of this new anti-Western ideology accomplished? Twenty-five years ago, Allan Bloom warned against the corruption of the humanities in The Closing of the American Mind. Bawer’s book presents compelling evidence that Bloom and other conservative critics were right to be alarmed. The Victims’ Revolution describes how the new identity-based disciplines came into being, examines their major proponents and texts, and trenchantly critiques their underlying premises. Bawer concludes that the influence of these programs has impoverished our thought, confused our politics, and filled the minds of their impressionable students with politically correct mush. Bawer’s book is must-reading for all those concerned not only about the declining quality of American higher education, but also about the fate of our society at large.>

Joni Mitchell On Charlie Rose in 2008

Joni answers questions about her childhood motivations here. To me her songs always offered great insight into life, while her musical lyricism was very inspirational. She went from a raw simplicity to very complex tonalities early on. Her tour with Pat Methany and Jaco Pastorius was a powerful wave on through to Amelia, probably because I saw her on stage several times during that period. I lived music then. Although the video was in 2008, it was prescient as she always has been a true philosopher. I agree with her accessment of what has happened in our country as her prescient vision has been amplified in the last few years! Here's some more Pat Methany and more.

Joni and James

One of my absolute favorites! From 1967

Funny Hugh Laurie & Stephen Fry comedy sketch! 'Your name, sir?' - BBC comedy

Ryan Discusses Ayn Rand Influences

The sharks are circling, as they always do in Washington when anyone takes a bold stance. So often, they wither on the vine, caving to the onslaught, how ever well intentioned or informed.

But the sparring of gamesmanship is not really as much of an issue in our “politics as usual” city this time around. We yearn for direct discussion of the issues rather than a whittling down by hairsplitting to the point of stagnation, the paralysis of analysis, because government accountability is essential. If only the current standard of sniping over character strengths seen only as targets could be blown out of the water by someone who is comfortable debating and directing conversation to elucidate obfuscation so endemic within our government decision making. If an idea can’t be described in a straightforward manner without the need of a lawyer, then let’s revisit it. Ryan has persisted in a vision which is refreshing, though he may not please everyone. He’s willing to put something on the table and let it be shot full of holes.