Political discourse

Racism Is Alive And Well

by Bill Brenner March 16, 2012 Communication Skills

I’d like to think those who dislike Obama simply have differences with him over economic and social policy. I’d like to think that in 2012, people don’t hate based on skin color. Then I see something like this:

Shame, Denial After Fatal Haverhill House Fire

by Bill Brenner March 8, 2012 Political discourse

A fatal house fire isn’t usually a topic for this blog. But the way people are behaving after such a tragedy in Haverhill, Mass., is a shameful case study in denial and lack of personal responsibility — human conditions that can damage us and those we love. Mood music: The son of the victim is lashing out at firefighters, saying their training should have been enough for them to get his mom out in time. Firefighters…  [Read More]

The Hypocrisy Of This Contraception Debate

by Bill Brenner March 3, 2012 Faith

Updated March 14 with this example of outrage from the Arizona legislature. I don’t get why the Republican Party is bogging itself down in this contraception debate. In pandering to the religious groups, they’re ignoring the economic woes people care about most. That’s especially silly because the economy if an issue that’s big trouble for President Obama. Would it not be wise to stick to the issue your opponent is weakest on? That’s my big…  [Read More]

Obama Killed Andrew Breitbart? You People Are Stupid

by Bill Brenner March 1, 2012 Communication Skills

Many of us are shocked this morning to hear that Internet publishing giant Andrew Breitbart is dead. He’s had plenty of haters over the years because of his conservative zeal. But when folks start suggesting he was murdered by the “liberal,” “socialist” President Obama, I find myself contemplating the idea that the human race may not be smart enough to survive. Also revolting is that some people are celebrating his death because they simply don’t…  [Read More]

The Changing, Frightening Face Of Plagiarism

by Bill Brenner February 28, 2012 Adventures in writing

Plagiarism used to be such a simple thing: If you stole someone else’s work and passed it off as your own, you were a liar and a thief. But in the cyber world, it has become something much grayer, though no less sinister. Mood music: In the security community I write about for a living, sites such as Attrition.org have vast sections devoted to those who plagiarize. To be called out for such an act…  [Read More]

A Rebellious Catholic’s Analysis Of Rick Santorum

by Bill Brenner February 22, 2012 Communication Skills

That Rick Santorum really sets people off. He doesn’t like gays serving in the military, or women for that matter. He thinks Satan is taking over America through rock music. People either love him or want to see him vaporized. Mood music: Is he really THE presidential candidate for true Catholics, as some of my church friends suggest? Is he really the evil, hateful soul some of my non-Catholic friends make him out to be?…  [Read More]

Screw You, Cardinal Egan

by Bill Brenner February 8, 2012 Faith

As a devout Catholic, I am outraged by Retired New York Cardinal Edward Egan’s “regrets” about apologizing for the priest sex abuse scandal. Here is a man who thinks the Church “did nothing wrong” in how it handled the crisis. Mood music: Countless children were sexually molested by men who had vowed to serve God. The Catholic Church decided to cover it up and move pedophile priests to other parishes where they could prey on others,…  [Read More]

To Those Who Can’t Stop Trollin’

by Bill Brenner February 1, 2012 Adventures in writing

“Fact: Energy powered by asshole fumes is unsustainable.” — Bill Brenner I get self-righteous in how I look down on people for trolling — throwing cryptic statements on the social networks that beg for attention. But I’m guilty of it, too. Mood music:  I can’t help but think of the Stooges song “Trolling” — especially these lyrics: You can’t tell me this is not a suave thing to do You can’t tell me ’cause I know…  [Read More]

Fear Plus Stupidity Gave Us The Patriot Act

by Bill Brenner January 19, 2012 Communication Skills

My friend Mike Spinney made an interesting statement on Twitter: “If only we’d been as outspoken against the #PatriotAct as we are against #SOPA.” Mood music: I feel the same way, but the cause and effect is less of a mystery to me: The Patriot Act passed at the height of our hysteria over 9-11. At the time, a lot of us thought we were seeing terrorists holding vials of smallpox and suitcase nukes at…  [Read More]

Well, That Was Fun. But We Haven’t Won Yet

by Bill Brenner January 19, 2012 Political discourse

I got a real high out of yesterday’s blackout protest over SOPA-PIPA. It achieved the goal of getting everyone’s attention as to what this legislation would do to our freedom of expression on the Internet. But this fight isn’t over. Not by a long shot. Mood music: http://youtu.be/13YflHecbV4 We need to keep the pressure on our congressmen and senators. We need to keep educating friends and family. And we need to remember that Congress, when…  [Read More]

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