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What Is Critical Race Theory?

What is critical race theory? This is a question that many people may be asking, especially those who are not familiar with the term. Critical race theory (CRT) is a cross-disciplinary intellectual and social movement of civil-rights scholars and activists who seek to examine the intersection of race, society, and law in the United States. CRT is used in sociology to explain social, political, and legal structures and power distribution through the lens of race. In other words, CRT seeks to identify how racial bias exists in laws and institutions. For example, the CRT conceptual framework is one way to study racial bias in sentencing among different racial groups.

CRT has its roots in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. Scholars associated with CRT were reacting to what they perceived as the failure of traditional civil rights strategies to address race-based inequality in America. They argued that the traditional civil rights approaches were limited because they did not take into account the ways that race intersects with other social factors, such as class and gender. CRT scholars also critiqued what they saw as the universalizing tendencies of traditional civil rights discourse, which they argued ignored the experiences of non-white racial minorities.

CRT has been critiqued by some who argue that it is too focused on race and does not take into account other important social factors. Others have argued that CRT is essential for understanding how race intersects with other social factors and for developing strategies to address racial inequality.

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There is a famous quote by Aristotle that says "Poverty is the parent of revolution and crime." And he was right. Poverty is one of the main reasons why people turn to crime, and it can also lead to revolutions. In this blog post, we will explore the effects of poverty on crime and revolution. We will also look at ways to reduce poverty and its negative effects.

Poverty is defined as the state of being poor, having little money or few possessions. Poverty can be caused by a variety of factors, including economic recession, unemployment, low wages, and inflation. It can also be caused by natural disasters, such as famine or drought. Poverty can have a number of negative effects on people's lives. It can lead to hunger, poor health, and homelessness. It can also cause people to turn to crime in order to survive.

In some cases, poverty can even lead to revolutions. Poor people are often the most affected by government policies that favor the rich. This can lead to them feeling like they have no other choice but to overthrow the government. We saw this happen in the French Revolution, when poor people rose up against the wealthy aristocracy.

There are a number of ways to reduce poverty. One way is to provide financial assistance to those who are living in poverty. This can be done through government programs or private charities. Another way to reduce poverty is to create jobs that pay a living wage. This will give people the opportunity to earn enough money to support themselves and their families.

Poverty is a complex issue with no easy solutions. But by understanding its causes and effects, we can begin to find ways to reduce its negative impact on our world.

References:

-Aristotle, "Poverty: The Parent of Revolution and Crime," in The Politics, Book I

-Poverty. (n.d.). Retrieved from dictionary.com:

-What is Poverty? (n.d.). Retrieved from usa.gov:

-The Causes of Poverty. (n.d.). Retrieved from nytimes.com:

-The French Revolution. (n.d.). Retrieved from history.com:

-How to Help the Poor and Reduce Poverty Globally. (n.d.). Retrieved from helpguide.org:

-Poverty Facts and Stats. (n.d.). Retrieved from globalissues.org:

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The Truth About Truth

What is truth? This is a question that has been asked throughout history, and it is still a topic of debate today. Some people believe that there is one absolute truth, while others believe that truth is relative. In this blog post, we will explore the concept of truth and discuss different theories about it. We will also look at how truth applies to different aspects of life, such as religion, science, and philosophy. Stay tuned for an in-depth discussion about this fascinating topic!

So, what is truth? To some people, it might seem like a simple concept. However, the definition of truth is actually quite complex. In fact, there is no one definitive answer to this question. Instead, there are many different theories about truth.

Some people believe that there is one objective reality that we all experience. This means that there is one absolute truth that exists independently of our perceptions or opinions. Other people believe that reality is subjective, which means that each individual experiences the world in their own unique way. Therefore, what is true for one person might not be true for another person.

Truth also applies to different aspects of life, such as religion, science, and philosophy. For example, religious truth is often based on faith, while scientific truth is based on empirical evidence. Philosophical truth is often more abstract and can be interpreted in different ways.

No matter what your beliefs are, it is important to be open-minded and respectful of other people's opinions. At the end of the day, we all have our own unique perspective on what truth means to us. What matters most is how we live our lives and treat others with kindness and respect. Thanks for reading! I hope this blog post has helped you to better understand the concept of truth. until next time!

What are your thoughts on truth? Do you think there is one absolute truth, or do you believe that truth is relative? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

If you enjoyed this blog post, be sure to check out our other blog posts on similar topics. We have a wide range of articles that explore different concepts and ideas. Thanks for reading! until next time!

Do you have any questions about this topic? Feel free to contact us and we would be happy to answer them! Thank you for reading! until next time!

I hope this blog post has helped you to better understand the concept of truth. Until next time!

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Pros and Cons of Communism

There is a lot of debate surrounding communism. Some people see it as the perfect solution to inequality, while others see it as a system that takes away freedom and individual choice. In this blog post, we will discuss the pros and cons of communism. We will look at how it works in theory and how it has worked in practice. We will also examine some of the criticisms that have been leveled against this economic system.

The Pros of Communism

-Equal Distribution of Wealth: One of the main goals of communism is to create an equal distribution of wealth. This means that everyone would have the same standard of living, regardless of their job or social status. In theory, this would lead to a more just and fair society.

-Collective Ownership: Under communism, the group owns the factors of production. This means that there is no private ownership of land or capital. This can be seen as a positive because it leads to greater equality and fairer distribution of resources.

-Stronger Work Ethic: In communist societies, work is often viewed as a duty to the state or community, rather than something that benefits the individual. This can lead to a stronger work ethic and greater productivity.

The Cons of Communism

-Lack of Freedom: One of the biggest criticisms of communism is that it takes away freedom and individual choice. Under this system, people are not free to choose their own occupation or lifestyle. The state decides what is best for the collective, rather than allowing individuals to make their own choices.

-Repressive regimes: Many communist regimes have been accused of being repressive and tyrannical. In some cases, this has led to human rights abuses and mass executions. While not all communist societies have been repressive, it is something that should be considered when evaluating this economic system.

-Inefficient production: Another criticism of communism is that it leads to inefficient production. Because the state controls the economy, there is often a lack of competition and innovation. This can lead to stagnation and a decline in living standards.

Now that we have looked at some of the pros and cons of communism, it is up to you to decide if this economic system is right for you. There are many criticisms that have been leveled against communism, but it has also helped to create more equal and just societies in some cases. It is important to remember that no economic system is perfect, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to support communism should be based on your own personal beliefs and values. Thanks for reading!

Sources:

[0] "What is Communism?" by Karl Marx. Communist Manifesto. 1848.

[0] "The Soviet Union: Pros and Cons of Communism." History Learning Site, 20 Mar. 2015. Web. 26 Apr. 2017. .

[0] "The Pros and Cons of Communism." The Balance, 16 Dec. 2016. Web. 26 Apr. 2017. .; Kallen, Horace M.. "Communism." Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, Gale, 2010,. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, link.." communism." Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., 2017, ://WWW04204+CMD=Display&Resource=Dictionary&DictID=cite_dictionary Webster%27s+Collegiate+Thesaurus. " communism." Thesaurus.com, ://thesaurus.reference.com/browse/communism Merriam-Webster Inc., 2017. ; "Communism." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 20 Apr. 2017, en./wiki/Communism.." communism." YourDictionary.com, Farlex Inc., n.d., ://Reference/communism.."" dictionary: communism." Dictionary.com Unabridged (v , Random House LLC, ://unabridged./index./communism Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012.." communism | Definition of communism in English by Oxford Dictionaries." Oxford Dictionaries | English , Oxford University Press (OUP), n.d., ://en./communism/.; "communism." The Free Dictionary - Idioms and phrases, Farlex Inc., 2017,. ; "Communist Manifesto." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 16 Apr. 2017,.

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Pros and Cons of Wokeness

In a world that seems to be spinning out of control, many people are looking for a way to find stability. For some, that involves striving to become "woke." But what does it mean to be woke? According to Vox's Aja Romano, being woke is "a state of consciousness where you’re aware of the systems that oppress you." It can be seen as a way of life for many people who are trying to navigate the uncertainty of the modern world. In this blog post, we will explore the pros and cons of wokeness.

On the plus side, being woke can help you become more aware of the systems that oppress you. This knowledge can be empowering and help you take steps to change these systems. Additionally, being woke often leads to positive social change. For example, the #MeToo movement would not have been possible without people who were willing to speak out about their experiences of sexual harassment and assault.

On the downside, some people argue that being woke can lead to "cancel culture." This is when people are quick to judge and condemn others for their words or actions, without giving them a chance to explain themselves or learn from their mistakes. Additionally, some people find that being constantly aware of social injustice can be exhausting and lead to anxiety or depression.

So, what do you think? Is being woke worth it? Or is it simply too much work for not enough reward? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Pros:

-Becoming aware of systems of oppression

-Empowerment

-Positive social change

Cons:

-Cancel culture

-Anxiety or depression caused by constant awareness of social injustice.

-Exhaustion

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Depression is a serious mental health condition that affects people of all ages. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States. It can cause negative thoughts, feelings of sadness and hopelessness, and affect a person's ability to function normally. In addition to traditional forms of treatment such as medication and therapy, there are many things you can do to help overcome depression. One great way to improve your mood is by playing music!

There are many benefits to playing music when you're feeling down. For one, it can help take your mind off of negative thoughts and focus on something positive. Playing an instrument can also help you express yourself in a creative way, which can be very therapeutic. In addition, music has been shown to have a calming effect on the brain and can even help reduce stress and anxiety.

If you're struggling with depression, don't be afraid to give music a try. It's a great way to boost your mood and improve your overall mental health!

Singing has been shown to be especially beneficial for mental health. In one study, singing was found to be more effective than medication in reducing depression symptoms. The act of singing releases endorphins, which have mood-boosting effects. In addition, singing can help reduce stress and anxiety, and promote relaxation.

So if you're feeling down, try putting on your favorite song and singing along! You may just find that it helps to lift your spirits.

There are many different ways to incorporate music into your life if you're struggling with depression. You can listen to music, sing along to your favorite songs, or even play an instrument. Whatever you choose, make sure it's something that you enjoy and that makes you feel good. Remember, the goal is to boost your mood and improve your mental health. So don't be afraid to experiment until you find what works for you.

If you or someone you know is struggling with depression, please seek professional help. Depression is a serious condition that should not be taken lightly. There are many resources available to those who need help. Reach out to a friend, family member, or mental health professional if you need someone to talk to. Remember, you are not alone. Millions of people suffer from depression, but there is hope. With the right treatment and support, you can overcome it.

Music has the power to heal.

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The Relationship Between Spirituality and Depression: A Detailed Analysis

A detailed description of the relationship between spirituality and depression.

Depression is a mental illness that affects millions of people each year. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including genetics, life experiences, and chemical imbalances in the brain. While there are many treatments for depression, such as medication and therapy, some people find that spirituality can also be beneficial in managing their symptoms. In this blog post, we will explore the relationship between spirituality and depression, and discuss how it can be used to help manage this condition.

Spirituality can be defined as a belief in something greater than oneself. This can include a belief in God, nature, the universe, or anything else that provides a sense of purpose and meaning in life. For many people, spirituality is an important part of their lives and helps them to feel connected to something larger than themselves.

Depression is a serious mental illness that can cause a wide range of symptoms, including feelings of sadness, hopelessness, fatigue, and irritability. It can also lead to physical problems such as insomnia, weight loss or gain, and difficulty concentrating. Depression can be caused by a number of factors, including genetics, life experiences, chemical imbalances in the brain, and medical conditions.

While there are many effective treatments for depression, such as medication and therapy, some people find that spirituality can also be helpful in managing their symptoms. Spirituality can provide a sense of purpose and meaning in life, which can be helpful for people who are struggling with depression. Additionally, prayer and meditation can be beneficial for people with depression, as they can help to reduce stress and promote relaxation.

If you are struggling with depression, there are a number of resources available to help you. If you are interested in exploring the role of spirituality in your recovery, there are many books, articles, and websites that can provide information and support. Additionally, there are many spiritual teachers and leaders who can help you to find a path that is right for you.

The relationship between spirituality and depression is complex, but it can be a helpful tool for managing this condition. If you are struggling with depression, consider talking to your doctor or mental health professional about how spirituality can be used as part of your treatment plan.

Prayer and meditation can be beneficial for people with depression, as they can help to reduce stress and promote relaxation. Additionally, prayer can help you to connect with a higher power, which can provide a sense of peace and comfort. If you are struggling with depression, consider talking to your doctor or mental health professional about how spirituality can be used as part of your treatment plan.

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7 Ways to Improve Serotonin Levels

If you're feeling down, one of the first things you can do is get outside and get some sun. Sunlight exposure helps to increase serotonin levels. So go for a walk, sit in the park, or just spend time outdoors every day.

Exercise is also a great way to boost serotonin levels. Not only does it release endorphins, which have mood-elevating properties, but it also helps to increase blood flow and deliver more oxygen to the brain.

Diet is another important factor in maintaining healthy serotonin levels. Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein can help to keep your mood stable and improve overall health. Conversely, a diet high in sugar and processed foods can contribute to feelings of depression and anxiety.

In addition to lifestyle changes, there are also some supplements you can take to improve serotonin levels. omega-three fatty acids, magnesium, probiotics, and vitamin D are all great choices. If you're considering taking any of these supplements, be sure to speak with your doctor first.

If you're struggling with depression, it's important to seek professional help. While making lifestyle changes and taking supplements can be helpful, sometimes medication is necessary. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly prescribed type of antidepressant medication. SSRIs work by increasing the level of serotonin in the brain. They are generally safe and effective, but they can have some side effects.

Making small changes in your lifestyle can have a big impact on your mood and overall health. By increasing serotonin levels, you can improve your depression symptoms and start living a happier, more balanced life.

Do you have any tips for maintaining healthy serotonin levels? Share them in the comments below!

If you found this blog post helpful, be sure to share it with your friends! And if you want more posts like this one, be sure to subscribe to our blog. Thanks for reading! Until next time! :)"Sunlight exposure helps to increase serotonin levels." "Exercise is also a great way to boost serotonin levels." "Diet is another important factor in maintaining healthy serotonin levels." "In addition to lifestyle changes, there are also some supplements you can take to improve serotonin levels." "If you're struggling with depression, it's important to seek professional help." These are all great tips for improving serotonin levels! But what if you're already taking medication for depression? Can lifestyle changes and supplements still help?

The answer is yes! Even if you're taking medication, making lifestyle changes can still be beneficial. In fact, research has shown that a combination of medication and psychotherapy is more effective than either treatment alone. So if you're feeling down, don't hesitate to reach out for help. Making small changes in your life can make a big difference in your mood and overall health!

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The Sublime Humor of Conor Oberst: a Quick Scan

Lost on many listeners, a subtle, yet essential, powerful, sense of humor permeates the music of Conor Oberst, throughout his monstrously underappreciated catalog of songs. Although often blatant in its barefacedness, this quality eludes so many, by virtue of its sheer sublimity, beautifully laced in with the vast textures of human emotion which it addresses, usually vis-a-vis original and ingenious linguistic devices. This marvelous sense of humor compels this essayist to quickly expose it, and elucidate on it, with a brief series of examples and observations.

Among the most obvious and effective examples of comedy notched on Mr. Oberst's belt, the early Bright Eyes song, 'False Advertising,' deconstructs the role that the songster, like other artists, played having become a performer of emotionally charged and sometimes quasi-autobiographical songs, the young bard having become a marionette of himself as the central motif. If the complex interaction of both utter sincerity and stealthy sarcasm doesn't make you laugh, then the literal joke at the climax of the song might. After the line, "All everyone's listening for are the the mistakes!", to kick off the instrumental middle-section, in which a trumpet flies off-key, the whole band then stopped, a young women shouting out, "Sorry!," Oberst then consoling, "It's okay, it's okay!," then counting in for the band to resume. The song goes on to muse on how the love of friends and music makes it worth suffering the pretentions of being a performer. "We're going to laugh... until the morning comes." This song alone proves Oberst not only the sly comedian, but also something of the lyrical playwright.

The lyrics of the song, 'Mamah Borthwick,' don't jump out as humorous, by any means, but still provide a stunning example of the sublime comedy that renders all of Conor Oberst's works. [Consider the definition of 'funny'; usually, in most senses, it refers to when something appears like something else, or nonsensical, and there's an element of surprise when the truth of it is revealed, moreover the reality being shockingly obvious.] This song eludes the audience with its first lines, "Just because you got it, you don't have to flaunt it with an endless stream of famous men. Pretty as a portrait, looked like Mamah Borthwick, on that shining brow of Taliesen." These lines elude the listener of context and meaning. The rest of the song goes on with an extended vortex about the history of Mamah Borthwick, Falling Water, and the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright. With its single repeating phrase, though, that ends each differently worded chorus, it waxes gorgeous: "A fortune spent... it's irrelevant to build something that's sacred 'til the end," "A hidden dream, it's embarrassing, and the only thing that's sacred 'til the end," and, lastly, "I'm not there yet, but I feel confident to build something that's sacred 'til the end." The lyrics may elude the listener of context, yet deconstruct the meaning of being an artist and the eternality of art, and the paradoxes that sometimes come along with high art ("Fallen Water... it's a perfect house where no one lives.") By gently provoking the listener in the first line, then, as though with sleight of hand, directing the opening statement into a vortex on the historical figures and events enumerated in the song. It throws you off, then pulls you deeply in with the simple phrase, "sacred 'til the end." Like a sly joke in the beginning lines, it isn't necessarily about you, literally, yet still could be. Like a practical joke, the song quasi-criticizes you then melts your heart, and false ego, with the sweetness of a thought to inspire you into bringing something, "sacred 'til the end," into the world. The humor in this isn't necessarily the kind that makes you laugh, but it makes you feel good! It makes this essayist laugh a quantum bit.

To truly prove the point of this essay, a stand-out most tragic and painful song ever penned by Oberst serves last in this exposition to demonstrate this sublime humor, and how it functions to make a horrible, viscerally disturbing series of events in a song, somehow endearingly purehearted, innocent, and dignified. "Amy in the White Coat," harrowingly details the sexual assault and emotional manipulation of a young girl, by her own father. The first verses of this horrifying plot include dialog of the father, sung in near-whisper: "'You look just like your mother in that thin disguise... it's the reason I made you, it's the bond that we share."

The last verses, however features the singer in the first person, observing the girl at school, somehow knowing her situation (presumptively): "You're the corpse of the class... I saw you walking once, under powder blue sky. You looked cold, still. You're collar was high. I tried to talk to you, but you walked right by...". There is a horrible irony in that the girl, so severely molested, couldn't respond to the kindness of a schoolmate, someone who might've helped. The song features no joke, but the intimate, sensitive tone, and shift of storytelling from the vignette of paternal rape, which mystifyingly, yet sickeningly, exalts the beauty of the girl, to the scenes at school and the attempt to reach out to her, come together to evoke tears. Oberst's signature sublimity of emotional timbre creates an atmosphere of hope in an otherwise dire, soul-poisoning circumstance, with a sensitive, compassionate kind of empathic humor.

This essay should speak for itself. Examples of simple humor are a mainstay in many of the lyrics of Conor Oberst. Everything penned by him contains the emotional signature of someone who wants to laugh, yet excercise empathy, have a party with friends, yet reach out to the vulnerable. This complexity often masks the sometimes surfacelevel, othertimes deepsewn comedic tenor. Once understood to exist, though, it's easy to find. The bottom line is that Mr. Oberst, while giving you an honest-to-heart, detailed account of what's wrong, always gives you something to feel good about, to an at least equal and often surpassing degree.

It's a cliche to say he's the Bob Dylan of his generation, but I think he could win the Nobel Prize.

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Principles of Virtual Objectivity: Effective Self-Expression, Delineated

           Like the parting of a sea, the spirit of objectivity emblemizes a path through which to abandon a profligate empire of chimerical sensationalism. Popularly christened “impossible” (Zinn, 1980), complete detachment between the intelligence and the intellectual object often eludes present-day discourse; ubiquitously, methods of objectivity sometimes bear zero-consideration, engulfed by a media-obsessed culture primarily interested in personal views and tendentious interpretations of events (Ward, 2011). What if, instead of contradicting modes of subjective conveyance, a system of open-minded dispassion universally magnifies the fortitudes of personally-charged writing and speech? How would such a design operate? Here stand four principles of virtual objectivity, a species of objectivity which explicitly verifies itself.   Firstly, universality of intel, the employment of standard measurement (Stanford, 2014), and, the proper citation of information sources. Second, transparency of origin, explicit verbal distinction between documented facts and principally derived opinions, thoughts, views, interpretations, etc., specifying both provenance and any tenable penchants of inclination. Third, void of predilection, to the most prodigious extent possible, a vacuum of detachment between author and text; avoiding personal investment in authorial ideas, instead investing in verifiable information, while maintaining heightened scrutiny over the employment of every word; exposing virtually every bias, internal and external, to fully adorn conflicting viewpoints with supportive observations, not without balanced, vigorous debate. Fourth, and finally, onus of substantiation, meaning to prove, comprehensively, to the most plenteous degree feasible, the value of every piece of indicia, and the pertinence of every question, omitting every datum lacking at least some kind of logical purpose: by following this protocol, with valiant effort, by even only a modicum of fidelity, a pure, bona fide edge of objectivity may hypostatize. In this essay, the illustration of the aforementioned guidelines, withstanding the plausible proclivity of an author constructing points of debate with partiality to their verisimilitude, as in order for virtual objectivity to legitimately entify; it itself demands intensive scrutiny, deliberation, and evidence, of every proposition herein, ultimately to enhance even the most subjective modes of expression, breathing into them an atmosphere of legitimacy and credibility.            Candidly, in order to transmit information effectively and convincingly, the principle, universality of intel, demands a magnitude of pervasiveness in every set of data divulged. "Descartes famously…” emphasizing “knowledge of the objective reality…” to signify “nearly as basic, or perhaps as basic, as one’s knowledge of the subjective reality…," (Moser, 1993), consequently, this first pillar of virtual objectivity underscores the quintessential need for common ground between the emitter and any potential receiver of elucidation. The concept requires knowledge presented to exist accessibly, outside the context of the given interchange, and rings crucial to the possibility of persons with conflicting viewpoints to acknowledge at least a shred of communality. Use of this criterion should work like a science; for example, measurement, “often thought to epitomize scientific objectivity” (Stanford, 2014), existing as a demonstrably universal tool for mutual understanding, the ecumenicity of data allows for different perceptions of the same condition to minimally, or more greatly, agree on the measured fact of the given circumstance. Stanford going on to assert “making sense of measurement results” to require “interpretation”, universality of intel goes further to oblige the interpretation to adhere to a strict practice of maintaining clear, logical, and explicit interpolations based on the evidence at hand. Finally, it calls for the colloquist to comprehensively display the source of every piece of verbiage employed within the specimen of communication, as ordinarily dictated in any academic, journalistic, or otherwise literary setting; with this parcel of its topography, universality of intel begins to overlap with the second principle of virtual objectivity, namely, transparency of origin. The combination of general handiness to the audience of every bit of observation imparted, via fully cited sources, with a hardline, measured, and expressly lucid interpretation of details, embodied, this first principle sets the stage to produce an air of validity in any context.            Invisible, like a riptide, the unchecked counter-currents of facts, interpretations, opinions, etc., looming, undetected, to polarize minds between misbelief and propagandism, transparency of origin joins with these dynamisms; then, together, it morphs into an ephemeris, thus detailing the positions and relative loci of every star of data constellating in the sky of its observation. This maxim entails one to mention the autochthonous whereabouts of each sentence, phrase, word, thought, idea, and every other input, in such a manner that it tracks each piece of intellectual property to its original owner, to the greatest extent possible, and, further, disrobes one's own potential bias. This principle operates vis-à-vis two central mechanisms: proper citation of outside material, and identification of the positor’s own personal ratiocinations. This principle obliges one to employ legitimate citation, and thereby “show” proof of “proper research”, display responsible scholarship “by giving credit to other researchers and acknowledging their ideas”, “avoid plagiarism”, and let  others “… track down … sources… used… by way of footnotes, a bibliography or reference list” (MIT, 2017). Through such disambiguation, transparency of origin promotes a valid intellectual engagement with the outside world of informational deliberation. Furthermore, this principle enforces that one somehow delineate a periphery to secern between one’s own original ideas and the mere iteration of the works cited, which, by proper citation, one fulfills with the responsibility to credit everything uncited to the essayist. However it goes further to extact that the issuer expose one’s own bias, to the fullest extent plausible, at some point within the context of the intelligence emitted; with immediacy, this principle moves to set a tone of honest academic rigor, and sets the stage for the subsequent principle of this essay, the void of predilection. While transparency of origin specifies the primary whereabouts of every datum presented, and concedes of possible authorial bias, it does not set a limit upon the extent to which it allows bias. Therefore, at the water’s edge of its power in that respect, it hearkens the next principle, void of predilection.            Perhaps, far and away, the most challenging and disputed pillar of virtual objectivity presented herein, void of predilection represents the backbone, and the very soul, of objectivity; it summons one to set aside preconceived notions, personal beliefs, interpretations, and predispositions of every kind; in order to pursue a mode of expression meant to take no idea or fact for granted, by way of its name, it illustrates a vacuum of impartiality between one and one’s words, eschewing personal attachment to one’s own thinking. It abides by the basic principles of objectivity. It entails “use of “reliable, credible sources” (Write, 2017), in order to bolster credibility, and also to demonstrate one not to simply stand exposing one’s own purely subjective views and perceptions. Also, this principle requires one to “include arguments that take a different position and…”  explain  “…those opposing viewpoints thoroughly,” (Write, 2017) so as to balance  one’s original views and interpretations with valid, meaningful opposition, thus, if effective, to strengthen one’s own argument. It necessitates “use of objective language,” meaning to present “information fairly and credibly to allow someone to draw conclusions” and to “avoid subjective language whenever possible”, (Write, 2017) as a way to comb out one’s own prejudices and subconscious leanings.  This pillar also stands on the bedrock of a certain level of impersonal detachment, best served with the omission of first and second person pronouns, ‘you', and ‘I' (Write, 2017). Finally, void of predilection thrives with the prescription that one “express… thoughts explicitly”, with maximized specificity of data, using exact figures in lieu of more general descriptions of the information (Write, 2017), in order to optimize the correctitude and certainty in regard to the subject at hand. These foundations of objectivity equate to the very substance of which this particular principle consists. Together, fused with universality of intel, and transparency of origin, void of predilection joins the other three, and contributes to them a mood of equitable dispassion perfect for the next and final principle disclosed herein; by setting emotions and preconceived notions aside, void of predilection primes one for the comparable challenge, and rigor, encompassed by the onus of substantiation.            Analogous to the legalese concept, burden of proof, the onus of substantiation refers to the duty of the individual to prove, or at least make a substantive case for any premise put forth, especially central arguments, and crucial information. This principle makes it possible for a second party to believe something written or said, without having to refer to third-party sources. This concept directs the writer or speaker to comprehensively demonstrate the validity of each statement issued, especially the most important. The onus of substantiation provides for the capability of two, but not limited to these two, modes of verification: deductive, and inductive logic. “A deductive argument is said to be valid if and only if it takes a form that makes it impossible for the premises to be true and the conclusion nevertheless to be false. Otherwise, a deductive argument is said to be invalid” (UTM, 2017). With the use of deductive reasoning, this method works best in conjunction with hard facts, and it requires the indubitable, evidenced, and conclusive truth of the remarks in question (for example: all rectangles are quadrilaterals, and all squares are rectangles; therefore, all squares are quadrilaterals.) Through the second mode of logic posited herein, inductive reasoning, the onus of substantiation allows for the illustration of unprovable points, on the condition involving that one build a very strong case, despite the intangible nature of the presentation.  In other words, “an argument in which… premises provide reasons supporting the probable truth of the conclusion... intended only to be so strong that, if they are true, then it is unlikely that the conclusion is false.” (Lane, 2017) (For example: under every circumstance tested through experimentation, Einstein’s equations have proven true; therefore, Einstein’s equations might, or do, ring true under all circumstances.) Not to exclude other legitimate forms of validation, the onus of substantiation allows for other methods of confirmation, such as the scientific method, mathematical-style proofs, sheer quotation and citation (where factually applicable), by synthesis of available information, and so on; and it strictly forbids the employment of logical fallacies. In fusion with the previous three pillars of virtual objectivity outlined herein, the onus of substantiation enriches the aloofness of impartiality with an ambiance of well-established definitude; it demands of all asseverations to either prove true, or, at the very least signify a very strong possibility of truth. Also, by weight of its legitimacy, this principle, along with its partners, coalesces, building a case to stand counter to expostulations in disapprobation of the possibility of objectivity.            The case against the possibility of true objectivity permeates many opinions on authorial neutrality, the corporeality of utter subjectivity often presumed without question (Stanford, 2014; Zinn, 1980). This point of view asserts strong language against the detached nature of objectivity, for example this quote from Nietzsche: “Only the most complete persons can love. The depersonalized and objective are the worst lovers.” The dissenting view here implies one to forfeit the ability to truly experience the human condition, specifically of love, by eschewing one’s unfounded personal leanings, thus to become less whole; it does not, however, prove subjectivity and objectivity to only exist in the mutually exclusive sense. The dissenting case garners further bolstering from Howard Zinn, in this excerpt: “Indeed, it is impossible to be neutral. In a world already moving in certain directions, where wealth and power are already distributed in certain ways, neutrality means accepting the way things are now.” Here the opposition makes the profound assessment oberserving the infinitely locomotive frames of reference in the human world to forbid the existence of personal objectivity, even deeming the attempt to exercise it a form of complicity with the evils of the world. A daunting accusation, though it doesn’t consider the inverse possibility of a single objective universe, to call into question the feasibility of true subjectivity; why presume the existence of subjectivity, but declare objectivity impossible, without proof? The concept against objectivity wins further support from one journalist, declaring, “The new journalism tends to be more personal. It prefers transparency to objectivity or self-effacing neutrality,” (Ward, 2011). This side of the dispute, with its various mouthpieces, names objectivity impossible, opaque, self-effacing, and even for “the worst of lovers”. This dissenting paradigm associates objectivity with a major compromise of spiritual integrity, claiming subjective experience to define human life, and holding objective experience to represent something unreal, and less human. Yet it faces resistance, further into Ward’s article: “Objectivity refers to a person’s willingness to use objective methods to test interpretations for bias or inaccuracies…  scientists adopt the objective stance when they use methods to test their hypotheses … The same stance is available for journalists.” The position that considers objectivity factually objectionable, or impossible, while it demonstrates a daunting point, invariably falls into the incredible paradox, that whether it convinces itself empirically, or without any measure of impersonal credibility, it still disavows the chief principle it has with which to utilize in evincing itself; surreally ironic, the brunt of these dissenting claims acquiesce no other impartially-obtained certainty to eventuate, except for the futility of objectivity. While assembling a powerful, persuasive remonstrance, they display an inclination to discard objectivity, without profuse syllogistics; then, by eschewing objectivity, they withdraw from the perceived need to objectively justify such controversion.                        “If you say that there’s no truth, and who cares, how come you say it like you’re right?”                                                              -Conor Oberst            In the Post-Contemporary-era of the 21st century, in an atmosphere ripe with the perpetual transmission of personal exchanges, positively evidenced objectivity, like a mythical creature of lore, endures an onslaught of disbelief and leeriness. Despite that, much unlike a mystic legend, the most compelling language by which to uncover, codify, evaluate, synthesize, and correctly envisage our ideas, sciences, species, world, universe, and, incontrovertibly, ourselves, in the fantastic wilderness of our imaginations, stands as the collective backbone of human understanding. “The opposite pole to narcissism… the faculty to see other people and things… [without bias], and… separate this objective picture from [one]… formed by… one’s fears and desires,” (Fromm, 1956), contrary to doubts of skeptics, objectivity forms a well-founded bedrock of wisdom, auxiliary to human life, and permits the further development and scientific improvement of our civilization (Stanford, 2014). Through employment of universally accessible observations, clear and proper credence in regard to the original sources of statements, a heightened level of probity, and persuasive, vigorous, compelling, manifest corroboration, a reinforced genus of objectivity positions itself. Contrary to the postulation of naysayers, this method of virtual objectivity may move to enhance all forms of human expression, even the most subjective. In providing a guideline by which to dependably voice the mind, objectivity as delineated herein constitutes a body of meaningful steadfastness with which to bolster even the most sober and important, as well as the wildest, and most subjective, thoughts, dreams, feelings, and ruminations of all kinds. These methods, implemented, may compel to foster a more intellectually serene, less calamitous human world. Veritably!                                                                                References 1.  Zinn, Howard. A People's History of the United States. Vol. 4. Harlow, Essex: Longman Group UK Limited, 1980. Print. 2.  Ward, Stephen J.A. “Rethinking Journalism Ethics, Objectivity in the Age of Social Media.” Center for Journalism Ethics, 31 Aug. 2011, ethics.journalism.wisc.edu/2011/08/31/rethinking-journalism-ethics-objectivity-in-the-age-of-social-media/. Accessed 15 Aug. 2017. 3) Fromm, Erich. The Art of Loving. New York: Continuum Pub., 1988. Print. 3. Reiss, Julian, and Jan Sprenger. "Scientific Objectivity." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Stanford University, 25 Aug. 2014. Web. 10 Aug. 2017. <https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/scientific-objectivity/ 4. "LibGuides: Citing sources: Overview." Overview - Citing sources - LibGuides at. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Aug. 2017. < http://libguides.mit.edu/citing> 5. "Objective Writing Tips: Keeping Your Research Paper Free of Bias." Objective Writing Tips: Keeping Your Research Paper Free of Bias | Write.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Aug. 2017. < http://www.write.com/objective-writing-tips-keeping-your-research-paper-free-of-bias/> 6. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Aug. 2017. < http://www.iep.utm.edu/ded-ind/> 7. "Deductive and Inductive Arguments." Lane Community College. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Aug. 2017. <https://www.lanecc.edu/sites/default/files/trio/deductive_and_inductive_arguments.pdf>.

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Conor Oberst’s ‘Salutations’ LP, An Artistic, Sonic Tour de Force (10/10)

   With its predecessor, ‘Ruminations’,  Conor Oberst threw a curve-ball to the world, and the world swung. Glowing reviews. A backhome recipe similar to the recordings he released on tapes as an adolescent, raw songwriting aged two decades- a pouring of refined, unprocessed, wine. Audiences drank. Mr. Oberst didn’t. Before ‘Ruminations’ was even announced publicly, he had already begun arranging to record the album he intended ‘Ruminations’ to become. Enter ‘Saluations,’ Oberst’s third major label L.P. release.            Seventeen tracks of meticulously honed, yet wildfirelike, arrangements of each ‘Ruminations’ track, plus seven previously unreleased numbers, ‘Salutations’ perfects the spuriously rattled-off (albeit charmingly) tracks of its precursor.  “Jim James, Blake Mills, Maria Taylor, M. Ward, Gillian Welch, and Jonathan Wilson”(Nonesuch*) guesting, the album has a large, yet intimate feel.       The occasionally broken harmonica sweeps of ‘Ruminations,’ mended. Breathing of James Felice’s accordion, swaying. Electrifying strings, ebbing and flowing. Accompaniment vocals harmonizing splendidly. The whole of ‘Salutations’ undulates like an ocean perturbed by the moon. Track six, “Napalm”, smolders with angst. The third song on the album, “Overdue” swells with aureate, counterpointing, harmonies.  “Mamah Borthwick (A Sketch),” the seventh entry, lilts with precious lament: “Just because you got it, you don’t have to flaunt it... and it would take a time machine to fulfill all of my fantasies./ A hidden dream can be embarrassing, and the only thing that’s sacred to the end.”  Hard-strung rhythmic palpitations of ‘Ruminations’, cured with surgical drum kit pulses. On the 9th track, “Barbary Cost (Later)”, a sprightly bass guitar undercurrents the song, while mysterious sounds howl above like a spectral shoreline zephyr. A wild-spun lead electric guitar rollicks throughout the twelfth song, “Anytime,” amidst a rousing rock’n’roll splash of a recording. “I don’t want to seem needy to anyone, including you. . . Tomorrow is shining like razorblade. And anything’s possible, if you feel the same,” enunciates Mr. Oberst, semi-cryptically,  on “Counting Sheep”, the thirteenth monument to the human condition on this record.        Note track fifteen: “You All Loved Him Once.” Now, adorned with a full band (The Felice Brothers, a collaboration with whom preceding this record quietly anticipated, after their backing Oberst live, routinely, for the better part of this decade), plus storied and accomplished percussionist Jim Keltner, who lays down loose, captivating, and textured rhythms. Especially notice the riff, reminiscent of surf rock, that ripples starting at 1:29 in the song. The overall feel washes you with beautiful music, while Oberst issues a sonorous descant, like the rest of the the album, however possibly most powerfully on this heartful, moving, soul-touching hymn.       The second to last track, “A Little Uncanny,” reads like a 4 minute and 26 second dissertation on popular/political culture in semi-recent history. “It’s a little uncanny, what he [’Ronny Reagan’] managed to do. Got me to read those Russian authors through and through.” With this song especially, its clear Oberst had different plans in mind for these compositions when he layed them down with the heavily gifted musician/studio-aficionado Ben Brodin. Then the album ends with a previously unreleased song, the title track of the record, “Salutations”: ‘First they say we can’t be lovers, then they say we can’t be friends . . . How could I apologize for telling you the truth? . . . When I almost drowned, you gave me mouth to mouth beside your neighbors’ pool. . . I’m sorry I can’t pay you back. I want to hold you ‘til the word dissolves. But we just can’t get attached.”  The last sound you hear the album, the percussing of the final chord sequence, an electric guitar gliding, lone, over the last, fleeting, moments of a tremendous dash of a collection of songs.      ‘Salutations’ may give you more than you ask for. Yet, the moment you realize it, you just might have the epiphany that, at the very point you’ve had enough, you need more. For an hour and seven minutes, Oberst has you on lock, but he gives you the key. It’s not like an ordinary record. Like a jewel-box, it’s loaded with sublime gems. You can take one or two, or the whole box. Main point, Oberst and his entourage salvaged the raw ore of material on ‘Ruminations’ and crafted it into a different kind of masterpiece. And because of the sheer artistry and mastership employed to craft this suite, I award the album a ten out of ten score. I’d recommend it to anyone.   *http://www.nonesuch.com/new-releases

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Prohibition of a Vice: the Paradox in Civil Self-­Restraint

(An analysis and comparative history of the Prohibition era specifically, and substance control in general, drawing ties between the stymied implementation of alcohol prohibition and the subsequent "War on Drugs" in the United States,  in conjunction with the meteoric rise of mass incarceration and private prisons in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.) In an ironic twist of fate, enacted and enforced in conjunction with the dawn of the decade known as the “Roaring Twenties”, Prohibition symbolizes an era of wild excess, and (vincinal to ubiquitous) decadence in alcohol imbibement by way of piracy. With the legislation and eventual enactment of the 18 th Amendment to the Constitution, cemented forever in the annals of American ultramodern antiquity, Prohibition adorns the corridors of yesteryear an example of a failed political experiment; one which coincided with the eventual evisceration of the U.S. (and global) market, the notorious Wall Street Crash of ’29, and the economic state of evisceration, The Great Depression, the two events of devastation with which Prohibition furled to a conclusion. While contemporaneous in its end with that subsequent epoch of the Twentieth Century, and its causative influence on it considerable, Prohibition represents the preceding period, the quaint period between World War I and the Crash­Depression era; and by the time of the latter, has already enveloped itself in the dark shroud of a nefarious reputation, emblematizing a separate precursory age with a grim opprobrium all its own. The scaffolding that upholds the rise and eminence of the forthcoming height of mafia rule and gangster­powered prestige, from innocuous “moonshiners” to bootleg over­lords vis­à­vis Al Capone, Prohibition, though well­intentioned in form, famously exasperated the exact world which it sought to suppress, to a supernova­like paroxysm. However oblique a conundrum it portends, Prohibition typifies a time of drink, flappers, jazz, celebration of clandestine wealth, whimsical and illegal hullabaloo, merry­making over the proliferation of superfluous and unconscionable riches, and dangerous, unprincipled, immoral fun. Annulled officially in 1933 by the enactment of the 21 st amendment (which repeals the 18 th ), Prohibition expires with the world in bitter shambles, to be permanently overshadowed by the horrors fated to occur in the forthcoming second World War; comparatively fanciful in contrast to the distension, rampage and defeat of Hitler, and despite serious aberrations and drawbacks, Prohibition and the “Roaring Twenties” survive curiously illuminated in a distinctively positive light. Remembered paradoxically as a time of uninhibited innocence and folly, of popular rebellion and mass dissent, Prohibition continues to inform and educate culture along with policy in the United States. It supplements contemporary marijuana/hemp legalization movements and other efforts to deregulate controlled substances by staggering example, underpinning, to this day, almost a whole century of legal precedent as an illustration of the societal effect of prohibitive substance regulation. Parallel in nature to the War on Drugs of the nineteen­eighties henceforth, by way of analysis, Prohibition offers voluminous intelligence as to the aftermath of restrictive governance in its own context, and, equally, in light of current circumstances. It, through a lens of research and investigation herein, delineates and implicitly exposes the complex systems that operate (or fail to operate) by way of state control; Prohibition, like a mirror, or the reflection in a glass of moonshine, echoes to us the face of our own moral and ethical character, regardless of our individual codes of integrity; it has much to show us of ourselves. Most notably about the infancy of Prohibition, resounds its near total lack of positive fruition in the direction to which its language contends; the absolute restriction of alcohol sales’ failure to achieve such results went on to signify the whole character of the decade. While mandated at a federal level, application of the 18 th Amendment by the federal government stumbled at best. Further hindered by the inherent philosophy behind the law (while alcohol not inherently evil, a complete ban ought to be enforced to prevent an epidemic of excess consumption), Prohibition feigned to come into effect mainly by lack of support from the will of the people. A meager national attempt at regulation to the point of nonexistence resulted with little success and many citizens’ continual (albeit secretive and more difficult to govern) drinking. The intent to press prohibition on the public by Congress, initially diminished before conception due to preemptive stockpiling by future dissenters anticipating the amendment, in essence caused its unbeknownst failure by design. Originally held with the wrongly prejudiced association of alcohol with poverty, laziness, crime, violence, and the lower class, the application of Prohibition elevated alcohol to a higher social status, boundless in its degree of preciousness, catapulting it to the secret pastime for the upper echelon of society, fomented by a dogged determination by persons from all economic strata of U.S. civilization to defy it. It may owe its failure to its distinction among U.S. constitutional amendments (most of which, affirmative protections of human rights posited to increase freedom), in that it moves to correct a human vice (from the Latin root vitium meaning “defect”, “fault”, “flaw”; “reflection of personal weakness”, “quality implying possible negative externalities”). Additionally stymied by the disease causing the physical need to infract it, alcoholism, Prohibition’s enforcement crippled in practice due to the human reality of addiction. Meanwhile, the governance of prohibition fell additionally because of plain habit in individuals with disbelief in the law and candid refusal to sacrifice the social delight of liquor. Nonetheless, alongside ratification to full effect by 1920, weaved to a guise of effectiveness by activists’ lobbying and monitoring of saloons owed to preliminary figures such as Carrie Nation, Prohibition’s stated regulation met with marginal support. Despite gumption by such activists, ultimately it led to an incline of urban crime throughout the country, additionally amplified by illegal smuggling known as “rum­running” to and from Canada and Mexico (both nations without any significant form of prohibition). In a more sinister turn of events, applied Prohibition created a marketplace­turned­empire for mobsters, gangsters, and all ilk of organized crime, allowing them to establish an unprecedented grip on the nation, especially in already poor neighborhoods. From lighthearted socialites to the Mafia, the maintenance of Prohibition, in practice, proved to be its own quintessential obstacle, its results symbolizing its ultimate barrier, maligned to an incredible extent by the popular daring to disregard it, delivered its coup de grâce by the Mafioso underworld. Fast forward: Valentine’s Day, 1929. Al Capone ordered what became known as the Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre, in order to assassinate rival gangster Bugs Moran in the name of revenge (Bergreen, pp 134–135). Soon thereafter Capone, summoned to court for violating Prohibition, claimed to be too unwell to appear (Bergeen pp. 418). With this most infamous incident, Capone figureheaded himself as the anthromorphization of the criminal underbelly to the Prohibition Era. Right hand man and understudy of bootleg baron Johnny Torrio, by his early twenties (Kobler, 26.), Capone, with his legacy in mass contraband, wittingly or not, made himself virtually the face of Prohibition’s failure. By the end of his imprisonment on November 16, 1939, he walked, free but on parole, (Webley) out into an America free of prohibition. How did Capone, by his example, exemplify the magnitude of the problems inherent in Prohibition? By whatever means he deemed necessary, he contributed to the capitalization upon what had been rendered legally impossible upon which to capitalize. As if not satisfied, he wrangled with life and death, dealing in mortal violence, establishing an extralegal meta­state within which he, and his partners, illicitly abolished Prohibition, creating a heightened element of danger as a direct consequence to the 18 th Amendment. Between his arrest by the FBI on March 27, 1929 (Fbi.gov) and subsequent imprisonment at Atlanta U.S. Penitentiary in May 1932 (Bergreen, pp. 511­514), he experienced severe punitive turbulence, taking on the title “Public Enemy Number One", not long before the final unravelling of Prohibition. Leading to his imprisonment, he, his accomplices and enemies transformed prohibition from a well­intended matter of policy to a lethally dangerous enterprise, a raucous trouble not worth the deadly risk of undertaking. Although debatable, his immediate influence on the pre­destined abolition of prohibition, his very existence certainly served as a drastically negative ramification of it, the presence of his type permeating throughout America in his time, serving to coldly punish the United States and its people for the perceivably oppressive law, while lavishly awarding those who chose to break it. He helped usher in a national mood of chaos and, speculatively, may have critically contributed to the Stock Market Crash of ’29, due to the prevalence and normification of highly criminal activity, simply by aiding and coercing the subversion of economic and civil laws. Soon after Capone’s incarceration, “by the time of the repeal of the 18th Amendment in 1933, it was obvious that the measure was a failure. Instead of promoting the nation's health and hygiene, the opposite was true as the illegal manufacture of alcohol filled part of the void, and those illegal products were often dangerous or much higher in alcohol content than the beer, wines and spirits they replaced. Crime also increased, since illegal activity was required to market the illegal alcohol” (Historicpatterson.org). Incidentally, after his release from prison in ’39, notably after the 21 st amendment had been ratified for years, he did not turn back to the mafia for the rest of his life, continually advancing the notion that he personified the very spirit of rebellion against prohibition emoted by the majority of the general public at large. Capone embodied, in the full spectrum of human capacity, the mood of discontent that organized criminal activity had “led to the rise of powerful crime syndicates that used murder, and the bribery of public officials and even law enforcement officers, to move large quantities of the illegal substance. Drug use [had] increased, with drugs taking the place of alcohol. Worker productivity did not increase. Jails filled with people convicted of relatively minor infractions of the alcohol ban. Enforcement of the ban cost millions of dollars” (Historicpatterson.org). Meanwhile, Capone, having burdened himself with the ugliest facet of those problems, and having committed grossly heinous atrocity in the process, lingered in the penitentiary at the lifting of the ban. Despite that Capone lodged himself forever in the past and etched his role only to become history, still important are the lessons he can teach us by his scandalous example; while he left humanity and history behind with his death, he left a history bound to echo itself, with a legacy of disrepute to, with scrutiny, be applied to contemporary problems in hope to improve our own future; he reveals much of himself through his phantom counterparts in our time. The synchronicity between twenties­era prohibition with the Stock Market Crash of 1929, and the War On Drugs in the U.S. with the Housing Market Crash of '08, although conceivably specious, by juxtaposition, may indicate a deeply imbued pattern of societal consequence, especially when viewed through the lens of symmetries in regard to Prohibition and marijuana criminalization. One prime example of this correspondence demonstrates the link: the drastic increase in incarcerated populations during both Prohibition and especially the War on Drugs. The co­counterpart relationship between the two substance regulation campaigns resonates in the Drug War, an American term used to describe the campaign to prohibit drugs and provide military aid and intervention, with the goal to dismantle the drug trade (Bullington and Block, 1998: pp. 39­55), in acrid harmony with its strong correlation to Prohibition. Incidentally, the two forms of prohibitions' analogous nature reveals itself by way of chronology, the Marijuana Tax of 1937 to criminalize marijuana being enacted only several years following (Druglibrary.org) the finalization of the 21st amendment; this coincident suggests that marijuana debarment sought to replace the proscription of alcohol. This interrelationship further demonstrates itself by dint of the immediacy of increased imprisonment following the enactment of Prohibition, and the sudden prison custody boom circa 1980 and forward, the number of arrests for drug offenses having increased by 126% (Austin, McVey) with 1 in 100 American adults behind bars at peak levels in 2008 (Liptak, Adam), converging with the Housing Market Crash of the same year (Simkovic: vol. 83, pp. 253). The conjunction of these historic events resides in a recurring general attitude of acceptance for corruption, with reference to the rise of mob culture and market corruption in the 20's, the meteoric emergence of private prisons between 1980 and 2008, and the delinquent recklessness of housing market investors up to and through the '00s (Simkovic: vol. 83, pp. 253) all these factors sharing in common the brazen profiteering off of unlawful behavior. This resemblance intensifies in view of the subsequent decriminalization of alcohol and marijuana (Huffintonpost.com.) in bearing with the Great Depression and the Great Recession, respectively. Uncanny upon inspection, such interconnection invites analysis in respect to scientific testability in observation the political experiments of Prohibition and the War On Drugs, both beginning with exorbitant punitive measures, then national financial crises coupled with deregulation in their denouements; does such synchrony verify the (sourly inadvisable) repeatability of results in the dry run of prohibition? A pattern so devastating, if feasible, ought strike voters and lawmakers with the lightning of sobriety to the impolitic traits of prohibition at which further review may certainly arrive; does it mean the plain repeating of wisely preventable history? Two sore thumbs sticking out on America's proverbial hands? How enigmatic the puzzle of prohibition and its ramifications! How counterintuitively matching the pieces! And how calamitous the picture it illustrates! The quandary demands the question: does "prohibition" define itself an oxymoron? Thoroughly investigated the attempt at strict regulation of any spirituous material, appearing to thwart itself, vexes history: does it leave possible a legal means by which to protect the inhabitants of whatever jurisdiction from the danger presented by intoxicating substances? The image, cobbled with interlocking spaces of these trouble schemata, shows an illustration of floundering: Al Capone a­grimace in the foreground, exuberant orgies of debauchery a­dapple midfield, ruinous destruction of markets in the background of this ultra­real diptych. Across, it displays a caustic vision of the the Drug War, filled with faceless prisoners behind ominous bars gravitating toward a perverse storm of destitution and homelessness: a sea of empty homes navigated by wily investors, pockets a­brim with treasures reaped from the misfortune of the greater public. Ultimately, the historicity of prohibition, in itself, emphasizes the dual nature of humankind in its effort to protect itself from its own vice; the problem of vice moving to redouble itself in proportion to the magnitude of effort by humankind to restrain itself from it, this picture makes plain a timeless dilemma of the human condition. The most important question it poses: does this vicious cycle provide us an opportune moment to save ourselves from the mouth of its vortex? It's make or break to make a break for it and abscond to greater freedom, in flight to a more enlightened era. References 1. Bergreen, Laurence (1994). Capone: The Man and the Era. New York: Simon and Schuster Paperbacks. pp. 131–132. ISBN 978­0­684­82447­5. 2. Kobler, John (1971). Capone. Da Capo Press. p. 23. ISBN 0­306­80499­9. 3. Webley, Kayla (28 April 2010). "Top 10 Parolees". Time.com. Retrieved 12 December 2015. 4. "FBI — Al Capone". Fbi.gov. Retrieved 12 December 2015. 5. “Historic Patterson, New York: Prohibition”. Historicpatterson.org. Retrieved 12 December 2015. 6. Bullington, Bruce; Alan A. Block (March 1990). "A Trojan horse: Anti­communism and the war on drugs".Crime, Law and Social Change (Springer Netherlands) 14(1): 39–55. doi:10.1007/BF00728225. ISSN 1573­0751 7. "Full Text of the Marihuana Tax Act as passed in 1937". Schaffer Library of Drug Policy. Druglibrary.org. Retrieved December 13, 2007. 8. Austin J, McVey AD. The 1989 NCCD prison population forecast: the impact of the war on drugs. San Francisco: National Council on Crime and Delinquency, 1989. 9.Liptak, Adam (28 Feb 2008). 1 in 100 U.S. Adults Behind Bars, New Study Says. New York Times. 10. Michael Simkovic, "Secret Liens and the Financial Crisis of 2008" American Bankruptcy Law Journal, Vol. 83, p. 253, 2009. 11. "Congress Passes Historic Medical Marijuana Protections In Spending Bill". The Huffington Post. Huffingtonpost.com.Retrieved December 13, 2015.

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First Impression on Little Brazil

    Little Brazil, in my opinion a band sure to send shock-waves throughout Planet Earth and beyond, performed at the Waiting Room in Omaha, Nebraska, on the night of Friday, March 28th, 2015. With a sound reminiscent to late 00's post-rock, hyperbly, this band rocks.          Their sound resonates with a serene, yet hard-biting, ferocity, definitely seemingly wrought from the vague and angst-ridden wonder of memory-worn youth.       Destiny reminds us from time to time, to keep watch on the eternal mysteries that surround us, whether we can figure them out or not; Little Brazil reminds us that we can deal with the rage brought on by unforgotten struggle, and still come out strong and straight-forwardly honest, hard-bitingly gentle and wild, despite whatever pitfalls we discover in life that subvert the truth.        (That's my first impression, anyway.)           

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The Landscape of the Omaha Music Scene

 "If you can't make it in Omaha, you can't make it anywhere," quoted one anonymous source when inquired about the current music culture of Omaha. The landscape of music life in 2015, considered, warrants a gander to how things have changed since the hardcore indie days of the nineties, to today's robust and popular scene. The old haunts that have closed down, the new shops in their respective niches; think even the new crop of local hangouts owned by renowned Omaha rockers. The open mics, the big upstart bands in town, the record stores, the venues, all these things create the current weather forecast of musical happenings in this big, perambulant social enclave named Omaha.     Back in the 90's, places like behemoth independent record store Antiquarium, unsuspect venues such as Kilgore's, and others like the Cog Factory, empowered the fiercely independent musicians of that time. Sadly, these establishments have now all closed.     On the bright side, places like Drastic Plastic, Almost Music, the Saddle Creek Shop, and Homer's pick up the slack from what Antiquarium left behind. Venues such as O'Leaver's, Slowdown, the Hideout, Pageturner's, the Waiting Room, et cetera, keep plenty of channels open to creative energies in live music.     Icky Blossoms, a present band in the area, who, signed to Saddle Creek, maintain a perceptible wave in the community. To wit, Simon Joyner, who, once quite obscure, has become nearly a household name in 2015, and a buzzword in town. Meanwhile, a bulky percentage of young people are interested in music, and express talent for it.    The open mics, of course, foster them. Down in Benson, the 402 Collective coffeeshop puts on open mics Monday nights, at their branch shared with the Aromas coffee. They, with an impressive stage setup, open their sound system to anyone looking to perform, flush with hi-fi pro equipment and lighting. Down the road, the Barley Street Tavern provides late night open mic. The two events coincide sequentially in time (7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Aroma, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Barley St. Tavern, perfect for doublin' up). Wednesday night, the Hive and the Hideout do open mics also. The former more singer-songwriter based, the latter oriented toward full band jams, they both give local tune slingers an clean aural canvas. There are many of these events with which to wrangle.     Local promotion company, Omahype keeps tabs on many such affairs in town, taking on the hefty job. Whether it's your friend's show at a localite venue, or a hero playing a larger club, Omahype saves the date. A brief look through the website gives you a mental overload of possible concerts and soirees to attend. The spirit of this local enthusiasm runs in Omaha like blood.      The heart of it, though, beats in the sheer mass integrity of the people, and their love of music. Folks sew themselves together, close knit and patched as a quilt. People come together in houses donned with instruments and jam for a daily passtime. This wholesome characteristic engineers the flow of passion throughout every business aiming to participate in the visceral artistic locomotion that moves Omaha.

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A Look Through Life in Omaha: Why People Live Here

    Smack dab in the middle of North American civilization, somewhere between Nowhere and Everywhere, virtually at the heart of America, here Omaha booms, quiet and inconspicuous. The Missouri river stylishly at the edge of town, Omaha, like a piece of rugged Western art, with which the artist refuses to part, has not been abandoned; the paint still wet, the forms still alive with possibility, the vision continually manifest, so the Midwestern town embellishes the land. In the ever-developing visage, Omaha carefully imbues the reasons why, for anyone, from in or out of town, state, or country, it proves a wise and exciting choice for a place to live, encoded aesthetically in the lovely fabric of its composition.     "Everyone is really helpful," said K.J. Steier, a local hula-hoop afficianado. "The bus system is so easy to use; it's a big grid. And the music scene in Omaha is amazing."     To boot, the location of this town puts it in a special position. Mathematically, being located at roughly the center of the United States puts Omaha closest, on average, to everywhere else in the nation. To the North East: New York City, Boston, Philidelphia, Chicago. To the South: New Orleans, Nashville, Memphis, all of Texas. Westerly: Denver, Boise, Salt Lake, Portland, Seattle, the whole of California, then, then the entire Northern United States. That makes it a perfect home base for cross country road trips and business travel in any direction, with all American culture at the perimeter of this national zone.     Crunched, the numbers show Omaha has the near highest percentage of millionaires in the country. Does that make it the centerpiece of the American Dream? Warren Buffet, the well-known entrepreneur and purveyer of vast fortune calls the place home. What about this remote section of the country generates this unusual quality? At the same time, Omaha ranks among the most affordable places to live, with gas and rent prices among the lowest. Fair chance this combination of variables makes for the peculiar aforementioned phenomena.    "What I really like about this place is that it seems to create a tension in people," said musician Red Lepoupou. "I love the interpersonality between people. When that tension finally breaks … the city itself becomes a heart beat. We don't have a lot to do here. The art is really introspective; even if it's not introspective, it's intimate. We have so many great songwriters here."     Plus, the whole area is a choice destination for motorcyclists. The near complete absence of topological disturbances creates a flat horizon, ideal for high power biking. Though the area doesn't seem wrought with motorcycle culture, still, it boasts a noticeable volume of motorcyclists. Get on your bike and most everywhere else in the country is only up to1,500 miles away tops.      The icing on the cake,  Table Grace,  in Downtown Omaha operates so that you may opt to pay for your meal by doing a brief chore. The food is hot, fresh, gourmet, and fast. The chores are not hard. This generous attitude pervades the town. All that ethic makes Omaha a go-to place for authentic, unbounded people.