As our economy has begun showing signs of improving—the lifeblood of an incumbent’s candidacy, and poison to a challenger’s—the national conversation has (predictably) shifted, in part, back to the most esteemed of American hobbies, the culture war.  Frankly,… Read full post »

In an act of Machiavellian brilliance, Stephen Colbert has done the impossible:  he has put cheese into the pizza crust.  His announcement Monday night that he would be measuring interest in his presidential run by Herman Cain's tally is a move so slick the mainstream political press has ye… Read full post »

Hi.

As most of you know, Open Salon publishes some of the sharpest analysis and debate the left has to offer.  From photo essays to recipes, long-winded rants to excellent citizen journalism, Open Salon remains one of the Internet's most thoughtful corners.

However, Open Salon needs your help.&n… Read full post »

(author's note:  if you happen to know anyone who is lucky enough to have a job on wall street, please forward this along to them.  thanks in advance.)

To Those Most Fortunate Among Us:

While the fate of the protesters in Zuccotti Park and around the country… Read full post »

Mr. Bocephus,

 I watch a lot of cable news, and lately I've seen you on it a few times.  I am about as far left as they come, but I felt compelled to write this letter, and publish it on a pinko Commie website, in your defense.

 Your firing was about… Read full post »

Recently I found a box of Time magazines from when my father had a subscription, circa 1971--40 years ago.  While I plan to go through this box of  gems soon, I only glanced at the covers of a few of them.  One of them proudly named Edwin Muskie "the man to… Read full post »

Attn:  Joan Walsh, Salon editor and frequent MS-NBC panelist

Dear Ms. Walsh,

I am a longtime Salon reader, having first come to the site in 2003 and joining Open Salon through various names since about 2 months after launch.  (I can… Read full post »

Is anyone else enjoying watching the budget negotiations as much as I am?  I have a genuine... dislike for many of the things that John Boehner says and does, and watching Harry Reid needle him day after day brings a smile to my face.  Reid seems to me to be a… Read full post »

Here are some observations.  Quiz at the end.

 1. Pakistan is a primarily Muslim nation.

2. Pakistan has a nuclear arsenal.

3.  Many of the Bad Guys--that is, people who are actively coordinating attacks against civilians, you know, actual Terrorists--are widely thought to be living… Read full post »

Since nobody read this poem the first time I posted it, I'm shamelessly bumping it with a better version, in Spanish.  My English Version Here.

Elegía de los monarcas

Egipto.

Que no se olvide.

EGIPTO.

Contemplemos el nuevo molde.

Se… Read full post »

Just some words to celebrate and acknowledge the work going on in Egypt.  If you like it, feel free to rate, comment, or pass along.

An Elegy for the Kings

Egypt.

Remember it in songs and tattoos.

E-G-Y-P-T.

That is the blueprint.… Read full post »

It's been a while since I've posted.  My apologies to regular readers.

 I don't really read the Huffington Post, but this post about a feud between Ed Schultz and Joe Klein caught my eye and stopped my morning dead in its tracks. 

 Since there are more pressing matters for everyo… Read full post »

For very personal reasons, I have been waiting what seems like an eternity for Iron Man 2 to be re-released to DVD, etc.  I've had a picture of a Dr. Pepper can with Mickey Rourke as my desktop wallpaper for months now. 

 So, because my brother was too tired for… Read full post »

“Noam,” I said, “I’ve just realized who you really represent to me. Do you remember how Winston Smith [the “1984” character] realized that his highest obligation to humanity and himself was just to try and remain sane, to somehow commit the truth to paper, and to h… Read full post »

I am not a person who is prone to recurring dreams, but there is one that I have had a few times a year since I quit eating meat in late 2005.  I am in the passenger seat of a moving vehicle, the weather is sunny, and I am eating a… Read full post »