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Archive: February 2008

February 2008 - Back Issue

2008 Election
The Suffering Contest

In a Saturday Night Live opening monologue during this election cycle, comedian Chris Rock scoffed at the idea that he would vote for Hillary Clinton, a white woman, over Barack Obama, a black man. (See http://jimbuie.blogs.com/journal/2008/01/chris-rock-on-h.html). He said the election was not a “suffering contest”, but that “even if it was, how can you even […]

Book Reviews
The Assault on Reason: A Review of Al Gore’s Book
1 Comment

Change, as our current candidates keep telling us, is imminent and necessary, but so is a clear vision of the kinds of change

Energy Issues
Choose My Poison? I Prefer None.
2 Comments

It’s amazing how much in radioactive poison emissions is considered acceptable for nuclear power plants already in operation.

Film
Bad Sequels: 80s Cinema, Super-Villains, and Iran
1 Comment

As we approach the 20th anniversary of the end of the Cold War it is uncanny how much we have begun to resurrect icons from the past, a past that the generation now reaching voting age is too young to have ever known

Health Care: News & Notes
How will the next pandemic affect you?

The better prepared you are, the better able you will be to reduce the impact of these social disruptions and reduce the spread of disease until a vaccine is available.

New Age
Voices of the Elders
1 Comment

Legends of royal blood came about along with secret orders that were for men and women.

Poetry
The Aesthetic

Roberta Gould’s poems have appeared in literary magazines, anthologies, and web publications. She was editor of Light: A Poetry Review and co-editor of the N.Y. Poets’ Co-op Anthology. Among her books are Writing Air, Written Water , Only Rock, Not By Blood Alone, In Houses With Ladders, and Pacing the Wind. Currently, she gives readings, […]

Our Ties
2 Comments

Allen Henriquez, born in Brooklyn, has written many novel manuscripts, screenplays, short stories, and poems. He is also an artist and has exhibited at galleries and museums in New York City. Most recently his artworks were exhibited at ArtExpo New York 2006 (Jacob Javits Center). Married twice, he has two sons. Currently he resides in Queens, where he continues to work passionately at his crafts.

Televangelist

Roberta Gould’s poems have appeared in literary magazines, anthologies, and web publications. She was editor of Light: A Poetry Review and co-editor of the N.Y. Poets’ Co-op Anthology. Among her books are Writing Air, Written Water ; Only Rock; Not By Blood Alone; In Houses With Ladders; and Pacing the Wind. Currently, she gives readings, teaches classes in Latin American poetry, and is involved with the Haitian People’s Support Project and other Latin American concerns.

Wire Foto

Jack Romig is no stranger to CS2 readers. As an invaluable copy editor and poetry editor, Jack also graces our pages with his excellent poetry.

GAMBIA, 1994

John Grey is an Australian-born poet, playwright, and musician. His latest book is
What Else Is There from Main Street Rag Publishing Co., Charlotte, N.C.. His work has appeared recently in The English Journal, The Pedestal, Pearl, and the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Mice and Men

Allison Whittenberg is an author of young adult novels (Sweet Thang, Life Is Fine, Hollywood and Maine, all from Random House) but also enjoys writing for and about adults.

THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GUY

Literature and Presidents ever wonder about which Presidents are influenced by which writers?

CROSS CULTURE

John Grey is an Australian-born poet, playwright, and musician. His latest book is
What Else Is There from Main Street Rag Publishing Co., Charlotte, N.C.. His work has appeared recently in The English Journal, The Pedestal, Pearl, and the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Pillager of Live

Serena Spinello is 26 years old and lives in New York. Her recent poems have been published in Clockwise Cat, The Houston Literary Review, Conceit Magazine, 63 Channels, Sien en Werden, The Centrifugal Eye, Cause and Effect, Mississippi Crow, Lachryma: Modern Songs of Lament, Zygote in My Coffee, Perspectives Magazine, The Flask Review, Contemporary Rhyme, Rogue Poetry Review, and The Verse Marauder.

Political Rhetoric
Quotes To Ponder

America was not built by conformists, but by mutineers.

Politics: General
You Can’t Even Call it News

We’ve had Elephantiasis for nigh on to eight years now! My GOD: Haven’t we had enough?

To Which Flag Do You Pledge Allegiance?

You have to decide to which flag you pledge your allegiance - the corporate flag of America or the flag of the United States of America.

Politics: Local
What Happened To Liberal Christianity?

The silence of liberal Christianity in the world today abandons the field to strident, single-minded fundamentalists. In our round table discussion, progressives of faith consider how Christians who are not right-wing extremists can regain their voice.

Short Story
ELVIRA

“For the past
three days she had done virtually nothing but sit on the
edge of the couch-bed and stare at the blank walls while
listening to the rattle of the glass in the windows until it
seemed to come from a pair of drums beating a tattoo prelude
to her own execution.” Jack Lindeman, who’s poetry we have been privileged to publish in CS2 each month, turns his formidable talent to the art of the short story in Elvira.

Soapbox: Rants & Raves
Dave Kessler: Accenting The “Con” in Conservative
12 Comments

The best cons are those in which the mark never realizes he’s been conned.

February 2008 - Back Issue Columns

This Issue & Site News
Everything CS2 site related: article info, site developments, coming attractions.
Feb. 2008 CommonSense2 Issue #6

We continue in our quest to make progressive lifestyle, art and politics the mainstream in American life.

Unsung Heroes
People who work tirelessly for progressive change in our community and state
Hank Lessig - Unsung Hero

Hank Lessig has been a mainstay in Berks County politics and community service for decades.

To Your Health
Ron Stouffer and Rosie Skomitz have been waging battles in the health care wars for 15 years. Check back every month for views, opinions and information vital to you and To Your Health
The Perfect Valentine

If we pass it, he will sign.

The Keystone Scorecard
Sylvia Baylor chronicles the absurdities of Harrisburg and our State Legislature. Occasionally The Keystone Scorecard will feature guest authors.
PA s House of Representatives In-Action

Last year Pennsylvania s General Assembly cost approximately $308 million to operate, or about $3 million per session day. That means that if one assumes costs grow at a rate commensurate with the rate of inflation, a cool $ 1 billion dollars will be required for the care and feeding of our legislature for the next three years.

The Dark Visions of Sheldon Kaplan
Sheldon Kaplan explores and brings a world into focus that is unseen to most of us
BRAIN ON??

BRAIN ON? It appears that most Americans have their brain off unless it has something to do with various forms of stupid behavior. But we Romans like our Bread and Circuses, like "American Idol".

RUDY'S REBATE!

I get these creepy thoughts, from my imagination, that if this guy would actually get into the White House that one day he would show up to a press conference in a beautiful pink evening gown with wrap mumbling something about 911.

MAGNET PATRIOTISM

I just love mindless patriotism! It's not far from slapping a colorful armband on, as far as I'm concerned.