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Franchise Freedom at Burning Man 2018 | Video Worth Watching

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From the Studio Drift YouTube web page:

In their work Studio Drift often contemplates the concept of freedom. “Franchise Freedom” visualizes the connection between a group and the individual by mimicking a swarm of starlings. As dusk fell over Black Rock City, 600 luminous drones rose into a hypnotic display of technological choreography, accompanied by the poignant keys of Joep Beving. The drones were guided by a specially made algorithm that simultaneously allows both individual choice and movement as a group. The innovative technology made it possible to create a 3d image in the sky that could be viewed from multiple angles.

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Chavela Vargas – La Llorona (with Images of Frida Kahlo) | Video Worth Watching

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I’m a Frida Kahlo fan, what can I say? This is also a consummate rendition by Chavela Vargas of the classic Mexican folk song La Llorona, but it’s the selection of Frida Kahlo’s works and the depictions of her that truly spellbinds me.   [Read more…]

Can We ‘Just Be Friends’ With Facebook?

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A long look by the New York Times into how Facebook has responded to “cascading crises — over Russian misinformation, data privacy and abusive content” provides insight into the true nature of the most popular social media platform. And it should inform how or whether you should continue your relationship with (almost) everybody’s favorite social media platform.

Facebook’s pretensions have turned it into a useful idiot of the right, according to Guardian technology writer Alex Hearn.

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Refugee Deaths | Geo-Poetic Spaces

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Over
35,000 men women children
wired to a fence

Each name
a page in earth’s history
spit into fire
devoured by sea
deported
redacted into dust   [Read more…]

‘Listen’, trans teen short film | Video Worth Watching

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Jake Graf, actor, director and activist, in recognition of GLAAD’s Transgender Awareness Week, November 12 – 19 has released a new short video. Featuring young trans actors in trans roles, ‘Listen’ honestly and frankly depicts some of the myriad struggles experienced daily by trans children and teenagers, giving a much needed voice to this often maligned section of the community. In an interview with HuffPost, Jake stated his hope that it inspires viewers to “listen to our trans and queer youth”.   [Read more…]

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Who Is San Diego’s Most Popular Democrat of Them All?

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This was a very good election year for Democrats in the region. Grassroots enthusiasm was high and it showed. Turn out, once all ballots are processed, will exceed 65%.

The local party organization used considerable resources for get out the vote campaigns in support of its endorsed candidates. Exactly nobody thought those endorsements were perfect. And there are a multitude of festering questions needing to be answered in the coming year.

Now that the election has passed, the party’s shortcomings should be addressed. Chair Jessica Hayes is stepping down at the end of the year and there appear to be exciting (mostly unannounced as yet, so I’ll hold off on naming them) candidates vying to replace her.   [Read more…]

Ta-Nehisi Coates on President Donald Trump and the Midterms | Video Worth Watching

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From the MSNBC YouTube website:

The new class of Democrats in Congress is a group that’s closer to reflecting what America looks like than ever before. But is this the start of something new in American politics, or a classic midterm course correction?

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The Republican Death Spiral in California and Its Implications for the Party Nationally

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California Republicans are facing a full-blown disaster as votes continue to be tallied. Consider them the canary in the coal mine for the national party. Yes, there were victories for the GOP on November 8, but the future for an organization that has become little more than an extension of the President’s ego looks bleak.

Much is being made of the obituary written by Kristin Olsen, the vice chair of the California Republican Party, and published as a guest column at CalMatters.

“The California Republican Party isn’t salvageable at this time,” she wrote. “The Grand Old Party is dead — partly because it has failed to separate itself from today’s toxic, national brand of Republican politics.”   [Read more…]

What Sessions’ Resignation Means for the Mueller Investigation | Video Worth Watching

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Nicole Austin-Hillery (Executive Director, U.S. Program, Human Rights Watch) explains what the forced resignation of Jeff Sessions means for the future of the Russia investigation. Essentially, “all Americans should be concerned”.   [Read more…]

2018’s Amazing Not a Just Blue Wave Election Results

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LATE BALLOT COUNTING NEWS: Tony Thurmond has pulled into the lead in the race for Superintendent of Public Education. Escondido’s Mayor-for-life Sam Abed is within 20 votes of losing his seat. Vladimir Putin’s favorite Congressman, Dana Rohrabacher, lost his seat. Democrats Katie Porter and Gil Cisneros are within striking distance of winning key Congressional contests…

Wave, ‘smave. Call it what you want, but the 2018 election included a lot of wins worth savoring if you’re from the progressive persuasion. As additional ballots have been counted over the past week, the news has gotten better.

Reporting on the election results was shaped by time zone differences and tended to focus on higher profile races. It’s no small thing that Idaho, Nebraska and Utah voters opted to expand Medicaid, while Kansas, Maine, and Wisconsin elected pro-ACA governors.   [Read more…]

Feeding San Diego: Solving Hunger | Video Worth Watching

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From the Feeding San Diego YouTube page:

1 in 8 people in San Diego County are at risk of hunger, including 1 in 6 children. Feeding San Diego is solving hunger while protecting the environment. Find out how we’re doing it and how you can help.
Last year, Feeding San Diego provided 26 million meals for families, children, seniors, veterans and military families facing hunger in San Diego. Feeding San Diego serves anyone facing hunger. Learn how you can get involved in the fight against hunger at www.feedingsandiego.org.

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Post Election Questions for Progressives at the State, Local, and National Levels

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What many had called the election of our lifetimes is over, and while any moment for reflection was immediately stolen by Trump’s purge of Attorney General Jeff Sessions and the subsequent fallout with regard to the Russia investigation, there are still big, important questions that progressives inside and outside of power will face in the coming months if we hope to present a vision that does more than say no to Trump while getting trapped in his diversions.   [Read more…]

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