Sanity Sunday Musical Break - Piano Chill

by Nomad

This week's playlist selection contains 19 piano pieces (mostly solo), starting off with the theme from one of my all-time favorite films.
Hope you enjoy the music.  

How a Blanket Decision by YouTube has Impacted the Good Works of One Couple

by Nomad

Chris and Alyssa

Back in October, Nomadic Politics featured a post about a special couple, Chris Ulmer and his fiance, Alyssa Porter.

To refresh your memories, Ulmer and Porter are the brains
behind the 501(c)3 organization called Special Books by Special Kids (SBSK).

They have for several years now, through their YouTube channel been working to give a voice to other unique people born with afflictions and disabilities. Their videos challenge our perceptions and provide them with the respect we all deserve.
If you didn't catch the post, it is well worth your time. As a follow-up to that article, I wanted to let you know the recent developments with SBSK. The news isn't good.

Trump's 1987 Moscow Trip: The Recruitment of Agent Orange?

by Nomad

In 1987, real estate mogul Donald Trump was invited to Moscow by the Soviets- with the approval of the KGB. What this business or was it funny business? Even at the time, the trip and the thing Trump did soon after raised eyebrows.. at least, among conspiracy theorists.

The Stopped Clock of Conspiracy Theories

In its day, the magazine Executive Intelligence Review (EIR) had a deserved reputation for being conspiratorial.
Amid pages and pages of dry - like dust- material such as the IMF forecasts and trade with India, EIR also featured articles on the news that Queen Elizabeth II was the head of an international drug-smuggling cartel and how the Oklahoma City bombing was, in fact, the first strike in an attempt by the British to overthrow the government.

Sanity Sunday Musical Break- Fleetwood Mac

by Nomad

(Norman Seeff, 1978)

This week's sanity break shines a light on one of the greatest groups of the 70s and 80s- Fleetwood Mac. Formed in London in 1967, Fleetwood Mac made its live debut at the Windsor Jazz and Blues Festival in England.

Over the years, both in terms of performing artists and style, this band went through a lot of alterations and members changes. In fact, the most-familiar lineup of Fleetwood Mac, (Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, Christine and John McVie) was actually the 10th lineup of the band.

Why Safe Drinkable Water is Something that Many Kentuckians Cannot Take for Granted

by Nomad

Undrinkable and Unthinkable

Regardless of party affiliation, when you ask a voter what are the responsibilities and duties of a government, the answers are largely uniform.

Polls have found that there is bipartisan agreement that the federal government should play a major role in dealing with terrorism, natural disasters, food and medicine safety, and roads and infrastructure. 

Added to this list, the idea that the federal government should provide protection against environmental destruction has majority support across party lines. In theory, clean water ought to be a guaranteed position for any candidate of either party.

Sanity Sunday Musical Break: Remembering Ethel Ennis

by Nomad

This week's Sanity Sunday is devoted to the late Ethel Ennis, a woman of great talent and irrepressible spirit.

Singer and musician Ethel Ennis died on Feb. 17 at her home in Baltimore at 86 after complications of a stroke. Known affectionally as the "First Lady of Jazz", Ennis rose to national fame in the late 1950s and 60s.

Live: Trump's Lawyer Testifies Before Congress

by Nomad

Donald Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, will testify before the House Oversight Committee. As Vox notes:

While questions specifically about Russia will be off the table due to special counsel Robert Mueller’s continuing investigation, Cohen will be questioned about Trump’s business practices and hush money payments to women who alleged affairs with Trump during the 2016 campaign.

Beyond Charity: How Micro-Financing is Fighting Extreme Poverty Around the World

by Quanda Zhang, RMIT University with a foreword by Nomad

One of the criticisms of international charity organizations is that, despite the best of intentions, the money doesn't always get to the people who need it the most. It is possible to ensure that your contributions do not end up being siphoned off by some corrupt government official or are simply lost in the paper-plagued bureaucracy.

The Logical Connection between America's Imperialist Policy and Police Brutality at Home

by Nomad

The words of a long-forgotten populist politician from Nebraska shed light on the threat (and the unexpected cause) of police militarization in our era.

Bryan's Analogy

In August 1900, the US was in the midst of the political debate about US policy towards the newly-acquired territory of the Philipines.
At the heart of the question was: should America adopt an imperialist attitude? Is that mentality acceptable for a country that portrays itself as "freedom-loving" and a champion for human rights?

Sanity Sunday Musical Break- Elton John

by Nomad

This week's musical sanity break is dedicated to singer, composer and pianist Elton John, born Reginald Kenneth Dwight. As his Wikipedia biography notes:

He has worked with lyricist Bernie Taupin as his songwriting partner since 1967; they have collaborated on more than 30 albums. John has sold more than 300 million records, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world. He has more than fifty Top 40 hits, including seven consecutive number one albums in the U.S., 58 Billboard Top 40 singles, 27 Top 10, four which reached number two and nine which reached number one.

That's quite a legacy for any artist.  Since September the 71-year-old John has decided to retire with a farewell tour, consisting of more than 300 concerts worldwide.