Charles Wofford
@dialecticus.bsky.social
Historical musicologist and classical guitarist. I believe in the arts, in the humanities, and in socialism.
I'm glad NYT is starting to use more appropriate language.
February 24, 2025 at 3:16 AM
I'm glad NYT is starting to use more appropriate language.
There are several Mason related codings in TMF, which have been noted in musicological (i.e. scholarly) literature. IIRC, at the beginning there is a certain dotted rhythm that emulates the "secret" Mason door knocks. Many other references abound, though I don't recall them from memory.
February 23, 2025 at 11:16 AM
There are several Mason related codings in TMF, which have been noted in musicological (i.e. scholarly) literature. IIRC, at the beginning there is a certain dotted rhythm that emulates the "secret" Mason door knocks. Many other references abound, though I don't recall them from memory.
It actually does have Masonry symbolism in it, with the rhythms relating to how Masons knock on doors and so on. Not saying it wasn't also popular music for its time, but yes, the Masonry symbolism is there.
February 23, 2025 at 11:14 AM
It actually does have Masonry symbolism in it, with the rhythms relating to how Masons knock on doors and so on. Not saying it wasn't also popular music for its time, but yes, the Masonry symbolism is there.
They speak to emotional, political, and philosophical truths, and to the human condition and emotional struggles. When an author writes fiction, it is because real stories cannot say what they want to say.
February 21, 2025 at 2:35 AM
They speak to emotional, political, and philosophical truths, and to the human condition and emotional struggles. When an author writes fiction, it is because real stories cannot say what they want to say.
So things like "African American Studies" and "Asian American Studies" are a thing. Like, these are entire fields, established internationally, with many thousands of prominent scholars. This Ed. Dep. direction is demanding the academy amputate entire disciplines, which of course won't happen.
February 18, 2025 at 3:19 AM
So things like "African American Studies" and "Asian American Studies" are a thing. Like, these are entire fields, established internationally, with many thousands of prominent scholars. This Ed. Dep. direction is demanding the academy amputate entire disciplines, which of course won't happen.
My friend, the point of "race based admissions" is to counteract racial bias that was *already present* in the hiring process. By undoing DEI, we are not returning to some race neutral admissions process, but to the racist one already present.
February 18, 2025 at 3:17 AM
My friend, the point of "race based admissions" is to counteract racial bias that was *already present* in the hiring process. By undoing DEI, we are not returning to some race neutral admissions process, but to the racist one already present.
I know a Trumper, a veteran, w/ a brain tumor. They can't go to their VA doctor anymore because they took the buy out offer and the VA is basically on ice anyway. They've been pretty quiet since that happened.
February 18, 2025 at 3:03 AM
I know a Trumper, a veteran, w/ a brain tumor. They can't go to their VA doctor anymore because they took the buy out offer and the VA is basically on ice anyway. They've been pretty quiet since that happened.
It really is the job of the people running for office to convince voters, not the job of voters to show unyielding loyalty to politicians or party. The Dems are responsible for their own loss.
February 17, 2025 at 11:35 PM
It really is the job of the people running for office to convince voters, not the job of voters to show unyielding loyalty to politicians or party. The Dems are responsible for their own loss.
Lol, no one owes the Democratic Party anything, and your gatekeeping pretentiousness is part of why the democrats continually lose. If you are the Democratic Party, you can rot.
Also, Obama has the blood of millions of innocent people on his hands. So yeah, fuck you.
Also, Obama has the blood of millions of innocent people on his hands. So yeah, fuck you.
February 10, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Lol, no one owes the Democratic Party anything, and your gatekeeping pretentiousness is part of why the democrats continually lose. If you are the Democratic Party, you can rot.
Also, Obama has the blood of millions of innocent people on his hands. So yeah, fuck you.
Also, Obama has the blood of millions of innocent people on his hands. So yeah, fuck you.
I mean, the Democratic Party has done what you want: it's tacked to the center, been more pro business, more like the "tame" version of the GOP. It's failed. Obama was such a shitty president that they got Trump in after him. Clinton and Harris were roundly rejected.
February 10, 2025 at 1:51 AM
I mean, the Democratic Party has done what you want: it's tacked to the center, been more pro business, more like the "tame" version of the GOP. It's failed. Obama was such a shitty president that they got Trump in after him. Clinton and Harris were roundly rejected.
A lot of people supported Sanders. He lost the first time because he was under prepared, not thinking he would be as successful as he was. He lost the second time because Obama convinced the others to drop out and endorse Biden right before a primary. It was all done in broad daylight.
February 10, 2025 at 1:50 AM
A lot of people supported Sanders. He lost the first time because he was under prepared, not thinking he would be as successful as he was. He lost the second time because Obama convinced the others to drop out and endorse Biden right before a primary. It was all done in broad daylight.
I never got very far in it but recall loving what I read. I should return to it...
February 10, 2025 at 1:49 AM
I never got very far in it but recall loving what I read. I should return to it...
Sanders' policies were enormously popular: universal health care, universal education, workers' rights, etc. It's not "let's be like Europe." The point is that it is possible because it's done in other countries, and its policies are very popular here. Do you have a response that isn't hysteria?
February 10, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Sanders' policies were enormously popular: universal health care, universal education, workers' rights, etc. It's not "let's be like Europe." The point is that it is possible because it's done in other countries, and its policies are very popular here. Do you have a response that isn't hysteria?
When progressives DO vote for moderate democrats, then it is reasoned that they will vote for moderates, and therefore their progressive desires do not need to be catered to. Progressives are kept out of the loop either way. It has to do with corporate power and money.
February 8, 2025 at 5:24 AM
When progressives DO vote for moderate democrats, then it is reasoned that they will vote for moderates, and therefore their progressive desires do not need to be catered to. Progressives are kept out of the loop either way. It has to do with corporate power and money.
Not sure how to respond to someone who thinks Sanders' ideas are fairy tales. He advocated things that are standard in every European country: universal health care, paid sick leave, workers' rights, etc. Not a fairy tale, real life. It could happen here, it's a question of political organization.
February 8, 2025 at 5:09 AM
Not sure how to respond to someone who thinks Sanders' ideas are fairy tales. He advocated things that are standard in every European country: universal health care, paid sick leave, workers' rights, etc. Not a fairy tale, real life. It could happen here, it's a question of political organization.
Among other things, the point of this is to shore up fears of white people becoming a minority.
February 7, 2025 at 3:19 AM
Among other things, the point of this is to shore up fears of white people becoming a minority.
If the Democratic Party adopted a democratic socialist platform, it would win back the working class.
February 7, 2025 at 3:12 AM
If the Democratic Party adopted a democratic socialist platform, it would win back the working class.
A lot of these leftists are super old school Marxists: they think class relations are the only material relations and everything is a reflection of those relations. But if you call them class reductionist, they get offended and say "that doesn't exist." It's a weird space.
February 7, 2025 at 3:11 AM
A lot of these leftists are super old school Marxists: they think class relations are the only material relations and everything is a reflection of those relations. But if you call them class reductionist, they get offended and say "that doesn't exist." It's a weird space.