Here are this week's topics: racism in France; rules changes; best photos of 2016; looking back in the future; hacked -- or not?; a free "Donald toke;" you go girl!; ACA, aka Obamacare; North Korea;
China's Big Brother; the last "wild American Indian;" Common Sense; a needed break.

French racism. We often think only we Americans are dealing with racism born of our past. In this London Review of Books article, "Racism, pure and simple" Musab Younis talks about French anti-muslim racism, born in the French colonial experience in Algeria. We are not alone in dealing with a not too tidy past.

US House rules. In last week's blog I mentioned that Republican House members had changed the rules (even changed the name) for their ethics investigative office and procedures. However, as noted quickly noted by most major news outlets, these new rules were hastily withdrawn after just one angry tweet from President-elect Trump and many phone calls from angry voters. A capitol hill telephone operator told PBS correspondent, Lisa Desjardins, that it was "was a mess."
     It will be interesting to watch how the Republican-controlled 115th Congress handles the upcoming legislative session. Unintended consequences may include conflicts between a get-even desire on the part of House members viz-a-viz the White House if/when questions arise regarding soon-to-be President Trump's tangled personal financial matters. This is also true: "Now, their party’s leader wields a Twitter account with 18.5 million followers. As he prepares to enter the Oval Office in little more than two weeks, Trump is far more popular in their districts than they are." The latter point is an especially telling truth, one not yet acknowledged by the 535 elected officials on Capitol Hill.

2016 through the lens. This link to Washington Post's "World" column and its selection of the best photos from 2016.

A past era in America. This comment comes from a fellow blogger, one of his reflections while visiting a southern plantation, once part of our bygone Cotton Kingdom, now a tourist site. "Remains of a past attempt to make a meaningful life through extravagance and affluence." In  another 150 years, what thoughts will come to mind as a tourist wanders through a then bygone site in America circa 2016? What site might he/she be visiting? A Trump Tower in.........

Russian hacking. President-elect Trump says "maybe not;" the soon-to-be-his intelligence community say "Yes." The P-e got his briefing, but he also found out that the intelligence community is legally required to respond to congressional requests for testimony. In today's uncertain world and in the intell community's own self-interest, the various directors are not likely to withhold what they believe is the true story. In the end, everyone from the President to the lowest federal peon works for the people. Mess up and you may pay a high price, especially if there is another 9-11 incident. He may not have yet seen Harry Truman's desk-top admonition: "The Buck Stops Here."

A free "toke." Unintended consequence: D.C. voters approved recreational marijuana and so DCMJ advocates will be attending the Trump inauguration and passing out free joints. They will, of course, be careful to do this only on District of Columbia "land," not on federal land where MJ is still illegal. On inauguration morning, some participants may be exclaiming, to paraphrase, Lt. Col. Kilgore from Apocalypse Now, "I love the smell of MJ in the morning!"

Women's lib news from the past. 1925: Democrat Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming took office as America’s first female governor, succeeding her late husband, William, following a special election. NOTE: The Constitution leaves it to each state how to select its statewide offices, even their US senator; a special election is required only to fill a vacancy in the US House.
     Interesting trivia: One of the Coloradans whose statue is in the national capitol's Statuary Hall is of Jack Swigert, NASA astronaut who was elected in November 1981 to fill CO's newly created 6th House district. Alas, Mr. Swigert died on 27 December 1981 and a special election was held to fill the vacancy.

Health Care. Trivia: Unbelievably, US health care amounts to 18% of our economy, larger than all but four other national economies.

North Korea. Perhaps Kim Jong Un is not quite so politically naive as we have assumed. This article from the Guardian intimates that Un's military and scientific branches may be preparing for new missile tests, taking advantage of the uncertainty accompanying the change in US administrations and the impeachment of South Korea's president.

China's Big Brother. This story from Shanghai where the dystonia Big Brother is fast at work. One can only wonder if Orwell is not saying, "I warned you."

Ishi, a Yahi of California. This High Country News article details the later life and death of Ishi, who became known as America's last "wild" Indian.

Common Sense. On January 10, 1776, Thomas Paine anonymously published his bombshell pamphlet, "Common Sense." Paine was, of course, arguing against continued British rule of its North American colonies. Today, America may be dire need of a 21st century Paine to examine and diagnosis our current problems.

Take a break from the upcoming whirlwind round of Senate confirmation hearings and enjoy your favorite movie starring the "much overrated" Meryl Streep! Sunday's Golden Globe program made one thing abundantly certain: In 2020, Mr. Trump has little chance of morphing into a thoughtful entertainment critic. 

Thank you for reading.