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DREAMGIRLS Theatre Review

Director/choreographer Tor Campbell’s rendition of Dreamgirls is an extremely exciting, energetic version and vivid vision of the beloved musical that opened on Broadway in 1981 and onscreen in 2006. With a cast of dozens (including five performers who been part of national Broadway tours), the almost three hour production pulsates with vibrant dancing, singing and live music played by a quartet.

 

The play, of course, appears to be suggested by actual Motown and other major musical acts, in particular the Supremes, here called the Dreamettes then the Dreams, and finally as Deena Jones (the sultry Shaunte Massard, whose stage credits include Fiddler on the Roof and Ain’t Misbehavin’) & the Dreams. James “Thunder” Early, aka “Jimmy,” seems to be a cross between James Brown with a dash of Little Richard is played mostly for laughs by the scene stealing, charming Chad Ra’shun, who provides comic relief and kinetic pyrotechnics.

 

Don't Worry about Russians Rigging Our Elections: U.S. Politicians Already Beat Them to That Punch!

Everyone's talking about election hacking these days. In the country's latest reprise of "the Russians are coming," we're all in turmoil about Putin's interference in U.S. elections.

 

However, don't you find it highly ironic politicians on all sides are so worried about "Russian hacking," while virtually none of them is addressing much more significant forms of election rigging? I'm talking about the criminal fixes arranged by the U.S. officials themselves?

More specifically, these include the retention of the outdated electoral college itself, outrageous gerrymandering of voting districts, super delegates at nominating conventions, voter suppression's many forms (from voter IDs to felony disenfranchisement laws), Koch brother funding of candidates' election campaigns (as in Citizens United), and the use of highly hackable computerized technology that miscounts and discounts millions of votes each election cycle. (No wonder so many of us decide on election day, "Why bother?")

Book Review: Black Boys Burning: The 1959 Fire at the Arkansas Negro Boys Industrial School by Grif Stockley

A wrecked up burning building book cover with words Black Boys Burning

I know that there as many tales of the atrocities committed by whites against African Americans in the United States as there are stars in the sky, but discovering this particular story blew me away.  The fire at the Boys Industrial School (BIS) in Writghtsville, Arkansas, was an especially  horrific tragedy that  could have been averted were it not for the pathological white supremacy, naked racism, and pure hatred for blacks found in the South throughout virtually the entire history of this country. (I’m sure there are books out there that will allow me to focus on white supremacy and racism in the North; just be patient.)

Voting-machine maker, with remote-access feature, was involved in Alabama's 2002 governor's race -- where Don Siegelman votes disappeared -- and might have made it easier for Russians to hack 2016 race

News broke last week that officials with the nation's largest manufacturer of voting software admitted they produced systems in the 2000s that included a remote-access feature. Now we've found evidence that the company, Omaha-based Election Systems and Software (ESS), was involved in the controversial 2002 Alabama governor's race -- the one where incumbent Democrat Don Siegelman was declared the winner, only to have some of his votes disappear overnight due to a supposed "computer glitch," giving the election to Republican Bob Riley.

From Peggy Gish in Iraq with Christian Peacemakers:

People protesting outside with sign saying Stop secret trials
Dear friends, On my second day here in Suleimani, Iraq, I woke up to the news that Turkey had been bombing around 12 civilian villages in N.E. Iraq, where we had long-time relationships with villagers. We called many officials here and internationally and wrote the following urgent action post.   20 July 2018
Iraqi Kurdistan Urgent Action: Write email to the Turkish Embassy asking for safe evacuation of 450 civilians in Pishdar District.  Turkey is bombing the Pishdar District of Iraqi Kurdistan.  The constant, heavy shelling has trapped approximately 400-450 civilians, women, children and men, who are unable to flee.  The assault has set surrounding fields on fire.  Please call and send emails to the Turkish Consulate or Embassy in your country urging an immediate stop to the bombing and asking that the civilian population can evacuate the area to safety. Send this email: (Contact information provided below.)  Dear Sir / Madam,

Socialism and the Climate Leviathan

Clouds in the background and the words Climate Leviathan

Sunday, July 22, 2-4pm
Northside Branch Columbus Metro Library, 1423 N. High
Climate change is the greatest existential threat to humanity. Even though we’ve understood the effects of human activity on the environment since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, our political and economic structure, fueled by capitalist greed, only exacerbates our planetary crisis. While heads of state gather occasionally to promise, but never fulfill, a reduction in CO2 emissions, the poorest among us bear the most dire consequences of climate change. People who can’t afford proper shelter, or even air conditioning, suffer in record-breaking heat. Super-storms level entire cities and regions, and private companies reap the rewards at the expense of the neediest. Drying lakes and rivers spark competition for corporate control of fresh water. Refugees flee climate-ravaged areas, and agents of wealthy, polluting countries round them into camps and call them criminals. 

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