Civil Discourse Now

Where the far left and far right overlap for fun and enlightenment

January 2013 Blog Posts (21)

Launch party for my e-novel "Billion Dollar Ball$": Thursday, January 31, 5-7 p.m. at Broad Ripple Tavern in Indy!

   Corruption in college athletics, insanity amongst coaches, former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover come back to life as "Mary" to root out corruption in Chicago, a first edition of Adam Smith’s two-volume Wealth of Nations—and more!

   Billion Dollar Ball$ is an e-novel that satires college hoops, gambling, and a lot of characters and themes—all fictional and any similarity with actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

   It will appear Thursday on…

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Added by Mark Small on January 30, 2013 at 7:42am — No Comments

Chicago America's "most corrupt city"? Those rankings were rigged!

   A University of Illinois professor recently his ranking of this Country’s most corrupt cities. Without surprise, he rated Chicago as The Most Corrupt.

   I have several problems with his assessment: 1) He’s a University of Illinois prof and therefore one should presume bias on his behalf; call it a "homer" advantage; 2) More importantly, his criteria were skewed.

   Professor Dick Simpson based his rankings on officials convicted for the period 1976-2010. 

   1) Let…

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Added by Mark Small on January 29, 2013 at 7:07am — No Comments

Here's the basic plot of "Billion Dollar Ball$", launch party on 1/31 at BRT, 5-7 p.m.

   Billion Dollar Ball$ is my tenth novel, third that I will have published. It is an e-novel and will be available for $2.99. E-publishing means less overhead and greater ease of publication. Self-publishing means I have joined the great numbers of writers who have abandoned conventional publishing in which large corporations pass on the risk of previously unpublished writers.

   We will have a launch party on Thursday, January 31 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Broad Ripple Tavern.…

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Added by Mark Small on January 28, 2013 at 7:26am — No Comments

Today's Show: a potpourri w/guest panelists John Strinka, Jeff Cox, and Miah Ankston at 11 a.m.

   On Today’s Show we will discuss several topics. Our guest panelists will be:

    -John Strinka of the Socialist Party who ran for the Indiana House of Representatives this past election.

    -Jeff Cox, Indianapolis attorney and author of "Rising Sun, Falling Skies," a history of the disastrous Java Sea campaign of World War II.

    -Miah Ankston, Indianapolis LGBT rights activist.

    Today we shall not be confined to a single topic. Amongst the topics to be…

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Added by Mark Small on January 26, 2013 at 7:10am — No Comments

"Billion Dollar Ball$": why self-publish an e-novel? The market has changed.

   Why would I self-publish my e-novel, Billion Dollar Ball$?

   I started undergrad at DePauw with plans to become a lawyer. Along the course to my bachelor of arts degree in political science—aren’t those two terms contradictory?—the liberal arts aspect of my education kicked in and I learned about being a human being. I no longer wanted to be a lawyer.

   I took two courses in English at DePauw, but always had read and decided I wanted to write. My last year at DPU I…

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Added by Mark Small on January 25, 2013 at 7:13am — No Comments

"BILLION DOLLAR BALL$"---an e-novel by mark small; launch party 1/31/13, 5-7 p.m. at Broad Ripple Tavern.

   LAUNCH PARTY FOR MY e-NOVEL: January 31, 5-7 p.m. at the Broad Ripple Tavern.

   The Mob, a crazy college hoops coach, a would-be international super model, an obscure cult, former high school hoops stars sprung from various departments of correction, rare books "borrowed" for use as collateral to bet on the annual college basketball tournament, and a Chicago-area law school library clerical assistant with a knack for picking winners in the tournament are elements of Billion…

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Added by Mark Small on January 22, 2013 at 7:00am — No Comments

How to choose a team for which to cheer in the NFL(r) playoffs.

   I was born a fan of the Chicago Bears. I grew up watching Lindsey Nelson and CBS's broadcasts from Wrigley Field and its seemingly (perhaps actually) too-short end zones. The Bears did not win any championships during those years. Individual players were fun to watch. Gayle Sayers was awesome. The Chicago Tribune ran a front page photograph Dick Butkus as the middle linebacker sacked a quarterback and, fingers inserted through the guy's face mask, attempted to gouge at least one…

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Added by Mark Small on January 21, 2013 at 6:48am — No Comments

Hear civil discussion and more than one view on the Second Amendment and related matters on Saturday at 11 a.m.

   Whatever your view about guns, firearms, the Second Amendment, gun control, may be, one aspect of the public discussion its one-sided nature. I have heard/seen programs on which one side---choose by network---prominently is featured. I have watched people yell or scream at each other, but I have yet to see/hear intelligent, civil discourse on the topic.

   That is why "Civil Discourse Now" was started. I got tired of the "rah rah our side" nature of many shows and the…

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Added by Mark Small on January 19, 2013 at 6:57am — No Comments

Repeal the Second Amendment: Saturday, January 19's Show.

   At Grady's Championship Deli, located at 44th and Keystone (east side of Keystone Avenue, just north of Fall Creek Parkway) at 11 a.m. we will stream "live" a discussion about gun rights. My position is what some (many?) in this country would view as extreme. I believe there should be no private ownership of guns. Our guest panelists will be Andrew Kirch, well-known amongst those of the Indy blogosphere as a conservative advocate, and a very passionate advocate of gun "rights." Also,…

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Added by Mark Small on January 18, 2013 at 6:54am — No Comments

   LATEST ON SATURDAY'S SHOW: ON SECOND AMENDMENT. We will air at 11 a.m. sharp. Andrew Kirch will join our panel. We should be able to announce, later today, where we will have The Show.    Presiden…

   LATEST ON SATURDAY'S SHOW: ON SECOND AMENDMENT. We will air at 11 a.m. sharp. Andrew Kirch will join our panel. We should be able to announce, later today, where we will have The Show.

   President Obama announced his plans to address gun violence. Senator Rand Paul characterized the President as monarchical (as did Sean Hannity, but at least Paul does not have to rely upon staff writers to spell "monarchical" correctly). Others mentioned impeachment of the President because he had…

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Added by Mark Small on January 17, 2013 at 7:24am — No Comments

Hitler's 1938 laws greatly expanded access to firearms for nearly everyone.

   There were several responses to my blog yesterday about Adolf Hitler's policies toward gun control.

   I should clarify what Hitler did about guns. In 1938, the Third Reich enacted new gun laws. They superseded  a restrictive 1928 enactment by the Weimar Republic. The Third Reich's new laws prohibited Jews and enemies of the state from possession of firearms. So Paul Ogden's reference to Hitler's comments about keeping guns from certain segments of society is correct. The ability…

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Added by Mark Small on January 15, 2013 at 7:14am — 3 Comments

Hitler was not a strong advocate of gun control, NRA commentary to the contrary.

   Saturday's Show will address the Second Amendment and arguments for control or repeal of the Second Amendment. We stream "live" at 11 a.m.

   One common argument against any restrictions on gun ownership relies upon what is set forth as an historical "fact"---that one of Adolf Hitler's first actions as Chancellor of Germany was to require registration of ownership of guns by private citizens. To authenticate this claim, gun advocates even have a "quote" from Hitler:

      …

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Added by Mark Small on January 14, 2013 at 7:00am — 2 Comments

Tenth Amendment: can States nullify Federal laws? and can States secede?

   On Today’s Show we will discuss THE TENTH AMENDMENT at 11 a.m. at Big Hat Books, 6510 Cornell Avenue, in Broad Ripple. "Civil Discourse Now" is part of the "Indiana Talks" internet network. If you cannot attend, you can Tweet in questions. I will post "how" on that later today. Our Twitter address is @civildiscoursenow.com

   Our confirmed guests for Saturday will be:

   Mike Maharrey of the Tenth Amendment Center. Their website (tenthamendmentcenter dot com) is…

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Added by Mark Small on January 12, 2013 at 7:29am — No Comments

Tenth Amendment? Two proposed Indiana bills directly implicate it.

   Coincidence has brought two bills to the Indiana State Senate that implicate the topic we will discuss—THE TENTH AMENDMENT—this Saturday, January 12, at 11 a.m. at Big Hat Books, 6510 Cornell Avenue, in Broad Ripple. "Civil Discourse Now" is part of the "Indiana Talks" internet network. If you cannot attend, you can Tweet in questions. I will post "how" on that later today.

   Senator Phil Boots, a Republican from Crawfordsville, is sponsor of Senate Bill 230 that (1) authorizes…

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Added by Mark Small on January 11, 2013 at 6:57am — No Comments

Civil Discourse will discuss gun rights on January 19 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

Civil Discourse Now will stream (how'd I dodge the obvious verb?) from the Indiana State Fairgrounds on January 19 at 11 a.m. to discuss ramifications of the Second Amendment. So far one panelist we have confirmed is Andrew Kirch. Co-host Mark Small (me) will advocate that the Second Amendment should be repealed. There's no need to talk about slippery slopes with me on this topic. Andrew will argue (vehemently I am sure) against the position I favor. Paul Ogden probably also will favor…

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Added by Mark Small on January 8, 2013 at 7:05pm — 1 Comment

Was the Tenth Amendment necessary?

   Once again I want to announce THE TENTH AMENDMENT will be the focus of our discussion this Saturday, January 12, at 11 a.m. at Big Hat Books, 6510 Cornell Avenue, in Broad Ripple. "Civil Discourse Now" is part of the "Indiana Talks" internet network. If you cannot attend, you can Tweet in questions. I will post "how" on that tomorrow.

   Our guests will be:

   Mike Maharrey of the Tenth Amendment Center. Their website (tenthamendmentcenter dot com) is well-constructed and…

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Added by Mark Small on January 8, 2013 at 6:50am — No Comments

Tenth Amendment: basis for "nullification" or even secession?

  THE TENTH AMENDMENT will be the focus of our discussion this Saturday, January 12, at 11 a.m. at Big Hat Books, 6510 Cornell Avenue, in Broad Ripple. "Civil Discourse Now" is part of the "Indiana Talks" internet network.

   Our guests will be:

   Mike Maharrey of the Tenth Amendment Center. Their website (tenthamendmentcenter dot com) is well-constructed and informative about the organization. He is the organization’s communications director. He is a native of the…

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Added by Mark Small on January 7, 2013 at 6:49am — 1 Comment

Next Week: The Tenth Amendment

   I purchased a new computer in the name of efficiency. Now, three days later, I have yet to figure out how to install some things. At least I can post what next week's Show will be.

   Our guests will be Mike Meharry of the Tenth Amendment Center, and Karen Celestino-Horseman, Indianapolis attorney and for Democratic Party City-County Councilor. We shall discuss the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. and interpretations of it: nullification of Federal laws by States,…

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Added by Mark Small on January 6, 2013 at 6:41am — No Comments

Bobby Seale: "When your brother's bound and gagged and they've chained him to a chair, won't you please come to Chicago just to sing."

   Bobby Seale will be the featured speaker at the Martin Luther King Day dinner this year. At Advance Indiana, Gary Welsh—friend and a past panelist on "Civil Discourse Now"—takes issue with the choice of Seale for the MLK dinner. I want to address several points Gary makes in his blog. As a preface, I probably am one of the few people who has read the entire 20,000-some page transcript of Dellinger, et al v. United States—the trial the defendants of which were dubbed, first, the…

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Added by Mark Small on January 5, 2013 at 6:58am — No Comments

Saturday's Show: charter schools.

   Again:

   CHARTER SCHOOLS will be the topic of discussion this Saturday, January 5, at 11 a.m. in our inaugural Show on "Indiana Talks." We shall shoot at a familiar place—Big Hat Books, 6510 Cornell Avenue, in Broad Ripple.

   Russ Simnick, president of the Indiana Public Schools Charter Association was considerate enough to respond to he blog I posted yesterday and disagreed on several points I made. I will respond to his points as follows:

   1) The first charter…

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Added by Mark Small on January 3, 2013 at 6:55am — No Comments

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