Category Archives: Commentary

Opinion or analysis concerning whatever’s on my mind.

In Times of Tribal

Posted on June 17, 2026 by JMN

— If you ain’t white, we ain’t open.(Dixie whistle.) “Voter fraud” is not about fraud. It is about who votes and how. It is about the breadth and scope of the political community… about who can call themselves Americans — … Continue reading →

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Purulence, Pus, Matter? Anointed or Kohl’d?

Posted on June 11, 2026 by JMN

I was sleepless, and I passed the night keeping vigil, as if my eyes had been anointed with pus, […] That’s Arberry’s reliable translation of line 1 of the sixth-century elegy on the death of her brother Sakhr by the … Continue reading →

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Hail to Thee, Mouse-Like Bird! Wren nor Tit Thou Never Wert!

Posted on May 25, 2026 by JMN

Adam goofed. The bird called wrentit (Chamaea fasciata) is neither a wren nor a tit. A wrentit… is a secretive, sedentary, mouse-like bird endemic to North America, primarily found in western coastal regions of the U.S. and Baja California. It’s … Continue reading →

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Rae Armantrout Appeals to My Inner Toddler

Posted on May 21, 2026 by JMN

I want to say Rae Armantrout springs a cavalcade of huggable schwas on me, but rumpled or purple or bubbly would describe them, too. As long as they’re duple bumpy words. Joints grind likeshot brakes. Food ignitesin our stomachs. But … Continue reading →

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Photo Worth Several Words

Posted on April 24, 2026 by JMN

Who’s being “honored” in this picture? (Hint: They’re female.) Peekaboo! The University of Georgia women’s tennis team posing with Donald Trump and administration officials. Photograph: Margo Martin on X/Margo Martin on X (@MargoMartin47). [Guardian caption and illustration] (c) 2026 JMN … Continue reading →

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Art of the Smirk

Posted on April 13, 2026 by JMN

Did your social circles “overlap” with this person’s? (c) 2026 JMN — EthicalDative. All rights reserved

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We See Colors With Our Tongues

Posted on April 5, 2026 by JMN

This is my favorite poster ’til further notice. I see yellow, orange, red, violet, blue, green. What do you see? Jean Widmer was born Hans Ulrich Widmer on March 31, 1929, in Frauenfeld, Switzerland, to Emil Widmer, a master mechanic … Continue reading →

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Truth Facial

Posted on April 1, 2026 by JMN

“His lifestyle is very different and kind of intriguing, although it would not work for me.” (Bill Gates  on Jeffrey Epstein) According to his spokesman, Bill Gates was referring to Epstein’s décor. That reminds me, I need to vacuum the … Continue reading →

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Android Mountburden-Windsock

Posted on March 26, 2026 by JMN

(Now pointedly referred to by the king… as though he were a distant relation rather than his mother’s much-indulged favorite son)…(Fintan O’Toole) “Alleged” does heavy lifting in criminal matters. Innocent ‘til proven guilty is the ruling standard. The Epstein class … Continue reading →

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Bronze Age Vainglory (Re-posted With Correction)

Posted on March 24, 2026 by JMN

[In the original post I used the term “martinets.” I meant to say “myrmidons.” This version corrects that lapse.] “Watch what happens to these deranged scumbags today…! [etc.]”Say What? Archive Wild beasts of the wilderness, when war breaks into flame, … Continue reading →

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