Portside

If you conceive of the Universe as the full suite of matter and energy we know, and the early stages had it all compressed into a tiny region of space, then why didn't it collapse into a black hole?

The latest Facebook personal data revelations provide a window into the future we have sleepwalked into, the era of Surveillance Capitalism. The sins of Facebook and Cambridge Analytica must spark demands for a much wider debate about the role of surveillance in our increasingly digital society.

Two new books about making change in smaller cities are worthy of close study by anyone hoping to push their own city hall in a similar left-wing direction.

What about in Somerville? According to a recent email I got from the City’s Assessing Department, “if the University was a taxable entity it would generate residential tax at $596,700 and commercial tax at $6,103,800.”

March for Our Lives draws huge numbers of protesters. Trump spends weekend at Florida retreat of Mar-a-Lago

An important viewpoint on the dangers of Trump's abuse of power, but it neglects the power of people being organized against Trump.

Cambridge Analytica Whistleblower: 'We Spent $1M Harvesting Millions of Facebook Profiles'. Hallelujah Parody - Letter to Wayne LaPierre and the NRA. Robert Mueller Is Following the Middle East Money. What 1,600 Students Think About School Shootings. New Scandal Shows Zuckerberg Still Puts Kremlin

In John Bolton, now Trump’s National Security Adviser, the far right and the maniacal dovetail. Jesus said that if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a ditch. The ditch in this case could well be a ruinous war with Iran.

In our 241-year history that includes a bitter civil war, two world wars, and the Depression, this could turn out to be the most crucial moment of all. I can’t help but wonder in my bleaker moments whether there will be any coming back from the dark destination, whatever it turns out to be.

A handy guide to help black people avoid the police violence that disproportionately affects them.