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Monsters of Modernity: The Metamorphosis at 100

Alexander Billet Red Wedge Magazine
This may be the most relevant legacy of Franz Kafka’s tale. It is a reminder that in a world dominated by capital, terror is so commonplace as to be almost hidden in plain sight. And in so being, it is capable of turning the human condition into something unspeakable.

'Gasoline on the Fire': Obama Orders Ground Troops To Syria

Jon Queally Common Dreams
Since Obama first announced the bombing campaign in Iraq and Syria in 2014, critics have warned that such tactics would likely lead to "mission creep" in the two countries. As the number of troops in Iraq has steadily grown over the last year and a half, this will be the first acknowledged presence of U.S. soldiers in Syria—a country against which the U.S. has not officially declared war.

Vampire Bats: More Cuddly Than You Think

molneyhamel PLOS Blogs
Vampire bats, unlike werewolves and ghosts, are real critters, and at this time of the year they get lots of mentions. But their image, research shows, doesn't really do them justice. Vampire bats do drink blood, but they are also the most social of bats, cuddling and grooming each other at far higher rates than other bats. And this may be the surprising reason that they're so social.

Can Sanderistas Create a True Leftist Movement?

Harold Meyerson The Washington Post
The victory for Sanders' legions in all probability won’t be putting Bernie in the White House, but creating a surging and enduring left. That, in turn, requires them to give as much thought to forming or joining autonomous post-campaign organizations, and envisioning post-campaign mobilizations, as they now do to advancing Sanders’s candidacy. Indeed, they need to start forming such organizations today, while they are together campaigning for Sanders.

Friday Nite Videos -- October 30, 2015

Portside
Stephen Asks Donald to Put His Millions Where His Mouth Is. Alabama Shakes: Future People. Professors in Poverty. Documentary: Jafar Panahi's Taxi. Bernie Sanders Wants To Make College Tuition Free.

Tidbits - October 29, 2015 - Sanders Ignites Popular Movement; How Should He Talk About Socialism; Hillary and Labor; Cuba Solidarity and more...

Portside
Reader Comments: Sanders Ignites a Populist Movement; How Sanders Should Talk About Democratic Socialism - readers offer differing views; Clinton and Labor Support; Argentina; Indonesia and the Act of Killing; Vera B. Williams and Children's Literature; A Progressive Song To Tap Your Feet To! from Kristin Lems; Announcements: Paul Robeson Play - More Performances - Hackettstown, NJ; Cuba Speaks for Itself - New York- Nov 4; Washington, DC- Nov 7; Bay Area- Nov. 13

Harry Belafonte on Activism, Unrest and the Importance of Making People Squirm

Cambria Roth Crosscut
If the state says you go to bed by 10 o'clock, then you should make sure that by 11, the streets of our cities are filled with human protest and bodies! The fact that some might have a restless night with the noise downstairs or find it inconvenient because people blocked traffic, well that's the point - to snap you out of your indifference! So those who are turned off by radical thinking, or radical behavior, well, as a matter of fact, in many ways, you are our target.

"Broken Window Policies" are Discriminatory and Should be Opposed in U.S., Israel

M. Dove Kent, Donna Nevel, Rebecca Vilkomerson Tikkun Daily
As Jewish New Yorkers, we firmly believe that no community can ever be safe through the oppression of another. Your advocacy of broken windows policing while in Israel reinforces the Israeli government's ongoing policies of discrimination against Palestinians. The military occupation of Palestinian communities, political and economic exclusion ...and discriminatory and violent policing by the military and police do not increase the safety of the Jewish people.

The U.S. Ought to Un-Swivel Its China Pivot

Buddy Bell Portside
The U.S. has Beijing surrounded by 200 bases lining the East China Sea, it has already caused the beginning of an arms race. For the first time in many years, China is increasing its military budget at the same time the U.S. continues to spend more than China and the next 11 highest-spending countries. The U.S. is depriving its own people of money that could be used to fund scientific research, healthcare, education; it is also backing China into a corner.