Math, Music and Imagination

Marcus Miller Scientific American
Math can be experienced as play much as music is—just what’s needed to enlarge the tribe of creative problem solvers in mathematics and other human disciplines

Equal Pay Day Is a Reminder That You Can’t Mansplain Away the Gender Pay Gap

Elise Gould and Jessica Schieder Economic Policy Institute
Even after extensive research has been done to show the gender pay gap exists (and persists), some skeptics refuse to believe the data. The infographic shows some of the most common criticisms of the gender wage gap and rebuts the “mansplainers” with data.

The US Military Expansion in Africa, One “Lily Pad” at a Time

Eric Schewe JSTOR
A US Army Special Forces sergeant oversees the marksmanship training of a Niger Army soldier.
Using the “lily pad” strategy of “temporary” troop deployments, the US now has an “imperial-scale” military presence in Africa. With troops in more than 15 countries the US expansion has become self-justifying. The US must now stay in Africa to protect the interests of the US military there.

Thirty-Five Years of Comintern Publishing: A Balancesheet

John Riddell Socialist Project
The Comintern was formed at a moment of revolutionary hope quite different from conditions today. Yet beginning in 1920, the Comintern tried to chart a course for revolutionary socialists in non-revolutionary times.

Make America Safe Again

Philip C Kolin
Is this the country where George Washington slept? Mississippi poet Philip C Kolin has his doubts.

The Decline of the Trump Merchandise Empire

Before he ran for president, Donald Trump was raking in money from Trump-branded steaks, eyeglasses, ties, K-cups, cologne and a dozen other licensed products. But now, nearly all of his partnerships have disappeared.

The Democrat Running for Paul Ryan’s Seat

Randy Bryce, a Democrat running for Paul Ryan’s seat in Wisconsin says Ryan’s agenda has always been to give “tax breaks to the wealthiest” Americans and that he’s been “complicit with allowing” Trump “to do whatever” Trump decides he wants to do.