iPinions Journal

The iPINIONS Journal Commentaries Vol. II In this volume of political and social commentaries, Anthony Livingston Hall synthesizes the most critical developments of 2006 with remarkable clarity and inimitable wit. But, unlike more celebrated columnists who trade in partisan political talking points, Hall seems beholden to no ideology and is definitely an equal-opportunity critic. Moreover, you would be hard-pressed to find another columnist anywhere who writes as persuasively about the international menace of Iran's nuclear program as he does about the interpersonal dynamics of an NBA Championship series or what the latest ooops from Britney Spears portends for western civilization. Hall's refreshing worldview may stem from the unique fusion of his Caribbean heritage and American education. But it is clearly the informed passion that permeates all of his commentaries that makes this book so riveting!

In the sixth volume of The iPINIONS Journal, political commentator Anthony Livingston Hall shares an intelligent, humorous, and sometimes moving collection of essays that provide an entertaining and thought-provoking recap of 2010s major events. With a unique perspective, Hall provides commentary on the passage of the healthcare reform, the BP oil spill, and whether Michael Jackson is the biological father of his children. As he offers his opinion on an eclectic mix of political, social, and cultural events that include the Tea Party craze, political upheaval in the Ukraine, the Jersey Shore phenomenon, the unity pact among the Chilean miners, the military quagmire in Afghanistan, and the rehabilitation of Michael Vick, Hall displays his worldview with a passion for international current events that is unsurpassed. Included are his post-mortem commentaries on famous people who made pioneering or extraordinary contributions to mankind such as: United States Senator Robert Byrd, New York Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner, and Tom Bosley of the television show Happy Days. This volume of commentaries is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to recall, assess, and engage in lively discussions about the major events of 2010.

Commentaries on the Global Events of Our Times Volume VII In the year 2011, the world witnessed many historical events. Whether these events were joyful, catastrophic, or simply annoying, seasoned political observer Anthony Hall once again shares insightful commentary designed to spark lively discussions and challenge personal opinions. In his seventh collection of thought-provoking essays, Hall shares an outsiders glimpse into global events from the sublime to the ridiculous that include the Obama presidency, the marriage and divorce of Kim Kardashian, the Arab Spring, the Penn State child-sex scandal, the royal wedding of William and Kate, and the killing of Osama bin Laden. From the historic earthquake and tsunami in Japan to the career implosion of Charlie Sheen, Hall encourages others to reinforce, refute, or reverse their thoughts as he provides fodder for enlightenment. Quotes from various sources including world leaders and international publications are intertwined with Halls entertaining opinions. The iPINIONS Journal offers an accessible resource for news junkies everywhere who are ready, willing, and able to open their minds to new perspectives about today’s world and our future.

From the spectacle that is the U. S. presidential election to the London Olympics to the Secret-Service sex scandal to rising tensions between China and Japan and to Superstorm Sandy, The iPINIONS Journal takes a look at it all. In this eighth volume of political commentaries, author Anthony Livingston Hall examines an eclectic mix of worldwide topics that became a part of 2012. Insightful and often humorous, Hall discusses the topics of the day, including the political mnage a trois involving the French president, his ex-wife, and current consort; the Miami Heats dream team come true; the fall from grace of CIA director General David Petraeus; the costly comeuppance of Lance Armstrong; the fiscal cliff; Twitter no better than Twinkies; deaths of famous people; the mysterious vigil for Venezuelan leader Hugo Chvez; and more. Through this collection of lively and thought-provoking commentaries, Hall, an unsparing, equal-opportunity critic, provides a refreshing worldview of the global events of 2012.

ANTHONY L. HALL takes aim at the global events of 2013 with a unique and refreshing perspective. Here are some of the topics he addresses:Public outrage over NSA spyingTheres no rationalizing their outrage over the NSA monitoring their promiscuous and indiscriminate footprints (online and via telephone). For, evidently, these nincompoops think its okay for Google, Amazon, Yahoo, Facebook, and others to spy on them to sell them stuff, but not okay for the NSA to do so to keep them safe.National praise NBA player Jason Collins got for coming outHis courageous stand is somewhat undermined by the fact that he waited to take it on his way out of the league. Women whod rather pose nude than be caught without makeup Who wouldve thought the liberation inherent in the sexual revolution and feminist movement would devolve into a self-abnegating farce where women themselves consider it a brave decision to go out in public without makeup? Mediterranean Sea becoming a graveyard for Africans migrants I just hope the damning irony is not lost on any proud African that, 50 years after decolonization, hundreds of Africans (men, women, and children) are risking their lives, practically every day, to subjugate themselves to the paternal mercies of their former colonial masters in Europe. Pope rebuking church for neglecting poor Nothing indicates how far mainstream Christians have backslidden quite like the popes good old-fashioned religion being hailed as revolutionary. World paying tribute to Nelson Mandela As you see the most powerful people in the world falling all over themselves to sing Mandelas praises in the coming days, bear in mind that the people Mandela himself loved and admired most (outside of family members) are old comradesmost of whom you will never see on TV or social media.

Anthony L. Hall takes aim at the global events of 2014 with a unique and refreshing perspective. For example, on: Media broadcasting terrorist propaganda as breaking news We live in a Twitter age of such promiscuous, indiscriminate and surreal media practices that it seems perfectly normal for our own media to be helping the enemy perpetrate psychological warfare against us. What else explains the media shielding us from the epithets of racists, but bombarding us with the taunts of terrorists? Snowboarder Shaun White failing to medal at Sochi Olympics Frankly, I think its fair to say that never before in Olympic history has an athlete so hyped to win gold failed to even win bronze. Only authoritarian regimes can govern Arab countries Show me an Arab country governed by a democratically elected government and Ill show you one that is an ungovernable mess. Feminist call for liberated women to ditch high heels Its a reflection of the addictive high women get on heels that, when theyre barefoot (or wearing tennis shoes), they invariably perch themselves on the balls of their feet to simulate those missing high heels. Have you noticed this? Putinization of Russia Putins propaganda has done such a terrific job of convincing Russians that Westerners are undermining their culture at home and threatening the safety of fellow Russians abroad, the credibility of his presidency now depends on backing up his neo-Stalinist words with avenging military action. Police in U.S. killing unarmed Black men If I hear another political or civic leader calling for a conversation on race, Im going to puke. Because nothing will do more to curb deadly encounters between the police and young Black men than requiring the former to attach cameras to their bulletproof vests and prevailing upon the latter to obey police orders.

ANTHONY L. HALL takes aim at the global events of 2016 with a unique and refreshing perspective. Here are some topics in this twelfth volume of his writings: Hillary Calling Half of Trumps Supporters a Basket of Deplorables Hillary was only half right But the most troubling thing is not how deplorable they are; it’s how willing they are to elect an even more deplorable man as president of the United Sates. The latter is what I find incomprehensible unforgivable. Brexit The irony seems lost on both sides in this Brexit debate that Britain poses a far greater threat to the EU if it remains. After all, Britain planted the seeds of disintegration years ago, when it began negotiating all kinds of opt-outs from EU legislation and treaties. Brazilians Protesting Cost of Rio Olympics Brazilians need only point to the poisoned chalice Athens 2004 turned out to be for the Greeks. After all, the debt hangover from those Games not only triggered the EU financial crisis of 2010, but austerity measures to service that debt have many once-proud, middle-class Greeks now living like favela-dwelling Brazilians. Report on College Coaches Raking in Millions These salaries only validate my longstanding contention that college coaches are using the free labor of student-athletes to live like plantation owners. The only precedent for this is the Founding Fathers, many of whom were in fact plantation owners, preaching about all men being created equal while owning slaves. VP-Elect Pence Hailing Trump for Accusing the FBI of Corruption Nothing could be more foreboding than the willingness of no less an establishmentarian than Pence sacrificing democratic institutions and political norms at the altar of Trumps ego, affecting that constipated countenance of sincerity as he does so. J.K. Rowling merchandising Harry Potter like Mickey Mouse I admired her because she helped millions of kids discover the love of reading. But my admiration waned when she started exploiting that love like a drug dealer exploiting a junkies addiction.

ANTHONY L. HALL takes aim at the global events of 2017 with a unique and refreshing perspective. Some of the topics in this volume include: President Trump telling pathological lies Hes continually challenging us to believe the lie we hear instead of the truth we see. Instagram mainstreaming strippergrams, Instagram has normalized twits sharing, for all the world to see, not just their family albums but intimate pictures that should be for a lovers eyes only. It is little more than a platform for hard-core narcissists and soft-porn exhibitionists to show off. President Putin waiting in vain for payoff from hacking US election. Americas ingenious system of checks and balances has so circumscribed Trumps Putinesque impulses that all Putin has to show for his hacking is Russia suffering even worse economic sanctions and irreparable reputational damage. White supremacists rampaging in Charlottesville over Confederate statue. I can think of 99 things that bother me about racism in America today, but a Confederate statue aint one. Justin Gatlin spoiling Usain Bolts swan song in 100m. The look of anguish on Bolts facewhen it struck him that he was going to loserivals that look in The Scream, Edvard Munchs most famous painting. #Priceless!

Hall takes aim at the global events of 2018 with a unique and refreshing perspective. Topics in this volume include the following: • President Trump displaying brazen hypocrisies-"Complaining about Trump's hypocrisy is like complaining about a prostitute's promiscuity." • The Catholic Church covering up sins of pedophile priests-"These putative men of God cannot believe God exists. They must reason that, if he did, he would have stopped priests from systematically abusing children long ago. After all, what God would allow a criminal sex cult to flourish as a holy church in his name?" • Tiger Woods failing to win another major-"Tiger is becoming to PGA players what Hugh Hefner became to LA players: the most popular guy in the game who everyone knows can't do it anymore." • Caribbean leaders condemning "shithole" Trump-"Haitian migrants pose a heavy, unsustainable burden for the relatively small and poor countries of the Caribbean. This explains why, even though none have called Haiti a shithole, some Caribbean leaders have treated Haitians like shit." • Meryl Streep hailing Harvey Weinstein as "God"-"That she said this is as much an indication of how far Weinstein has fallen from grace as it is an indictment of how much even Streep was beholding to his power and influence." • Europeans doing more than Africans to solve Africa's migrant crisis-"Only a symbiosis of European colonial guilt and African umbilical dependence explains why." • Research showing the health benefits of bread-"No less an authority than the Bible decreed that bread and water are the staff of life. Which is why I hereby curse Atkins and his spawn of ketogenic false prophets in the name of God." • Trump continuing bromance with Putin despite bipartisan criticism-"Trump is behaving like a teenage girl who was reprimanded by her parents for sneaking out for a booty call with a notorious bad boy. And she responds by sneaking that bad boy into her bedroom ... and ends up pregnant."

ANTHONY L. HALL takes aim at the global events of 2019 with a unique and refreshing perspective. Some of the topics in this volume include: Republicans and Democrats aping Sunnis and Shias "Even if Democrats impeach Trump in Congress or defeat him at the polls, his presidency has already sown seeds of division and dysfunction that could harvest political thorns for a thousand years." Social networks abolishing 'Likes' "They can't quit likes. Because networks are as hooked on the money likes generate as users are on the high they stimulate." Colin Kaepernick moving NFL tryout and making new demands "Kaepernick must think he's Trump and the NFL the Republican Party. Because only delusions of grandeur on that scale explains him thinking he can play the NFL like this." White evangelical Christians supporting Trump "The hypocrisy inherent in them showing abject loyalty to this two-legged golden calf is almost too contemptible for words. Suffice it to know that a skunk has more regard for a garden party than Trump has for a house of worship." Hong Kongers protesting Chinese rule "These protests amount to nothing more than a self-hating, Stockholm Syndrome-like preference for the British over the Chinese. Hong Kongers don't want democracy so much as a return to British colonial rule." MTV trying to whitewash Michael Jackson's name from VMAs "Frankly, his pedophile exploits were such that MTV paying any homage to him is tantamount to Jello paying homage to Bill Cosby." Rich parents offering bribes to get their kids into elite colleges "The real indictment is that, despite all the resources at their disposal, these parents raised such dumb, lazy, and untalented kids." Failure of latest US-North Korea nuclear summit "While Trump flew off to take a cold shower back in America, Kim was smoking a cigarette and planning sightseeing tours around Vietnam. So who do you think is zooming who in their "brokeback" bromance...?"

ANTHONY L. HALL takes aim at the global events of 2020 with a unique and refreshing perspective. Some of the topics in this volume include: Governments ordering lockdowns to combat Covid-19 "Telling people to lockdown to combat Covid makes about as much sense as it would've been to tell people to stop having sex to fight HIV...Mandating wearing masks, like wearing seatbelts (or promoting the use of masks, like the use of condoms), would have been a lot cheaper and more effective." Trump failing to defend America against Russian cyber attacks "America is now a certifiably dysfunctional, dystopian, and defenseless mess. Superpower? Hell, even the Roman Empire was never this, er, messed up before the fall. Evidently that 'shining city on a hill' was just the flickering embers of a supernova." Kim declaring nuclear deal with Trump a bust "Kim Jong-un is feeling like a woman scorned. Never mind that he behaved throughout his affair with Donald Trump like a shrew-too uptight to screw." Harry and Meghan announcing split from royal family "Most Britons will feel about Meghan breaking up the royals the way they felt about Yoko breaking up the Beatles." 'The Last Dance' revealing how Bulls paid Jordan like a king, Pippen like a pauper "Michael is clearly the NBA's GOAT. Unfortunately, Pippen is arguably its greatest goat of all time." Chinese leaders quarantining millions to contain Covid-19 "Practice from quarantining millions of Uyghur Muslims for years in religious-cleansing camps means that they are doing so in this case with Nazi-like efficiency." Democrats trying to impeach Trump "Even if lead House manager Rep. Adam Schiff were Christ incarnate, he would still be unable to break the cult-like loyalty Republicans show their two-legged golden calf." Republicans bending over to be cuckolded by Trump "The more he humiliates white Republican men the more they like him. Hell, some like Senator Ted Cruz of Texas even like him when he humiliates their wives, which puts a fetishistic twist on cuckoldry that is just too perverse for words." White cops patrolling Black communities "It's a curious thing that Black men seem so willing to cede that role (of protecting their own) to white men, who seem all too eager to patrol Black communities like invading soldiers." Mary Trump's tell-all selling like hotcakes "Given the egregious way Donald exaggerates his wealth, the irony cannot be lost on Mary that this book could make her the richest Trump of them all. It might not be revenge, but it would be sweet."