Anthony L. Hall takes aim at the global events of 2015 with a unique and refreshing perspective. Here are some topics in this eleventh volume of his writings:

Migrants dying in Mediterranean Sea

“Admonishing migrants not to flee conditions so dire is like telling occupants not to flee a house on fire.”

Narcissism of tweeting condolences

“The expression of such sentiments these days is intended more to draw attention to the person tweeting them than to comfort the person (who should be) receiving them.”

Only authoritarian regimes can govern Arab countries

“Show me an Arab country governed by a democratically elected government and I’ll show you one that is an ungovernable mess.”

Putin as world’s most powerful leader

“Hailing a despot like Vladimir Putin as the most powerful politician in the world makes about as much sense as hailing a drug lord like Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán as the most powerful businessman.”

The mess in the Middle East

“It’s complicated; which explains why cocksure, warmongering neo-cons—who goaded Bush into invading Iraq—are the only ones criticizing Obama for not having simple military strategy for dealing with the mess in the Middle East. You’d never know that these are the same folks who stirred up the hornet’s nest of sectarian violence the world has been trying in vain to contain ever since.”

Black women dominating swimming championships

“Black women can’t swim? They used to say white men can’t jump. Ha!”