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This salon was recorded on Sunday, September 14, 2008 at the Buli Cafe on the Cedar Springs Strip in Dallas. We continue our discussion on the 2008 Presidential campaign with an important question for all critically thinking voters: Can Object Reality Be Found In American Politics? How can voters find object facts to better inform their voting? Are there sources available to find objective information on the candidates and the issues? Do facts always matter in American political campaigns? Joining salon host RICK VANDERSLICE at the square table in the cafes’ Library Nook are three talented and engaging thinkers: writer/blogger/poet RJ JACKSON; social/political observer ROY CALHOUN; writer/podcaster JOHN SELIG

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This salon was recorded on Sunday, September 14, 2008, at Dallas’ Buli Cafe on the Cedar Springs Strip. Our issue is the Gov. of Alaska, and vice presidential running mate to John McCain, Sarah Palin. Two weeks ago she was unknown to the vast majority of Americans. Today, she is one heartbeat away from the possible President of the United States. Everyone is engaged in a crash course on this self described “maverick”; “soccer mom”; “religious conservative.” What is her political, social, and religious philosophy? Is she qualified to be on the world political stage? What are her views on Separation of Church and State? Gay Rights? Choice? Morality? Joining salon host RICK VANDERSLICE around the square table in the cafes’ Library Nook are: writer/blogger/poet RJ JACKSON; social/political observer ROY CALHOUN; writer/podcaster JOHN SELIG.

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Recorded Sunday, September 7, 2008 at the Buli Cafe on the Cedar Springs Strip in Dallas. Today, The Buli Salon will wrestle with the question: When Is Life Not Worth Living? Is an exact answer possible? Can there be anything like a public consensus? Does it depend on the quality of Life? Who should make that decision? Should an individual own their own death? Should the state be involved? Joining host RICK VANDERSLICE, in the Library Nook, to consider these matters are: writer/blogger/poet RJ JACKSON and social/political observer ROY CALHOUN.

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This salon was recorded Sunday, August 31, 2008, in the Library Nook at Dallas’ Buli Cafe on the Cedar Springs Strip. Today we consider stereotypes, and stereotyping. My dictionary defines stereotype as a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing. Gays are flamboyant. Liberals are naive. Blonds are dumb. Bisexuals just can’t make up their minds. This is the age of shorthand language, bumper sticker philosophy, and texting communication over cell phones. With an ever growing torrent of information available to anyone, anytime, anyplace, can we deal with it all? If not, can we organize enough of it to make some sense of our lives and civilization? Are brands and stereotypes devices we use to help us organize and make some sense of the vastness and diversity of civilization today? What are the dangers in oversimplification, in not having correct or enough information? How is our politics defined by the use of stereotypes? To consider what purpose stereotypes serve and what effects they have on society are salon host RICK VANDERSLICE; writer/blogger/poet RJ JACKSON; social/political observer ROY CALHOUN; writer/podcaster JOHN SELIG.

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This salon was recorded Sunday, August 24, 2008 at the famous Buli Cafe on the Cedar Springs Strip in Dallas. After you listen to our conversation today, chances are good, you won’t be satisfied with where we had to leave things, due to time limitations. There just aren’t simple and easy answers or solutions to the question: How Should America Deal With Immigration? The government admits they don’t really know how many illegal immigrants are here. The estimates range from 12 to 20 million people, now, in our country. Most experts agree that there are far more illegal immigrants, in whatever the true total numbers may be, than legal immigrants. Are they taking jobs that Americans will not do? Is this wave different from the other immigration waves in the past? The Irish. The Italians, The Jews, The Chinese. Do we still believe in that grand offer of welcome to the peoples of the world represented by the Statue of Liberty? Are things different today? Who are the winners and who are the losers? Joining host RICK VANDERSLICE around the square table in the cafes Library Nook to make an honest attempt to better see and understand the many dimensions to this issue are 3 very considerate people: writer/blogger/poet RJ JACKSON: social/political observer ROY CALHOUN; and writer/political activist/podcaster JOHN SELIG

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This salon was recorded Sunday August 17, 2008 at the Buli Cafe on the Cedar Springs Strip in Dallas. Our question for discussion today concerns the plight of the American artist. Not those few successful and famous artists who fetch great sums for their creative output, but the young painters, writers, sculptors, playwrights, and filmmakers just beginning their careers. Does America owe them a helping hand. through our tax dollars, to nurture their creative endeavors? Just what are the benefits to our society and our culture for such investments? Why are we more willing to invest more in young athletes than artists? Joining RICK VANDERSLICE around the square table in the Library Nook are 3 very creative, artistic individuals: writer/blogger/poet RJ JACKSON; social/political observer ROY CALHOUN; and artist AARON RATHBUN

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This salon was recorded Sunday August 3, 2008 at the Buli Cafe on the Cedar Springs Strip in Dallas. Host RICK VANDERSLICE brings a provocative question to The Buli Salon today: Why Do We Love Beautiful People More? You might disagree with exact definitions of what makes a person beautiful, but that definition wouldn’t be that far off from most others. And, if we’re honest, we have to confess that beautiful people do cast spells on us. Why is that so? Is it a good or necessary thing? Should we broaden the definition to include more? If beauty is only skin deep, is that enough? Joining Rick at the square table in the Library Nook are two salon favorites. Writer/blogger/poet RJ JACKSON and social/political observer ROY CALHOUN. Since this is an audio forum, we should assert that both RJ and ROY are exceptionally attractive people. Your host, on the other hand, will continue to dwell, safely, in the audio realm.

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Books and websites mentioned in this episode:

www.shopcedarsprings.com
www.bulicafe.com

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This salon was recorded on Sunday, July 27, 2008 at the Buli Cafe on the Cedar Springs Strip in Dallas. The question today on The Buli Salon is a slippery one: Is Greed Good? This question was inspired by our last salon on the middle class. The entire economic engine of American capitalism requires the fuel of ever increasing consumption from its citizens. Increasing wealth by consuming and acquiring more and more things is powered by, yes, greed. Are the results of this greed imperiling our survival and happiness on Planet Earth? Is there a better ethic and organizing principal for sustainable human civilization? Joining RICK VANDERSLICE at the square table in the Library Nook are regular salon members: writer/blogger/poet RJ JACKSON; social/political observer ROY CALHOUN; activist/writer/podcaster JOHN SELIG.

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This salon was recorded on Sunday, July 20, 2008, in Dallas, around the square table in the Buli Cafe’s Library Nook. This is the age of increasing globalization. expanding world markets and big changes in the American middle class. Is our middle class shrinking? Most everyone sees and feels these changes, even economists, though they do differ on what direction the exit from this class most are taking, up or down. If our country was built on the idea or a strong middle class, believing it to be essential to maintaining democracy, what should we make of these changes? Isn’t America the richest, most successful society on the planet? If not, when did that change? Why has it changed? Joining RICK VANDERSLICE to consider these issues are 3 favorite, middle class, salon members: Writer/blogger/poet RJ JACKSON; social/political observer ROY CALHOUN; activist/writer/podcaster JOHN SELIG.

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