2021 archive
Regulating the Marketplace of Ideas 0
A retired English teacher has a suggestion for parents who fear that their children might learn something of which said parents disapprove (like, for example, American history or human diversity).
Follow the link for his rationale.
History Hysteria 0
Farron comments on Ron DeSantis’s attempt to make history go away.
This is little more than the Lost Cause redux.
America’s racists hate history, because history reveals that they are what they are.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Children should play politely.
Facebook Frolics 0
Snopes offers some hints for spotting Facebook phonies. Here’s one:
Follow the link for more and remember, “social” media isn’t.
Confronting the Claptrap 0
The writer of a letter to the editor of my local rag, responding to an earlier letter (linked at the link), cuts through the conservative claptrap in masterful fashion. A snippet; follow the link for the rest.
It’s the piece entitled “Long Journey,” the last letter on the page at the link.
Aside:
Normally, I would not offer such a cumbersome link, but the writer skewers sophistry so skillfully I must commend his work to your attention.
The Disinformation Superhighway 0
The Roanoke Times carries a story about how anti-vaxxers propagate propaganda manufactured out the whole cloth via the internet and “social” media.
Trying to excerpt or summarize it will not do it justice. Just follow the link.
Recommended Listening 0
The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, by Howard Pyle.
I had a print copy of this book when I was a young ‘un, and it was one of my favorites. I must have read it four or five times.
Full disclosure: Howard Pyle was a Victorian author and illustrator who wrote this for younger readers, so Maid Mariam does not appear in this version of the Robin Hood tales, but it’s still a fun listen for younger readers of all ages.
A Taxonomy 0
Driftglass points out that one thing is not like the other thing.
