Author's archive
Accentuate the Negative, Eliminate the Positive 0
Eva Ritvo explores why persons are so susceptible to–even fascinated by–negative news and news-like stories.
“God as a License To Discriminate” 0
David and his guest discuss the history and meaning of “freedom of religion” in the context of U. S. history.
Beetle 0
This was struggling to get off its back and on its feet on the deck yesterday. I think it’s either a long-horn beetle (that’s lost one of its horns) or a red oak borer.
Shoot the Messenger 0
Professors Jennifer E. Moore and Michael J. Socolow look at the recent physical attacks on reporters and their places of work and remind us that Americans have a long history of shooting the messenger when they don’t like the message. A snippet:
From our vantage point as historians in 2018, we can now see this era of objectivity lasted from about 1930 to 2000, beginning with the introduction of broadcast journalism via radio to the emergence of the multichannel cable television universe and the web’s development.
Russian Impulses 0
Shaun Mullen catches us up on this week in the collusion.
Mythology 0
One more time, when you hear persons lament The Lost Cause, ask them what specifically was the cause that was lost.
Suffer the Children 0
One more time: It’s not scripture. It’s Republican policy. For example:
“I am your mommy, papi,” she says in Spanish.
He squirms to get away.
“What is wrong with my son?” she sobs in a heartbreaking video shared by the American Civil Liberties Union.
He doesn’t recognize her. They’ve been separated for more than three months. That’s a lifetime at 3.
Follow the link for more.
Stray Thought 0
Some suggested alternative names for “Grey’s Anatomy.”
- The Bold and the
SuturedBootied. - The Young and the Residents.
- The Edge of Knife.
- As the World Sedates.
- All My Interns.
- Search for Tracheotomy.
- One Life to Give.
Aside:
Someone in this household has become addicted to that show. I concede that it is quite well-written, but, honest to Pete and Betsy both, I’ve worked in some dysfunctional workplaces, but this one tops them all real or imagined.
And it’s survived for 16 seasons.
Furrfu.
Both Sides Not 0
Leonard Pitts, Jr., is cautiously hopeful that “both sides do it” might falling out of favor. Here’s a snippet:
. . . neither fairness nor balance requires us to report discredited and disreputable information.
Follow the link for context.
Not Neutrality and the Golden Rule 0
Excerpt:
The people who have the gold make the rules.
