Yelling ‘fire’ in a crowded theater. It’s become a cliche for inciting panic–although, actually, it seems that the original phrase in the Oliver Wendell Holmes decision is “shouting” rather than “yelling.” It is forbidden to do so because of the … Continue reading →
There are all types of bloggers. I’m a practitioner of the long essay form, for example. And Bill Whittle is a practitioner of the LONG esssay form. When you write LONG, as Bill does, you have to be very very … Continue reading →
Next weekend is the fourth anniversary of 9/11. No doubt many will commemorate that solemn day; whether in ceremonies, private meditation and thought, donations and other acts of remembrance, or by writing about it. But this past weekend was the … Continue reading →
Well, the prodigal has returned. It seems my blogroll is back, as though it had never left. I give up trying to figure out the ups and downs of this. I’m just glad to see it again. All is forgiven.
Continue reading →The death of Chief Justice Rehnquist had just been announced on the TV in the den. I wasn’t watching it, though–just listening from the kitchen, where I was cleaning out the fridge. People who had known him were telling anecdotes … Continue reading →
This–surprised me, somehow. At least, some on the list did.
Continue reading →When you’ve got a blog, it does seem sometimes that you’ve put all your eggs in one basket. You feel uniquely vulnerable (at least I do) and dependent on the tender mercies of Blogger.com, for instance, not to screw your … Continue reading →
Whenever I begin to wonder whether it’s time to hang up my New Yorker subscription, they publish something that’s so good I realize we may just be wedded for life, like some squabbling couple who can’t live together but can’t … Continue reading →
This morning I watched some cable television coverage of the rescue efforts now finally underway in the Gulf. It’s a wonderful and long-awaited sight: the helicopters swooping down to fill up with people and carry them to relative safety, the … Continue reading →
The horrific situation in New Orleans has spawned the usual accusations: Bush’s fault, the city government is to blame, and what about the state–why didn’t it do more? In this case, I’m sure there’s plenty of blame to go around. … Continue reading →
As if the deaths from hurricane Katrina were not enough, yesterday brought the news that up to one thousand people, predominately women and children and the elderly, had died in a stampede while taking part in a Shi’ite religious pilgrimage … Continue reading →
I’ve not posted on the tragedy that is post-Katrina New Orleans because so many others are already doing the job so well. But I don’t want to ignore it, either. The grief and fear the city and its survivors–both rescued … Continue reading →