I’m not sure whether this New Yorker piece about Paul Krugman is meant to be admiring or denigrating. But I would sum its message up as follows: Krugman used to be an insufferable intellectually arrogant and politically clueless person gifted … Continue reading →
Last night I watched “Blind Spot,” a filmed interview with Traudl Junge, who was Hitler’s secretary during his last year and final days. It’s a remarkable document, although a very simple one: Ms. Junge, aged eighty or so at the … Continue reading →
I’d like to start a movement: Judd Gregg for President in 2012. Seriously. The only problem is, I’m not at all sure Gregg wants the honor. He’s on record as intending to retire from the Senate in 2010, and hasn’t … Continue reading →
Pound for pound, Joe Rollino was one of the strongest men who ever lived. Five-foot five inches tall, weighing between 125 and 150 for most of his life, he set records for all sorts of muscular feats: lifted 475 pounds … Continue reading →
Check this out, from tonight’s debate in the Massachusetts Senatorial race: In case you missed the money quote, Scott Brown said: With all due respect, it’s not the Kennedy seat and it’s not the Democrats’ seat, it’s the people’s seat. … Continue reading →
[NOTE: Today, when framing a comment, I came across this previous post of mine. I think it’s so important—and so relevant to another heated discussion we had recently on this blog, that I decided to repost it.] I first read … Continue reading →
I may have a different perspective on Ted Kennedy than many of my readers. After all, I remember him as a slim young thing (both him and me), the most junior of the charismatic band of brothers Kennedy, they of … Continue reading →
Walter Cronkite, the anchorman for whom the word “avuncular” seemed to have been invented, has died at the age of ninety-two. The tributes will pour in. He was a giant of a newscaster in a way that no one can … Continue reading →
Yesterday’s post about compelling life stories brought to mind the great runner of my youth, Wilma Rudolph. Slender yet strong, with a fluid grace; exhibiting dignity without haughtiness, and self-possession to spare; she deserves at the very least a post … Continue reading →
I received the following lovely note from FredHjr’s wife, who wanted me to post it on my blog. Feel free to comment with messages to her and to the family. To all of FredHJr’s blogger buddies: I am Fred’s wife … Continue reading →
The news comes today that Robert McNamara, famous as Kennedy and then Johnson’s Secretary of Defense during the Vietnam War, has died at the age of 93. Those of us who are of a certain age remember him well, as … Continue reading →
[NOTE: For those who may have missed my original tribute to Fred, please see this.] Here’s the link to Fred’s obituary, with links to other related pages. And here’s the text and a photo. Rest in peace, Fred: ROCHESTER – … Continue reading →