Sometimes I am so shocked and dismayed about a US Government policy that I feel I should write long essays chastising the President, Congress, the courts, or whoever formulated the policy. What usually happens is that I’m first made aware of the malfeasance at a blog like Charlie Pierce’s or maybe Digby’s. I then realize …
Disclaimer: I haven’t read any of the disclosed documents in detail. I have an opinion about the material I’ve seen excerpted, though: why is the world in an uproar about some of these thoughts? I mean, any casual observer could agree that Nikolas Sarkozy is a vainglorious guy, that Vladimir Putin is a bully of …
According to the local paper in Minneapolis-St. Paul, the feds had infiltrated peace groups to stage their raids. Aided by informants planted in protest groups, authorities raided at least six buildings across St. Paul and Minneapolis to stop an “anarchist” plan to disrupt this week’s Republican National Convention. From Friday night through Saturday afternoon, officers …
I finished The Great Influenza, and it’s a great read. It’s also terrifying and instructive. Some of us are outraged at the current media’s shortcomings in reporting the Administration’s failings and prevarications, but today’s omissions look mild compared to what happened in 1918. My opinion of Woodrow Wilson has changed drastically after reading this book. …
You’ve eaten your turkey; now have some irony for dessert. Science magazine published a story this week titled “SCHOLARLY PUBLISHING: NIH Flooded With Comments on Public Access Proposal.” If you click on the link in the headlines e-letter, you are taken to a page which reads: ” You do not have access to this item.”
To honor Veterans’ Day (and make a buck), ABC plans to show “Saving Private Ryan” this evening. Unfortunately, I won’t get to see it. Why? Well, my local station is afraid to televise it. It’s concerned about profanity in light of the new militancy shown by the FCC. And apparently there are some twenty other …
The battle against censorship and heavy-handed intrusion from Congress goes ever on. Professor Juan Cole is asking for action protesting aspects of a bill making its way through Congress. From a USA Today editorial: Michigan and dozens of other universities have expanded their Middle Eastern studies using a $90 million-a-year federal grant program designed to …
Censorship from the Treasury department? Anyone who publishes material from a country under a trade embargo is forbidden to reorder paragraphs or sentences, correct syntax or grammar, or replace “inappropriate words,” according to several advisory letters from the Treasury Department in recent months. What the hell? “Correct syntax or grammar?” Thought control is rapidly becoming …
The Baseball Hall of Fame has interjected itself into the political debate over war in Iraq. It had planned a celebration of the 15th anniversary of Bull Durham, one of the best baseball-themed movies of all time. The film starred Kevin Costner and Susan Sarandon. It has canceled the event, said Dale Petroskey, president of …
First Amendment to the United States Constitution: from the ALA and from the National Archives. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government …