Yesterday was the 323rd anniversary of “The Boston Massacre.” And here it is, presented by Walter Cronkite. And since I just read a biography of Sam Adams, this is pretty accurate — except that I didn’t know CBS was there…. Read More ›
#American-history
PROVOCATIVE THOUGHTS
Fandango’s Provocative Question #15 Redux The question of the day is: “The fundamental cause of the trouble is that, in the modern world, the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubts.” – Bertrand Russell Is this really a… Read More ›
HOW OLD ARE WE?
There was recently an article in “National Geographic” about how most “advanced” societies are aging. This is true especially in Japan, the “oldest” society, but it’s true throughout much of Europe and definitely in these United States. It was inevitable…. Read More ›
THE REAL BEGINNING
As much as I hate telephones, I loathed pagers. I was, admittedly, spoiled by years of minimal interference in the field. We did the usual schtick on the 2-way. Hand over mouth responding, “We can’t hear you. You’re breaking up…. Read More ›
“THAT’S NOT WHO WE ARE”
Lest we forget, this is a flashback to January 20, 2021. Every person who gets interviewed on television says the same thing. It’s the current mantra about “the U.S.A.” The hooligans who rioted in our Capitol are not really who… Read More ›
1969
I’ve had a few really great years — and few really awful ones — but 1969 stands out as my favorite. The world seemed to spin faster and everything was changing. We had amazing music and the most fun we’d… Read More ›
TERRORISTS IN RED WHITE & BLUE
I figured it out. It took me all this time to see what has been right in front of me. Those far right-wing Republicans are not conservatives. They are not even Republicans. They are terrorists wrapped in red, white and… Read More ›
WHEN WHEN WE HAD INDUSTRY
Living as we do in the valley where America birthed its own (100 years after they had done it all over Europe and England) industry, we can see what remains of the mills and factories that were formerly here. The… Read More ›
THE FUTURE WENT ON TRIAL AND LOST
“INHERIT THE WIND” AND THE SCOPES TRIAL The Scopes Trial was officially The State of Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes. The trial is usually referred to as the Scopes Monkey Trial. It was held in Tennessee in 1925. In it, John Scopes… Read More ›
HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT – NON-WHITE AMERICA IN NORMAN ROCKWELL’S PAINTINGS
HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT: THE OTHER PEOPLE IN NORMAN ROCKWELL’S PAINTINGS By Jane Allen Petrick Jane Allen Petrick has written a wonderful book about Norman Rockwell, the artist, and his work. It focuses on the “invisible people” in his painting, the non-white… Read More ›
THE JONESTOWN MASSACRE’S 44th ANNIVERSARY
Today is the 44th anniversary of this horrible event. It appears we have not learned anything in the subsequent years. We don’t seem able to “get” that slavish following of lying leaders can be lethal. That’s what these people did… Read More ›
HONORING WAR HEROES MAY BE IMMORAL – ON PRINCIPLE
Fandango’s Provocative Question #182 We spend a lot of time “honoring” war heroes. We spend zero time honoring victims of war, especially the millions of dead non-combatants whose only fault lay in “being there” when war occurred. I’m deeply weary of… Read More ›
WHO ARE WE ANYWAY?
Forever the wealthy try to push the poor into being even poorer. I used to ask why but I think I know why. They do it because they can. Because they discovered we can’t stop them. They wouldn’t try this… Read More ›
TRUTH & MYTH: EARP, HOLLIDAY & BAT
Everyone knows the story of Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and the OK Corral. It’s possibly the most iconic story out of the “wild west.” But there are many more stories yet untold. I’ve been following the trail of this one for a… Read More ›
WE ABOLISHED BOOZE IN 1919 & NO ONE’S HAD A DRINK SINCE
Once upon a time so many years ago, Americans had national fit of self-righteousness. We decided alcohol was the root of all evil. To rectify the perceived problem, the nation rose up on its collective hind legs and passed the… Read More ›
SLAVERY TO INDUSTRY: BORN ON THE BLACKSTONE
A Flashback Friday Post from July 29, 2020 You could say the Blackstone Valley was Alexander Hamilton’s dream come true. He wanted the U.S. to grow into an industrial and international powerhouse. This was the subject on which he and… Read More ›
SERENDIPITY: SEEKING INTELLIGENT LIFE ON EARTH 