Bookworm Room

I’ve never understood hunger strikes.  That is, I’ve never found them a compelling means of moral persuasion.  To me, they’re a form of emotional blackmail in lieu of reasoned argument.  Still, that doesn’t stop their popularity, and some Berkeley students are now abstaining from food to protest an Arizona law that gives Arizona law enforcement [...]

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In 1931, Nancy Langhorne Astor’s son Robert Gould Shaw III was arrested for committing a homosexual act (in a park, I believe).  This was a continuation of a long-standing British public policy of prosecuting “sodomists.”  Arguably the most famous prosecution was that against Oscar Wilde, for public indecency.  The trial, scandal and imprisonment destroyed the [...]

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In the early television era, one of the most innovative and imaginative shows around was Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone.  Certain episodes were so compelling that they entered the popular imagination, and are familiar to anyone over 30.  One of the most brilliant episodes, shown in 1961, was It’s a Good Life, based upon a [...]

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Am I suffering from historical amnesia, or is this the first time in American history that an administration has made a coup attempt against an ally? The administration of President Barack Obama has launched what officials termed a psychological warfare campaign meant to topple Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. Sources in the Obama Administration and [...]

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I have been working in the service of others since 6 a.m., and that will continue until at least 3:30 p.m.  Then, a few minutes to myself, and I’m sure a pent-up weekend of blogging will overflow.  Until then, here’s an open thread.  Not that you ever need suggested topics, but here are some anyway:  [...]

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The things we do for our kids. I was out of town yesterday and put in a two and a half hour drive around midnight last night to get my daughter to her sports event today. I’m tired, but I did the right thing. My daughter — appropriately — feels anstrong commitment to her team, [...]

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