On Letters to Congress

Wednesday night, like millions of Americans, I watched President Obama’s speech to a joint session of Congress on the need for health reform. And, like millions of Americans, I heard a Congressman shout out from the floor “You lie!” when the President insisted that his plan did not cover illegal aliens. It turned out, theContinue reading “On Letters to Congress”

On Ranking the Star Trek Directors

Science-fiction author John Scalzi ranks the Star Trek film directors for American Movie Classics’ website. Who’s best, who’s worst? Here’s Scalzi’s list (though without his commentary): Nick Meyer Leonard Nimoy Jonathan Frakes J.J. Abrams Robert Wise David Carson William Shatner Stuart Baird The problem I have with Scalzi’s list is that he’s confusing whether orContinue reading “On Ranking the Star Trek Directors”

On Obama’s Address to School Students

The text of President Obama’s speech to schoolchildren tomorrow. It’s a little long. Otherwise, it’s not objectionable. Except, maybe, for the “God bless America” closing, and this atheist is willing to give Obama a pass on that. It’s not objectionable. At all. I don’t see a reason for people to get worked up about it.Continue reading “On Obama’s Address to School Students”

On Fixing Baseball

Dear Bud Selig, Today, or possibly tomorrow, but certainly by Wednesday, the Pittsburgh Pirates will set a record for baseball — and a record for the four major sports in North America. Pittsburgh will have its seventeenth consecutive losing season. Seventeen years. Their last winning season was in 1992. There are probably people reading thisContinue reading “On Fixing Baseball”

On Things I’ve Been Reading

Archie #600 Archie Comics Written by Michael Uslan Art by Stan Goldberg & Bob Smith Archie’s Double Digest #200 Archie Comics Written by Melanie Morgan Art by Norm Breyfogle In the last week I’ve done something that I’m not sure I’ve ever done in my life — I’ve bought Archie Comics. Oh, I’ve bought comicsContinue reading “On Things I’ve Been Reading”

On the Oasis Break-Up

It’s been a week since Noel Gallagher announced he was leaving Oasis. A week. And I’m not just depressed about it. I’m downright gutted. Oasis has personal meaning for me. They did. “Don’t Look Back in Anger” was part of a time and a place. “D’You Know What I Mean?” was part of a timeContinue reading “On the Oasis Break-Up”