Some news of the weird for the previous week. To commemorate the 40th-anniversary of Apollo 11’s landing on the moon, a group of cheesemakers in Somerset, England, decided to send a piece of cheddar into space on a high-altitude weather balloon. The logic of this, so it seems to me, is that some thought inContinue reading “On the Flight of the Cheese Wedge”
Category Archives: News
On Liberty University’s Short-Sightedness
Liberty University, founded by the late Jerry Falwell, has banned its College Democrats Club, because “the Democratic party violates the school’s principles by supporting abortion, socialism and the agenda of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people.” My instant reaction? Liberty University had enough Democrats for a College Democrats Club? I used to live in Lynchburg.Continue reading “On Liberty University’s Short-Sightedness”
On the Reach of International Law
If President Obama’s administration is unwilling to commission a Truth Commission to investigate the crimes and moral failures of the Bush administration and bring the actors who authorized torture to justice, that’s okay. The Spanish are more than willing to make up for our lapse. And the Brits, too. Spains national newspapers, El País andContinue reading “On the Reach of International Law”
On Paul Harvey
My junior and senior years in high school, I was Philip Barbour’s computer lab manager during the lunch period. (Well, that’s what my class period overlapped with.) The computer lab consisted of about fifteen TRS-80 Model IIIs or Model IVs, some Epson PC-XT compatible computers with monochrome monitors, a couple of flywheel printers, and twoContinue reading “On Paul Harvey”
On Alberto Gonzales’ Next Job
Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has a problem — he can’t find a job. He blames a “tough economy.” If law firms aren’t hiring, maybe Gonzales should look to other venues and employment opportunities. Maybe he should think about a career change. What about Professional Hellboy Impersonator? He could get done up in red greaseContinue reading “On Alberto Gonzales’ Next Job”
On the Gaza Crisis
Last week, Israel launched massive air strikes on the Gaza strip, killing nearly 300 Palestinians. The Israelis called up 6,500 reservists, and have now launched a ground campaign into the Strip. A crisis has been brewing in the Gaza strip for a while. This occupied territory has been treated by Israel as a virtual prisonContinue reading “On the Gaza Crisis”
On Bernie Mac
Actor Bernie Mac passed away earlier today, apparently of pneumonia. He was fifty years old. To be honest, I wasn’t that familiar with Mac’s work. I loved his performance in Bad Santa as the head of security for a Phoenix department store. If I caught a bit of The Bernie Mac Show, the sitcom heContinue reading “On Bernie Mac”
On George Carlin
Somewhere, Thomas the Tank Engine bows his head. Mr. Conductor has left the station one last time.
On Scott Simon and the Boy Scouts
I like to listen to Weekend Edition Saturday. It’s Scott Simon. I love his voice. It’s deep. Sometimes it’s dramatic. Sometimes it’s excitable. Sometimes it’s mirthful. He uses his voice the way a violinist plays his instrument. He gets exactly the right pitch and timbre for the story he’s telling, the news he’s relating. He’sContinue reading “On Scott Simon and the Boy Scouts”
On Arthur C. Clarke and Anthony Minghella
Two deaths in the past twenty-four hours to report. Arthur C. Clarke, author of 2001, Rendezvous With Rama, and a wealth of other science fiction, has died at his home in Sri Lanka. He was 90. I read a great deal of Clarke’s science fiction when I was younger. 2010 was amazing. I liked ImperialContinue reading “On Arthur C. Clarke and Anthony Minghella”