Via Matt Yglesias I learn that the complete archives of Vogue magazine are now online. Those who can afford it — the subscription apparently costs $1,575 a year — can access “every single page from every issue dating back to the magazine’s American debut in 1892.” I mention this in the hopes that TV writers will pay attention and note that this makes Vogue astonishingly exceptional. The complete archives of most publications dating back to 1892 are not archived online.... Read more
Let’s say we arrange a private student loan, you and I. I agree to lend you $10,000 at 8 percent interest. After you graduate and get a job (for the purposes of this hypothetical, we’ll pretend that’s easy, or at least possible) you begin making payments. This works out nicely for both of us. Your tuition got paid, and now I’m reaping a neat little 8-percent return on my investment. But you know what’s even nicer than an 8-percent return?... Read more
Tribulation Force, pp. 443-445 After crushing insurrectionists in several locations with deadly force, the “potentate” of the one-world government addresses the world via radio: “Loyal citizens of the Global Community,” came the voice of Carpathia, “I come to you today with a broken heart, unable to tell you even from where I speak. For more than a year we have worked to draw this Global Community together under a banner of peace and harmony. Today, unfortunately, we have been reminded... Read more
It’s kind of a hectic Tuesday, with some holiday errands further delaying an already late Tribulation Force post (it’s coming). But here’s a few brief items in the meantime … Rick Perry’s ad rated “False” by PolitiFact So, can kids pray and openly celebrate Christmas in school? Absolutely, we conclude, though public school officials are barred from advancing a religion or making children pray or celebrate solely the Christian aspects of Christmas. The Supreme Court has not held that students... Read more
Luke 14:15-24 Someone gave a great dinner and invited many. At the time for the dinner he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, “Come; for everything is ready now.” But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, “I have bought a piece of land, and I must go out and see it; please accept my apologies.” Another said, “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to... Read more
Jim Burroway of Box Turtle Bulletin shares a story about the late CBS newsman Walter Cronkite. I’d never heard this story before, yet it’s familiar to me and, I suspect, familiar too to many others like me. On Dec. 11, 1973: Mark Segal of the Philadelphia-based Gay Raiders posed as a reporter for the Camden State Community College newspaper and called CBS asking permission to watch the broadcast of the CBC Evening News with the legendary Walter Cronkite from inside... Read more
Just as the grocery store periodically puts the browner bananas on sale, I try to clear out my bookmarks every little bit to make room for the fresher inventory. I bookmarked most of these fully intending to return to them someday, eventually, later to write something thoughtful or reflective about them. But since that’s apparently not going to happen, I’ll just randomly toss them out here for your enjoyment, amusement, entertainment or confusion. The image to the right is from... Read more
“Perry Ad Attacks Gay Rights in Appeal to Iowa’s Evangelicals” says the headline from The Wall Street Journal’s Washington Wire site. It’s a reference to Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s latest campaign ad, in which he not only “attacks gay rights,” but also attacks the separation of church and state and the religious freedom of any American who isn’t an evangelical Christian. Here’s a link to the video. And here’s the text of the ad: I’m not ashamed to admit that... Read more
Isaiah 61:1-4 The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to provide for those who mourn in Zion— to give them a garland instead of... Read more
They’re everywhere. I should probably warn you that the article linked to and quoted below includes nearly every horrifying trigger that one might imagine. Will Storr recounts “The mystery of Carole Myers“: When she was found dead at 41, Carole Myers left a statement saying she had suffered Satantic child abuse at the hands of her parents. But did she? No. No she did not. But she did suffer horrific abuse at the hands of credulous manipulators who posed as... Read more
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