Back in the early years of the 20th century, as cities were starting to get electrical power, that was the problem: only cities were getting electrical power.
Government
Visiting the White House
I mentioned in my post last week that being in Washington D.C. was “more surreal than usual” because it was election time. Well, imagine being inside the White House just two days before the election! Because indeed, that’s where I was.
Library of Congress
I had a pretty full weekend — I’m writing this while sitting in the airport, waiting for my plane to get me the rest of the way home. I had a very interesting trip to Washington D.C.; election time makes the town even more surreal than usual. My report next week will get into that a little bit more.
Weird News Video #19 — Tomb of Stifled Patriotism
Episode #19: “The Tomb of Stifled Patriotism”, from True’s 12 October 2008 issue.
Weird News Video #17 — Politically Incorrect
Episode #17: “Politically Incorrect”, from True’s 28 September 2008 issue.
Hook a Man Up!
I was a bit taken aback by a letter I got this week. The subject line was “Can I be a charity case?” and it was from Bill in Pennsylvania. He wrote:
Two Case Studies in American Freedom
The 24 September 2006 issue had a couple of stories which proved to be a bit controversial, so I did a bit more research on them.
First, the stories:
Kyra Phillips’ Restroom Break — Live!
CNN host Kyra Phillips — took a bathroom break while President Bush was speaking from the site of Hurricane Katrina’s one-year anniversary remembrance. The story, from True‘s 10 September 2006 issue:
Our Kind of Hostage Problem
Sometimes a photo is just the thing to finish off a good story. From True’s 27 February 2005 issue:
Who “Deserves” Freedom?
We’re often told not to discuss politics or religion in polite company. But sometimes your hand is forced. It all started with two stories that appeared in subsequent weeks — in the 9 May and 16 May 2004 issues:
The Cradle of Common Law
In the 28 March edition I ran a story about Britain’s Home Secretary, who has started billing released prisoners for their room and board when they have been found innocent after spending years in prison.
Boulder Economics Institute
I gave a talk this week at the Economics Institute here in Boulder, which is attached to the University of Colorado.
The institute “prepares” economics and business students from abroad for graduate studies here with crash courses in American culture. It was very interesting to speak to them about American media in the age of the Internet, and the changes that the Net is bringing about.
Special Fornigate Edition
The Monica Lewinski scandal didn’t really break (or “Go Viral” as we say today) until President Bill Clinton’s famous angry denial, “I did not have sexual relations with that woman …Miss Lewinsky.”