"Special" Pages and Rants

Now and then, something gets under my collar and I go on a rant. The resulting posts tend to be pretty popular with readers.

Then there are “Special” pages, where I know readers will want to debate a story.

Of course, some posts are both. So here’s the list of both Rants and “Special” pages, in order (by date, oldest first):

Don’t Say I Didn’t Tell You So - About spam, I mean. I started warning about how bad it would be in 1996.
Special Fornigate Edition - After writing the week's stories, I wrote a second edition, ALL on the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal.
The ‘Fornigate’ Response - Anytime This is True runs stories with (shall we say) controversial subjects, it generates letters. But nothing brings more letters than the division between left- and right-wing politics!
Balance in the Media - A few readers absolutely freak out when I talk about guns (in the context of real news stories).
A Story Subject Responds - The editor of B.C. Catholic wrote me a note about the story. Here it is, unedited.
Losing my Tolerance for “Zero Tolerance” - As far as I can tell, Zero Tolerance has only negative effects.
Rants and Raves over “Austin Powers” - It's amazing to me how many people want to be offended.
Are You Sure? - If you found this page by yourself, consider that a point in your favor.
Why oh Why2K? - The Great Debate with readers: when does the millennium start? Are you sure?
Mike the Headless Chicken - Sure we've all heard of chickens running around after their heads are chopped off. But for over a YEAR?
They’re Trying to Make it Hot in Here - The introduction of the GOOHF card.
Unclear on the Concept - The HUGE difference between a flack and a public relations professional, explained.
Religious Freedom in the USA - Many "preach" freedom of religion — but only for themselves, and are OUTRAGED if others want it too.
Grasp Of The Obvious - First I'm 'anti-Christian', and now I'm pushing it on people? Nope.
The Big Easy: Do As We Say, Not As We Do! - "It would be irresponsible of us not to respond to it. After all, we are the police department."
Isn’t Life Already Short Enough? - Do we really need to rush prayers?
ZT Madness is Spreading! - What happens when kids indoctrinated in Zero Tolerance grow up.
Fundamentally Wrong - A news story made me angry enough to WANT to write after the 9/11 attacks.
Airline Insecurity — a Symptom of a Worse Disease - The idiocy of airline security continues.
ZT: Legislative Action - NO. Do not mailbomb schools over ZT!
Your TV Wants to Control You - What, you don't remember signing a contract that requires you to watch TV commercials?
Let’s Go to Pluto! - "Let's go!" turned into "We're on the way!"
The True Story of Leonard Carlo’s Bar - A reader didn't believe this story was true. Since it was reasonably nearby, I went there to prove it.
The Argument Every Man Has Been Looking For - If you don't like crude, you've been warned.
One Brave Girl - Who does a bully's victim go to for help when the bullies are school officials?
Guns: Smoke Gets In Your Eyes - It should be fairly obvious that I don't have the emotional response to the issue that many do.
The Missionary’s Position - The basis of the complaint, by a Baptist Youth Pastor, is so eye-rolling in its cluelessness, you’ll understand why some kids are so screwed up.
Hit Squad on Spammers? - And sure enough, the law was almost totally ineffective.
Home Schooling Looks Better Every Day - As you can clearly see, whining "Cheap shot!" isn't going to change anyone's mind.
When is Racism OK? - No, I don't "have to account for" the "opinions and feelings" of my entire reader base.
Who “Deserves” Freedom? - Readers debate freedom of speech.
Cops Confirm: He Was Nailed! - So if a white lady isn't the best spokesperson for the Mexican-American community, who would be?
Proof I’m a Stinking Liberal? - To think otherwise is — yep — just plain stupid.
“An Insult to Every Black Man in America” - If you're outraged by this story, good! You were meant to be.
Equal Time …to Invoke Indignant Anger - They SAY than an official invocation isn't religious. "Thou shalt not lie," right? Wrong.
Just in Time for Halloween Or…? - Don’t you worry a thing about your little girl: she’s covered too with a little Ho costume of her own.
Thanks to Zero Tolerance, You are Not Safe - I didn’t destroy TSA’s reputation: the screeners and their management did.
Binge Drinking in College: No, Not Funny - TRUE's stories are not always meant to be funny.
Dell Hell - The infamous story of my lemon of a Dell computer.
We Don’t Need No Education - I... I... OK, I admit it! I baited my readers!
These Photos are Not for Discriminating Consumers! - When is the discriminatory treatment of women not really discriminatory?
Skirmishes in the War on Drugs - Our "war" on drugs may have "caused more misery, suffering, and deaths than the drugs themselves ever have."
Saaya Irie Photos - "If I saw this in a movie I would think how totally unrealistic it is. And I'd be wrong."
Bats, Iron Bars, and Bricks - Only a couple of hundred people unsubscribed in protest, though.
The Truth about PETA - Does PETA protect and nurture the animals placed in its care? Find out — this story is from True’s 17 July 2005 issue. Letters and More Commentary have been added farther down the page (jump there) — and be sure to see the several Updates (jump there).
Canada: Outpruding the U.S. - Or maybe, just perhaps, someday, society could just grow the hell up.
Still Fundamentally Wrong - Robertson's stance is fundamentally wrong — then and now.
Higher Education - Arcadia University thought its new name was "rude proof."
Another Self-Proclaimed Religious Scholar - Confused reader cries, 'Surely God's going to punish you.'
Happy Politically Correct Holiday - The Point Zoomed Right Over His Head.
True: It’s Not for Everyone - Some people even whine when I say maybe they wouldn't like to upgrade. Really.
Story Subject Demands Deletion - For the first time in years, someone featured in a This is True story has complained about it.
Zero Tolerance — the Next Step - Who would judge whether an illness is "serious" enough to allow the excuse? No, not doctors!
Sadly, This Isn’t a Lawyer Joke - Wait until you hear what a lawyer thinks a 'hero' is.
Define “Political Correctness” - My proposed 'definition' of 'Political Correctness'.
The Power of Collective Outrage - He "searched" for the "real killers" on any golf course that would let him in. He never found anyone.
Peace Sign - Sure enough, "Johnnie in Alabama" offered no response.
War on Drugs - Here's how to win the War on Drugs....
Another Day, Another Cry-Baby - I can just see the tears streaming down his face as he typed.
Zero Tolerance: The Backlash Has Begun - School officials decide to violate state and federal law to commit zero tolerance.
Super Bowl vs. Churches — NFL Loses - One church (football) at war with another (religion).
The Public Be Damned - Protecting the 'human rights' of people who denied others their very existence.
Zero Tolerance: Fighting Fire With Fire - The kid didn't even do it ...and was STILL punished by ZT.
Pluto Planet Day - We're hugely ignorant of our surroundings even in our tiny corner of the galaxy.
True Milestone: Issue #666 Special - My thoughts on "666", why that's my PO Box number, and the Issue #666's stories.
Randy the Anti-Christ? - Here we go again. Sure gets old.
Public Humiliation vs. Real Punishment - Is public humiliation reason to not sentence a criminal to punishment?
99-Cent Divorce? - A story (or, rather, my tagline), led to an amazing letter from a priest.
Kumari Fulbright Mug Shot - When cheesecake goes bad, then works to get good again.
Men and Balloons - Yes 'Lawnchair Larry' is real, and he inspired more such stunts.
What Can I Do About ZT? - You need to stand up and be counted as someone who demands common sense.
ZT v. Savana Redding: a Court Decision - OnPointNews.com forced the school district to release the settlement agreement.
The Right to Be Offended - Bill also has a "right" to shove his head up his ass, as he ably demonstrates.
Visiting the White House - Getting a private tour of the White House was surreal because of WHEN we were there.
Zero Tolerance Trick, No Treat - If school officials refuse to practice better judgment, they need to be fired.
Guns in America: Why? - I'm going to take a stab at helping foreign readers understand it a bit better.
TANSTAAFL, Baby - Very often readers ask me for advice about starting an online business. In 1994, there wasn't anyone to ask. There is now.
The War on Kids - A lot of parents will be horrified at what they see.
Don’t Talk to the Cops - Don't talk to the cops about any significant crime ...ESPECIALLY if you're innocent. Here's why.
The Future of Newspapers - When I started True back in 1994, there weren’t too many people online — especially compared to now. Once I quit my Day Job to pursue online publishing full time, I was constantly looking for peers — people to talk with that would understand what it was I was doing.
Zero Tolerance and the 800-lb Gorilla - Well, it's a start: kindergartners and first-graders get the benefit of common sense; second-graders up don't.
Paul Clarke and British Zero Tolerance - Often when I include an article about “zero tolerance” in True, I hear from people outside the United States who claim some variation of “only in America!” Not so, of course. Some of the most outrageous examples happen in the British Commonwealth countries, including England. Such was the case this week (the 15 November 2009 ... Continue Reading
Ed Freeman and Political Manipulation - I generally don’t want suggestions for True’s Honorary Unsubscribe feature; my usual problem is having far too many possibilities for the one slot each week. In July 2009 a new trend started: people wanting me to do an Honorary Unsubscribe write-up for Ed Freeman, a brave Vietnam War helicopter pilot who saved about 30 shot-up ... Continue Reading
Patrick Timoney’s “Gun” - The “zero tolerance” stories just don’t stop, despite court decisions and legislators demanding “common sense.” A 2-inch hunk of plastic isn’t a gun, unless you’re a hysterical grade school principal who demands that 9-year-olds in your care sign confessions when they bring a toy to school.
1984 in 2010: a ZT Influence - My recent editorial analyzing a Zero Tolerance case (Patrick Timoney’s “Gun”) showed just how crazy people can get trying to control others, and their desire to punish non-transgressions just the same as if the person was actually doing something wrong. Most people fully got the point. Others, to my shock, didn’t.
FloriDuh - People often try to tell me California is the weirdest state in the union. It's not. By far.
The Opposite of Zero Tolerance - Schools have "zero tolerance" for petty stuff, but actual crimes? Nah: no need for cops then.
Fighting the Good Guys - Tell me if this makes one bit of sense to you.
I Want to Complain, But… - It happens once in awhile that someone really wants to whine at me for something, but doesn’t have the guts to sign their name. Normally, such complaints are summarily trashed: if they can’t even sign their name to their opinion, then really, what’s that opinion worth?
Father of the Year, Or…? - A story this week by True contributor Jennifer Weiner struck me the wrong way, so I sent it back for a rewrite. I thought you might find the original story intriguing, as well as her reaction to my rewrite request.
The End of the World: 2011 Edition - It takes a pretty big ego to think the world will end in your lifetime.
Ooh! Do It Again! - Last week I did a harder-than-usual “push” for subscription upgrades. You might like to know the excellent result: 32 upgrades. Just 32 upgrades is “excellent”?! Yep. The week before, it was four. The week before that was better: 15.
There’s No Such Thing as Writer’s Block - Stop using the "writer's block" excuse. If you're a "real" writer, no one can stop you from writing.
Don’t Forward That Warning! - What can happen when you forward a rumor: "It's been the bane of my existence, my worst nightmare."
The Euphemism Treadmill - Take the hurtful words back.
Forever Doomed to Repeat History - OK, we can't legitimately prosecute you for that, but we'll do our best to make sure you can never earn a living!
The Few, The Proud, the Falsified News Story - The story of Tracey Attaway was modified (and went viral) for racist reasons. Here's what really happened.
Are You Liberal, or Conservative? - I think a couple of stories this week will make some people’s heads explode.
Rural Electrification, Meet the Rural Internet - As cities were starting to get electrical power, that was the problem: only cities were getting electrical power.
Christmas Blues - It gives me a deeper understanding of how so many feel everything from loneliness to despair this time of year, in stark contrast to those who feel joy.
Zero Tolerance: Alive and Well - When I run a string of zero tolerance stories, readers typically respond, “What should we do about this?” What I don’t want you to do is emailbomb the school officials or school boards involved.
The Worship of Joe Paterno - I posted this on Facebook on Sunday (22 January). The response was amazing:
Two Tiny Scandals - Two stories this week will, I think, generate some comments from readers. One has a zero tolerance theme, and the other is a minor political scandal. They’re both from True’s 19 February 2012 issue.
Another Week, Another Pack
of Clueless School Officials - Two stories this week deserve some follow-up: one that’s pretty light-hearted, and the other …much less so. Let’s start with the comedy; both stories are from True’s 13 May 2012 issue:
“Gay-Baiting” - Grow the hell up, be equal, and choose your battles more wisely just like everyone else has to.
Ethics Train Wreck - When a fake story made it into TRUE, I didn't just retract it, I put it here to explain why.
There Are Still Adventures - There are no more great adventures to be had. Been there, done that, seen it, ho hum ...right? Wrong.
“Never-Ending Pledge-Week” - After years and years on this distribution, Jeff in Virginia unsubscribed last week, complaining there were “too many ads for the premium edition — it like [sic] a never-ending pledge-week on PBS.”
Provoking Thought: Child Support Division - It’s nice when someone else goes on a rant, so I don’t have to!
Why I Embrace “Gay Marriage” - I fully believe in the idea that "all men are created equal."
Bashing the “Lamestream Media” - The only thing “amazing” is that it took them ten years to notice.
Randolph Mantooth: Still Active in EMS - How a 50-year-old TV show helped save millions of lives by encouraging improved pre-hospital care.
The First Paramedics - The first paramedics were not “Johnny and Roy”. You may be surprised to learn who the real heroes were.
Merry Secularmas, Then? - The world would be a better place if we chose to appreciate differences, rather than be offended by them.
A Hex on ABC News - This week several readers sent a story suggestion, and it’s a pretty outrageous story: a school accused a 15-year-old student of “putting a hex” on a teacher, making him ill. The assistant principal brought the girl in for “aggressive interrogation” and then suspended her for 15 days. No, this wasn’t in Salem in the late ... Continue Reading
Why People Die in Gun Free Zones - I Think Alexander Went Too Easy on the schools in a story this week. First, let’s start with the story, from True’s 23 February 2014 issue:
Transpositions - Two related stories that finish out this week’s issue may be a bit controversial, so I thought I would post them here to allow discussion among readers. They’re from the 7 December 2014 issue:
Freedom of Religion, Alabama Style - Very, very unclear on the subject.
Xero Reader Thought - A review of an advertiser's product in a free newsletter? WAH! UNSUBSCRIBE ME!
Another Politician, Another Hypocrite - Another politician, another hypocrite — this time, the Speaker of the House of Representatives in Missouri. Let’s start with the story, from the 17 May 2015 issue:
Forging My Own Path - How a “history” of the collision of weird news and the Internet got it completely wrong.
Dangerous in the Wrong Hands - When I said it was a “money-losing sideline” I meant it: I shut it down.
Land of the Scared - Yet none of this changes the point of this page: it’s still time for Americans to stop being afraid.
Alert the Media. - There Was a Protest Unsubscribe after I ran a plug for Get Out of Hell Free cards.
“Ridiculous Reactions” - Oh, you want RIDICULOUS reaction from the reader base? Well, I have a story for you!
Gasping for Breath …Still - Amazing but true: schools are choosing to let children die. On purpose.
Why I’ve Removed Google’s Ads - Google has THREATENED me for doing things that even SEEM like what they do to make billions. I refuse to play their game.
Jay Jay is Cray Cray - It’s fun to poke at obliviots, especially when they’re truly oblivious to their idiocy.
Orlando: What YOU Can Do - You — Yes, YOU — Can “Do Something” about Mass Killings.
Behind the Scenes at JPL - Long-time readers know that This is True was created while I still had a Day Job. It was a very cool job: I was on the engineering staff at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (1986-1996 — True was started in 1994, so there was a two-year overlap).
What to Look for During the 2017 Solar Eclipse - Updated with Post-Eclipse photos and video. (Jump to Updates) A solar eclipse occurs when the moon gets between the sun and Earth, casting a shadow on the Earth’s surface. This can happen only during a new moon when the sun and the moon are in conjunction as seen from Earth in an alignment referred to ... Continue Reading
Mailchimp Makes a Monkey of Us All - In my recent post about watching the Internet “grow up,” I noted True was a driving force in setting the “best practices” around email publishing — I pushed the first true Email Service Provider to add features I wanted, and one of those features was “double opt-in.”
A Very Bad Gamble - This is an old, ongoing problem with newspapers.
When “Reporting” Just Isn’t Enough - This is why simple "news reporting" is far from enough.
When Good People Do Nothing - See Updates Below Last Week’s Story about the teacher-student sex scandal in a Colorado school — the principal and vice principal were indicted for failure to report the case, as required since they’re “mandatory reporters” of child abuse under state law — is followed up this week by another that really applies to the whole ... Continue Reading
Contempt of Cop - Settlements aren't enough: it's time to criminally charge cops who violate our right to photograph them on the job, and here's why.
Colorado Screws Over Small Businesses like This is True - I Will Stop Selling physical products to Colorado customers as of December 15, at least for the time being, and only because This is True is actually in Colorado.
009: The Headlines Lied - The REAL “fake news” isn't what you may think — and it starts even before you click.
The Core of the Educational Problem - The Degradation of Education continues. Last night, after slapping my forehead when reading a news story, I Tweeted (and “Facebooked”), “Rolling my eyes at inept news reporters: It’s ‘strong-arm robbery,’ not ‘strong armed robbery,’ which means the armed robbery was strong. Example: [link removed: no longer online].”
Crazy Tax Court Cases - After I finish writing the stories (and editing the contributions) each Sunday evening, I send them to a group of volunteer editors so they can check them that evening, or Monday morning (well before the newsletter comes out). They catch a lot of the typos, poor construction, and other goobers. (They only read the stories, ... Continue Reading
029: 32 Glasses of Water Go Down the Black Hole - I love watching others and recognizing signs of Uncommon Sense. I’m going to tell you about another friend of mine (who has no idea I’m going to talk about this), since it’s a great example of taking something you see with a grain of salt, and calling B.S. when it’s necessary. And then, I take on the universe. Show Page: https://thisistrue.com/podcast29
‘Distasteful’ Help Wanted - Honest advice for parents worried that their kids "might see something."
044: The Rants Get Serious - Do you want to know what TRUE is really about? Then listen to this one if you can — don’t read the transcript. You’ll hear the true passion behind one of my written rants, because now it’s literally in my voice. If you don’t have a podcast player, you can stream it from the Show Page: https://thisistrue.com/podcast44
Betraying the Public’s Trust - True Can Never Put All of the Details in a story that might be interesting, or might even add to the commentary, but I can comment here! But first, let’s start with the story, from True’s 27 October issue....
Aurora Police: Not Accountable - The police badge in this city in my home state is tarnished. Here's why.
Make Cheating Wrong Again - A bit of a rant about the Georgia State Trooper cheating scandal: their commissioner has the problem all wrong.
Political Hypocrites and Other Silliness - Really, would you want me to shy away from forehead-slapping obliviousy just because the obliviot was a politician? HELL no!
Covid: Think for Yourself (Dammit!) - “I’m tired of the state telling me I have to wear a face diaper as a method of control. That is what is at stake here.”
The Spammer (A Christmas Tale) - It’s absolutely possible to fight back against spammers …if you think about what would actually work. Pull up a chair by the fire and I’ll tell a story about how I did it this Christmas week, and turned The Grinch into a reformed marketer.
The Year of Covid - “Thought-Provoking Entertainment” isn’t just a This is True slogan, it’s an illustration of my mission in life: to promote more thinking in the world. If thinking was truly valued by society, the U.S. wouldn’t have had such a struggle with the pandemic.
Facebook Accused Me of Hate Speech — and I Appealed (Twice!) - To misclassify support as "hate speech" trivializes REAL hate speech, which social media SHOULD crack down on.
Amazon’s New Robot: Evil Wall-E? - My thoughts on Amazon's new personal robot ...and why I'll NEVER have one in my home.
Marked Man: a Criminal’s Amazing Transformation - What a difference 15 years can make: a criminal's life, mostly behind bars.
Father Tom Carten, CSC - A Special Honorary Unsubscribe — Over the years I’ve been accused of being “anti-Christian” so much that what gets lost is what I really am: anti-hypocrite.
Oh No, JATO?! - Just by the subject line I knew there was a 99.999 percent chance that it was fake.
The Slapping Judge - You've heard of a "hanging judge"? I prefer a slapping judge, like this one.
Texas Zero Tolerance - Actual Headline: “How a Texas Girl Scared of School Shootings Was Punished” (!!)
Behind Great Men - I suddenly realized that a story I was writing this week both stood alone in its breathtaking wonderfulness, and stood out in the context of recent headlines in an unexpected way.
Canada & Guns - I didn’t just have more to say about a story in this week’s issue, I have a suggestion on how to fix it.
Scot-Free - I was so floored over the resolution of this story, it took a blog post to explain it.
An Obliviot by Any Other Name - Is someone trying to charge a cell phone to my account? Well, WORSE than that! It's actually shocking.
Dan Sokol: a Barely Known Computer Pioneer - "I became the world’s first software pirate." ...an ideal lifelong friend for Steve Wozniak.
Dan Sokol 2: Behind the Scenes of Personal Computing History - The long-delayed Part 2 of my interview with one of the early figures of personal computing history.
Dan Sokol 3: Pranking Woz - Part 3 of my interview with Steve Wozniak's buddy Dan ...and some of the pranks they played.
Hands Off My Work, NYT! - The New York Times is demanding to know what it is I ask ChatGPT, and how.