Dinner with Tina

The story of Tina Brown and the end of the old Newsweek is told in the new Politico Magazine. An enlightening read. Many thanks to Susan Glasser, EIC, and Janet Michaud, DD. We worked a bit extra on this but came up with the right note. Not unsympathetic to Tina encircled by the increasingly inscrutable … Read more

Egology in Our Time

The idea of the “selfie” in literature was discussed in this recent piece in the Chronicle of Higher Education by Theodore Ziolkowski. My solution: hook on the Freudian connection.  Difficult to ignore (or explain) the effect of technology on human psychology. Just in time for Google Glass. Look out. A Humanistic Field for Our Time: Egology … Read more

It Ain’t Over ‘Till the Fat Man Sings

“Bridgegate” isn’t just about a mistake that some bureaucrat made in New Jersey. It’s about Chris Christie’s using the city of Ft. Lee and surrounding towns as hostages in a political game. It’s a kind of political terrorism.  And don’t think people were unhurt. Many were. As their stories  come out, so too will be … Read more

The Least Influential of 2013

Anthony Weiner reached new heights of non-influence. And then, kinda tapered off. Like the cicadas. Tim Tebow’s ethereal connections got him just so far. Miley Cyrus woke TV viewers up, if briefly.   Obama and Congress played a perfect two-act. He, after years of not calling out a body of deeply disturbed people, now finally … Read more