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Category Archives: Current Affairs

The Problem with Writing about Politics

Even though I’m finishing a novel about politics, I find it increasingly hard to write directly about current political issues. I started writing a post for this blog about the 99% who are occupying Wall Street, Los Angeles, and even Minneapolis to protest against the 1% wealthiest Americans. There is now a new group, the 53% who …

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What 9/11 means to me

Let’s be honest: When we talk about “the meaning of 9/11,” we really mean “the meaning of 9/11 to me.” Even if you didn’t lose anyone on 9/11, even if don’t know any of the first responders, even if you had never set foot in the World Trade Center in your life, even if you …

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Thank you, Steve

Updated October 5, 2011: Steve Jobs has died. Rest in peace and thank you once again. Why say “thank you” to a CEO, especially when so many corporate executives these days deserve scorn instead of praise? Outgoing Apple CEO Steve Jobs gets my thanks because he has helped me in a number of ways. My first …

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Compromise and other dirty words

I listened to both President Obama’s and House Speaker Boehner’s speeches tonight. Both of them said that the United States can’t be allowed to default. Both of them said that the government needs to cut spending. Both of them said that they don’t want the middle class and poor to suffer at the hands of …

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Like a pie in the face…

It’s hard not to follow the news these days without getting depressed. Journalism scandals. Politicians playing chicken with bankruptcy. Borders going the way of Licorice Pizza. It feels like getting hit in the face with a pie. Come to think of it, a pie would taste pretty good right now. Chocolate silk. So, what does …

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