Letters to the Editor
Marshall
Published Letters: 45 Editor's Choice: 2
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Theology can be used to justify anything
[Read the article: David Brooks' field trip to the White House]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Theology can be used to justify anything, and a feeling of righteousness is no guarantee of sanity or morality.
Of course, examples of this principle are easy to find, but I wonder how many Americas are aware of the efforts of the spiritual forbearers of of today's religious right towards te defense of slavery ?
From a letter from the Southern Baptists of South Carolina to the Governor of that state, 24th December 1822.
...The result of this inquiry and reasoning, on the subject of slavery, brings us, sir, if I mistake not, very regularly to the following conclusions:—That the holding of slaves is justifiable by the doctrine and example contained in Holy writ; and is, therefore consistent with Christian uprightness, both in sentiment and conduct. That, all things considered, the Citizens of America have in general obtained the African slaves, which they possess, on principles, which can be justified...
Sir, your very obedient and humble servant,
RICHARD FURMAN
President of the Baptist State Convention
Charleston, 24th December 1822
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This will be shown to have a connection to Breast Cancert
[Read the article: Two words: Bad plastic]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I think that it is inevitable that bisphenol A will be shown to have a role in the steady increase in Breast Cancer. Breast Cancer is intimately related to hormones, especially estrogen, the estrogen receptor positive version of the disease actually "feeds" on estrogen, and here we are saturating the environment with a synthetic estrogen.
While I am not a Doctor, in my opinion women with ERP Breast Cancer should avoid all contact with bisphenol A, and every woman over the age of 13 should think seriously about limiting their exposure. I know that I don't look at those plastic water bottles the same way.
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Who is bought off ?
[Read the article: Democrats' responsibility for Bush radicalism]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Senator Dodd : So I'm a little stunned, and grasping for some answer here. So I really don't know. . . .
We all need to start thinking like Italians and people in other countries that have a deep experience with corrupt government. Over there, when people act in strange ways that appear to be against their self interest, it is assumed that they are bought off or blackmailed. Now, we have a list of 16 names in the Senate - and a man with Senator Dodd's experience can't understand their actions. I think that the Senator should wake up. I would bet that at least half of the 16 are compromised. I would also bet that with some digging, the blogosphere could figure out who is who.
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What memorable speeches ?
[Read the article: Fantasy island]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]While I am hardly a fan of George W Bush, I think it is fair to say that even he would hardly claim to be a spell-binding speechmaker. In trying to remember anything memorable he has said, all I can come up with is some quip about being "misunderestimated." If this is the legacy that Matthew Scully and Michael Gerson are fighting over, they needn't bother; it will be forgotten in approximately the time it takes to take the trash to the curb.
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There is one big difference between then and now.
[Read the article: Larry Craig's bathroom behavior and the right wing -- then and now]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]There is one big difference between then and now - Senator Craig's guilty plea.
There is also the tactical political argument - the seat is less likely to flip if he resigns now and is replaced by another Republican than if he stays to fight it out. But I think that the guilty plea is the driver here.
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How much does NBC make
[Read the article: Has NBC gone mad?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Danny Sleator asked how much NBC might make from a regular viewer.
For an over the air program, a CPM (cost per thousand views) of $ 20 US per commerical is pretty good - some premium times (Superbowl, Olympics) will make more, others less. With 14 commercial minutes per hour, and typically 30 second commercials, they might sell 20 commercials (the other slots going to time for their affiliates, and for promoting other shows). So, per viewer per 1-hour show, that would be $ 20 x 20 / 1000 or $ 0.40 (40 cents).
So, I would expect that they make something under a US Dollar, and maybe well under a US Dollar, from each viewer of each show.
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Very funny
[Read the article: It was a joke (we think)]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I am sure he is thinking about it. It's probaby the only way he would stay out of jail.
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Numbers ?
[Read the article: A rate-cut paradox]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I don't believe for a second that the economy is in great shape. Could it be that the economic statisticians have been politicized like everything else in the government ?
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Here are some simple questions.
[Read the article: What Hillary won't say about torture]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Ask her if she will have the US ratify the Rome Convention and join the International Criminal Court.
Ask her if she plans to continue or drop the Article 98 Agreements we have with various other countries (designed to shield US citizens from the ICC).
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Sell a computer ?
[Read the article: Once and for all, proof that Macs are cheaper than PCs]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I still have every computer I have ever bought (most of the Macs) and still use most of them (primarily for video encoding). I still get good service from Macs bought in 2001.
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There is a better way
[Read the article: Power to the people?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]There is a better way and several websites use it (including SlashDot.org). It's pretty simple, really :
- anyone can suggest a question
- the online audience votes on the questions
- the highest ranking questions are selected.
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Looking for creativity in all the wrong places...
[Read the article: Dogma days ]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]We will be remembered in our time for our science and technology, not for our arts, and in those areas Europe is going strong and is actually overtaking the United States. The lead in the development and use of the Internet, for example, is noticeably passing to Europe and Asia in the last few years. I would submit that if you look for creativity in the wrong places, you will get a misleading picture of what is going on.
By the way, the Internet is very much a child of the 1960's and the things that Ms. Paglia appears to like about it are not there by accident. Technology, as well as art, can capture the spirit of an age.
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The Velvet Dictatorship
[Read the article: The Lawless Surveillance State]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I have called this (with apologies to Vaclav Havel) the Velvet Dictatorship for some years now. All of the forms of democracy are there, as long as you don't try and really change anything fundamental.