June, 2015

• 13 June

  SoFlo Days 2 and 3

  

  Day 2 I am loading up to go to Little Havana: all the equipment in the car, grabbing some extra clothes, when she buttonholes me. Was I going south? No more bikes up here; can you take me as far as Sunrise? Sure, why not? She gets in and off …

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• 12 June

  Get Out of Your Information Box

  

  The popular adoption of the Internet and cable television as sources of information in the past 30 years has revolutionized the way that the average person receives news. Before the 1980s, the available sources of daily news were limited to newspapers, radio, and broadcast television.   Many small towns had a …

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May, 2015

• 24 May

  How Falling Music Sales Could Improve the Quality of Live Performances

  

  For at least the past 50,000 years or so, humans have entertained themselves and others with music and singing.   Up until about 100 years ago, those artists good enough to perform for a living made their money by, well, performing. Only since the advent of recorded music have performers had …

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• 20 May

  Election 2016: Reporters’ Questions to Candidates Are Designed to Generate Controversy, Not Enlighten.

  

  Yes, it’s still 18 months until the 2016 presidential election, but the circus atmosphere surrounding the various campaigns is already inescapable for anyone paying attention to current events. In quiet times, some in the news media look for ways to generate controversy and ratings, and one their favorite traps for …

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• 12 May

  Respect Should Flow Downward In A Hierarchy As Well As Upward

  

  Below I describe a personal experience that illustrates an important principle that relates to any hierarchy. I attended the hour-long Executive Council meeting as a stand-in for my boss.  The invitees were a collection of VPs and high-ranking directors, and today the conference table was full.   I was in note-taking mode; my only …

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• 7 May

  By-the-Numbers Handicapping Guide for the 2016 Presidential Election

  

  Want to know who will win the 2016 presidential election? It may be useful to look at recent electoral history for clues. Here are 5 tendencies that may suggest a certain outcome: 1. After one party has two consecutive terms in the White House, the following election almost always goes …

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• 6 May

  QuickThoughts: Two Facts That Reflect on Baltimore’s Administration

  

  Like many large cities, Baltimore’s unemployment rate shot up in the wake of the financial crisis in 2008, peaking at 12% in 2010. The 2010 federal census showed a population loss of about 5% since 2000, continuing a trend that started in the 1960s. Fact 1: In order to counter …

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• 5 May

  Keeping the Revolution Alive in Baltimore – May 2, 2015

  

  This past Saturday in Baltimore, one day after charges were filed against the six police officers implicated in the arrest and death of Freddie Gray, the revolution once again descended on Baltimore. In front of city hall, thousands gathered at a rally that had more of a celebratory vibe than …

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April, 2015

• 28 April

  4 Myths and 3 Truths about the Baltimore Riots

  

  The Myths  1. The rally at Baltimore City Hall on Saturday was peaceful Local and national politicians and media waxed poetic about how beautiful and peaceful was this exercise of the right to demonstrate. I attended the rally, and the rhetoric from the podium was a mix of calls to …

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• 26 April

  Violent Eruption at Baltimore Protest not an Accident

  

  The violent climax of the demonstration in Baltimore on Saturday was entirely predictable. The narrative that you are hearing from large media outlets and politicians (including Baltimore mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake) is also predictable:  A peaceful demonstration hijacked by a few out-of-town agitators, causing the larger message of justice and non-violent …

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• 23 April

  4 Bothersome Aspects of the Ben Affleck Ancestry Story

  

  First, let me start by reiterating that we don’t cover celebrity gossip at ThoughtWidget; nor do we engage in celebrity worship. However, the revelations about actor Ben Affleck’s slave-holding ancestor are a multi-faceted commentary on politics and the news media. It was revealed this week that Affleck asked Henry Louis …

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• 21 April

  Cherry Blossom Time in DC

  

  Those of us who live in the nation’s capital have to put up with a lot.  The horrendous traffic, summer heat and humidity, high cost of living, bloviating politicians and posturing bureaucrats, dysfunctional governments, hordes of tourists,  etc.  One of the rewards for our patience is the annual blooming of …

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• 21 April

  Iran Will Develop Nuclear Weapons, Regardless of Any Agreement

  

  Iran will continue its program to develop nuclear weapons because its leaders are convinced it is in their interest.   At the very least, nukes will give the Islamic Republic a level of security it has not had during the 36-year standoff with its two primary antagonists: the United States and …

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• 19 April

  5 Words You Should Banish From Your Vocabulary…

  …if you want to be taken seriously. The words you choose will determine how others evaluate your intellect. It matters in almost any interaction you have outside of a close personal relationship. This includes your workplace and any interaction with someone you don’t know well. I’m not going to address …

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• 19 April

  Personal Anecdotes Have Little Value in the Public Sphere

  The telling of personal stories has been an important aspect of human communication since before the development of complex language. Sharing one’s experiences is an integral part of personal relationships. It is typically one the first subjects that friends or acquaintances discuss when meeting (“How are you? What have you …

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