Columns

Dems hit a new low with convention speech

I watched the opening night of the Democratic National Convention because it was news, not because I was particularly interested in the outcome. It wasn’t really inspiring, and it wasn’t really moving, and it wasn’t really exceptional, but at least it wasn’t really offensive.

Have lawyers become an endangered species?

“The first thing we do, let’s reboot all the lawyers.” No, that’s not really how the line from Shakespeare’s “Henry VI, Part 2” goes; but it came to mind when I read a Wall Street Journal special section on artificial intelligence and encountered the article “Would You Trust A Lawyer Bot?”

Earning the right to gripe

I cast my first presidential vote in 1952. It may have been illegal since I was only seven years old at the time, but the statute of limitations has probably run out by now.

Sports have been hard to watch during the pandemic

American sports are in trouble. At least if I am, in any way, a representation of a typical fan. I grew up in Philadelphia where following all four major teams is part of one’s DNA. As I sit here, I can name, without prompting, every member of the 1980 Phillies starting lineup.

Ray Bradbury: Something centenary this way comes

I was jealous of my wife a couple of years ago. Our son’s sophomore English class read Ray Bradbury’s cautionary novel “Fahrenheit 451” and she found the time to read along. My writing deadlines and regimen of prioritizing news and nonfiction books blocked me from making it a family affair.

Don’t use ‘Karen’ to objectify women

I’ve been pretty lucky in the name department.

The longer we’re isolated, the less productive we get

COVID-19 is getting old — particularly for employees who’ve been working from home for months. That’s the finding of a Wall Street Journal article, “Companies Start to Think Remote Work Isn’t So Great After All.”

Is the 75th anniversary of V-J Day the last hurrah?

My first knowledge of the War in the Pacific probably came from then-new episodes of “McHale’s Navy” and the 20-year-old “Made in Occupied Japan” dishware that my mother collected.

School choice: Black children matter

One hundred sixty years ago America fought over slavery. Sixty years ago, America fought over black voter suppression. Today America is fighting over black education suppression.

What in the world were we thinking?

I am becoming increasingly convinced that if I dig just two feet down at any place in my yard, I will dig into a huge underground sea of fire ants. It may spread for miles and miles.