Field Notes

It’s not fake, but neither is it “news”.

It’s not fake, but neither is it “news”.

When a natural disaster struck Texas (an uncommonly long freeze in a normally balmy state) many electrical power generating stations shut down because they were not sufficiently “weatherized” to operate in the extremely cold weather. Electricity was rationed with rolling blackouts (two or more hours a day when the power was cut-off) and several...

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It’s not fake, but neither is it “news”.

When a natural disaster struck Texas (an uncommonly long freeze in a normally balmy state) many electrical power generating stations shut down because they were not sufficiently “weatherized” to operate in the extremely cold weather. Electricity was rationed with rolling blackouts (two or more hours a day when the power was cut-off) and several...

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The Principled Error of Those Who Will Not Mask-Up

One of the founders of the United States of America, Benjamin Franklin, is credited with the following saying:      Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. Some Americans rail at any government mandate to wear masks during the current Covid-19 pandemic, or to limit...

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Portland Protests Perspective

As I write the U.S. Presidential election is just a few weeks away.  Monday October 12th was a federal holiday, Columbus Day, celebrating the famous Italian's "discovery" of America (with the sponsorship of the most Catholic King and Queen of Spain) in 1492.  While white Americans celebrate Christopher Columbus' navigational achievements, native...

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TikTok WeChat / Facebook Twitter

The Trump administration announced today that it plans to ban TikTok and WeChat from use in the United States.  My Shanghai friend Tina is appalled.  When I mentioned that it would be nice if China ended its ban on Facebook and Twitter, her response was that her VPN works just fine.  Good point.  Looks like I will be renewing my VPN licenses for...

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