Yearly Archives: 1999

Real History

3/4/1999 – 5:29 pm

Today’s news is tomorrow’s history. I’m fascinated by both subjects, and when I was in college, I took degrees in journalism and history. I don’t know why it isn’t required of all journalism students. In the last ten years we’ve seen the development of instant history. No sooner does an event hit the newspapers than […]

By floegel | Posted in Commentary | Comments (0)

No Ethics Need Apply

2/26/1999 – 5:28 pm

According to the almanacs, the worst of winter is over. Once Valentine’s Day has passed, it’s a rare day when the temperature drops below zero. We can still accumulate a goodly amount of snow, and flurries are possible all the way through June. Still, the greater part of winter is past and one can feel […]

By floegel | Posted in Commentary | Comments (0)

You Have the Right to Remain Silent

2/25/1999 – 5:25 pm

“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to have an attorney present during questioning. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you by the court.” Does any of that sound familiar? I’m sure it […]

By floegel | Posted in Commentary | Comments (0)

Gastro-Imperialism

2/19/1999 – 5:23 pm

I have a friend who grew up in Bengal. When he reached adolescence, instead of sneaking out behind the house to smoke a cigarette, he sneaked out and ate meat. Although his vice was different, the result was the same. He choked and gagged and began to feel ill. Not only that, he was busted. […]

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Plastic Flowers

2/18/1999 – 5:21 pm

A few weeks ago, I was trapped in a room with a pot of plastic flowers. The room was warm; the air was stale and did not move. The impeachment trial droned from a radio in the corner. One of the house managers was speaking; he kept saying “William Jefferson Clinton,” repeating all three names. […]

By floegel | Posted in Commentary | Comments (0)

Many Happy Returns

2/12/1999 – 5:20 pm

If you’ve been a regular consumer of news for any stretch of the past 30 years, you know one of America’s on-going trends is the growing number of people in prison. At any one time, almost two million Americans are behind bars. In the past 20 years, over one thousand prisons have been built in […]

By floegel | Posted in Commentary | Comments (0)

Rites of Spring

2/11/1999 – 5:17 pm

Because I sit in the Thursday chair here at the Opinion Factory, every year I speak on Thanksgiving, but never on Mardi Gras. Further depressing my chances is the fact that I live in Vermont, the land Mardi Gras forgot. But Mardi Gras is a premonition of spring and whether or not you believe me, […]

By floegel | Posted in Commentary | Comments (0)