Category Archives: People

The Dignity of Work

By Frank Paynter | Published: April 7, 2011

Last night in Chicago we saw a moving performance of “Working,” the musical based on Studs Terkel’s 1974 book. One of the themes that emerges centers on the hope we all share that our children will do better than we do. An iron worker’s son disappoints his dad by not going to college, but rather [...]

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Days of unrest, continued

By Frank Paynter | Published: February 28, 2011

Reinvigorated by the idealism and fighting spirit on display right now in America’s heartland, the movement for “hope and change” has a rare, second chance. It can renew itself and become again a national force with which to be reckoned. — Van Jones I caught the last half hour of Meet the Press yesterday, a [...]

Also posted in Class Warfare, Government, Politics | Tagged , , | Comments closed

Other voices other brooms

By Frank Paynter | Published: February 21, 2011

Let me tell you about Ralphie the neighbour boy when I was six and seven and lived on Antrim Road always dressed in women’s clothing. Huge lobster, perhaps the hugest lobster ever, hung over the fireplace mantle in the playroom. Couldn’t tear my eyes offa it. It figured largely most likely to succeed probably. I [...]

Also posted in The Proprietor, Writing | Comments closed

AARP Drum Circle

By Frank Paynter | Published: October 7, 2010

Caught this using my little Nikon Coolpix, a handheld still camera with some video capability. The escalator ride seemed like a good idea at the time, but obviously I should have ridden it down first and then done the long dolly out at the end. Oh well. Busby Berkeley, I ain’t, but I’m pretty good [...]

Also posted in Creative Arts, High Signal - Low Noise, Music | Tagged , | Comments closed

Spell bound

By Frank Paynter | Published: June 4, 2010

The 2010 National Spelling Bee provides some nail biting tension in this otherwise serene household. Sadly, Vanya Shivashankar, eight years old and the youngest entrant, did not qualify for the semifinals. Her big sister, last year’s champion, advanced to the nationals twice before finally winning the title on her third try. There’s time for Vanya [...]

Also posted in Verbalistics | Comments closed

Whole lotta lynx

By Frank Paynter | Published: December 31, 2009

PhD Comix Kulcha Round-up Betsy Blair, comsymp Federal government muffs another one Whining Joe Klein Invisible Inkling Prison Health and Our Community: A Public Health Investigation Pew, that decade STANK Steve Outing, Welcome to Elba Jim Long on the Verge of Something New John Siracusa, the Ars in Arstechnica Community Supported Journalism Public Knowledge Progressive [...]

Also posted in Arts and Literature, Bloggers 'n blogs, Creative Arts, Journalism, Journo | Comments closed

Alcatraz

By Administrator | Published: November 23, 2009

By Betty Jo Chang This is the 40th Anniversary of the Occupation of Alcatraz Island by the American Indian Movement (1969-1971), AND Football season so perhaps this little tale is timely. I was at Stanford during the great controversy (1970-1972) over the Stanford Indian Symbol for the Football team, and over Chief Lightfoot (Timm Williams, [...]

Also posted in Politics, Reflections | Tagged , , , | Comments closed

Whatever happened to Swifty Lazar?

By Frank Paynter | Published: October 16, 2009

First, who was Swifty Lazar? It’s one of those names that has been embedded in my consciousness seemingly without antecedent. So, this morning, when–while following a thread from Improprieties–I happened upon a young fellow named Irwin Lazar, my thoughts swiftly turned to Swifty. Swifty Lazar. The name stood out clearly in my mind, like the [...]

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