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Posts published in “Features”

Celebrities as News

Any visit to an American newsstand will illustrate the most widespread phenomenon of the times: The print media are runny with the virus of celebrity. The names and faces of movie actors, rock musicians, rappers,…

Carolyn’s Last Stand

Tuesday, about noon, Carolyn Short, pumped the last gallon of gasoline at the Boonville service station she and her late husband Jeff had begun 37 years ago. Jeff Short had pumped their first gallon the…

God & Unions Not Incompatible

In a major ruling on employees first amendment and labor rights, the National Labor Relations board last week rejected a bid by the 7th Day Adventist Church for a religious exemption to prevent registered nurses…

The Propaganda Gap

On November 27 the Sacramento Bee quoted John Fisher, co-owner of Mendocino Redwoods and son of Gap Founder Don Fisher of the Fisher family (estimated net worth: $11 billion) with his view of the company’s…

Off the Top (December 16, 1998)

MONDAY, in Ten Mile Justice Court, Dominic Affinito entered a not guilty plea to a charge of simple battery on Fort Bragg councilman-elect, Dan Gjerde. A jury trial was set for March 24th at 1:30pm.…

Thoughts While Stuck In a Parking Garage

Friday night, and I figure all the shoppers should be fleeing the city for their own suburban holes and strip malls festooned with plastic santas and tired mothers pushing strollers overloaded with three kids and…

Hoist Up the Old John D.

Years ago I persuaded Andrew Kopkind to help me drive a 1962 Imperial LeBaron from Coral Gables to Vermont. We had not been many hours on the road before Andrew’s skills in using his credit…

When We Forget, Anguish Is Often Buried Alive

How important is the pain of the past? Should people strive to confront it or try to forget it? Such questions routinely underlie news stories and media debates. Depending on the spin, history can seem…

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