Category Archives: Social Science & History

Where journalism is dangerous

Posted on February 7, 2014 by Stephen W. Browne

The Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Barometer for 2013 is out. A crucial way of measuring press freedom is of course, how dangerous it is to be a journalist. Last year 75 journalists, 4 media assistants and 8 netizens and … Continue reading →

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Antanaclasis that’s what!

Posted on February 6, 2014 by Stephen W. Browne

The part of a journalist’s life we don’t like to talk about involves making phone calls and spending a lot of time sitting at our desks waiting for someone to return them. For those of us raised with a work … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Humor/satire, Social Science & History | 1 Comment

The Enigma of Pete Seeger

Posted on February 3, 2014 by Stephen W. Browne

Legendary musician Pete Seeger died January 27 at the age of 94. By all accounts Seeger lived a rich and rewarding life. He died just six months after the death of his wife of 70 years, Toshi-Aline Ota. Their marriage … Continue reading →

Posted in Op-eds, Politics, Social Science & History | 1 Comment

Another roar from the Tiger Mother

Posted on January 15, 2014 by Stephen W. Browne

Amy Chua, the famous or infamous “Tiger Mother” has a new book out, this time co-authored with her husband Jed Rubenfeld. The book is titled “The Triple Package: Why Groups Rise and Fall in America” for the three characteristics that … Continue reading →

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The Winter War

Posted on December 6, 2013 by Stephen W. Browne

Last Saturday, Nov. 30, was the 74th anniversary of the beginning of a forgotten war, the Soviet invasion of Finland, called the Talvisota in Finnish, and the Zimnyaya Woyna in Russian. The Red Army, which possessed three times as many … Continue reading →

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Some thoughts on what it means to be an American

Posted on November 30, 2013 by Stephen W. Browne

Just the other day I had a Facebook exchange with a friend. This was an exchange of the kind which reminds me of (journalist) Frank A. Clark’s observation, “We find comfort among those we agree with, growth among those we … Continue reading →

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Print me a gun please

Posted on November 20, 2013 by Stephen W. Browne

A Texas company Solid Concepts just announced they had made a working model M1911 automatic pistol and test fired 50 rounds through it. What made this interesting was that the gun was made with a 3-D printer. Just last year … Continue reading →

Posted in News commentary, Op-eds, Social Science & History | 1 Comment

Review: Elysium

Posted on September 3, 2013 by Stephen W. Browne

On the strength of precisely one feature-length movie, “District 9” (2009), South African writer/director Neill Blomkamp was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People of 2009, by Forbes magazine as the 21st most powerful celebrity … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Social Science & History | 1 Comment

Happy Fourth of July!

Posted on July 4, 2013 by Stephen W. Browne

July 4th is upon us again. This year it falls on a Thursday, and as usual we’ll celebrate with fireworks. I have a guest from Poland staying with me who I will take to the celebrations at our town’s biggest … Continue reading →

Posted in Eleagic mode, Op-eds, Politics, Social Science & History | Leave a comment

What is it with zombies?

Posted on June 28, 2013 by Stephen W. Browne

Note: This is cross-posted on my professional blog at the Marshall Independent. Well I took my son to see “World War Z” the other day and will probably be reviewing it week after next unless something more compelling comes along. … Continue reading →

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