Posts by David Benjamin
George Jetson might have been more convincing
TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2014 The Weekly Screed (#659) George Jetson might have been more convincing… by David Benjamin “The future of mobility will be done by electronics and — for sure — fun to drive!” – Rupert Stadler, Chairman, Audi Aktiengesellschaft MADISON, Wis. — Every year, one of the corporate Power Point extravaganzas at the…
Read MoreOur gay president, and how he got that way
FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2014 The Weekly Screed (#658) Our gay president, and how he got that way by David Benjamin “If you tell a big enough lie and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed.” – Adolf Hitler MADISON, Wis. — In a documentary film that few will ever see — The Unknown Known…
Read MoreThe importance of not being visibly earnest
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2013 The Weekly Screed (#657) The importance of not being visibly earnest by David Benjamin “Hipsters seeking Sel Rrose restaurant last month were startled to see…” The New York Times, 9 Dec. ‘13 MADISON, Wis. — My first encounter with the term “hipster” in its new — pejorative — formulation was in…
Read MoreSaving Captain Miller
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013 The Weekly Screed (#656) Saving Captain Miller by David Benjamin MADISON, Wis. — In the film, Saving Private Ryan, when Tom Hanks’ character, Capt. Miller, reveals his civilian job — “I’m a schoolteacher” — it comes as a chastening surprise to his rebellious squad, and to the audience. Although it should…
Read MoreThe Night before Christ…Mouse?
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2013 The Weekly Screed: Christmas Bonus The Night before Christ…Mouse? by David Benjamin … with apologies to Clement Moore and all those who are sick and tired of silly parodies (To be read aloud, with gusto, between renditions of “Jingle Bells” and “Santa Baby”) ‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through…
Read MoreHairbreadth Harry and the great Christmas escape
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2013 The Weekly Screed (#655) Hairbreadth Harry and the great Christmas escape by David Benjamin MADISON, Wis. — I’ve always loved Christmas… after a fashion. From the first time I could figure it out (after getting past the big Santa Claus deception), I grew more and more fond of Christmas as an…
Read MoreAlice returns to Dairyland
TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2013 The Weekly Screed (#642) Alice returns to Dairyland by David Benjamin MADISON, Wis. — Earlier this month, I cajoled Alice out of New Jersey and back to Madison, where we celebrated her 50th anniversary as a teacher in the town where her career began. The occasion marked Alice’s reunion with several…
Read MoreSomething in the air
WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013 The Weekly Screed (#639) Something in the air by David Benjamin MADISON, Wis. — From place to place, the air is always different. Or so it seems. Most of us, if we sense this at all, register these shades of difference not palpably or knowingly, but in the region beneath perception,…
Read MoreDemocracy’s loss is free enterprise’s gain
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 2013 The Weekly Screed (#634) Democracy’s loss is free enterprise’s gain by David Benjamin MADISON, Wis. — No one anticipated the Supreme Court’s evisceration of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 as presciently as my friend, Wilhelm “Jim Crow” Bienfang, America’s greatest “idea man.” Trusting in the Court’s right-wing majority to continue…
Read MoreBig Hoover has always been watching
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 2013 The Weekly Screed (#633) Big Hoover has always been watching by David Benjamin PARIS — Oh my God! The government is spying on Americans? Wait, wait, no. That’s not quite accurate, or at least not quite newsworthy. Let’s see if we can phrase this more alarmingly. Oh my God! The head…
Read More