Russellarbenfox
MY BLOGS
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In Medias Res
http://inmedias.blogspot.com/
Essays, notes, and fragments--personal, political, and philosophical--from the midst of things
LATEST ARTICLES ( 588 )
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The Greatest Presidential Speech of All Time
I have been, for over twenty years, entirely persuaded by Garry Wills's argument: that the Gettysburg Address, given by Abraham Lincoln on this day, exactly... Read more
Posted on 19 November 2013 SOCIETY -
What Some Kansans Are Saying About Health Care
I haven't written a post about health care in America, and more particularly the Affordable Care Act, in a long time. I've mentioned it, sure, but usually in... Read more
Posted on 08 November 2013 SOCIETY -
Why Do I Keep Creating Libertarians?
Just to be clear: I know my title is an exaggeration. I don't "create" libertarians, or anything really, as a university teacher (not even always, as much as I'... Read more
Posted on 04 November 2013 SOCIETY -
"Please Tell Me This is Some Kind of Sick and Tasteless Joke!"
Yesterday, the spirit of Halloween was strong in the KIVI Channel 6 Boise newsroom yesterday, as their sports director went all-out as Ron Burgundy. Read more
Posted on 01 November 2013 SOCIETY -
Does America Need a Civil Religion?
[Cross-posted to By Common Consent] The website Patheos asked me to answer the above question, in no more than 800 words. Here's what I came up with (a... Read more
Posted on 01 November 2013 SOCIETY -
Sefdom in Equestria, the Libertarian Manifesto of the Millennial Generation
This has apparently been bouncing around the internets for a while, and thus is probably fake, but I don't care. I've only just seen it, and it's a revelation. Read more
Posted on 08 October 2013 SOCIETY -
Books and Authors and Reading
The New York Times has published a delightful interview with Malcolm Gladwell; it's all about books and authors and reading, and thus is, of course, perfect bai... Read more
Posted on 06 October 2013 SOCIETY -
"Maybe That's Why They Call a Trade a Trade"
My old friend Matt Stannard (debater, law school graduate, rabble-rouser, one-time--and perhaps, in some ways, still--socialist revolutionary, and now an... Read more
Posted on 04 October 2013 SOCIETY -
Defunding and Democratic Despair, Again
Well, we know where the New York Daily News stands today in regards to the current government debacle. As for me, well, I'm afraid I find myself thinking... Read more
Posted on 01 October 2013 SOCIETY -
Progress, Yes, But Still No Space for Music Critics?
(From The Onion; hat tip: Rod Dreher.)CITY OF DIS, NETHER HELL–After nearly four years of construction at an estimated cost of 750 million souls, Corpadverticus... Read more
Posted on 25 September 2013 SOCIETY -
Letterman on 9/11
Still, for all its flaws and limitations, this monologue, given on September 17, 2001, remains the best video memento of the attacks 12 years ago. Worth... Read more
Posted on 11 September 2013 SOCIETY -
Lupin, James, Or Dumbledore?
So, this is making the rounds on Facebook today:It's a wonderful occasion for geeky Myers-Briggs conversations, but it's flawed. Read more
Posted on 11 September 2013 SOCIETY -
Because I Still Have a Bunch Sitting on a Book Shelf Immediately Behind Me Here...
Matthew Yglesias, who is young and worldly and sophisticated and intelligent and wise, wants to know, as he targets what appears to him to be yet another... Read more
Posted on 09 September 2013 SOCIETY -
Saturday Night Live Music: "Wrapped Around Your Finger"
Stumbled on to this one by accident, and it's brilliant. I could do without the background orchestration, but man: Rufus Wainwright deeply mines this old... Read more
Posted on 08 September 2013 SOCIETY -
Once More (About Syria), With Feeling (and Editing)
The Wichita Eagle ran today a much condensed (and, I suppose, perhaps much improved) version of my post from Monday on my wish/hope that Congress will, in... Read more
Posted on 06 September 2013 SOCIETY -
Films for Teaching International Relations
This is a well-worn topic, but still, as I'm teaching International Relations this fall for the first time in a couple of years, I figured I needed to update... Read more
Posted on 06 September 2013 SOCIETY -
Hail Britannia! (Politely, Of Course)
Dear British People,Thank you; we understand you now.Sincerely, America.----------------------WHAT THE BRITISH SAY WHAT THE BRITISH MEAN WHAT FOREIGNERS... Read more
Posted on 04 September 2013 SOCIETY -
Dear Congress: Please Make President Obama Look Bad on Syria (Even If Your...
[Cross-posted to Political Context]To Senators Roberts and Moran and Representative Pompeo,Sometime in the next week or so, Speaker of the House John Boehner an... Read more
Posted on 04 September 2013 SOCIETY -
My APSA Report, 2013
It's been a while since I've written any reflections on the American Political Science Association's annual meeting--in part, I suppose, because I don't get... Read more
Posted on 02 September 2013 SOCIETY -
Remembering Radio (and Me), Part 4: 1993
And so, 1993: twenty years ago, the year I turned 25, graduated from BYU, started graduate school, and married Melissa. And also, to a great extent, stopped... Read more
Posted on 29 August 2013 SOCIETY