GUERRILLA COMICS: A Light Went Off In My Head

We of a certain age and generational experience know the expression “A light went on in my head.” We even remember a little cartoon bubble drawn over a head, with a little light bulb in it and jagged rays around it, depicting in cartoon a light, literally, going on, in a head. We may actually have “changed” actual “bulbs,” as some of us have “changed” actual “tires.” A light going off may have been depicted differently.

Now, lights bulbs may be going off in our heads all the time. All sorts of things may have been going off in our heads. We suspect that this is what is happening when things get a bit dimmer, our speech gets a little fuzzier, and the thought we were just shaping evaporates, and we just know we’re not getting it back. We also think we have some idea what we experience when flash-bulbs go off in our heads. Maybe the woman meant a flash-bulb. That’s scary, though. I’m not sure I would be talking about that on NPR. Flash-bulbs did used to “go off,” you know. Not like digitally, or whatever. Like when gunshots ”go off. ” In our heads. You know?

THE FAITH CARD: FAIR AND BALANCED

 
Nothing matches the shrill accusation that an assertion is not “fair and balanced.” Make a claim. Someone hollers “not fair and balanced” from the wings (more…)

“Crude Parodies Which No-One Has A Right To Erase:” Camille Paglia

“There are very few instances where speech properly falls under government scrutiny (more…)

“Our Incomprehension Does Not Impede Our Understanding…” Steven Pinker

“Our incomprehension of (_____) does not impede our understanding of how (_____) works (more…)

FAIR AND BALANCED? Both Sides Of A What?

Fair and Balanced.  If you don’t quickly insert a counterclaim into your assertion, not only your claim, but you, our dear ad hominem Reader, will be shouted to pieces. (more…)

Those Who Think Action Might Be In Order Will Be Called Men Of Little Faith: John Kenneth Galbraith

The market will not go on a speculative rampage again without some rationalization. But during any future boom (more…)

The Monstrous Institution of Rumor: Robert Pogue Harrison

“We live in a world that traffics in rumors. From prophet to disciple, neighbor to neighbor, binding the living to the dead and the dead (more…)