Time to Think

The Great Pause Part Two by Hank Silverberg It's Passover, a holiday where Jews around the world re-tell the story of our escape from slavery in Egypt over 3,500 years ago. The name of the holiday comes from the story which is recounted in the Old Testament Book of Exodus (11:4-6). Jews put lamb's blood over their doorways as God eliminated the first born of the Egyptians as the tenth and final plague to convince the Pharaoh to let the Hebrew slaves go. The Angel of Death passed over Jewish homes. You probably know the passages, though it is told a bit differently depending on which version of the Old Testament you read.  It is an event that rings loudly this Passover as most Jews spent the holiday social distancing instead of holding huge Seders with extended family to commemorate our freedom from bondage.  My family, which often holds a huge Seder on whatever Saturday falls in the Passover week, was forced to do so virtually this year. Three generati...

"The Great Pause"   By Hank Silverberg  I had hoped that the United States, in the midst of it's biggest crises since 9-11, or more comparative, World War Two, would pull together to fight the corona virus without any political nonsense. But that has not happened, and it has simply made the pandemic worse.  (Microscopic Covid-19. Courtesy of CDC) President Trump has shown once again his inability to listen to the advice of experts, and has in fact increased resistance to protective measures by basically making things up. And then when the media points out that he has been contradicted by very credible scientists, he attacks the media for reporting it with his usual crude tone.   Trump's vindictive attacks on governors like New York's Andrew Cuomo, have been counter-productive and misleading, making the job more difficult for a number of local leaders.   His minions haven't been much better. His son-in- law, Jared Kushner, said perhaps...

(Note to readers. A draft version of this week's blog was mistakenly sent out on Saturday. My apologies for the error.)  Staying Home by Hank Silverberg Are you staying home?  I've been holed up for over two weeks now. I have been teaching my communications students on-line, but except  for a few quick runs to the grocery store, it's been my house or my backyard.  (My temporary classroom for on-line teaching)  Like many people, Social Media has helped a lot.  I have spent some time with family and friends on the phone from other parts of the country whom I haven't talked to in a while and I have caught up with many others on Facebook and elsewhere on line, but I really miss the in- person contact. I have always taught my students that face-to -face contact is the best way to communicate. That's almost impossible now.  Many of you have probably had similar experiences, so you may relate.  I had a follow-up visit to my doctor, (I'm not ...

Covid-19, Bucky Dent and Steve Martin By Hank Silverberg You’ve heard a great deal about COVID-19 over the last few weeks and I hope you are taking the guidance from the medical professionals seriously. The most visual one is Dr. Anthony Fauci, the infectious disease expert from the National Institutes of Health. I interviewed Dr. Fauci many times over my years as a reporter on various types of infections, from the flu to E-bola. He knows what he is talking about, and you should take what he says as science and the truth,   not speculation or politics. He has been at NIH since the Reagan administration more than 30 years ago. He doesn’t play politics.     He also has contradicted some pretty dumb things Donald Trump has said about COVID-19. At one of Trump’s news conference last week, while Trump was talking, Dr. Fauci’s uncomfortable body language included a face plant.  Mr. Trump proved once again he is not a very good leader. The best example...

Does It Make Any Census? By Hank Silverberg I’ve been counted. I filled out the census form on line. It was short and sweet. Instead of getting this huge five-page form in the mail, this year those of us in areas with good internet access are being asked to go on-line and fill out the form. You’ll get a one-page letter with a special code just for your address. In more rural or internet deficient areas, you will still get a paper form. If you don’t fill out either the census on-line or on paper, someone will eventually show up at your front door to ask the same questions.   The Census is mandated in the U.S. Constitution and has many uses, but it is primarily done so that congressional districts across the country and in each state will have approximately the same number of people. That is designed so that we are all equally represented in Congress   (except those in the District of Columbia, but talking about that flaw will be saved for another day). T...