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Book Reviews: Button Man
Button ManAndrew GrossI thought that this book was a bait and switch. A button man is of course an older term for mobster, or specifically a hitman/enforcer/bodyguard. As the fictional Willie Cicci...
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Movie Reviews: Hotel Mumbai
Hotel Mumbaidirected by Anthony MarasHotel Mumbai was Maras' directorial debut. Maras is a cousin of Nick Mamatas (author of I am Providence, reviewed here) and of the Greek singer Eleftheria...
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Michigan White Woman Calls Police On Black Man For Reckless Eyeballing
American Black men who are present where white people think they shouldn't be or who look at a white person and scare that person can be in danger of being assaulted (if the white person in question...
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Stuyvesant and The Limits of Affirmative Action
I support public and private sector workplace affirmative action programs. Many people have a strong preference for their own and a disdain for Black intelligence and competence. We live in a very...
View ArticleYellowstone Park: When Bison Attack
I would like to think that as an adult I would be smart enough to stay far away from a one ton bison. I also like to think that if a child of mine were in danger I would run to try to save that child...
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Movie Reviews: The Great Race
The Great Racedirected by Blake EdwardsI first saw this film as a child many many years ago but had forgotten the title. I recently ran across it. It's a slapstick comedy with a side order of The...
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Movie Reviews: Ode to Joy
Ode to Joydirected by Jason WinerThis is an intermittently humorous though predictable romantic comedy that deftly weaves through some dark passageways before returning to the crowd pleasing formula...
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Movie Reviews: Greta, Creed 2
Gretadirected by Neil JordanGreta has the very serious and greatly acclaimed French actress Isabelle Huppert playing the title role in a movie which is almost certainly far beneath her talents but at...
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Movie Reviews: Replicas
Replicasdirected by Jeffrey NachmanoffReplicas is a example of how even a movie that has A-list stars is still subject to story limits. Top stars paired with a great story usually means a great movie....
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Karachi: City of Flies
More people live in the Pakistani city of Karachi than live in the states of Michigan and Wisconsin combined. I would not care to reside in a place with so many people and so little space or privacy. I...
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Book Reviews: Goodbye Homeboy
Goodbye Homeboyby Steve Mariotti with Debra DeviI am always intrigued to find that a person talented in one field is also skilled in another. The musician Debra Devi's new book demonstrates that Devi...
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Movie Reviews: Brightburn
Brightburndirected by David YaroveskyRichard Donner directed Superman and The Omen. Brightburn is a low budget earnest mashup of those movies. It is produced by the people who created Guardians of the...
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Religious Freedom and 7-Eleven Foot Washing
I dislike people using my kitchen sink to wash their hands. It's not the worst offense but I have a strong preference in keeping the areas where I clean utensils and prepare food separate from the...
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Des Moines Iowa Lawyer Works as Prostitute; Urges Decriminalization
The obvious joke is that lawyers screw you over one way or another. At least with this attorney you'll hopefully leave the experience with a smile on your face.DES MOINES, Iowa —A Des Moines attorney...
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Detroit Public School Chess Prodigy Charisse Woods
I have always enjoyed playing chess. I wish I were better at it. One person who is better at it than I and likely to improve more in the future is Charisse Woods, a ninth grader at Detroit's Cass...
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Michigan Apples Arrive
One good thing about living in Michigan is that you get first dibs on a pretty amazing variety of apples every fall. Now it won't officially be fall for another ten days or so but football has started,...
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Movie Reviews: It Chapter Two
It Chapter Twodirected by Andy MuschiettiThis is the sequel to the previous It movie, reviewed here. Both films are based on Stephen's King's 1986 novel. This movie is set in the current day, about...
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Representative Rashida Tlaib, Netanyahu and Trump
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at the alleged behest of President Donald Trump, recently barred US Representatives Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar from visiting Israel and the Palestinian...
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Michigan Prosecutor Sleeps with Rape Victim
You would imagine that most prosecutors of sex crimes would be focused on making sure that justice was done and that the perpetrator of the crime was justly punished. You would imagine that a...
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Movie Reviews: Ma
Madirected by Tate TaylorThis is a horror film. But maybe that description might give you the wrong idea. It's as much a thriller film as horror. There are relatively few jump cuts used. Those that do...
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