We Are His Voice: An Update About Hossein Ronaghi

Posted on by Mark Aldrich

Since his return to prison in January, Iranian blogger Hossein Ronaghi’s health has deteriorated to the point that he has been taken to outside clinics on at least two occasions, including today, according to reports on Twitter, but he has not been admitted to a hospital because prosecutors (not doctors) have determined that his condition is not serious.
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Today in History: March 30

Posted on by Mark Aldrich

A deluded young man attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan 35 years ago today. Reagan had been president for only 69 days. CNN was less than a year old and its 48 straight hours covering the story helped it construct a reputation for being a comprehensive and reliable news operation.

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“Color Me Barbra,” the second of Barbra Streisand’s television concerts, was broadcast 50 years ago tonight on CBS. It was nominated for five Emmy awards (winning none) and earned her unanimous praise. “The Minute Waltz” (below the fold):
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Nothing to Conceal

Posted on by Mark Aldrich

I am a very private person, plus I am pretty committed to being co-dependent with the planet, so I probably waste more psychic energy and time trying to give other people their privacy than I spend on maintaining my own. Especially in those moments when it seems that people around me are oblivious to their horrible and immediate need to simply keep things to themselves. Or to warn me of imminent over-sharing.

I could blame cell phones, blame Facebook and Instagram, think some thoughts about the effect of self-help groups and therapy on the culture at large, but after thinking all those deep thoughts, I do not care about your details, unless you are my dearest, most intimate friend(s). No. Not even then. Even then, there are things I do not really need to know. The details.
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