Tag Archives: Because I can

25 Years of Opinion

Posted on January 8, 2013 by Ralph Hanson

Twenty-five years ago this week I started teaching college at Northern Arizona University.  Among the classes I taught that semester was Opinion Writing. Today, I’ll be starting in on a fresh section of that class, only now it’s called Commentary … Continue reading →

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Sept. 12 Anniversary – We Choose to go to the Moon

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Ralph Hanson

No, not the anniversary of the day after Sept. 11, but the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s “We Choose to go to the Moon” speech at Rice University. “We choose to go to the moon. We choose to … Continue reading →

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A Motorcycle Ride to the United 93 Memorial on a Rainy Summer Day

Posted on September 11, 2012 by Ralph Hanson

This has nothing to do with the media. It’s a brief story about a ride I took on my motorcycle to the United 93 Memorial on a rainy June day back in 2004. It was written shortly after I had … Continue reading →

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Disney Princesses – Evil or Sweet?

Posted on September 5, 2012 by Ralph Hanson

Ever wonder what an Evil Disney Little Mermaid might be like?  How about Cinderella as a pumpkin head?  Of course, there’s always sweet re-imagining of Disney princesses as well, but what’s the fun in that?

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Questions Worth Asking (Maybe)

Posted on August 27, 2012 by Ralph Hanson

Does the New York Times have a pervasive progressive world view? Outgoing public editor thinks so.  Exec editor, not so much…. (via Mediaite) Where did the Internet come from? A bit more on the general who got frustrated trying to … Continue reading →

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Some great back-to-school videos

Posted on August 23, 2012 by Ralph Hanson

In addition to this blog, I also run a Tumblr at http://ralphehanson.tumblr.com.  I use that to post quotes, photos, videos and the like with little comment or context. Here are a few videos I’ve posted there lately that would make … Continue reading →

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Link Ch. 11 – Punk Polka, It Exists (as does Techno Polka)

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Ralph Hanson

So I made a bit of a joke about punk polka as long-tail content in my book Mass Communication: Living in a Media World.  But it’s only partially a joke.  Punk polka actually (well, sorta) exists. Here’s a story from … Continue reading →

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Best Obit Ever

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Ralph Hanson

I hope when I die my family can have this good of a sense of humor about it.

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Star Wars Episode II – Attack of the Clones as a tribute to the films of Ridley Scott

Posted on March 9, 2012 by Ralph Hanson

I’ve been rewatching the Star Wars prequels riding the exercise bike at night lately, and after finishing Episode II – Attack of the Clones, I’m reminded of a couple things. First, for me Attack of the Clones is by far the … Continue reading →

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Paula Deen’s Diabetes Isn’t Funny

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Ralph Hanson

Paula Deen’s diagnosis of diabetes is not funny. She didn’t have it coming. She doesn’t deserve it. No one does. Most of us in the United States eat a less than ideal diet.  Many of us are overweight. But, but … Continue reading →

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