Commentary Despite being the butt of late night comics’ jokes, there are a lot of good things about Florida. But then every once in a while… When Sharon and I announced that we would be moving to Florida at a dinner in Marin County with some of closest friends, the reaction was a combination ofContinue reading “Florida, my Florida”
Author Archives: Ted Block
The land where almost no one visited and its favorite son, Joe, Duke of Manchin
A Fable The story of one ambitious man’s rise to power, influence and breathtaking lack of irony. Once upon a time there was a land where almost no one visited. The land was unblessed, except for one thing. Black, dusty stuff that came out of the ground. No one in this land knew what toContinue reading “The land where almost no one visited and its favorite son, Joe, Duke of Manchin”
Federal judge overturns California’s ban on assault weapons
Commentary Ruling leads to the first annual Around the Block “One of these things is not like the others” contest Before we get deep into the headlined story, I thought it might be fun if we’d first take a break and warm up with the first annual Around the Block “One Of These Things IsContinue reading “Federal judge overturns California’s ban on assault weapons”
The revelations of a road trip
Commentary How a drive in Florida reminded me of what I learned and didn’t learn in school. Around the Block has been quiet for a while. It’s not because I haven’t had any things I’ve wanted to say; there’s plenty to say: Trump is back; “Trumpism” never went away; Pence is still acting the toady;Continue reading “The revelations of a road trip”
“I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore!”
Commentary A Daily Kos reader responded to a recent Around the Block about voter suppression lamenting “sarcastic diaries*” like mine, I guess, while “…still waiting for someone who has an ingenious solution.” I believe it will take more than “ingenuity.” (*”Diary” is the Daily Kos term for a story.) I frequently re-post Around the BlockContinue reading ““I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore!””
If you can’t ‘beat em,’ ‘cheat em!’
Commentary With GOP-led voter suppression bills spreading around Red States like wild-fire, Around the Block asks, are they really going as far as they should? Well, it’s official – my adopted state of Florida has joined a growing list of Republican-led states in making it more difficult to vote. The Florida law, signed by theContinue reading “If you can’t ‘beat em,’ ‘cheat em!’”
Bad Cops, Confused Cops, Guns, Knoxville and My Oldest Friend
Commentary Bad Things…Worse Things…Strange Things Many Around the Block readers know that I spend a fair amount of time in Knoxville, Tennessee. Why? Well, it’s not just because Knoxville is a pleasant, mid-size city set at the foot of the picturesque Smokey Mountains. It’s not because of its vibrant downtown scene centered around the mainContinue reading “Bad Cops, Confused Cops, Guns, Knoxville and My Oldest Friend”
Mitch McConnell to Corporate America: “STAY OUT OF POLITICS!”
News with a Twist Senate Minority Leader discusses his position in an exclusive one-on-one interview with Around the Block Around the Block: Good evening Senator McConnell. Thank you for agreeing to this sit down. This is an exciting moment for Around the Block and our readers.
Presidential Library and Trump is a contradiction in terms
Why would anyone think a building called a library should be built for an individual who probably never read a book or ever set foot in one?”
Rubio y Cruz: Como dos guisantes podridos en una vaina.*
I’m writing about these two “esteemed” senators today because they’ve both recently been in the news – Cruz for his very publicized sojourn to the Southern border; Rubio for his not so well-known concerns about UFOs.
Around the Block 