I have a much smarter brother named Joe. He’s a scientist. In fact, he’s an expert on toxicology and risk assessment who has lectured about public health policy around the world. He wrote a book, called “Calculated Risks: The Toxicity and Human Health Risks of Chemicals in our Environment,” that has been widely used as … Continue reading Respect for smarts and science even as Trump nominates a dangerous quack to lead public health policy
A Bridge Too Far in Western Maryland; the fight for hemlocks and history continues
In the far western corner of Maryland, Steve Storck (photo above) keeps fighting for the old hemlocks in Swallows Falls State Park. As I reported a couple of months ago, the plan to replace a single-lane bridge over the Youghiogheny River, near the entrance to the park, with a wider parallel span would cut into … Continue reading A Bridge Too Far in Western Maryland; the fight for hemlocks and history continues
Mitch McConnell, the greatest enabler in U.S. history, kept Trump out of prison
I'll employ a legal metaphor -- "fruit of a poisonous tree" -- to trace the path of one of the worst failures in U.S. history: The failure to hold Trump criminally responsible for the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and Congress, a failure that kept Trump eligible to run for president a third time. … Continue reading Mitch McConnell, the greatest enabler in U.S. history, kept Trump out of prison
Don’t be fooled by black & white images; it’s happening here and now
This old photograph of Nazi propaganda minister Goebbels addressing his deputies makes it seem like something from ancient times -- gone with the winds of history, an image from a lost world. The Western nations supposedly learned a severe lesson from Germany in World War II: Never, in the post-war alliance, would a fascist dictator … Continue reading Don’t be fooled by black & white images; it’s happening here and now
Snow was no problem for Eddie and Pete
You might not believe it — and sometimes I can’t believe it myself — but this is how the sidewalks in my hometown in Massachusetts were plowed all through my boyhood and at least until after I left East Bridgewater for college. The winters were long, snowy, rainy and gray and, for what seemed interminable … Continue reading Snow was no problem for Eddie and Pete
Trump lies, Andy Harris amplifies
Bad enough that Fox "News" and Trump spread the lie that the attacker in the New Orleans horror had driven to Bourbon Street from Mexico, suggesting that the crime was the result of Biden border policy. It was a lie, of course. The killer of 14 was an American citizen and Army veteran. He crossed … Continue reading Trump lies, Andy Harris amplifies
When the world seems perfect
I'm not much for recycling old columns -- I have written more than 6,600 of them since 1979 -- but came across this one while surfing through the archive and thought it might be worth reprinting and reflection here. This was published in The Baltimore Sun on Dec. 30, 2007. That's the year before Obama's … Continue reading When the world seems perfect
The French Butter Bell: Le beurrier
The French butter bell is having a moment in social media. It has been around for several centuries, at least in Europe. The bell allows you to safely leave butter at room temperature so that it's soft when want it to be -- for spreading on baguette or brioche, crepe or pancake, waffle or whatever. … Continue reading The French Butter Bell: Le beurrier
Only .00018 days in prison per tire?
My son and I drove by this place in Westernport, Allegany County, a couple of months ago during a fishing trip and assumed it was a legit (and grotesque) tire dump. We were half right: It was grotesque but not legit. On Dec. 18, a Maryland judge sentenced Michel Osei, 48, to 45 days in … Continue reading Only .00018 days in prison per tire?
A kind county cop in the middle of the night
I included this story in my Christmas column in The Baltimore Sun. I thought I would pull it out and post it here, so that it stands alone. I met Shelley Grant (photo above) on Monday, as she arrived for lunch at Our Daily Bread in Baltimore. She told me a great story about an … Continue reading A kind county cop in the middle of the night
Dan Rodricks 