Category Archives: Politics

Twitter and Tear Gas

Posted on September 12, 2021 by Harry Katz

The brutal murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer on May 25, 2020 sparked widespread protest across the US. In Seattle, where I live, demonstrations centered in an area called Capitol Hill. For nearly a month protesters occupied … Continue reading →

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Invisible Women

Posted on August 15, 2021 by Harry Katz

I strongly recommend Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men to half the people of the world – the male half. Women may not need to read this book as much because they are, unfortunately, living it. … Continue reading →

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US Supreme Court continues its attack on voting rights

Posted on July 4, 2021 by Harry Katz

In this post I’m taking a break from book reviews and making one of my occasional forays into reviewing decisions by the US Supreme Court. (Disclaimer: I’m not a lawyer and I don’t have any formal legal training. The opinions … Continue reading →

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Amend: The Fight for America

Posted on April 18, 2021 by Harry Katz

I can’t remember ever reviewing a television show before, let alone recommending one, but I guess there’s a first time for everything. Amend: The Fight for America is a six-part Netflix documentary hosted by Will Smith. It’s about the on-going … Continue reading →

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The Sum of Us

Posted on March 28, 2021 by Harry Katz

In the 1920’s and 30’s, towns and cities across the United States built large, beautiful public swimming pools for their communities. Montgomery, Alabama was one such town. Its Oak Park pool was one of the largest in the region. It … Continue reading →

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Notes on An Insurrection

Posted on January 10, 2021 by Harry Katz

I usually post book reviews on this blog, but the books about Wednesday’s armed insurrection by a mob of violent white supremacists at the US Capitol, instigated by Donald Trump, have not yet been written. I’m not going to wait. … Continue reading →

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Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents

Posted on December 31, 2020 by Harry Katz

Reading, and writing about what I read, helped me stay sane this awful year. I’m glad to wrap up 2020 with Isabel Wilkerson’s acclaimed book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. Caste: The Origins of Our DiscontentsBy Isabel WilkersonRandom House, … Continue reading →

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A Promised Land

Posted on December 13, 2020 by Harry Katz

I don’t often read biographies, and I almost never read memoirs, but I made an exception for Barack Obama. His presidential memoir, A Promised Land, covers his early life and career through the first two years of his presidency, up … Continue reading →

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21 Lessons for the 21st Century

Posted on November 15, 2020 by Harry Katz

Humans are storytellers.  We tell stories to understand our place in the world and to give our lives purpose and meaning.  Shared stories help bind us together into communities, tribes, nations and civilizations.  We understand stories better than facts. 21 … Continue reading →

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Election Reflection:  A Narrow Escape

Posted on November 8, 2020 by Harry Katz

What a relief! Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have been elected President and Vice President. Although the last few votes are still being counted in a couple of states, and there will still be some legal challenges, it’s clear they … Continue reading →

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