A Debate Champion’s Guide: How to find the truth.

Competing in debate, our Fairmont High School team accumulated an impressive series of wins, ultimately landing us in completion for the state championship in Minnesota. Debate wins come by accumulating points.  Not only the “quality and reasonableness” of an argument, but the sources used to back it up.  We learned… Continue reading

But how do we know it is true?

In response to an email suggestion to watch the documentary “Totally Under Control,” a friend replied saying: “Thanks! Sounds interesting…but I have to ask the question: is it true? How do we know?” With all the charges of “fake news” and media distrust, it turns out the methods for determining credibility… Continue reading

Disproportionate High Value # 2: The Week Magazine

After retiring, I stopped renewing subscriptions to 5-6 monthly business magazines, daily delivery of the WSJ, NYT and half a dozen trade publications. Electronic versions have not caught on with me, so call me a journalistic dinosaur.  I don’t care. I missed BusinessWeek and the WSJ Weekend Edition the most.… Continue reading