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I'm Your Vehicle, Detroit

Paneling for the Benchley Den

This column also was published in the July 2011 newsletter of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. Once again, an NSNC columnist conference astounded its audience with information and fun. The June 23-26 session in Detroit catered to would-be and published book writers, gave fresh tips to free-lancers (and in “custom content” not just columns), […]

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I'm Your Vehicle, Detroit

Roger and Me

Roger Ebert receives the 2011 Ernie Pyle Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists A version of this Brick is published at columnists.com. DETROIT, Saturday, June 25, 2011 — Following is the acceptance speech of Roger Ebert for the NSNC’s Ernie Pyle Lifetime Achievement Award. Ebert’s physical condition prevented him from accepting in person, […]

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I'm Your Vehicle, Detroit

Folio the Leader

“Other than that, how did you like the play, Mrs. Lincoln?” — Attributed to Tom Lehrer DETROIT, 8:47 a.m. EDT, Friday, June 24, 2011 — Hear ye, hear ye, (swat newspaper) I am Ben Pollock, president of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. I hereby call the 35th annual NSNC conference to order! [Swat paper? […]

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Brick Bats Reportage

A Columnist’s Scrapbook

The following is my president’s column for the June 2011 edition of the monthly newsletter of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. The NSNC Conference, three days out of 365, is a highlight of my year. Apparently, I mustn’t have a life. Actually, I do have a grand life, and NSNC has been a huge […]

Categories
American Culture

Axis of Nice

The following is my president’s column for the May 2011 edition of the monthly newsletter of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. Had a bizarre dream the other night, that World War III had started. I saw Dianne Feinstein, she having moved up from senator to secretary of state or vice president, holding a news […]

Categories
Body, Home, Street

Get to Know Your reDistrict

Copyright 2011 Ben S. Pollock The strongest proposal before the Arkansas General Assembly to reapportion the state’s four congressional districts involves a serious attempt to gerrymander. The question before the body is what does the amphibious gerrymander eat? Houseflies — and votes. The aim is to divide the state into four roughly equal populations. My […]