Written

A water drop and ripples

Yes, CRT is in the schools.

By Justin Katz | December 23, 2021 |

In case anybody is still making the claim that there isn’t any critical race theory (CRT) in American public schools, John Murawski has an extensive article on RealClearInvestigations presenting evidence that there is: These denials, which have been amplified by many news organizations, are at odds with overwhelming evidence – documented by class lessons, school curricula,…

An old house next to a graveyard

Sam Bell’s Havoc-Wreaking Plan to Capture a Federal Housing Coupon

By Justin Katz | December 23, 2021 |

Progressive Senator Sam Bell’s housing report is impressive as a sophomore’s research project, but it’d be nice if professional journalists would give readers some sense of what the academic exercise would look like in the real world.

A Providence neighborhood at night

We never ask the right questions about surveys like the Rhode Island Life Index.

By Justin Katz | December 22, 2021 |

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island and Brown University now have several years of data in the compilation of their Rhode Island Life Index, which is basically a survey of how Rhode Islanders perceive various aspects of the Ocean State experience.  Subindexes contributing to an overall score of 63 (out of 100) include: Quality…

A water drop and ripples

The United States has so much energy potential.

By Justin Katz | December 22, 2021 |

The current occupant of the White House may have dialed our nation’s capacity to generate sources of energy, but at least our system for handling its shipment and export is moving forward: The United States is on course to have the world’s biggest exporting capacity of liquified natural gas (LNG) by 2022, surpassing Qatar and…

An IV drip

An Open Letter to Governor Daniel McKee with COVID Solutions

By Michael Chippendale | December 22, 2021 |

Governor McKee’s commands will not help hospitals, schools, businesses, or the people of Rhode Island, but a different approach is possible.

A water drop and ripples

Maybe a reminder is necessary on “Latinx.”

By Justin Katz | December 22, 2021 |

Enforced use of the term, “Latinx,” is exactly the cultural imperialism that progressives claim to oppose.  As usual, they only actually oppose the forced spread of ideas that don’t jibe with their own beliefs.  Just look at how Marisa Penaloza writes about a Pew Research Center survey finding “only 3% [of Latinos] say they use…

A water drop and ripples

The thing about Michael Fine is that he’s a socialist.

By Justin Katz | December 22, 2021 |

Interestingly, Dr. Michael Fine is against non-vaccination shaming, mainly because he isn’t very confident in the vaccines we have against COVID.  One gets the impression, however, that he makes that concession in order to promote his real goal: If everyone stops going to bars and restaurants TODAY, and stops shopping TODAY, we’ll see a drop…

A Salvation Army bell ringer

The Salvation Army’s slide is only a mystery inside the mainstream bubble.

By Justin Katz | December 22, 2021 |

Kelly O’Neill reports for WJAR that the Salvation Army is 11% behind on donations in Rhode Island and 30% in New Bedford.  Whether the percentages are “behind the goal” or “behind last year” isn’t clear, but it amounts to tens of thousands of dollars in this area.  Rhode Island’s state coordinator, Roger Duperree points to…

The pain box in Dune 1984

In the modern context, Dune’s Pain Box would be an Affirmation Box.

By Justin Katz | December 21, 2021 |

With Dune back in the popular culture, all people of good will and right mind should be relieved that it includes one of the most profound moments of the book, captured here in the prior movie adaptation because it was the best clip I could find quickly:     The quick summary is this:  The priestess…

A water drop and ripples

Another RI journalist grays the border between media and government.

By Justin Katz | December 21, 2021 |

One can’t fault individuals for making the best career decisions for themselves at each step, and we should assume that every professional is doing the best he or she can to do a job well and honestly in the moment.  Still, every time a Rhode Island journalist proves that a job in government communications is…