Maggie's Farm

Quite true. I was gulled for two decades by such esteemed rags as the "Nation," "In These Times," and "Harpers." I used to think even that Lewis Lapham was sane. As my responsibilities increased and I became more of a working dad and less the cafe intellectual, I began to realize just how much the liberal intelligentsia were full of themselves. Happily, today, I appreciate the "Chicago Tribune" as it completely covers the urine spots left by my old dog on the basement floor when she can't get to the yard.

If I need to skim the daily news, I can pop over to Lucianne and a host of other fine Internet sites.

In some sympathy for the press, I do recall just how well-read the tradesmen who worked with and for my dad were fifty years ago. Those were also the days of four daily English newspapers in Chicago and a number of foreign language papers including two Polish dailies. Guys with thick calluses on their hands did read, did discuss--a lost art--and did lay bricks and mix cement all in the same lifetime.