Dr. Ed Cook
@edwardmcook.bsky.social
Academic, Democrat, Episcopalian. Blogging since 2004 at ralphriver.blogspot.com
New thoughts on an old song.
ralphriver.blogspot.com/2025/10/blow...
ralphriver.blogspot.com/2025/10/blow...
Blowin' in the Howlin' Wind
Back in 1974—before the flood—I went to hear Bob Dylan in person for the first time, in Fort Worth, Texas, backed by The Band. The set list ...
ralphriver.blogspot.com
October 12, 2025 at 2:03 AM
New thoughts on an old song.
ralphriver.blogspot.com/2025/10/blow...
ralphriver.blogspot.com/2025/10/blow...
Feels like the US has been taken over by a hostile power.
September 21, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Feels like the US has been taken over by a hostile power.
סברנא דנגידא ימות בעגל ובזמן קריב
September 20, 2025 at 12:09 PM
סברנא דנגידא ימות בעגל ובזמן קריב
Public murder is always disturbing, but also disturbing is finding out how many Catholics and evangelicals revered Charlie Kirk.
September 13, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Public murder is always disturbing, but also disturbing is finding out how many Catholics and evangelicals revered Charlie Kirk.
Reposted by Dr. Ed Cook
Reposted by Dr. Ed Cook
"We’re creating something even more dangerous to the country: A masked monster of a law enforcement agency, one uniquely unsuited for its new power, authority, reach, and funding levels."
Spending $200 billion on ICE is a terrible idea
I've covered federal law enforcement for two decades. Here are the things that worry me most.
www.motherjones.com
August 12, 2025 at 7:25 PM
"We’re creating something even more dangerous to the country: A masked monster of a law enforcement agency, one uniquely unsuited for its new power, authority, reach, and funding levels."
I've always found Stephen King's books a good read. He has narrative powers that few can match. But generally his setup is more compelling than his payoff. I just read "The Outsider" and it's a good example. The final triumph is a little ... contrived? stagey?
July 23, 2025 at 10:16 PM
I've always found Stephen King's books a good read. He has narrative powers that few can match. But generally his setup is more compelling than his payoff. I just read "The Outsider" and it's a good example. The final triumph is a little ... contrived? stagey?
For Juneteenth, I read "James." At first I thought it was a bit contrived, but it won me over. It should make a great movie.
June 21, 2025 at 10:31 PM
For Juneteenth, I read "James." At first I thought it was a bit contrived, but it won me over. It should make a great movie.
One of my favorite later period Brian Wilson songs.
Auuuum dop diddit.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPe7...
Auuuum dop diddit.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPe7...
The Beach Boys - This Whole World
YouTube video by greatmusicforyou
www.youtube.com
June 12, 2025 at 12:25 PM
One of my favorite later period Brian Wilson songs.
Auuuum dop diddit.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPe7...
Auuuum dop diddit.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPe7...
Hoping that Laura Loomer goes to her long home soon.
May 20, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Hoping that Laura Loomer goes to her long home soon.
Reposted by Dr. Ed Cook
Statement from the #MusiciansUnion of the United States 🇺🇸 and #Canada 🇨🇦 to the fat bastard #BruceSpringsteen #TaylorSwift
May 17, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Statement from the #MusiciansUnion of the United States 🇺🇸 and #Canada 🇨🇦 to the fat bastard #BruceSpringsteen #TaylorSwift
Reminder: He doesn't actually care about religion.
wordandway.org/2025/04/28/t...
wordandway.org/2025/04/28/t...
Trump Cuts to Humanities Grants Undermine a Stated Priority: Restoring Religion - Word&Way
President Donald Trump ran on a campaign promise to ‘bring back religion.’ The NEH grants he canceled include several that advance understanding of Judaism and Christianity.
wordandway.org
May 5, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Reminder: He doesn't actually care about religion.
wordandway.org/2025/04/28/t...
wordandway.org/2025/04/28/t...
RIP Jill Sobule. :(
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yES...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yES...
Rainy Day Parade
YouTube video by Jill Sobule - Topic
www.youtube.com
May 2, 2025 at 1:43 PM
RIP Jill Sobule. :(
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yES...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yES...
First-century tomb, Jerusalem, with intact stone rolled away.
April 21, 2025 at 5:42 PM
First-century tomb, Jerusalem, with intact stone rolled away.
עברנו את פרעה ונעבור גם את זה
We got through Pharaoh, we'll get through this too. Happy Passover and Palm Sunday.
We got through Pharaoh, we'll get through this too. Happy Passover and Palm Sunday.
April 13, 2025 at 1:57 PM
עברנו את פרעה ונעבור גם את זה
We got through Pharaoh, we'll get through this too. Happy Passover and Palm Sunday.
We got through Pharaoh, we'll get through this too. Happy Passover and Palm Sunday.
American Foreign Policy Is Being Run by the Dumbest Motherfuckers Alive
open.substack.com/pub/danieldr...
open.substack.com/pub/danieldr...
American Foreign Policy Is Being Run by the Dumbest Motherfuckers Alive
The fuckwittery on display right now by Trump's foreign policy team boggles the mind.
open.substack.com
March 25, 2025 at 12:29 AM
American Foreign Policy Is Being Run by the Dumbest Motherfuckers Alive
open.substack.com/pub/danieldr...
open.substack.com/pub/danieldr...
Better woke than broke
March 12, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Better woke than broke
Finished "Our Mutual Friend." There was a fairy-tale behind the realistic setting that gives structure to the plot. Superb novel. (Warning: It proceeds at a leisurely pace.) Favorite character: Jenny Wren, the dolls' dressmaker. #dickens
March 9, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Finished "Our Mutual Friend." There was a fairy-tale behind the realistic setting that gives structure to the plot. Superb novel. (Warning: It proceeds at a leisurely pace.) Favorite character: Jenny Wren, the dolls' dressmaker. #dickens
I love my Catholic brothers and sisters, but I wish they wouldn't wear their Ash Wednesday ashes on their head all day. It comes across as piety signaling. "But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may not be seen by others" (Matt 6:17-18).
March 6, 2025 at 8:43 PM
I love my Catholic brothers and sisters, but I wish they wouldn't wear their Ash Wednesday ashes on their head all day. It comes across as piety signaling. "But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may not be seen by others" (Matt 6:17-18).
Now 24 followers, 16 of them bots.
March 5, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Now 24 followers, 16 of them bots.
What should I give up for Lent, which starts tomorrow? I'm thinking of doing a 1 day a week "scrolling fast"--staying off addictive (to me) sites like Reddit, Apple News, and the Feedly aggregator.
March 5, 2025 at 1:32 AM
What should I give up for Lent, which starts tomorrow? I'm thinking of doing a 1 day a week "scrolling fast"--staying off addictive (to me) sites like Reddit, Apple News, and the Feedly aggregator.
After my own fashion, I have loved, and still love, the US, evangelical Christianity, and Israel ... but I see these large entities lining up on the side of wrongdoing, and it grieves me to the core. This bass note of grief is now always in the background even on my good days.
February 20, 2025 at 1:21 AM
After my own fashion, I have loved, and still love, the US, evangelical Christianity, and Israel ... but I see these large entities lining up on the side of wrongdoing, and it grieves me to the core. This bass note of grief is now always in the background even on my good days.