{"id":5279,"date":"2006-04-22T18:37:21","date_gmt":"2006-04-22T22:37:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.law.harvard.edu\/formerlyknownas\/2006\/04\/22\/a-little-less-obsession-would"},"modified":"2011-08-05T14:53:59","modified_gmt":"2011-08-05T18:53:59","slug":"a-little-less-obsession-would-be-nice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/2006\/04\/22\/a-little-less-obsession-would-be-nice\/","title":{"rendered":"a little less obsession would be nice"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Once again, it seems to be time for Your Editor to take about “12 Steps” <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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away <\/FONT>from my laptop.  At least figuratively — and at least regarding the <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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punditry <\/FONT>portion of this multi-personality-but-sole-proprietor weblog.  As <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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it has on <\/FONT>numerous occasions, contentious commentary is wearing me <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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out (see <\/FONT>e.g<\/EM>.,<\/FONT><\/FONT>that<\/FONT><\/A>, <\/FONT>this<\/FONT><\/A> and <\/FONT>this<\/FONT><\/A> — somewhat explained by <\/FONT>that<\/FONT><\/A>)<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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\"napper<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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Focusing on serious stuff even kept me from investigating K.D. Wenger’s<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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“I’m not crazy, I’m just a little unwell” — a DSM for bloggers<\/FONT><\/A>, at Concurring <\/EM><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Opinions, <\/EM>until last night (thanks to a reminder at Suz<\/FONT><\/EM><\/A>‘s place). Although a <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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number of the mental illness categories seem potentially relevant to <\/FONT><\/FONT>one or <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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more of my f\/k\/a<\/EM> alter egos, one passage from Wengler’s piece resonated <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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the most<\/FONT><\/FONT>:  <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Delusional<\/STRONG>. Bloggers who exhibit any of the following symptoms: <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Belief that blogging counts as actual scholarship; belief that blog-<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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ging makes them sexy or desirable; belief that <\/FONT>Glenn Reynolds<\/FONT> <\/FONT><\/A><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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actually reads their blog; belief that blogging is an acceptable <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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substitute for a social life. Surefire diagnosis: Bloggers observed <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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making repeated, insistent statements that “blogging is not a <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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waste of time.”<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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                                                                                         “suaveSN”<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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So, I am once again making a public promise to myself to keep the <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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punditry less intense — or at least brief — for the time being. <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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Will this attempt to bite off less and savor more do me any good?  My <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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track record hasn’t been great when it comes to curing hyper-posting. <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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As “we” confessed on our About<\/A> page: “So far, health-related <\/EM>attempts<\/EM><\/FONT><\/A> <\/EM><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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to keep commentary<\/EM> as short as our poetry have failed.<\/EM><\/FONT>”  Wish “us” <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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luck.<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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\"tiny  Although my going public as a chronic member <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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of Webloggers Anonymous is somewhat daunting, <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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there is one very good advantage to writing under <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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one’s own name (and acknowledged pseudonynms):<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Your Editor does not have to join certain nameless<\/FONT><\/A> <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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editors at Anonymous Webloggers Anonymous<\/EM>. <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Where would<\/EM> their chapter meet?<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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\"tiny Advice for those Wanting to Spend Less Time Reading Weblogs<\/EM>:<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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\"laptop <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Do not<\/EM> stop by Suz at Large<\/FONT><\/EM><\/A> (like I did late last night) for a <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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supposed “quick visit.”   There is simply far too much inter-<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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esting <\/FONT>material at Suz’s place — served up with attitude, <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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humor, and some great photography.<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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What can a humble editor say about a weblog <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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that is willing to use our entire tagline<\/EM> in its <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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“Worth A Look<\/EM>” blogroll, so its readers might <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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have a better idea what lies behind the vague <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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weblog name f\/k\/a<\/EM>?  [“Thank you,” would be <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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nice, David.]  Suz<\/EM>‘s own tagline is on target.<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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\"tiny Advice for those Wanting to Spend Less Time Reading <\/EM><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Great Haiku<\/EM>:<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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“thnLogoG”<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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Do not<\/EM> purchase the recently-published, first<\/EM> annualized <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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version of <\/FONT>The Heron’s Nest<\/FONT><\/EM><\/A> (<\/FONT>Vol. VII<\/FONT><\/A>, 2005).  For only <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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$15, you’d get all of the poetry selected by THN<\/EM>‘s choosy <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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editors, for its quarterly online editions in 2005 – – about <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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500 haiku from 200 haijin.  And, please, stay away from <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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the <\/FONT>subscription<\/FONT><\/A> information at the THN<\/EM> website.<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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Further Warning: <\/FONT>The Heron’s Nest<\/FONT><\/EM><\/A> (<\/FONT>Vol. VII<\/FONT><\/A>, 2005) includes <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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its <\/FONT>Readers’ Choice Award<\/FONT><\/A> winners and commentary.  As we <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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proudly <\/FONT>announced<\/FONT><\/A> back on Feb. 28, f\/k\/a<\/EM>‘s Honored Guest <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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poet Carolyn Hall<\/A> <\/FONT>received the Awards for both best poem and <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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favorite poet for 2005.   Maybe, if you read a few of her haiku <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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here, you won’t be tempted to loll away a few evenings with <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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The Heron’s Nest<\/EM> (2005) in your hands, or THN’<\/EM>s website<\/FONT><\/A> on <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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your <\/FONT><\/FONT>computer screen. <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT><\/FONT> <\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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\"tulipN\"<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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laughter
in a foreign tongue
summer stars<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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rain-streaked windows
    how to paint
    the finch’s song<\/FONT><\/P>
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<\/FONT> <\/P>
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<\/FONT> <\/P>
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Arlington
the tulips
wide open<\/FONT><\/P>
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<\/FONT> <\/P>
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\"tulipsV\"<\/FONT><\/P><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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<\/FONT> <\/P>
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river rock — <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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the folded wings<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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of a damselfly<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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Carolyn Hall<\/STRONG><\/FONT><\/A> from <\/FONT>The Heron’s Nest<\/FONT><\/EM><\/A> (Vol. VII, 2005)<\/FONT>  <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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\"tiny  Advice to those Wanting to Make More Money as <\/EM><\/FONT>Prosecutors<\/EM><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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(1) Do not<\/EM> meet with Boston Globe<\/EM> editors and reporters and  <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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suggest “<\/FONT>that <\/FONT>because defense lawyers <\/FONT>hold key positions <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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in the House, <\/FONT><\/FONT>members may tend to be more <\/FONT>s<\/FONT><\/FONT>ympathetic <\/FONT><\/FONT>to the <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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defense bar.” [See Boston Globe<\/FONT><\/A><\/EM>,<\/FONT> “District <\/FONT>Attorneys <\/FONT>seek increase <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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in funds:State’s prosecutors say they <\/FONT>can’t <\/FONT>keep seasoned veterans, <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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April 22, 2006]<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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[obvious<\/EM> ed. note<\/EM>: The lawyers on the Mass. House appropria-<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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tions <\/FONT>and <\/FONT>judiciary committees are the very people the D.A.s <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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must <\/FONT>butter-up to increased appropriations.]<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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\"NoloSharkS\"<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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 <\/DIV>
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(2) Do<\/EM> try to find a few “seasoned veterans” in the lobbying business <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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to vet your publicity drives.<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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[more subtle ed. note<\/EM>: Forget your image of “Boston Lawyers.”<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Our bar advocate blurbs<\/FONT><\/A> page and essay <\/FONT>bar & guild<\/FONT><\/A> should <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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suggest that Massachusetts lawyers can be rather oblivious <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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to decorum and appearances when they’re trying to increase<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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their own incomes.] <\/FONT><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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(3) Do<\/EM> get more articles planted like this one in today’s Globe<\/EM>: <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Prosecutors moonlight to make ends meet<\/FONT><\/A> (April 22, 2006) <\/FONT><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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p.s.<\/FONT><\/EM> Where are our priorities?  Until the evening news, we forgot today <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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is Earth Day. (Gees, even G.W. Bush remembered!)  <\/FONT>The same thing <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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almost happened in 2003: see <\/FONT>earth to Yabut . . .<\/EM><\/FONT><\/A>  <\/FONT>  <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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 <\/DIV>
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earth’s birthday:<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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recycling <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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our Valentine c<\/FONT>ards<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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Earth Day:<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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driving her Hummer<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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to the Recycling Center <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT><\/EM> <\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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<\/EM><\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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    <\/FONT>dagosan<\/EM><\/STRONG><\/FONT><\/A> <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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                                                                  \"tulipsVN\"<\/EM><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Once again, it seems to be time for Your Editor to take about “12 Steps” away from my laptop.  At least figuratively — and at least regarding the punditry portion of this multi-personality-but-sole-proprietor weblog.  As  it has on numerous occasions, contentious commentary is wearing me out (see e.g.,that, this and this — somewhat explained by that)     Focusing on serious […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":94,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[2926],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5279","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pre-06-2006"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6kP1R-1n9","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5279","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/94"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5279"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5279\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12677,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5279\/revisions\/12677"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5279"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5279"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5279"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}