professorlarry

Here’s a link to my latest Huffington Post article: Borders Closings Are Another Step Towards Community Isolation

Please comment below

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/larry-atkins/borders-closings-bankruptcy_b_916522.html

It was a big week off the field for the Philadelphia Eagles and Philadelphia Phillies. The Eagles traded backup QB Kevin Kolb to the Arizona Cardinals for All-Pro Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a second round pick. Unless Kolb turns out to be the second coming of Brett Favre, this looks like a great trade. Then, to corner the market even more, the Eagles pulled off a stunner by signing All-Pro cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha as a free agent. Then, to avoid a Kafkaesque situation at backup quarterback, the Birds signed former Pro Bowl quarterback Vince Young. Earlier this week, the Eagles signed Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Babin, wide receiver Johnnie Lee Higgins, and tight end Donald Lee. Not to be left out, the Phillies made a big trade, getting All-Star rightfielder Hunter Pence from the Astros for four minor leaguers. This move will bolster an already strong lineup and could put the Phils over the top. So which move is your favorite? Do you like all of these transactions? Do you have any concerns about any of the deals? Has Joe Banner shed his image of being cheap? Comment below. Photo from Philly.com.

Here is the link to my latest Huffington Post article: WE NEED A PRUNE JUICE PARTY TO ADVOCATE FOR SENIORS AND ENTITLEMENTS. Please feel free to comment, and rip away, below.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/larry-atkins/we-need-a-prune-juice-par_b_911436.html

Here is a link to my latest Huffington Post article on the U.S. Women’s Soccer team, which was featured on the front page of their website today:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/larry-atkins/loss-us-women-soccer_b_901337.html

    Last night, I saw U2 play before a capacity crowd at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field. In a word—spectacular. The visuals, lights, and stage, nicknamed “The Claw”, were terrific. There was a neat prerecorded video during the show featuring astronaut Mark Kelly, husband of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, speaking from the International Space Station. The show lasted for around two hours and fifteen minutes and included most of the band’s greatest hits. I would have liked to have heard “Bad”, “Desire”, “In God’s Country”, “Angel of Harlem”, and “All Because of You”, but it’s hard to complain with a great setlist like this: http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/125600498.html

I’ve seen U2 twice before, as well as other great concerts like Live Aid, Live 8, Amnesty International (Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Sting, and Peter Gabriel), Neil Young, Coldplay, The Who, Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, James Taylor, The Police, Allman Brothers, Kinks, Elvis Costello, Yes, and Genesis. Visually, U2 360 is easily the greatest concert I’ve ever seen and musically, it’s right up there. Bono and The Edge sounded great, the accoustics were surprisingly very good, and the crowd energy was intense. I’ve got U2 on my Mount Rushmore of rock bands along with The Beatles, Rolling Stones, and The Who (with Led Zeppelin just missing out). This concert justified that ranking. Were you at the concert? If so, let me know your comments below. (Photo from 6ABC.com)

No, this isn’t a public service message to eat your vegetables. At his White House Press Conference yesterday, President Obama reiterated his statement that both sides need to give a little bit in order to get a debt ceiling agreement done. He also rejected a stop-gap measure, stating, “That is not an acceptable approach. So we might as well do it now. Pull off the bandaid. Eat our peas. Now is the time to do it. If not now, when?” Thus far, Obama has been the only adult in the room. House Republicans are acting like infants, stomping their feet unless they get their way, and unwilling to compromise. Obama has expressed a willingness to make cuts in Democratic sacred cows like Medicare and Social Security in order to reach a deal, but Republicans won’t budge on cutting tax loopholes and ending the Bush tax cuts for wealthy Americans. The Tea Party has hijacked the Republican Party, and no Republican Congressmen have done the responsible thing and urged their own party to compromise a little to reach a deal that would cut trillions in government spending. Unfortunately, to paraphrase Pink Floyd, if you don’t eat your peas, you can’t have any tea. Who is mostly at fault in the failure of these negotiations—President Obama or House Republicans? Comment below. Photo from Third Age.

Here is a link to my latest Huffington Post article, YouTube Moves From Cats Playing Piano To Classrooms:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/larry-atkins/youtube-moves-from-cats-p_b_890678.html

Here is a link to my latest interview of Poet Joanne Leva:

http://bulletin.arcadia.edu/2011/07/joanne-leva-84-poetry-is-like-breathing/

    Here is a link to my latest Arcadia Bulletin article, in which I interviewed Jason Fehon, who is an on-air personality and producer for Pierre Robert at WMMR 93.3 FM. Jason has spoken to my Arcadia Journalism classes several times and has given them great advice and information about the radio industry.

http://bulletin.arcadia.edu/2011/06/fehons-radio-roots-began-at-arcadia/

     Now that Congressman Anthony Weiner resigned today, it’s time for Democrats and the media to reexamine the David Vitter scandal and raise the issue of whether Vitter should resign. For those of you who might have forgotten, Vitter, a Republican Senator from Louisiana, was not pressured by other Republicans to resign after it was discovered that he was a customer of a prostitution service. Thus, Weiner was forced to resign for having virtual sex, while Vitter kept his position while actually physically cheating on his wife. It just seems hypocritical. It might seem like “tit for tat” for Democrats to go after Vitter now, but it’s only fair.