Opinion and Commentary
New York Review of Books & L’Indice Celebrate Anniversaries With Panel Discussion
January 10, 2014 | Eric ShapiroOn January 9th, 2014, the respective 50th and 30th anniversaries of the New York Review of Books and its Italian counterpart, L’Indice, 5 renowned scholars participated in a panel discussion at the Italian Cultural Institute of New York. The setting was … Read More
Bridgegate Exposes Pettiness, Hypocrisy of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie
January 8, 2014 | Eric ShapiroTo put it bluntly, “Bridgegate” is a disaster for New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Christie came to power in large part due to his image. In an era of hyperpartisanship in Washington, the idea of a no-nonsense, straight-talking moderate appealed … Read More
“Justified” Season 5, Episode 1: Spoiler-Free Review
January 7, 2014 | Eric ShapiroAll rejoice! The critically acclaimed crime drama Justified has returned for its fifth season on FX. Justified stars Timothy Olyphant as U.S. Marshall Raylan Givens and Walton Goggins as criminal mastermind Boyd Crowder. It is based on the fiction of crime author Elmore Leonard, … Read More
The American Studies Association Disgraces Itself With Attack on Israeli Universities
January 7, 2014 | Eugene KaplanBy Eugene Kaplan, PhD. Author, Axinn Distinguished Professor of Conservation and Ecology Emeritus, Hofstra University
The American Studies Association is “the nation’s oldest and largest association devoted to the interdisciplinary study of American culture and history.” In short, it is an … Read More
Theater Review: Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart Dazzle in Harold Pinter’s “No Man’s Land”
January 3, 2014 | Eric ShapiroSean Mathias’s revival of Harold Pinter’s No Man’s Land, playing at the Cort Theater through March 15, has garnered outsize attention compared to most plays of such baffling complexity. This undoubtedly owes a lot to the presence of esteemed actors Sir Ian McKellen … Read More
The Real Lesson of the Benghazi Attack and Scandal
December 30, 2013 | Eric ShapiroThe Middle East and East Africa are in a state of crisis. To varying degrees, countries like Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Syria are embroiled in deadly power struggles, the accumulated effect of tensions built up over many decades. Islamism vs. … Read More
New York Mets 2014: The Curious Case of Lucas Duda
December 23, 2013 | Mike MandelkernBy Michael Mandelkern via Mets on my Mind
Lucas Duda could be the New York Mets’ best option to start at first base next year. Even though he has not played a full season, his OBP and OPS statistics look promising. … Read More
“Duck Dynasty” Scandal Reveals More About Us Than About Phil Robertson
December 21, 2013 | Eric ShapiroWith his comments comparing homosexuality to bestiality in an interview with GQ, Phil Robertson, the star of A&E‘s popular reality TV series Duck Dynasty, has shown himself to be a vile bigot. Contrary to the arguments of his defenders on … Read More
New York City E-Cigarette Ban Isn’t Just Bad Policy; It’s Fundamentally Immoral
December 20, 2013 | Eric ShapiroMany may call New York the “greatest city in the world.” Alas, that doesn’t mean New Yorkers don’t have to deal with a spate of problems particular to the Big Apple. One of them is the government’s notion that it … Read More
Game of Thrones Season 4: New Characters Primer
December 19, 2013 | Eric ShapiroWinter is coming. The eagerly awaited 4th season of HBO drama Game of Thrones, based on author George R.R. Martin’s beloved fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire, will not premier until April of 2014. But it’s never too … Read More