Author Archives: Ralph Hanson

Questions Worth Asking (Maybe)

Are radically fewer people watching the Olympics this year?  The simple answer is no. The more complex answer is, “What do you mean by watching?” As University of Main media historian Dr. Michael Socolow writes today in Slate, obviously the traditional … Continue reading

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Why do news update e-mails insist on putting sports spoilers in the subject line?

Why do news update e-mails insist on putting sports spoilers in the subject line? Ok, I get it. It’s almost impossible to avoid results of a high-profile Olympic event that takes place early in the morning but gets aired on … Continue reading

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What a great year for Best Animated Feature Oscar Nominations

Generally, I have mixed feelings about the Best Animated Feature Oscar category. I mean, if Disney/Pixar comes out with a vaguely credible effort, they generally win. This was particularly true in 2016 when the oh-so-carefully constructed “important message” Zootopia beat … Continue reading

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When did I realize I was all-in on e-books?

Last night. I had previously read and really enjoyed the first two volumes/decades of former Python/travel host Michael Palin’s diaries, but had held off reading the thick third volume, Travelling To Work, for several years.  I mean, the book has literally … Continue reading

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Sometimes you just need old favorites: A Year in Movies 2021 – Part 4

In December of 2020, when it became clear we were not going to be returning to normal life any time soon, we purchased a big honking 55-inch 4K TV and settled in for a year of watching movies at home. … Continue reading

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Guest Blog Post – Looking Back at Banned Books

I saw on social media last week that my former student Stephanie Ballard Conrad was talking about studying banned books back when she was an undergraduate nearly 20 years ago. I asked if she could give us a look back … Continue reading

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Book Banning & How Students Learn About The Holocaust

Banning, challenging, parental control… Call them what you want, there’s a lot of people out there upset about a lot of books in schools and libraries lately. The United States has a long history of vocal parents being offended/upset by … Continue reading

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A Murder of Hitchcock Films: A Year in Movies 2021 – Part 3

In December of 2020, when it became clear we were not going to be returning to normal life any time soon, we purchased a big honking 55-inch 4K TV and settled in for a year of watching movies at home. … Continue reading

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A Year in Movies 2021 – Part 2: Chillin’ with Deathtrap and Dickens

In December of 2020, when it became clear we were not going to be returning to normal life any time soon, we purchased a big honking 55-inch 4K TV and settled in for a year of watching movies at home. … Continue reading

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Dreary Birthday, Edgar Allan Poe!

Today is horror and mystery writing pioneer Edgar Allan Poe’s birthday. Born January 19, 1809, he is known for writing the early detective story The Murders in the Rue Morgue, short horror stories (The Cask of Amontillado is my personal … Continue reading

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