Plausibly Live - The Dave Bowman Show

The Rabbis tell us that some of  the most important parts of the scriptures are the stories that we do not like. The tales of failures and embarrassing happenings that don't seem to fit the overall narrative of a loving G-d reaching out to his people. The stories of death and murder and assault and war and strife that often leave us wondering, "Why is this here?" At the end of the day, there...

In 1967, Nichelle Nichols was not happy. She was holding the television role as Lt. Uhura on the sci-fi show, Star Trek, but her role was limited and didn't seem to have much chance of growing into anything that would mean stardom and fame. She had decided to quit and return to the stage. What she didn't  understand was that she had already changed not just television, but America. A chance e...

Over the past couple of days we have watched both sides use exactly the same language to describe their outrage/joy over the events at the former President's home. As  usual, your opinion about it all it says more about you than it does about the actual issue at hand, but that said, it leads to another consideration: How do we "fix" whatever it is that is wrong. Or... can it even be fixed? I...

By the time the  sun rose over Guadalcanal on August 9, 1942, the US Navy was just beginning to come to terms with the tragedy that had occurred in the dark night before. Many  Naval Historians consider the action of the night of August 8-9, 1942 to be the worst blue water defeat ever suffered by the US Navy, including Pearl Harbor. Just two days  before the Marines had landed on th...

The last half of July and the first days of August have been a whirlwind. Thank you to everyone who texted and eMailed or commented about the situation. I appreciate it very much. I wish that I could tell you that everything is alright, and back to normal at last. It's not. And it will  be - I imagine - several more weeks to months before things return to an even bubble. That said, it's Thurs...

On August 2, 1776, the members of the Second Continental Congress gathered to finish what they had begun back in July. Now, each of the men was called forward, one at a time, to affix his name to the final version of the document which had already electrified the world. On what should have been a joyous day, the full weight of what was happening was hitting home. Benjamin Harrison of Virginia, jok...

My least favorite  phrase is: "Everybody knows..." I have been known to hang up on callers who sprinkle their diatribe with that idiotic phrase. First off, NOT "everybody knows." If "everybody knew," then there would no conflicts, no happiness, no conversation, no science, no exploration and no need to learn anything... well... new. Or, in my case, something old. Which might be new to you. Be...

Somewhere around 13.5 Billion years ago, something happened that began the path to where we are today. I know that, like abortion, that debate is something that I will not change your mind about, nor will you change mine. The "Big Bang" is certain in my mind, because it is the BEST scientific theory* fitting the observed facts. The recent release of the new photographs from the James Webb Space Te...

It's a common idea  today that "we don't trust the media." There's almost a mantra that this is a relatively new thing, and that no matter what side of the political fence you happen to be on, the "media" is automatically presumed to be fully serving as a water carrying propaganda arm of the other side. In recent days, we have seen another story that reignites this debate. Just three days aft...

E=MC2 What does that well known equation  mean ? Not in the mathematical sense. Not in the physical sense... what does it... you know...   mean ? For much of my life, I saw it as the key that unlocked certain forms of energy, for both good and bad. But there came a moment, reading a book at lunch, when it was like the figurative light bulb went on for me. The implications of the equation...

In the early weeks  of 1776, Independence favor was fanned by the publication of the most influential and best selling book ever published in America. Thomas Paine had  arrived in the Colonies about a year earlier with a letter of introduction from Ben Franklin and immediately and set out to continue his legacy of failure at everything he tried. Until he took the ideas of the enlightenme...

“The harsh reality of life is that sooner or later, your beliefs will find themselves tested. It’s easy to say, “I believe this…” and maybe even mean it. Because until whatever belief it is has actually been tested it is just a belief.” I wrote those words about ten or so days ago, after receiving some rather disturbing personal news. I was upset about the realization that a belief that had been h...

A few months ago we and a caller who was of the opinion that "only a few" guys actually "did anything" at the 1787 Constitutional Convention. The idea is one that many people might have, simply because they just don't know anything about anybody except the few names that bubble to the top of the historical bottle. But if you uncork that bottle, you get a wonderful bouquet of ideas and of people th...

I got up one  morning last week and I knew who Jesse Kelly is, but I had absolutely no idea  who Haley Carter is. I didn't even know that there was a professional women's soccer team in Houston. I didn't know that Haley Carter is from a town called "Friendswood, TX."  Nor did I care that the town had named Haley Carter as the Grand Marshall of the  Independence day Parade. I gu...

I guess the real  lesson here is to never say never, right? A few years ago I  couldn't see any possible way that Roe would be "overturned," but today we saw  it happen. There will be a great deal of shrieking and gnashing of teeth and  celebrations and finger pointing and yes, there will be violence because that's  the inevitable result of emotional hemophiliacs (on both...

It's the first full day of summer,  and I am still not 100%. My voice continues to fail me when I need it most. That  said, there are some things about which I have been thinking...

In the summer of  1966, the Supreme Court ruled that as a part of your 5th amendment protections,  Law Enforcement is required to advise you and to insure that you clearly state that you understand that you have certain rights, among which are the right to remain silent. Most of us rarely consider how important that is, nor do we consider that before 1966, Police could in fact, elicit a...

Yesterday was Flag day, and I carried out my standard activities for the day, which includes watching the film, "The Sand Pebbles." I first saw the film as a senior in high school. I remain convinced that it was shown to our English class specifically because I was known to be joining the Navy and the teacher thought that I would  enjoy it. For the record, I didn't "enjoy it." I loved it. &nb...

On June 14, 1937,  the state of Pennsylvania did something that to date, no other state has decided to do. In declaring June 14th a state holiday, Pennsylvania was making a statement that - in our times - has proved to be controversial and perhaps even quaint. But the whole  thing stated long before there was a Colin Kaepernick or even a State of Pennsylvania. It stated a few days after...

Dave goes off script after an assassination attempt on a sitting Supreme Court Justice

In the late 1930’s, the Iowa Hawkeyes had endured years of being a perennial doormat of a football team. But in 1937, a new student-athlete enrolled at the school, and quickly became the heart and soul of a rapidly improving team. By 1939, the Iowa Hawkeyes were the #3 team in the country, finishing 6-1-1, upsetting Notre Dame. Their starting halfback easily won the Heisman Trophy, and proceeded t...

Over the weekend, a fellow podcaster interviewed one of our local Congresswomen. That interview went full BSC as she (the Congresswoman) informed us that because of the draft ruling on Roe, it logically follows that the Supreme Court, led by associate Justice Clarence Thomas, means to outlaw interracial marriage in the United States. Look, I get the need for “scare tactics,” which work best on the...

"At this time, we have been beset by additional difficulties, everyone feels  [financial] pressure, the wisdom of our Sages has become lost, and the  comprehension of our men of understanding has become hidden. Therefore, those  explanations, laws, and responsa which the Geonim composed and considered to be  fully explained material have become difficult to grasp in our age, an...

The biggest problem with the whole Roe v Wade is that nobody – on either side – is really considering the underlying and ancillary issues that we are headed both from and into. I know… that sounds non-sensual and irrational. There are always unintended(?) consequences of every ruling. Things that should have been obvious, but were ignored for the “greater good…” But I want you to consider a couple...

To be frank, I don't believe that Elon Musk ever intended to actually buy Twitter. Eccentric rich people do strange things, and there is usually no real rhyme or reason to it. It's almost like he rolled out of bed one morning and decided to... well...  just mess with the entire woke Social Media world. I can't blame him... if I had $43 Billion at my disposal and the world at my proverbial fee...