Business, Politics, Culture
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Stories From History & Contemporary Culture

— Stories by Jack Doyle —

Western Pennsylvania “Petrochem Peril” Shell Cracker & Beyond Some history and controversy around Shell’s new plastics plant.		Business & The Environment “Applause For Du Pont?” Pollution History Critique of a 1990s Du Pont TV ad & environmental record, plus recent PFAS troubles.
Topics Page “Magazine History” 18 Stories The power & influence of magazines in politics & culture.		Annals of Music “Summer Wind” 1966 Profile of, and MP3 file for, a Frank Sinatra classic.
Petrochem Pollution “Nurdle Apocalypse” Plastic on the Loose Plastic pellet spills are polluting oceans & rivers, menacing wildlife & more.		Corporate History “Doing Great Things?” Dow Chemical Co. 1980s ad campaign sought to heal a troubled past, yet toxic legacies remain.
Baseball History “Gehrig vs. Ruth, 1927” Home Run Race Yankee sluggers in battle for home run title deliver awesome hitting display.		Autos & Public Health “Smog Conspiracy” DOJ vs. Automakers 1969 lawsuit > Detroit held back pollution- controls for 16 years.
Road to the White House “JFK’s 1960 Campaign” Primaries & Fall Election The historic campaign, with city-by-city itinerary — and lots of photos.		Civil Rights History “Buses Are A’ Comin’” Freedom Riders: 1961 In 1961, extraordinary courage stepped up to racial bigotry.
WW II History “Firebombing Japan” 67 Cities: 1945 “Fog of War” film reveals horrendous firebombing of Japanese cities.		Urban/Enviro History “Highway Wars” 1950s-1970s Interstate Highway frenzy brought citizens to the barricades & the courts.
Annals of Music “Joni’s Music” 1962-2000s Singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell’s amazing career.		Topics Page “Environmental History” 1950s-2010s Stories on oil spills, pesticides, river pollution, strip mining & more…
Topics Page “Music in Film” Songs & Soundtracks This “topics page” features links to 26 “film & music” stories.		Film, Music, Sculpture “Glory & The 54th” Civil War History Story on 1989 film & its music also covers black soldier monuments.
Publishing, Politics, Ecology “Power in the Pen” 1962-1963 Rachel Carson’s book, Silent Spring, takes on pesticides; spurs environmental cause.		Politics & Television “Brian’s Song” 1977-2012 Brian Lamb’s C-SPAN opens up Congress; provides public affairs TV.
Sport, Politics, Culture “Ali-Frazier History.” Boxing & Culture 1971’s Ali-Frazier fight became a surrogate for larger social issues.		Boxing & Culture “Ali’s Film History” 1970-2021 With Ken Burns’ new film on Muhammad Ali, a look back at 20 others…
Post-Beatles “McCartney: Amazed” The Paul & Linda Story The love story, Paul’s famous song, Wings, and life after the Beatles.		Rousing Film Music “The Ecstasy of Gold” 1966-2010 Famous “gold fever” song from “Good, Bad & Ugly” film w/ Clint Eastwood.
Magazine Art “John Clymer’s America” Saturday Evening Post His stunning landscapes helped us “see” America the Beautiful.		Environmental History “The Brent Spar Fight” Greenpeace:1995 A classic environmental battle over offshore oil junk in the North Sea.
James Bond Music “You Only Live Twice” Film & Music:1967 Sinatra theme song & Japanese music make Bond film a winner.		Celebrity, Culture, Politics “Fonda Fitness Boom” 1980s & Beyond Hollywood’s Jane Fonda spawns fitness empire that helps fund her activism.
Poignant Songs “Harry Chapin” Taxi & Beyond Song about a long-lost love brought him to national prominence.		Business & Biography “The Delorean Saga” Car Guy: 1960s-1980s He shook-up G.M., pushed “auto ethics,” and invented a new car.
Topics Page: Women “Noteworthy Ladies” 40 Stories Profiles of famous women — from Rachel Carson to Tina Turner.		Topics Page: Civil Rights “Civil Rights Topics” 1930s-2010s 14 stories with Civil Rights-related content & history.
Publishing & Politics “The Pentagon Papers” 1967-2018 A ‘freedom-of-the-press’ story that also includes a Steven Spielberg film.		Politics & The Economy “Street Smarts” The Rise of Elizabeth Warren She’s learned the secrets of Wall Street and how to make structural change.
Strip Mining History “Giant Shovel on I-70″ Ohio Fight: 1973 Shovel’s highway crossing spurs activist organizing & Congressional action.		Kentucky Activist “Mountain Warrior” 1950s-1980s Harry Caudill, author, lawyer and legislator, fought for Appalachia.
Music, Politics, Big Biz “Paradise” John Prine-1971 A country song about strip mining, coal power, & demise of Paradise, KY		Music, Politics, Celebrity “Linda & Jerry” 1971-1983 The lives of Jerry Brown and Linda Ronstadt during the 1970s.
Oil Disaster Film “Deepwater Horizon” Film & Spill: 2010-2016 Story on rig disaster film also recounts history & politics of real BP oil spill.		Annals of Music “Goffin & King” 1950s-2010s Famous young songwriters, find love & success, then their lives diverge.
Annals of Music “Dylan’s Hard Rain” 1962-1963 Genesis & history of Dylan’s song, “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall.”		1950s R&B Rocker “Fats Domino” 1950s-2000s “Boogie-woogie” pianist helps invent rock `n roll; becomes nat’l sensation.
Oil Industry History “Texas City Disaster” BP Refinery: 2005 Poorly-maintained oil refinery explodes, killing 15, injuring 180.		Sculpture & History “Point of View” George & Guyasuta Engaging historic figures spur perspective on land use & modernity.
Publishing & Politics “Nader’s Raiders” 1968-1974 Ralph Nader’s student “study groups” turned Washington inside-out.		Book, Film, Music “Goldfinger” 1959-1965 The James Bond film that really sent the franchise soaring.
Topics Page “Beatles History” 1960s-2012 Multiple Beatles stories: bios, song histories, touring, and more.		Politics & Celebrity “Barack & Bruce” 2008-2012 Bruce Springsteen & other celebrities helped President Obama win re-election.
Beatles Music “In My Life” Lennon-1965 Lennon & the Beatles plumb the memory banks to craft an all-time favorite.		Sci-Fi Film Classic “Soylent Green” 1973 Dystopian film raises enviro, survival, and population issues.
Celebrity & The Web “Google & Gaga” 2011 Story includes video with history & sketches of Lady Gaga & Google.		Advertising & Culture “The iPod Silhouettes” 2000-2011 Apple’s iPod ads spread cultural imagery globally & boosted bottom line.
Music & Pop Culture “Beatles in America” 1963-1964 New rock ‘n roll group brings “pop explosion” in music, business, culture.		Beatles Under Siege “Burn The Beatles” Bigger Than Jesus? Lennon’s 1966 remarks spawn U.S. protests; threaten concert tour.

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