Barth Keck
@keckb33.bsky.social
Retired English teacher, adjunct faculty/community college, columnist for www.ctnewsjunkie.com, media-literacy crusader, Baltimore native/New England transplant, lifelong Orioles fan, football coach, husband, dad, grandad, dog lover.
“Ocean winds in the Northeast are at their strongest and steadiest in winter months, making turbines there a way to boost the reliability of power grids connected to underperforming gas plants.”
https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/offshore-wind/grid-reliability-east-coast-trump-study
https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/offshore-wind/grid-reliability-east-coast-trump-study
Feel the cold? Offshore wind alleviates grid woes in winter, study…
A sector despised by President Trump can boost grid reliability on the East Coast when people crank up the heat and gas plants are tested by extreme…
www.canarymedia.com
November 26, 2025 at 11:25 AM
“Ocean winds in the Northeast are at their strongest and steadiest in winter months, making turbines there a way to boost the reliability of power grids connected to underperforming gas plants.”
https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/offshore-wind/grid-reliability-east-coast-trump-study
https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/offshore-wind/grid-reliability-east-coast-trump-study
The latest in my Football Chronicles:
"The finer details of the game have evolved to the point where certain elements admittedly annoy 'old-school coaches' who last played football decades ago — you know, guys like me."
medium.com/@barthkeck/f...
"The finer details of the game have evolved to the point where certain elements admittedly annoy 'old-school coaches' who last played football decades ago — you know, guys like me."
medium.com/@barthkeck/f...
Football Chronicles 2025: Some Personal Thoughts from ‘Coach Old School’ — Part 2 (Chapter 15)
Author’s note: This is the 15th installment of “The HK Cougar Football Chronicles,” 2025 edition. As an assistant coach, I share an inside…
medium.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:13 PM
The latest in my Football Chronicles:
"The finer details of the game have evolved to the point where certain elements admittedly annoy 'old-school coaches' who last played football decades ago — you know, guys like me."
medium.com/@barthkeck/f...
"The finer details of the game have evolved to the point where certain elements admittedly annoy 'old-school coaches' who last played football decades ago — you know, guys like me."
medium.com/@barthkeck/f...
Treat yourself and watch this absolutely joyful presentation of “Fooling Yourself.” A huge thank you to Tommy Shaw and the kids. Amazing!
https://youtu.be/xpYHgbjOIq0
https://youtu.be/xpYHgbjOIq0
Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man) (Live)
YouTube video by StyxVEVO
youtu.be
November 24, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Treat yourself and watch this absolutely joyful presentation of “Fooling Yourself.” A huge thank you to Tommy Shaw and the kids. Amazing!
https://youtu.be/xpYHgbjOIq0
https://youtu.be/xpYHgbjOIq0
“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”
-G. Orwell, 1984
-G. Orwell, 1984
November 22, 2025 at 11:17 AM
“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”
-G. Orwell, 1984
-G. Orwell, 1984
It’s as if nobody takes him seriously anymore, especially the news media. I get it — the man is a total narcissistic blowhard — but it’s a very dangerous response in a democracy.
Jeez. Trump reposted a call to execute six Democratic members of Congress, and it’s not on the front page of the NY Times, and this is the headline—no mention of hanging lawmakers.
November 21, 2025 at 2:35 PM
It’s as if nobody takes him seriously anymore, especially the news media. I get it — the man is a total narcissistic blowhard — but it’s a very dangerous response in a democracy.
Further proof that Trump’s narrative about immigrant-related crime is false:
“Homicides are down nearly 20 percent this year in the 52 major U.S. cities that report such data monthly, according to a WaPo analysis.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/interactive/2025/homicide-rates-us-cities/
“Homicides are down nearly 20 percent this year in the 52 major U.S. cities that report such data monthly, according to a WaPo analysis.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/interactive/2025/homicide-rates-us-cities/
These five cities help explain why homicide rates are down across the U.S.
Homicides are down nearly 20 percent this year in 52 of America’s largest cities, a decline that spans both red states and blue states.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Further proof that Trump’s narrative about immigrant-related crime is false:
“Homicides are down nearly 20 percent this year in the 52 major U.S. cities that report such data monthly, according to a WaPo analysis.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/interactive/2025/homicide-rates-us-cities/
“Homicides are down nearly 20 percent this year in the 52 major U.S. cities that report such data monthly, according to a WaPo analysis.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/interactive/2025/homicide-rates-us-cities/
“Every record destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And the process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Party is always right.”
- G. Orwell, 1984
- G. Orwell, 1984
Corruption at every level of government. Inconvenient truths are eradicated.
November 20, 2025 at 2:14 PM
“Every record destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And the process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Party is always right.”
- G. Orwell, 1984
- G. Orwell, 1984
“He announced that from now on the Sunday-morning Meetings would come to an end… all questions relating to the working of the farm would be settled by a special committee of pigs, presided over by himself.”
- George Orwell, Animal Farm
- George Orwell, Animal Farm
Everywhere there's lots of piggies
Living piggy lives
You can see them out for dinner
With their piggy wives
Clutching forks and knives to eat the bacon
— Piggies, The Beatles
Living piggy lives
You can see them out for dinner
With their piggy wives
Clutching forks and knives to eat the bacon
— Piggies, The Beatles
November 19, 2025 at 9:28 AM
“He announced that from now on the Sunday-morning Meetings would come to an end… all questions relating to the working of the farm would be settled by a special committee of pigs, presided over by himself.”
- George Orwell, Animal Farm
- George Orwell, Animal Farm
We're going "old-school" in this week's Football Chronicles:
"This past week reminded me that while 'old-school' means 'out of touch' to some people, it remains a good thing to be in many situations."
medium.com/@barthkeck/f...
"This past week reminded me that while 'old-school' means 'out of touch' to some people, it remains a good thing to be in many situations."
medium.com/@barthkeck/f...
Football Chronicles 2025: Thoughts from ‘Coach Old School’ — Part 1 (Chapter 14)
Author’s note: This is the 14th installment of “The HK Cougar Football Chronicles,” 2025 edition. As an assistant coach, I share an inside…
medium.com
November 17, 2025 at 1:45 AM
We're going "old-school" in this week's Football Chronicles:
"This past week reminded me that while 'old-school' means 'out of touch' to some people, it remains a good thing to be in many situations."
medium.com/@barthkeck/f...
"This past week reminded me that while 'old-school' means 'out of touch' to some people, it remains a good thing to be in many situations."
medium.com/@barthkeck/f...
November 14, 2025 at 9:56 AM
The proverbial smoking gun:
“In one of the messages, Mr. Epstein flatly asserted that Mr. Trump ‘knew about the girls,’ many of whom were later found by investigators to have been underage.”
“In one of the messages, Mr. Epstein flatly asserted that Mr. Trump ‘knew about the girls,’ many of whom were later found by investigators to have been underage.”
November 12, 2025 at 3:20 PM
The proverbial smoking gun:
“In one of the messages, Mr. Epstein flatly asserted that Mr. Trump ‘knew about the girls,’ many of whom were later found by investigators to have been underage.”
“In one of the messages, Mr. Epstein flatly asserted that Mr. Trump ‘knew about the girls,’ many of whom were later found by investigators to have been underage.”
My latest op-ed:
“It seems Trump is providing as much evidence as possible for Oscar Wilde’s thesis that ‘Life imitates art more than art imitates life.’ How else to describe the opulent Great Gatsby party [at Mar-a-Lago]?”
https://ctnewsjunkie.com/2025/11/11/opinion-make-authors-germane-again/
“It seems Trump is providing as much evidence as possible for Oscar Wilde’s thesis that ‘Life imitates art more than art imitates life.’ How else to describe the opulent Great Gatsby party [at Mar-a-Lago]?”
https://ctnewsjunkie.com/2025/11/11/opinion-make-authors-germane-again/
Opinion | Make Authors Germane Again | CT News Junkie
Columnist Barth Keck says the recent Great Gatsby-themed party at Mar-A-Lago during a government shutdown, when federal food aid was about to be cut off, speaks volumes about the heartlessness of the ...
ctnewsjunkie.com
November 11, 2025 at 11:17 AM
My latest op-ed:
“It seems Trump is providing as much evidence as possible for Oscar Wilde’s thesis that ‘Life imitates art more than art imitates life.’ How else to describe the opulent Great Gatsby party [at Mar-a-Lago]?”
https://ctnewsjunkie.com/2025/11/11/opinion-make-authors-germane-again/
“It seems Trump is providing as much evidence as possible for Oscar Wilde’s thesis that ‘Life imitates art more than art imitates life.’ How else to describe the opulent Great Gatsby party [at Mar-a-Lago]?”
https://ctnewsjunkie.com/2025/11/11/opinion-make-authors-germane-again/
“American farmers have faced an undue strain [as] the price of farm production, including land costs, seed, and fertilizer, have skyrocketed while agriculture margins continue to fall.”
“High production cost and market losses mean soybean farmers are expected to face a loss of around $109 an acre for this year’s crop,” ninth-generation Kentucky farmer Caleb Ragland, president of American Soybean Association, told Fortune.
#Tariffs
#Tariffs
Farmers feel betrayed as China dangles millions of tons of soybean purchases over the U.S. to get an edge in the escalating trade war | Fortune
Farmers could lose $109 an acre for this year’s crop, according to the president of the American Soybean Association.
fortune.com
November 11, 2025 at 11:10 AM
“American farmers have faced an undue strain [as] the price of farm production, including land costs, seed, and fertilizer, have skyrocketed while agriculture margins continue to fall.”
Another knee-jerk idea meant to placate the masses. Aside from the fact that he won’t ever do it, it’s an asinine idea:
“A round of Trump's tariff dividend checks would cost about $600 billion. However, the new tariffs imposed this year are projected to generate only about $300 billion a year.”
“A round of Trump's tariff dividend checks would cost about $600 billion. However, the new tariffs imposed this year are projected to generate only about $300 billion a year.”
The nonpartisan nonprofit Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget released cost projections after President Trump pitched his idea this weekend.
Trump's $2,000 rebate checks would cost $6 billion ‒ double the new revenue coming in
The nonpartisan nonprofit Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget released cost projections after President Trump pitched his idea this weekend.
bit.ly
November 11, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Another knee-jerk idea meant to placate the masses. Aside from the fact that he won’t ever do it, it’s an asinine idea:
“A round of Trump's tariff dividend checks would cost about $600 billion. However, the new tariffs imposed this year are projected to generate only about $300 billion a year.”
“A round of Trump's tariff dividend checks would cost about $600 billion. However, the new tariffs imposed this year are projected to generate only about $300 billion a year.”
My latest "Football Chronicles":
"We had just finished what I thought was the most relaxed practice week of the season. It wasn’t as if the kids weren’t focused; they were simply laid-back in their approach."
medium.com/@barthkeck/3...
"We had just finished what I thought was the most relaxed practice week of the season. It wasn’t as if the kids weren’t focused; they were simply laid-back in their approach."
medium.com/@barthkeck/3...
Football Chronicles 2025: What’s the Proper Attitude for Game Prep? (Chapter 13)
Author’s note: This is the 13th installment of “The HK Cougar Football Chronicles,” 2025 edition. As an assistant coach, I offer readers an…
medium.com
November 9, 2025 at 3:40 PM
My latest "Football Chronicles":
"We had just finished what I thought was the most relaxed practice week of the season. It wasn’t as if the kids weren’t focused; they were simply laid-back in their approach."
medium.com/@barthkeck/3...
"We had just finished what I thought was the most relaxed practice week of the season. It wasn’t as if the kids weren’t focused; they were simply laid-back in their approach."
medium.com/@barthkeck/3...
"Millions of people are fed up with screen-staring and app-driven life. They want an exit. It’s a real movement and it’s growing. So bring people along on your journey. That might even be part of your new vocation."
www.honest-broker.com/p/a-young-re...
www.honest-broker.com/p/a-young-re...
A Young Reader Asks for Help
I recently received a letter from a young man—but what can I say to him?
www.honest-broker.com
November 6, 2025 at 12:50 PM
"Millions of people are fed up with screen-staring and app-driven life. They want an exit. It’s a real movement and it’s growing. So bring people along on your journey. That might even be part of your new vocation."
www.honest-broker.com/p/a-young-re...
www.honest-broker.com/p/a-young-re...
"That’s the AI story. It’s not about making workers more productive or creative. The only way to recoup the $700 billion in capital expenditure to date is by displacing workers — a lot of workers."
doctorow.medium.com/https-plural...
doctorow.medium.com/https-plural...
When AI prophecy fails
Hating workers is a hell of a drug.
doctorow.medium.com
November 4, 2025 at 1:28 PM
"That’s the AI story. It’s not about making workers more productive or creative. The only way to recoup the $700 billion in capital expenditure to date is by displacing workers — a lot of workers."
doctorow.medium.com/https-plural...
doctorow.medium.com/https-plural...
This is what happens when a president has an impulsive, ever-changing tariff "policy."
“We’re sort of like itinerant refugees in how we make our products. We go from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and no matter what we guess, it seems like it’s wrong.”
finance.yahoo.com/news/toymake...
“We’re sort of like itinerant refugees in how we make our products. We go from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and no matter what we guess, it seems like it’s wrong.”
finance.yahoo.com/news/toymake...
Trump Battles Tiny Toymaker Over Tariffs in Landmark Supreme Court Case
Woldenberg, who runs two educational-toy businesses near Chicago, says the BubblePlush Yoga Ball Buddies, designed to help kids control their emotions, has been hit especially hard by Trump’s fluctuat...
finance.yahoo.com
November 4, 2025 at 11:54 AM
This is what happens when a president has an impulsive, ever-changing tariff "policy."
“We’re sort of like itinerant refugees in how we make our products. We go from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and no matter what we guess, it seems like it’s wrong.”
finance.yahoo.com/news/toymake...
“We’re sort of like itinerant refugees in how we make our products. We go from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and no matter what we guess, it seems like it’s wrong.”
finance.yahoo.com/news/toymake...
Extortion, anyone?
“I’m sure you’re aware of our connections with the Trump Administration and I’m sure they would be interested in this matter,” [GOP spokesperson] Mercer said in his email. “I would strongly suggest dropping this story.”
“I’m sure you’re aware of our connections with the Trump Administration and I’m sure they would be interested in this matter,” [GOP spokesperson] Mercer said in his email. “I would strongly suggest dropping this story.”
“I’m sure you’re aware of our connections with the Trump Administration,” the North Carolina Republican Party's communications director wrote in an email response to us. “I would strongly suggest dropping this story.”
We didn't. Read the story that he wanted dropped:
We didn't. Read the story that he wanted dropped:
“Biblical Justice, Equal Justice, for All”: How North Carolina’s Chief Justice Transformed His State and America
Paul Newby, a born-again Christian, has turned his perch atop North Carolina’s Supreme Court into an instrument of political power. Over two decades, he’s driven changes that have reverberated well be...
www.propublica.org
November 3, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Extortion, anyone?
“I’m sure you’re aware of our connections with the Trump Administration and I’m sure they would be interested in this matter,” [GOP spokesperson] Mercer said in his email. “I would strongly suggest dropping this story.”
“I’m sure you’re aware of our connections with the Trump Administration and I’m sure they would be interested in this matter,” [GOP spokesperson] Mercer said in his email. “I would strongly suggest dropping this story.”
My latest "Football Chronicles" installment:
"You might say the Cromwell/Portland Panthers football team enjoys a 'curse-infused advantage' over the Cougars, having defeated HK every time they have squared off since C/P first formed the co-op in 2015."
medium.com/@barthkeck/f...
"You might say the Cromwell/Portland Panthers football team enjoys a 'curse-infused advantage' over the Cougars, having defeated HK every time they have squared off since C/P first formed the co-op in 2015."
medium.com/@barthkeck/f...
Football Chronicles 2025: Is There Such a Thing as ‘The Cromwell Curse’? (Chapter 12)
Author’s note: This is the 12th installment of “The HK Cougar Football Chronicles,” 2025 edition. As an assistant coach, I offer readers an…
medium.com
November 2, 2025 at 4:28 PM
My latest "Football Chronicles" installment:
"You might say the Cromwell/Portland Panthers football team enjoys a 'curse-infused advantage' over the Cougars, having defeated HK every time they have squared off since C/P first formed the co-op in 2015."
medium.com/@barthkeck/f...
"You might say the Cromwell/Portland Panthers football team enjoys a 'curse-infused advantage' over the Cougars, having defeated HK every time they have squared off since C/P first formed the co-op in 2015."
medium.com/@barthkeck/f...
The definition of an oligarchy:
“Mr. Powell said, the largest companies behind the [AI] transformation are highly valued and largely funding their expansions from their own businesses, rather than loose lending.”
“Mr. Powell said, the largest companies behind the [AI] transformation are highly valued and largely funding their expansions from their own businesses, rather than loose lending.”
That AI is likely a stupendous bubble in the making - and already rife with risks and harms - doesn't trouble the key players because the goal in our system isn't to do good or even to do well but to beat others.
Big Tech companies pursue dangerous nonsense […]
[Original post on sciences.social]
Big Tech companies pursue dangerous nonsense […]
[Original post on sciences.social]
November 2, 2025 at 12:38 PM
The definition of an oligarchy:
“Mr. Powell said, the largest companies behind the [AI] transformation are highly valued and largely funding their expansions from their own businesses, rather than loose lending.”
“Mr. Powell said, the largest companies behind the [AI] transformation are highly valued and largely funding their expansions from their own businesses, rather than loose lending.”
A friendly reminder:
“Social media is not real life.”
“Unfortunately, too many people today have fallen under the Svengali spell of social media, interpreting the accounts of their preferred influencers as absolute truth.”
https://ctnewsjunkie.com/2025/09/15/opinion-social-media-is-not-real-life/
“Social media is not real life.”
“Unfortunately, too many people today have fallen under the Svengali spell of social media, interpreting the accounts of their preferred influencers as absolute truth.”
https://ctnewsjunkie.com/2025/09/15/opinion-social-media-is-not-real-life/
Opinion | Social Media Is Not Real Life | CT News Junkie
Social media is not real life. That's the thought that came immediately to mind as I read an essay by Adrienne LaFrance, the executive editor of The Atlantic, in the aftermath of the horrific assassin...
ctnewsjunkie.com
November 1, 2025 at 9:55 AM
A friendly reminder:
“Social media is not real life.”
“Unfortunately, too many people today have fallen under the Svengali spell of social media, interpreting the accounts of their preferred influencers as absolute truth.”
https://ctnewsjunkie.com/2025/09/15/opinion-social-media-is-not-real-life/
“Social media is not real life.”
“Unfortunately, too many people today have fallen under the Svengali spell of social media, interpreting the accounts of their preferred influencers as absolute truth.”
https://ctnewsjunkie.com/2025/09/15/opinion-social-media-is-not-real-life/
“Research-backed services like after-school programs and mental health supports help to create a positive school climate. Some states, like Connecticut and Maryland, have invested millions of dollars in wrap-around services like mental health support and at-home visits.”
A new study says several states are doing the right things to get students to show up to school regularly. n.pr/3JrZP0k
Fewer students are missing school. These state policies may have helped
A new study says several states are doing the right things to get students to show up to school regularly.
n.pr
November 1, 2025 at 9:42 AM
“Research-backed services like after-school programs and mental health supports help to create a positive school climate. Some states, like Connecticut and Maryland, have invested millions of dollars in wrap-around services like mental health support and at-home visits.”
“The fate of the country rests on the recovery of republican virtue, cultivation of active passion for public interest, and a willingness to sacrifice individual interests for the common good.”
Not very reassuring.
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/10/trump-authoritarianism/684773/
Not very reassuring.
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/10/trump-authoritarianism/684773/
Trump’s Plan Is Now Out in the Open
It’s getting ever harder to avoid connecting the authoritarian dots.
www.theatlantic.com
October 31, 2025 at 8:14 PM
“The fate of the country rests on the recovery of republican virtue, cultivation of active passion for public interest, and a willingness to sacrifice individual interests for the common good.”
Not very reassuring.
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/10/trump-authoritarianism/684773/
Not very reassuring.
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/10/trump-authoritarianism/684773/
THIS! 👇
As I’ve explained: one of the best ways to protect your heart health is to keep up with your Covid and flu vaccinations. Don’t listen to antivaccine activists they don’t care about you or your family www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/w...
Covid and Flu Can Triple Your Risk of Heart Attack
www.nytimes.com
October 30, 2025 at 12:34 PM
THIS! 👇