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the breakfast table: An e-mail conversation about the news of the day.

Daniel, Eric, and Jennifer Mendelsohn

the breakfast table
entries

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from: Jennifer Mendelsohn

Media Saturation, Religious Solicitations, and the Death Penalty

Posted Tuesday, June 19, 2001, at 3:20 PM ET

Dear Daniel and Eric,

Well now we're back in the BT swing, aren't we? It's just like riding a bike ... you know, an awkward, oversized tandem bike with a sidecar that's always threatening to careen off the road. But we're really kicking last week's BT's ass, aren't we?

Eric, it's OK that you don't know who the vice president is, especially now, at a time when it's not entirely clear that the president does, either. In all seriousness, I am so oversaturated with media--and surrounded by others like me--that I find your complete insulation from it very refreshing, although I'm always curious how you find out about the big things like, say, Columbine, or the Gulf War. (OK, well, I think you knew about the latter because our brother Matt covered it.) It's like my friends Lynn and David, whose primary source of news is the PBS NewsHour. I'm always peppering them with questions about what they know and don't know: Did the NewsHour cover the O.J. Simpson trial? JonBenet? Missing intern Chandra Levy? (Speaking of which, Emily Yoffe's just posted a great "Explainer" about Chandra.)

There's still no sign of Chandra here in D.C., or, for that matter, of Steve the electrician. (For those keeping track, I'm now back in D.C. and will be filing next from Richmond as I make my way down the Eastern Seaboard in an attempt to be the most mobile BT participant in Slate history.) I must share: On the drive back, I passed a hair salon on Florida Avenue in Northeast called "Upscalez," which makes me laugh every time I drive by, and every time I think about it thereafter. (Did they think that the "z" would make it sound more French? Or swank? Or what?)

After checking my voice mail, I was most distressed to learn that I had missed my new friend Dawn, who had stopped by while I was out to "share the Bible's hope for the future" with me. Her message said, "If this is a topic that interests you, give me a call at xxx.xxxx, and we can discuss it." (So excuse me for the rest of the afternoon while I get back to her.) I'm reminded, fondly, of our mom's response to those types of solicitations, which was always a very polite, "Thanks so much for coming by, but I'm really very comfortable with my own religion." Speaking of Mom, Daniel, are you back yet? I want details!

In an attempt to fulfill our duty to be relevant and newsy, I'll point out that since we began this little endeavor, the U.S. government has executed yet another federal prisoner. Oy, do I have a hard time figuring out how I feel about the death penalty. I'm also still thinking a lot about last night's 20/20, which did a piece on convicted sex offenders having to have signs on their front lawns identifying them as such. As someone with many beloved small children in my life, I'm inclined to think that this is a great idea, especially given the appalling recidivism rate for sex offenses, but the true-blue liberal in me is so uncomfortable about it.

Well, how's that for a downer of a close?

XO
Jennifer, off to Ikea to get in touch with my inner Swede. Surely there's a Smedvik lampshade I need.

P.S.: Eric--A very perceptive "Fray" poster has pointed out that last year you swore that a "team of Nazi dentists" couldn't get you to come back to the BT. Discuss.

the breakfast table
entries

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from: Jennifer Mendelsohn

Media Saturation, Religious Solicitations, and the Death Penalty

Posted Tuesday, June 19, 2001, at 3:20 PM ET

DISCUSS

E-MAIL

Daniel Mendelsohn, book critic for New York magazine, is the author of The Elusive Embrace. Eric Mendelsohn is the writer/director of the film Judy Berlin. Jennifer Mendelsohn is the author of Slate's "Keeping Tabs" column. To read their previous "Breakfast Table," click here.

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Reader Comments From The Fray:

[Thursday notes from the Fray Editor: A true "Breakfast Table" thread got going here: starting with made-up words, moving on to dead languages, salaries, and cheerful insults, plus a chance to find out which BT regular is a public defender, and what he likes about the the job (the pens are nice, and he doesn't meant penitentiaries). Another cross thread started here (OK, Amber, you are a high-maintenance troublemaker too. It was nothing personal, but you don't confine yourself to the "Breakfast Table". ) Good discussion on death penalty starts with new star Ender here. In fact, there are good threads everywhere this week, none of them staying on topic for long, and all of them involving being rude to other posters: "the only reason you are elevated [to gold stars] is so the rest of us know who to make Ad hominem attacks against."]

Daniel,

Please restrain yourself. According to my calculations, at this rate you will have used up the world's supply of parentheses (left and right) by 2:21PM on Thursday

--Keith M. Ellis

(To reply, click here.)

[Tuesday notes from the Fray Editor: By sheer chance, the Fray index at one point reads:

The Mendelsohns are back!
Appropriate Police Action

We would like to stress that the second post was on a completely different subject: we don't want the Mendelsohns getting cross with us. And we're not going near the whole 'provincial hicks' area.

One highlight of the Mendelsohn's previous "Breakfast Table" was the occasional appearance of the Missing Mendelsohn Brothers, and we have an early sighting of one here. He was replying to Arthur Stock's evocatively named "Vote for your favorite Mendelsohn here" post. Neill Hamilton is the official troublemaker to the Breakfast Table Fray, and outdid himself, below.]

It's starting well: someone has called Texas elected officials retarded. Next, as a parent of teenagers I think that sibling arguments can be awful heated. I am open to suggestions as how to provoke one among the three siblings talking this week. Perhaps one of the topics they could address is which one of them was treated best by their parents. Or perhaps they could rehash embarrassing moments that one other sibling caused. Whatever, there is lots of potential here.

--Neill Hamilton

(To reply, click here.)

[Now read how Neill Hamilton, with the grumpiness we love him for, changed his mind...]

We [Joseph Britt, Arthur Stock and Will V] shamelessly shilled for the Mendelsohns when we occupied the [Fray posters'] Breakfast Table. It didn't take long for Slate to invite them back.

Wonder if they'll return the favor...

--WillV

(To reply, click here.)