Remembering Ivor Leclerc By Nate Thayer May 18, 2017 While perusing through my files and papers I came across a handwritten copy of an eulogy I delivered at the memorial service in May 1999 for my step father, Ivor Leclerc, held at the National Cathedral Church in Washington D.C. I found stapled to my handwritten three […]
The Early Mis-education of a Cantankerous Writer
The re-education of a 12 year-old Future Journalist April 10, 2016 By Nate Thayer I was a difficult child. I went to 13 schools prior to graduating high school. I did not leave most of them by my own choice. “Nate is very smart and finds academics easy and does well in class. He has […]
Evil Lawyer Tricks: Gag Orders, Free Speech, and Non-Disclosure Agreements
Evil Lawyer Tricks: Gag Orders, Free Speech, and Non-Disclosure Agreements By Nate Thayer February 6, 2016 Yesterday, I was contacted, unsolicited, by the folks who are responsible for the epic TV hit reality series “Housewives of New Jersey.” They appear to want to make me a TV star. “Hi Nate, My name is Karen XXXXXX […]
Is a freelance journalism career a Sisyphean delusion?
Why today I think continuing my career as a freelance journalist may be a Sisyphean, untenable delusion By Nate Thayer June 5, 2014 Here is an update with further evidence suggesting that making a viable living as a professional freelance journalist and writer is an untenable, Sisyphean delusion: I was sitting at my desk yesterday morning, […]
Notes on Love and Courage: The Eulogy of a Very Important Man
Notes on Love and Courage: The Eulogy of a Very Important Man By Nate Thayer January 22, 2014 In recent days, I have been perusing through files and papers while organizing the final details of preparing my book, Sympathy for the Devil, for publication. Today I came across a handwritten eulogy I wrote which I […]
Korean Sex, the Atlantic magazine, and Ted Koppel: What visitors wanted to read in 2013
My 2013 statistics for my blog, natethayer.wordpress.com (now moved to www.nate-thayer.com), have been summarized and broken down. They provide for interesting, sometimes disturbing, sometimes humorous, sometimes enlightening,and to me, fascinating insight into how and why people decide to visit an online site, via what social media networks, from where the readers live, and what topics […]
ABC News and Ted Koppel owe an apology for soiling the integrity of freelancers and the institution of journalism
Mr. Koppel, you owe an apology to the institution of journalism for soiling its integrity. By Nate Thayer December 12, 2013 Well, Mr. Ted Koppel, I, for one, would like to hear your response to my contention you pimped your reputation for integrity to ABC News/Disney Corporation in order to steal the life work of […]
Corporate Power, ABC TV and Ted Koppel tried to censor the free speech of a free man in a free country. Fuck that.
Corporate power tried to steal my life work. ABC TV and Ted Koppel tried to censor the free speech of a free man in a free country. Fuck that. Discuss freedom. I would like to define this discussion, where it belongs: The power of corporate thugs using their money to put their jackboot on the […]
‘See Angkor and die’
‘See Angkor and die’ Fri, 3 December 1993 Nate Thayer (This story, one of my favorites, was published 20 years ago today in the Phnom Penh Post) Renée Grass died happy here in Cambodia a few days ago after travelling across the world to have her last dream come true. The 83-year-old Belgian woman, frail […]
Musician’s Protest Goes Viral: Corporations offer no payment in exchange for “exposure”
Musicians say Enough is Enough for being asked to work for Free: One mans strongly worded refusal goes viral on social media A Familiar refrain: “They consistently offer musicians nothing for their work, instead suggesting ‘exposure’ as a form of payment.” The issue of for profit companies trying to increase their profit margin by refusing […]
Love and Sex in the U.S. Foreign Service -Lust, Bombs, Bureaucrats. Writings by James Bruno
Love & Sex in the U.S. Foreign Service -Lust, Loneliness, Bombs & Bureaucrats & other writings by retired diplomat and best selling author James Bruno By Nate Thayer November 7, 2013 You can access the writings and book of James Bruno at http://jameslbruno.blogspot.com/ This morning, James Bruno, an old friend and now a best-selling author, […]
The Childhood Education of a Cantankerous Journalist
The Early Education of a Future Cantankerous Journalist: 7th grade English class papers from a 12 year old By Nate Thayer October 28, 2013 I recently moved several hundred boxes of books, papers, and various possessions I have acquired through my decidedly nomadic, itinerant life from a storage unit into the basement of my new […]