In this culturally fractured moment, the buzz is suddenly about connection. A Facebook film serves as a metaphor for political columnists while Jon Stewart uses a 1976 movie with half its title in calling for a Rally to Restore Sanity. Is America "mad as hell and not going to take it anymore" or a huge circle of Friends creating digital democracy and instant political … [Read more...] about “Social Network” vs. “Network”
Campaign Money
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The Wait Debate: Are Waiters Worth the Tip?
Waiters are a mainstay in the restaurant culture, and tipping is a social convention. But is it time to eliminate the tip? … [Read more...] about The Wait Debate: Are Waiters Worth the Tip?
A Salute to Andrew Sullivan
Andrew Sullivan marks his 10th year of blogging and he has asked for a "toast or roast." We'll give a decided Toast. The reason: Andrew Sullivan and his The Dish has been engagingly consistent every step of the way and the Internet remains richer for it. Sullivan has been and is a role model to many who wanted to blog and I know I can safely say he is one of the favorites … [Read more...] about A Salute to Andrew Sullivan
Sex Offenders Unmonitored During System Failure
The limits of the tech fix exposed: "At 0729 Mountain Time [1429 GMT] on 5 October, BI Incorporated experienced a problem with one of its offender monitoring servers that caused this server's automatic notification system to be temporarily disabled, resulting in delayed notifications to customers. The issue was resolved approximately 12 hours later at 1925 [0229 GMT … [Read more...] about Sex Offenders Unmonitored During System Failure
Snyder v. Phelps: Free Speech vs. a Father’s Right to Mourn his Son’s Death with Dignity
There can hardly be a more contentious and consequential issue than one involving the First Amendment. Just such an issue, the Snyder v. Phelps case, has now arrived at the U.S. Supreme Court. It is the kind of case that, in my estimation, has divided American opinion right down the middle. What is even more significant, it is an issue where one can find the brightest … [Read more...] about Snyder v. Phelps: Free Speech vs. a Father’s Right to Mourn his Son’s Death with Dignity
Taxing Professors and Cowboys
A Harvard economist and former George W. Bush adviser explains it all in a piece titled, "I Can Afford Higher Taxes. But They’ll Make Me Work Less." Less scholarly mortals should be grateful for enlightenment about how earning $1000 for an article is such a burden for a professor with more than $250,000 a year in income that the economy will crash if Congress doesn't extend … [Read more...] about Taxing Professors and Cowboys
Democrats Either Doomed Or Coming Back
I love it when conflicting reports get placed right next to each other Three articles today on RCP 1: RCP average reaches new high for GOP 2: From MSNBC: Democrats clawing their way back 3: From Hotline: Hail Mary Time for Democrats Personally I'd guess the truth is somewhere in the middle of these stories. The GOP is certainly on a roll and if it were not for … [Read more...] about Democrats Either Doomed Or Coming Back
NYT Profiles Blogger Who Launched Faux “Ground Zero Mosque” Controversy
This is another one of those "better late than never" stories, I suppose. It would have been extremely helpful for citizens of the US and the world -- but maybe not MSM coffers -- to have dished this up back in July, before Sarah Palin et al got their paws on it. The outrageous and the solemn are deeply intertwined in her character. Ms. Geller admits to using Atlas Shrugs … [Read more...] about NYT Profiles Blogger Who Launched Faux “Ground Zero Mosque” Controversy
Al-Maliki’s Coalition with Al-Sadr ‘Angers Americans’: Iraq News Agency, Iraq
According to this news item from the Iraq New Agency and contrary to a recent report in the Financial Times, Washington is not at all pleased that Muqtada al-Sadr looks like the kingmaker in Baghdad. Once referred to by the U.S. as a 'radical Shiite cleric,' al-Sadr has created an alliance with current Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, assuring him of a second term despite his … [Read more...] about Al-Maliki’s Coalition with Al-Sadr ‘Angers Americans’: Iraq News Agency, Iraq
Windows Phone 7 Marketing Mistakes (cont’d)
John Gruber, again, this time on the bureaucratic language Microsoft used to announce the Windows Phone 7 today, "Who talks like this? This bureaucrat-ese is intended, I suppose, to sound serious. But it just sounds like bull$#@t." The press release is titled, “Windows Phone 7: A Fresh Start for the Smartphone: The Phone Delivers a New User Experience by Integrating the … [Read more...] about Windows Phone 7 Marketing Mistakes (cont’d)
This Angry Season
In the United States, the conventional wisdom holds that, when the nation is on the wrong track, "we the people" will set it right. It's a comforting thought. But, in this angry season, one must ask if that axiom is always true. There is a pathological quality to much of the anger one sees and hears these days. When Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin and Carl Paladino keep returning to … [Read more...] about This Angry Season
Why Not Da Vinci Day ?
I was listening to Armstrong and Getty on the radio this morning when they made a pretty good point. Today is Columbus Day, a holiday that many consider to be one of the most pointless holidays of the entire year. After all Columbus didn't discover anything, people were already here, and he wasn't that good of a person by all accounts. So why do we have an official … [Read more...] about Why Not Da Vinci Day ?
Updatex2: GOP Mum on Rich Iott While Republican Jewish Coalition Backs Eric Cantor
Update: The Toledo Free Press had this story about the tactics, described as threats in a 2008 lawsuit, used by Rich Iott in a dispute related to his son and several roommates. I'll let people draw their own conclusions, per my comment in the District section. Original post: Catch up on the healthy debate about how much emphasis voters should give a GOP candidate in Ohio … [Read more...] about Updatex2: GOP Mum on Rich Iott While Republican Jewish Coalition Backs Eric Cantor
The Shadow Class War of 2010
WASHINGTON -- The 2010 election is turning into a class war. The wealthy and the powerful started it. This is a strange development. President Obama, after all, has been working overtime to save capitalism. Wall Street is doing just fine and the rich are getting richer again. The financial reform bill passed by Congress was moderate, not radical. Nonetheless, … [Read more...] about The Shadow Class War of 2010
Toxic Ad Spill
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The Worst Is Yet To Come
A few days ago I said: I don't really understand why the Republicans or the Democrats would want to win this election cycle and be forced to take responsibility for the next collapse of the financial system. I was talking about the fraud that threatens to take down the financial system but there is another big problem - jobs. Everyone is wondering why there is little job … [Read more...] about The Worst Is Yet To Come
Is Arkansas Politics Really Changing ?
Interesting article here about how Arkansas may be going through a major shift this year. According to the story some legislative seats that have been solidly D since the end of Reconstruction in the 1870's are now tossups. Arkansas has remained largely Democratic at the local level despite voting GOP for President, and this could be the tipping point (much as some areas … [Read more...] about Is Arkansas Politics Really Changing ?
A Nobel Peace Prize About More than Good Intentions: Financial Times Deutschland, Germany
When President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize last year, there was a lot of criticism. While Barack Obama's intentions seemed great - many said he hadn't actually done anything. Not so for this year's winner. Financial Times Deutschland columnist David Bocking writes that this time around, the Nobel Committee awarded a man that has risked everything - including his life - to … [Read more...] about A Nobel Peace Prize About More than Good Intentions: Financial Times Deutschland, Germany
CNN Will Hang in There with “Parker Spitzer”
CNN is following the strategy I felt they would follow when I first saw the debut of "Parker Spitzer": CNN is going to hang in there since despite some (franky predictable) pounding by some reviewers, the show has potential -- including ratings potential: Eliot Spitzer's debut on CNN's prime-time lineup has been greeted by tepid viewing and some scathing reviews. But the … [Read more...] about CNN Will Hang in There with “Parker Spitzer”