I would suggest must reading of Ian Shapira's story in today's Washington Post for those of us who use the Internet to write articles and opinion pieces plundered from reliable properties such as WaPo, the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Economist and others of that ilk. Shapira said his ego was stoked when the snarky cultural website Gawker cherry picked the best … [Read more...] about The Art Of Stealing The Other Guy’s Property
Texting
David Fitzsimmons, The Arizona Star This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Texting
Reconciliation and Health Care Reform
Carl Hulse has a piece in today's New York Times about House Democrats' tentative plans -- which Hulse (rather bizarrely) says are being kept very close to the vest -- to pass health care reform legislation via reconciliation. The major obstacle to doing so, however, is something called the "Byrd Rule," which limits the use of reconciliation to bills intended to fund existing … [Read more...] about Reconciliation and Health Care Reform
Update on Bloodbath in Tel Aviv
I want to see all rabbis, priests, ministers, imams, and other spiritual leaders publicly denounce this murderous attack on a group of gay teenagers and their friends. No matter what you think of homosexuality, we can all agree that shooting children is a grossly inappropriate way of expressing one's opinion. If the shooter is a Jew (not yet determined), he did not get the … [Read more...] about Update on Bloodbath in Tel Aviv
Silly Season Thrillers
August arrives with a dandy metaphor about the difference between the old journalism and the new--the New York Times' record-setting number of errors in reporting Walter Cronkite's death juxtaposed against a blog frenzy over the news of a Sarah-Todd Palin divorce. Even for this traditional month of fake and flaky news, it's an impressive start. The Times Public Editor tells … [Read more...] about Silly Season Thrillers
Gay Killings Shock Tel Aviv
The killing of two gay teenagers in Tel Aviv has come as a shock to many as other gay clubs are now being warned to be vigilant. Here's a good Reuters report via You Tube: … [Read more...] about Gay Killings Shock Tel Aviv
Pay-to-Play Is Washington’s Sport of Kings (Guest Voice)
Pay-to-Play Is Washington's Sport of Kings by Michael Winship As we marvel over the depths of hypocrisy and greed currently plumbed in the health care reform debate, it may help to remember that even Honest Abe Lincoln had his share of tainted colleagues, one of the most notorious of whom was his first Secretary of War, Simon Cameron. According to Doris Kearns Goodwin's … [Read more...] about Pay-to-Play Is Washington’s Sport of Kings (Guest Voice)
Speaking of non-controversial people …
As noted below, the WaPo described President Obama's candidates for the Presidential Medal of Freedom as not "particularly controversial". Aside from the points MK raised about Ted Kennedy, it's worth noting that Desmond Tutu isn't exactly a stranger to controversy either. Wikipedia reports that Tutu has persistently compared Israel to apartheid South Africa, called on Jews … [Read more...] about Speaking of non-controversial people …
Can a scandal last for forty years? Should it?
On Thursday, President Obama announced that he would award the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, to sixteen individuals, including Sen. Ted Kennedy. Mary Katherine is not amused. She asks how many individuals considered complicit in vehicular manslaughter could be given such an honor. Would a conservative (or any non-Kennedy) rise to the … [Read more...] about Can a scandal last for forty years? Should it?
Congress Faces Summer School Final Exams
It's test time for the Legislative branch of our government. As the Associated Press correctly points out, House members and Senators are now heading home where they will face questions, criticism and scrutiny from their many employers (i.e. the voters) who will decide in the months and years to come whether or not they will keep their jobs. The problem they face in this … [Read more...] about Congress Faces Summer School Final Exams
How the NY Times maximizes efficiency in tough economic times
Kevin Drum notes that the NYT had three correspondents all live-blog the President's beer with Skip Gates and Jim Crowley. Cross-posted at Conventional Folly … [Read more...] about How the NY Times maximizes efficiency in tough economic times
Palin: Anatomy of the divorce rumor
The Orlando Sentinel reports on an Alaska blog's claim that Sarah Palin is getting a divorce: The No. 1 search term in Google right now is “sarah palin divorce.” The reason? A couple of bloggers in Alaska posted stories this morning claiming to have inside information that former Gov. Sarah Palin is divorcing her husband, Todd. The bloggers went on to claim that Sarah Palin … [Read more...] about Palin: Anatomy of the divorce rumor
U.S. Health Care: Pay More, Get Less
Tyler Cowen quotes one of his readers: … [Read more...] about U.S. Health Care: Pay More, Get Less
The Prince of Gracie Square and the Paupers of Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Alabama -- which includes the city of Birmingham -- is facing draconian cuts in county and municipal services that will affect thousands of people: … [Read more...] about The Prince of Gracie Square and the Paupers of Jefferson County
Red and Blue Hypocrites
Zack Space and Roy Blunt -- from Ohio and Missouri, respectively -- are members of the House of Representatives. Blunt is a Republican and Space is a "Blue Dog Democrat," which means for all practical purposes he's a Republican. … [Read more...] about Red and Blue Hypocrites
Scary and Depressing Times
Extended unemployment benefits are ending, with jobs nowhere in sight: … [Read more...] about Scary and Depressing Times
Another ‘Victory Day’ Over the United States: Daily North Korea, South Korea
It's 'Victory Day' again in North Korea - or to be precise, the 'Day of Victory in the Fatherland Liberation War,' over the United States and United Nations. For those who have wondered how Pyongyang has come to call the 50-year standoff a 'victory,' South Korea's Daily North Korea, staffed by people who have escaped the land of Kim Jong-il and work to alert the outside … [Read more...] about Another ‘Victory Day’ Over the United States: Daily North Korea, South Korea
How “Kill Granny” Slogans Pollute Health Reform Talks
On a recent Thursday company bus ride taking a group of my fellow seniors to shop at local grocery stores, Rosa announced how shamed she was because President Obama was born in Kenya and wanted to kill the elderly to save medical costs. "What gives you that idea?" I asked. "It's true," Rosa said. "It's all over TV and radio. My neighbors John and Mary said the same thing. … [Read more...] about How “Kill Granny” Slogans Pollute Health Reform Talks
Israel and Iran: Washington’s Changed Security Posture
Iran is pushing ahead with its covert nuclear weapons program while Israel bangs its head against a wall because of a change in Washington’s security posture that is already taking place. Hilary Clinton’s so far informal offer of a security, including nuclear, umbrella, to its friends in the Middle East is an admission that Washington is unsure of stopping Iran from … [Read more...] about Israel and Iran: Washington’s Changed Security Posture
UPDATE 2: Attack on Gay Teenagers in Tel Aviv Kills 3, Wounds 10-15
UPDATE: J POST: Three people were killed and 14 people were wounded - two seriously, three moderately and the rest lightly - in a shooting at the Bar Noir, a center for youth run by the Tel Aviv gay community, on Saturday night. ============================================================== Ynetnews: 2 killed in Tel Aviv shooting GLBT activist says shooting that … [Read more...] about UPDATE 2: Attack on Gay Teenagers in Tel Aviv Kills 3, Wounds 10-15