I've been a subscriber to Time Magazine since 1993. And this cover, from February 1994, is one that I will always remember. Ministry of Rage! The raging and racist leader of the Nation of Islam (NOI) Louis Farrakhan with his stylish eye wear on. There was a time when Minister Louis Farrakhan and/or prominent members of the NOI were on television fairly regularly. Black … [Read more...] about Farrakhan: Where is the rage?
Puerile Code Pinksters
I was listening to the testimony of Gen. Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker on NPR while running errands. Several times I heard interruptions by spoiled, bratty girls masquerading as responsible adults. I'm appalled to think that I might actually have once been friends with some of them. You know who you are, and you bring only shame to this lesbian feminist. … [Read more...] about Puerile Code Pinksters
Creeping Back to Rule of Law
GOP Presidential hopeful Fred Thompson argues that we need to give Bin Laden "due process" once we capture him. His spokesperson's "clarification" killed a lot of my excitement, but not all of it. Good for him. … [Read more...] about Creeping Back to Rule of Law
Anti-War Ryan
Here's an interesting tidbit: Ryan Crocker, the current US ambassador to Baghdad and lifelong Foreign Service Officer, was an initial opponent of the US invasion of Iraq. … [Read more...] about Anti-War Ryan
General Petraeus Lowers Already Low Expectations in Iraq Even Further
In an exercise in lowering already low expectations, General David Petraeus told lawmakers today that U.S. troops levels in Iraq may be able to return to their pre-surge strength by next summer without jeopardizing what he characterized as hard-won progress. Then, lowering expectations further still, the top American commander in the bitterly divisive war tried to close the … [Read more...] about General Petraeus Lowers Already Low Expectations in Iraq Even Further
Blowback and Testimony
To read my opinion of the testimony of General Petraeus and ambassador Crocker please click here. To sum it up: a sober assessment, both men seemed to be honest; they mentioned the problems but also expressed believe that progress has been made (slowly but surely); all in all a good, realistic assessment of the situation on the ground. It seems to me that people cannot easily … [Read more...] about Blowback and Testimony
With Enemies Like This, General Petraeus Gets New Friends
Move.On.org has run an ad with a headline that deserves nothing less than utter, unadulterated condemnation from thinking Americans of both parties, including those who feel his decision to give an exclusive to Fox News after his report to Congress injects him into partisan politics and is a public relations fiasco. To mince no words, this is the kind of language that cause … [Read more...] about With Enemies Like This, General Petraeus Gets New Friends
Get A Life Department
I mean, REALLY... … [Read more...] about Get A Life Department
In Europe, A Tougher Attitude Towards Anyone Who’s Different
It's not just Muslims who are becoming more radicalized in Europe. FPPassport notes that anti-Semitism as well as anti-Islamic and anti-foreign sentiment are on the rise throughout the region. In Switzerland, for example, there is an effort to initiate a new -- and absurdly harsh -- deportation policy in which "entire immigrant families would be kicked out of Switzerland if … [Read more...] about In Europe, A Tougher Attitude Towards Anyone Who’s Different
What Happened Between Israel and Syria Recently? Rumors Abound.
The news that Israel conducted a flyover of Syrian territory has caused something of a diplomatic incident between the two countries. Syria has expressed strong outrage that its sovereignty was violated, and proudly claims that it effectively retaliated by hitting one of the invading planes with anti-aircraft weaponry. Israel, meanwhile, has not been forthcoming with an … [Read more...] about What Happened Between Israel and Syria Recently? Rumors Abound.
Britney Spears: To Some It Was Like Watching The Fat Elvis
...but without the talent. Britney Spears bombed bigtime on MTV. Click on those links but here's a full quote from Times Online: At least she should have plenty of spare time to look after the kids. Britney Spears's long-awaited career relaunch at last night's MTV Video Music Awards produced some excruciating car-crash television when the fallen superstar opened … [Read more...] about Britney Spears: To Some It Was Like Watching The Fat Elvis
Was The Latest Osama bin Laden Tape A Forgery?
Osama bin Laden's latest video debut got widespread coverage as usual -- but now a new issue has arisen: Are there specific signs in that video that it's actually a forgery and not a recent video of bin Laden? A debate is raging on the Internet on the right and left -- and it's likely to continue but people on both sides note some things that are making all of them raise … [Read more...] about Was The Latest Osama bin Laden Tape A Forgery?
Is There a “Right Brain†and a “Left Brain�
I have often wondered if there wasn’t a physiological difference between those on the Left and those on the Right. Apparently there is, according to the Los Angeles Times:Exploring the neurobiology of politics, scientists have found that liberals tolerate ambiguity and conflict better than conservatives because of how their brains work. In a simple experiment … [Read more...] about Is There a “Right Brain†and a “Left Brainâ€?
Pillorying Petraeus
Now that this President has damaged one American tradition, separation of church and state, he is creating conflict over another that goes back to the days of George Washington, the line between civilian and military in policy decisions. Tomorrow Gen. Petraeus will testify before Congress and be vilified by a full-page ad in the New York Times. As grave as the conflict is over … [Read more...] about Pillorying Petraeus
Journalism’s Future: Will Subjectivity Trump Objectivity? Does It Matter?
Once upon a time, I was a newspaper reporter and editor. Over nearly four decades in the business, I saw the world, covered the O.J. Simpson trials and a few wars, did investigative work that got laws passed than nobody paid any attention to, mentored a bunch of rising stars, won some awards, made my mother proud and eventually got so burned out that I quit the business. Barely … [Read more...] about Journalism’s Future: Will Subjectivity Trump Objectivity? Does It Matter?
Waiting For Petraeus: Stepping Back And Looking At Iraq
As General David Petraeus gets ready to deliver his report on the "surge" (most likely he will say it is working and will argue for it to continue into the spring, at the very least), there are two MUST READ pieces. First, this Huffington Post piece by former George Bush strategist Matthew Dowd. Here are some of his key points, with some observations from my little corner in … [Read more...] about Waiting For Petraeus: Stepping Back And Looking At Iraq
How To Talk On Your Cell Phone
From moderate cartoonist Tom Briscoe: … [Read more...] about How To Talk On Your Cell Phone
Abbott & Costello Slowly I turned or Niagara falls
Yesterday I noted that Time Magazine's website that lists and shows embeds from TV's all-time top 100 shows included the classic Abbott & Costello Show which inspired Jerry Seinfeld's show. Some readers emailed and asked to see a classic A&C bit. So here is one. The famous "Sloooooooowly I turned..." vaudeville bit that the Three Stooges and many other entertainers did as … [Read more...] about Abbott & Costello Slowly I turned or Niagara falls
UPDATE: Democrats Debate in Spanish on Univision
UPDATE - More substantial coverage from AP via Washington Post. UPDATE - AP via New York Times Debate Coverage Miami Herald Pre-Debate Article UPDATE - According to The Washington Times: Panic in the press room "Are we going to have audio?" "Vamos a tener audio?" Reporters who didn't speak Spanish were already anxious about the translation devices that … [Read more...] about UPDATE: Democrats Debate in Spanish on Univision
General Petraeus Makes A Big Public Relations Mistake (UPDATED)
You'd think that tomorrow night after giving his report to Congress Gen. David Petraeus would try to maximize his message by not in any way getting enmeshed in anything that would appear as if he's being political or trying to evade journalists who may have tough questions. But the latest is that after his address tomorrow he and Ambassador Ryan Crocker will give -- you … [Read more...] about General Petraeus Makes A Big Public Relations Mistake (UPDATED)