Good morning, folks. Conan’s going to tell us the name of his new show today. Now, your morning constitutional: Vice President Joe Biden and Defense Secretary Robert Gates presided over a ceremony this morning to mark the transition of military operations in Iraq. President Obama is looking to make progress on the three “big” tasks in the Middle East—Iraq, Iran and Israel—a task that eluded his predecessors. Inheriting Iraq: Haunting images from the war Obama didn’t want. Senator Lisa Murkowski has conceded her race for reelection against primary opponent Joe Miller, who narrowly beat her. Fidel Castro...
Continue reading...Poplicola
What does the new Oval Office say?
Somewhat strangely, when President Obama took office, he opted to eschew tradition and not change anything about the decor of the Oval Office. Well, while the president was on vacation last week, he finally put his own personal stamp on the office. The Oval got new furniture, a new rug and new wallpaper. He kept the pictures of Washington and Lincoln, as well as the desk (“The Resolute”). What’s interesting, however, is not the new decor (stately, yet bland—I actually really liked the old carpet) is that he chose to have the carpet bordered by some historical...
Continue reading...New York Times Columnist Line of the Day – 31 August 2010
If you’re one of the four-or-so frequent readers of this here blog, chances are you also occasionally check out the New York Times op-ed page. You may even know the names: Thomas “Friedman’s Just Another Word For Nothing Left to Lose” Friedman, Gail “The Colander” Collins, Nicholas “The Dark Crystal” Kristof, &c. This is a daily feature dedicated to these folks: one line that is either awesome, funny, insightful, intelligent, ridiculous, or utterly divorced from reality. I hope you enjoy. Today’s is from David “Yawny-Pants” Brooks, who in his column “Nation Building Works,” actually encapsulates the fragile...
Continue reading...A Complete History of the Soviet Union Arraged to the Melody of Tetris
This is pretty great. From the YouTube description: Buy the whole album at http://www.pigfaceboy.co.uk Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pigfaceboy A Complete History Of The Soviet Union Through The Eyes Of A Humble Worker, Arranged To The Melody Of Tetris. Music by “Pig With The Face Of A Boy” Written and performed by DONALD NEWHOLM and DAN WOODS, with MALCOLM GAYNER & ROBIN HARRIS Photographed by TIM JORDAN Costumes by LUCY NEWHOLM Production assistant NICOLA LINCÉ Special thanks to JAMES LAMONT and REMY LAMONT Produced by CHRIS LINCÉ and DAN WOODS for the ‘Musical Comedy Lab\’ Directed, animated, and edited by...
Continue reading...Stay classy
From the GW Hatchet, the George Washington University newspaper: Though the rally was a mostly peaceful gathering, two rally attendees got into a heated argument with an employee at the GW Deli over the D.C. bag tax, which ultimately resulted in the tea party member throwing a sandwich in the deli employee’s face. The GW Deli declined to comment on the issue. The D.C. bag tax is a fee levied on disposable bags from stores and restaurants. It costs five cents per bag.
Continue reading...Morning Constitutional – Monday, 30 August 2010
Good morning, everybody. Modern Family and Mad Men are apparently really good shows. Now, your morning constitutional: Hurricane Earl is strengthening into a major hurricane as it moves into the Caribbean, and is forecast to become a Category 3 today as it moves toward Puerto Rico. The storm could affect areas on the U.S. East Coast over Labor Day weekend. Even as much of China’s growth is the result of private businesses, it is China’s state-owned companies that are the growing fastest, in large part because of state-bank spending and stimulus measures. Officials in Pakistan say that...
Continue reading...Alaska Republican candidate for Senate Joe Miller compares Senator Murkowski to a prostitute
Via Swing State Project. Alaska Republican (and tea party sweetheart) candidate for Senate Joe Miller : “What’s the difference between selling out your party’s values and the oldest profession? http://bit.ly/93kXBr #teaparty #tcot #alaska #ak” The link is to the Daily Caller, which cites a report from the Daily Beast that someone inside Lisa Murkowski’s senate campaign has said that if she does lose the Republican nomination, she might consider running under the Libertarian Party, because the deadline for filing as an independent has passed. As unlikely a scenario this is, it’s not even relevant yet, as it...
Continue reading...Representative Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin clearly doesn't want you to know which party she's in
Seriously, if you didn’t know already, after watching this ad, you’d have no idea that Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin is a Democrat. “No matter which party is in charge, I do what’s right for South Dakota.” That’s the sound of selling out.
Continue reading...Illustrating the 21st Century Enlightenment
From the RSAnimate series, in this video, Matthew Taylor explores the meaning of 21st century enlightenment and how the idea might help us meet the challenges we face today.
Continue reading...Poem of the Week
Lady Blaga is away this week on an likely much-deserved vacation, so I’m bringing you the poem of the week in her stead. Here we have Edna St. Vincent Millay, who was probably the coolest poet this side of Oscar Wilde. Here is one of my favorites of hers. Afternoon on a Hill I WILL be the gladdest thing Under the sun! I will touch a hundred flowers And not pick one. I will look at cliffs and clouds With quiet eyes, Watch the wind bow down the grass, And the grass rise. And when lights begin...
Continue reading...
Recent Comments