Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Getting a read on the "Tea Party.
The Two Faces of the Tea Party.
I cannot recommend this piece enough. This is spot-on in so many ways.
I cannot recommend this piece enough. This is spot-on in so many ways.
Monday, June 21, 2010
On best friends, and children
I had the exact same reaction when I read the New York Times piece, but (as usual) E. D. Kain puts it much better that I would have.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
For those keeping score at home
The top 6 (so far!) Republican gaffes about the oil spill.
About the best I can spin this is that the GOP really, really is not good at politicizing this issue. One that begs to be spun, frankly.
About the best I can spin this is that the GOP really, really is not good at politicizing this issue. One that begs to be spun, frankly.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
Sunday, June 13, 2010
New (and in-depth) economic news from the Fed
Lots of information in the Beige Book to digest. 538 notes:
The overall conclusion of both these report is clear: the economy is expanding, albeit at a slower pace. Personal consumption expenditures are in an uptrend, business investment is increasing and real estate -- while not a hot bed of activity -- is not the drag it once was. However, there is still a long way to go. The unemployment rate is still incredibly high and initial unemployment claims need to start dropping soon.
There appears to be little discussion given to the fact that a flat housing market hinders mobility for workers, contributing to flat jobs numbers. Otherwise, we're about where we should be: Conservative purchasing by consumers (including paying down debt) and some green shoots in the economy in areas where we hope to see them.
It does appear that the worries of a double dip recession are behind us, but IMO the longer we are in a slow rebuilding phase the better it is for the economy long-term.
The overall conclusion of both these report is clear: the economy is expanding, albeit at a slower pace. Personal consumption expenditures are in an uptrend, business investment is increasing and real estate -- while not a hot bed of activity -- is not the drag it once was. However, there is still a long way to go. The unemployment rate is still incredibly high and initial unemployment claims need to start dropping soon.
There appears to be little discussion given to the fact that a flat housing market hinders mobility for workers, contributing to flat jobs numbers. Otherwise, we're about where we should be: Conservative purchasing by consumers (including paying down debt) and some green shoots in the economy in areas where we hope to see them.
It does appear that the worries of a double dip recession are behind us, but IMO the longer we are in a slow rebuilding phase the better it is for the economy long-term.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Great Sex Advice
Not.
Funny stuff, though. Something tells me many of those writers have never had sex in a relationship before.
Funny stuff, though. Something tells me many of those writers have never had sex in a relationship before.
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
what if political scientists wrote the news?
Saw this on Slate a few days ago--should have posted it then. It really gets going about halfway through.
Monday, June 07, 2010
On Netanyahu and Obama
The relationship between Netanyahu and Obama is certainly prickly. But it doesn't really need to be presented as neo-con fiction.
Sunday, June 06, 2010
Obama Administration on detentions: Same as it ever was
Besides doubling down on Afghanistan, Obama seems intent on holding onto Bush's legacy of deciding for himself the when, if, where, and how long of detaining people.
Friday, June 04, 2010
Thursday, June 03, 2010
Bill Cosby's quest to save the American black man
I've been reading and mulling over this amazing TNC column about Bill Cosby for some time now. I was aware of Cosby's work at getting the black community to take more responsibility (and his NAACP speech) but this really fleshes out his work.
A great piece. I'm not so certain that Du Bois can be pigeonholed in the way he is in the article (and I think TNC misses an opportunity to connect Du Bois and the NAACP, which Du Bois headed for some time as well as edited The Crisis for many decades). Du Bois advocated a wide range of solutions to the pervasive problem of racism in America, including Cosby's basic point of self-responsibility (as well as a rise of African-American intellectuals, as it were, acting as African American mentors). The integration Du Bois advocated wasn't really the kind of "stooging" as is presented here--it was more of a recognition of the goals of reaching toward societal mores, which were largely realized (and controlled by) whites.
Later, of course, Du Bois became more of a pan-africanist, communist, and began looking for models outside the United States upon which blacks could draw for self-determination. But by this time (early 60's) he was an embarrassment to many black leaders, who branded him an "integrationist" (code word for a Tom) for not being militant enough, a false charge that still carries some weight.
Two areas upon which Cosby and Du Bois would agree, however, is that self-determination (whether for an individual or a race) comes from within rather than outside. And racial progress for blacks is doomed without mentors (principally, men) helping others.
A great piece. I'm not so certain that Du Bois can be pigeonholed in the way he is in the article (and I think TNC misses an opportunity to connect Du Bois and the NAACP, which Du Bois headed for some time as well as edited The Crisis for many decades). Du Bois advocated a wide range of solutions to the pervasive problem of racism in America, including Cosby's basic point of self-responsibility (as well as a rise of African-American intellectuals, as it were, acting as African American mentors). The integration Du Bois advocated wasn't really the kind of "stooging" as is presented here--it was more of a recognition of the goals of reaching toward societal mores, which were largely realized (and controlled by) whites.
Later, of course, Du Bois became more of a pan-africanist, communist, and began looking for models outside the United States upon which blacks could draw for self-determination. But by this time (early 60's) he was an embarrassment to many black leaders, who branded him an "integrationist" (code word for a Tom) for not being militant enough, a false charge that still carries some weight.
Two areas upon which Cosby and Du Bois would agree, however, is that self-determination (whether for an individual or a race) comes from within rather than outside. And racial progress for blacks is doomed without mentors (principally, men) helping others.
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
Police using wiretapping laws against being taped themselves
A disturbing trend.
The article doesn't make clear that the problem isn't the taping in the first place, the the distribution of the taping. An important point, IMO, that is completely glossed over.
The article doesn't make clear that the problem isn't the taping in the first place, the the distribution of the taping. An important point, IMO, that is completely glossed over.
No No-No
I watched the last few innings of the Detroit/Cleveland game today (though it wasn't until the final inning that I realized that the Detroit pitcher, Armando Galarraga had a perfect game going instead of a no hitter.
Regardless, the first base umpire missed a call on Damon 's ground ball in the bottom of the 8th, keeping things alive for the Tigers to score two runs in the inning (making it 3-0 going into the 9th). The ump would return the favor with an awful call with 2 outs in the ninth, calling Jason Donald safe on a close play in which replays showed him to be out by a half-step (which, in baseball terms, might as well be a mile).
Donald couldn't believe it. Neither could anyone else. And while Galarraga did the professional thing and went back and got the last guy out, the way the Tigers went after the ump was terribly unprofessional.
Regardless, the umpire's Wikipedia page was repeatedly hacked after the game, including (at one point) started as:
"Ángel Hernández (born August 26, 1961 in Havana, Cuba) is a horrible umpire in Major League Baseball, and is the only MLB umpire to be legally blind."
Heh. Only in 2010...
Regardless, the first base umpire missed a call on Damon 's ground ball in the bottom of the 8th, keeping things alive for the Tigers to score two runs in the inning (making it 3-0 going into the 9th). The ump would return the favor with an awful call with 2 outs in the ninth, calling Jason Donald safe on a close play in which replays showed him to be out by a half-step (which, in baseball terms, might as well be a mile).
Donald couldn't believe it. Neither could anyone else. And while Galarraga did the professional thing and went back and got the last guy out, the way the Tigers went after the ump was terribly unprofessional.
Regardless, the umpire's Wikipedia page was repeatedly hacked after the game, including (at one point) started as:
"Ángel Hernández (born August 26, 1961 in Havana, Cuba) is a horrible umpire in Major League Baseball, and is the only MLB umpire to be legally blind."
Heh. Only in 2010...
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
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