The Bishop and the Butterfly: Murder, Politics, and the End of the Jazz Age
    Michael Wolraich's picture

    Palestinian Statehood and the Politics of Denial

    By Michael Wolraich on Sat, 09/17/2011 - 12:30pm | Politics

    For once, the stars aligned to favor an unlucky people. Defying the odds, the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council agreed to admit a country of refugees still struggling to build a permanent state. The Security Council's recognition did not change the "facts on the ground." The refugees still had to fight for sovereignty and security. But the international recognition offered them a symbol of dignity that they had never experienced. They were not just a people. They were a nation.

    That nation was Israel. The year was 1949.

    The Palestinians now seek to emulate Israel's example. President Mahmoud Abbas has defied the United States, the Arab League, and even Hamas by seeking full U.N. member status, which requires Security Council approval.

    Topics: 
    Politics
    Ramona's picture

    FRIDAY FOLLIES: Tea Party Games, Rabid dogs, Sweet Old Fools, and Stories that Soothe.

    By Ramona on Fri, 09/16/2011 - 10:29am | Politics, Humor & Satire, Personal, Media
     

     I swear, the weirdest thing going last week was the Tea Party debate hosted by Ted Turner's brainchild gone wild.  (When I heard that the once-venerable CNN was going to give free air-time and thus a large dose of credibility to yet another crazy bunch hell-bent on taking back every single right and privilege afforded us by hundreds of years worth of struggle by our more forward-thinking ancestors, this is what I said out loud:  "Waaaaaahhhhhtt??"  (Mo

    Topics: 
    Politics
    Humor & Satire
    Personal
    Media
    Donal's picture

    Politics Under the Sun

    By Donal on Thu, 09/15/2011 - 9:52am | Business



    As Solar Decathlon teams assemble their entries, politics heats up everything under the sun. Republicans gleefully exploit the failure of solar panel startup Solyndra, and Germany's Passiv Haus Institut casts out their US incarnation. In Passive House Schism Leaves U.S. in Limbo, GreenSource reports:

    Topics: 
    Business
    Doctor Cleveland's picture

    Taylor Branch and the Shame of College Sports (Pay the Kids, Already)

    By Doctor Cleveland on Thu, 09/15/2011 - 9:39am | Sports, Business, Social Justice

    After I suggested being honest about college sports on this blog page, Taylor Branch has made the same case, better, in The Atlantic. With, you know, actual reporting and everything.

    Here's a bit from Branch's lead, as a shoe-advertising king pin talks openly about "buying your schools" in order to increase his market share:

    Topics: 
    Sports
    Business
    Social Justice
    Michael Maiello's picture

    The U.S. Will Never Pay Off Its Debt (Update)

    By Michael Maiello on Wed, 09/14/2011 - 10:18pm | Politics

    So, when I posted this, it looked as if my column, "The U.S. Will Never Pay Off Its Debt" would not be published.  I had hoped that by posting it here, you guys would ferret out its flaws for me.  But, instead, it was well received, which made me think, "darn it, this should be published."  The Daily now seems to agree.

    But, they'd also like me not to scoop my own column, in the event that we run it next week.  So, I'm taking the draft down, but leaving the very good thread intact.  Thank you all for the help on this.  I thought I was losing my mind.

     

    Topics: 
    Politics
    Donal's picture

    Solar Decathlon under assembly

    By Donal on Wed, 09/14/2011 - 10:07am | Technology

    Solar Decathlon: A sneak peek at the houses from Mother Nature Network offers a quick look at each entry. Assembly started yesterday, and the event is open to the public starting September 23rd through October 2nd at the National Mall's West Potomac Park, near the FDR memorial, and not too far from the MLK memorial.

    Topics: 
    Technology
    Donal's picture

    Serena's Evil Twin

    By Donal on Mon, 09/12/2011 - 2:36pm | Sports



    The US Open has played out on the men's side more or less as expected - the top four seeds made it to the quarterfinals and the top two seeds made it to the finals. Mardy Fish and Andy Roddick had decent runs, but lost to Jo Wilfried Tsonga and Rafa Nadal. Tsonga could not beat Federer this time. The former teen phenom Donald Young had a good run but eventually lost to Andy Murray. In his bio, Hardcourt Confidential, Patrick McEnroe hinted at the stormy relationship he had with Young's parents, claiming that they demanded far more resources than USTA player development had to give. But as a broadcaster PMac had only positives for Young.

    Topics: 
    Sports
    Michael Maiello's picture

    Open Spaces

    By Michael Maiello on Sun, 09/11/2011 - 1:12pm | Politics

    It's rare that I praise Nicholas Kristof because, most of the time, he typifies the kind of "conventional wisdom of the TED Conference" type that I just can't stand.  You know, the pro-globalization, let's let a blue ribbon panel of tech billionaires and former maverick politicos solve all of our problems, bunch.  The Bloombergians.  Oh wait, but I'm not here to bury Kristof but to praise his column, "We're Rich (In Nature)."

    Topics: 
    Politics
    Doctor Cleveland's picture

    Forgetting September 11th

    By Doctor Cleveland on Sun, 09/11/2011 - 12:08am | Politics, Personal

    It's strange to be cajoled, everywhere you turn, to "remember" September 11. It's not like we've forgotten it. Who needs a reminder of this? It's like being told "Remember gravity!"or "Remember oxygen!" I am reminded every day, thanks. It's all around us.

    Topics: 
    Politics
    Personal

    Pages