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

    2009 Oscar Predictions: Best Actor

    By Orlando on Sun, 02/15/2009 - 10:52pm | Arts & Entertainment

    The big night is just a week away, so it's time to get serious. The Best Picture nominees are covered here. For the rest of this week, I'm going to do my level best to post my predictions for the other major categories.

    For Best Actor, the nominees are:

    Topics: 
    Arts & Entertainment
    Orlando's picture

    You Break It, You Buy It: The U.S. Senate is Stuck with Roland Burris

    By Orlando on Sun, 02/15/2009 - 8:55pm | Politics

    Sometimes, being right is cold comfort. 

    As Genghis mentioned in his post, Roland Burris has "elaborated" on his testimony regarding his contact with Rod Blagojevich prior to his appointment to the United States Senate seat once held by President Obama. The Illinois State Senate is looking into whether he committed perjury and State Rep. Barbara Flynn Curie thinks it's "odd."

    Topics: 
    Politics
    Michael Wolraich's picture

    Roland Burris, the gift that keeps on giving...

    By Michael Wolraich on Sun, 02/15/2009 - 2:49pm | Politics

    Senator Roland Burris (D) speaks...

    Jan 5, sworn affidavit:

    There was not any contact between myself or any of my representatives with Governor Blagojevich or any of his representatives regarding my appointment to the United States Senate.

    Contact counter: 0

    Jan 8, sworn testimony:

    Topics: 
    Politics
    Orlando's picture

    Witch Hunts in Papua New Guinea: The Dark Side of Human Nature

    By Orlando on Fri, 02/13/2009 - 2:39pm | Social Justice, World Affairs

    Before last week, all I knew about Papua New Guinea was that its capital was Port Moresby and that it was that island on top of Australia. But while I was searching the internet for examples of the country’s musical offerings, I was fascinated to learn that over 700 languages are spoken there, that most of the island doesn’t have access to television and can only be reached by airplanes, and that there is an incredible diversity of flora and fauna in the mountains and rainforests.

    Topics: 
    Social Justice
    World Affairs
    DF's picture

    Hank Crawford and Hip-Hop

    By DF on Fri, 02/13/2009 - 2:10pm | Arts & Entertainment

    On January 29th, Bennie Ross "Hank" Crawford, Jr., passed away.  Though he left his mark on music in a very direct way, both through his own recordings and compositions and through working with legends like Ray Charles, Etta James, Lou Rawls and B.B. King, Crawford's musical legacy extends into the realm of hip-hop as well.

    Topics: 
    Arts & Entertainment
    Deadman's picture

    The ashes of the Phoenix ...

    By Deadman on Thu, 02/12/2009 - 3:41pm | Arts & Entertainment

    I have really little to add here, but this may be one of the most uncomfortable celebrity interviews I've ever seen. This guy is clearly fruit loops.

    Topics: 
    Arts & Entertainment
    Michael Wolraich's picture

    Economic Stimulus and the Parent Principle

    By Michael Wolraich on Thu, 02/12/2009 - 1:42pm | Politics, Business

    The $789 billion stimulus bill passed today. As expected, the Republican leadership carped about the cost. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell complained, "We've heard a lot from our friends about the danger of deficits over the past few years...Americans are wondering how we’re going to pay for all this." In case this message was too abstract for average Americans, McConnell supported his point with a common sense analogy, "Any parent knows you don't buy a new car and plan the summer vacation before you set the family budget for the year."

    Topics: 
    Politics
    Business
    Deadman's picture

    The DagBuzz for 2/12/09: (Darwin, Lincoln, and the new MOFT)

    By Deadman on Thu, 02/12/2009 - 11:04am |
    File ewNpaz0QUS0

    Exciting news, daggers (well, it's at least exciting for Deadman)!! I have bought a snazzy new hi-res Webcam, and the videos should now end up being much, much clearer. However, the bad news is that not only do you now get to see all of Deadman's defects in full glory, but I kind of liked the way the old dark and grainy images fit the Deadman persona.

    All hope is not lost, though, as the new webcam can do some very cool things, some of which could help solve my persona dilemma.

    Orlando's picture

    Around the World in 80 Songs: Papua New Guinea

    By Orlando on Wed, 02/11/2009 - 11:53pm | Arts & Entertainment

    It’s not surprising that few acts out of Papua New Guinea have found international recognition. The country is largely rural and connections are made difficult by the mountains and rainforests. Television is only readily available in the capital of Port Moresby and most of PNG is connected to the outside world only through government radio.

    Topics: 
    Arts & Entertainment
    Series: 
    Around the World in 80 Songs
    Deadman's picture

    The DagBuzz for 2/11/09: (Stump, Immigrants, Michelle Obama)

    By Deadman on Wed, 02/11/2009 - 1:38pm |
    File dNkmBTLh2Y4

    You daggers are in for a real treat today, as you get to virtually meet Deadman's world-famous dog, Oliver (aka Ollie, The Monk, and when I'm real mad at him, Oliver Jacob or O.J.), whose dagblog.com's debut appearance is in honor of the 133rd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show and its best in show winner, the 10-year-old Sussex spaniel Stump.

    Unfortunately, today's video is even more off-the-cuff and with more face scratching than usual because I had very limited time, and besides, Ollie wasn't about to indulge me in multiple takes.

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