The Beijing Evening News, China’s most popular newspaper, slips on the Onion.
Author: KcM
Going Public.
“We need a new relationship between the Democratic Party and corporate America–call it arms-length–so that our party is capable of independently affirming the public interest.” Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) invokes progressive themes in his call to make the Dems more public-minded.
Friendly Fire.
Will the Greens derail Paul Wellstone? Normally, I’m very sympathetic of Green challenges to Dem candidates, but Wellstone is about as progressive as they come. That being said, TNR‘s got no credibility on the issue. They’ve despised the Greens ever since Nader first threatened to upset Marty Peretz’s favorite son.
Harvard jihad.
The jihad furor at Harvard‘s graduation dies down. (The speaker, a fellow with a knack for creating controversy, will undoubtedly go far.) This weekend is also my 5-year reunion up in Cambridge, but I’m bagging it (as are most of my closest friends from the old school.) Maybe I’ll make the tenth.
About A Man.
Caught About a Boy last night (thus missing Game 1, which is just as well), and while it was quite good for its genre (and Hugh Grant was surprisingly palatable), I do have some problems with its underlying premises. Mild spoilers to follow for those who haven’t seen it or read the book. Anyway, why was Grant’s character a “nobody” because he didn’t work for a living? Since when is one’s identity primarily formed by holding down a job you hate? A man should be more than the sum of his consumer choices, to be sure, but it seems to me he’s more of an individual for having decently informed opinions about books, music, and television than he would be for joining the rat race. (I guess that puts me in the High Fidelity camp.) Of course this wasn’t the only component of his ultimately invalidated “island” philosophy, but it still bugged me. I don’t remember the protagonist of Hornby‘s book being nearly so shattered by his presumed nothingness. I dunno…perhaps it’s where I’m at right now, but I think there’s much more to be said for striking out on one’s own. The kid was good, though. And Rachel Weisz is always easy on the eyes.
la soeur mal gardee.
Gill gets props for her premiere in la Fille Mal Gardee last Sunday.
Hail to Seamus.
The Clintons get a new dog.
Religion in the void.
An Israeli astronaut attempts to figure out how best to observe Shabbat in space. (Via Looka.) Just think how complicated it’ll get when we start orbiting other stars.
Liberals v. Progressives.
McCain-Feingold draws fire from liberal interest groups for choking off their money supply. Well, that was kinda the point, wasn’t it?
Doh.
Republican Mitt Romney’s bid for the Massachusetts governorship is complicated by his paying (significantly lower) Utah taxes the past three years.