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MLK Day of Remembrance
Monday, January 20, 2014 at 8:16 AM
Archives for January 2014
Obama Announces Cosmetic NSA Reforms
Saturday, January 18, 2014 at 7:43 AM
The reforms I’m proposing today should give the American people greater confidence that their rights are being protected, even as our intelligence and law enforcement agencies maintain the tools they need to keep us safe. (The New York Times, January 17, 2014) This was how President Obama framed competing, if not mutually exclusive, interests in… Read more.
‘As the Elysée Turns’: the Serial Ménages à Trois of French President Hollande
Friday, January 17, 2014 at 7:34 AM
I began commenting on the soap opera that is the private life of French President Francois Hollande seven years ago only because of the mockery French media were making of their vaunted reputation for discretion in affairs of the heart. But truth be told, I now see no greater redeeming social value in continuing to… Read more.
Student Athletes Make Billions (for Colleges) but Most Graduate Poor … and Dumb
Thursday, January 16, 2014 at 7:18 AM
Surely Jameis Winston, Florida State’s Heisman Trophy winning-quarterback, could be forgiven his excited utterances during a post-game interview on January 6; after all, he’d just led his team to the national championship (34-31) over Auburn. Except that the (White) mother of Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron was not in a forgiving mood. Because she reacted to… Read more.
Burning Bras, Still Wearing Heels. Feminism’s Unfinished Work
Wednesday, January 15, 2014 at 7:23 AM
High heels have long been seen as a key hallmark of womanhood, a symbol of sophistication that sets women apart from men and signals a female’s sense of style and grace. (Huffington Post, January 12, 2014) Only a willing suspension of common sense explains why women do the things they do to look beautiful. And… Read more.
Nagasu Skates like an Olympian but Misses Out on Olympics…?
Monday, January 13, 2014 at 11:37 AM
This might reveal too much about what I do for entertainment, but I watched the final round of the U.S. (Women’s) Figure Skating Championships on Saturday night. In fact, I’ve watched many of these competitions (which double as skating’s Olympic trials). And never before have I seen so many top women tripping over their skates… Read more.
Christie on ‘Bridgegate’ Channeling Obama on Healthcare.gov
Saturday, January 11, 2014 at 12:41 PM
Reporters and pundits alike were swooning over the broken and contrite heart Chris Christie, New Jersey’s Republican governor, displayed during an epic two-hour press conference on Thursday. In fact, this reputed political bully humbled himself to apologize for the “abject stupidity” members of his staff and his top appointee at the NJ Port Authority engaged… Read more.
Former Defense Secretary Gates Betrays Own Views and Obama’s Trust in Memoirs
Thursday, January 9, 2014 at 12:18 PM
All of Washington was atwitter yesterday over excerpts the New York Times and Washington Post published from former Defense Secretary Robert Gates’s forthcoming book, Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary of War. Significantly, President George W. Bush nominated Gates in 2006 and President Obama retained him until he retired in 2011, evidently, as a thoroughly dismayed… Read more.
In sick bay…
Tuesday, January 7, 2014 at 1:14 PM
Dear Readers I’ve been unwell for a few days now. My nurse runs a tight ship. Apart from this message, she will not allow me any computer privileges until my wretched body is free of flu-like symptoms, which she says should be this weekend. Accordingly, I shall return for regular postings on Monday; well,… Read more.
Students Reject William’s Royal Acceptance at Cambridge
Monday, January 6, 2014 at 8:41 AM
Oh dear, students at Cambridge are raising quite a republican fuss over the royal treatment their university is according Prince William. Here’s how the student newspaper, The Tab, framed their outrage in a December 30 report: The Tab must point out that normally students need A*AA at A-level to gain entry to Cambridge University, whilst… Read more.