Curated knowlege, trenchant insights & witty bon mots
The Salon blurb: Right-wingers desperate to intimidate the press have accused the New York Times of treason for publishing details of a terror investigation — ignoring the fact that everything significant about that operation has been known for years. Some excerpts from the Joe Conason column: Losing the national debate over the war in Iraq while [...]
Sat, July 8 2006 » * Big Picture Stuff, Main Page, Media » Comments Off
I watched most of the Portugal-Germany consolation game today. Once Germany went up 3-0 at the 80th minute, I figured the game was over. Time to run a few errands (Portugal did score a late goal after I left, for a final of 3-1). Oddly enough, I don't recall seeing anyone in Portugal or German [...]
Sat, July 8 2006 » Main Page, Minutiae » Comments Off
What a coincidence: On the day of the London bombings anniversary, arrests are announced in connection with reported threats to some of New York's subway tunnels to New Jersey. And when was one of the suspects arrested? In April! From The Globe and Mail: A report about the alleged plot, and arrests that occurred in Beirut in [...]
Sat, July 8 2006 » * Big Picture Stuff, Main Page » Comments Off
Some TV writers and producers have found out about the downside of interacting online with viewers. An excerpt from the NYT story: Many “Rescue Me” viewers weren't happy, and they weren't being quiet about it. The June 20 episode of the series, on FX, concluded with a violent sex scene between the main character, played by [...]
Sat, July 8 2006 » Main Page, Media » Comments Off
A tale about the power of Digg.com and the move towards a niche-driven economy. An excerpt from the NYT story: THE media columnist Jack Shafer was confused, and maybe a little jealous. He wondered last week why a two-year-old article by Paul Boutin, his fellow Slate writer, was suddenly drawing huge traffic numbers. Mr. Boutin's [...]
Sat, July 8 2006 » * Big Picture Stuff, Main Page » Comments Off
The following is a lengthy post about a rather hard-luck period in my life starting a decade ago. There are 10 parts: Prologue; Phnom Penh; The Cambodia Daily; Spinal Meltdown; Travelling home; Rehab, recovery and relapse (x2); Getting back to work; Here’s where it gets unbelievable; Real disaster strikes; Final thoughts, observations. Comments and questions are [...]
Sat, July 8 2006 » Main Page, Media, Minutiae » 16 Comments
Yesterday, Russia's President Vladimir Putin explained why he kissed a young boy's stomach. But in the same BBC webcast, he also had this riposte when asked about when he lost his virginity: Mr Putin, apparently enjoying himself, invited further questions. “What about the one that so many voted for on the Russian website,'” asked one journalist. “About [...]
Sat, July 8 2006 » Main Page » Comments Off