BOOKS & AUTHORSPaul Krugman New York Times columnist and Princeton economist Paul Krugman could have chosen a better title for his new book than The Conscience of a Liberal, which he cribbed from the late Senator Paul Wellstone. (Wellstone himself was riffing off Barry Goldwater’s 1964 book, The Conscience of a Conservative.) Krugman’s book is … Read more
For his fifth birthday, in February of 1993, my older son received a watch from his grandparents. It was a black Timex with a rectangular face, digital read-out, and several complicated buttons for setting the date, time, and alarm. Waterproof, shatterproof. He wore it everywhere, including the bathtub and bed. Andrew was a child with … Read more
Remember that time you threw your heart from the window of a speeding car? Was it burning? No, not that time. It was just heavy, a sodden wad of plumbed meat. It felt like a water balloon coated with grease. It couldn’t have weighed more than a softball, and it bounced once on the shoulder … Read more
I am experimenting here with this post but I assume you can click on this link and watch one of the most famous underground car films ever made. In case you are wondering, the French at the beginning of the video says, "the film you are about to see was made without any trickery or … Read more
Stacy Malkan, author of Not Just a Pretty Face, will be reading from her book at the U of M tomorrow evening. The effect, probably, will be a chorus of indignant gasps from a congregation of eco-conscious consumers. Malkan’s book chronicles all the harmful chemicals found in everyday cosmetics, like lead in our lipstick, coal … Read more
I was going to comment on the recent article on American Imagination ["The Death & Life of American Imagination"], but I just couldn’t think of anything to say. Author(s) and Location: Jeff Miletich, Columbia Heights Letter Type: Letter of the Month
Nasty, nasty, nasty. Rob Nelson’s review of Diablo Cody’s new movie Knocked Up [editor’s note: I believe the writer is referrring to Juno] really stinks. Would that we all would have a past that would bear scrutiny. His snide harping about Cody’s stripper past just goes to show that white male priviledge and the double … Read more
John Ashcroft, the predecessor of Alberto Gonzales and former title holder of “Craziest Attorney General since John Mitchell” has an op-ed piece in today’s NY Times. In it he argues that the telecommunication companies who provided access for the Bush administration’s illegal wiretaps should be held immune from lawsuits. As he says, “Whatever one feels … Read more
John Hines’ 17 year-run with Clear Channel and what Clear Channel was before it was Clear Channel ended this morning — a Monday, go figure — when he was told he was being removed from his morning job at KTLK (100.3-FM). Hines was a standard at Clear Channel’s country music K102 until this past March … Read more
First, it was Alice Waters who said NO to bottled water at Chez Panisse. Suddenly, something that seemed so lovely and useful (fresh, clean water wherever I go!) became downright evil, and almost … dirty. Fast Company’s piece outlined much of the concerns and issues held by conservationists. Restauranteurs have been stepping lightly it seems … Read more