Jonathan Miller's Blog, page 405
July 6, 2011
The RP's Weekly Web Gems: The Politics of the NBA Lockout
The Politics of Basketball
I write about basketball in this space every other week. I do this because I enjoy basketball a lot–and I am extremely distraught at the prospect of not being able to enjoy my favorite sport being playing professionally over the next year.
If you haven't heard, the NBA officially went into a lockout last week. The Association joined the National Football League in such a move, meaning that two out of the United State's four big sports are now not actively...
July 5, 2011
The RP's Weekly Web Gems: The Politics of Recovery
A new U.S. Army program helps soldiers improve their mental health after coming back from the combat zone. [Washington Post]
Here's a kind of recovery that you don't see every day: scientists digging mammoth and mastodon bones out of the ground. [NY Times]
Celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain talks overcoming bankruptcy and living on the edge (sample quote: "I had no self-control. I denied myself nothing. I had no moral compass.". [Newsweek]
Got 12 minutes to kill? Spend it with the beautiful stop...
The RP's Weekly Web Gems: The Politics of Tech
The Politics of Tech
It's now official that Google has launched its newest social networking venture: Google+. The makers of the world's most popular search engine have sputtered a few times while trying to dive into the social networking market. However, this looks to be a very promising idea. Google already has more users than than Facebook, so why send people to some new service or website? This time they aren't. Google+ will be integrated into the service that billions already use: Google ...
The RP's Weekly Web Gems: The Politics of Faith
The Politics of Faith
Fourth of July Spirituality: One church leader suggests six spiritual practices for this holiday. The goals of these practices are to affirm and celebrate this day of our nation's birth, while imagining the "impossible possibility" of justice, planetary health, and Shalom for the larger world. [Patheos.com]
For many Americans, this holiday weekend involved cookouts and picnics with copious amounts of food. This article challenges us to eat mindfully as a spiritual...
John Y. Brown, III: My Struggle with Temptation
Two years ago I took the family to Los Angeles, CA for the first time—and for my second time in 25 years (since my sophomore year at USC).
We arrived at night and the family was hungry. I promised a nice dinner –but first we had to go by my favorite old haunt, Tommy's Burger. I promised "Not to ruin my dinner" and to just buy a burger "to look at" (for old time's sake) and maybe to "take just one bite."
Oh….the stories we tell ourselves.
My family knew exactly what would happen…and each gave ...
The RP's Weekly Web Gems: The Politics of the Media
Looking for some good summer reading? Twenty three acclaimed writers share their picks. [Time]
Here are five strange moments from Glenn Beck's last show. New York magazine puts it best: aren't there strange moments on every episode? [NY Mag]
What is Google +? The world is about to find out. [Poynter Institute]
Here's an excellent case in media ethics. Read this story about what Princess Diana would be like if she were alive today, and draw your own conclusions. [Newsweek]
The media was happy to p...
The RP's Weekly Web Gems: The Politics of the Box Office
The Politics of Film
I see a lot of movies. More than most people I know. Every few weeks, I write in this space about all the movies I've seen, and whether or not I would recommend that you go see them also. Here is my rundown for the past few weeks:
Midnight in Paris: I have recommended that several people go see this film. It was nice, but I disagree with the people who have given it huge rave reviews. Woody Allen quit acting in his own movies a few years ago, and has resorted to using ...
The RP's Weekly Web Gems: The Politics of Fashion – Paris Edition
The Politics of Fashion
In case you were wondering, Paris is beautiful! I arrived a couple days ago and am still getting settled in, which means that, unfortunately, I have yet to explore the fashion scene. But, to make up for that, there is a special theme for this week's Weekly Web Gem: French fashion. Hope you guys enjoy!
How perfect is this? Karl Lagerfeld maps out the ultimate tour for those traveling to Paris! While I currently take notes, you can check it out here: [Vogue.com]
During...
Kathleen Kennedy Townsend: America's Progressive Catholics
I recently attended an event for a group called Catholic Democrats in Indianapolis and then visited Thomas Merton's monastery in Kentucky. In just a few days, I moved from the excitement of current politics to the more tranquil world of contemplation and theology. This inspiring week reminded me that Catholicism is not a narrow-minded religion but a universal church encompassing many ways to reach God.
The event I attended in Indianapolis was a joint fundraiser for Catholic Democrats and the D...
July 1, 2011
The RP's Weekly Web Gems: The Politics of Wealth
The Politics of Wealth
I'm not going anywhere: Timothy Geithner claims he will stay at Treasury Post for "foreseeable future." [CNBC]
The debt-ceiling debate is "rolling back the clock to 2008." [Fortune]
Amazon.com and the battle against the sales tax: a state-by-state look at the state of the conflict. [The Street]
The new "Google+": all dressed up, but nowhere to go? [The Washington Post]
