Jonathan Miller's Blog, page 422
May 27, 2011
The RP's Weekly Web Gems: The Politics of Wealth
The Politics of Wealth
Is that a Google in your pocket? New "Google Wallet" may be the future of money. [Forbes]
King Coal: How West Virginia could one day face ghost towns, despite the current boom. [CNN Money]
"Un-friending" Bambi: Facebook guy Mark Zuckerberg decides to only eat meat he kills himself. [Fortune]
Faith and the Market: how the financial sector mimics religion. [Economist]
MAD MONEY'S Jim Cramer has found four potential bull markets you should know about. [CNBC]
RPTV: Friday Video Flashback — Eva Moskowitz
We've received a lot of feedback on The Atlantic magazine's piece that we posted this week, in which former New York City School Chief Joel Klein praised the work that contributing RP Eva Moskowitz has been doing to promote education in the innercity.
We thought that now is an appropriate opportunity to hear it from Eva herself. Accordingly, we present a ten-minute video of a speech Eva gave last year in Denver on the subject of charter schools.
Enjoy, and let us know what...
The RP's Weekly Web Gems: The Politics of the Planet
The Politics of the Planet
Hundreds of European flights are cancelled due to a volcanic eruption in Iceland. Fortunately, scientists say the eruption could end by the weekend. [Bloomberg News]
Two teen Girl Scouts have been leading a five-year crusade against the Tagalongs, Thin Mints, and other cookies they love and sell. The trademark cookies are made with palm oil, which is the single ingredient under protest because of its link to Rainforest deforestation and Orangutan endangerment.
The RP: What's Up Doc? — My Five Favorite "Doc"s Who Weren't Really Doctors
Continuing my newly-established tradition of plagiarizing from Nick Hornby and sharing my pop culture Top Five lists (See my Favorite Breakup Songs , my Favorite Hoops Books, and the Most Jew-ish Gentiles), and in honor of my oldest RPette's recent acquisition of an adorable bunny (named "Louie" not "Bugs"), I ask the question that has confused, even haunted my generation:
What's up with all of the guys named "Doc" who've never practiced medicine or even earned a graduate degree?
Without...
The RP's Weekly Web Gems: The Politics of Wellness
CNN looks at the 30 year anniversary of HIV/AIDS being cited in a medical publication, through the eyes of literature professor and activist Edmund White. [CNN]
Should kids under 13 be allowed to use Facebook? [Time]
The number of sex-selective abortions in India is on the rise, and experts say that this is due to the increase in wealth and literacy rates in the country. The "missing girl" crisis is creating a population imbalance that will affect India for years to come. [NY Times]
It's 2011...
The RP's Weekly Web Gems: The Politics of Love
The Politics of Love
"The Project for Excellence in Journalism" sounds like an anachronistic oxymoron in the age of the blogosphere, a 24 hour news cycle and Fox News (there, I said it). In a case in point, the organization took a look at blog links during a week with two significant and historical events: the death of Bin Laden and the break up of the Schwarzenegger / Kennedy marriage. Can you guess which story actually led the blogs? Journalism.org
Is there rehab for an addiction to love...
A Call for Memorial Day Writers: Please Send Us Your Tribute
We're going to start a Memorial Day tradition here at The Recovering Politician.
Too often, we think of Memorial Day for its picnics, newly-opened swimming pools, and brighter, lighter fashion statements.
But its very name demands, Memorial Day should be one in which we honor and remember the men and women who bravely served our country in uniform. As the Scripture instructs, there is no greater love than to give one's life on behalf of his or her neighbor.
Accordingly, next Monday, May...
May 26, 2011
Tomorrow at The Recovering Politician
A big day is in store tomorrow at The Recovering Politician.
First, the RP's latest "Top Five" list is in queue, and it's a doozy. Check in around lunchtime for a few laughs.
In the afternoon, we'll feature our latest addition of RPTV's Friday Video Flashbacks.
And, lastly but mostly, The Recovering Politician will be doing something for the first time in its long storied history: inviting our readers to write a short piece for a special day next week.
Tune in first thing Friday morning for t...
UPDATE on The Politics of Speed: Jason Atkinson Pushes for Higher Limits
Our own contributing RP, Jason Atkinson, has a need for speed.
Specifically, he's pushing to raise the interstate speed limit in Oregon, which is the slowest state west of the Mississippi.
Here is what the (Southern Oregon) Mail Tribune reports:
Sen. Jason Atkinson, R-Central Point, has joined Sen. Bruce Starr, R-Hillsboro, in a push to increase the speed limit to at least 70 mph for noncommercial vehicles and 60 mph for semitrucks and other commercial traffic.
They've proposed an amendment to a...
The RP's Weekly Web Gems: The Politics of Speed
The Politics of Speed
Kyle Busch was arrested on May 24th after being caught by police going 128 mph while test-driving a Lexus LFA. However, I learned something much more interesting from this article: NASCAR does not require its drivers to have a driver's license to race in its events. How is that possible? If anyone knows a good reason for this please let me know in the comments section. [USA Today]
Some of you may have heard that the U.S. Department of Transportation recently released a...
