Jonathan Miller's Blog, page 427

The RP's Weekly Web Gems: The Politics of Recovery

After last year's season of flops, network TV channels plan to strive for fresh, original programming. If they're realize serious about shows with dinosaurs, fairy tale creatures and large-scale Broadway musical numbers, maybe they're not kidding. [NY Times]

One of the world's most controversial industries, coal mining, is trying to become popular with a new demographic: children. [Time]

The touching story of a gripping photo that came to represent the Freedom Riders and the civil rights...

RPTV: My Home Energy Efficiency Rehab

Inspired perhaps by learning my friend and political cohort, Jeremy Horton, was an accomplished flimmaker, I've decided to join the show biz.

Well, not really…

But using my handy and soon-to-be-discontinued Flip Video device, I am sharing with you over the next week a series of short films about an energy efficiency rehab that is going on at my home residence.

Many of us would like to take meaningful steps to adjust our lifestyles to help protect the planet from the growing threat posed by...

The Politics of the Diamond: How Baseball Endures

Politics of the Diamond

Sports are  having all kinds of trouble in 2011. You may have heard The NFL is enduring a lockout, that the NBA has one looming.  Baseball, however, seems to be the only sport continuing without some sort of labor debacle–despite the fact that the current collective bargaining agreement (the rules which players and owners agree to) expires in December.  Yes, it seems that baseball will continue, even though the Major Leagues face their own crises.

Although the NBA had a ...

Jeremy Horton: Rides and Murals, Dairy Bars and Balconies

One

I don't remember the phone call that changed my life as much as I remember later that night watching my father staring into his coffee cup four months after the funeral, watching my sister watch me, and thinking how soupbeans and apple preserves and cornbread for dinner reminded me of my mother.

Two

The prop car was already on fire by the time I overheard the two redneck brothers we hired as "pyro technicians" arguing about whose job it was to remove the gas tank.  From 100 feet,  I could...

Tomorrow at The Recovering Politician

A few weeks ago, we debuted as a Friend of RP, Mark Nickolas, a recovering blogger/politico who has begun his second act as a documentary fillmmaker.  Tomorrow, we lead off with a new Friend of RP who went the other direction — from an award-winning filmmaker to a political activist and public servant.  I think you will find his story fascinating, and his writing unique and enjoyable.

And of course as always, a lot more is in store for you.

See you on Wednesday.

The RP's Weekly Web Gems: The Politics of Swing

The Politics of Swing

It's not too often that the RP has a piece about table tennis in the Politics of Swing. But here's an interesting piece about the dominance of China in the sport, and the consequences for Chinese players that have moved abroad and want to play for their adopted countries. Apparently, the International Table Tennis Federation has made it difficult for Chinese émigrés to do so because of the fear that it will "hinder . . . the development of local talent." This must be a...

The RP's Weekly Web Gems: The Politics of Film

The Politics of Film

The film world has gathered in France for the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.  Lots of good stuff is going on there–here is a pretty good run-down of everything that has happened so far.  [Guardian]

Where were you in 2004?  I was in high school, being awkward.  So was Napoleon Dynamite, who became hero to millions of awkward high school boys like me everywhere.  Nowadays, Fox has decided to make an animated TV show based on Napoleon Dynamite–featuring the entire original cast.  ...

The RP: I Haven't Changed My Mind About Ah-nuld's Privacy

Last week, I opined that the mainstream media should leave Arnold Schwartzenegger and Maria Shriver alone as they went through the very painful personal process of a separation and potential divorce.

By now, you've probably heard the latest news: Ah-nuld apparently had an affair with, and impregnated, a member of their family's household staff ten years ago. The Internet tubes are inflamed with opinion and analysis.

I am sticking to my guns (semi-automatic weapons, in tribute to the...

The RP's Weekly Web Gems: The Politics of the Media

Read this before you watch the next episode of 60 Minutes. Steve Kroft discusses why he broke major journalism rules when interviewing President Obama about Osama bin Laden's death. [Poynter Institute]

Just how effective is it to look at President Obama compared to his predecessors? [NY Times]

Another crazy use for Twitter: assembling a government? The five parties in Northern Ireland's government took turns Friday picking the government departments they want to lead and announced their...

The RP's Weekly Web Gems: The Politics of Fashion

The Politics of Fashion

In honor of the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, I present to you the latest red carpet fashion. Enjoy! [Vogue]

Is Gap becoming the new eBay?   [SHEfinds]

Fashion that will make your mouth water: the latest collections by Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, and Louis Vuitton debuted at Paris Fashion Week. Check it out:   [WWD]

Two Gossip Girls are leaving the show? You might not think that this affects the fashion world, but oh, it most certainly does!   [Just Jared]

If you smoke, you...