Jonathan Miller's Blog, page 447

Tomorrow at The Recovering Politician

While The Recovering Politician's primary contributors are former elected officials who've entered the second act of their lives, it's certainly true there are so many other folks in other walks of life that have stories of recovery that can enlighten and entertain the rest of us.  And it's clear that politics infects every line of work, be it academia, the law, or even the clergy.

That's why tomorrow, we launch a new feature — Friends of RP: great storytellers from a wide variety of fields...

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

The Politics of Laughter

Good news, everyone! Laughing is good for your heart! Enjoy the rest of these web gems! [Bloomberg]

Natalie Portman has recently done some serious dramatic roles (Black Swan). However she still enjoys being in a comedy from time to time. [Hindustan Times]

Arnold Schwarzenegger is said to be planning a new movie called The Governator. Revolving around a character based on his role as governor of the state of California. The character is also planned to be used i...

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

The Politics of Recovery

Prepare to be inspired. From criminal to landlord: a man turns his life around. [New York Times]

Read this brave story about our own RP Jeff Smith's second act. [The Recovering Politician]

Relief efforts are making progress in Japan, but there is a long way to go. Check out these amazing pictures of what is left after the storm. [The Guardian]

Download a free recovery.gov mobile app to track projects funded by the Recovery Act on your iPhone: [Recovery.gov]

Is Charlie...

RPTV: Bill Goodman Interviews the RP

For those of you from the hinterlands (read: somewhere other than Kentucky), you are probably not familiar with Kentucky Educational Television (KET), one of the crown jewels of the nation's public broadcasting system.  If ever you doubt the benefits of federal funding in this area, check out the KET web site to discover the incredible range of educational programming that the network makes available in every corner of the state.

KET anchor Bill Goodman, a widely respected journalist...

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

The Politics of Hoops

The University of Connecticut wrapped up the NCAA Men's Basketball championship. Congratulations to Kemba Walker and his merry band.  You have no idea how hard that is for me to say.  [One Shining Moment]

After VCU made the final four, every team in need of a good coach came calling for their coach, Shaka Smart, despite the fact that the Rams finished the regular season with 10 losses, good for fourth in the Colonial Athletic Association.  Smart opted to stay at VCU. They ...

Jason Atkinson: A Real Political Recovery

I was born in the Amazon and raised by a pack of wolves until the age of twelve, when some missionaries in dug-out canoes came to spread the gospel, then found me and took me back to their home in Oregon to raise me properly.

Jonathan Miller, my lifelong friend from our Rodel Fellow days, and expert forger of Al Gore's signature, asked me to contribute a biographical sketch.  I, however, really do not like discussing myself and I chose to use the more interesting Discovery Channel version of a...

Tomorrow at The Recovering Politician

We open up Wednesday with the debut of our second contributing recovering politician.  And since we started with a Democrat on Monday, we'll feature a Republican tomorrow morning.

This contributing RP is literally a recovering politician:  recovering from a gunshot wound that ended a promising gubernatorial campaign.  He has dealt with other hardships — personal and political — but I think you will find his wicked sense of humor to be fully intact.

We have much more in store as well, so tune...

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

The Politics of Film

While films based on comic books have become a mainstay over the past decade, few in the film industry have taken them seriously past The Dark Knight. Many credit DC Comics and Warner Brothers with getting visionary director Christopher Nolan to work the Batman series.  Marvel Comics tried the same deal with Black Swan director Darren Aronofsky.  Film industry watchers took note when Aronofsky agreed to direct Hugh Jackman in The Wolverine, but Aronofsky recently backed...

Contest Time: Where in the World is the RP?

Since I travel quite a bit, I'm introducing a new feature to The Recovering Politician — borrowing with gratitude from PBS, the Today show, and The Daily Dish — Where in the World is the RP?

To win, you must be the first person in the comment section to name the location where I am standing in the pictures below.  Identifying the city is not good enough — please give a more precise location within the city.

The winner receives a free signed copy of The Compassionate Community.  My family...

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

The Politics of Swing

Here's what more than a billion people know and you don't: India just won the World Cup in cricket. You think the NCAA tournament is a distraction? [NYTimes]

Okay, then! Now I know we all (recovering politicians, especially) feel better. Thanks, Dan! [ProGolf Talk]

Much ado about nothing? Or poor sportsmanship vs. questionable parenting? Either way, we're sure there's more than one campaigner that would have loved to have done this rather than kiss that baby. [The Spin]

The ...