Warner delivers a shot to the gut with her Domestic Disturbances blog and this stinging indictment of rampant American misogyny. The juxtaposition of the collapse of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign with the smash-hit success of "Sex and the City" is more powerful and decidedly less cutesy than the headline suggests. A brief walk through the sexist cottage industry that sprung up around Sen. Clinton (nutcrackers, anyone?) brings the point home, as does a collection of nasty quotes from assorted talking heads. "It’s nothing other than an expression of woman-hate — and the degree to which such expressions have flourished ... has added up to be a real national shame."
Posted 12:18, 6 June 2008
Cue the violins and get out your hankies, folks. Thompson's treacly love letter of a profile of the Golden Bear reads like a bad tearjerker, and actually does a disservice to its subject. Nicklaus is a compelling figure, and Thompson captures some nice anecdotes that illustrate the golf legend's competitiveness, work ethic, devotion to family, and commitment to his good name. Unfortunately, bathing every moment in a golden light only makes the story feel contrived: "Jack takes aim, as he has done for most of his life. When his family needs something, he wants to deliver." Yeesh. A few nice pictures, though, and interesting bits about Nicklaus' creative process.
Cieply's straight-ahead obituary of Sydney Pollack will make you sadder than you ever expected to be at news of the director's death. His filmography as a director includes more than 20 movies and spans five decades, and includes "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" (1969), "The Way We Were" (1973), "Tootsie" (1982), "The Firm" (1993) and "The Interpreter" (2005). He also played memorable roles in films such as Stanley Kubrick's "Eyes Wide Shut" and Tony Gilroy's "Michael Clayton." In the end, "Mr. Pollack’s career defined an era in which big stars ... and the filmmakers who knew how to wrangle them ... retooled the Hollywood system." RIP, Sydney.
We long ago gave up on the notion of a free lunch, in the air or otherwise. Now American Airlines has announced that it will be charging passengers $15 to check their first bags. The airline, which has been hit hard by soaring fuel prices, also said it would be taking up to 85 aircraft out of its fleet by the end of the year. However, it's unclear whether the cutbacks will aid the ailing airline, as the parent company's shares fell nearly 25 percent in the first 24 hours after the announcement. A sad but useful primer on a significant player in a beleaguered industry.
“Invading the Middle East is the kind of imperial overreach that breaks the spine of great powers.” That’s the point Powers repeatedly brings home in this lengthy essay. Drawing from ten books about current and past Middle East wars, Powers is pessimistic about America’s prospects for success in Iraq and Afghanistan. He further argues that even though the Democratic presidential candidates have pledged to begin troop withdrawals in their first year in office, political realities will make that impossible and we will be having the same argument in four years' time. There's nothing fun about this essay, but it feels important nonetheless.
Posted 11:29, 20 May 2008
Warner delivers a shot to the gut with her Domestic Disturbances blog and this stinging indictment of rampant American misogyny. The juxtaposition of the collapse of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign with the smash-hit success of "Sex and the City" is more powerful and decidedly less cutesy than the headline suggests. A brief walk through the sexist cottage industry that sprung up around Sen. Clinton (nutcrackers, anyone?) brings the point home, as does a collection of nasty quotes from assorted talking heads. "It’s nothing other than an expression of woman-hate — and the degree to which such expressions have flourished ... has added up to be a real national shame."
Posted 12:18, 6 June 2008
Partisans on both ends of the political spectrum hate accepting facts that don't jibe with their parties' views, Peters writes. He acknowledges that it's not a new problem but calls for Americans to view the debate over Iraq War statistics with this in mind. Specifically, the author convincingly argues that fellow liberals shouldn't let their political loyalties get in the way of acknowledging military successes in Iraq. However, the idea that people should accept facts is self-evident; Peters could have spent less time hammering on that argument and more time listing the "facts" about Iraq that he indirectly references.
Posted 11:11, 27 November 2007
Expert witnesses in terrorism trials are rarely the superbly qualified authorities you might see in less politically charged cases. Government consultant and TV analyst Evan Kohlmann, who lacks Arabic language skills but monitors pro-jihadist Internet chatrooms on a daily basis, is one example of this phenomenon; he's known chiefly for the effectiveness of his courtroom performances. Others called on to testify subscribe to the ideas expressed in Steven Emerson's book, Jihad Incorporated, which critics regard as practically an anti-Muslim polemic. With a deft touch, Bartosiewicz outlines the government's stolid reliance on thin-to-non-existent evidence against alleged conspirators.
Posted 5:30, 22 January 2008
Absentminded professors and artists have a reputation for being too much in their heads to pay attention to the mundane details of life, but forgetfulness takes on a new meaning when a $4 million Stradivarius violin is involved. Wakin gives an interesting inside look at the story of violinist Philippe Quint, who left his instrument (on loan from a benefactor) in a taxi while he removed his bags from the trunk. When he closed it, the cab sped away. Luckily, the valuable violin was returned, although its future with Quint is unclear. "When the violin has a chance to rest," its owners said, "we'll be better able to make a decision."
Contrarian investor Cliff Hoover, the man who will succeed David Dreman as the head of Dreman Value Management, spoke with Barron’s about the market’s direction. Hoover discusses liquidity, market correction, the housing downturn, mixed signals, and the strength of overseas markets. He also reveals his top stock picks from the energy sector, an area he remains optimistic about, as well as Big Pharma, financials, and other overlooked companies. Highlighted stocks include ConocoPhillips, Amgen, Pfizer, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Altria. Ward’s interview provides a good starting point for evaluating undervalued stocks and their growth prospects.
Posted 12:00, 15 May 2007
Weaver, a culinary historian, discusses the food and history of Cyprus. Cypriot cuisine is multi-faceted -- due to the country's geographic proximity to Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon, its cultural ties to Greece, its varied terrain, and its occupation by many different countries and empires over the centuries. Weaver visits tavernas where he enjoys fava bean stew, halloumi cheese, a native orange called kitromilo, and local favorite horta me avga, sauteed eggs and greens with lemon. There are 23 species of oregano on the island, and it is the earliest recorded viticulture in the Mediterranean, dating back 5,500 years. The author's extensive knowledge and unbridled curiosity make this piece worthwhile.
Kaufman explores the fairly new food-science arena of produce morphology, in which scientists are attempting to decode shape-determining DNA to create, for example, perfectly round tomatoes, more easily shippable square grapefruits, or "a cute little watermelon for a small family." But Kaufman is skeptical; identical, symmetrical produce has a "hypnotic effect" on him, and he somewhat predictably contemplates the philosophical implications of trying to fix "imperfect" fruits and vegetables. Worth a read, if just for the neat graphic of tomato cross-sections that look like brain scans.
Knickerbocker's bottom line seems to be that brown rice has a bad rap -- and that it's not just for hippies anymore. She embarks on a journey to rediscover the grain, which has had the inedible hull removed but not the fibrous bran layers. Not surprisingly, this makes it far more nutritious than its white cousin -- it's higher in fiber, minerals, and antioxidants. Interestingly, it also requires more water and a longer time to cook. Knickerbocker talks to a local rice grower and describes the growing process, creating an informative yet warmly personal narrative. Lovely food photos accompany the story -- especially a colorful spread of chicken and brown rice with chorizo.
Thirty-four years after moving to Los Angeles for political asylum, Mathew returns to her birthplace in Ethiopia to reconnect with family friends and rekindle memories. Filled with friendly fellowship dinners, cultural celebrations, and trips to the market, Mathew's days in Addis Ababa are a nostalgic reintroduction to the sights, sounds, and flavors of her youth. The injera (spongy bread), gomen (greens), misr wot (red lentil stew), and kitfo (spiced raw beef) reflect not only the region's piquant spices but also the deep influence of the Orthodox Church. Mathew's reflective piece and the recipes, images, and practical travel tips that accompany it are an enticement to experience Ethiopian flavors firsthand.
Posted 3:00, 10 April 2008
Von Bremzen attends a six-course gourmet meal inspired by elaborate menus created for a noble 19th century St. Petersburg family. The chef for this period-costume dining event is the author's mother, Larisa Frumkin, who emigrated to the United States from Russia in 1974. Borscht kicks off the sit-down meal, followed by a fish pastry called kulebyaka, and then cutlets of chicken pozharsky. Recipes for these pre-Soviet era dishes accompany Von Bremzen's affectionate description of the feast.
Posted 3:48, 8 April 2008
