Fouad Ajami wrote the opinion piece below for the Wall Street Journal back in June. It’s still timely a couple months later as Palestine seeks a declaration of statehood from the United Nations this week. While it’s high time that the Palestinian people join the international community and adopt the responsibilities of statehood, Ajami makes a crucial point […]
Fouad Ajami on the U.N. and a Palestinian State Read More
This is a brilliant information design project, and an astounding reminder of the scale of money we talk about in public finance. >> Link: US debt problem visualized: Debt stacked in 100 dollar bills.
US debt problem visualized: Debt stacked in 100 dollar bills Read More
The United States–its citizens and lawmakers–need to pay careful attention to the effects of our near-term actions. The outcome of not raising the debt ceiling is uncertain–nobody really knows what will happen. But the press is ablaze with information: The Economist does a nice job of summing up the status of government debt >> Link: America’s
America’s Deficit and the Debt Ceiling Read More
From Information Aesthetics: Visual Budget is a cutting-edge data-visualization web site. It explains all the complicated ins and outs of the US Federal Budget using interactive charts and motion graphics. It is a tool that lets citizens like you and me understand this important issue, armed with the latest most comprehensive facts and figures. It
Visual Budget – an Interactive Guide to the Federal Budget Read More
From Paul Krugman’s Op-Ed in the New York Times: Yet we have, for the most part, managed to agree on certain ground rules in the abortion controversy: it’s acceptable to express your opinion and to criticize the other side, but it’s not acceptable either to engage in violence or to encourage others to do so.
A Tale of Two Moralities Read More
Truth is stranger than fiction, and this is proof: a Meg Whitman staffer retweeted an endorsement link. Only Twitter’s 140 character limit cut off the last character of the URL, leading readers not to a message from a sheriff–but to a Japanese man in pink tutu and lingerie playing the bass. “Huh?” you ask. Me
Cross-Dressing Japanese YouTube Music: Only in a California Governor’s Race Read More
NPR’s Morning Edition concluded a series on the European Union this morning with a fantastic overview of the challenges facing the future of the EU: financial, political, and–most importantly–cultural. I found Rob Gifford’s piece the most digestible, concise, and on-point summary of the issue I’ve heard in the media. >> Listen to piece, and read
Obstacles facing the European Union Read More
In his weekly radio show “Le Show,” Harry Shearer (comedian/Spinal Tap bassist/voice of many characters on “The Simpsons”) takes on current affairs with a generous dose of sarcasm. Parts of the show feature fake skits about real topics in the news. On yesterday’s show, Harry took on Tea Party activists in a very clever segment.
Skewering the Tea Party on “Le Show” Read More
Some online video fun/movie nostalgia/political propaganda — 160 of the greatest Arnold Schwarzenegger quotes, all rolled into one 10-minute video:
160 Greatest Arnold Schwarzenegger Quotes Read More
The Economist comments this week about the politics plaguing the healthcare reform process in the US. …the Democrats’ bigger problem is that most Americans have pretty good health insurance and no idea how much it costs. Taxpayers foot the bill for the old. Most workers with employer-provided health insurance imagine that their employer is paying
Politics behind healthcare – The Economist Read More