Thursday, June 30, 2005
‘They really are taking over the city’: The chain blog has only recently discovered that Starbucks is a chain. … Next big trend discovery: Krispy Kreme is a chain too. ...
'I established, I think, a small legacy': Pedro did more than establish a 'small legacy' while in Boston. He helped win us a championship and gave us seven intense years of pure pitching delight. ... I'd submit this article captures just about everything -- mostly good but some bad -- that one needs to know about Pedro. I miss the guy. So do the Sox. But only time and his shoulder will tell if it was the best long-term move to let him go. If he's pitching in 2007 like he is today, the verdict will be irrefutable. ...
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
'Once again struck gold'?: A lot of big smiles in Waltham last night after the Celts drafted Gerald Green on the 18th pick, followed by another high-fives pick of Providence's Ryan Gomes in the second round. Seeing I don't know the players, I can't judge the quality of the selections. But Danny Ainge, who I used to bash with utmost glee, is happy. So I'm happy. But I still think this team needs a big guy. I know that sounds like a typical remark of an armchair GM. Still the Celts don't bang the boards like they should. ... Reader No. 1 recently observed that the Celts need a dirty, elbow-throwing veteran brute like Paul Silas. Maybe that's Danny's next move. ... More reactions over at Bruce's site. ...
P.S. -- Whether or not Green and Gomes turn out OK, isn't it nice to follow a team in which draft night is fun, compared with 'huh?' reactions in years past?
P.S. P.S. -- By my count, five of 30 players drafted in the first round were non-Americans. The NBA is truly international -- and getting more so. Two from France?
P.S. -- Whether or not Green and Gomes turn out OK, isn't it nice to follow a team in which draft night is fun, compared with 'huh?' reactions in years past?
P.S. P.S. -- By my count, five of 30 players drafted in the first round were non-Americans. The NBA is truly international -- and getting more so. Two from France?
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
For 5 measly bucks? Part II: Jeff defends charging only 5 bucks. ... He adds his writing for a job is like other professionals tryng to make a buck. Er, Jeff, you probably don't want to go too far down the jobs-comparison path.
'So what should the president say tonight?': John Kerry makes some good points about what the president should say tonight about Iraq. But coming from Kerry, you have to wonder where the clarity was last fall and where it will be tomorrow. ...
Still peeved about the WMD argument, Carpundit says of the president and Iraq: "I don't trust anything he says on the subject today. Do you?" ... Though I'm also one who fell for the WMD argument hook, line and sinker, I'll give the guy a chance. The stakes are too high in Iraq to fail. But if he brings up the bogus fly-trap/flypaper argument, I'll know he's pandering and he's lost me. ...
Still peeved about the WMD argument, Carpundit says of the president and Iraq: "I don't trust anything he says on the subject today. Do you?" ... Though I'm also one who fell for the WMD argument hook, line and sinker, I'll give the guy a chance. The stakes are too high in Iraq to fail. But if he brings up the bogus fly-trap/flypaper argument, I'll know he's pandering and he's lost me. ...
'Unfazed': An outbreak of hate was confronted yesterday by an outpouring of love, grief and gratitude -- and the decent guys won. Stories here and here. ... RIP, Army Staff Sergeant Christopher Piper.
Update -- Here's a good LA Times story on events yesterday in Marblehead.
Update -- Here's a good LA Times story on events yesterday in Marblehead.
Monday, June 27, 2005
'The mayor's office, pressed and courted by developers': Guess which city they're talking about. ... No cheating. Now click. ... Some things never change.
Sunday, June 26, 2005
The Unholy Alliance, Part II: Quick, yes or no: If Fan Pier was owned by some working-class dope with a God-awful postwar vinyl-sided pillbox house on the waterfront, do you think his home would have been condemned by now? Quick answer: Yes or no. ... Not that Council President Flaherty is right to ask for eminent domain against the billionaire Pritzker family, openly and pathetically citing the Supreme Court decision. But I think you get the picture of how eminent domain really works. ...
FYI -- Howie has more on the issue (sub. req.). ...
FYI -- Howie has more on the issue (sub. req.). ...
For 5 measly bucks?: An interesting and slightly depressing story about bloggers who accept a little cash and freebie tickets etc. from corporations in exchange for mentioning products in blog posts. Local examples of bloggers who have failed to mention and/or "usually" mention an ad connection include Jeff Cutler and Sooz and Linnea Dates. ... Jeff is quoted in the Globe story as saying in his defense: "People should be trained to take what they read with a grain of salt." Gee, thanks, Jeff. How about bloggers being trained to be upfront with said readers? Huh, Jeff? ...
... Not to get on a high horse on this one. There isn't a journalist reading this right now who hasn't had, at one point, to write a puff piece about an advertiser or pull a punch about an advertiser -- or else they've heard of a colleague having to perform such a deed. It doesn't happen often. In fact instances of media outlets knowingly sticking their fingers in the eyes of advertisers far, far outnumber the puffy pulled punches, as helpless pull-their-hair-out ad directors know only too well. But it happens now and then. (Fortunately, it's never happened to me at the Herald. But in past jobs, well, ...) So think of that before criticizing bloggers too much. Still, the "they-did-it-too" argument sucks. Suggestion for bloggers: Don't go down the product-mention road. If you do, be upfront. And, for heaven's sake, try to get more than 5 measly bucks for risking your credibility.
Update -- John and Adam have good posts on the issue. ... Re John's comments: Eight figures for a blog? I wouldn't hesitate. I've always loved eminent domain. ... Get off that property, you obstructionist New London scumballs!
Update II -- Sooz says she did have a disclaimer pointing out she was paid (via UH). I still don't like product mentions in posts. It's not exactly from-the-gut writing. But she did have a disclaimer. I also certainly don't begrudge her making a buck. ... Update to Update: I should have said 'disclosure' and not 'disclaimer.' Sooz links to the icon that she said she had up. OK. But why not mention within the post itself that she got paid to pitch something? The answer is self-evident. Not to harp on the issue. It's her blog -- and her credibility.
... Not to get on a high horse on this one. There isn't a journalist reading this right now who hasn't had, at one point, to write a puff piece about an advertiser or pull a punch about an advertiser -- or else they've heard of a colleague having to perform such a deed. It doesn't happen often. In fact instances of media outlets knowingly sticking their fingers in the eyes of advertisers far, far outnumber the puffy pulled punches, as helpless pull-their-hair-out ad directors know only too well. But it happens now and then. (Fortunately, it's never happened to me at the Herald. But in past jobs, well, ...) So think of that before criticizing bloggers too much. Still, the "they-did-it-too" argument sucks. Suggestion for bloggers: Don't go down the product-mention road. If you do, be upfront. And, for heaven's sake, try to get more than 5 measly bucks for risking your credibility.
Update -- John and Adam have good posts on the issue. ... Re John's comments: Eight figures for a blog? I wouldn't hesitate. I've always loved eminent domain. ... Get off that property, you obstructionist New London scumballs!
Update II -- Sooz says she did have a disclaimer pointing out she was paid (via UH). I still don't like product mentions in posts. It's not exactly from-the-gut writing. But she did have a disclaimer. I also certainly don't begrudge her making a buck. ... Update to Update: I should have said 'disclosure' and not 'disclaimer.' Sooz links to the icon that she said she had up. OK. But why not mention within the post itself that she got paid to pitch something? The answer is self-evident. Not to harp on the issue. It's her blog -- and her credibility.
'Until someone gets greased': Margery Eagan (sub. req.) has more on the Unholy Alliance, while Jeff talks to a New London family at the center of the controversial Supreme Court decision on eminent domain. ...
Saturday, June 25, 2005
The Unholy Alliance: Perhaps emboldened by the Supreme Court's day-old ruling on eminent domain, Mayor Menino is rattling his sword at the owners of Fan Pier. ... Hey, I'm not happy about Fan Pier. The Priztkers are overestimated owners, in my opinion, in the same bush-league as Frank McCourt. Both have talked a lot -- and done nothing with their properties. But read Menino's remarks and think about the last word in the sentence: "It is about the city -- jobs, housing, and revenue." Revenue? Does he mean taxes? The problem with eminent domain for economic development -- and there are cases when it's justified -- is that it's morphed into a new way for governments to raise revenue. Have a couple non-blighted homes on a waterfront? Hey, plop a hotel and office complex there and call it 'economic development' -- and let both fat-cat developers and revenue-hungry governments collect the profit. ... Has there ever been a case of a government going to little guys and saying, 'We want to make you rich. We'll rezone your property -- and let you keep the profits.' But nope. The relationship between developers and pols is turning into an Unholy Alliance of out-of-control capitalists and socialists. This issue ain't going away. ... Here's a George Will column on the subject and a particularly outrageous use of eminent domain for a Stop and Shop parking lot.
'It's been a pleasure writing for you': Dan Kennedy signs off over at Media Log. ... My sentiments are expressed perfectly by an anonymous commentator over at Dan's site: "Thanks for the great run, Dan. But seriously, how are you going to stay away? You want to blog... you NEED to blog..."
I'm fairly confident we'll be happily hearing more from Dan right here. Of course Dan could quickly alienate readers during his summer off by posting weekday items like: 'Today I brought my DVD back to the rental store. I returned home and napped.' ... 'Today I went to the beach. I returned home and napped.'
I'm fairly confident we'll be happily hearing more from Dan right here. Of course Dan could quickly alienate readers during his summer off by posting weekday items like: 'Today I brought my DVD back to the rental store. I returned home and napped.' ... 'Today I went to the beach. I returned home and napped.'
Friday, June 24, 2005
The ‘Let's Give Terrorists Operational Experience’ doctrine: Armchair Gen. Savin Hill also isn’t impressed with the flytrap/flypaper theory. Oops. ‘Doctrine.’ From the General:
"The ‘Flytrap’ theory might as well be called the ‘Let's Give Terrorists Operational Experience’ argument. I guess those people didn’t see this week's WSJ article about how in Europe they are now seeing more Iraq Jihadists returning to Europe? From the Wall Street Journal: ‘Last week Spanish police broke up a network that allegedly sent radical Isalmic volunteers to fight in Iraq and brought veterans of that war back to Europe to create new terror cells.’-WSJ, 6/20”
FYI -- I read the same article, but can’t find an accessible link on the subscriber WSJ.
FYI II –- I don’t know why Hub Blog’s font lettering just GOT REALLY BIG. Totally by accident. Trust me to foul up anything – not that I mind the big lettering. Kind of like it. Maybe it'll just go away.
"The ‘Flytrap’ theory might as well be called the ‘Let's Give Terrorists Operational Experience’ argument. I guess those people didn’t see this week's WSJ article about how in Europe they are now seeing more Iraq Jihadists returning to Europe? From the Wall Street Journal: ‘Last week Spanish police broke up a network that allegedly sent radical Isalmic volunteers to fight in Iraq and brought veterans of that war back to Europe to create new terror cells.’-WSJ, 6/20”
FYI -- I read the same article, but can’t find an accessible link on the subscriber WSJ.
FYI II –- I don’t know why Hub Blog’s font lettering just GOT REALLY BIG. Totally by accident. Trust me to foul up anything – not that I mind the big lettering. Kind of like it. Maybe it'll just go away.
Thursday, June 23, 2005
'I still hate the crank': Hilareous comments over at Beth's site about the Holley-Shaughnessy mini-brouhaha. ... Via Universal Hub.
'Abysmal national TV ratings': The poor NBA TV ratings aren't just about the quality of play. This is baseball season. The NBA should have finished up at least a month ago. March Madness was three months ago. ...
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Stabilization vs. Fly-trap, Part II: Now here's a good Austin Bay column (via Instapundit) that concentrates on what's been accomplished in Iraq (i.e. stabilization). Notice no mention of the Fly-trap nonsense, a desperate rationale periodically pulled out of the argumentative drawer when things aren't going well in Iraq. ...
Update - 9:40 p.m. -- Oh no. The 'flypaper' strategy is getting a new airing (via, sadly, Instapundit) and is now called a 'doctrine.' You see, Iraq was always envisioned as a 'playground' in which we'd shoot 'em up while at the same time trying to build a stable democracy. Yeah, that was the plan. Oops. 'Doctrine.' ...
Update - 9:40 p.m. -- Oh no. The 'flypaper' strategy is getting a new airing (via, sadly, Instapundit) and is now called a 'doctrine.' You see, Iraq was always envisioned as a 'playground' in which we'd shoot 'em up while at the same time trying to build a stable democracy. Yeah, that was the plan. Oops. 'Doctrine.' ...
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Truly sick: No other way to describe their thoughts, words and deeds.
Monday, June 20, 2005
'Nothing like a doormat (or two)': Hey, Hub Blog likes doormats. It was a fun Father's Day game to attend. ... Clement rocked. ... To bring up the heresy issue again (Wrigley vs. Fenway), I must say Fenway is looking snappy these days. Yesterday was my first game there since 2003. The outdoor cafes, the Yawkey Way bustle, the new park seats, all improvements on recent improvements. I still give the nod to Wrigley, but the Sox are doing a fine job with the park and area. It keeps getting better each year.
Sunday, June 19, 2005
'Sweating with the enemy': Never mind how the headline establishes how the story is framed at the start, i.e. the "enemy." How about the ending? Turns out the Titanic, earth-shattering, WWII-like, life-or-death "dilemma" over whether the heroic upper-middle class protagonist should be working out at Curves really doesn't matter that much to her. ... It was the long cover story of the Globe Magazine today. ...
So I don't get accused of a being too anti-Globe (and I am a Heraldite), how about running a far more worthy magazine cover story about a mother who is asked -- out of the blue -- by her her 16-year-old son whether he should join the Army? Now there's a "dilemma." Joan's moving piece was about 700 words. The "Sweating with the enemy" piece was God-knows-how-long beyond worth mentioning. ... Curves vs. War. Which do you think is more important?
So I don't get accused of a being too anti-Globe (and I am a Heraldite), how about running a far more worthy magazine cover story about a mother who is asked -- out of the blue -- by her her 16-year-old son whether he should join the Army? Now there's a "dilemma." Joan's moving piece was about 700 words. The "Sweating with the enemy" piece was God-knows-how-long beyond worth mentioning. ... Curves vs. War. Which do you think is more important?
Saturday, June 18, 2005
'Well, that was then': More on Gov. Somersaults. ...
Update -- Radio Blogger has more from our 'very effective governor of the Bay State' who was away from his duties again yesterday, in California, attending a Flag Day dinner, calling into the Hugh Hewitt Show, commenting on Dick Durbin's outrageous comparison of U.S. treatment of prisoners to Nazis. Mitt thinks the comments are an 'outrage.' Thank you. Very effective. For a presidential candidate. In Orange County. Who's effectively given up governing in his home state.
'One-stop shopping for ...': Dan and Adam and Chris have already pointed out Joel Brown's new Hub Arts blog. I'd just add that it's one of the more impressive blogger debuts I've seen in a while. Chris has some good suggestions for Joel and points to an arts site (with other links) I hadn't noticed before, Modern Kicks. Silly me. ...
Update -- Radio Blogger has more from our 'very effective governor of the Bay State' who was away from his duties again yesterday, in California, attending a Flag Day dinner, calling into the Hugh Hewitt Show, commenting on Dick Durbin's outrageous comparison of U.S. treatment of prisoners to Nazis. Mitt thinks the comments are an 'outrage.' Thank you. Very effective. For a presidential candidate. In Orange County. Who's effectively given up governing in his home state.
'One-stop shopping for ...': Dan and Adam and Chris have already pointed out Joel Brown's new Hub Arts blog. I'd just add that it's one of the more impressive blogger debuts I've seen in a while. Chris has some good suggestions for Joel and points to an arts site (with other links) I hadn't noticed before, Modern Kicks. Silly me. ...
Friday, June 17, 2005
'It all began about 11:30 a.m. ...': Bostonians generally love old-fashioned armored-car-heist stories. ... Malden? Wait. 'Charlestown natives' are mentioned. Now that makes more sense. So approaches to Malden are where future roadblocks will be automatically thrown up as well. Mark that down. Important detail. ... A blogger was reporting on the robbery attempt approximately 1 hour, 3 minutes after the deed. Impressive.
'Speed, Style, and Beauty': Critics of the MFA's Ralph Lauren classic car exhibit are nuts. Hub Blog attended the exhibit last night and had a blast. My favorite: the 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic Coupe. It was so strangely ugly, it was beautiful. ... But where was the Chevy Cobalt? (That's a personal joke between Carpundit and moi. Let's see if he takes the bait.) ...
... In the MFA gift shop, they were playing the mesmerizing 9-minute 'C'était un Rendezvous' DVD over and over again. Everyone watching had a dumbfounded smile on their face. I hadn't seen or heard of the cult film before. Now I know why it's a cult film.
'We now know the truth': OK, the Downing Street Memo is now entering the Hub Blog Fascination With Arugments Zone. ... So antiwar activists say they've uncovered the 'truth' about the administration's intent to go to war in Iraq via the memo. How about the known fact that administration members were talking about war with Iraq hours after 9/11? How about the known fact that war plans were being drawn up in late 2001? How about the President's very public 'Axis of Evil' speech before Congress in early 2002? How about the heavy pounding of the war drums throughout 2002 -- a pounding that was so loud and ham-handed that the German election of August 2002 turned on the issue of war in Iraq? The list goes on and on. The memo is old news, lefties. Old news. ...
Bottom line: The administration was intent on war and everyone knew it at the time -- even though the administration now oddly defends itself by citing Colin Powell's now discredited WMD report to the UN in early 2003. What's up with that? Other bottom line: both sides are trying to win arguments that have absolutely nothing to do with the 'truth.'
... Speaking of the German election, here's Der Spiegel's recent recap of Herr Schroeder's 'political masterstroke' of using the impending war and anti-Americanism in the August 2002 German elections. What did Schroeder and the German voters know nearly three years ago that antiwar activists are only now grasping? ... Hub Blog has long contended that the 2002 German election is Exhibit A in the case against the Bush administration's bungled pre-war diplomatic efforts. Without Herr Schroeder in office, there was no way France's Chirac would have led the pre-war antiwar charge alone. Without French and German pressure, Turkey probably would have allowed U.S. troops to invade from the north. With troops invading from the north, we probably would have had enough troops to crush any upstart insurgency. The U.S. is now paying the price for the administration's prewar contempt for allies and world opinion. ...
Update -- Great story by the Monitor's Dan Murphy, future film star, on his role in a film about the Iraq war.
Thursday, June 16, 2005
'Modern Marvels: The Cape Cod Canal': The History Channel ran a good 'Modern Marvels' show last night on the building of the Cape Cod Canal. I had no idea how daunting and controversial the project was at the time. Author Robert Farson was quoted in the documentary. ... Here's another book on the Canal. ... FYI: The show repeats on June 25 at 4 p.m. Use the History Channel's search engine and type 'canal' to find more on the episode. I couldn't find a permanent link.
'Statue panned every witch way': The Salem 'Bewitched' statue is actually worse than feared. It's nothing more than a silly corporate commercial. ... But read till the end of the article and see what a certain historian considers 'serious' treatment of witch history in Salem. The invasion of Panama? When push comes to shove, the ideological high-brow can always be counted on to out-silly the silly. ...
Update -- Speaking of high-brow silliness. ... Is it low-brow to wish the cable had snapped?
'Unpoliced conversation': The Archbishop of Canterbury is worried about 'unpoliced conversation' over the web. Compared to 'policed conversation,' Reverend? But, curiously, Williams' main thoughts on the new medium are contained only in the lede. The rest of the article is about the sins of the traditional media. ...
'The left gets a memo': Michael Kinsley, in an op-ed reprinted in the CSM, says he's not buying into the fuss over the Downing Street Memo. But he's impressed with the left's 'promotional infrastructure' that's pushing the issue. ... To repeat a previous point on the memo: old news.
'Statue panned every witch way': The Salem 'Bewitched' statue is actually worse than feared. It's nothing more than a silly corporate commercial. ... But read till the end of the article and see what a certain historian considers 'serious' treatment of witch history in Salem. The invasion of Panama? When push comes to shove, the ideological high-brow can always be counted on to out-silly the silly. ...
Update -- Speaking of high-brow silliness. ... Is it low-brow to wish the cable had snapped?
'Unpoliced conversation': The Archbishop of Canterbury is worried about 'unpoliced conversation' over the web. Compared to 'policed conversation,' Reverend? But, curiously, Williams' main thoughts on the new medium are contained only in the lede. The rest of the article is about the sins of the traditional media. ...
'The left gets a memo': Michael Kinsley, in an op-ed reprinted in the CSM, says he's not buying into the fuss over the Downing Street Memo. But he's impressed with the left's 'promotional infrastructure' that's pushing the issue. ... To repeat a previous point on the memo: old news.
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
'Bobbie's first blog entry': Milton's Bobbie Regan writes her first blog entry (via her dad) about her trip to Senegal. ... Bar none, Senegal is my favorite African country and Dakar my favorite African city. I often tell people the fastest and easiest way to visit Africa, on your own, is to fly direct to Morocco via New York. Visit Casablanca, Marrakesh, Rabat or Fez (the trains are excellent -- and Marrakesh should be a mandatory stop) and then take Royal Moroccan Airlines to Dakar. From there you can take a ferry to Gambia (the sliver of a country in the middle of Senegal -- see map with blog entry) of Roots fame. Morocco, Senegal and Gambia are all tourist friendly. They don't have the big game parks. But those are sort of fake anyway. The real treat is just being in Africa. ... Have the time of your life, Bobbie!
Stabilization vs. Fly-trap: Tom Friedman is on target again today about Iraq: "It is very hard for moderate, unifying, national leaders to emerge in a cauldron of violence." ...
Compare that with Austin Bay's recently dusted off 'Fly-trap' rationale of the continuing violence (not to be confused with the temporarily set-aside democratic stabilization argument): "The global war (Osama) so desired is being waged on his home turf, not in Manhattan, not in Los Angeles. Change has been brought to his world." ... Perhaps realizing the inherent contradiction between stabilization and Fly-trap, Austin adds at the very end: "QUICK UPDATE: You can have both liberation and 'fatal attraction' – and in fact we do. The Middle East is the real battlefield– and that’s where the fatal attractor is located. Liberation (liberty, freedom, democracy) is the long haul answer, for liberty breaks the cycle of tyranny and terror. In fact, a democratic Iraqi government is part of the 'fatal attraction.'" ...
... The connection between 9/11 and Saddam... No, wait, WMD ... Scratch that, it's about democracy. ... Er, it's about Fly-traps. ... Back to democray. ... No, it's Fly-traps. ...
The only decent rationale I've heard lately about Iraq came from Armchair Gen. Savin Hill, who said we probably had to throw a wrench into the Middle East not knowing what the hell to expect.
Compare that with Austin Bay's recently dusted off 'Fly-trap' rationale of the continuing violence (not to be confused with the temporarily set-aside democratic stabilization argument): "The global war (Osama) so desired is being waged on his home turf, not in Manhattan, not in Los Angeles. Change has been brought to his world." ... Perhaps realizing the inherent contradiction between stabilization and Fly-trap, Austin adds at the very end: "QUICK UPDATE: You can have both liberation and 'fatal attraction' – and in fact we do. The Middle East is the real battlefield– and that’s where the fatal attractor is located. Liberation (liberty, freedom, democracy) is the long haul answer, for liberty breaks the cycle of tyranny and terror. In fact, a democratic Iraqi government is part of the 'fatal attraction.'" ...
... The connection between 9/11 and Saddam... No, wait, WMD ... Scratch that, it's about democracy. ... Er, it's about Fly-traps. ... Back to democray. ... No, it's Fly-traps. ...
The only decent rationale I've heard lately about Iraq came from Armchair Gen. Savin Hill, who said we probably had to throw a wrench into the Middle East not knowing what the hell to expect.
Monday, June 13, 2005
'I don't want to go home': Sox fans' invasion of Chicago, as seen through the eyes of the media there. ... Hope they play 'My Kind of Town' when the Cubs play at Fenway. ... Theo vainly tries to catch up with Nomar. ...
'Hurry though, they're almost all out of 20th century': Armchair Gen. Savin Hill, on a secret scouting mission for the invasion of Canada, lets spill another secret while on a R&R break:
"Summer in Bar Harbor, and again, my secret is safe -- no one goes to Maine in early June and apparently word has not gotten out. An incredibly wet May has made the early June bloom look much like high summer - full, lush rhododendron flowers, lupins blooming like mad, etc. Some impressionist snapshots:
" * Built in 1928, the Criterion Theater movie house has literally not changed since it was built. In gloriously faded, impossibly musty and genuine Art Deco surroundings I shovel popcorn, slurp Coke and watch the Republic fall to Darth Vader. The late show is crowded by early June standards - nearly 20 people in the cavernous interior. Someone chooses to sit in my row, five seats away. I resist the urge to pelt him with unpopped kernels.
" * While sitting by myself in the theater on another night I make a mental note never to watch The Shining alone in that theater.
" * I teach a bartender how to properly make a Dark and Stormy: tall glass, ice, two-thirds ginger beer; invert a spoon, and slowly allow the Gosling's Black Seal to drape itself over the ice (so it floats on top of the ginger beer) - and garnish with lime. Never drink it with a straw - drink the dark rum straight off the top. Found myself increasingly talking like a pirate as the night wore on.
" * On another day I hike to a boulder hundreds of feet above Jordan Pond where I can see pine and birch forrests below, glacial deposited boulders strewn around me, the crystal clear pond. This was followed by lunch on the lawn of Jordan Pond of hot lobster bisque, cold curried chicken salad and the eggy goodness of a popover butchered with huge lashings of butter and strawberry preserves. It was a noble death.
" * At the Rite Aid, there's a soda fountain. Yes, a real one. Before you die, you have to have the root beer float there, with the root beer made from their own syrup concoction. Hurry though, they're almost all out of 20th century."
"Summer in Bar Harbor, and again, my secret is safe -- no one goes to Maine in early June and apparently word has not gotten out. An incredibly wet May has made the early June bloom look much like high summer - full, lush rhododendron flowers, lupins blooming like mad, etc. Some impressionist snapshots:
" * Built in 1928, the Criterion Theater movie house has literally not changed since it was built. In gloriously faded, impossibly musty and genuine Art Deco surroundings I shovel popcorn, slurp Coke and watch the Republic fall to Darth Vader. The late show is crowded by early June standards - nearly 20 people in the cavernous interior. Someone chooses to sit in my row, five seats away. I resist the urge to pelt him with unpopped kernels.
" * While sitting by myself in the theater on another night I make a mental note never to watch The Shining alone in that theater.
" * I teach a bartender how to properly make a Dark and Stormy: tall glass, ice, two-thirds ginger beer; invert a spoon, and slowly allow the Gosling's Black Seal to drape itself over the ice (so it floats on top of the ginger beer) - and garnish with lime. Never drink it with a straw - drink the dark rum straight off the top. Found myself increasingly talking like a pirate as the night wore on.
" * On another day I hike to a boulder hundreds of feet above Jordan Pond where I can see pine and birch forrests below, glacial deposited boulders strewn around me, the crystal clear pond. This was followed by lunch on the lawn of Jordan Pond of hot lobster bisque, cold curried chicken salad and the eggy goodness of a popover butchered with huge lashings of butter and strawberry preserves. It was a noble death.
" * At the Rite Aid, there's a soda fountain. Yes, a real one. Before you die, you have to have the root beer float there, with the root beer made from their own syrup concoction. Hurry though, they're almost all out of 20th century."
Sunday, June 12, 2005
'It's Chirac, stupid': I slap my anti-French forehead and wonder, 'Why didn't I think of that?' Sensible piece, as always, from the Economist. ...
'It's time for changes. Soon.': Theo ain't happy. ... Then again, neither is George. ... Incredibly, the Sox are still only 3.5 games back. Or were.
'It's time for changes. Soon.': Theo ain't happy. ... Then again, neither is George. ... Incredibly, the Sox are still only 3.5 games back. Or were.
'An incredible experience,' Part II: John has more photos from China and a smart post on China's future. ... He's also stunned to learn that Deep Throat was unveiled while away. Do you think we should tell him Mayor Menino resigned and Carl Yastrzemski was named acting mayor? Shhh. He'll find out.
Saturday, June 11, 2005
'F&I devotees,' Part III: OK, so this post isn't about the French and Indian War. But it is about muskets, Redcoats and war. A Hub Blog brother recently visited the Saratoga Historic Battlefield and said it was one of the most beautiful and best preserved battlefields he's ever been to. ... And, yes, the Battles of Saratoga rank among the most decisive in world history.
Update -- Excited to learn more about Saratoga, Hub Blog just used an old Amazon gift certificate to buy Richard Ketchum's 'Saratoga.' I also threw into the gift-certificate shopping cart Ketchum's 'Decisive Day,' David McCullough's '1776,' John Scalzi's sci-fi 'Old Man's War' and James Stewart's 'Disney War' (at the recommendation of John Ellis). War, war, war. Do you think there's a pattern here?
Update -- Excited to learn more about Saratoga, Hub Blog just used an old Amazon gift certificate to buy Richard Ketchum's 'Saratoga.' I also threw into the gift-certificate shopping cart Ketchum's 'Decisive Day,' David McCullough's '1776,' John Scalzi's sci-fi 'Old Man's War' and James Stewart's 'Disney War' (at the recommendation of John Ellis). War, war, war. Do you think there's a pattern here?
'Some Kennedy people were involved': Mark Blumenthal has a terrific post on Mark 'Deep Throat' Felt (via Mickey) and the Nixon White House's venal attempt to tie Ted Kennedy and anti-war lefties to the attempted assassination of George Wallace. Bob Woodward used the FBI Felt as a source in that pre-Watergate investigation, showing Felt's pattern of opposing White House abuses. ... But I still think people like Mark and Mickey and others are missing an important point about Felt's relationship with Bob Woodward: the pre-Wallace/Watergate paternal friendship between the two, as noted by yours truly a few weeks ago and made abundantly clear in Woodward's recent story, even though Woodward seems to feign ignorance of Felt's motives. Repeat: Would Felt have leaked to anyone other than Woodward? Wasn't it Woodward who pursued Felt on both the Wallace and Watergate stories? Could there be an element of vanity at work in Woodward's professed ignorance of Felt's motives? After all, saying Felt might have taken pity on a cub reporter isn't exactly the heroic stuff of journalistic legends. ... Also repeat: Felt was no saint and was playing a complex power game with many motives at work. But he wasn't a devil either. I admire the guy, warts and all.
FYI -- Mickey also engages in a lot of splendid Kerry bashing, if the Felt topic bores you too much.
Update -- Someone wrote in to say that maybe Woodward is feigning ignorance of Felt's motives "so as not to tarnish the romantic image of Watergate." Perhaps true. Likely even. But their pre-Wallace/Watergate friendship intrigues and, I believe, explains something about Felt's motives ...
Update II - 6.13.05 -- Well, there goes part of my theory. Felt did talk to other reporters. But the Woodward-Felt friendship was close and Woodword did seem to get more out of him. ... OK, I'm backpeddling here.
FYI -- Mickey also engages in a lot of splendid Kerry bashing, if the Felt topic bores you too much.
Update -- Someone wrote in to say that maybe Woodward is feigning ignorance of Felt's motives "so as not to tarnish the romantic image of Watergate." Perhaps true. Likely even. But their pre-Wallace/Watergate friendship intrigues and, I believe, explains something about Felt's motives ...
Update II - 6.13.05 -- Well, there goes part of my theory. Felt did talk to other reporters. But the Woodward-Felt friendship was close and Woodword did seem to get more out of him. ... OK, I'm backpeddling here.
'An incredible experience': John, who's back from China, has the photos to prove it. ... Via Left Center Left.
The word on the Word, Part II: Pumped up by reading the Word and the Da Vinci Code, Hub Blog ambitiously set out to learn more about historic early Christianity, selecting Charles Freeman's 'Closing of the Western Mind.' Big thumbs up. But with a warning: It's subtly anti-Christian (as you can tell by the title and, well, the fact Freeman's an academic Brit) that annoyingly glosses over paganism's faults (like, oh, slavery and sacrificing babies etc.). But it was fun reading about the Gospels and, especially, Paul's letters to believers. A true control freak, Paul was obviously a pivotal figure in Christianity's development -- in which, sadly, he also planted the seeds of intolerance toward Jews and sex. I also realized I had previously underestimated Roman emperors' imperial role in shaping doctrine and the church'spower structure. ... One last thing: The building of beautiful and mysterious physical churches was quite deliberate. That's one of the reasons Catholics are so mesmerized and devoted to their parishes to this day, as demonstrated by the outpouring of grief over the tragic burning of Weymouth's Sacred Heart.
'Now they have to deal with the curse of Pedro': They won't let go. ...
Friday, June 10, 2005
The heresy is right: Wrigley's better: Tony is wrong and Steve (sub.req.) is right: If you've ever been to Wrigley Field, you know there's no argument -- the seating is better, the convenience is better, the neighborhood is better. Sure it's a close call. But not that close. ... I was tempted to say, though, that the team ain't better. Not today.
'F&I devotees,' Part II: The F&I devotees craze keeps on rolling with the Massachusetts Historical Society's William Fowler coming out with his own book on the French and Indian War, "Empires at War." Already have a copy and I'm looking forward to reading it. As the Amazon description notes, Fowler's tome is slimmer than the now classic "Crucible of War," also about the French and Indian War. ... FYI: The society's site has a cool section on maps from the French and Indian War era. ...
Hub Blog's profound pity for Cubs fans: Sox fans should indeed have sympathy for long-suffering Cubs fans. But the suffering isn't just about their lack of winning. Cubs fans are now being subjected to non-stop manufactured curse babble. ... From a curse-peddling profiteer trying to dump the Babe contract for big bucks: "If a Yankee fans gets this and the Red Sox start slumping, the Curse of the Bambino might be back." ... Oh Christ. They just won't let go.
Hub Blog's profound pity for Cubs fans: Sox fans should indeed have sympathy for long-suffering Cubs fans. But the suffering isn't just about their lack of winning. Cubs fans are now being subjected to non-stop manufactured curse babble. ... From a curse-peddling profiteer trying to dump the Babe contract for big bucks: "If a Yankee fans gets this and the Red Sox start slumping, the Curse of the Bambino might be back." ... Oh Christ. They just won't let go.
Monday, June 06, 2005
What's wrong with Kansas?: Here's what. ...
'The gulags of our time,' Part V: Cathy Young goes after Amnesty -- as well as the closed-mouth types. ...
'The gulags of our time,' Part V: Cathy Young goes after Amnesty -- as well as the closed-mouth types. ...
Sunday, June 05, 2005
Boston as non-retro retro celebrity non-hip hip: I liked this Globe article a lot. But how it got through the whole article about Boston-celebrity watching without mentioning The Track or, a distant second, Names is beyond me. Chalk one up to the newspaper wars -- not that Hub Blog isn't guilty of the same ommission sin now and then. Guess any talk of Boston's anti-retro retro celebrity non-hip hip attitude would logically lead to the obvious conclusion that a certain paper has a better ... Never mind. (Bending over backwards to be fair here, in case you didn't notice. I'm sure this post is zipping over the head over a certain chain blog.)
Update -- An email from Bill prompted me to tinker with the post so it isn't as vague toward the Globe. Sorry about that. As I was saying about ommission sins... BTW: I work for the Herald, the paper that doesn't carry Doonesbury.
Update II -- From Reader No. 1: "What about Improper Bostonian? (The Hub's answer to 'US' magazine.)" ... Good catch. For that matter, Boston magazine.
Update -- An email from Bill prompted me to tinker with the post so it isn't as vague toward the Globe. Sorry about that. As I was saying about ommission sins... BTW: I work for the Herald, the paper that doesn't carry Doonesbury.
Update II -- From Reader No. 1: "What about Improper Bostonian? (The Hub's answer to 'US' magazine.)" ... Good catch. For that matter, Boston magazine.
'NATO parliamentarians'?: NATO parliamentarians? What the hell are NATO parliamentarians? ... Well, the Palestinians now have NATO 'observer status.' ... My immediate thought was, 'There has to be a French angle on this.' Sure enough, there is. Scroll down till ya find the name of one Pierre Lellouche, a French deputy and president of the 'NATO PA.' Don't know if the Assembly is good or bad -- or for that matter the inclusion of so many non-NATO 'associate' members within the 'Assembly.' Maybe it's just a place where people can rattle their spoons. But Hub Blog's BS detector starts pinging when a defense alliance refers to an arm of itself as a 'parliament.' ... I'm also paying for it, I assume.
'He's wrong': Woe onto those who get into an argument with Carpundit over cars and racing and don't have the facts right. ... Is Danika Patrick the next Annika Sorestam in terms of competing with the boys -- once? Nope. She's got it.
'The little b@stards that are eating ...': Counting Sheep goes to the garden store prepping for war and comes out wondering if she's a garden addict. ... Answer: No. Just passionate.
'Faking it,' Part II: More weekend fun on the faking-it front. The Herald makes two points: A.) Mitt probably isn't running for a second term and B.) The comparisons to John Kerry are going to dog him. ... Eileen has the quote that will dog him: "I believe that abortion should be safe and legal in this country. I have since the time that my mom took that position when she ran in 1970 as a US Senate candidate. I believe that since Roe v. Wade has been the law for 20 years we should sustain it and support it."
'Journey into Darkness': I was wondering what happened to Tom. Sadly, now we know. Happily, he's back. ...
'Nature's ultimate gated community': Next time someone describes Nantucket as a simple 'fishing village,' send 'em this link. ...
'The little b@stards that are eating ...': Counting Sheep goes to the garden store prepping for war and comes out wondering if she's a garden addict. ... Answer: No. Just passionate.
'Faking it,' Part II: More weekend fun on the faking-it front. The Herald makes two points: A.) Mitt probably isn't running for a second term and B.) The comparisons to John Kerry are going to dog him. ... Eileen has the quote that will dog him: "I believe that abortion should be safe and legal in this country. I have since the time that my mom took that position when she ran in 1970 as a US Senate candidate. I believe that since Roe v. Wade has been the law for 20 years we should sustain it and support it."
'Journey into Darkness': I was wondering what happened to Tom. Sadly, now we know. Happily, he's back. ...
'Nature's ultimate gated community': Next time someone describes Nantucket as a simple 'fishing village,' send 'em this link. ...
Saturday, June 04, 2005
The class act of Shaq: Shaquille O'Neal has offered to pay for George Mikan's funeral, saying 'Without No. 99, there is no me.' What can you say? The only word that comes to mind is 'class.' ... Via Boston Sports Media, which also has a look at the Celts' possible draft picks. Not too attractive. Wish there was a way to A.) Keep Payton and B.) Get someone powerful and classy like Shaq.
... One more from BSM: David Scott's constructive criticism for new Herald sports editor Hank Hryniewicz, henceforth to be known as 'Hank Herald.' Some sound suggestions on the increased use of blogs, especially Reiss' Pieces. ... Best line: "Good luck, Hank. You’re not walking into the depths of Hell, but I don’t see no white fluffy clouds either." ... Ah, someone who gets the Herald. Of course some feel they have to go through the snob motions of pretending they don't get it while linking to it. The Most Boring Blog in Boston also has a post about Krispy Kreme. Poor, poor Bostonist. It's trying so hard to be hip. ... BTW: I work for the paper that doesn't carry Doonesbury.
Update -- Mike Murphy has more on the Celts' draft prospects. ...
... One more from BSM: David Scott's constructive criticism for new Herald sports editor Hank Hryniewicz, henceforth to be known as 'Hank Herald.' Some sound suggestions on the increased use of blogs, especially Reiss' Pieces. ... Best line: "Good luck, Hank. You’re not walking into the depths of Hell, but I don’t see no white fluffy clouds either." ... Ah, someone who gets the Herald. Of course some feel they have to go through the snob motions of pretending they don't get it while linking to it. The Most Boring Blog in Boston also has a post about Krispy Kreme. Poor, poor Bostonist. It's trying so hard to be hip. ... BTW: I work for the paper that doesn't carry Doonesbury.
Update -- Mike Murphy has more on the Celts' draft prospects. ...
'Boston fans are far too kind': Hub Blog's favorite Ex-Sox Immortal Gods of Hub Glory -- Orlando Cabrera -- came back to the power and majesty of Roma Boston yesterday. ... But our boys nonetheless taught the visiting Visigoths a lesson just to be sure.
... Forget the gay bashing. I want to know if the Sox have or had jumped some sort of shark with the overdone Queer Guy stuff. ... Wouldn't be at all surprised to see a Wally the Green Monster reception at Fenway today. ...
‘The gulags of our time,' Part IV: Amnesty International's Kate Gilmore smugly dismisses criticism of use of the word 'gulag,' brags about cocooning recruitment trends and then warns about 'a ruthlessness that is deeply troubling.' And what could that ruthlessness possibly be? Criticism of Amnesty International. ...
Reader No. 1's observations on Peggy Noonan's own over-the-top rhetoric (see post below):
"I think Peggy overstepped in implying a direct link between Nixon's departure and certain subsequent events in Vietnam. I'm no Vietnam scholar but... Nixon's major actions on Vietnam, including cinching 1972 re-election with Henry Kissinger's October peace plan, suggest he recognized the obvious: the American public wanted OUT, and as events since show, we avoid foreign entanglements that don't directly impact us. It's hard to imagine our getting re-engaged in Southeast Asian combat after the last helicopter left the embassy roof in 1975 under a President Nixon.
"But Peggy's not at all wrong that the bitterest enemies of Nixon were -- heck, are - more concerned with him as 'Great Satan' than they ever were with Pol Pot, or with American decline in the decade of the 1970s. We live in Nixon-Hater Central and know this from our lifetimes of political and social awareness.
"And Peggy was especially on the mark here that 'History is an irony factory.' "
Hub Blog's response -- History is indeed an irony factory. But if one is paralyzed about taking necessary actions because of the likelihood of ironic consequences, no necessary actions would be taken. That's where Peggy's logic starts to unravel into Pol Pot blather. ...
... FYI: I happen to admire Felt's Watergate action. But if you want to read a non-left/right critique of him, check out Peter Gelzinis' scathing sub.-req. column on Felt's probable Hoover-groupie culpability in the sordid Boston FBI affairs. It's the best argument, bar none, for being cautious in praise of Felt....
Update -- I was going to mention how a Holocaust comparison must be around the corner. But Ben Stein beat me to it. Via Andrew.
... Forget the gay bashing. I want to know if the Sox have or had jumped some sort of shark with the overdone Queer Guy stuff. ... Wouldn't be at all surprised to see a Wally the Green Monster reception at Fenway today. ...
‘The gulags of our time,' Part IV: Amnesty International's Kate Gilmore smugly dismisses criticism of use of the word 'gulag,' brags about cocooning recruitment trends and then warns about 'a ruthlessness that is deeply troubling.' And what could that ruthlessness possibly be? Criticism of Amnesty International. ...
Reader No. 1's observations on Peggy Noonan's own over-the-top rhetoric (see post below):
"I think Peggy overstepped in implying a direct link between Nixon's departure and certain subsequent events in Vietnam. I'm no Vietnam scholar but... Nixon's major actions on Vietnam, including cinching 1972 re-election with Henry Kissinger's October peace plan, suggest he recognized the obvious: the American public wanted OUT, and as events since show, we avoid foreign entanglements that don't directly impact us. It's hard to imagine our getting re-engaged in Southeast Asian combat after the last helicopter left the embassy roof in 1975 under a President Nixon.
"But Peggy's not at all wrong that the bitterest enemies of Nixon were -- heck, are - more concerned with him as 'Great Satan' than they ever were with Pol Pot, or with American decline in the decade of the 1970s. We live in Nixon-Hater Central and know this from our lifetimes of political and social awareness.
"And Peggy was especially on the mark here that 'History is an irony factory.' "
Hub Blog's response -- History is indeed an irony factory. But if one is paralyzed about taking necessary actions because of the likelihood of ironic consequences, no necessary actions would be taken. That's where Peggy's logic starts to unravel into Pol Pot blather. ...
... FYI: I happen to admire Felt's Watergate action. But if you want to read a non-left/right critique of him, check out Peter Gelzinis' scathing sub.-req. column on Felt's probable Hoover-groupie culpability in the sordid Boston FBI affairs. It's the best argument, bar none, for being cautious in praise of Felt....
Update -- I was going to mention how a Holocaust comparison must be around the corner. But Ben Stein beat me to it. Via Andrew.
Friday, June 03, 2005
'An incredible turnaround with the Boston fans': Sox fans instill self-esteem into Edgar Renteria ...
'Faking' it: If you take a position that you never believed in but then later return to your original position, are you flip-flopping, faking, fake flip-flopping or flip-flop faking? ... Our dear Mitt, who's looking and sounding more like John Kerry each passing day. Added proof: He'll blame the staff.
Update -- Dan has more on the episode.
'Faking' it: If you take a position that you never believed in but then later return to your original position, are you flip-flopping, faking, fake flip-flopping or flip-flop faking? ... Our dear Mitt, who's looking and sounding more like John Kerry each passing day. Added proof: He'll blame the staff.
Update -- Dan has more on the episode.
Thursday, June 02, 2005
George Mikan, RIP: RIP. ... I had no idea how many basketball rules were changed because of him. ... Of course he wasn't as 'smooth as latter-day basketball superstars like Michael Jordan or Magic Johnson.' How about comparing him to the smooth superstar center who also changed the game and created the very next dynasty immediately after George -- Bill Russell?
‘The gulags of our time,’ Part III: Hub Blog was only half joking the other day when I said ‘Pol Pot comparisons must be around the corner’ as far as outrageous rhetoric is concerned. Unfortunately, it wasn’t off the mark. Peggy Noonan is tying Mark Felt to Pol Pot. … There used to be a day when conservatives rightly torched similar statements by liberals, such as how Pol Pot’s Khemer Rouge were driven to genocide by U.S. bombing of Cambodia, an infamous argument contained in the movie ‘The Killing Fields.’ … Peggy is right about one thing: “The old battle lines fall into place.” … Now about that impeachment of President Clinton for …
'Lieutenant Bob Woodward ... sir': What a great piece by Bob Woodward on his relationship with Mark 'Deep Throat' Felt. There's been a lot of talk about Felt's motives for serving as Woodward's Watergate source. But another explanation, interwoven with Felt's personal sense of slight and integrity, jumps out of the article: a paternal friendship. One question: Would Felt have talked to any journalist other than Woodward, who befriended Felt before he became a reporter? Maybe. But I doubt it. It was Woodward who sought out Felt during the early stages of Watergate -- not the other way around. ... Say what you will about him, Woodward is simply amazing. He had Felt's direct FBI phone number by the end of his first chance encounter.
'Something that's typical of high school,' Part II: There are now calls to reexamine Massachusetts' statutory rape laws in the wake of the Milton Academy episode. ... Alan Dershowitz, who has a daughter attending Milton Academy: "This represents the most senseless use of prosecutorial discretion I've seen in a long time ... The laws of statutory rape are so twisted and convoluted and completely fail to reflect the reality of adolescent sexuality."
'Europeans clearly love their way of life': Far be it for Hub Blog to take issue with someone engaging in one of my favorite sports (clubbing lefties over the head), but I think David Brooks is being a little unfair to the American Left. France's EU 'non' vote had so many mixed messages embedded within that it's too simple to say one segment of the U.S. political sphere has more to learn than another. ... Europeans clearly should love their way of life. It's more relaxed, less hectic. The problem is it's not sustainable. Meanwhile, I hear more and more Americans complaining about our highly charged, hectic lives. It seems we're all groping for some sort of balance. Maybe it's not obtainable. But I think a lot of people are yearning for something like, for lack of other words, a more 'compassionate capitalism' –- a phrase that will undoubtably make socialist lefties and laissez-faire righties cringe but somewhat accurately reflects a sentimental pragmaticism that people desire in their lives.... Here's a less partisan piece along the same line: 'Europe's Balancing Act.'
Update -- From Reader No. 1:
"Brooks is very right about Europeans looking at the future with fear and that being the context of the French EU vote. He is also right that American liberals fond looks to the other side of the pond are misguided (and there is an entire subliterature on this topic)...
"What Brooks misses is the possibility that the vote might signify a significant 'cocooning' where large swaths of the population reject the new form of centralization based in Brussels (even less accountable than local welfare state offices) thinking they can retreat into the safe old culture back home. There IS no way back. Tony Blankley nails the role of globalization in the Washington Times yesterday.
"Also check out these typically acerbic and sensible observations from the Man Without Qualities."
Hub Blog's response -- I have no argument against those points. I agree with most of them. As I said, there are many mixed messages within the French vote. But one of those messages is a general and growing anxiety about where today's globalization is headed -- and it's an anxiety felt here as well. There IS, as Reader No. 1 says, no way back. But which way forward? I probably would have voted against the EU referendum, as I suspect Reader No. 1 would have too, on political grounds. But again: Which way forward? I'd submit many Americans are in the early stages of asking the same economic question as slow-paced Europeans, though coming at it from the opposite fast-paced direction.
'Lieutenant Bob Woodward ... sir': What a great piece by Bob Woodward on his relationship with Mark 'Deep Throat' Felt. There's been a lot of talk about Felt's motives for serving as Woodward's Watergate source. But another explanation, interwoven with Felt's personal sense of slight and integrity, jumps out of the article: a paternal friendship. One question: Would Felt have talked to any journalist other than Woodward, who befriended Felt before he became a reporter? Maybe. But I doubt it. It was Woodward who sought out Felt during the early stages of Watergate -- not the other way around. ... Say what you will about him, Woodward is simply amazing. He had Felt's direct FBI phone number by the end of his first chance encounter.
'Something that's typical of high school,' Part II: There are now calls to reexamine Massachusetts' statutory rape laws in the wake of the Milton Academy episode. ... Alan Dershowitz, who has a daughter attending Milton Academy: "This represents the most senseless use of prosecutorial discretion I've seen in a long time ... The laws of statutory rape are so twisted and convoluted and completely fail to reflect the reality of adolescent sexuality."
'Europeans clearly love their way of life': Far be it for Hub Blog to take issue with someone engaging in one of my favorite sports (clubbing lefties over the head), but I think David Brooks is being a little unfair to the American Left. France's EU 'non' vote had so many mixed messages embedded within that it's too simple to say one segment of the U.S. political sphere has more to learn than another. ... Europeans clearly should love their way of life. It's more relaxed, less hectic. The problem is it's not sustainable. Meanwhile, I hear more and more Americans complaining about our highly charged, hectic lives. It seems we're all groping for some sort of balance. Maybe it's not obtainable. But I think a lot of people are yearning for something like, for lack of other words, a more 'compassionate capitalism' –- a phrase that will undoubtably make socialist lefties and laissez-faire righties cringe but somewhat accurately reflects a sentimental pragmaticism that people desire in their lives.... Here's a less partisan piece along the same line: 'Europe's Balancing Act.'
Update -- From Reader No. 1:
"Brooks is very right about Europeans looking at the future with fear and that being the context of the French EU vote. He is also right that American liberals fond looks to the other side of the pond are misguided (and there is an entire subliterature on this topic)...
"What Brooks misses is the possibility that the vote might signify a significant 'cocooning' where large swaths of the population reject the new form of centralization based in Brussels (even less accountable than local welfare state offices) thinking they can retreat into the safe old culture back home. There IS no way back. Tony Blankley nails the role of globalization in the Washington Times yesterday.
"Also check out these typically acerbic and sensible observations from the Man Without Qualities."
Hub Blog's response -- I have no argument against those points. I agree with most of them. As I said, there are many mixed messages within the French vote. But one of those messages is a general and growing anxiety about where today's globalization is headed -- and it's an anxiety felt here as well. There IS, as Reader No. 1 says, no way back. But which way forward? I probably would have voted against the EU referendum, as I suspect Reader No. 1 would have too, on political grounds. But again: Which way forward? I'd submit many Americans are in the early stages of asking the same economic question as slow-paced Europeans, though coming at it from the opposite fast-paced direction.
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
'Something that's typical of high school': So how many past and present non-prosecuted sex offenders do we now have in Massachusetts? Can it be measured in the hundreds of thousands or perhaps even the millions? I'm going to throw out a wild guess: I'd say, oh, one out of five people lost their virginity and/or had oral sex by the age of 16 with someone approximately their age. Sound about right? Low? High? OK, let's just go with the 20-percent figure for the sake of argument. The population of Massachusetts is about five million people -- meaning there could be ONE MILLION NON-PROSECUTED PAST AND PRESENT SEX OFFENDERS ROAMING OUR STREETS!!! ... But Norfolk County prosecutors have singled out three teen high school students to enforce a sex law that says you can't have sex with someone under the age of 16 (stories here and here). The ex-Milton Academy students now face "at the minimum" being listed as "sex offenders" and "at the maximum" life in prison if convicted of statutory rape for having oral sex with a 15-year-old student. I'll withhold final judgment until details of the prosecutors' case spill out. But, somehow, I really don't think I'll feel safer knowing these boys are behind bars if convicted. After all there could be ONE MILLION NON-PROSECUTED PAST AND PRESENT SEX OFFENDERS ROAMING OUR STREETS!!! ...
P.S. -- Don't you also have a hunch, deep down, that the words "ice hockey players" played a role in the filing of charges -- with all the jock/frat boy/they're-on-scholarships connotations the description conjures up? ... Notice the constant use of the word 'players.' Not 'boys.' Not 'teens.' Not 'students.' But 'players.'
Update -- OK, this sounds a bit more sane: three years probabtion, an apology and a cleared record after three years, though I still question filing criminal charges against them. ... Don't for a minute think I condone the boys' ugly behavior. I wasn't taught to treat women like this -- nor I assume were/are most boys. But treating it as a criminal case ... Oops. Two years of probation and two years to clear their records. My mistake. The entire proceeding is still surreal.
Update II -- Hub Blog is losing the office-cooler/friends-calling poll on this issue. Luckily, most aren't accusing me of supporting the boys' actions. They just think sending a powerful signal to the boys was appropriate -- a view I respect but disagree with in terms of the severity of the signal.
'Deep Throat' praised -- but not of the Milton Academy variety: So now we know who 'Deep Throat' is -- and I happen to think W. Mark Felt is a hero. Just don't tell the teens what 'deep throat' really means. ... Gotta go to the source when reading about the figurative 'Deep Throat': the Washington Post. Good article on Felt's career. ... Though I think Felt is a hero, albeit an undoubtably flawed and complex one with motives not always pure, I can't help but think how his case shows the FBI playing power games behind the scenes. In Boston, we know all about that, alas.
P.S. -- Don't you also have a hunch, deep down, that the words "ice hockey players" played a role in the filing of charges -- with all the jock/frat boy/they're-on-scholarships connotations the description conjures up? ... Notice the constant use of the word 'players.' Not 'boys.' Not 'teens.' Not 'students.' But 'players.'
Update -- OK, this sounds a bit more sane: three years probabtion, an apology and a cleared record after three years, though I still question filing criminal charges against them. ... Don't for a minute think I condone the boys' ugly behavior. I wasn't taught to treat women like this -- nor I assume were/are most boys. But treating it as a criminal case ... Oops. Two years of probation and two years to clear their records. My mistake. The entire proceeding is still surreal.
Update II -- Hub Blog is losing the office-cooler/friends-calling poll on this issue. Luckily, most aren't accusing me of supporting the boys' actions. They just think sending a powerful signal to the boys was appropriate -- a view I respect but disagree with in terms of the severity of the signal.
'Deep Throat' praised -- but not of the Milton Academy variety: So now we know who 'Deep Throat' is -- and I happen to think W. Mark Felt is a hero. Just don't tell the teens what 'deep throat' really means. ... Gotta go to the source when reading about the figurative 'Deep Throat': the Washington Post. Good article on Felt's career. ... Though I think Felt is a hero, albeit an undoubtably flawed and complex one with motives not always pure, I can't help but think how his case shows the FBI playing power games behind the scenes. In Boston, we know all about that, alas.
