Sports
So I was all set to head to a bar tonight with a fellow Houston refugee to watch the University of Houston men's basketball team play against mighty Duke on national television. All the Coogs needed to do was to beat Georgia Southern yesterday afternoon, and they would
History
The 11th minute. Of the 11th hour. Of the 11th day. Of the 11th month. Ninety years ago today, Europe ended its first attempt at collective suicide. At war's end, France had suffered 1.7 million dead and 4.3 million wounded from a population of 39 million;
Politics
Tom Hayden is still not a member of the reality-based community. If we've learned anything from the last eight years, isn't it that evidence is a good thing?
Tarot
We have just seen the close of two major presidential campaigns: one driven primarily by love and hope, and the other driven primarily by hate and fear. The campaign that was driven by love and hope was a productive and fertile campaign, amazing observers with a stream of innovative methods
History
It just hit me what Barack Obama's biggest accomplishment was this week. Let's look at the last three Democratic presidential wins. When Clinton won in 1992 and 1996, Republicans could blame Perot. When Carter won in 1976, Republicans could blame the long-departed Nixon. Obama'
Humor
You cannot convince me that this headline was not deliberate. (…"members of the FMC brought an open, empty guitar case to the meeting"…)
Music
I've been listening to a lot of '50s recordings of standards lately, and I enjoy listening to how various vocalists handle these lines from "Moonlight in Vermont": The phrasing is awkward, which I think is exactly why the lines can be so touching when sung
Politics
Karl Rove aspired to be the Mark Hanna of our time. He has ended up being its Harry Daugherty.
Politics
VauvenarguesSpinoza -- Jonathan I. Israel, Radical Enlightenment (New York: Oxford University, 2002), page 71.
Music
February 17, 1955. Frank Sinatra is in one of his final recording sessions for a new album, a concept album. An album for the weary, the sad, the broken. "In the Wee Small Hours", he was going to call it. In the last two days, he had cut
Politics
Oregon State Measure 60: No. School districts should be allowed discretion in determing what policies are best for their students. Oregon State Measure 61: No. Judges should be allowed discretion in determining sentencing for crimes. Oregon State Measure 62: No. Lottery proceeds currently fund job creation, economic development, and education.
Politics
Oregon State Measure 54: Yes. A little bit of Constitutional clean-up that I'm glad we're doing. Oregon State Measure 55: No. Is pretending that the old district lines are still in force any less confusing a way to deal with redistricting than the current way?