Friday evening roundup

Eugene Robinson has had it with the craziness.

The Tides Foundation has had it, too.

Some interesting perspectives on Russia.

Currency as measured by the big mac index.

Do you suppose mom would respect a ban on fat talk?

A brilliant idea for nutrition labels.

I've been trying to cut back on animal products, but this looks AMAZING.

Thursday evening roundup

Syria is reeling from drought and other extreme weather.

Really, France? This is honestly more embarrassing than the non-mosque controversy.

Some mothers-to-be are clearly worried about the important things.

A fitting defense of cat people.

Wednesday evening roundup

Uber-wealthy women are well-represented in China.

The Booker Prize goes to a Jew who chooses to laugh.

The Onion on climate change legislation.

Forbes on the future of food.

Make sure to eat your eggplant.

Tuesday evening roundup

Warning: this great column, which argues that "Mad Men" is the most feminist thing on TV, is full of spoilers.

Can airports help wear out traveling kids so they're less obnoxious?

Anne Applebaum argues that the word "elitist" has lost its meaning.

You know, I'm getting sick of singles-issues blogging, but this litmus test concept is intriguing (and more often referred to these days in terms of 'deal breakers'). I thought the last paragraphs of the original 1982 article were fascinating:

In 1976, the University of Pittsburgh marriage counseling center conducted a study of 131 couples to determine, among other things, what initially attracted the spouses-to-be to each other.

The results showed that those who had checked off such things as "the relationship was never dull; physically attractive, beautiful or handsome; sexually exciting; romantic; and life of the party," were still happily married.

Couples who married on the basis of such things as "intellectually challenging; dependable; maturity; financial security; and common interests," were seeking marriage counseling.

"Not very many things surprised us about that survey, but that those results was surely one of them," said Dr. Ellen Frank. "The people who selected the more romantic, as opposed to cerebral, reasons for marrying were happier by far. Personally, those results influenced the way I counsel now. These tests really can't be ignored."

Especially--you guessed it--in these days of Gottlieb and Katz.

Friday morning roundup

Misguided parents are eschewing picture books. More importantly, I hope that "“Monsters Eat Whiny Children” by Bruce Eric Kaplan, a new book about children who are nearly devoured as a result of bad behavior", becomes a best-seller.

While we're on the topic of books, check out this take on Mario Vargas Llosa. It's also very true that politics almost necessarily infuse Latin American Literature.

***
I'm off to the beach, straight from work. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Thursday evening roundup

I don't know about you, but if I wanted to present a compelling argument against dress codes at official government fora, what I wouldn't say is "Gaddafi, for instance, for sure would not have been allowed in the Cabinet."

Really? "Hicky" people? Greg Sargent totally misses the point--the issue is the hypocrisy of trying to fake association with "real America"... by hiring fake West Virginians and directing them to be folksy.

In honor of this study on the marriage gap and this confused "nice guy", I have to post this brilliant article. Sure it's a bit teen-magazine in tone (you can blame HuffPo for linking to it), but there's a lot of truth there--including the topic I was discussing a week or so ago, about how men apparently think that women make their sartorial and other aesthetic choices with their tastes in mind.

Thursday morning roundup

Hezbollah's done well for itself.

China's economy and reputation is starting to suffer from a lack of integrity.

More and more women--especially in this area--are earning six figures.

Rally to Restore Sanity on the mall, pizza at my house afterward.

Wednesday evening roundup

The Onion on public interest.

Guess what in this quote infuriates me:

"James Murray, a professor of animal sciences at the University of California at Davis, says the fears surrounding genetically engineered foods sound similar to concerns about microwave ovens, which some people initially thought would give off dangerous radiation or blow up pacemakers.

Murray is working on genetically modified goats as a way to produce milk that can fight devastating diarrhea in poor nations.

With the world population predicted to surpass 9 billion before 2050, genetically engineered food is the only hope to avoid starvation, he says.

That many people cannot be fed "using agriculture as it is right now," Murray says. "What is the cost to humanity if we do not use this technology?""

I'm still not thrilled with Michelle Cove's categories for single women, but she's sort of redeemed herself in interviews, and you'll notice a theme in these comments. I have to admit, since we're talking about perpetuating unsubstantiated and unflattering stereotypes of single women, that 30 Rock is quite guilty.

Wednesday morning roundup

Things fail and wildlife (and sometimes people) die when we fail to maintain infrastructure.

So glad someone's counterdemonstrating against the military funeral protesters. More on the issue here.

Good for Metro for fighting to keep Virginia's seats on the board local. You know that governor would just gut funding to the system.

Speaking of Real Virginia, see Toles on Cuccinelli.

Milbank reports on ratings of conservativism.

Courtland Milloy chats with former DC mayor Tony Williams, who emphasizes the role of journalism in keeping elected officials honest.

Brace yourself: Glenn Beck on slavery.

Feast your senses on this example of a libertarian society.

No do not move an ugly statue from Moscow to St. Petersburg, where there's actually a beautiful skyline to ruin.

Tuesday evening roundup

I know my readers are too smart to have wasted any money on so-called vegetable rinses. Just use water (and some vinegar, if you'd like).

South Carolina continues to impress. Ready for another shocker? Most Tea Partiers are Christians and think our country is a Christian one.

Oh, airlines. One seat taken up per seat booked, please. Oh, TSA. Please stop harassing pregnant women.

Tuesday morning roundup

The silver lining to scarcity: Japan is turning to used electronics for its minerals, and the US military is seriously exploring alternative sources of energy. Meanwhile, Cuccinelli continues to waste VA taxpayer money out of climate change skepticism.

Monsanto is having a bad year.

While we're on the topic of weeds, medical marijuana advertising is reviving local journalism.

A bipartisan panel concludes that the nation's public infrastructure is in very bad shape.

USAID has bedbugs.

Don't attempt to fight cold symptoms by "strengthening" your immune system.

Petula Dvorak reiterates that, especially for kids and teens, it's not easy being gay.

David Brooks on the real Rahm Emanuel. Brooks may be the only one who can pull off the phrase, "warmhearted Machiavellian."

Sea creatures are so pretty.

Life lessons from 30 Rock

I was too busy to blog about this at the time, but a month or so ago, I got into a verbal sparring match with a cyclist who passed me without warning on an especially narrow part of the trail, just as I was about to go around a pedestrian. At one point, he declared that I kind of had a potty mouth.

I know you're shocked. You'd never have suspected that.

But today, it occurred to me that I have a gutter mind to go with my potty mouth. This epiphany came as I was thinking about two my favorite lines from Season 3 of 30 Rock:

(1) Liz has discovered and is at peace with the fact that Jenna had slept with Dennis Duffy (her then-boyfriend), until he tells her that it happened in her (Liz's) bed. Her response: "Eewww! I eat in there!"

(2) Kenneth is warning Jenna about getting too close to the baboon that Tracy left sitting in the studio. He tells her that he was once really close with a pig, but when she mistakenly thought he was going after one of her piglets, she bit off his nut sack... that he carried around his waist to feed squirrels with.

Monday evening roundup

The Economist's readership, apparently made up of a bunch of communists, thinks Obama has helped business.

I've always wondered whether a computer could learn the nuances of language.

I'd always believed that cabbage could thrive under any conditions, but apparently a cabbage shortage is turning into a kimchi crisis.

Normally, I'd read another article about helicopter parenting and such with a sense of smugness toward the parents--and that was still the case with this one, but there was a mitigating factor. It occurred to me, having had to follow-up, a lot, with a number of less than responsive people at work recently, that it's a two-way street. I consciously stopped myself from apologizing for contacting them again, because here's how it works: I don't want to have to keep calling you; you do what you're supposed to do, and I won't call you. If there's a snag, let me know that you're on it. Otherwise, I'm going to have to keep calling you, because if I don't, I'll regret it.

Monday morning roundup

We still have a long way to go in terms of not driving gay teens to suicide.

Zakaria on Woodwardgate (pun kind-of intended).

Malcolm Gladwell on social change and the limits of social media.

Sunday morning roundup

The debacles surrounding the Commonwealth Games are just the tip of the Indian iceberg. The Post has its own take.

Afghanistan through the eyes of a unit of female marines.

Moscow has its own mosque controversies.

Frank Rich suggests Christine O'Donnell might get the last laugh. Dana Milbank on the tea party and the deficit. Also see his column on Professor Beck.

Have child-safe environments turned our kids into useless wimps? We know Big Ag won't let us do anything to save them from obesity.

I find today's essay from the Times' Ombudsman interesting because I've recently run into similar challenges in my own work (day job, not blogging). The more stuff--names, titles, attributions, temporal details--you have to include in your writing, the harder it is to keep the prose flowing. And, as Michael Cunningham points out, writing entails making music, as well as compromising--with your own intentions. His essay is ever relevant in this era of masturbatory writing--writers can't be reminded enough that their product is ultimately for a reader. I also like his translation metaphor. On that note, I've always believed that learning to communicate in another language trains you to communicate more effectively in general--you literally learn to put things in terms that are meaningful to your readers and listeners, or else they won't understand you, or they'll misunderstand you. That experience disabuses you of the delusion that other people should have to work to understand what you have to say, no matter how clumsily you say it.

Saturday afternoon roundup

I'm disappointed in Michelle Cove. She moderated that workshop on Jewish women and comedy that Danielle and I went to, and showed a preview of her film, which looked moderately interesting. But this just strikes me as unnecessary. Why do single women lend themselves (ourselves) to categorization? Why do we have to be one of the above? That implies that there's something different about us. As this blogger brilliantly puts it, I would never assume that there's something wrong or different about someone who's unemployed. I wouldn't tell her to lower her standards (although, really, when it comes to employment, that's not a bad strategy). The double-standard othering is disconcerting. If you don't have something insightful to say, put a lid on it.
***

More on Sanchezgate, including excerpts.

Skype video call

It was an uneventful conversation for at least half an hour: plans for the weekend, the weather, personal and family and friend updates. Then, as we were saying goodbye, mom's teletubby power kicked in:

A.: Have fun in Rhode Island.
Dad: Will do. Have a good day as well.

Mom: Have you gained weight?

[pause]

Mom: Your arms look fat.

For your benefit, I took a snapshot of my fat arm, as seen through the webcam by my mother. Picture quality aside, you'll nonetheless get a sense of the chubbiness of my arms.



I also thought I'd post some pictures of the river I do not have right near my house.

Saturday morning roundup

Tea partiers are studying up on their Rand and Hayek. Does no one else find it ironic that some of the most egregious interventions by the government in the economy are in the service of large industries? Have I ever told you how I feel about agricultural subsidies?

It's not just tea partiers that could stand to study up on civics.

Friday evening roundup

Once in a while, I agree with Michael Gerson.

Really, Rick Sanchez? Do we have to go over this again?

Meanwhile, these arguments are well-reasoned but still miss the mark. The Stewart/Colbert rallies are about the very distinction she makes: they're about discourse, not policy. And yes, we need policy change. But there's room for a liberal movement rally and a moderates' march, and it's not the fault of the better-publicized latter that fewer people will attend the former. The whole point is not ideological; it's about not being drowned out by idealogues.

The Post now gives you the option to report offensive comments. I found most of the comments in response to this article--about how profiles and lists of uber-successful women don't speak to less than uber-successful women--somewhat offensive.

So much to say here and it's more complex than the response by the vegan counter-blogger. If you're carnivore head is so far up your ass that you don't know how good vegetarian food can be, it would behoove you to get out more.

This is funny because it's true.

Friday morning roundup

Some stories from Haiti.

I don't know what it is about Petula Dvorak: even when her message is unassailable--life for poor kids is very difficult--her preachy tone irks the heck out of me.

Meanwhile, Britain cuts benefits for the poor but lacks the anatomy to cut those for the middle class.

That's an idea--record the plates of drivers aggressive to bikes and report them.

You've heard me complain about slippery tiles on metro platforms (i.e., whenever it rains or snows--not unusual conditions in this area--the tiled platforms become like ice rinks, indoor as well as outdoor, as riders track in the water. Well, it's come to this:

Board members said Metro's safety issues hit close to home Thursday when an alternate board member, Alexandria Mayor William D. Euille, fell at the Braddock Road station while boarding a Yellow Line train on his way to the meeting.

Euille said he slipped on wet platform tiles, injuring his kneecap and damaging a ligament. He said doctors told him he might need surgery.

Euille said he thinks it's "worth exploring" whether Metro should change the "slick tiles" at station platforms to a rougher surface that would provide more traction.

And you thought the office of Virgina's Attorney General was bad.

This letter, while hilarious, is somewhat less effective than the other ones on the page. I'd send it to my mother as an example of how aggression is not necessarily conducive to being heard, but I'm not sure she would appreciate it.