As Howard Dean announces his college-friendly education plan (which includes $10,000 a year in financial aid and a quadrupling of Americorps), William Saletan — not one of Dean’s biggest fans — wonders how the Doctor will handle the “postwar” phase of the campaign. Meanwhile, Wesley Clark continues developing the “right-on-terror” strategy (originally articulated by Bob “Osama Bin Forgotten” Graham) by accusing the Bushies of dropping the hunt for Al Qaeda’s leader in their rush to get Saddam. The general’s got a point, particularly when you consider the nightmare rhetoric still emanating from Al Qaeda’s corner. It’s too bad the guy’s so way off on flag burning. (Last link via Value Judgment.)
Month: November 2003
Rolling the Dyess.
After a 2-5 start and two dismal games Cleveland (not exactly the powerhouses of the league), the Knicks look for deliverance from Antonio McDyess, who will probably play Friday for the first time in almost two years. If he plays to old form, he could be exactly what the Knicks have needed since LJ retired — a guy who can command double teams and create open shots for Allan Houston and Keith Van Horn. But…three knee surgeries? Still, after Vin Baker’s comeback this year, I’d say anything is possible. If nothing else, McDyess’s return injects some interest in what’s fast turning out to be another mediocre Knicks season.
Getting Sirius.
The trailer for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is now online. Alfonso Cuaron, Gary Oldman, David Thewlis, Tim Spall…this has to be better than the first two, right?
Voice of Saruman.
Christopher Lee speaks out about the editing decisions to RotK noted here, and he sounds quite put off. I’m worried too, frankly, but I’ll assume PJ knows what he’s doing. (Via Metafilter. Speaking of which, thanks to Kestrel’s Nest for Mefi’ing my TTT:EE review and effectively doubling my hits today, not that I still check that kinda thing, of course. I also liked the poster who suggested that the GOP is behind the Saruman cut, a la Ronald Reagan.)
Tron Hanks.
Robert Zemeckis launches The Polar Express a full year before it hits theaters. I must say, I’m a bit scared of CGI Tom Hanks…but if he facilitates Bachelor Party 2 then bring him on. Update: Fan minds think alike – Harry’s also creeped out by the gungan-like Tom-Tom Hanks.
Consume and Progress.
Another wave of updates over at the Orals site:
| Lizabeth Cohen, Making a New Deal: Industrial Workers in Chicago, 1919-1939. Lizabeth Cohen, A Consumer’s Republic: The Politics of Mass Consumption in Postwar America. Alan Dawley, Struggles for Justice: Social Responsibility and the Liberal State. John Dower, War Without Mercy: Race & Power in the Pacific War. Jackson Lears, Fables of Abundance: A Cultural History of Advertising in America. Daniel Rodgers, Atlantic Crossings: Social Politics in a Progressive Age. Robert Wiebe, The Search for Order, 1877-1920. |
This Modern Life.
AICN points the way to the trailer for Charlie Chaplin’s Modern Times, soon to be re-released at a theater (possibly) near you. Hmm…I wonder if free-market conservatives will try to protect Frederick Winslow Taylor the way they recently did Ronnie Reagan?
11/11.
By way of Kestrel’s Nest, Aftermath, a remembrance of the end of World War I, which came to a close on this day 85 years ago. Among the millions who died in the Great War was my great-grandfather, Alfred Amory Sullivan — he perished in the Battle of the Somme, on the side of the British.
Riddles in the Dark.
In celebration of a quarter-century of Science Times, the paper ruminates on the 25 questions currently driving science, while Alan Lightman ponders the motivations that fuel scientists. I’m not sure if the likes of Stephen Hawking are really contemplating Atlantis, but there’s some intriguing stuff here.
Russian Risk, American Antipathy.
Also in science news, CNN examines the cultural divide between the US and Russia over space exploration. My friends who’ve worked for NASA in some capacity have also complained about a risk-aversiveness bordering on the ridiculous within America’s space program, even with regard to unmanned missions. As one put it, for considerably less than the cost it takes to make one probe perfect, we could send up multiple probes — each with a 90% success rate — and just play the odds, which turn out to be roughly equivalent. Obviously, the calculus of safety for manned missions should be more stringent, but still, I’d think many astronauts would be willing to accept a greater degree of risk if it meant a reinvigoration of the space program.