Here’s an article a friend recommended to me. It’s nice to be reading about something other than the election:
“It is 2016, and the Hillary Clinton or John McCain or Barack Obama administration is nearing the end of its second term. America has pulled out of Iraq but has about 20,000 troops in the independent state of Kurdistan, as well as warships anchored at Bahrain and an Air Force presence in Qatar. Afghanistan is stable; Iran is nuclear. China has absorbed Taiwan and is steadily increasing its naval presence around the Pacific Rim and, from the Pakistani port of Gwadar, on the Arabian Sea. The European Union has expanded to well over 30 members and has secure oil and gas flows from North Africa, Russia and the Caspian Sea, as well as substantial nuclear energy. America’s standing in the world remains in steady decline.”
Parag Khanna is the author of “The Second World: Empires and Influence in the New Global Order.” His adapted essay, “Waving Goodbye to Hedemony, ” about the emerging Second World and its effects on the United States, European Union, and Chinese power blocs can be read in its entirety at the New York Times online.
This column, written by New York Times op-ed columnist, Nicholas D. Kristof, argues against the claim that Barack Obama is too inexperienced to become our next president. I would have written on this topic myself, but Kristof’s words exemplify my opinion perfectly. I especially enjoy his ability to extract historical evidence and make it relevant to the reader — journalism at its finest!
Watch out! The middle aged women of America are pissed! “At who?” you may ask yourself. Well, read it and weep…literally:
I cannot believe that women all over this country are not up in arms over Oprah’s backing of Obama. For the first time in history, we actually have a shot at putting a woman in the the white house and Oprah backs the black MAN. She’s choosing her race over her gender — hypocracy at it’s finest!! Oprah — you should be ashamed of yourslef!!!” — austaz68
To better put this quote into context, check out this link.
U.S. News and World Report’s “Paper Trail” blog is holding its second annual “Best of College Newspapers” contest. Completely unscientific and arbitrary sure, but a good overview of the most notable developments across America’s higher education community.
The Chief Illiniwek mess is nominated for “Nonstory of the Year” AKA “2007’s Most Asinine News,” along with five other stories that mattered so much to so few (across the country, that is).
However, a bright spot. Sujay Kumar, local columnist and all-around good guy is nominated for Columnist of the Year for his “Should you be voting for Chuck Norris or Oprah Winfrey?” column published right before winter break.
Even though I was all of 14 months old at the time, today marks the 20 year anniversary of the Max Headroom pirating incident. Apparently, somebody managed to hijack the signal of WGN for a few minutes and broadcast this creepy tape. Whoever did it has not and probably will not be found.
Bernard Schoenburg’s column in the State Journal-Register today centers around some remarks that 26-year old wunderkid Aaron Schock made in his speech announcing his candidacy for the House seat currently held by Rep. Ray Lahood (R-18).
The part in question:
“If China continues to be irresponsible about nuclear proliferation in Iran, we should tell them that if they do not care about proliferation — and since they are enablers of it in Iran — that if they don’t change their position, we will sell Pershing nuclear missiles to Taiwan for their defense.”
The youngest member of the Illinois legislature and the would-be youngest member of the House of Representative has views that reflect “incredible naivete about international relations,” according to U of I political science professor and international relations expert Paul Diehl.
Schock’s campaign manager likened this criticism to academics criticizing Ronald Reagan’s policies in the 80s. So, I’ll ask the question, is State Rep. Schock the next Ronald Reagan or does he only think he is?
UPDATE: Capitol Fax has much more, including Schock’s opponents playing the inexperience card. Will this play in Peoria?
Every political junkie that’s strapped for cash and hasn’t visited www.nytimes .com recently must read this!!
For a long time, the New York Times’ website has had its columns, archives, and some special features avaiable only to its “Select” members who had to pay a fee to see them.
Well, there’s good news for those of you who wanted to read the likes of Thomas Friedman and Daivd Brooks - all columns are now readable online for free! I don’t know when the update happened, but I just stumbled across this surprising fact very recently.
Whether you think they’re too liberal or spot-on in their views, there’s some seriously fantastic writers for that newspaper. Because of that, everyone who is interested in politics shouldn’t hesitate for one second to check it out.
Flipping around the dial (not a dial anymore I guess, just an expression, keep reading), I see Nancy Grace on CNN Headline News. Naturally, I’m drawn to the ticker at the bottom, but above it, right beneath Nancy’s head, is a red banner with the words “Breaking Urgent News”
Is it just me or is Nancy Grace getting a little carried away here? Maybe I’m just failing to appreciate the difference between “breaking news” and “breaking urgent news.” I mean, isn’t it logical that if news was both breaking and urgent, CNN’s first call wouldn’t be to Nancy Grace?
I’m just saying, there’s only a limited supply of words out there. Once we’ve worn them all out, it’s darn difficult to come up with new ones. Let’s be careful with the ones we have.
Brenda Kay Zylstra: With the fairer sex especially, this is a prime opportunity to dress in the tradition of Julia Roberts’ character from “Pretty Woman.”
Lee Feder: Happy Halloween, Ms. Slutty Cop and Mr. Pimp. Welcome to the least enjoyable day of the year for me. With ghouls, ghosts and ghastly, slutty nurses, Halloween on campus is … uhm … an experience.
Me: According to Thorgsten V. Christberg, a professor in cultural studies, psycholinguistics and alchemy at probably Harvard or somewhere, “This particular oeuvre of ’slutty’ costumes showcases the desire of an entire generation of young women to HOLY COW DID YOU SEE THE BAZONGAS ON THAT SLUTTY COP?”
Oh and by the way, were you aware that a large number of people wear “slutty”-themed costumes on Halloween?