Researchers in Finland theorize that the unprecedented number of evergreens north of the 45th (approx. the Vermont/Canada border) parallel absorb heat especially during short days and slowly emit the warmth in comparison to ice or snow fields. They predict that prevailing summer westerly winds could drive forest fires the breadth of Canada converting heat absorbing evergreen areas to vast snow filelds the next winter reversing the cycle.
-PA
Landscape Architect

About a year ago I read an article in Wired Magazine that interviewed someone, whose name I do not recall, who suggested putting lots of iron filings in iron-poor areas of the South Pacific, which would cause huge algal blooms in the middle of the ocean that would soak up CO2 and sink, sequestering the CO2 in the bottom of the ocean.
-AY

You guys had some poor girl on that was worried about losing her apartment. If this guy does not know what is going on, then why spread fear to the mass public about events of nature that happen in cycles over millions of years or at the most accelerated as decades. If you get a geologist on your show, he can tell you the over the billions of years the earth has had ice caps melt and refreeze. As your guest stated, 62 millions years ago the world water levels were higher then they are know and I don’t think the dinosaurs had the technology to create CO pollution and green house gases. The dinosaurs did not ever have an industrial age to raise the temps and melt ice caps.
-SE
Replenishment Analyst (what's a replenishment analyst?)

Posted by leboheme at 01:50 PM

Usually we just share hate mail, it's so much more fun to look at. But this letter, photo included, is just too much. Thanks, JD.

Posted by leboheme at 12:32 PM

VOA via Wapo supplies everything you ever wanted to know about pronouncing foreign leaders' names, including the invisible 's' in the name of Iran's new president.

Posted by leboheme at 09:55 AM

Seriously. We had a visit this afternoon from an officer of from Scotland Yard. Had a look around our office and studios. Had a charming accent.

His tools?
A black tranchcoat, black briefcase and black umbrella. It would be a cool, foggy day today.

The reason?
Next week Charles Clarke, the British Secretary of State, will be a guest on the show.

Clarke is a controversial figure in Britain, where his counterterrorism measures have raised the ire of civil libertarians.

Charles Clarke

"ID cards will control Big Brother state, says Clarke" (The Telegraph)

Posted by leboheme at 03:11 PM

Matt Schuerman: Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose

Frank Furedi: What are you afraid of?

Posted by leboheme at 12:58 PM

This week, The Observer profiles elusive Gawker/Wonkette/Defamer mastermind Nick Denton.

["The Gawker King"]

Is a ghoulish abstract expressionist portrait by Philip Burke the sincerest form of flattery?

Posted by leboheme at 09:55 AM

We hesitate to call attention to this book, because it included a very kind note from the author. It sounds almost trite to say this, but it's not the kind of thing we'd do on the Brian Lehrer Show. Sorry!

They say radio paints a picture...

Posted by leboheme at 02:32 PM

Also from The Politicker: a humorous account of Howard Dean's movements through the city.

["Dean's Corporate Jet"]

Posted by leboheme at 09:31 AM

On his blog, Freddy claimed to have been "educated in public schools for most of my education." In fact, he spent most or all of his basic education in parochial schools, did college at NYU before getting a master's at Baruch (part of CUNY). Ben Smith has the full story on The Politicker.

You might recall that after the first CFB democratic primary debate in August, Freddy was busted for fudging his daughter's educational history.

["Mayoral Candidates Sometimes Stretched The Truth During First Democratic Debate" - NY 1]

Share your thoughts!

Posted by leboheme at 09:26 AM

Unlike some of our colleagues in the media, BL Producers do not get sent rolex watches or invited on press junkets to Necker Island. 99.9% of the goods entering our office consists of books, but every so often something unexpected comes along. Such as this:

Bratz and BL: a no-brainer?

Posted by leboheme at 09:03 AM

Subject: oy! the bloody transition from martha to dan!

I am dismayed at the transition from Martha (?Burque) to Dan Savage! (First of all I need to ask, though, why I don't find her listed on the web site?!) You are honored enough to have this sharp, intelligent, and most interesting women as your guest. Still, at the end of her section I did not here her name repeated with proper spelling so that I could find her book. (I apologize if this was done and I missed it.)

The real reason I am driven to write is that as a longtime feminist and lesbian myself I found it absolutely offensive to hear you and Dan Savage chuckling together over his little statement that: 'men have sex and women talk'. And I seriously wish that I could remember the exact term he used, was it 'the lesbian process' that referred to a lesbian who according to this savagely misogynist man will be talking until menopause before they will 'process' enough to decide on how to have a child!!!

I wonder, Brian if you would have been so accepting to hear this and let it pass from a straight man. Gay though I am, as is Dan Savage, I can tell you that among the feminist, lesbian people I know he is not popular but is seen for what he is: a misogynist and sexist man.
-DS

Dear DS,

Duly noted. Martha Burk's name did not appear on the website this morning because she was not booked until shortly before the program began. But you can get info and links to her on the episode page now. Click here for more.

Posted by leboheme at 03:00 PM

Savage but sweet.

Posted by leboheme at 02:05 PM

Wapo has the scoop on Ben Affleck's rumored run for Virginia senator. The "200 Cigarettes" star (accentuate the positive in your resume) would challenge Republican George Allen, and is reportedly looking for a house in Charlottesville.

"[the rumor is] spread pretty widely, at least in the political underground," VA poli sci guru Larry Sabato (and sometime BL guest) told the Post.

The Virginia political underground?

["The Reliable Source"]

Posted by leboheme at 08:40 AM

Former frequent BL Show guest and NY Log Cabin Republican chief Jeff Cook has declared his intention to run for Congress...against sitting Republican Sue Kelly.

Young, dynamic and gay. Is he right for New York's hudson valley?

Listen to Cook's most recent BL Show appearance (2/5/04).

["Gay Republican will challenge Rep. Kelly in primary in N.Y.-19" - The Hill]

Posted by leboheme at 08:42 AM

Subject: too late but my name is pflaum

That's right, P as in Peter, F as in Fred, L as in Larry, A as in Apple, U as in underwater, M and Mary.

I was thinking of changing it to Pflaumbaumskivich so when people ask me if I have ever thought of changing my name, I can say I did, it used to just be Pflaum.

-WP

Subject: Top 5 Ethnically Incongruous Sports Names

Vladimir Guerrero
Shaquille O'Neal
Dante Culpepper
Juan Pierre
Jose Offerman

Bonus
Herschel Walker

-DH

Subject: NOAA

As your caller mentioned, finding names that are accessible to multicultural/multilingual audiences is a difficult exercise.

I suggest, as I have friends who are multi-ethnic expecting children, to look at the Nat'l Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin (NOAA) hurricane name list. It is a list that must be easy to say in French, Spanish and English. It is a great resource for naming, if not strange for the chances of naming you child after natural disasters.

-PG

Subject: An African-American Woman Given a Consciously Assimilationist Name

I strongly disagree with your last caller who described African Americans as "neologians." I believe that this is the class-based practice of a subset of the black population. My parents, born in 1933 and 1940, made a conscious effort to distinguish us from other African Americans [who] gave their children "bongo beating names". While I completely disagree with the internalized racism that prompted them to describe more creative naming in this derogatory manner, I think that they were being protective of us in a way with these lackluster names. When I was young, I remember a Jewish teacher saying that my name was good because "they won't know what you are". It took years for this to make sense.

-BG

Posted by leboheme at 03:19 PM

Today we'll discuss the name-giving proclivities of NYC parents.

New data from the NYC Department of Health suggests that the age-old practice among recent immigrants of giving children "American"-sounding names (Michael Dukakis, Jennifer Lopez) continues apace. In 2004, Justin was the #1 name for newborn hispanic boys, Asian parents favored Emily for their girls.

Condoleezza has not yet broken through.

[“MICHAEL” AND “EMILY” REMAIN TOP NYC BABY NAMES IN 2004" (NYC Dept. of Health]

The Baby Name Wizard is an amazing interactive tool for tracking the popularity of different names over time. Note the utter decline of Effie, Gertrude, and Rollo.

Hortense: how the mighty have fallen

Also check out the Baby Name Wizard blog.

What did you call your child? Tell us!

Posted by leboheme at 10:00 AM

Sarah Horowitz: Freelancers are people, too

Soulive: Alan Evans, Neal Evans, Eric Krasno

Jeremiah Murphy: actor, dancer, BL Show listener

Posted by leboheme at 01:00 PM

Last month, actor, comedy writer, filmmaker, and blogger Jeremiah Murphy sent us this amazing video of an interpretive dance he did to the BL Show theme, "Solid" by Soulive.

Lighting strikes

Watch the dance. (Quicktime)

Tune in today to hear Soulive talk about their funky new album, Break Out, and then hear Jeremiah verbally jam live in studio with Brian.

Posted by leboheme at 09:28 AM

In the Hudson River this time. Early evening yesterday. This may be cooler even that The Gates.

Small wonder

[floating island]

Posted by leboheme at 09:11 AM

Well, sort of. Al Gore's Louisiana-reared 2000 campaign manager dissents from the Democratic party line on Bush's handling of Katrina. She tells Cindy Adams in today's Post:

"I'm humbled to the core that this administration is helping the poorest of the poor. Why beat up on a president who's helping?"

Also, she refers to Trent Lott as "my friend".

Is Donna having a change of heart?

[Cindy Adams]

Posted by leboheme at 09:00 AM

Foreign Policy and Prospect magazines have unveiled a new list of the top 100 public intellectuals, and they're asking you to vote for the top five. It reads like a BL show rundown: Elaine Scarry, Frances Fukuyama, Harold Varmus, Jeffrey Sachs, Bjorn Lomborg, Paul Krugman, Christopher Hitchens...

[The FP/Prospect Top 100 Public Intellectuals]

Posted by leboheme at 04:53 PM

Blogger Bill Kavangh shares his take on today's discussion on Cindy Sheehan's silencing in Union Square. The short version: "Time to get a new Mayor."

[Bill Kavanagh's blog]

Tell us what you think!

Posted by leboheme at 02:42 PM

Fordham English Prof Mark Caldwell shared from his history of night time in New York today. Click here to check out the interview.

What can I say? I love the nightlife?

Posted by leboheme at 12:22 PM

The Ferrer campaign is giving out prizes to based on a complex points-scoring system that rewards volunteers for raising money and spreading the word.

1st Place: Fernando Ferrer t-shirt signed by Freddy
2nd-7th Place: Fernando Ferrer poster signed by Freddy
8th-10th Place: Fernando Ferrer t-shirt

Questions: Is 11th place an unsigned Ferrer poster? Is there any way to get a toaster or a ballpoint pen instead? How long before one of these items ends up on eBay?

Posted by leboheme at 09:04 AM

Mrs. David Bowie, restaurant and fashion maven B. Smith and ex-Met Mo Vaughn are among the notable members of the newly-announced "African Americans for Bloomberg" group.

They're standing behind Mike

Posted by leboheme at 08:54 AM

South Bronx environment activist Majora Carter appeared on the BL in May 2004. Click here to listen to the interview.

Posted by leboheme at 08:37 AM

That's what it looked like from the window of the men's bathroom this afternoon...apparently, it's a "floating island" a fabulous new work of modern art by Robert Smithson. Check it out here.

Just a blur? Or an island getaway?

Posted by leboheme at 05:03 PM

OK, BL did not invent apostasy, but our show really does love pro-gun progressives, cultural relativist conservatives, and anti-war liberal interventionists (huh?).

Now blogger Andrew Sullivan has created a special award, named for web pundit Matthew Yglesias. In his words, it's "given to writers or any public person who tells truths likely to be highly unpopular with their natural supporters or political allies" [read more]

Recipients so far:

Matthew Yglesias, for reminding us that Democrats were the first to call for the Department of Homeland Security, which so many Dems now criticize.

Andy Ferguson for noting that the conservative book machine produces a lot of trash.

Eleanor Clift for suggesting that Capitol Hill Dems are fresh out of good ideas.

Who would you give an Yglesias award to? Tell us!

Posted by leboheme at 04:50 PM

Clinton blames Bush for the slow response to Hurricane Katrina.

Blair reputedly blames the BBC for the supposedly "anti-American" tone of Katrina coverage.

ShiftTheBlame.com blames anyone but you for anything at all!

On the show this morning, we look into the "blame game", and try determine the best way to find a suitable scapegoat for any fiasco.

Who do you blame? Tell us!

Posted by leboheme at 09:41 AM

A listener sends this message:

Go to Google, type in the word "failure" without the quotes, and click on the first entry that comes up.

We don't know how or why, but there it is...

Posted by leboheme at 12:12 PM

In response to this morning's discussion of subway security and the MTA's planned surveillance system, a listener sent in this photo. It was taken on 7th Avenue, between 34th and 35th Streets, during last summer's Republican National Convention.

If you notice odd behavior taking place in front of one of the cameras, it might be this protest group.

What's your opinion of being under surveillance?

Posted by leboheme at 02:54 PM

British MP and anti-Iraq War activist George Galloway came by the studio to talk to Brian about the Iraqi resistance, his reported ties to the oil-for-food scandal and tonight's debate with Christopher Hitchens at Baruch College. The debate is sold out, but is to air on C-SPAN's Book TV this weekend.

Posted by leboheme at 02:49 PM

Subject: subway security discussion
Thought an additional question you might have asked at the end of the event, in addition to, "Has anyone changed their mind as a result of the debate?", would be, "Does anyone have a better understanding of and respect for the alternative position they have not gone so far as to change their mind about and adopt?" This may even be the more crucial question for democracy, i.e., can we live in peace with real difference; can we respect those with whom we strongly disagree; can we respect those who we cannot persuade to agree with us, join our team? To stop short with the question of changing minds (1) implies that, given the very few who had done, somehow your exercise in democracy had failed, or not been a smashing success, which I think might be to miss the point; and (2) seems to suggest that difference is still a problem to overcome; that the point is persuasion and bringing those with whom we differ around to our point of view, which can be seen as a more covert and nuanced intolerance for difference and disagreement (intolerance, of course, being precisely what democracy-wonks tend to condemn the right-wingers for).
-CB

Posted by leboheme at 01:40 PM

Journalist Christopher Hitchens, a previous guest on the show, is no fan of Wednesday's guest, British MP George Galloway. In fact, the two will appear together on Wednesday evening at a debate at Baruch College. The debate will be webcast on streaming audio.

Posted by leboheme at 10:09 AM

What, you didn't know that the official title of Robert Redford's alter ego is assistant managing editor? On Romenesko today, Gene Krzyzynski suggests a promotion, to something like "writer at large".

Tell what you would call Bob Woodward!

Posted by leboheme at 01:51 PM

BL blogger gets a lot less mail than you might expect. [Change that!]

Give credit where credit is due-- here are two excellent recent specimens:

Subject: blog
Of course refugee is the correct term. "Internal refugee" is even more precise. They are people seeking refuge when forced out of their homes by circumstances. The fact that some people can't accept the idea that Americans could be refugees says more about our national self-image than the accuracy of the term. It's supposed to be for foreigners, for third-world people, only. But the circumstances under which many Katrina refugees will be living will be like third-world refugee camps.
-CF

Subject: blog : Terminology, etc.
I agree with this problem with the refugee terminology. One local suggested 'survivors'.
What has irked me even more (from 9/7) is the way the word 'poverty' has been winged about. To blame poverty for the governents lack of response,you would have to first propose that it is not the role of the government to protect all of its people in the event of a natural disaster, or, um, attack. Unless it is really okay for poverty to be equivalent to invisibility.
-IH

Posted by leboheme at 09:08 AM

Our series exposing the real am NY covers behind all those ads continues. In today's episode, we leaf past SJP's pouty perfume promotion to the story of the mother of a firefighter who did relief work in Afghanistan after her son, a firefighter, was killed in 9/11.

Feel her ethereal beuaty

Feel her pain

Posted by leboheme at 08:58 AM

Subject: EVA MOSCOWITZ QUESTIONS/XMAS

Hi. I am a long-time listener who was prompted to write you regarding your questioning of Eva Moscowitz this morning. As usual, the woman was the only candidate whose husband's job and income came up. Yes, you can argue that his job as a lawyer was relevant because his income enabled her to live in her district. But as a 47-year-old, self-employed artist and designer who used to have a real job as a network TV news producer, I am so sick and tired of men -- and women -- asking me what my husband does for a living... without expressing even the faintest interest in what I DO. First, I get the impression people are often fishing for what my social and economic status is by determining what my husband does -- and I am offended by it. If it happened only occasionally, it wouldn't bother me. But it is consistently one of the first questions people ask you. The other candidates didn't have one word spoken about their spouses except the one whose wife was a former teacher -- and he offered that information to you. You didn't ask any of the male candidates about their wive's incomes or occupations. There were no implications that their spouse's incomes were at all relevant.

And I have another issue with your show. I've been listening to NPR since 1981. I have never been so upset in all these years with anything on any show as much as I was upset by your segment on bad Christmas music last year. I WAS SO OFFENDED by the skanky stabs taken at a holiday that is still a magical family day for many of us. Yes, they are trying to make Christmas a purely merchantile occasion of buying and returning... but in our family, sacred and not-so-sacred Christmas music by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Ella Fitzgerald and Willy Nelson is an important part of this special season. It sets the mood as do the decorations and the candles and the beautiful Christmas ornaments on the tree, each one special and carefully placed. We are not religious, but I am SO TIRED of you and the New York Times writer who was on and everyone else putting down a holiday that we cherish. Just because you don't have it and don't understand it, doesn't give you the license to trash it. People kept calling in to talk about the cherished music they love, then you'd go to the break playing the worst, most trashy stuff you could find -- as if people who celebrate Christmas really like that stuff. There will always be bad music made by people with bad taste, but with all the wonderful, sacred, poignant, magical, clever Christmas music out there, I found it really petty that you would do a whole segment on the garbage. It's as if you wanted to get back at all of us Santa-huggers. Maybe you should do more research about how families really spend Christmas and why it is special to them. I do a ton of shopping and spending -- but amidst all the hard work, baking and bill-paying, it is still an occasion that binds our extended family together. And that's important.
-KS in Millwood

Posted by leboheme at 04:19 PM

NY 1 Noticias' Juan Manuel Benitez

The Pace Poll's Chris Paige

Posted by leboheme at 04:05 PM

"Refugees" sounds so desperate and international. "Evacuees" suggests that someone was looking out for them when really, no one was. "Displaced persons" is so darn clinical.

Tomorrow we'll discuss what to call the people who left their homes because of Hurricane Katrina.

In the meantime, chew on this email:

Subject: Stop using the word "refugees!"
I am a long-time listener, and love your show. However, as recently as this morning I heard you use the term "refugees" while referring to the evacuees of Hurricane Katrina. This is unacceptable! I have heard it used for more than a week now, and still I cringe. Even President Bush said yesterday, that these people are "not refugees... but Americans." Please use the dictionary, a thesaurus or do a Google search for help with a substitution for this inappropriate and inaccurate term.

What do you think? Click here to send us your thoughts.

Posted by leboheme at 02:40 PM

In addition to its excellent farce-accompanies tragedy coverage of Hurricane Katrina, the Onion this week has an excellent feature on the ballyhooed national housing bubble.

["Immune Deficient Realtor Lives In Housing Bubble"]

Posted by leboheme at 02:31 PM

They gray lady is about to get...well, probably just a little bit funnier.

"'N.Y. Times Magazine' Debuting Comics in September" (Editor & Publisher)

Posted by leboheme at 04:46 PM

If you make one more reference to my age, I'll 86 you!

Posted by leboheme at 04:21 PM

You might say after Hurricane Katrina that we need a new vocabulary to describe the kind of destruction that happened there. What we got, though, was a new word for the verbs dry out, dehydrate, or just plain dry: de-water.

Some examples:

Michael Rogers, Army Corps of Engineers, on CNN, 9/5/05: Sir, that's an important stream of water. It may not be a significant amount, but that water is (INAUDIBLE) we are using, removing, to help us de-water the power plant, the pumping plant you see just behind that. And that pumping plant is key to us being able to de-water the city of New Orleans.

Michael Chertoff, Fox News, 9/4/05:
'We are not going to be able to have people sitting in houses in New Orleans for weeks and months while we de-water and clean this city ... The flooded places, when they're de-watered, are not going to be sanitary.'

Brigadier General Robert Crear, 9/2/05: It will be 36 to 80 days to be done with the de-watering

Feedback!

Posted by leboheme at 04:17 PM

Here are four links to help you find the charity of your choice, religious or secular, to donate to Katrina relief.

www.instapundit.com
www.interaction.org
www.fema.gov
www.atheists.org

Posted by leboheme at 08:35 AM

There are known unknowns and unknown unknowns, but it's reasonably clear that in more than four years as sec def, Donald Rumsfeld has minted a snappy, perceptive logism for almost every occasion-- even if the occasion would appall him.

The Washington Post's Eugene Robinson today deploys a 2003 Rumsfeld statement on looting in Baghdad to throw events in New Orleans into perspective:

"While no one condones looting, on the other hand, one can understand the pent-up feelings that may result from decades of repression."

What's your favorite use of a Rumsfeldism? Tell us!

[Scott's Space's Rumsfeldisms]

Posted by leboheme at 10:09 AM

Lars Jan: bringing performing arts to Afghanistan

Posted by leboheme at 04:18 PM

On All Things Considered, Thursday is "the day we read from your letters". On The BL Blog, the fifth day of the week is the day we exhibit our hate mail. Click on a specimen for a magnified view.

Posted by leboheme at 09:07 AM