Linguist and author Geoffrey Nunberg discusses his new book, Talking Right: How Conservatives Turned Liberalism into a Tax-Raising, Late-Drinking, Sushi-Eating, Volvo-Driving, New York Times-Reading, Body-Piercing, Hollywood-Loving, Left-Wing Freak Show

Posted by Seamus at 12:29 PM

"Modern Love" columnist and author of "Kicked, Bitten and Scratched: Life and Lessons at the Premier School for Exotic Animal Trainers" (Viking, 2006) explains how learning to train camels and killer whales can help you get your spouse to behave.

Posted by Seamus at 03:52 PM

Board Member and Chair of the Committee to Save St. Brigid Church discuss the recent developments of the Church's closing and proposed demolition on the Brian Lehrer Show.

Posted by Seamus at 03:39 PM

When publicists don't stop to think about who they're pitching...

-----Original Message-----
From: *******
Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2006 1:29 PM
To: *******
Subject: Are Men Like Parking Spaces? Good Ones Taken?

Hi Jim,

Are you one of the people who look for love in all of the wrong places?

Find out WHY YOU CAN'T FIND LOVE with NYC Psychologist, Debbie Magids Ph.D., recurring expert on "The Montel Williams Show" & author of the brand new blockbuster relationship book "All The Good Ones AREN'T Taken!" (or if your are working on any ideas where you would like Dr. Magids as an expert, please feel free to give me a call!)

Men Are Like Parking Spots . . . NOT!
How Can You Get A Good One?

Posted by Seamus at 01:42 PM

Photo from vinnie716, featured in today's "Border" discussion.

Posted by Seamus at 08:39 AM

Photo from vinnie716, featured in today's "Border" discussion.

Posted by Seamus at 08:38 AM

Photo from Fabian17, featured in today's "Border" discussion.

Posted by Seamus at 08:38 AM

Photo from Fabian17, featured in today's "Border" discussion.

Posted by Seamus at 08:37 AM

Suozzi supporters canvass at the Spitzer-Suozzi debate. July 25, 2006.

Posted by Seamus at 02:15 PM

Flores A. Forbes, author, former Black Panther, and current chief strategic officer for the Abyssinian Development Corporation, discusses his memoir and experiences as a Black Panther member. July 26, 2006.

Posted by Seamus at 01:52 PM

Liz Benjamin, political reporter for the Albany Times-Union, waits before delivering her commentary on the Spitzer-Suozzi debate. July 26, 2006.

Posted by Seamus at 01:51 PM

Andrea Bernstein, WNYC reporter, rears her head before sharing her opinions on the Spitzer-Suozzi debate. July 26, 2006.

Posted by Seamus at 01:51 PM

U.N. Shocked by Israeli Strike on Border Post (LA Times)

Bush to Add Troops in Baghdad, Citing 'Terrible' Sectarian Strife (Washington Post)

Senate Removes Abortion Option for Young Girls (NY Times)

Feisty face-off for candidates (Newsday)

Will Queens outage devastate Bloomberg's legacy? (Newsday)

Anti-Aircraft Round Found on Governor's Island (New York Sun)

Creamy, Healthier Ice Cream? What's the Catch? (NY Times)

Posted by leboheme at 10:50 AM

WNYC Reporter Bob Hennelly talks about ConEd and the continuing power outage in Queens on the Briah Lehrer Show.

Posted by Seamus at 02:03 PM

Aarti Shahani, co-director and organizer for Families for Freedopm, an advocacy organization facing deportation-on the particular issues facing women in the immigration debate.

Posted by Seamus at 02:02 PM

Private fire investigator Shelly Reuben, author of "The Skirt Man", talks about arson and investigating fires.

Posted by Seamus at 12:55 PM

Councilmember Eric Gioia (D-Queens) discusses the power outage that is still affecting parts of Queens.

Posted by Seamus at 12:42 PM

"Rice Makes Unannounced Visit to Beirut" (Washington Post)

"WTO Trade Talks Fail Over Farm Subsidy Rift" (Guardian Unlimited, UK)

"Trial Resumes without Saddam" (BBC News, UK)

"FDA Rules Will Regulate Experts' Ties to Drug Makers" (New York Times)

"Qns Boiled at Boss" (New York Daily News)

"Ground Zero Illness Claims Triple" (New York Post)

"With the Loss of Thomas Manton, Queens Needs a New King" (New York Sun)

Posted by Seamus at 10:53 AM

Guests Andrew Rasiej and Walter Fields discuss the content divide and the limited access to wi-fi.

Posted by Seamus at 02:30 PM

In which: 25k Queens residents make due without power, immigrant New Yorkers are shown to live healthier than natives, a police directivedesignates two marchers "a parade", Bob Barr sues Mike Bloomberg, New York Arabs reprimand Bloomy over Israel stance, a CIA contractor loses her job over blog posts, and Bush's NAACP speech makes him few new friends.

"Con Ed: Blackout's 10 times worse than originally reported" (NY Daily News)

"City Immigrants Healthier Than Those Born in U.S., Study Finds" (NY Sun)

"Ever on Guard Against Scary Parades" (NY Times-subscription)

"In Turnaround, Gun Dealer Tries Suing Bloomberg" (NY Sun)

"City Arabs chided Mike as one-sided" (NY Daily News)

"Top-Secret World Loses Blogger: CIA Contractor Is Fired When Internal Post Crosses the Line" (Washington Post)

"Bush Vows to Patch Up His Ties to the NAACP: Noting that the GOP has turned off black voters, he gets a chilly reception as he mentions taxes, faith-based initiatives and school vouchers" (LA Times)

Posted by leboheme at 11:57 AM

Andrew Cuomo finds out it's $10k. The Sun has the story.

Posted by leboheme at 03:25 PM

This is too weird!
-ed.

Subject: Why does the River Pool Swimmer swim the Hudson?

DR. PHIL:
The problem we have here is that the swimmer won't realize that he must first deal with the problem on "THIS" side of the river before he can go after the problem on the "OTHER SIDE" of the river. What we need to do is help him realize how stupid he's acting by not taking on his "CURRENT" problems before adding a veritable "TIDE" of new problems.

OPRAH:
Well, I understand that the swimmer is having problems, which is why he wants to cross the Hudson so bad. The color purple, swimming the Hudson ... though these metaphors of healing and cleansing are at work, this is life, People. So instead of having the swimmer risk drowning, which is a part of life, I'm going to give each swimmer at my show today a kayak. Then in the days and years to come he or she can just paddle across the Hudson and not have to live his life like the rest of the swimmers. Or not.

GEORGE W BUSH:
We don't really care why the swimmer crosses the Hudson. Homeland Security will be inspecting all "packages" and listening for suspicious "strokes". heh. We must know if the swimmer is on OUR side of the Hudson, or THEIR side. The swimmer is either swimming toward us, or the swimmer is swimming away from us. Bring 'em on!

COLIN POWELL:
Now to the left of the screen, you can clearly see the satellite image of our swimmer, among many other innocent-looking swimmers, crossing the Hudson. Before we know it, he may have the capacity to encourage many other swimmers. We cannot afford to wait for Rivers and Estuaries to act. We must meet him before he can swim further.

ANDERSON COOPER - CNN:
We have reason to believe there IS a swimmer, but we have do not yet have access to the other side of the Hudson. Meanwhile, trainscrowds continue to gather on the Beacon side near the train station as the clarion whistle of the Amtrak passes toward Montreal.

JOHN KERRY:
Although I voted not to let the swimmer cross the Hudson, I feel you may have misuderstood my intentions at that time. I felt it was the wrong river to cross, and I was misled about the swimmer's intentions. Today, along with many who have crossed rivers all over the world, rivers throughout history, rivers that have flowed north and south and both ways, I ask you to support my plan for crossing the Hudson. Let us all put away our differences and swim together on July 30.

NANCY GRACE:
You can see it in his eyes and the way he swimms. That swimmer crossed the Hudson to prove once and for all, IT'S SAFE. All the slander in the media to the contrary will not stop the Swimmer.

PAT BUCHANAN:
To steal the job of a decent, hard-working American.

MARTHA STEWART:
No one called me to warn me which way that swimmer was going. I had a standing order at the Beacon Farmer's Market to sell my eggs when the price dropped. There was no insider swimmer. I have no information concerning the swimmer's intentions.

DR SEUSS:
Did the swimmer cross the Hudson water?
Did she cross it with a friendly otter?
Yes, the swimmer crossed the Hudson water.
Swimmimg dreams of River Pool have got her.

ERNEST HEMINGWAY:
To put Newburgh behind. To reach the other side. Beacon. Alone.

JERRY FALWELL:
Because the swimmer is a Clearwater Believer! But I cannot say it more plainly: the swimmer is simply SWIMMING ACROSS THE HUDSON. The liberal media paints it as "GOING TO THE OTHER SIDE." Brothers and sisters, YOU AND I are going to "the other side". The swimmer who says he is "crossing over" has been brainwashed. It's as plain and simple as that!

GRANDPA:
In my day we didn't ask why the swimmer crossed the Hudson. Somebody told us the swimmer crossed the Hudson, and that was good enough.

BARBARA WALTERS:
Isn't that interesting? In a few moments, we will be listening to the swimmer tell, for the first time, the heart-warming story of how she experienced a serious case of swimmer's ear and could train only by going back and forth across Central Park and up and down the elevators at Bloomingdales for several months. She went on to accomplish her life-long dream of swimming the Hudson in her Blahnik water shoes.

JOHN LENNON:
Imagine the Hudson River
It's easy if you try
Clean water below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Swimming for today...

You may say Pete was a dreamer
But he's not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
At the Pool floating in Hud-son

Imagine all the swimmers
stroking across in peace...

You may say I'm a dreamer,
but on July the thirty
You too can be one of them,
and the world will swim as one.

ARISTOTLE:
It is the nature of swimmers to swim across the Hudson.

BILL GATES:
Because he used Internet Explorer to sign up at http://www.riverpool.org and encouraged others to support him there as well. In two years, like Pete Seeger for the past 30 years, I will be working full-time with Melinda to fund on-going operations of River Pools around the world. Meanwhile, I have just released eSwim2005, which will not only chart your route across the Hudson from Newburgh to Beacon but will speak directions through Microsoft eGoggles. Internet Explorer is an integral part of eSwim. This new platform is much more stable and will never cra.....@&&^( C .. ...

ALBERT EINSTEIN:
Did the swimmer really swim across the Hudson, or did the Hudson move beneath the swimmer?

BILL CLINTON:
First, let me say, I did not swim the Hudson with THAT swimmer. I crossed with many swimmers ... and kayakers ... That was another day. But now is the time that this swimmer swims for us all ... and we will swim on together, supporting all swimmers who take the challenge, equally and without regard to body mass, gender, or favorite stroke.

AL GORE:
The swimmer is discovering the Hudson ... as I have! It is never too late to discover.

COLONEL SANDERS:
Didn't this start out as a joke about a chicken?

Posted by leboheme at 02:01 PM

Lisa Rainwater, Riverkeeper's Indian Point Campaign Director, pauses before outlining the Indian Point controversy. July 20, 2006.

Posted by Seamus at 01:29 PM

Rev. Patti Ackerman, Hudson River Project Director at the Garrison Institute, takes note before addressing the impact of Indian Point on the Hudson River. July 20, 2006

Posted by Seamus at 12:30 PM

Karen Frillman, WNYC News Editor, discusses the pleasures of city swimming. July 20, 2006.

Posted by Seamus at 12:30 PM

Morty Berger, Executive Director for the Manhattan Island Foundation, informs us about Manhattan's fertile swimming grounds. July 20, 2006.

Posted by Seamus at 12:28 PM

In which: Jon Corzine gets ready to shift NJ pensions - but not his embattled AG - to the private sector, the city offers RNC protesters $2,500-$7,500 to settle wrongful arrest lawsuits, a federal judge voids a MD law aimed at Wal-Mart, and the Senator once brought to tears by John Bolton changes his mind on the UN Ambassador.

"New Jersey Set to Alter Pension Plan" (New York Times)

"Attorney General Can Stay Put Pending Inquiry, Corzine Says" (NY Times)

"Quiet Settlements Being Made With War Protesters" (NY Sun)

"Court voids 'Wal-Mart law': U.S. district judge says Md. violated federal authority" (Baltimore Sun)

"Why I'll Vote for Bolton" by George Voinovich (Washington Post)

Posted by leboheme at 10:37 AM

Jim Stuckey, president of the Atlantic Yards Development Group, argues that Forrest City Ratner's proposed Prospect Heights development would be good for all of Brooklyn. July 19, 2006.

Posted by Seamus at 01:14 PM

"Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)" released by the ESDC yesterday.

Posted by leboheme at 10:10 AM

In which: an incriminating email suggests Parks did favors for the Mayor, a draft assessment says eminent domain should be used for Atlantic Yards project, conservos say W has lost spine over N. Korea and Iran, the Iraq body count soars as the world's eyes turn to Lebanon, and Viacom gets Onion breath.

"Mike's Re-Election' Concern Stopped Park Concert" (NY Sun)

"Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)" (ESDC)

"Conservative Anger Grows Over Bush's Foreign Policy" (Washington Post)

"In Iraq, Civil War All but Declared" (LA Times)

"Viacom and The Onion: Parody or Deal?" (NY Times)

Posted by leboheme at 09:54 AM

You heard George Bush use the s-word when he thought the mic was off. Now see how Colbert talks to his staffers when he think the camera's not running.

Posted by leboheme at 03:50 PM

Jessica Walker, senior policy analyst for the United Neighborhood Houses, is in the studio for the Brian Lehrer Show on July 18, 2006.

Posted by Seamus at 02:04 PM

WNYC's softball team whupped High Times yesterday. An HT blogger has the story.

Posted by leboheme at 09:36 AM

Last February, Brian spoke with Kevin Smith of betonsports.com, an offshore virtual casino that's been lobbying for looser rules on online gambling.

Today comes the news that betonsports.com's chief executive, David Carruthers, was was arrested while changing planes in Houston. Reuters has the story.

Click here to hear Brian's original interview.

Posted by leboheme at 09:34 AM

In which: 60 points down in the polls, Tom Suozzi gets a new campaign manager, McCain affirms his belief in evolution during a visit to New York, Bloomberg tries to eliminate homeless "clusters", Hil and Murdoch nosh together, quietly, 9/11 survivors say Oliver Stone film captures disaster accurately, and US voters skip the primaries this year.

"Suozzi Turns to New Campaign Manger To Gain Ground Before Primary" (NY Sun)

"McCain Does Manhattan, By the Issues" (NY Sun)

"Mike vows remedy for city homeless" (NY Daily News)

"Hil, Rupert sly as Fox at fund-raiser" (NY Daily News)

"WTC film 'horribly accurate'" (NY Daily News)

"Growing number of voters ignore primary elections" (USA Today)

Posted by leboheme at 09:19 AM

The Guardian newsblog explains "Bashad" and muses on who might be "honey".

Posted by leboheme at 03:02 PM

New York Schools Chancellor Joel Klein talks on the Brian Lehrer Show on July 17, 2006 about empowerment zones, school construction and charter schools.

Posted by Seamus at 12:20 PM

In which: Newark sees three murders in one night, and gets a new rail line, Blair and Annan call for a UN force in Lebanon, Ratner opponents muster 2k at BK rally, one poli-scientist sees a congressional hurricane in November, rich Dems give liberally, and Giuliani's pollster says Hil could become Prez.

"City's calm shaken by 3 homicides in 1 night: 2 days after Newark's new mayor toured high-crime areas, shootings and a stabbing bring death toll to 60" (Star-Ledger)

"Rail Spur Brings Downtown Newark a Taste of Its Past" (NY Times)

"Blair Calls for Peacekeeping Force in South of Lebanon" (NY Times)

"Crowd Gathers to Protest Size of Atlantic Yards Plan" (NY Times)

"For Democrats, Wave Is Building" (Washington Post)

"A New Alliance Of Democrats Spreads Funding But Some in Party Bristle At Secrecy and Liberal Tilt" (Washington Post)

"Hil's keys to the Oval Office" (NY Daily News)

Posted by leboheme at 09:47 AM

Subject: Your woman Islamic "expert" was quite disappointing
When I asked her to summarize her arguments about why the Koran does not say what it appears to say about women, she said it was too complicated for the airwaves & referred me to her books. I was insulted. This is the first time I've ever heard someone go on air on a topic and then refuse to talk about the substance of it.
-RC

Subject: criticizing islam
When criticizing Islam for being violent, and for mistreating women,
people should keep in mind that the predominantly Christian United
States built their nation on the backs of African slaves, committed a
genocide against Native Americans, denied women the right to vote until
eighty years ago and hardly gave women an opportunity to support
themselves economically until about fifty years ago.
-JF

Subject: Gender Jihad
Why should anyone lend credibility to a book like the Koran which says:

"Believers, make war on the infidels who dwell around you. Deal firmly with them" (Koran 9:123)

And

"He that leaves his dwelling to fight for God and His apostel and is then overtaken by death, shall be rewarded by God...The unbelievers are your inveterate enemies" (Koran 4:95-101)

Moderate Muslims who draw "interpretations" the Koran only validate the use of the above passages by extremists. Why can't we say that this is a book with horrific passages and treat it as we would any other source from literature?
-PP

Subject: Islam is not unique
Many religions have oppressive restrictions on women. Too me, the issue
is related to literal interpretation of any religious text (or secular
text for that matter). Interpretations without reference to current
reality is at least as dangerous as a totally relative interpretation of
morality.
-SG

Subject: Jihad
Why does it fall to the West to police Islamic Extremists? I understand that there is no central Islamic authority, but wouldn't it be better if Islamic countries could control their 'nuts'??
-CA

Subject: Accountability
Perplexing.

If the "Koran trumps", why should we need to study her
books and other supplemental explanations.
-JM

Posted by leboheme at 03:56 PM

At the end of last year, The NYT's Kurt Eichenwald brought us the story of Justin Berry. He was the teenager who made money by performing sexual acts online, and Eichenwald exposed Berry to the world, along with some of the perils of bedroom internet access. The story struck a chord with millions of net users and his case brought a raft of indictments to boot. As the story progressed, Eichenwald's byline was not on the follow-up articles, presumably because he became a part of the story himself. In fact a few months ago he was even called to testify before Congress along with Berry. So has it been long enough for Eichenwald to return to his reportorial duties on this? Or is he still too much a part of the story? Sounds like something Slate's Jack Shafer might tackle.

Posted by Seamus at 02:16 PM

Ever wonder why so many people worry about their bikes getting stolen? This video will set you straight.

Posted by Seamus at 01:23 PM

Dr. Amina Wadud talks about her conversion to Islam, her leadership as a woman in Islam, Islamic women's reform, and answers callers questions on the Brian Lehrer Show 7/14/2006.

Posted by Seamus at 01:19 PM

In which: Hezbollah's provocations of Israel may make it unpopular at home, the Wilson-Plames sue Cheney, Rove, and Libby, the White House OKs court reviews of wiretaps, a congressional committee finds that 9/11 business loans came too easy, city workers get a green light to move to the burbs, and Trump plans a 45-story tower in the Meatpacking District.

"Attacks Could Erode Faction's Support: Pressure Building Against Shiite Militia" (Washington Post)

"Vice President Sued by Plame And Husband: Ex-CIA Officer Alleges Leak Of Her Name Was Retaliatory" (Washington Post)

"Bush agrees to court review of surveillance program" (USA Today)

"9/11 loans for anyone" (NY Daily News)

"Union on the move: City workers get 9% raise, right to live outside boros" (NY Daily News)

"Foes Rise Up Against Trump" (NY Post)

Posted by leboheme at 09:05 AM

In which: scientists take a step closer to telekinesis, tornadoes last Westchester, Schumer wants to ax DHS terror funding scheme as an Alabama Congressman decries FEMA's overspending in NY, a report says the city lost jobs as incomes went up after 9/11, the Met apes MoMA's $20 ticket, and a female-to-male neurobiologist says he gets more respect post-op.

"Quadriplegic Turns Thoughts Into Action: A chip placed in his brain helps him play video games and use a mechanical arm" (LA Times)

"Severe Weather | 2006 Tornado" (Journal-News)

"Ax the 'idiotic' method: Chuck pushes plan to dump 'dumb' terror formula" (NY Daily News)

"Congress Hears 9/11 Hitches With Federal Disaster Aid" (NY Times)

"Report Shows Quick Growth in New York Since 9/11" (NY Times)

"The Met Follows MoMA Over $20 Ticket Threshold" (NY Sun)

"Male Scientist Writes of Life as Female Scientist: Biologist Who Underwent Sex Change Describes Biases Against Women" (Washington Post)

Posted by leboheme at 11:33 AM

Scott Sullivan, attorney representing clients imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay speaks about the Geneva Conventions on The Brian Lehrer Show on 07/12/2006..

Posted by Seamus at 03:39 PM

Arjun Appadurai, author of "Fear of Small Numbers: An Essay on the Geography of Anger," speaking on the Brian Lehrer Show, 7/12/2006.

Posted by Seamus at 03:26 PM

» Read the July 2006 Pentagon document committing to the application of the Geneva Conventions (via NY Times)

» Read then-White House Counsel Alberto Gonzalez' 2002 memo on the Geneva Conventions (via MSNBC)

Posted by leboheme at 11:02 AM

In which: Indiana is ranked #1 in terror targets, the White House eats it words over the Geneva Conventions, the MTA shelves plan for more conductor-less trains, two Newark cops lose jobs over blog posts, and a former Mrs. Giuliani gives relationship advice.

"U.S. Terror Targets: Petting Zoo and Flea Market?" (NY Times)

"Terror and Presidential Power: Bush Takes a Step Back" (NY Times)

"Robo trains zapped: TA sidelines move to cut conductors on subways" (NY Daily News)

"Newark police fire two for Web criticisms" (Star-Ledger)

"You've got male woes!" (NY Daily News)

Posted by leboheme at 08:41 AM

Dancer and choreographer Bill T. Jones explains the art of making social commentary via physical movement in his latest repetoire "Blind Date" on the Brian Lehrer Show 7/11/06.

Posted by Seamus at 01:24 PM

Dr. Doom edition....in which: the nastiest divorce in recent history goes "boom!" on 62 St., the Pentagon adopts Geneva Conventions standards for detainees, Mayor Booker makes jobs for ex-cons a priority, the city's top cyclist dismounts in a huff, and a Canadian trades a paper clip for a house.

"How a Townhouse in N.Y. Went From Dream to Nightmare" (NY Times)

"In Big Shift, U.S. to Follow Geneva Treaty for Detainees" (NY Times)

"Booker Has 100-Day Plan for Newark’s Reorganization" (NY Times)

"City bike boss rips brass and pedals off" (NY Daily News)

"Blogger starts with paper clip, ends with house" (USA Today)

Posted by leboheme at 10:57 AM

Posted by Seamus at 04:58 PM

The Zidane moment everyone's talking about.

Posted by Seamus at 10:27 AM

One of the most inappropriate, and definitely one of the funniest in recent memory:

Posted by leboheme at 09:48 AM

Bumperactive has an idea.

Posted by leboheme at 09:40 AM

In which: more soldiers are charged in rape/murder case in Iraq, the city foots the bill for parochial schools, YouTube gets political, demand for electricity threatens the upper Delaware River, and a Hasid joins New York's Finest.

"5 More Soldiers Facing Charges" (LA Times)

"City Adds Funds For Catholic, Jewish Schools" (NY Sun)

"In YouTube Clips, a Political Edge" (Washington Post)

"Chafing at a Plan to Add Power Lines to the Landscape" (NY Times)

"Meet The New 'Jewish Law": Will Be Finest's 1st Hasidic Cop" (NY Post)

Posted by leboheme at 09:38 AM

This recent letter to the FT has caused a shift in the way we here think about hoopla

June 3, 2006 Saturday
London Edition 1

SECTION: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR; Pg. 10

LENGTH: 132 words

HEADLINE: Big brouhaha over misuse of 'hoopla'

BYLINE: By COLIN J MORLEY

BODY:

From Mr Colin J. Morley.

Sir, If I had one euro for each occasion that I have seen "hoopla" misused in the press during the past decade, I should be quite wealthy.

I am sorry to see that this misuse has now spread to your esteemed columns ("Falling in love with Things", FT Collecting, May 27/28).

"Hoopla" is nothing but a fairground game, in which one throws a wooden hoop over the object one hopes to secure as a prize; it is not a synonym for fuss, commotion, disturbance, brouhaha or even the inelegant hoo-ha, any of which would seem to represent what your correspondent had in mind.

It may be that "hoopla" has become distorted in American or Canadian slang to mean noise or bustle, but please let us not import it into the Queen's English in that sense.

Colin J. Morley,

Limassol, 4521, Cyprus

Posted by leboheme at 02:59 PM

In which: terrorists plot to bomb the Holland tunnel, Spitzer endorses gay marriage law after court nixes sam-sex nups, Lieberman fights back against a primary challenger, Faso allies try to dump the NYS GOP chair, the city makes an offer on a West Side property, and Russia silences US broadcasters.

"Bomb tunnel, flood city: One man is busted in Beirut, others hunted across
globe and terrorists are seen linked to Zarqawi"

"Spitzer Says He Would Do What Pataki and Courts Have Not" (NY Times)

"Dems' Fighting Words: Acrimony Marks Battle Over Identities, Party Loyalty" (Hartford Courant)

"Ouster of N.Y. Republican Chairman Is a Possibility Amid Money Worries" (NY Sun)

"City on deal track: Offers MTA $300M for W. Side rail yard" (NY Daily News)

"Russia's Signal to Stations Is Clear: Cut U.S. Radio" (Washington Post)

Posted by leboheme at 10:34 AM

From the WH Pool today. All bolding our own. More on this tomorrow at 11 am.

Q Why a news conference in Chicago tomorrow? What's that about?

MR. SNOW: Keeping you happy. (Laughter.)

Q He can do that here.

MR. SNOW: No, it's -- you know, the President actually -- the President, you may recall, where was -- was it Laredo? Was it Laredo? I'm trying to remember which of the stops where --

Q Laredo.

MR. SNOW: -- he did a press conference there. The President likes going into a place -- and I think you're going to see a little bit more of this -- likes to go in and spend a little bit of time there, talk to local leaders, also build some events around a central theme -- in this case, it's the economy and also the competitiveness initiative. And one of the other things is to do a press availability, and this will be a press availability, obviously, for local and national press.

Q Tony, I just want to clarify that. Local reporters and national --

MR. SNOW: Yes.

cont'd
Q Will the President have anything new and pithy to say on Larry King tonight in the prepared statement of sorts? And will he be returning to the White House from Chicago, or going to Camp David?

MR. SNOW: You mean is he going to say, thank you, Larry, and pull out a sheet and clear his throat and deliver a statement?

Q Well, the President, although perhaps not as well-spoken as you, is capable of speaking --

MR. SNOW: Yes. No, he's not going to do a prepared statement. I mean, I think this is keyed off the President's birthday, and obviously, Larry will ask whatever he wants. But as somebody who had done interviews of this sort and been in the business, look, the last thing any interviewer wants is for somebody to come on and just recite stuff. And so you're going to have the President and the First Lady --

Q I didn't mean that -- sometimes a question is a means to come up with, if you will, a prepared answer. Even though it doesn't sound like one. I'm just asking --

MR. SNOW: Well, far be it for me -- (laughter.) I don't know. I don't have any clue.

Q What's he going to do, though?

MR. SNOW: Talk to the President. I think the President is going to this because he wants to do an interview with Larry King -- he and the First Lady are going to talk to Larry King. And so now what we're doing is providing a wonderful commercial for Mr. King's broadcast.

We still have North Korea -- Connie, do you have a North Korea question?

Posted by leboheme at 04:18 PM

In which: Ken Lay's death may save him $44m, the FBI Director's password is stolen, female NJ legislators blame male pols' egos, diplomats from more corrupt countries are shown to be likelier to ignore parking tickets, and NYC parks get wired, wirelessly.

PS: Happy Birthday, Mr. President!

"Lay's death has legal ramifications" (USA Today)

"Consultant Breached FBI's Computers" (Washington Post)

"Tax standoff a guy thing, female legislators say" (Star-Ledger)

"Diplomat Scofflaws 'Hate U.S.'" (NY Post)

"amNewYork partners to provide NYC park Internet access" (am NY)

Posted by leboheme at 09:02 AM

Just crossed the wires: New words entered into this year's edition of Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary.

Aquascape: A scenic view of a body of water, or an area having a
natural or constructed aquatic feature.
Bodyboard: A short surfboard on which the rider lies prone.
Dreamscape: A dreamlike, usually surrealistic scene.
Manga: A Japanese comic book or graphic novel.
Polyamory: The state or practice of having more than one open
romantic relationship at a time.
Ringtone: The sound made by a cell phone to signal an incoming
call.
Sandwich generation: A generation of people who are caring for
their aging parents while supporting their own children.
Supersize: To increase considerably the size, amount, or extent
of.

Here's the challenge: put them all in the one sentence. How about this -- The polyamorous member of the sandwich generation abandoned his manga book and took his bodyboard to the aquascape and as his new ringtone buzzed, he looked in awe at the supersized dreamscape.

Posted by Seamus at 08:32 AM

Investigative journalist Wayne Barrett with Charlene Joseph and Adam Hutton - two of his graduate journalism students - expose slumlords in The Village Voice's 10 Worst Landlords List on The Brian Lehrer Show 7/5/06

Posted by Seamus at 02:40 PM

Mexico Mexico Mexico! In which...Bush imagines electoral success through stricter border enforcement, Obrador imagines electoral success via recovered ballots, Clinton imagines electoral success by distancing herself from Joe Lieberman, NJ shuts down, African dance replaces soccer as the path to fitness in NYC, and Brooklyn glossies lose their lustre
-ed.

"Bush Signaling Shift in Stance on Immigration" (NY Times)

"Missing Votes Add to Turmoil in Mexico" (LA Times)

"Sen. Clinton Hedges Lieberman Support" (Washington Post)

"It's a short road from annoyance to crisis" (Star-Ledger)

"Competition Is Eschewed in New Fitness Initiatives" (NY Sun)

"Latest Boom in Brooklyn Is in Failures of Glossy Magazines" (NY Sun)

Posted by leboheme at 09:10 AM

Frank Schaeffer, co-author of AWOL: The Unexcused Absence of America's Upper Classes from Military Service -- and How It Hurts Our Country (with Kathy Roth-Douquet) talking about the lack of the upper middle class in the military

Posted by Seamus at 03:51 PM

Jason Fagone, author of Horsemen of the Esophagus: Competitive Eating and the Big Fat American Dream talking about the phenomenon of competitive eating on the day of Nathan's Famous 4th of July Hot Dog Eating Contest

Posted by Seamus at 03:51 PM

Joseph Salvo, director of the Population Division at the Department of City Planning and Muzaffar Chishti, immigraton attorney and director of the Migration Policy Institute’s office in New York, looking at the question, does America still want “your tired your poor” 120 years after the Statue of Liberty was built?

Posted by Seamus at 03:51 PM

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
-Emma Lazarus, 1883

Today's installment of our summer immigration series, "The Border" asks the question, Does America still want "your tired, your poor" and should it? Check out our Flickr page where listeners submit photos reflecting the immigrant experience.

Posted by lehrer at 11:13 AM

Washington Post: Lieberman May Run as Independent (Washington Post)

C.I.A. Closes Unit Focused on Capture of bin Laden (NY Times)

The military's problem with the President's Iran policy (New Yorker)

National Journal: Bush Told Prosecutors He 'Directed' Cheney To Discredit Joe Wilson... (National Journal)

Shuttle Set for July 4th Launch (AFP)

Posted by Seamus at 09:41 AM