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New York City’s “Department of Moral Guidance”
New Yorker covers are usually very good, but this week’s is especially so. The drawing, by Bruce McCall, is called “Moral Guidance”. It depicts three New Yorkers in stocks – for offences of smoking, salt and carbs. Across the bottom, it says “NYC Department of Moral Guidance – No Feeding Backsliders”. By coincidence, Brendan O’Neill writes on a […]
This week’s articles of note
“The end of history man,” Financial Times [Francis Fukuyama interviewed by Martin Wolf] “The future of innovation: can America keep pace?” Time, by Fareed Zakaria “Excuses, excuses: a litany of special factors exposes the recovery’s fragility,” The Economist “Everything you’ve heard about fossil fuels may be wrong,” Salon, by Michael Lind “Where’s the panic button on this […]
My review of The Social Animal is published in Sweden
Voltaire, a Sweden-based political/cultural online magazine, has re-published my review of David Brooks’ The Social Animal. If you can read Swedish, you can read it here.
The “Mediscare” election: both parties are running on fear
Last week the Democrats scored an upset victory in a special election in New York’s 26th district, which encompasses the upstate territory between Buffalo and Rochester. Republicans were supposed to be on the upswing since the midterm elections held just six months ago, and the seat has been Republican since the 1960s. But Democrat Kathy […]
This week’s articles of note
“The Osama Bin Laden exception,” Salon, by Glenn Greenwald “Jerry Brown’s last stand,” New York Times Magazine, by Adam Nagourney “The 4 percent solution: promoting growth, not reducing debt, is the key to restoring prosperity,” National Review, by James K. Glassman “Top green admits: ‘We are lost!’,” The American Interest, by Walter Russell Mead “Same […]
Ai Weiwei Sculpture in New York
Yesterday saw the unveiling of a magnificent bronze sculpture by Ai Weiwei in New York, his first major public installation in the US. “Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads” is at the Pulitzer Fountain in front of The Plaza Hotel, close to the Southeast entrance to Central Park. Weiwei is the renowned artist and social activist from China. His works […]
The killing of bin Laden and the American response
The reaction in America to the news that Osama bin Laden was killed by US commandos is not what it seems from the media reports. The TV images have focused on the groups of people waving flags and shouting “USA-USA-USA” in Times Square in New York and in front of the White House in Washington. It is presented […]
This week’s articles of note
“The consequentialist: how the Arab spring remade Obama’s foreign policy,” The New Yorker, by Ryan Lizza “Obama’s 2012 paradox,” National Journal, by Ron Brownstein “What’s wrong with America’s economy?” The Economist “What’s left of the left: Paul Krugman’s lonely crusade,” New York, by Benjamin Wallace-Wells “Milwaukee’s best no longer,” The American, by Jon Entine [on […]
The Birthers
I was in a diner in Scranton, Pennsylvania last night, when an older man in the booth two down from ours was speaking somewhat loudly to a woman who I guessed was his daughter. “I’ve decided to challenge his citizenship,” he said, with “his” referring to President Obama’s. “But I know it comes with risks. When I do, […]
On vacation this week
Will return April 25th.
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