What Would Lincoln (or Teddy Roosevelt, or FDR) Do? Not What President Obama is Doing “This wouldn’t have happened if Reagan were still alive.” –bumper sticker around the time of the Iran-Contra hearings in the 1980’s. “Better to ask forgiveness than permission.” –old saying Wouldn’t it be great if the President was a Constitutional Law...Read More
#1. “The Revenge of Geography” by Robert Kaplan The latest effort by Mr. Kaplan (no relation) is with loaded historical insights and connect-the-dots observations about the Middle East. Unfortunately, it’s also chockfull of literary clunkers like this one: “Mountains are a conservative force, often protecting within their defiles indigenous cultures against the fierce modernizing ideologies...Read More
“Hey! You! Yeah, I’m Talking to You” It may already be too late to stop this trend, but here goes: If you are an out-of-shape, middle-aged (or older) man — perhaps with an excess of (back?) hair — do not, repeat do not even consider going out and buying a pair of exceedingly fluorescent tennis shoes....Read More
Blast From the Past I’m old enough to remember not just when gas stations had actual, live attendants — but when gas was truly cheap, and competition for customers was such that gas stations on opposite corners would engage in price wars. Yes, price wars. At the extreme, you’d even see the stations’ signs attempt to lure...Read More
Minor Ironies I heard a talk this morning by Harvard philosophy Professor Michael Sandel, and was so impressed that I ran to Barnes & Noble to pick up a copy of his book, “What Money Can’t Buy.” I’m looking forward to seeing what’s on his list. The cost to find out (at least for the...Read More
When the Audition . . . is a Previous Gig If you’re not a “Breaking Bad” fan, the highlight(s) of last night’s episode (“Granite State”) were Bryan Cranston’s brilliant scenes with Robert Forster (also terrific in a supporting role as the father-in-law in “The Descendants”). Best scene of all: where the two negotiate for Forster,...Read More
