via. So you know that book discussion group thingie we started a couple months ago? It got off to a rollicking start with Junot Diaz’s The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, and then rapidly flamed out with Edwidge Danticat’s Brother I’m Dying. We weren’t alone in noticing the problem. belleisa, a regular reader, volunteered Read More
“I was born secular and inconsolable.” –– Jenny Lewis My parents fell down on the job. Both were marched into church relentlessly as children, Sunday after Sunday; mother Catholic-christened Methodist-practicing in Kingston, JA, father Baptist in “real” Virginia. My mother did teach me to pray. Not because she really believed the words, but because Read More
(by Winslow Robertson, and x-posted from The Monkey Steals The Peaches) This is both a crass attempt to get you guys to check out my blog and also to make a larger point about life. Thanks to PB for letting me do this, and G.D. in particular. On May 12th, 2008, around 2:30 in the Read More
On Sunday, John McCain spoke out in favor of a policy that has meant the loss of thousands of qualified military personnel. Rightfully so, former Secretary of Army Clifford Alexander thinks this is deeply troubling: [vodpod id=Groupvideo.2515157&w=425&h=350&fv=] What’s so frustrating about this issue is that it seems unsophisticated for a civilized country. To me, Read More
Despite efforts to counter it, the achievement gap between white and minority students remains remarkably stubborn. The usual run-down of reasons for this disparity are well known. Lower socioeconomic backgrounds of minority kids, less access to early childhood education, under-resourced and violent schools, etc. What gets discussed less often is the effect of self-concept and Read More
(by Jeremy Levine, and x-posted from Social Science Lite.) In Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop, Jeff Chang chronicles the historical roots of contemporary hip-hop culture. Chang notes the decline of industrial America, the rise of crack, and the prevalence of urban street gangs as three major antecedents to hip-hop. To be sure, it wasn’t gangs themselves Read More
x-posted from brokey’s spot. first! a happy belated mothers day to all the mamas out there. if you pushed a baby outta ur peehole and lived to tell the tale, you are truly an amazing vessel, and possibly an alien. congratulations to you! in celebration of mother’s day, tv one showed a mini-marathon of the Read More
A Sweet 16 of links. Or “things that I wanted to blog about myself but didn’t”: 1. A retrospective of Michael Steele’s first 100 days as chairman of the RNC. Cue the circus music. 2. More good news for Euro-style socialism: Mercer’s quality of life index shows that 13 of the top 20 cities are Read More
blackink: It would be easy to dismiss Dutch society as “socialism gone wild,” writes Russell Shorto, but closer inspection reveals an upside that the United States might consider exploring. In his thoughtful essay in last weekend’s New York Times Magazine, Shorto offers another look — one that admittedly relies more on anecdotes than data — at the benefits of going Euro. Early into his stay Read More
Today marks the 100th day of Michael Steele’s term as chairman of the Republican National Committee. And what a blooper reel it’s been. To commemorate the occasion, here’s some of the, uh, highlights from Think Progress: In all honesty, Steele’s struggles would be funny if they were not so sad and predictable. If you’re at Read More
