It’s Kathryn Bigelow’s world. The rest of us are paying rent:
I also refuse to believe that woman is 58-years-old. That can not be possible.
Onward with the roundup after the jump:
1. Oscar-related links: Monica adds some context to Kathryn Bigelow’s big win; Alyssa was not a fan of last night’s broadcast; Mo’Nique’s tribute to Hattie McDaniel; Salon interviews the two people at the center of the ceremony’s “Kanye moment”; one TV critic’s take on the night; Kate Harding defends Mo’Nique’s Oscar speech.
Alright. That’s plenty. Now, back to the news:
2. The New York Times magazine profiles Rahm Emmanuel. “In this season of discontent for Obama, Emanuel has emerged as the leading foil, the easy and most popular target for missiles flung at the White House from all sides. He is the bête noire of conservatives who see him as the chief architect of Obama’s big-government program and of liberals who consider him an accommodationist who undermines the very same agenda. The criticism has been searing and conflicting. He didn’t work enough across party lines. He tried too hard to work across party lines. He pushed for too much. He didn’t push for enough. The crossfire underscores his contradictions — how can Emanuel be so intensely partisan without being all that liberal and so relentlessly pragmatic without being bipartisan? And just as salient these days, how can he be so independent-minded and still remain loyal to a team operation?” (G.D.)
3. Jonathan Chait had me at “One day, I hope, we will look back at the health care debate as a low point in our national political psyche.” I hope so, too. (Blackink)
4. This pretty graph dramatically shows the difference between the country’s top earners and those of us hovering at the average. (Quadmoniker)
5. Some gun enthusiasts are pushing to take advantage of “open-carry” laws on the books in several dozen states which allow them to carry unconcealed firearms. “The goal, at least in part, is to make the case for liberalized concealed weapon laws by demonstrating how uncomfortable many people are with publicly displayed guns. The tactic has startled many business owners like Peet’s Coffee and Tea and California Pizza Kitchen, which forbid guns at their establishments. So far, Starbucks has resisted doing the same.” (G.D.)
6. Some school districts across the country are so cash-strapped that they’re moving to four-day weeks to avoid laying off teachers. (G.D.)
7. California, strapped for cash, makes a bold stride for contention in Arne Duncan’s “Race to the Top” for federal school improvement funds. (R.A.B.)
8. At a church in Brooklyn, Gov. David Paterson of New York railed at what he said were media smears and vowed not to resign from office. (G.D.)
9. Sarah Palin boasts about how she used to avail herself of Canada’s socialized medicine. (G.D.)
10. Sorta related: Andrew Sullivan muses about the death of conservatism. (Blackink)
11. Cops drive drunk, and lose vacation days. That’s what happens in the NYPD if you commit misconduct. (Quadmoniker)
12. As usual, all news is good news for the banks. (Blackink)
13. The overlooked plight of poor dads. (Quadmoniker)
14. In an investment meant to strengthen former President Carter’s commitment to education, The White House plans to spend about $850 million on historically black colleges and universities. (Blackink)
15. The oldest person in the U.S., a woman born in 1895, died Sunday at a nursing home in New Hampshire. She was 114 years, 294 days old. (Blackink)
16. This note from the future tells me my future cell phone’s battery might not be so annoyingly weak. (Quadmoniker)
17. If you’re not reading Roger Ebert already, you should start with this piece that was inspired by the ongoing fuckery in Tracy, California. (Blackink)
18. The Wall Street Journal highlights the problem with Web-traffic numbers. (Blackink)
19. A new study finds that people can’t agree on what sex is or isn’t. Surprise, right? (Blackink)
20. Speaking of sex: D.C. will soon be the first city to give away female condoms, part of an effort to combat HIV/AIDS. (Blackink)
21. Do dogs dream of war? (Blackink)
22. Amanda Marcotte delves into a little taxonomy for bloggers. (Blackink)
23. Via Amanda Hess, a list of 10 relationship-ending lines that will make you feel better about yourself. (Blackink)
24. Meet Beyonce’s little sister (more on this later). (Blackink)
25. Shit. Damn. … D’Angelo is in trouble again. (Blackink)
There’s a lot of news out there. I’m sure we didn’t even make a dent in it. So if you’ve got some links of interest, please drop them in the comments section. Or sing our praises.
Whichever.
