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The Metropolitan Opera in the Service of Putin?

David A. Andelman | Posted August 21, 2008 |

Read More: Georgia, Metropolitan Opera, Music, Propaganda, Putin Georgia, Russia Georgia Conflict, Russia Georgia War, Vladimir Putin

Throughout the Nazi era in Germany, while Hitler and his minions were in the process of enslaving much of Europe, Wilhelm Furtwaengler served as chief conductor of the renowned Berlin Philharmonic, bringing his baton and his fabulous ensemble into the service of the propaganda machine of the Third Reich.

Now,...

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Senator McCain Would Forget His Head If It Wasn't Attached

Bob Cesca | Posted August 21, 2008 | Politics

Read More: John McCain

It's probably time for the Republicans to panic.

Reason the first: despite all of the McCain campaign attacks of the last six weeks and, naturally, Senator McCain's whiteness and military service, the McCain campaign can't, as Pat Buchanan likes to say, "close the deal." He can't overtake Senator Obama...

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God And Man At The Olympics

Michael Giltz | Posted August 21, 2008 | Entertainment

Read More: Archery, Bill Maher, Documentary, Faith, Gymnastics, Jonathan Horton, Medals, New York Times, Olympics, Religion, Religulous, Sports

I'm a huge gymanstics fan, so beyond the excitement of the women -- who always get tons of press coverage -- it was great to see the men do so well, especially after injuries sidelined the Hamm brothers. Raj Bhavsar -- who deserved to be on the team outright --...

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To Change our National Security, we need to Change Washington

Jonathan Powers | Posted August 21, 2008 | Politics

Read More: Iraq

My platoon patrolled the streets of Baghdad in the summer of 2003 and met with many in the Iraqi community who were excited with the idea that we were bringing them America. Today, at the end of summer 2008, the Iraqi government is laying the groundwork for our soldiers to...

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Fat Unfit Nation

Charles Karel Bouley | Posted August 21, 2008 | Living

Read More: Depression, Energy Policy, Food, Obesity, Politics

In 2007, according to a new report, not one state decreased their state-wide obesity statistic. That means, America is on the fat train towards tubbo land and there's no sign of a retreat. The predictions vary in only one way, timing, but all agree that within the next seven to...

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Pulling Away From McCain After the Convention

Daniel Burrell | Posted August 21, 2008 | Politics

Read More: 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Democratic Convention, Mccain Foreign Policy, Mccain National Security

The good news for Obama heading into the Democratic National Convention next week is that he continues to lead McCain in the national polls by 45% to 42% among likely voters, according to a recent poll taken by WSJ/NBC. Even more encouraging is the fact that composite polling from pollster.com...

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Where Does Our E-waste Go?

Bill Chameides | Posted August 21, 2008 | Green

Read More: China, E-Waste, Environment

So you <3 (i.e., love) your new iPhone, but where's the old clunker (i.e., last month's coolest model) it replaced? And your first iPod, old PC, big tube TV that your sleek flat panel ousted? Even if you recycle, your old electronics might end up in a foreign dumping ground...

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Building a Green Economy

Adele Stan | Posted August 21, 2008 | Politics

We all say we want to go green, but do we all see the same kinds of change when we imagine an eco-friendly economy?

In Denver, Colo., Tom Plant, director of the Governor's Energy Office, is practically giddy. It's just days before the Democratic National Convention kicks off in...

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August 21, 2008: The Day John McCain's Campaign Died

Mitchell Bard | Posted August 21, 2008 | Politics

No, unfortunately, I don't think that John McCain's campaign is really over. But there has been an amazing confluence of events in the last 24 hours that have undermined every key basis of McCain's campaign, so much so that it is hard to see how anyone who is not an...

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Unlocking the Power of Art to Counter Injustice

Anthony Papa | Posted August 21, 2008 | Entertainment

Read More: Art Auctions, Artists, Drug War, Marijuana, Political Art, Social Change

The artist's role as social commentator and activist has historically been engrained in our culture. Art and its creation as a response to social and political issues can become powerfully influential in raising public awareness that results in positive change.

Art as a social weapon has been around...

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Rush Limbaugh, Love Guru?

Lora Somoza | Posted August 21, 2008 | Living

Read More: Elizabeth Edwards, John Edwards Affair, Marriage, Relationships, relatMike Myers, Rush Limbaugh, Sex Scandals, The Love Guru

Listen up, ladies. Your prayers have been answered. Rush Limbaugh has become your new marriage counselor. And he's just unloaded the secret to keeping your marriage intact.

Shut your pie hole.

I'll give you a moment to write that down. You're not going to want to lose that pearl of...

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Memories Of Charley

Mary Lou Song | Posted August 21, 2008 | Living

Read More: Hurricane Charley, Hurricane Fay

Getting into the swing of the school year is hard enough. Leaving summer vacation behind. Adjusting to new schedules. Making new friends. But a threatening hurricane can bring a host of challenges for students and their families. The erratic Tropical Storm Fay inspired JTemple to write about a hurricane that...

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Do Obama's Sinking Poll Numbers -- Signal History Repeating for Democrats?

John Zogby | Posted August 21, 2008 | Politics

Read More: August Polls, John Zogby, McCain Polls, Obama Polls, Polling, Zogby Polls

As the Democrats head into their convention, should they be singing the Eurythmics 1985 hit "Here Comes That Sinking Feeling"?

Just as party leaders pack their bags for Denver, our latest Reuters/Zogby poll finds their nominee in some trouble, as Republican John McCain has taken a five-point...

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All the Scandalous News That's Fit to Print

David Perel | Posted August 21, 2008 | Media

Politicians lie. The National Enquirer pays for information. The mainstream media is falling out of touch with America.

We hold these truths to be self evident.

And yet when all three of these variables collided in the perfect nexus of the John Edwards cheating affair, the resulting public shock and...

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Stop What You are Doing. Go See this Movie! I.O.U.S.A.

Asher Goldstein | Posted August 21, 2008 | Entertainment

Read More: David Walker, Economy, I.O.U.S.A, Movies, National Debt, New In Theatres, Robert Bixby

This is the single most important film you will see this year. As a somewhat unsuccessful, but passionate, purveyor of all things lacking an absolute -- particularly in the area of judging the arts and particularly on an annual basis -- I can comfortably say it again, hell, I will...

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The Decemberists to Release 'Amorous' Tribute to Valerie Plame--Here is Video

Greg Mitchell | Posted August 21, 2008 | Politics

Read More: Decemberist, Valerie Plame

The popular Portland rock group The Decemberists is about to come out with an "amorous" song titled "Valerie Plame."

Plame, of course, is the former CIA operative outed by Robert Novak and Bush adminstration officials, but she is already married, to Joe Wilson.

A press release from EMI music for...

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Like Your Time Alone? Then This Post is For You

Bella DePaulo | Posted August 21, 2008 | Living

I live in the most ordinary American household - I live alone. Knock on any door in the nation and you are more likely to find a household like mine than a household with mom, dad, and the kids, or a household with a married couple and no kids, or...

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The GOP Slander Machine

Moby | Posted August 21, 2008 | Politics

Read More: Barack Obama, Democratic Convention, Denver, Moby

next week i'm going to colorado to dj at a fundraiser and hang out in denver and do one of two things, either:
a-lament the fact that obama is losing his lead in the polls by not standing up to the gop
slander machine.
or
b-enjoy...

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Shock Jocks, Hate Speech and an O'Reilly Ambush

Rory O'Connor | Posted August 21, 2008 | Media

Read More: Bill O'Reilly, Brent Bozell, Fox News, Hate Speech, Media Research Council, Newsday, Shock Jocks

After Jenna Kern, a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church, decided to write an Op-Ed piece for Newsday questioning whether shock jocks and hate speech contributed to the recent murderous shooting spree in a U-U church in Tennessee, the haters started to come after her as well.

...

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Why is Ohio Retarded but Connecticut Isn't?

Kim Stagliano | Posted August 21, 2008 | Living

Read More: Autism, Ben Stiller, Civil Rights, Farrelly Brothers, Health, Mental Retardation, Tropic Thunder

You've probably heard of the uproar over the use of the word "retard" in the new Ben Stiller movie, Tropic Thunder. It has practically whitewashed the fact that Robert Downey Jr.'s character performs in blackface. No small feat.

As a writer, and the mother of three girls with autism,...

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All posts from 08.21.2008 < 08.20.2008