Monday, April 27, 2009

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Cenk Uygur: Sandra Day O'Connor Should Lead Torture Investigation Top
Is there anyone in the country more reliably moderate than retired Supreme Court justice Sandra Day O'Connor? She is a lifelong Republican who was the critical vote that put George Bush into office in 2000. For which liberals will probably never forgive her. She's also the person who said about Republican attacks against an independent judiciary, "It takes a lot of degeneration before a country falls into dictatorship, but we should avoid these ends by avoiding these beginnings." She was also the deciding vote against overturning Roe v. Wade. For which conservatives will never forgive her. Both sides might have a bone to pick with her, but there is no question that she has maintained a stubborn impartiality throughout her long career. This is why I think she might be just right to head an impartial investigation of the possible torture committed under the Bush administration. I personally don't favor a truth commission, simply because we already know most of what happened, the real question is what are we going to do about it? But if there is a nonpartisan Truth Commission, O'Connor should probably lead it. I would go even further and ask her to be the special independent prosecutor in a criminal investigation of torture by the Justice Department. Now that we largely know what was authorized under Bush and how it worked its way down the chain of command and what the results were, what we really need is someone to determine if specific laws were broken. O'Connor might not have a lot of experience in hands-on prosecution of cases, so admittedly independent prosecutor would seem to be a strange role for her, but I'm not proposing she get in the courtroom and try these cases herself. I think the proper role for her is to figure out if anyone has actually committed a crime here and determine if prosecution is necessary in the first place. And then if that determination is made, there are plenty of capable prosecutors in the country. My hunch is that O'Connor, given her cautious nature, would be very reluctant to call anything a crime by the president or his deputies. But if she got overwhelming evidence that in fact a crime was committed, she would have the courage not to ignore that evidence. If the evidence in this case eventually passes the O'Connor barrier, then the American people can be confident that this issue was not politicized but given the judicial scrutiny it deserved. Watch The Young Turks Here
 
Stephen Schlesinger: Obama Plants the US Flag at the United Nations Top
President Obama has dramatically re-established American relations with the UN in his first 100 days. His acclaimed multilateral outlook on international relations, his willingness to listen to foreign leaders rather than lecture them, his admission of "mistakes" by the US on issues like torture, the economy, the Iraq war, and other global matters, and his general popularity around the world, have created an entirely new atmosphere in the United Nations building. By the seventh week of his administration, he held his first meeting with Secretary General Ban Ki Moon at the White House, a cordial and highly supportive event. Then, with several specific steps, Obama made crystal clear his re-engagement with the world body: first, he approved the US joining the newly created Human Rights Council rather than staying outside of it to reorient the body toward enforcing the essential civil rights for citizens in all states; second, he asked Congress to appropriate $836 million to pay up our peacekeeping obligations which we have shamefully refused to pay in the past; third, he made a new commitment to helping with stopping climate change -- a key issue at the UN these days; fourth, he reversed by executive order the Bush policy of denying US funds to family planning programs at the UN's Population Fund; fifth, he renewed and expanded funding to both UNICEF and UNESCO, organizations long neglected by the US in the past; sixth, he publicly endorsed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, among other crucial UN treaties, and pledged to participate vigorously in the UN's upcoming 2010 review conference of the Nuclear Non-Poliferation Treaty, the latter of which the Bushites especially disparaged; seventh, he publicly embraced the Millennium Development goals which the Bush Administration viewed with decided ambivalance. Obama, however, did duck out of the Durban conference on racism and he has so far not said much about the International Criminal Court and has not been heavily pro-active on the Darfur crisis, as of yet. But overall he deserves an A- grade for his first 100 days as regards the UN.
 
Avital Binshtock: Thoughts After Seeing Disneynature's "Earth" Top
I saw Earth, the debut film from Disney's new nature arm, last night and left the theater feeling stunned, inspired, and newly curious. To see such footage is nothing less than a privilege, and one can only imagine the extreme lengths to which the videographers and producers went to get such extraordinary shots. Their brilliant use of extreme fast-forwards and slow-motions to tell nature's temporal tale invokes the true meaning of the word "awesome." The movie provides the only opportunity we'd ever have to see a great white shark (surely no one in the theater realized they were that massive) leap so dramatically out of the water to snap an unfortunate sea lion out of its life. A movement that must have taken only a second played out in what felt like at least a full minute - an utterly mesmerizing full minute - on the big screen. Other gasp-inducing scenes include a pride of 30 lions hunting down an adult elephant, a cheetah in full pursuit of its prey (again, what must have taken only a flash is slowed down to a speed that captivates our human sensibilities), and a mother elephant leading her tiny, near-blinded son through African dust and drought to find their herd - and water, that most sacred of resources. At other times, there was more laughter in the theater than had we been watching a riotous comedy: at baby polar bears' first steps, at their mother's joyful playfulness in the snow, at the outrageous lengths to which rainforest birds go to lure mates, at primates' awkwardly flamboyant moves as they navigate through waist-deep water, at baby birds trying their underdeveloped appendages at a first flight. James Earl Jones (whom you half-expect to announce at any moment, " This ... is CNN" ) has a chuckling sound in his iconic voice when he calls those silly attempts at catching air "more like falling with style." If it sounds like I'm gushing, that's because I am. If pressed to be a critic for a moment, I'd reluctantly say that the film's plotline is weakly strung and that some of the scenes and transitions seem to have been patched together disjointedly (though mother-child relationships are a pervasive theme). But really, that's not much of a concern when we have our planet's most glorious things to see in our face, larger than life, and in sharp, crisp color. Watching everything animals have to endure to just survive calls to mind the exceedingly complex provisions we humans have made for ourselves to shield us from nature's very harsh realities. We no longer need to roam endlessly in search of food or water, hunt down prey, outrun predators, face the battering elements, or engage in life-and-death battles just to reproduce. And we didn't mean to wreak havoc by making life easier on ourselves - we were just doing what any species with our capabilities would. But we did cause damage , and we can see it clearly and direly at the end of Earth when a father polar bear struggles on rapidly melting ice to find solid land. His life is at stake, and though I won't give away the ending, I will say that it clearly connects what we've done to the world and how our fellow earthlings are suffering for it . More on Animals
 
Robert J. Elisberg: Oh, Say Can You Sing? A National Anthem to Remember Top
As I prepared write about an act of uncommon decency by a professional athlete, I realized that calling it that was unfair, that it diminishes what happened, because this was simply an act of uncommon decency, period. That it happened on such a high level and under such a bright microscope might likely stir the heart more, but it's the act itself that is ultimately what stirs us to begin with. Who it was and when it took place simply moves it up the pedestal. Today is the sixth anniversary of Maurice Cheek's moment on the pedestal. There is in the American consciousness for notable performances of the National Anthem at sporting events. Jose Feliciano's evocative singing at the 1968 World Series in Detroit was the first to interpret the "Star Spangled Banner" before a national audience. Because 1968 was one of the most tumultuous years in U.S. history, many at the time were so outraged that it took his career years to recover. Today, the rendition not only seems tame, but one of the most tender and beautiful. (And among the least known. If you've never heard it, do yourself a favor and listen . Whitney Houston gets mentioned often for her rousing rendition at the 1991 Super Bowl, during the Gulf War. For many, Marvin Gaye's deeply soulful performance at the 1983 NBA All Star is the most memorable. But for sheer emotional joy, it's hard to top what happened on April 27,2003, before Game 4 of the NBA playoffs between the Portland Trailblazers and Dallas Mavericks. Context only adds to the story. So, once again: This was the playoffs. This is what all professional athletes live for, what their year is about. The regular season is a prelude, an effort to get into the post-season and be in place to win the league championship, to become a part of your sport's history. Everything centers on this. As the start of each playoff game nears, as the roaring crowd is at its highest pitch, as players put on their proverbial "game faces" and the battle is moments from beginning, all external thoughts get filtered out, and focus is completely, solely on their task ahead. The National Anthem, for most athletes, must be one of those external influences. More than most of us, who hear the "Star Spangled Banner" largely on special occasions, professional athletes have heard the National Anthem played before every single competitive game they've played. Game after game repeatedly each season, and season after season, for decades. Relentlessly. As meaningful as the song is, it is also just part of the ritual for a professional athlete, focused on the game, geared up for the game, anxious to start the game. Silent, not singing, maybe not even hearing the music. Waiting for the National Anthem to be played, and finished, so that they can finally start what they're there for. It's likely as much background noise as it is patriotic uplift. And so it must have been as the Trailblazers and Mavericks prepared for their playoff game to start. Stepping out onto the court was Natalie Gilbert, a 13-year-old girl. Just another National Anthem, just another youngster who won a contest, just another two minutes the crowd wanted to get past for the game they were there to see, to start. And she started fine. A little hesitant, since it's a frightening occasion for a child, with a national audience, flashing lights and a military guard. But in her wavering voice, she was prepared. Except that a few lines in, the high pageantry of the moment got her, and something went very wrong. She totally, thoroughly forgot the words. A young 13-year-old child, standing in front of over 10,000 people, lost. Alone. And that's when Maurice Cheeks showed the kind of person he was. Maurice Cheeks had had a very good NBA career as a player. He played for 15 years and was selected to four All Star games. When he retired, he was the all-time leader in steals and fifth in assists. He averaged over 11 points a game. And then he later became a coach, the position he was currently in for the Portland Trailblazers. It was Cheeks who was responsible for his team, responsible for keeping them focused on the game, responsible for guiding them. But he saw a 13-year-old girl in trouble. And that's when Maurice Cheeks showed the kind of person he was. Immediately. Cheeks always had a reputation in the NBA as a good guy. But he was about to prove it on a national stage. And what happened next - not just with Maurice Cheeks, but eventually with all the jaded players whose minds had been previously-focused on their game, an entire stadium of basketball fans there to see basketball, even the opposing white-haired coach Don Nelson - is just enthralling. The moment is wonderful, but how it builds and surprises is even better. And at the end, this tiny girl looking up at the giant of a man - who stayed around, refusing to leave her side and return to his team - with her face awash with relief, a huge hug, and the clear words mouthed, "Thank you," is all you need to see to why it's hard to top what happened on April 27,2003, before Game 4 of the NBA playoffs for sheer emotional joy. Six years ago today.
 
Arianna Huffington: Obama's First 100 Days: The Good, The Bad, and the Geithner Top
Has it been only 100 days since Barack Obama took the oath of office? Actually, it's only been 98, but sometimes 100 days feels like more than 100 days. This is one of those times. Obama's first 100 days have been among the most eventful in history. So how's it going? According to the American people, pretty damn good. Not only does 69 percent of the public approve of the job Obama is doing, but last week, for the first time since January 2004, more Americans felt the country is headed in the right direction than in the wrong direction ( 48 percent to 44 percent ). Remarkably, this "right direction" number has been steadily rising even as the economy has been steadily falling. In his Grant Park acceptance speech on election night, the newly elected president warned that "the road ahead will be long," and "our climb will be steep." But his poll numbers are a vindication of the idea that, with the right leadership, Americans are mature enough to heed those words and not expect immediate results. So any list of the most impressive achievements of Obama's first 100 days should start with the intangible qualities of transformational leadership --- from the president's personal equanimity (which Robert Reich described as "the serene center of the cyclone -- exuding calm when most Americans are petrified") to his masterful use of the bully pulpit. In just his first 100 days, Obama has had almost as many prime time press conferences as George Bush did in his entire two terms. And it's not just press conferences. Obama's willingness to speak directly to the American people -- in town halls around the country, on YouTube, on Leno, on ESPN, etc -- and to engage with them by answering questions online and reading ten letters a day from the public , is a powerful reminder that the White House isn't a privatized bubble or underground bunker off limits to the people. He's also offered tone setters that are a useful reminder that the president is more than just the country's chief executive -- that he and the First Lady are also potentially the country's chief teachers. They've already taught the country a lot of lessons -- about what we eat and how we eat by planting an organic vegetable garden at the White House, and about commitment to family through their relationship with their daughters and by having the First Granny move into the White House to help Sasha and Malia settle into their new lives. Now to the more tangible aspects of his presidency. Let's start with the pluses: The stimulus package . It wasn't big or bold enough, and it suffered from the malodorous scent of Eau de Congressional Business as Usual, but the speed and focus with which it was passed showed how serious Obama was about pulling America out of its economic free-fall. And how competent his team was at hitting the ground running. Plus, it taught the new president an important lesson about the limits of bipartisanship for the sake of bipartisanship. Passing and signing the national service bill . Not so long ago, a call for sacrifice meant asking people to go shopping or take a trip to Disney World. Creating a system in which more people can feel as if they're true stakeholders in their communities will not only produce physical benefits -- it will help repair America's moral infrastructure as well. And their answering of the call will be additional proof that Americans have been waiting for a leader to ask more of them. Reversing course on stem cells . It was a clear statement about the return of the reality-based world. As Obama put it when he signed the order "It is about ensuring that scientific data is never distorted or concealed to serve a political agenda, and that we make scientific decisions based on facts, not ideology." A progressive budget . Healthcare, provisions to tackle rising economic inequality, a more rational defense budget, tax cuts for all but the very wealthy -- as David Leonhardt of the New York Times wrote , Obama's budget is "nothing less than an attempt to end a three-decade era of economic policy dominated by the ideas of Ronald Reagan and his supporters." Foreign Relations . From granting his first presidential interview to Al-Arabiya TV to loosening the embargo on Cuba to hanging an open sign on the State Department, Obama has signaled that the bellicose days of antagonism as our default foreign policy position are over. And his decision to close Guantanamo also sent the right message to the world. The rescue of Captain Richard Phillips of the Maersk Alabama . Blowing away fears of a sea-faring Black Hawk Down, Obama's restrained behind-the-scenes handling of the volatile hostage situation demonstrated that the new commander-in-chief is not afraid to pull the trigger when an American life is on the line. Bonus points for causing the Limbaugh-Hannity worldview about Democrats being nothing but bleeding hearts to shift on its axis. A solid run of pluses. Now for the minuses: The bank bailout . In his appointments at almost every agency, Obama has demonstrated a desire to receive a wide range of opinion. But the exception is a doozy: at Treasury, the range of opinion goes all the way from Goldman to Sachs. Several hundred billion dollars later, the banks still aren't lending, the zombies are still on their feet, preferred shareholders are still being catered to, the knowledge of where our money has gone is spotty at best, and oversight and transparency remain unfulfilled promises. The Obama White House's vision for the rescue remains startlingly myopic. The result is the continued funneling of hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars to the very people who got us into the mess we are in -- with very little accountability demanded in return. The biggest black mark on Obama's first 100 days is his head-scratching reliance on the bank-centric beliefs of Larry Summers and Tim Geithner. Afghanistan . Obama has committed 21,000 more troops to Afghanistan but as many, including Obama himself , have noted, there is no exclusively military solution to Afghanistan. What's more, unlike with Guantanamo, Obama has adopted Bush's policies regarding the enemy prisoners being held at Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan. Torture accountability . Obama has said he wants to look forward and not back, and it's reasonable for him to not want his agenda sidetracked by torture commissions and investigations. But the way we respond to the revelations about the Bush administration's use of torture isn't merely a question of policy; it a question of morality. The minute the president starts framing the issue as a matter of right vs wrong, his choices will be clear. Because if there is one thing Obama cannot afford to abandon it's the moral high ground. And he can trust the American public to walk and chew gum at the same time -- to be able to support a national health care plan, a new energy plan, the reforming of our education system, and at the same time support accountability for those who undercut our fundamental values. Sensible gun control . Despite a recent run of deadly gun rampages and an appeal from the president of Mexico, whose country is paying a heavy price for bought-in-America guns, Obama has chosen the path of political expediency and turned his back on his campaign promise to reinstate a ban on assault weapons. For the last eight years, we suffered from the soft bigotry of low presidential expectations. Taken as a whole, Obama's first 100 days have been an inspiring change from a White House that expected as little from us as it did from itself. The road ahead is indeed going to be long and steep. But at least we're on the right road. More on Barack Obama
 
Kevin Smokler: The Shelf Talker: Floppy Disks, Lyndon Johnson and Narnia Top
Welcome to The Shelf Talker, a regular rundown of news, gossip and recommendations from and about authors on book tour. Ben Greenman is an editor at the New Yorker with the same name as about 19 guys TST sat next to in hebrew school. However, none of them wrote a lauded novel about a forgotten 60s funk band with a cover that borrows from Peter Max , "Hair" , and the Wednesday night sleepwalkings of half of The Family Stone . Instead, at least one made a bonanza selling his father's floppy disk plant, retired somewhere and hasn't stopped laughing. I should look him up. Anyway, in Please Step Back , Mr. Greenman recounts the short career of Rock Foxx with a journalistic straight face. "A novel" remains emblazoned on the cover. We being far dimmer than Mr. Greenman (who has "a limited-edition handcrafted letterpress publication" listed as an upcoming project. Our upcoming projects include learning how to fold fitted sheets) are baffled by this even though we know the author spells it out. Somewhere. No author has yet unseated Toure's 'Young, Black and Unstoppable' from his story collection "The Portable Promised Land" as our favorite tale of a fictional musician. But Greenman's efforts lead us by the short whiskers. Might the 60s, music, and the price of fame shine your cheeks too? Bring a fitted sheet to Ben Greenman's tour stops in LA, Seattle, Portland, Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia and New York to investigate. Amy Krause Rosenthal did a solemnly awesome thing for the 2005 release of her book Encyclopedia of An Ordinary Life She hid hundred copies around Chicago, each with a letter asking the finder to let her know what they thought, a charming approach to book promotion, an activity often approached with all the levity of wart removal. That's part of what we've liked about AKR's attitude and career from the beginning: It says being a writer should be the point of departure for creativity not one end of a closed loop. Some time back, she produced a CD Magazine and companion radio show called "Writer's Block Party," more evidence that the rewards of the literary life are as much whom you get to work with as what you get to work on. Ms. Rosenthal writes mostly for kids these days and is currently on tour on both coasts and in the Chicago area. No word heard what razzle zazzle she'll give to this effort but if anything less than books that double as medical devices, we'll be sad. Naw, just ribbing. We're too busy being charmed. No surprise that TST is the very last to hear about Colson Whitehead's new novel Sag Harbor . We are perennially last party notified in all matters Colson Whitehead, from new books , to friends in common (one introduced us some years back), to his presence on Twitter to our birthdates in the same decade. Had we not met, we would have stayed convinced that any gentlemen named Colson Whitehead, had, at minimum, been elected to the federal bench by Lyndon Johnson. But no, this Mr. Whitehead probably also watched "Welcome Back, Kotter" while revving at the literary starting line. Now, five books and MacArthur "Genius grant", our fandom is about 14 years too late, as timely and prescient as spats. Eventually we came around and cheer the process of Mr. Whitehead as he visits bookstores and libraries on both coasts. Text message to Mary Gaitskill, currently on tour for her new story collection "Don't Cry." Could we lay off the "Fear me, I'm icy!" vibe? TST loves it in your books ( "Veronica" gave us night terrors for a week) but an author photo that looks like you brought unending winter to Narnia? We get you work doesn't find the world welcoming. We don't need a reminder engraved across your cheekbones. Overheard: Effusive and deserved praise for Indiebound's new iPhone app , which enables ordering any book you wish from an independent bookstore. From your phone. Home delivered. Also tells you the nearest independent from right where you're standing. Downloaded immediately. Still dancing across the sky in celebration. Befuddled wonderment at Hotel St. George Press , a small publishing house that "committed to producing books resistant to the predictable trends of genre, style and structure endemic to corporate publishing." It's an impressive mission backed digitally by a website as labrynthine as a Chinese puzzle box. Linked hallways and passages dead end in snatches of poetry, sound art and fables. The idea here seems to immersion, the way an old hotel seems to enrobe you in its history and the whispers of its ghosts. Its an easy place to get lost and for all the right reasons. Which is why this sentence arrived a full 2 hours after the previous one. Three guesses as to where we were. In a cafe in Berkeley, CA: "Who would you rather make love to? Michael Chabon, Michael Lewis or Michael Pollan?" A bachelor auction would settle this matter immediately. Overlooked We got to know Laila Lalami back during the last Iron Age, i.e. when the number of people who actively blogged about books could fit inside a large inner tube. Laila published a blog focusing on literature of the non-western world, a worldly and infinitely classier affair than whatever we were doing then, which, if memory serves, was composing mash notes to Amy Bender and matching Chuck Palahniuk and James Ellroy up in imaginary street brawls. Anyway, Laila's blogging less since completing the story collection Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits in 2005 and now a novel Secret Son . She's on tour for the latter (Seattle, Portland, LA, Miami, DC) throughout the month of May. Ms. L's one of those writing you feel smarter listening to. We've only heard her read thus far and haven't dipped in ourselves, an oversight we equate with sniffing Nestle hot chocolate while a stack of fine chocolate awaits consumption in the next room. Fixing this lapse has been ported to the "must do" list that hangs beneath our shaving mirror. We hope Ms. Lamani forgives us when she swings through the region Mid-May and we come out to offer congratulations and a hug. Cheap cocoa stays at home. Kevin Smokler is the co-founder of BookTour.com, the world's largest directory of author and literary events. Follow TST on twitter (@book_tour) or yell the old fashioned way at tst@booktour.com . Send items, mutterings and banana peels to TST@booktour.com . Or pop us in 140 character gel caps on Twitter ( @book_tour ). On the Road:
 
Anita Thompson: Charles Ponzi vs Bernie Madoff: Stealing from the Rich Top
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, NEW YORK: Being a mid-thirties school girl has its advantages -- like being forced to ponder things that are normally off my radar. In my American Studies class today, guest lecturer Steve Fraser, author of Wall Street: America's Dream Palace was invited to give us a crash course in the history of that legalized gambling temple. Of course the stock market shenanigans have become blazing headliners of late, and I've had my run-ins with Kenneth Lay at home in Colorado, but it was only this weekend that I learned that a Ponzi scheme isn't a trick invented by a guy in a Park Avenue Penthouse. Steve Frazer explains that Charles Ponzi was one type of confidence man of the historic Wall Street scoundrels of the Jazz Age. People like Charles Ponzi rose from obscurity and came and went relatively quickly after being caught stealing from poor people. By the summer of 1920, Charles Ponzi was rich and famous, and by the end of the summer, he was behind bars for fraud. Taking the bait, a favorite American Studies Professor, Casey Blake , asked "What's the difference between Bernie Madoff and Charles Ponzi?" The answer: Charles Ponzi swindled the working poor. Bernie Madoff swindled the Uber Rich -- the ones in-the-know. Well, apparently not so in-the-know. This is not a stunning epiphany for you, I'm sure. It's simply a sober reminder that if those-in-the-know don't even know, then who knows? Apparently the AIG in-the-know corporate execs might know, even though Allan Greenspan didn't know. Hmm. I'm spending nearly all my savings on tuition to learn that nobody knows. The other disadvantage of being a mid-thirties back to school girl, is that at the sound of the bell, I had to scramble off with my backpack to catch up on my reading for the next class. So I couldn't ask about Fraser's comment, "if it's too big to fail, then there's something wrong with the system." His (mostly) solid support of Barack Obama's actions beg more questions than I had time to ask. I you're interested in a brief, entertaining account of the peculiar history of "The Street," read Steve Fraser's Wall Street to find out just how much nobody knows. If stealing from in-the-know insiders is as easy as sending an embossed invitation, then who is looking out for Ponzi's crowd? I sure hope the Obama knows...
 
Ilan Goldenberg: 100 Days, 100 Foreign Policy Achievements Top
President Obama's first 100 days have seen an enormous amount of activity on national security - travel by the President, his Cabinet and envoys, gestures intended to signal a change in the US's approach to the world, and substantive reforms to policy overseas and the conduct of policy at home. In 100 days, the Obama Administration has taken more than 100 actions that are reshaping American foreign policy, reversing the failures of the Bush Administration, and renewing America's standing in the world. Ten of the most significant actions are: • Moving to end the war in Iraq and ensure that it no longer dominates all other American national security interests; • Refocusing on Afghanistan and Pakistan and preparing a comprehensive strategy to address the threat posed by Al Qaeda there; • Leading a global response to the economic crisis through the G20, obtaining commitments of $1.1 trillion to safeguard the world's most vulnerable economies; • Returning to techniques that are proven and moral standards that the world looks to us to uphold by banning torture and moving to close the Guantanamo Bay detention center ; • Reinvigorating the transatlantic alliance by treating our European allies as full partners, supporting a growing role for the European Union, and mediating among allies at the NATO Summit; • Setting out a major agenda to protect Americans from the spread and use of deadly weapons , with a long-term commitment to work toward eliminating nuclear weapons and an immediate plan to negotiate new nuclear weapons cuts with Russia; • Re-engaging with Muslim nations through targeted, positive public diplomacy; • Presenting a national security budget that prepares the US for 21st century challenges , begins to rebalance between civilian and military programs and targets unnecessary, ineffective and wasteful spending; • Inaugurating a new era of improved relations in our own hemisphere by beginning to open to Cuba and investing in a plan to help Mexico fight drug cartels; • Reaching out to begin a new approach to Iran based on negotiations and rebuilding consensus among key US partners. Iraq 1. President Obama completed an internal strategy review on Iraq, and announced a plan to end the war in Iraq, putting in place the political, diplomatic, and military components necessary for U.S. forces to withdraw by the end of 2011, and transition responsibility to Iraqis. 2. After years of Iraq policy which drew contempt from Iraqis and produced deep political divisions at home, President Obama united 80% of Americans behind a new strategy, which also drew historic support from Iraqis. 3. In his first visit to Iraq as President, Obama pushed Iraq's leaders to make much needed progress on political reconciliation. Afghanistan-Pakistan 4. US diplomatic and military engagement in Pakistan helped guide the country out of an acute political crisis , which rose out of tensions between President Zardari and opposition leader Nawaz Sharif. 5. The Obama Administration completed a strategic review of US policy towards Afghanistan and Pakistan, refocusing the U.S. from the war in Iraq to the region where the September 11 attacks originated. 6. The Obama administration committed to a comprehensive approach to Pakistan which includes greater development aid, support for democratic institutions, and assistance to the Pakistani military in fighting the insurgency. 7. President Obama unified policy implementation in South Asia by appointing Ambassador Richard Holbrooke United States Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan; Holbrooke wasted no time, quickly traveling to the region for a listening tour involving all the key players. 8. In an unprecedented trilateral exercise, the Obama Administration brought key leaders from Afghanistan and Pakistan to Washington to help coordinate the President's strategic review policy analysis. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced that these meetings would continue and a Presidential trilateral is scheduled for May. 9. The United States organized an international conference on Afghanistan at The Hague to gain support for the completed U.S. strategy review from key regional and international players in a coordinated diplomatic effort. 10. At a recent Pakistan donor's conference in Tokyo, the U.S. secured aid commitments of roughly $5bn " to bolster the country's economy and help it fight terror and Islamic radicalism ." 11. Thanks to President Obama's encouragement, NATO members pledged various military and foreign aid contributions to the mission in Afghanistan. Global Economic Crisis 12. In response to the global economic crisis, the Obama administration s uccessfully built consensus among the world's major economies at the G20 conference in Europe on a coordinated response based on financial assistance, regulation, and a commitment to free trade. 13. Obama led G20 leaders to commit $1.1 trillion as part of a global stimulus fund for the IMF, intended to stave off economic catastrophe by propping up the world's vulnerable economies. 14. Along with other heads of government, Obama agreed on improved global financial regulation , including the creation of a new Financial Stability Board, regulation of hedge funds, and tax havens. 15. President Obama and the Democratic Congress led the world in responding to the economic crisis and the President signed a major economic stimulus package on the 29th day of his presidency. Terrorism, Detainees and Torture 16. The Obama administration moved beyond the antagonistic rhetoric of the past by dropping the phrase 'War on Terror'. 17. President Obama signed an executive order to ban torture and subject all interrogations to Army Field Manual Standards that conform to the Geneva Conventions. 18. Obama signed an executive order to close the detention camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba within a year. 19. President Obama signed an executive order to close CIA secret prisons . 20. Obama ordered a comprehensive review of U.S. detention and interrogation policies and kicked it off with visits by Attorney General Eric Holder and White House Counsel Greg Craig to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. 21. Obama named one of America's top diplomats , Dan Fried, as "Guantanamo Closure Czar." 22. Obama administration released Bush era "torture memos" in an effort to return transparency to the executive branch. 23. The Obama administration began a review of the Military Commissions system in order to reverse the failed policy that led to only one conviction of a terror suspect under the Bush administration. 24. The Obama Administration further solidified intelligence sharing with key allies by signing a national agreement with Germany on counterterrorism cooperation. Europe 25. President Obama , Vice President Biden , and Secretary of State Clinton all affirmed the importance of the European Union and visited Brussels and Prague, signaling a new period in transatlantic relations. 26. President Obama and Vice President Biden dramatically shifted U.S. policy on European defense by expressing support for an EU defense force. 27. At the NATO Summit , Obama used the opportunity to restore America's commitment to the historic military alliance. 28. Obama personally acted as arbiter between Denmark and Turkey in the appointment of the new NATO Secretary General. 29. President Obama reached out to the European people through public forums in France, the Czech Republic, and Turkey. 30. Holding meetings in Washington and London , President Obama, together with Gordon Brown, strengthened the "Special Relationship." 31. Obama visited Turkey , taking a major step to repair a critical alliance . 32. Thanks in part to Obama's encouragement and his meetings with Turkish and Armenian officials, Turkey and Armenia announced plans to normalize relations. Nonproliferation 33. In a major address in Prague, Obama laid out a comprehensive vision to reduce the dangers of proliferation and work toward a nuclear free world , recommitting the U.S. to strengthening the global nonproliferation regime and reducing its stockpile of nuclear weapons. 34. Obama pledged to work with the Senate to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and, in a sign of the issue's importance to the President, entrusted responsibility for the initiative to Vice President Biden. 35. The Obama administration and Russia announced plans to begin talks on a new START treaty to reduce nuclear arsenals to approximately 1,500 . Russia 36. Secretary of State Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met in Geneva and agreed to "reset" the U.S.-Russia relationship. 37. President Obama and Russian President Dmitri Medvedev signed a joint statement pledging cooperation across a range of issues and resetting the tone for U.S.-Russia relations. Iran 38. In a move that changed the tone of U.S-Iran relations, President Obama directly addressed Iran's people and leaders on the eve of the Iranian New Year and referred to the "Islamic Republic of Iran." 39. President Obama reached out to Iran during his inaugural address , offering to "extend a hand" in exchange for an "unclench[ed] fist." 40. The Obama administration engaged Iran on the issue of Afghanistan by inviting a representative from Tehran to the Hague Conference and having Special Representative Richard Holbrooke meet with him , the " first step toward unlocking 30 years of tense relations ." 41. President Obama gained support from Iran for joint efforts in Afghanistan on counternarcotics issues. 42. Thanks to the Obama administration's efforts, Iran pledged $350 million at a Pakistan donors conference in Tokyo. 43. The Obama
 
Eric C. Anderson: Beijing Preparing for Exodus from U.S. Treasury Notes Top
The cost of borrowing money in the United States is going to increase. Not tomorrow, and likely not in the next six months, but in the foreseeable future it is going to become increasingly expensive to finance your car, home, and college education. I come to that conclusion in the wake of reports that China--our largest creditor--is now looking to significantly diversify her holdings. This development came with a warning. In late January 2009, China's leaders began to make it quite clear they had lost faith in Washington's ability to responsibly oversee the international financial system. At the annual global gathering of economic and political leaders in Davos, Switzerland, Wen Jiabao forthrightly blamed the U.S.-led financial system for the ongoing international recession. According to China's Premier, "excessive expansion of financial institutions in blind pursuit of profit," a failure of government supervision, and an "unsustainable model of development, characterized by prolonged low savings and high consumption," were directly to blame for the crisis. This finger-waving lecture, however, included a call for Beijing and Washington to cooperate in efforts to "fight the financial crisis and promote constructive and cooperative bilateral relations." Speaking with reporters from the Financial Times on 2 February, Wen stated, "We believe that to maintain cooperation between China and the United States serves world peace, stability, and prosperity." As it turns out, Beijing wasn't willing to wait on Washington. In late March, Zhou Xiaochuan, the governor of the People's Bank of China, released a paper calling for the establishment of a new "super-sovereign reserve currency" to replace the dollar. Zhou argued the new currency reserve system should be controlled by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as a means of avoiding the "inherent vulnerabilities and systemic risks in the existing international monetary system." Interestingly, despite the fact China currently holds the world's largest foreign exchange reserve--an estimated $2 trillion--the new "super-sovereign reserve currency" is to be supranational. Zhou contends the global dominance of a few currencies--the dollar, euro and yen--leaves the international financial system more volatile and vulnerable. Zhou's solution--expand the use of "special drawing rights." The IMF created special drawing rights in the 1960s. Under this system, the supranational currency has a value determined by a basket of major currencies. Nations would gain access to--and control over--these special drawing rights through increased contributions to the International Monetary Fund. As the Wall Street Journal observed, this would increase the role and powers of the IMF--indicating "that China and other international developing nations aren't hostile to international financial systems--they just want to have more say in running them." The Wall Street Journal is right. During the last week of March, Beijing said it would be willing to make more money available to the IMF so as to increase the institution's ability to assist nations suffering the consequences of the current financial crisis. The catch? Beijing wants greater IMF voting rights. As an economist for Deutsche Bank told the Journal, "China sees this as a good opportunity to increase [Beijing's] influence." As it turns out, it China also sees the expanded IMF holdings as a means of escaping Beijing's over-investment in American debt. On 24 April, officials from Brazil, Russia, India and China (commonly referred to as the BRIC) met to discuss how they would contribute to the proposed $1 trillion fund. The response from IMF critics--this new fund could become competition for similar bond offerings from sovereign nations...like the United States. In order to continue drawing investors these sovereign debtors would either have to pay higher returns or curtail their deficit spending. I'm not sure the first option will work. Unlike U.S. Treasury notes, the IMF bonds have the additional allure of support from a deep-pocketed multi-national consortium. If I was a central banker in China my bet would be with the IMF bond--at this stage Washington appears intent on printing money until the dollar is worthless. China is not just interested in this new IMF investment option. Over the last couple of years Beijing has been quietly purchasing gold--and now has $31 billion invested in the previous metal. Couple this development with reports that Beijing's sovereign wealth fund is also shopping on the commodities market and one comes to a grim conclusion...the Chinese are aggressively seeking to diversify their holdings. Please note I am not suggesting the Chinese are preparing for a rapid flight from their $744 billion investment in our national debt. As Nouriel Roubini told the Washington Post last week, "In the short run, China has no option but to accumulate dollar reserves." A fire-sale of these holdings would cause the yuan to rapidly appreciate and further drive down exports--a development the Chinese Communist Party is currently unwilling to contemplate. But, says the economist who accurately predicted the current international crisis, the Chinese are exploring a "huge number of new initiatives" for resolving this problem in the not-so-distant future. Why should you care? When the Chinese stop--or dramatically curtail--their purchase of U.S. Treasury notes Washington is going to have to find a new creditor. Good luck. Domestic savings won't cover the bill and other international investors are likely to follow the smart money. That is to say, other BRIC members and the Middle East are likely to follow China's lead. As a result, the average American consumer is going to pay more for a loan--anywhere from 150-300 basis points more. All of which leads me to conclude when China talks we need to listen...I sure have no faith left in the likes of EF Hutton. More on China
 
California Democrats Call For Criminal Investigation Of Bybee Top
The California state Democratic Party called for a "vigorous investigation" into the "possible criminal actions of Judge Jay Bybee and others" on Sunday at the party's annual convention in Sacramento. The resolution supporting the investigation passed by a voice vote and stops short of calling for immediate impeachment. "The thinking is, if you're having hearings, don't announce on the first day that you're convicting," said Bob Mulholland, a state party adviser. "In this case, the evidence is overwhelming, but clearly it's going to be up to Congress and the U.S. Justice Department to pursue anything." John Heaner, one of the author's of the resolution, said that its passage is significant because it means investigations have support not just at the grassroots level but among elected California leaders. "The state party doesn't act unilaterally on these sorts of things. There are consultations behind the scenes," said Heaner. "At some level there was a go-ahead given." Heaner noted that the House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, is a California Democrat and that her daughter Christine Pelosi is an active member of the state party and head of the platform committee. "Yes, it was a grassroots effort but we are united in a way that hasn't come to the surface yet," he said. "When a resolution comes in that may be controversial, we work carefully within the party mechanism." The Washington Post quoted a number of friends of Bybee's on Saturday saying that he regretted having signed the torture memos. But Bybee continues to serve as a judge on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, based in San Francisco, a position he was appointed to because the Bush administration was pleased with the work he did for the White House. Impeachment hearings would begin in the House Judiciary Committee, where chairman John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) has vowed to look into the role that Bush administration attorneys such as Bybee played in illegally authorizing torture. The state party's action is meant to encourage those hearings and demonstrate that support for investigations is a mainstream Democratic Party position. "This is a message to them: 'Hey, we're backing you up, Congress, so continue the investigations and the hearings,'" said Mulholland. "I would think an overwhelming number of Democratic voters in California would agree with this." David Dayen, a blogger and a delegate to the convention, helped push the resolution through committee and onto the floor. The statement is meant to let California Democratic lawmakers know that "their state party just supported immediate congressional inquiry and need you as members of the state party to follow that." Dayen said backers of the resolution will focus specifically on the six California Democrats on the Judiciary Committee: Howard Berman, Linda Sanchez, Brad Sherman, Zoe Lofgren, Maxine Waters and Adam Schiff. Sanchez, a key subcommittee chairwoman in the judiciary committee, previously told the Huffington Post she is "not comfortable" with Bybee serving a lifelong term on the federal bench. "I feel that if we fail to act on these detestable facts, we are sending the wrong message," she said. On Saturday, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) expressed openness to investigations, which party activists took as a sign that state party leaders were on board. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) is leading an investigation as chairwoman of the intelligence committee, but much of her report may end up classified. Another subcommittee chairman, Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), has called for Bybee's impeachment, as has the New York Times editorial board. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has said that if Bybee is "decent and honorable" he will resign. John Podesta, the head of Obama's transition team, said much the same on CNN over the weekend. "If he would do the right thing, he should just simply resign. If he doesn't, I think this is one matter where he continues to sit -- he doesn't have the moral or legal authority to continue to do that. And I think a simple matter would be to remove him from office," he said. On Monday, Dayen launched an online effort to drive phone calls and e-mails to committee members, calling for hearings to impeach Bybee, in coordination with FireDogLake.com . The full resolution: CALLING FOR THE INVESTIGATION OF JUDGE JAY BYBEE AND OTHERS FOR THEIR ROLE IN ALLOWING TORTURE AS PART OF "ENHANCED INTERROGATION" Whereas, former Assistant Attorney General, and current Federal Judge of the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Jay Bybee signed the "Bybee Memo," or "Torture Memo" of August 1, 2002, which advised the C.I.A. that "cruel, inhuman or degrading" treatment was at times allowable under U.S. law, and authored, co-authored and signed other memos on "extraordinary rendition" and "enhanced interrogation," more of which are being currently revealed to the American public as the new Administration brings them to light; and Whereas the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment, the supreme law of the land under Article VI of our Constitution, requires the prosecution of those who authorize torture, and it has been established that waterboarding is torture; and Whereas, on January 15, 2009 before leaving office, President George W. Bush, in an effort to cover his culpability, and the culpability of others, had his Office of Legal Counsel in the Department of Justice issue a memo stating that certain opinions issued in 2001-2003 with respect to "the allocation of authorities between President and Congress in matters of war and national security do not reflect the current view of this Office;" Therefore be it resolved that the California Democratic Party supports resolution of inquiry and vigorous investigation of these and related actions by the Congress of the United States, including the full use of Congressional subpoena power authority and all appropriate remedies, to disclose completely the possible criminal actions of Judge Jay Bybee and others to the American people and to take necessary and available action with appropriate remedies and punishment allowed by law; and Be it further resolved, that a copy of this resolution with its original authorization be sent to the Office of the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, and the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, and that copies of the signed resolution be sent to each Democratic member of the California delegation to the United States Senate and House of Representatives. Ryan Grim is the author of the forthcoming book This Is Your Country On Drugs: The Secret History of Getting High in America
 
Caption This Photo, Vote For Friday's Best, See Thursday's Winner! Top
Original Caption: President Obama's chief economic adviser Larry Summers falls asleep during a high-profile meeting with credit card industry officials in the White House on Thursday. THURSDAY'S FAVORITES: FRIDAY'S WINNER: "What do you make of Mr. Cheney's comments, Madame Secretary?" By LeRob. More on Caption Contest
 
Mexico Earthquake: Felt In Mexico City, Centered Near Chilpancingo Top
MEXICO CITY — A strong earthquake struck central Mexico on Monday, swaying tall buildings in the capital and sending office workers into the streets. The quake had a magnitude of 5.6 and was centered near Chilpancingo, about 130 miles (210 kilometers) southwest of Mexico City or 50 miles (80 kilometers) from the resort of Acapulco, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Televisa television network quoted Mexico City officials saying there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. The quake rattled nerves in a city already nervous about a swine flu outbreak suspected of killing as many as 149 people nationwide. "I'm scared," said Sarai Luna Pajas, a 22-year-old social services worker standing outside her office building moments after it hit. "We Mexicans are not used to living with so much fear, but all that is happening _ the economic crisis, the illnesses and now this _ it feels like the Apocalypse." Co-worker Harold Gutierrez, 21, said the country was taking comfort from its religious faith, but he too was gripped by the sensation that the world might be coming to an end. "If it is, it is God's plan," Gutierrez said, speaking over a green mask he wore to ward off swine flu. USGS earthquake analyst Don Blakeman said the quake was felt strongly in Mexico City because the epicenter was relatively shallow and the ground under the capital _ which is built on a former lake bed _ tends to intensify shock waves. "Distant quakes are often felt" strongly in the city, he said. The USGS revised the quake's magnitude down from its preliminary estimate of 6.0, and said its depth was 30 miles (50 kilometers). ___ Associated Press writer Dan Elliott in Denver contributed to this report. More on Mexico
 
Alan Schwartz, Bear Stearns' CEO, May Be Headed To Goldman Sachs Top
NEW YORK (Fortune) -- One of the few remaining mysteries from the fall of Bear Stearns is where's Alan Schwartz? Schwartz, as you may remember, was the affable M&A banker who had the misfortune of becoming Bear Stearns CEO in January 2008, two months before the 85-year-old firm collapsed. That mystery may soon be solved: Alan Schwartz appears to be headed to Goldman Sachs (GS, Fortune 500), the premier Wall Street investment bank turned bank holding company. More on Goldman Sachs
 
Phil Trounstine: What Actually Happened at the California Democratic Party convention Top
By Phil Trounstine and Jerry Roberts Calbuzz.com Bottom line on the California Democratic Party convention: San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom made the biggest splash and showed off a slick campaign operation but Attorney General Jerry Brown proved anew that, even without a campaign apparatus, his political presence remains commanding. Newsom's well-delivered speech, ubiquitous team of volunteers, flashy street party and fireside chat for bloggers signaled to potential donors, activists and cognoscenti that his nascent campaign for governor is for real. But his effort to frame the 2010 Democratic primary as a generational battle of future versus past - casting Brown as a "stroll down memory lane" - was far from convincing. Portraying Brown as the political status quo is like trying to paint Mick Jagger as musically obsolete. -- Read on at Calbuzz.com --
 
Back On! Pink Reconciles With Ex Corey Hart Top
NEW YORK -- When Pink came up with the circus-themed theatrics for her "Funhouse" tour, she didn't think she'd be sharing her big-top theme with another pop singer. She sighs with resignation when a comparison is made to Britney Spears' latest tour, "The Circus," which, like Pink's tour, features high-flying dancers and acrobats, and is a grand spectacle. Both Pink and Spears based their theme on the title of their latest album (both CDs were released last year; Pink's came out first). Spears' tour opened in March. Tickets for the U.S. leg of Pink's tour, which started in Europe, go on sale Saturday. "Had I known that certain other people were going to base their latest thing about circus things, I probably would have went into another direction," the big-voiced, 29-year-old singer says. "I was six months before that and didn't really understand that it was a trend that was happening. I'm pretty out of the loop." Not that anyone would confuse their tours. Spears' show is a lip-synched, dance-oriented affair, while Pink says her show is all about gritty, emotional rock 'n' roll -- "two hours of group therapy." In a recent interview, she talked about channeling her feelings through song, getting back together with her ex-husband and her philosophy on love. AP: You say this is your first headlining tour in the U.S. What took you so long? Pink: I don't know. I've put a lot of work in as far as being a touring artist, and I've been doing it on a pretty large scale for seven or eight years now (overseas). AP: Lots of musicians have used the circus for inspiration. Why do you think artists connect with circuses? Pink: All of us when we were little probably wanted to run away and join the circus because it's full of what mainstream society considers freakish and the outcasts, and it's kind of sexy and exciting and big and over the top. AP: There's been talk that you and Corey Hart are getting back together and even remarrying. Is that true? Pink: I don't know where the remarriage thing came from. That kind of came out of the air. We are definitely back together. AP: What did you take away from your time apart? Pink: We try to protect ourselves from being fully in love and fully open and fully vulnerable, and really all we're doing is protecting ourselves from love and real love and the opportunity to really learn and grow with another person, so it's actually really detrimental, and you think it's helping. AP: So your advice would be ... Pink: Dive in. Absolutely, it's not going to kill you. AP: So would you remarry? Pink: We never really legally got divorced. Paperwork for both of us is really annoying (laughs). So we're choosing to be together. Our role models are Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon and Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn -- people who just choose to be together every day because they want to be there. And labels have never been our thing, so, we're just diving into that empty swimming pool, headfirst. AP: Much of the last record dealt with your split. Is it hard to sing those songs now? Pink: Aside from a few songs that are completely vulnerable for me, when I'm writing even my angry kind of "So What," for me, it's every emotion involved -- I'm being sarcastic, I'm being silly, I'm being angry, I'm all of these emotions, all at the same time, so I include them in my songs. So it's still silly, it's still funny, I still have anger. It's really easy to just be right back there. ... I don't have a hard time transplanting myself straight back to that moment.
 
Aerosmith Settles Class-Action Lawsuit By Offering Maui Concert Top
WAILUKU, Hawaii — Free tickets to see Aerosmith in Hawaii? Dream on, unless you happen to be one of 8,300 people left in the cold when the band canceled a sold-out concert in 2007. Aerosmith has agreed to perform on Maui to settle a class-action lawsuit filed by fans who alleged the band pulled out of the show in favor of a larger concert in Chicago and a more lucrative private performance for Toyota dealers on Oahu. The suit claimed the cancellation cost Maui ticket buyers between $500,000 and $3 million in travel costs, handling fees and other expenses. "Everyone who bought a ticket to the original concert will receive a free ticket, and all out-of-pocket expenses will be reimbursed regardless of the amount," said Brandee Faria, an attorney representing the would-be concertgoers. The date for the new Maui concert has not been set, but Faria said it will likely be in September or October, after Aerosmith wraps up its North America tour. Aerosmith attorney Jay Handlin said the band was glad to reach the settlement. "The band is about the music," Handlin said. "So they are glad to be able to resolve this in a way that really focuses on connecting or reconnecting the people of Hawaii with the band and its music."
 
What Was A Necessity Is Now A Luxury: Survey Top
From the kitchen to the laundry room to the home entertainment center, Americans are paring down the list of familiar household appliances they say they can't live without, according to a new national survey by the Pew Research Center's Social & Demographic Trends project. No longer do substantial majorities of the public say a microwave oven, a television set or even home air conditioning is a necessity. Instead, nearly half or more now see each of these items as a luxury. Similarly, the proportion that considers a dishwasher or a clothes dryer to be essential has dropped sharply since 2006. More on Economy
 
Brad Pitt Takes Sons To Niagara Falls Top
NIAGARA FALLS, Ont.--People magazine may have named him "Sexiest Man Alive" twice, but even Brad Pitt looked a little goofy in his blue Maid of the Mist poncho. The superstar actor was in Niagara Falls, Ont., on a picture-perfect afternoon to take in the sights of the world-famous cataracts Saturday. In tow were two of his sons, Maddox and Pax; his parents, Bill and Jane, and his bodyguards. The group enjoyed the attractions while remaining relatively under the radar. More on Brad Pitt
 
Burris Gaffe: Introduces Durbin As 'The Senior Citizen' Of Illinois As Biden Laughs Top
CHICAGO (AP) -- U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin is younger than Sen. Roland Burris, but that didn't stop Burris from calling his fellow Democrat Illinois' "senior citizen." The 71-year-old Burris introduced Durbin at an event Monday with Vice President Joe Biden . Instead of calling his 64-year-old colleague Illinois' senior senator, Burris called him "the senior citizen of the great state of Illinois." The audience laughed, and Burris quickly corrected his error. Apparently, it wasn't the first time Burris had made that slip. He told the crowd at a window factory on Chicago's North Side that he made the same faux pas at a committee hearing once. More on Joe Biden
 
Patt Cottingham: Goodbye/Hello 5 Obama's Strength In Relationship Building Top
There is a major shift occurring in how President Obama is engaging foreign leaders. He is not afraid to admit to mistakes that America has undergone in the past; this reconciliation is wiping the slate clean for new relationships to be forged. If listening and engaging in an open dialogue will elicit trust he will do so; if bowing acknowledges a sign of respect he will do so; if smiling and shaking the hand of an enemy will diffuse misunderstandings he will do so. President Obama is leaving behind bravado, bluster, and posturing to reclaim America's standing on the world stage. Obama's strength is his ability to listen, be open, secure, and confident in his ability to build bridges. Will this new form of relationship building diplomacy be tested? Most certainly, Obama will have to back up open dialogue and engagement with firm conditions, parameters, and lines drawn in the sand. In 400 BC Sun-tzu a Chinese general & military strategist said, "Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer." As wise as this advice is the GOP or Grand Old Party is having trouble with seeing the strength of this new form of diplomacy. Take for example the recent comments of Newt Gingrich and Dick Cheney - they see relationship building as soft, and fear that it makes America look weak. Gingrich said on Fox News Channel. "I think there is something fundamentally wrong with weakness in America, and then playing to placate dictators." "This does look a lot like Jimmy Carter," Gingrich added. "Carter tried weakness and the world got tougher and tougher because the predators, the aggressors, the anti-Americans, the dictators, when they sense weakness, they all start pushing ahead." Dick Cheney, accused Obama of making America less safe with foreign policy reversals. He also said that while he understands blaming the previous administration, he's concerned that the new president is appearing weak. On excerpts released by Fox News Cheney said, "What I find disturbing is the extent to which he has gone to Europe, for example, and seemed to apologize profusely in Europe, and then to Mexico, and apologize there, and so forth." America has everything to gain in reaching out in confidence to build new relationships with the world's nations. President Obama sees that the path to reclaiming American respect in the world is paved with understanding world leaders. This will take building relationships forged on trust and common goals, which cannot be achieved by being in fear or succumbing to weakness. Goodbye to relationship building as seen as a sign of weakness. Hello to relationship building as seen of a sign of strength. Goodbye to the old thinking that says you cannot find common ground. Hello to new thinking that looks for common ground. Goodbye to diplomacy based on fear of extending a hand. Hello to diplomacy based on the courage to extend a hand. More on GOP
 
FAA: Wildlife Strikes On The Rise, Destroying Planes Top
The annual number of collisions between aircraft and wildlife quadrupled from 1990 to 2007 and poses a growing threat to aviation, according to a Federal Aviation Administration report released online Friday. More on Travel
 
William 'Refrigerator' Perry Upgraded To Fair Condition Top
AIKEN, S.C. (AP) -- Former Chicago Bears defensive lineman William "The Refrigerator" Perry has been upgraded to fair condition in a South Carolina hospital. The 46-year-old Perry has been hospitalized for two weeks to deal with complications from Guillain-Barre (gee-LAN' bah-RAY') Syndrome, a chronic inflammation disorder of the peripheral nerves. He had previously been listed in serious condition. Perry's relatives have said he was expected to recover. Aiken Regional Medical Center spokeswoman Melissa Summer said Monday she could offer no additional details about Perry's hospital stay. The 300-pound-plus defensive tackle played for the Bears' 1985 Super Bowl team and helped lead Clemson to the 1981 national championship. More on Sports
 
Matthew-Lee Erlbach: TriBeCa Interview: Barry Levinson and the Politics of Politics Top
by Matthew-Lee Erlbach and Carmelo Larose Barry Levinson is an Academy Award-winning American screenwriter, film director, actor, and producer of film and television best known for Good Morning Vietnam, Rain Man, Wag the Dog, Liberty Heights, and the HBO series OZ, as well as many other notable and important works on screen. His latest documentary, Poliwood, about the 2008 Republican and Democratic conventions is premiering at the 2009 TriBeCa Film Festival: www.TribecaFilm.com for more info. Would you say Poliwood is more of an extension or a departure of your other work and in what ways? BL: I think it's an extension in certain ways. It's an extension of what I've been doing in some cases unconsciously with works like Avalon, which dealt with the effects of television on the family, on the American family. It certainly goes through Wag the Dog. It certainly goes through Man of the Year about a comedian becoming president of the United States because of other issues--computers, the break down of computers, etc. So I mean it deals with many of the thematic things I've always been interested in. How would you define satire in this sense? BL: I think it's getting harder and harder to define satire, because we are living--as the movie says--in an age of satire. That's a given. In a hundred years from now we can look back on some of these things and we'll think it's so insane, so crazy... I mean take Obama and that big meeting he had in Latin America: what becomes the big substantial thing that we talked about is that Obama shook hands with Chavez; he had a smile on his face when he shook hands. And we keep talking about that asking if this was bad for diplomacy, whatever... Are we crazy? Bad for what? It's absurd. BL: I mean have we lost our minds? It doesn't make any sense. It has no substance whatsoever. I don't care how you want to read into it. It is nothing more than a piece of video or a still shot. It is absurd and we're analyzing it. You know what I mean? And we do that on a regular basis until the point that we have to waste time debating it. "I don't think he's strong enough of a leader because he..." people are saying. I mean there's no substance to it. How do you feel about the release of the torture memos? While important, is the timing of this release another way of distracting the American public from the other things that are going on, like the hijacking of taxpayer money for the banks, immigration raids, etc? BL: Well first of all what did they release that was so shocking, that we didn't already know? I mean the reality is if you have good torture you don't let anybody know. You know what I mean? You don't let anybody know if it's good torture. And now we're debating the issue of torture. It's too crazy to be discussing. First of all any kind of devious thing we've had that's been official, you need to keep it secret. I don't know that we're not mired in such madness right now. We are sort of distracted to the real essentials. In response to this madness, has a new political aesthetic developed in Hollywood over time and are directors taking on subject matter that they hadn't in the past? BL: No. Generally Hollywood always looks down on movies with political content. Political content is a kiss of death. They tolerate it, but they're not interested in it particularly. I think that what's happened is becoming -like the documentary said "more blurred." Everything's becoming more blurred because at the end of the day whether you're an actor or politician, you have to use media. At a certain point in time it blurs the line. Everybody's in the media, whoever they are. Therefore, they have equal significance. It's all one big overproduced stage representing an under-produced community, which relates to the discussion about Arts Education, as you did in Poliwood. Can you talk a little about the polarization of such an important issue? BL: Well first of all, I don't know why arts and education is a liberal and conservative issue. Overall, these basic social issues have been polarized. And here's what I really don't understand: you're talking about global warming and global change--it's a political issue. Now they're saying there's no real evidence that there's global change. It's part of the cycles, whatever may be. Maybe that's true but here's the other side. What's wrong with cleaning up the air anyway? I mean it's just better. What's the downside to cleaning up the air and the water? Why argue about it? Right. So why do we argue--or rather, why are these arguments created? BL: Because everything is based on entertainment today and how you create conflict. Conflict. Entertainment. That's what the documentary says. We make it. This professor says, "it's like a title fight." You know? "In this corner advocating for global change is..." We make it polarized. That's what we want because to talk about the issues in a substantial way is not entertaining enough. So we are a nation of actors, performing for ourselves. Do you see this same thing happening on the local level? Are newspapers and TV shows all over the country working with the same mentality, trying to create conflict divide the people? In small towns are they trying to get the stars to speak as well? BL: Whose gonna talk? We need to put a spotlight on something for 20 seconds. What happens is they look to some kind of celebrity or someone with a strong visibility to stimulate an issue and then you basically create the counter argument and then you go from there and then sometimes what's even more fun is to demonize someone who advocates something and that's what we do. What I didn't want to do in the documentary is comment or take someone to task because it wasn't the point. But there are some things said like one woman said, "some Hollywood stars can't even get a job if they're not a limousine liberal." Now, okay, let's analyze that statement. Well how did some of them get to be a Hollywood star if they had to be a limousine liberal? How did they get to be a star? If the business is only picking democrats for the roles then how did the Republican stars become stars? How did Arnold Schwarzenneger become a star? How did Clint Eastwood become a star? How did John Wayne get to be a star? How did Bruce Willis get to be a star if they didn't move in the limousine liberal world? It's a bogus bullshit statement. I didn't need to take it to task because that wasn't my point. It wasn't the point of the piece. It just shows how you get fed information and you believe it. Well on that note, what about the focus group at the end of your film--the stars sort of railed on this woman who said she didn't have anything in common with them. The points they made were salient but they were also elitist. There was a lot of anger there. BL: Only Tim Daly responded. Well Anne Hathaway commented later. BL: Her comment is if we have a platform the problem doesn't lie with us. It is relevant to your government that doesn't hear you. And I think that is the point. You shouldn't be mad at us. That's misguided anger. And here's the other part. Anyone who's a celebrity is looked on as being elitist. But where did they come from? Where did we come from? We come from the same place as everyone. We come from Kansas City in Missouri. We grow up in Boise, Idaho. We grow up like Matthew Modine in Salt Lake City, Utah. We grow up in the same places, but because we benefited by the society we lived in, because we benefited from the American dream you want to criticize us for benefiting from the American Dream? What kind of comment is that? On a final note, what is the responsibility of the artist to the public on a local, national or international level? BL: I think they only have an obligation as a citizen to speak up when they feel they need to speak up. Barry Levinson/ Photo by Leslie Hassler More on Satire
 
Ken Levine: This Is Why You Need to Follow Me on Twitter Top
Thank God for Twitter! Without that invaluable service I could never share with friends the really important moment-to-moment details of my life. In case you're not following me I've reassembled the Tweets you most recently missed. Having a colonoscopy tomorrow. Going out for magazines. Is it just me or does Susan Boyle look like John Madden? Okay. Starting to take the stuff. Ugggghhh! It tastes terrible. Mood: Irritable. Thinking of a Staycation this year. Any suggestions where I could stay? It's been a half hour. When is this stuff supposed to work? 45 minutes. Still nothing. 53 minutes and counting. An hour. What's the deal??? Just filled out my All-Star ballot. HOLY SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kill me NOW!!!!!!!!!!! Okay. I can breathe. Whew. YEOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's working. 8rXX3 thinks Susan Boyle looks like... wait a minute.... HOLY FRIGGIN' SHIT!!!!!!! How long is this supposed to last? Oh Christ! I forgot. Today's the day we scheduled an OPEN HOUSE here. Dennis Franz. That's who 8rXX3 thinks Susan Boyle looks like. No, you can't see the bathroom! It's currently occupied! I would trade my Emmy right now for a Tums. Wow, there are a lot of ads in Vanity Fair . Bowel mood: very irritable. Hey my legs have gone to sleep. Has that ever happened to you? There are eight people walking through my house. I almost knocked one down during the last urge. Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. I'm in hell. Moving on to Entertainment Weekly and Mercenary Life. Thanks you guys. Hearing your colonoscopy stories have really helped. LOL. It's been three hours. And two rolls. No offers on the house yet. How stupid am I part two? Choosing to do this on the day of the Top Chef marathon? Okay. I think the worst is over. Wrong!!!! Seriously. Someone. Kill me. Oh great. My real estate agent just dumped me. For some reason she feels my house doesn't "show well." I'm whipped. Better get some sleep. But here's the good news: I convinced the doctor to just give me a local. So I'm bringing my laptop and you can expect tweets during the procedure. Please check back every five minutes. You can sign up for Ken's Twitter here . And read his blog here . More on Twitter
 
Kim Bensen: Frustrated Beyond Belief! Top
Help Kim! I joined Weight Watchers in 2003 and made lifetime in 2004. Then, I began working for them. In May 2008 I had severe medical problems. Unable to exercise I have gained 12 pounds and cannot get it off. I attend a meeting every week without prevail. I weigh in. I enjoy my meetings but when I leave them my motivation goes down the drain. How can I get motivated and start losing again. Signed, Frustrated-Beyond-Belief Dear Frustrated-Beyond-Belief, First of all, ... congratulations on a job well done! It's quite an accomplishment to become Lifetime. And with all you've been through, I'm proud of you for persevering with your program. Some would have taken such physical challenges as an "excuse" to really head in the wrong direction. It's IS frustrating, though, isn't it? The good news is, you're NOT alone. I get so many email from people who tried a specific diet and had great success at it. Then, the next time around, they find that what they did isn't working. Yikes! What's going on here! One thing I tell my members all the time is this. We are never in the same place as we were. Life changes us physically and emotionally. Our relationships change; our jobs and physical locations and EVERYTHING. With all of this evolution we often revisit what "worked" before and expect that it will again and that just isn't always true. Part of it is the physical changes. As we age, most of us need less food to get the same results. Sad but true. Our metabolisms slow down a little because we are less active. We just need less! In your case, that probably is not what's going on here because it wasn't that long ago ... or is it? What about your physical activity level? Is it what it was before your physical challenges? If you're not as active, you may be expecting the same results with less physical output. Here's an example for you. When secretaries in the 1940s switched from those old manual clunker typewriters to the "modern" light touch electric typewriters, it is estimated that they burned about 200 less calories per day. In the course of a year, providing nothing else in their lives changed, that would mean a weight gain of 20 pounds! No kidding! Just from switching typewriters!! The point is, the slight change in their jobs made an unforeseen impact on their physical output. Can you imagine what they were thinking as they tried on their summer clothes? What's going on here?! Then there's the emotional changes. The "red light foods" that called our names back then may be completely different now. Nighttime eating. Bingeing. Eating out. Whatever it is, you are not the same person as you were in 2003. That's not a bad thing, it just may take a little rethinking of your situation, warding off different "head hunger" pitfalls then you had back then. Whether we're "starting again" or just continuing in maintenance, we need to be constantly reevaluating our situations. All that being said, one great motivational thrust often comes from success. You've heard the term "success breeds success". It's so true. There's nothing more motivational to keep us going that having had a great week. When we've had a gain, we sometimes get into that "what's one more day before I get back on" mentality. And, of course, tomorrow is the one day that never arrives. So we keep putting off the hard work of "getting back on". Another great motivational tool is short-term goals. Do you remember when you were so close to goal. Each week you inched a little closer. You were so close you could taste it and nothing was deterring you from that number. Then you got it! Whoo hoo! Going for a small prize can keep us on track for a time. We need to be continuously setting new ones. Probably the most important thing about motivation is to remember that it doesn't last forever. Oh, we can keep on reinventing it and working at it and getting it back. But if we don't take advantage of the time while we have it to set new habits and routines, we've lost a big part of it's benefit. I love the quote from Jim Ryun, "Motivation is what gets us started. Habit is what keeps us going." So get motivated. Work on your program mentally as well as physically. You CAN get it off. You CAN get back to goal. And you CAN stay there FOREVER! All best, Kim :)
 
Leighann Lord: The Craig's List Killer: My Sympathies to the Fiancee Top
Cops caught the Craig's List Killer last week and I can't help but feel sorry for his fiancee. I doubt she saw this coming. I'm sure "serial killer" wasn't included in his Facebook profile. Sadly, even if it was, she might have chosen to overlook it thinking she could change him. It's been reported that The Fiancee is standing by her man. The poor dear must be in shock but I understand. The wedding is scheduled for August and usually, once we buy the dress, it's full speed ahead. [CUE MUSIC: McFadden & Whitehead's "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now." ] Her decision might also be influenced by the hefty non refundable deposit on the reception hall. Although calling the wedding on account of crime sounds uniquely valid, catering managers aren't real big on refunds. As we learned with the AIG executive bonuses: a contract is a contract. You can go around abrogating them every time something heinous happens. I wonder if the faithful Fiancee will change her mind if her beloved is found guilty. She'll see this is when the competition for his attentions could start getting a little steep. There is a disturbing segment of the female population that finds serial killers irresistible. They think: "Young, smart guy going to medical school? Yeah, that's nice. Arrested for murder? Where do I sign?" His stock went up the day he got arrested. The more bizarre and sensational the trial, the sexier he'll become. He's no Jeffrey Dahmer, but he'll do in a pinch. The women who actually marry convicted death row serial killers perplex me. What are they thinking? At least I'll always know where he is? He may not be going home with her, but he's also not going home with her best friend. Maybe it's me. Maybe my standards are a tad too high, but murder's a deal breaker for me. There will come a time during the course of any relationship when you're gonna feel like killing each other. I need to know that my mate can resist that urge. Perhaps I'm being picky, but I don't want to end up buried in my own back yard. In a practical way, this Craig's List Killer thing adds to the growing list of critical questions that should be asked during the dating process: Do you use Craig's List? Do you have a gambling problem? Have you killed anyone? And be sure to read their Face Book profile. If it does happen to say a serial killer consider it a gift and get out now; unless, of course, this is exactly what you're looking. Then by all means, full speed ahead. Maybe these women are smarter than I give them credit for. The structure of the prison system takes some of the worry out of wedding planning. There's on site security, catering and no shortage of groomsmen. I'm sure there's a really bad electric slide/electric chair joke here, but I'm not gonna be the one to make it. I give my well wishes and high hopes that the husband's cell mate doesn't catch the bouquet. [RESET FACE BOOK PROFILE TO: "Complicated."] [RE-CUE MUSIC: "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now."] More on Crime
 
Harvey Wasserman: Who Will Pay for America's Chernobyl Top
As the US attempts to dig out from economic collapse, a little-known nuclear industry liability could seriously derail Obama's attempt to revive our finances. It is the federal disaster insurance on 104 rickety atomic reactors. Because the industry cannot get its own insurance, we taxpayers are on the hook. There is no "rainy day" fund to finance the clean-up after a reactor disaster. No one in government or industry can reasonably explain how we would pay for such a catastrophe. Chernobyl's lethal cloud began pouring into the atmosphere 23 years ago this week. Dr. Alexey Yablokov, former environmental advisor to the late President Boris Yeltsin, and president of the Center for Russian Environmental Policy, estimates the death toll at 300,000. It also gutted the regional economy, and accelerated the Soviet collapse. By conservative accounts Chernobyl's explosion has so far cost a half-trillion dollars, with its financial toll continuing to accrue. A disaster at a US reactor could dwarf that number. Chernobyl exploded in a remote rural region in an impoverished country. Eighty kilometers away, Kiev was heavily dusted with radiation. Its people have since suffered a marked increase in cancers, leukemia, birth defects and more. Most American reactors are in what were also considered remote regions. But Indian Point is about half as far from Manhattan as is Chernobyl from Kiev. Likewise San Onofre from Los Angeles, Turkey Point from Miami, Byron from Chicago, Grand Gulf from Baton Rouge, Seabrook and Pilgrim from Boston, Limerick and Peach Bottom from Philadelphia, Calvert Cliffs from Baltimore, Perry from Cleveland, Prairie Island and Monticello from Minneapolis. All these reactors were designed and built decades ago. Not one has enough private insurance to cover more than a tiny percentage of the potential damage. When the nuke power industry first got going, utility executives refused to invest, citing the insupportable costs of a potential disaster. Back then, the Sandia Laboratory's WASH-740 Report warned that a melt-down at an American reactor could permanently irradiate a land mass the size of Pennsylvania. The fiscal costs, like the potential death toll, were essentially inestimable. So reactor backers got Congress to pass the 1957 Price-Anderson Act to protect utilities from all but a tiny portion of the potential damage. The industry assured the public that "within a few years" atomic technology would have advanced so far that private insurers would clamor for the business. That was 52 years ago. No private insurer has stepped up to cover that first generation of reactors (check your home-owners policy for the standard exclusion clause). Neither will they do so for future reactors. The entire "new generation" of atomic plants now being so mightily hyped is also to be insured by the federal government, ie you and me. The potential financial impact is beyond comprehension. The cost of abandoning several thousand square miles of the Hudson Valley down to Manhattan, or the Atlantic shore around Boston, or the coastal regions along and into Los Angeles and the California central Valley, simply cannot be calculated. Mere trillions -- 2? 5? 20? -- become meaningless. The collapse of the currency, the utter chaos of the economic system, the burial of health care, the devastating impact on millions of lives...all defy description. All will be the responsibility of the federal government, meaning you and me. By limiting responsibility of the reactor owners we would be forced to assume liability for the claims of those who survive long enough to sue. There is no contingency plan for this in the federal budget. No secret reserve. No magic monetary bullet. Should one of these plants melt or explode, American economic life as we have known could be essentially over. Thus the re-licensing of rickety old reactors like New Jersey's Oyster Creek, Vermont Yankee and dozens more now exceeding their 40-year design span is a horrifying game of Chernobyl Roulette. Likewise the building of new ones, which also can't get private insurance. The owners assure us the odds on an accident are "acceptable." But they are not the ones liable. They are betting our everything against their pittance. Against which the hundreds of billions in Obama's stimulus plan seem a pitiful penny. Our current fiscal mess pales in comparison to what could come from the irresponsible gamble on these perilous machines. There are 104 of these radioactive roulette wheels in the US alone. Within weeks Congress may vote to spend OUR money to build still more (see www.nirs.org, www.beyondnuclear.org, www.nukefree.org). Our money and our lives are being wagered in a game that the house -- OUR house -- simply cannot win. -- Harvey Wasserman edits NukeFree.org and is Senior Editor of http://freepress.org, where this was first published. His SOLARTOPIA! Our Green-Powered Earth is at http://harveywasserman.com. =
 
Tess Ghilaga: Under the Microscope Top
When it comes to quality of life I love to swap intelligence with like-minded individuals. Fashion stylist Lulu Chen recently enticed me from my uptown digs to Organic Avenue 's Lower East Side store. This particular establishment made headlines last year when health conscious Gwyneth Paltrow requested their custom healing food/juices delivered to her while hospitalized at a Mount Sinai Hospital. I could relate. Years ago, I spent two months in traction at Mount Sinai - top-notch doctors -- the food -- hardly. In the realm of nutritional healing, I've discovered the numerous physical and emotional benefits of detoxing -- but there's always more to learn. Case in point: Denise Mari, Organic Avenue's Founder, CEO and Nutritional Microscopist, is well known for her work in blood analysis and cleanses. Perhaps she could tell me what is running through my veins. Coming off a wicked bout of bronchitis, I anxiously awaited her findings. When Mari was just eight years old she lost her younger sister to leukemia. Later, her mother was diagnosed with the same disease and also perished. These twin tragedies drove Mari to blood analysis. This past year, she trained with Dr. Robert O. Young, known for his ph miracle Alkaline Diet. By balancing the body chemistry and removing acidic thoughts and foods like meat, dairy, and simple carbohydrates, the body becomes cleaner and healthier. My blood analysis indicated that I have sensitivity to sugar, need to increase healthy fats, and eliminate animal proteins. Organic Avenue promotes the vegan lifestyle, and Mari has guided many luminaries through their LOVE (Live Organic Vegan Experience) cleanse programs. Even the acerbic jocks from the Howard Stern Show , like Tim and Robin, are thrilled with their detox programs (Robin even lost 90 pounds!). Doug Evans, Organic Avenue's Partner and Investor and Advocate for AdBrite, serves as a coach of sorts to certain top executives used to getting their way. Eternally clad in unbleached, organic fibers, he's not shy of calling his billionaire clients to the mat for craving a hamburger. Green Day is celebrated daily as Organic Avenue's juices and smoothies are contained in retro-style chubby glass bottles as an effort the save the environment. Clients return them to the store, or they are picked up as far afield as the Hamptons, Greenwich, Ct and New Jersey. Photo by: Jimmy Bruch Supermodel/author/actress Carol Alt , 48, came to this lifestyle after seeing a young friend diagnosed with reproductive cancer become cured through a raw food diet. Alt, who has been living this nearly raw diet for 13 years, and her boyfriend hockey player, Alexei Yashen, are regulars at the store and receive deliveries. Her youthful complexion is a product of her own beauty line, Raw Essentials, which has routinely sold out on HSN. Seeing her contemporary Kathy Ireland's pre-weight loss picture recently on the Huff Post confirms that eating right and managing stress does a body good. A divinely sent episode of Wife Swap perfectly illustrated the extremes of food choices in this country. One rifle-toting Mom cooks the meat her family shoots from the back woods of Kentucky and a sun-gazing (for nutrition) raw foodist from Arizona who protests animal rights. It's clear I know what the right food choices are, but I'll have to buckle for a Reese's Peanut Cup and the prime rib at the Post House every once in a while.
 
Weekend Late Night Round-Up: Take Your Child To Where You Used To Work Day, Waterboarding, And More! (VIDEO) Top
It was a fun-filled weekend with Jimmy Kimmel giving us the latest April holiday (Take Your Child To Where You Used To Work Day), and Bill Maher taking on the GOP for defending torture: "First when they talked about torture it was 'well there's just a few bad apples,' then it was 'okay we did it a couple of times,' then it was 'not really torture,' now 'it works."' More from David Letterman on Grant's tomb, and the "Soup" on beauty queens below. For more weekend round-ups, click here . WATCH: More on Late Night Shows
 
Nevadans Hope To Deter Crickets With Led Zeppelin Top
Mormon crickets have no taste in music, and Nevadans are using it against them. Residents of Tuscarora are getting ready to blast their boomboxes to ward off the crickets' semi-annual invasion, after the townsfolk realized three years ago that the pests don't like Led Zeppelin or the Rolling Stones. More on Green Living
 

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