Sunday, April 5, 2009

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Jonathan Richards: Rocket Man Top
North Korea rattles its sabers, firing off a rocket, but apparently not doing it very well. The rocket seems to have missed orbit and fallen into the sea. The Dear Leader must be pissed. Oh well. Back to the drawing board, for whoever still has his head on his shoulders. More on North Korea
 
Tess Ghilaga: Guilt-Free Glamour Top
I was in heaven over the weekend watching PBS's broadcast of The Powder & The Glory , a riveting program about Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubenstein. These archrivals, whom apparently never met, spent decades one-upping each other while masterminding their respective beauty empires and lifestyle credos. What struck me is that both entrepreneurs thrived during the Great Depression; and during World War II, though strained by scarce resources, their ingenuity managed to feed the cosmetics craze. While I lust after a frothy Rodarte spring frock this season, women like me are curtailing luxury purchases for guilt-free beauty buys that can refresh your look. Lips, lashes, skin and nails -- they've all been getting more attention this season. I spoke with makeup artist Bryan Lynde about how to look your prettiest this spring. "Keep it natural with one strong detail," says Lynde. "I want people to look natural and enhanced." One way to do this, Lynde suggests, is with a strong red lip -- but make sure it works with your outfit, and you still feel like yourself in that crimson gloss. For nails, look to pastel hues or coral shades for a vibrant shot of color. Mascaras and lash extensions are certainly having a moment, creating more expressive eyes. For natural-looking fake lashes, Lynde prefers Ardell's Duralash Flare in short black. What also resonated with me about Arden and Rubenstein was their focus on health, exercise and posture. Lynde, a vegan with 22 years in the business, also lives by these tenets. Increased hydration in warmer months is a much-needed boon for skin as well as healthy omega fatty acids. Lynde, who is known for creating flawless skin and lengthy lashes on his photo shoots, sees the benefits of a healthy diet in his client's complexion. "I think there's nothing more beautiful than radiant skin," says Lynde, who uses foundation only when necessary. With so many trends to embrace and eschew this season, skin is always in. Stick with the foods, beauty products and your favorite form of exercise to make you look and feel your best.
 
Matt Petersen: Gorbachev Joins the Call for Green Stimulus Top
On March 30, I joined President Gorbachev in San Antonio, Texas to call upon the leaders of the G20 nations and the leaders of the global energy sector to help make significant investment in solar energy immediately as one critical way to solving our current economic and environmental crises. We also unveiled Global Green's new Solar Report Card -- the first of its kind--which analyzes 16 countries' (and the state of California's) investments in solar energy . President Gorbachev, the founder of Green Cross International (Global Green USA is the American affiliate) -- who the next day addressed the 33rd NPRA International Petrochemical Conference with a similar message -- said, "It's not just a matter of rescuing the world's economy -- there is more at stake. We must not expect the outcome of this crisis will be the replicating of the same old model of the economy we had for 50 years. If we base the efforts for a healthy economy on this effort to reduce hydrocarbons, this would lay the groundwork for a sustainable economy and sustainable growth in the future," he said. "The environment has its own laws that cannot be violated. ... If we do, then we the world will be losers." Indeed, Solar is one of the key strategic investments that can help combat energy poverty, create economic growth and help fight climate change. We need governments to urgently shift subsidies for oil, gas and coal - estimated at $300 billion USD annually - toward solar and renewable technologies to create jobs, improve the lives of those in need, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The G-20 must make increased long-term commitments to solar domestically and via foreign aid for developing nations, enabling the private sector to further reduce costs via economies of scale and technological advancements. Highlights of the Solar Report Card The Global Solar Report Card by Green Cross International and its American affiliate, Global Green USA outlines successes and failures in 16 countries' (and the state of California's) efforts in designing promising policy frameworks for sustained solar development. It finds all countries still in the early phases of solar deployment, even Germany, which is currently setting the pace. The ranking is based on a 100-point system that allocates a maximum of 30 points to the amount of solar installed so far, and the remaining 70 points to drivers for future growth (56 points for financial incentives, 12 points for regulatory incentives and 2 points for educational and advocacy efforts). The following are some of the highlights of the analysis: * Germany (A-), which scored highest being the country with most PV installed and having put in place promising 'drivers for future growth', still finishes with only 70 out of a 100 possible points. The state of California (B), also scored well in 2nd place, having implemented a 10-year $3 billion rebate program for solar. * Spain (C+), which saw tremendous growth since 2007, overtook the US in 2008 as the 3rd country with the most installed PV. A period of policy uncertainty followed by a decision to cap the market for 2009 negatively affected Spain's grade. However, based on Spain's installed capacity for 2008, Spain would score a B. * The United States (C+), with the extension of its only federal-level financial support for solar, assured a much needed long term commitment to the sector. Additional support has since been allocated in the context of the stimulus package. Still, much more could be done in a country with such solar, financial and technological resources. * Countries such as Italy (C+), France (C+) and Greece (C-) fare moderately because of still young markets, but all earn points for putting in place substantial drivers for growth. Recent efforts focused on lifting bureaucratic hurdles, which have in all 3 cases, acted as significant barriers to market take up. Solar markets are expected to grow in these countries moving forward. * With recent policy changes, Australia (C) missed an opportunity to put in place a considered federal-level policy to capitalize on tremendous solar resources and spur significant investment in the country's solar sector. Similarly to the US, the country could do much more to reach its solar potential. * Japan (C), once the leading country in terms of both production and installed capacity, scored low after ending its flagship program in 2005. Japan however, hoping to regain its solar panel makers' competitive edge in the world market, recently put in place the first step of a new residential PV program. * China (D-), which seems committed to developing a clean energy infrastructure, has set ambitious targets and put in place a comprehensive renewable energy policy framework. However, the country scores poorly here because up until March 23rd, the specifics for solar PV were unclear. Indeed, China just released details for a PV rebate program. The country stands to gain a lot from supporting the deployment of solar, given its tremendous energy needs, high insulation and its position as one of the three largest PV producers in the world. * Finally, countries that rate poorly in the study are Russia (F) and Poland (F), with no solar markets and no mechanisms to capitalize on their solar potential, and to a lesser extent, the United Kingdom (D-) with a very small market and no significant support for solar growth at this time. While the UK is in the process of designing a solar support program, impact will not be seen until the end of 2010. Investing in solar energy as a strategic, focused opportunity to leverage reductions in GHGs, creating new green jobs, and improving the economy. We can also reduce energy poverty - over 2 billion in the world do not have access to modern energy services - via off the grid solar distributed power for lights and other needs, replacing what is frequently more expensive and fraught with health and safety concerns from using kerosene or candles. Gorbachev concluded our press event by saying: "The G-20 must act - together we must invest in the green economy, it is the only way forward." More on G-20 Summit
 
Matthew Filipowicz: Exteme Infants! Rocket Fuel In Baby Formula! Top
As time passes, the full extent of the damage that the Bush Administration inflicted on the country and the world is becoming more and more clear. You may recall that last September, it was reported that George Bush's Environmental Protection Agency would not regulate the amount of rocket fuel in our nation's drinking water . As a result, sites in 35 states had dangerously high levels of the chemical perchlorate in their drinking water. I actually wrote a post about it here , including a cartoon about a new "Extreme Bush Energy Drink" called Rocket Water . For those of you who haven't seen it, take a look. Now you'd think, rocket fuel in your drinking water... that's pretty bad, right? But as I said earlier, the full extent of Bush's damage has not yet entirely come to light. I say this because, in case you haven't heard, in addition to rocket fuel in our drinking water, it has now been reported that there is rocket fuel in baby formula . That's right. Baby formula. So without further ado, please enjoy my sequel to Rocket Water ... Rocket Formula ! Not to get all heavy handed here, because really, what's funnier than babies eating rocket fuel? But, if rocket fuel in baby food isn't enough to push through meaningful environmental legislation, what on earth is? Also, feel free to follow me on Twitter if you're someone who does that sort of thing. More on Satire
 
Mike Alvear: Iowa Gay Marriage Ruling: How it Strengthens Heterosexual Marriages Top
As outrageous as it may sound, heterosexual families will become stronger and stronger as more states follow Iowa's gay marriage ruling. Gay marriage will reduce the number of divorces caused by fraudulent marriages, ensure that more orphaned children grow up in stable homes, raise the standard of living for children with gay parents, make neighborhoods safer for families, and boost the economies of struggling communities. It's not the license to marry that will create these benefits; it's the massive shift in attitude that'll result from it. The more gays are accepted as equal citizens, the more stable heterosexual marriage will become. Why? Because there are an untold number of "traditional" marriages that break up because one of the spouses comes out. Homophobia drives fearful gay men and women into fraudulent marriages. The pressure to conform, the weight of discrimination, the potential loss of cherished dreams (serving in the military, worshiping in church, getting job promotions, raising kids) propels many into marriages they otherwise wouldn't commit to. Like my friend Cooper. Cooper is 64 and recently divorced. He was married for 38 years before he came out. He left behind him a woman whose life was shattered by a truth that tunneled its way out of the mounds of shame, hostility and hatred that society heaped on it. The woman is 62. What is she supposed to with her life now that he's found his? Homophobia has a way of wounding gay and straight alike. It creates two classes of victims: People who are forced to lie and the people they lie to. As homophobia decreases, so will the pressure for gays and lesbians to enter into fig leaf marriages. Which in turn, prevents children from being hurt by divorce and helps heterosexuals, like Cooper's wife, create authentic, stable marriages. Homophobia punishes heterosexuals, too. For every gay man and woman that gets punished by the legal system there are straight mothers and fathers and brothers and sisters who suffer with them. According to my calculations (see box below), 57.6 million people are either directly or indirectly affected by homophobia. Since demographers believe there are only about 6.4 million self-identified gay people,* that means 89% of the people affected by discrimination against gays are heterosexual. No matter how they feel about homosexuality, no parent wants to see their children hurt, no brother wants to see his sister in danger, no uncle wants to see his nephew suffer. One of the intangible costs of homophobia is the excruciating emotional pain felt by everyone related to the gay family member. Lessen homophobia, as gay marriage will, and you lessen the strain on millions of families. Estimated Numbers: 6.4 million gays and lesbians 6.4 million siblings of gays and lesbians (assuming each gay person has one sibling) 12.8 million parents of gays and lesbians (assuming each parent is alive) 25.6 million grandparents (assuming two sets of living grandparents) 6.4 million uncles and aunts (assuming one per gay person) Total: 57.6 million How Gay Marriage Helps Your Neighborhood Ferndale, Michigan's downtown, was once lined with abandoned buildings. After years of courting gays to live and start businesses there, it had a vacancy rate of less than 3 percent (before the recession hit). Ferndale followed the theories in the bestselling book, The Rise of the Creative Class. Civic leaders across the country pay over $10,000 to hear the author, urban planner Richard Florida, talk about the best way to revitalize their communities. His thesis: If cities want to jump-start their economies they must attract the dominant economic group in America -- people who think for a living (doctors, lawyers, scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs and computer programmers). Dubbing them the "Creative Class," Florida points out they're the most dominant economic group, making up nearly 30% of the workforce. Florida produced a number of indexes measuring characteristics of successful cities. There's a High-Tech Index (ranking cities by the size of their software, electronics and engineering sectors) and an Innovation Index (ranking cities by the number of patents per capita). But one of Florida's most talked-about rankings is the Gay Index. He told Salon.com : "Gays are the canaries of the creative economy. Where gays are will be a community that... Click here to read Part 2*. Includes: - How "gay meccas" are economic engines for straight counties - How demographers calculate the number of gay people in the U.S. - Which Medical Associations are for gay adoptions - How gay marriage improves the lives of straight children Also For an explosively emotional website that helps conservative parents accept their gay children, go to familyacceptance.com .
 
Byron Williams: The Duplicity of March Madness Top
March Madness, one of the great sports phenomena in our culture concludes Monday night For three weeks, the 65-team, single elimination men's college basketball tournament captures the nation's attention like no other sporting event except for the Super Bowl. Work productivity tends to slow down as priority is given to the meticulous preparation of the tournament brackets. But the public March Madness belies the private version. The private version of "March Madness" is a multibillion-dollar industry where the many of the elite college basketball programs derive their success with dismal graduation rates and less than rigorous academic courses designed solely to keep players eligible. The most recent data concludes that over half of the young men we cheer and bemoan because of the havoc wreaked on our brackets will not graduate. For the few that possess the talent and good fortune to become instant millionaires playing professional basketball there are untold thousands who step on university campuses with the same aspirations that are now part of the illustrious fraternity known as "Where are they now?" An examination of the schools that made to the vaunted "Sweet Sixteen" portion of the tournament, Purdue University possessed a graduation rate of 80 percent. The University of Arizona, which has appeared in the NCAA tournament for 25 consecutive years, touts a 13 percent graduation rate. Even more appalling, Arizona has not graduated a single African American player since 1997. Two of this year's Final Four teams, University of North Carolina and Villanova University have gradation rates over 60 percent. Michigan State, a "Final Four" participant this year possess a very respectable overall graduation rate because 100 percent of its white players graduate, while graduating 43 percent of its black players. The University of Connecticut, the other Final Four participant limps in with a 25 percent graduation rate. It was also reported that the UConn's basketball program earned of over $6 million this year. The University of Kentucky, which didn't make this year's NCAA tournament, is the winningest team in the history of college basketball. They recently hired John Calipari as their new head coach--a four-year deal worth an estimated at $35 million. Calipari's predecessor, Billy Gillispie, averaged 22 wins in his two years at Kentucky, but that obviously wasn't good enough even had he boasted a 100 percent graduation rate, which he didn't. Nor will a stellar graduation rate save Calipari, not for $35 million. Based on Calipari's history, he won't lose much sleep with dismal graduation rates; he's being paid to win. Not all programs operate this way, in addition to those schools already mentioned Duke, University of Florida, and Stanford are consistently among the schools with the highest graduation rates. Former Notre Dame basketball coach, Digger Phelps has a coaching achievement that seems impossible to attain by today's standard. Of the 56 players who played four years for Phelps during his 20 years at Notre Dame all received their degrees. To continue to refer to today's college players as student-athletes is oxymoronic. They are adjunct staff to the university's development department. Those who follow college basketball can easily name a coach who was fired for not winning. Can anyone name last time a coach of an elite program was fired for not graduating players? Would there be as much interest if only players who qualified for college academically played? It's hard to say, but I doubt there would be as much money involved. CBS is not giving the NCAA billions to cover basketball based on graduation rates. Salaries paid to coaches, revenue generated by the schools and ratings for the networks drive the popularity of the sport. And once large amounts of money enter into the equations, it becomes the self-justifying amoral component that heeds only to its own wants and desires. The influence of money and the pressure to win, coaches recruit players with no intention of them completing four years of school, let alone graduate. Therefore, March Madness carries a dual definition. Sadly, neither includes a commitment to graduating the players responsible for generating the revenue, the excitement, and the disappointment, as my bracket will attest.
 
Stu Kreisman: Goodbye Los Angeles Times Top
I cancelled my subscription to the Los Angeles Times today. I'd been thinking about it for a while but today's edition (Sunday, April 5th) pushed me over the edge. First of all, I have to admit I love newspapers. I grew up reading the New York Times , which was delivered in the morning and the liberal New York Post my father brought home from work at night. Moving to Los Angeles thirty years ago, one of the first things I did was buy a subscription to the LA Times. I loved the quiet time leafing through the pages, the opinion pieces, the local news and letters to the editor, Calendar (The Arts and Entertainment section), and especially pouring over the huge sports section. We'd spend hours every Sunday morning, lounging around the living room, swapping the travel and magazine sections, the extra large Calendar and sports section and enjoying the calmness the ritual would bring. Not anymore. On the front page today was a profile of a woman with a deformed face. Not that there is anything wrong with a profile like that, but it took up more than half the front page. No mention of Obama in Europe or the NATO talks. I'm sure they could have shrunk the typeface on "Ana's Story" and fit another two articles in, but they chose not to. The front page of the Sunday Calendar section, which used to be a "must read" for people in the industry was taken up by a three-quarters page cartoon and lead for an article about extras in Hollywood. A piece which years ago might have made page fifteen, took over all but the right column. Another waste of space. Finally the straw that broke the camel's back. The Sunday sports section. On the day after the Final Four games were played, a day before the baseball season opens, when the Lakers are gearing up for the playoffs and USC is trying to figure out who their quarterback will be, this was the front page of the sports section. Two leads about the Final Four games and a column about horse racing. That's it, folks. The rest of the page was taken up with a large ad and a huge color cartoon of a Dodger and an Angel crawling somewhere. Beats me where they're crawling to. Home plate? A finish line? Who cares? But it took up at least half the page. It trumpeted their "Baseball: 2009" coverage which consisted of some local coverage, barely any mention of the other teams in the league and lots and lots of very large pictures. It was pathetic. The Sunday Los Angeles Times , which used to take a minimum of two hours to read, took me nineteen minutes today. This afternoon I went to the annual local arts fair held in the neighborhood. There was a booth for home delivery of the New York Times . I made a beeline and signed up. As I filled out the paper work at least a dozen people stopped by to inquire and complain about the LA Times . Nobody likes the LA Times . It's become an embarrassment, like someone who wears an obvious toupee. They think they're fooling people but they look even worse. If it weren't for the slim sports section and the movie schedules, the paper would be history. Oh and did I mention that since they switched to cheaper ink, I can't read the paper without sneezing? This is nothing against the excellent writers who still toil for the LA Times . It's not their fault that gross mismanagement has destroyed their work. Did I feel guilty canceling the local paper? Sure. I'm cutting off a once vital link to my city. But did the Tribune Company feel guilty when they slashed the budgets and destroyed a grand and powerful cornerstone of the city? I doubt it. I simply cannot justify paying the money they charge for such an inferior product. Well, I guess I'll start DVRing the local news to see what's happening in town. (It's still not worth it to miss Keith Olbermann at 5 or " The Daily Show " at 11.) If we want to go to a movie, I'll check the Internet. For sports I'll check online and ESPN. Problem solved. This was a lifelong habit I never wanted to break, but Sam Zell and company forced my hand. It's just sad how corporate greed has destroyed even the little pleasures in life. Stu Kreisman is the author of Dick Cheney's Diary available here , Amazon , and Barnes and Noble . More on Barack Obama
 
IBM, Sun Break Off Acquisition Talks: Report Top
BOSTON — IBM Corp. withdrew its offer to buy Sun Microsystems Inc. for about $7 billion this weekend, clouding the prospects for a deal that would have shaken up the computing industry, The Associated Press has learned. Talks were in their final stages in recent days, but IBM took its offer off the table after Sun terminated IBM's status as its exclusive negotiating partner, according to two people familiar with the situation, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose the negotiations. One of these people said the two sides were still meeting Sunday. Armonk, N.Y.-based IBM was believed to be offering about $9.50 per share for Sun. That was about double the price the Santa Clara, Calif.-based server and software maker was trading for when the discussions leaked last month. Sun shares closed Friday at $8.49. Sun was one of the darlings of the dot-com era but spent most of this decade struggling to find its place, wrestling with huge losses and thousands of layoffs. As a result many analysts were not surprised Sun and IBM were in talks. Sun still owns key server and business-software technologies that might fit in IBM's product and services lineup. But a deal likely would face antitrust questions, and in addition to haggling over price, Sun has been pushing IBM to make certain commitments to seeing the deal through such scrutiny. ___ Jordan Robertson reported from San Francisco.
 
Alan Miller: Recession, Depression and Therapy Top
An interesting article appeared recently in The New York Times explaining how libraries were increasingly coming under pressure as numbers visiting swelled due to the recession. Quite rightly, it pointed out that (like so many other institutions) libraries have been steered in the direction of becoming "more relevant" and "accessible" -- more akin to an indoor digital town square. While some have pointed out that it is not the role of libraries (or museums or art galleries for that matter) to be used instrumentally to try to resolve broader social problems , the larger issue at hand revealed itself when we were told that "The stresses have become so significant here that a therapist will soon be counseling library employees. Voila. What is a question about resources and provision of facilities -- basically an economic and political situation -- speedily becomes transformed, or therapeutized, in to a psychological issue. What tends to happen next is that the solution is sought in the realm of the personal -- the inner journey, the dialogue -- as opposed to the root of the problem: how we deal with the current economic crisis. Sure, maybe people will get angry -- even furious -- although this is not necessarily such a bad thing -- often historically legitimate anger has led to very positive developments and changes in the world. The UK sociologist and political commentator Frank Furedi wrote recently about how the UK government was "diseasing the recession" and planned to train 3,600 therapists to set up centers around Britain to deal with what it perceives as a "growing army of mentally ill people." In the US though, as we know, the dash to therapy has been deeper and more pervasive than in Europe. When Margaret Thatcher's government in Britain introduced counsellors to "help" newly unemployed workers, they were viewed with suspicion as an attempt to pacify any challenges. In our anxious, isolated times, there seems to be little alternative to calling a professional for some counseling. Indeed, back in September Bloomberg reported that calls to Hopeline in NY for those dealing with depression leaped by 75% . Unfortunately, in an age where anxiety and fear have been key elements of how we view the world, seeing ourselves increasingly "at risk" from it, rather than agents of change and masters of our destiny that can make and remake society, our tendency to view things psychologically ends up being remarkably costly, seductive as it is. ABC requested feedback from viewers on how financial stress was affecting them. Many have pointed to statistics showing that during The Great Depression suicides increased, and there have been all sorts of other studies, such as the one analyzing children's mental health in Finland during economic troubles. However, far more important is how we, as a society, view the world around us and our ability to deal with things that happen. In the past, our networks and affiliations did seem to make people more confident and a sense of "can-do" ensured a certain tenacity and resilience. More broadly, there was a sense that even if people were bitterly opposed between Left and Right, there was a fight over something that had meaning, a better potential future that the battle lines were drawn over -- intellectually, politically and at times (of course) physically. The answer is not, as some have argued , that the recession is good because it is an eco-warning and will slim us avaricious nasty gulpers down to size, but adaptability and perseverance are attributes that humans have in spades. Often we just have to remind ourselves that we are creative and inspiring beings, capable of significant achievements. We should challenge both the nasty idea that recession somehow will result in a cultural renaissance and the destructive one that we are all in need to therapeutic counseling. We find ourselves, as many others have done before us, facing some tough options with difficult decisions. How we decide to deal with the obstacles we encounter is up to us. It would serve us well to recognize that the matter is not so much that we are fragile creatures who are predisposed to mental illness, but rather find ourselves in a situation where the debate over resources and how we organize the world is still very much up for grabs. People, after all, make history. More on Fear Watch
 

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