By Zack Adams, RP Staff, on Thu Oct 20, 2011 at 3:00 PM ET
The Politics of Tech
Quantum Levitation. Unbelievably cool. You want to see this. [Youtube]
That’s one website you’ll never have to visit again. [picture]
Here is a preview of the Task Manager in the the upcoming Windows 8. Good stuff. [MSDN Blog]
A lawsuit filed in federal court by a Mississippi woman has accused Facebook of violating US wiretapping laws. This is based on the woman’s claim that Facebook tracked her browsing history even when she was not logged onto the site. [The Register]
This is hilarious: in a federal court hearing Samsung lawyers were unable to immediately distinguish the product they were defending (the Galaxy Tab 10.1) from the Apple iPad2. /facepalm [Digital Trends]
This is ridiculous. In Australia a fellow pointing out a glaring security flaw in a company’s website. How did they repay him? By claiming he broke the law, possibly created the bug, and then billing him. [Tech Dirt]
By Jonathan Miller, on Thu Oct 20, 2011 at 12:30 PM ET
I’ve written earlier that the only things I hate worse than negative ads are the political commercials of the “false positive” variety: You know, the ads that exaggerate a candidate’s record and/or make them out to be something that they are not.
The Kentucky Secretary of State’s race is probably not one you follow closely, even if you live here. However, you’ve got to watch the following ad in support of Alison Lundergan Grimes, a young Democrat in her first run for office. Unlike the hyper-serious false positives you may be used to, this one is clever, funny, and even throws in a short, clear policy message:
I think that it is the best ad of the cycle, and perhaps even the best ad produced for a Kentucky Secretary of State’s race since this one below from 1995 (for contributing RP, John Y. Brown, III):
Perry’s attack itself may not have been that effective, but the reply he elicited from Romney was sure damaging: “I’m running for office, for Pete’s sake,” Mitt said he told his contractor. “I can’t have illegals!”
Debates are about moments that (appear to) crystallize candidates as human beings. After the hostage crisis and other blows to American prestige, people craved strength in 1980, and so when Reagan boomed, “I paid for this microphone!”, it suggested that he could be provide America the backbone it wanted at that moment.
When George H.W. Bush looked at his watch in the 1992 town hall, it indicated that he just wasn’t that concerned with people’s plight – as opposed to the famed Clinton empathy to which a recession-weary nation responded. A simple gesture spoke volumes, because it comported with what Americans suspected was true: Bush was out of touch with their suffering.
In that vein, “I’m running for office, for Pete’s sake – I can’t have illegals!” Romney offered a window into his character: ambitious, practical, hands-on, and utterly lacking in principle. Let’s see if Perry can capitalize on this gift in the coming days.
By Sandra Moon, RP Staff, on Thu Oct 20, 2011 at 10:00 AM ET
The Politics of Food
Toro, the fatty cut of flesh from the belly of a blue-fin tuna, is often the most expensive item at a sushi restaurant. Eat it while you can, because increasing demand, overconsumption, and unregulated fishing may lead the species to extinction. On second thought, maybe all sushi-lovers should refuse to eat it and opt instead for more sustainable species. [Triplepundit.com]
LivingSocial is launching a gourmet food events service aimed at offering foodies unique and exclusive dining opportunities. [Fox News]
If you went to McDonald’s and ordered a happy meal, would you be happy to find apples, but fewer french fries? Some fast food chains are making changes to help their customers eat healthier meals. Some aren’t happy with the changes and view them as taking away their right of choice. [NPR]
The RP’s Recipe of the Week: Creamy Delicata Squash Soup. Fall/winter varieties of squash are packed with vitamins and fiber. [Everynutrient.com] While this cream-based soup may not be the healthiest way to eat squash, it definitely is a delicious way to eat it. This is an easy recipe, and the butternut or acorn varieties can be used in place of delicata squash.
By Michael Steele, on Thu Oct 20, 2011 at 8:30 AM ET
Over the years, I have had the privilege of being “in the room” with quite a number of amazing people. From presidents to philanthropists to ordinary folk who did extraordinary things, each has left an indelible mark on America’s history. But more important than how history views these individuals is the immeasurable contributions that many have brought to the black experience in America.
Most recently I was honored and pleased to find myself in the green room at MSNBC with Harry E. Johnson, president and CEO of the Washington, D.C. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc. He was about to go on TV to talk about the dedication of the memorial — a stunning accomplishment and testament to perseverance — and what it means to the nation, but most especially to African Americans. Johnson shared with me that many who walked through that narrow entrance to the memorial have just stopped and wept when they came face-to-face with the towering figure of King.
As Johnson and I parted, it got me to thinking about how gifted we are to have individuals who rise from within our nation’s experience to define and to set in stone (figuratively and, in King’s case, literally) a uniquely American story born out of success and failure, pride and prejudice. Political fights between red and blue, right and left, may roil about us, and we may experience tough economic times, but we don’t have to reach too deep into history to see that this great nation still has unlimited potential. Indeed, our history teaches us that today’s hardships can build the character of one person or an entire people.
Which brings me to another individual I’ve met “in the room”: Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. I consider it a rare privilege that I have had the opportunity on several public, and some private, occasions to see and to speak with Justice Thomas. From his full-throated laugh to his silent acquiescence to the fact that he is not accepted by most in the black community, I have found his story — and his sharing of it — to be both a genuine and an important representation of the black experience in America.
Read the rest of… Michael Steele: Are We Ready to Understand Clarence Thomas?
By Jonathan Miller, on Wed Oct 19, 2011 at 5:00 PM ET
A terrific day of recovery and reinvention here at The Recovering Politician.
If you are new to the site, brought here as an FOM (Friend of Morgan), welcome. Despite my own progressive leanings, we welcome bi-partisanship here, and Morgan is a terrific new addition.
And in that vein, tomorrow, we lead off with a piece from contributing RP and former Republican National Chairman Michael Steele: “Are We Ready to Understand Clarence Thomas?”
Often controversial, but always civil. See you tomorrow.
By John Y. Brown III, on Wed Oct 19, 2011 at 1:35 PM ET
Looking back on our lives, we are usually proudest of things we’ve done.
I’m perhaps proudest of something I stopped doing.
Although I rarely mention it, today is 26 years since I had my last drink of alcohol. It was an awfully good decision.
And I mention today because maybe some young person who is where I was 26 years ago will reach out for help. I’m glad I did. And grateful help was there….and more help is available today than ever before.
I won’t comment more on this but if anyone wants to message me personally, I’m happy to try to help.
(To send a confidential message to John, you can send an email to JYB3@TheRecoveringPolitician.com. That will go directly to John’s personal account.)
Could our culture of instant gratification, high expectations and economic stress be to blame for the high divorce rate? A recent study shows that what was once known as the seven year hump is coming earlier than ever. In fact, researchers suggest that the honeymoon period for relationships is wearing off around three years. [CBS News]
State Representative Joel Kleefisch of Wisconsin has proposed a bill that would make prenuptial agreements ironclad. While opponents argue that this would make it easier than ever for an individual to get victimized by their spouse, Kleefisch reported that the individuals that fall victim to their spouse get what they deserve. [The Capital Times]
A study done at Brigham Young University showed that couples that have more money have more problems with their relationships. A survey asked partners to report how much they value particular aspects of their lives. Individuals who reported that having money was not important to them scored 10%-15% better on their marriage stability. [Science Daily]
Educating our children in single sex classrooms could be reinforcing sexism. While advocates for single sex classrooms argue that they promote leadership, independence and academic success for young women, opponents suggest that these differences have simply been a result of better teachers. [Science Magazine]
