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Monthly Archives: August 2008

Is Sarah Palin a Harry Truman or a Dan Quayle?

She certainly has the form. Does she have the substance?
With the televising of the Kennedy-Nixon debates in 1960, image as a selector of electability began rising in importance. In our video-deluged world, how one comes across on the screen is critical.  It’s what the broadcast industry used to call TVQ:  (television quotient—personality popularity ratings, typically [...]

What is the Definition of Abortion?

The Health & Human Service’s published ruling entitled “Ensuring that Department of Health and Human Services Funds Do Not Support Coercive or Discriminatory Policies or Practices In Violation of Federal Law” (HHS 45 CFR Part 88) is now open for comment from interested citizens. (I discussed this ruling in two previous posts: [...]

The Worst Performance by a Winning Pitcher

SF Giants Pitcher Matt Cain

On August 20, San Francisco Giants starter Matt Cain, after an excellent seven and two-thirds innings against the Florida Marlins, left the game ahead 5-2. Giants reliever Tyler Walker got the last out in the eighth, and with the score unchanged, closer Brian Wilson came in in the top of the [...]

Bush Administration: Abortion Definition Removed

After several weeks of negative comment throughout the blogosphere, and embarrassingly scant notice in the traditional media, a leaked Department of Health and Human Services draft ruling (HHS-45-CFR) that defined contraception as abortion (see my previous post on this subject) has been finalized.
The text of the final ruling (HHS 45 CFR Part 88) is here.
HHS [...]

Schweppervesence…and Malaria

Commander Whitehead

Mixers…and medicine.
In 1968, Commander Edward Whitehead came to Harvard Business School to give a talk on the continuing importance—in the face of computers and other rapidly advancing technologies—of people in industry. (A similar, and rather drier talk he gave in 1955 is here.)
Perhaps the first CEO to become his company’s advertising spokesman, Commander Whitehead  [...]

Bush Administration: Contraception = Abortion

HHS Secy. Mike Leavitt

In mid-July, a draft ruling (HHS-45-CFR) defining contraception as abortion leaked out of the Department of Health and Human Services. Considering its import, the ruling, which would not require congressional approval to become operative, was given remarkably little notice in the press until the Houston Chronicle editorialized on it this week (“Redefining [...]

Science in the Muslim World

Egypt’s Library of Alexandria

In a guest editorial published in the 8/8/08 issue of Science, the magazine of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Director of Egypt’s Library of Alexandria, Dr. Ismail Serageldin, states:
“Throughout the Muslim world we are witnessing an increasingly intolerant social milieu that is driven by self-appointed guardians of religious [...]

Short Film Winner–Cannes 2008

Just watch.
I need not comment.
YouTube -  Historia de un Letrero (Story of a Sign)

Solar Breakthrough at MIT? A Lesson for Politicians

On July 31, researchers at MIT announced a “revolutionary leap that could transform solar power from a marginal, boutique alternative into a mainstream energy source. Requiring nothing but abundant, non-toxic natural materials, this discovery could unlock the most potent, carbon-free energy source of all: the sun.”
Funded in part by a $10 million grant from the [...]

Julia Quinn Wins RITA Award

From the RWA website:
Romance Writers of America proudly sponsors the romance-publishing industry’s highest award of distinction — the RITA Award. RITA awards are presented annually to the best published romance novels of the year. The award itself is a golden statuette named after RWA’s first president, Rita Clay Estrada, and has become the symbol for [...]