Welcome! This is an unapologetic, agenda-free zone. Just commentaries on current events that’ll move you to think, laugh, rage, and even cry.
In what can only be described as playing Russian roulette with his country’s stagnating economy, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has ordered every casino and slot-machine parlor in Russia to cease operations, effective tomorrow. Of course, the gamble here is not that the Russian mob might whack him in retaliation, or that this order will deprive… Read more.
It is probably more embarrassing than shocking to US government officials that the American-trained military of Honduras pulled off the first coup in Central America, where coups were once common, since 1993. Because that’s exactly what Honduran soldiers did when they reportedly seized the national palace yesterday and flew the democratically elected president, Manuel Zelaya, into… Read more.
It would be understandable if Farrah Fawcett’s loved ones resent the fact that her death last Thursday has been relegated to an afterthought in 24/7-media coverage of the near-simultaneous death of Michael Jackson. But this resentment would be more about their inability to bask in her eulogic glory than about any disrespect the media has shown Farrah. Not to mention… Read more.
Paying tribute to Michael Jackson as the King of Pop is rather like paying tribute to Joseph Ratzinger as the Pope. Michael was that revered, and seemingly, well, Invincible. Of course, his musical legacy is set in platinum: “Thriller” sold over 100 million copies worldwide; he pioneered Black R&B videos on MTV; and his breakout performance as… Read more.
Leave it to a political sex scandal to replace the bloody crackdown on anti-government protesters in Iran as the news of the day in America. And the iron-fisted Mullahs who rule Iran must consider this scandal such a godsend that, instead of the protesters, I imagine they’re the ones now shouting from the rooftops, “Allahu Akbar” (God is… Read more.
I cannot imagine Jay Leno’s Kevin, Conan O’Brien’s Andy or David Letterman’s Paul ever becoming as much of a celebrity in his own right as Johnny Carson’s Ed had become. In fact it is arguable that Ed McMahon was known as much for hosting Star Search (the precursor to American Idol) and serving as pitchman… Read more.
I remember insisting that Chris would end up being prosecuted, despite Rihanna’s misguided efforts to stand by her man. Because the O.J.-Nicole Brown Simpson precedent led to laws mandating arrest in cases of domestic abuse even against the victim’s wishes. [Chris Brown charged for assaulting girlfriend Rihanna, TIJ, March 6, 2009] It was a feeding… Read more.
It is an open secret in Washington that President Obama is still a (cigarette) smoker. But, just as the media conspired during JFK’s presidency to keep his extramarital affairs a secret among Washingtonians, they are conspiring now to keep Obama’s smoking a secret. And fair enough. Except that, I was rather surprised, if not disappointed, a few months… Read more.
This means that, if anti-government forces defy him, together they will stand, but divided they shall fall. Therefore, since there’s nothing we can do or say to alter their fate, let us stand in (virtual) solidarity with these protesters for democratic freedoms in Iran. Related commentaries: Iranians protest Ahmadinejad’s re-ordination Read more.
Of course, it is noteworthy that this apology comes 140 years after the abolition of slavery and decades after black Americans began pleading for the government to issue it. And the only reason for this unconscionable delay is that the government feared an apology would validate longstanding demands for more vexing and costly reparations. No… Read more.
