Obama admin acknolwedges meeting with an Iranian official

Per the NYT, Richard Holbrooke spontaneously met Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Mohammad Mehdi Akhondzadeh.

Binny interview in the Atlantic

Atlantic correspondent Jeffrey Goldberg interviewed Benjamin Netanyahu and came away with some unsettling comments that raise the issue of an Israeli air assault on Iran if President Obama cannot convince Khameni to cease its nuclear program. Netanyahu raises some good points regarding the state of Arab relations and Iranian nuclear aspirations. Some of his claims, however, are more than a bit fantastic. (I'm trying to step away from my tendency to under-state.) I'm troubled by the demonization of Iranian leaders. He paints MA, Khameni, and any Iranian leader as messianic and a non-rational actor bent upon obliterating Israel. Whenever you take that step, not only do you extinguish the other party's humanity, one's decision making is forced by the supposed insanity of the other party.

Despite Israel's nuclear opacity, no one has any doubts that Israel's nuclear arsenal is technologically advanced--that is, designed with accurate delivery and guidance systems, various types of warheads, and a nearly unrivaled regional military machine. Nevertheless, there is good question to wonder if Israel can deliver the knock out blow, or merely attack and foster the birth of a whole new mess with implications that far exceeded the original threat.

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I know my rights

Anthony Bourdain on drinking with Rachel Ray and Sandra Lee.

From an interview in today's LAT. Anthony Bourdain is my hero:

You and [Food Network Semi-Homemade hostess] Sandra Lee share an affinity for booze. Would you consider drinking with her?
I wouldn't consider it. I could see myself getting drunk with Rachael Ray. By all accounts, she's pretty nice. My only problem with Rachael is the cooking part. Given she stopped cooking, I think we'd happily have shots of tequila together. But Sandra Lee's food is collaborating with the enemy. It's beyond compare. I couldn't do it. It's just wrong. That food is bad for the world. The exposure to it is dangerous.

This is how Fox news works: stalking and sliming.

A tactic shared by Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly consists of stalking someone, shoving a microphone and camera in their face, and shouting unfair or incorrect questions that paint the person in the worst possible light. I commented on the reprehensible attacks on Rashid Khalidi and how a Hannity goon ambushed Khalidi as he was leaving his office, and there's another fresh example that is equally disgusting.

Think Progress's Amanda Terkel was targeted by O'Reilly's producer and principal toady Jesse Watters. There's a full description on her post, but here is the sequence of their attacks:

– The Stalking: Watters and his camera man accosted me at approximately 3:45 p.m. on Saturday, March 21, in Winchester, VA, which is a two-hour drive from Washington, DC. My friend and I were in this small town for a short weekend vacation and had told no one about where we were going. I can only infer that the two men staked out my apartment and then followed me for two hours. Looking back, my friend and I remember seeing their tan SUV following us for much of the trip.

– The Ambush: Shortly after checking into our lodgings, we emerged and immediately saw two men walking toward us calling out my name. Watters said he was from Fox News, but never said his or his companion’s name, nor did he say he was with The O’Reilly Factor.

– The Surprise Attack: Watters immediately began asking me why I was causing “pain and suffering” to the Alexa Foundation. He never gave me the context for his questions. Confused, I repeatedly asked him what he was talking about and whether he could refresh my memory, but he just continued shouting his question.

– The Evasion: I said that it was inappropriate for O’Reilly to imply that just because a woman may be drunk and/or dressed in a certain way, she should expect to be raped. Watters asked me whether I had listened to the interview (which I had) and claimed that O’Reilly had made the comments in the context of a commentary on Mel Gibson/drunkenness. When I tried to ascertain why he was attacking ThinkProgress in particular — even though other sites had also covered the story — he said that we were part of the “smear pipeline,” which also included the “Soros-funded” Media Matters. He ignored my comments when I asked if Fox News also smears people.

– Setting A Guilt Trap: Watters ended the charade by demanding that I look into the camera and apologize to the Alexa Foundation and rape victims. I told them that I don’t speak through Fox News and if someone from the Alexa Foundation would like to personally call me, I’d be happy to speak with that person.

– More Stalking: The camera man then continued to film me as I walked down the block. After a few minutes while I waited at the light to cross the street, Watters called him back and they left.

Disturbing. I'm not surprised that Fox leads cable ratings. That isn't news, that's vulgar entertainment and in some ways it's indistinguishable from other crap on cable.

Food

Today's NYT provides readers with two quality pieces on food in the US, and the shifting conceptions of what constitutes "food." Mark Bittman's "Eating Food that's Better For You, Organic Or Not" and the Sunday Business section's "Is A Food Revolution Now in Season?" tap into the consensus that the traditional American industrial food chain--the one that I grew up with--is bankrupt, in a nutritional and qualitative sense. Bittman's point is realistic, an argument that Michael Pollan hedges in his praise of everything organic: it's more important to consume conventional fruits and vegetables to live healthy. He also comments on the lofty ambitions emanating from the "food movement": "With all due respect to people in the 'food movement,' the food need not be 'slow,' either."

In the 60 Minutes segment with Alice Waters posted below, Waters praises slow food as the correspondent noted the absence of a microwave. Then she whips up a scrumptious breakfast in what seems like no time at all, thus revealing how easy it is to participate in crafting and eating slow food. Give me a break. Most average Americans are lucky if they have the time and energy to whip up a homemade meal five out of seven nights, and I think that estimate could be too high. The simplicity and accessibility of slow food is illusory.

The Sunday Business piece is a bit more insight into how foodies are attempting to work with Obama, Sec of Ag Vilsack, and members of Congress to reverse the course of industrial food. It's not bad insight into the status of the food movement and the business side, which has forced Wal-Mart, Heinz, and a long list of producers to bend to new consumer consciousness on food.

Finally, on-line NYT round table "Food, Glorious Food Myths" with six authors, pundits, nutritionists attempting to dispel widely held conceptions of eating, such as the lack of nutrition in fruit drinks, misplaced praise of kosher foods, the tasteless nature of grass-fed beef, and other pertinent topics.

Juan Cole on Colbert

Juan Cole appeared as a guest on Steven Colbert's Comedy Central show this week. I'm not a fan of his interviews because they are, often, a waste of time. Occasional bits of clarity work their way in through the fog of satire. The Daily Show interviews are better, IMO. Still, it was funny seeing Cole and Colbert, and Colbert's faux Islamophobia.

I haven't read Cole's book and probably won't any time soon. I admire his ideas and generally agree with him, but the US doesn't often engage on equal terms.

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White House garden

Michelle Obama will break ground on the new White House garden. Fantastic.

Israeli soldiers engaged in wanton killing and destruction? Surprised?

Some people clearly bought the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) and Israeli government propaganda that they were going above and beyond what was expected to minimize the deaths on innocent Gazans and destruction of property that was not linked to Hamas targets. The NYT is running a story today, "Soldiers’ Accounts of Gaza Killings Raise Furor in Israel," and I'm amazed by the credulity expressed on the part of some people. Hamas and the IDF committed atrocities-- neither party is innocent. But the head in the sand attitude of the war's apologists was unrealistic and foolhardy. It was no accident that the Israeli government prohibited independent journalists from the battlefield or occupied areas.

One reservists' orders included: "'Shoot and don’t worry about the consequences,' was the message from the top commanders, he said." With instructions of that sort, it's no surprise that the IDF attacked UN buildings and other facilities that were clearly not Hamas related. Of course, when people buy the ridiculous "Hamas is bloodthirsty and they make everyone human shields" line, it's easy to defend Israeli actions or blithely ignore the reality of war.

This won't be news to many people in the region, except for Israelis as the article points out, but hopefully it will make it easier for Obama to apply pressure on Israel. However, with Binny and Avigdor at the helm, the prospects aren't sunny.

This clip is crude, distasteful, and insulting.

But entertaining since I'm not the object of derision.

Charles Manson Dances!

Thursday is officially Charlie Manson day.





I'm kidding about that, but I thought it would be a way to interject something funny into the day.

Charles Manson Update

Charlie is 74. He looks more like a confused old man that the psychopath we're accustomed to witnessing on TV and in books.

Rick Santelli is an idiot and doesn't get it.

I have no reservations saying that, even though I accept that it's rude. Where's his righteous indignation now? He's now so concerned about contracts? The money that's gone into AIG is to protect the system from imploding, and, what he seems to miss, is that people don't care for the reward the AIG LOSERS get. And, lest anyone forget, homeowners who struggle to pay their mortgages are losers, according to Santelli. So what are these fools, besides the people who replaced him when he was a derivatives trader? The money is pursuing different purposes, and bonuses aren't the same as saving the financial system.

Avigdor Lieberman as Israel's Foreign Minister. Great.

This is troubling news: Avigdor Lieberman, according to Reuters, is Israel's new foreign minister. Lieberman is a racist, supports ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, and advocates a hyper form of Zionism and Nationalism that rejects any equitable peace. The vacuous label "hard liner" doesn't fit.

Who knows, maybe Avigdor will chill the eff out. But I don't see that happening any time soon.

Alice Waters, the mother of the slow food movement

60 Minutes profiled Alice Waters last night. Waters' inspiration on how Americans eat cannot be understated as even Walmart. I think that only applies to certain classes of folk, but some people are right in saying that slow food, local, organic, etc. is catching on. Of course, now might not be the best time to gauge its success since the cost can be prohibitive.

Watch CBS Videos Online

Deindustrialization and decline in photographs.

I love it when a plan falls apart. Two French photographers, Yves Marchand and Romain Meffre, traveled Detroit and East Germany to document the devolution of industrialized cities and spaces. While it doesn't seem that people are present, Marchand and Meffre provide stirring images. Their website also exhibits forgotten theaters in the US. Overall, some fascinating stuff on their website.

Here's their artist statement:
Ruins are the visible symbols and landmarks of our societies
and their changes, small pieces of history in suspension.

The state of ruin is essentially a temporary situation that happens at
some point, the volatile result of change of era and the fall of empires.
This fragility, the time elapsed but even so running fast, lead us to watch them one very last time : being dismayed, or admire, making us wondering about the permanence of things.

Photography appeared to us as a modest way
to keep a little bit of this ephemeral state.

3 Op-Eds in Today's NYT: Food, Financial Folly, and Foreign Policy.

Nick Kristoff on Swine and MRSA. I think he raises good points about the industrialization of the food chain and the pumping of animals--pigs in this case--with antibiotics. His piece contributes to the literature on this topic, which is well covered by Mark Bittman, Marion Nestle, and, of course, Michael Pollan. This article sits well after eating pork tacos for dinner the past few nights.

William Cohan on the myth of an unpredictable financial tsunami. Here's what you need to know: "Can it possibly be true that veteran Wall Street executives got all that money but were clueless about the risks they had exposed their firms to in the process? In fact, although they have not chosen to admit it, many of these top bankers, as well as Stan O’Neal, the former chief executive of Merrill Lynch (who was handed $161.5 million when he “retired” in late 2007) made decision after decision, year after year, that turned their firms into houses of cards."

Theodor Postol on how his conceptual missile defense shield is supa dupa. While proposing what appears to be a feasible system to prevent North Korean or Iranian ICBMS, I think he takes the European missile defense bases at face value and upholds the belief that they are focused solely at rogue states.

Ross Douthat chosen as Bill Kristol's replacement at NYT Op Eds

Ross Douthat (pronounced dow-thut) of the Atlantic will assume a spot in the op ed section in the NYT.

Page rocking the keytar

I'm working up a review of Phish's return shows at Hampton from the perspective of a listener. But this needs to be shared: Page rocking the keytar during Frankenstein. It's not the best quality but I'll take whatever I can get.

Rave: Snooze, An AM Eatery

After a night of watching Phish set lists roll in via text, Kate, myself, and Dee Snyder sashayed over to Snooze for breakfast. Located within a short distance from Coors Field--and conveniently next to Big Daddy's Pawn Shop--Snooze's breakfast fare was a welcome sight after a night of beer and Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout, the latter of which fits into some odd category of its own. Snooze is one of Denver's top breakfast spots that melds diner with exposed-brick chic establishment. The clientele was an even mix of parents, hipsters, and hung overs (ahem).

Although we received ample warning about weekend mornings, we waited approximately half an hour to get a table and we were well rewarded for our patience and time spent ogling Big Daddy's bling, bicycles, and air compressors. My flight of pancakes (one pineapple upside down (the best), sweet potato, and honey granola, the flavor of the day) were sweet and fluffy like pancakes should be, but they added flavors and textures that are absent from pancakes. Although the granola might have been too textured, the three 'cakes provided what I wanted after a night of celebrating. Kate ordered the caramel cinnamon roll, which I didn't enjoy as much. Here's how Snooze's menu describes the cakes:

Caramel Cinnamon Roll Pancakes the cult classic revealed! White chocolate chip pancake, covered in vanilla crème anglaise & bourbon-caramel glaze, swirled cinnamon butter and toasted pecans.

They were too sweet for me and after a few bites I found the sweetness to drown out the rest of the fluffiness. Doug ordered an omelet. Nothing too fancy, but well-prepared and my few bites (I took more while you were in the bathroom, Doug) offered the wholesomeness of eggs.

When we return on a weekday, Kate and I agreed that we would select an egg dish. As we waiting patiently for our seats, I noticed that eggs benedict, prepared five ways, was a common dish and I would most likely choose one or another.

Snooze Denver

Chas Freeman out

Chas Freeman requested his application for the chairman of the National Intelligence Council be pulled, and DNI Blair accepted. Freeman's nomination faced an uphill climb after Republicans and Democrats lined up to protest. His statements and unwillingness to toe the line on supporting Israel made it nearly impossible for him to receive a positive vote.

It's a shame that dissenting voices are silenced.

Let's press the reset button!

This isn't a new story. But I felt like it was worth posting on. Hillary's meeting with her Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, didn't feature the cheap score she sought when the button was improperly translated. Instead of saying "reset" in Russian, it meant "overloaded" or "overcharged."

Slip ups happen, but I think this is symptomatic of the State Dept's lack of resources and human capital. Even Robert Gates complained about the lack of funding and smart power to staff the diplomatic corps and direct the United States' foreign policy. I know it's a difficult time to push more spending, but the US needs to make an investment in strengthening its resources in understanding cultures and languages other than our own.

Rudderless Republicans

Ed Rollins writes for and guests on CNN. In his recent column, he blasts the consternation gripping the Republican Party over Rush and Steele. The Republican talking points pin the blame on the Democrats, which I think is somewhat accurate. But no Democrat has made Michael Steele confront El Rushbo, that's all his and Rush's doing. In other words, they aren't dupes of Democratic subterfuge.

Back to Rollins. He attacks the GOP's internecine battles and offers a trenchant critique. It seems some folks in the Republican Party have lost sight of the big picture:

"Republicans are not relevant. We just lost two back-to-back elections (2006 and 2008), and obviously, what we are selling, the voters aren't buying. In the midst of the most severe economic crisis in my lifetime, we have a president who is taking the country on a dramatic sea change. This is what he said he would do and he is doing it. And where are Republicans? Right now we don't have the alternative ideas, a message or, more important, the messenger."

Bingo! Bingo!

Jon Stewart shreds CNBC and Rick Santelli

I still hold to the belief that among financial analysts, members of Congress (more often than not members of the Republican Party), and those in business, there is a fundamental hypocrisy shared in the midst of the US' financial crisis. When members of the auto industry appear before Congress? Excoriate!!! Private jets!?! Crush the unions! When the corresponding leaders of financial and insurance firms testify? Where's the righteous indignation? Sure, they were roughed up and some demanded restitution for bonuses and lavish events. But they faced entirely different anger, and the Republican Party wasn't attacking them as losers, failed capitalists, or in any way responsible for the depth and severity of this rupture. Btw, for as much as they complain, I haven't found any stories that any of those large firms have paid the government/taxpayers back anything.

And then there's Rick Santelli's and others' complaints about bailing out the "loser homeowners." Sure, some people accepted loans they couldn't afford, pushed by predatory lending by fools. But to attack anyone who might receive funds from this while not attacking AIG, BoA, Citi, Northern Trust is ludicrous. Of course, Rick Santelli's jackass occupation helped get us into this mess. Why should we listen to him and his ilk?

So what happens when Santelli cancels his apperance on the Daily Show? Stewart launches a hilarious attack on CNBC.

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ayna Loobnan?

John Kerry was showboating in Syria recently, I guess the president gave him that since Kerry lost in his bid for secretary of state. Kerry reported to Brookings' Saban Center that Syria was ready to negotiate with Israel and the US could likely peel Syria away from Iran's influence. Wonderful. But I am curious if Kerry discussed Lebanon? It doesn't appear in his prepared remarks, and I don't think it would. Assad (and his father before him) has made no secret of Syria's intent to wield a predominant influence in Lebanon. Of course, like most of the region, Lebanon and Syria were carved up after World War I as the two entities arose out of the greater bilad ash-sham. Syrians have considered Lebanon part of Syria since the French division. If the US intends to pull Syria out of Iran's orbit--which could be a questionable distinction--it won't be a simplistic approach that revolves around lowering or eliminating sanctions. While they might be salivating over improved foreign investment and the return of the Golan, it's unlikely that their demands will stop there, despite what Frenchy Kerry has to say.

Brookings Story
Kerry's prepared comments

John Yoo, the architect of untrammeled executive authority.

The hits keep coming from John Yoo's twisted mind. The Berkeley law professor perverted the definition of torture and advocated for sweeping powers for the president, and it gets better. Thanks to the opening of secret Bush administration memos, we're learning more about the nature of the intellectual machinations to impose martial law and limiting the Constitution should the president deem it necessary to protect the country. Most of them were never implemented, but stayed on the books. Here's an example from one of the most galling of them:

"In perhaps the most surprising assertion, the Oct. 23, 2001, memo suggested the president could even suspend press freedoms if he concluded it was necessary to wage the war on terror. 'First Amendment speech and press rights may also be subordinated to the overriding need to wage war successfully,' Yoo wrote in the memo entitled 'Authority for Use of Military Force to Combat Terrorist Activity Within the United States.'"

Extraordinary Measures: A new memo shows just how far the Bush administration considered going in fighting the war on terror

What's funnier than two camels in a subaru?

Nothin', and don't you forget it.

The Snuggie in the Times and an appropriate parody.

A story in today's NYT Sunday Styles section examines reactions to a random chap wearing the Snuggie around New York. From Times Square to a pizza joint in Greenwich Village, people reply in amusement to the reporter. Unfortunately for our enterprising guide, the Snuggie's tendency to build up a static charge results in repeated zappings.

And here's an entertaining parody of the Snuggie ad.

The "market" will protect you! You can die in peace.

Today's Chicago Tribune contains a story on poor market conditions and pre-paid funerals in Illinois. Some of those who pre-paid discovered recently that their initial investments will fall short thanks to the abysmal market conditions. The fund suffered from poor management and what appears to be a complete lack of foresight for a potential downturn. It appears that funeral directors and state regulators bought into the ever-sunny predictions for continual growth thanks to the market. But as some are learning, such as Lyn Canger, they are being left in the cold:

"Canger of Lake Zurich said she only learned a few weeks ago that her father-in-law's account had fallen in value after calling the funeral director that sold the contract. The balance in his account dropped from a high of $5,522.46 in September to $3,772.25, a 32 percent decline. While her contract guarantees the original deposit of $4,731.16, Canger is afraid the final funeral bill will be more than that."

The new estimate for the funeral includes up to an extra three thousand dollars.


The gentle, invisible hand of the market comforts you in your final hours