Pages

Thursday, January 15, 2009

News Nuggets 80


The largest (20 lbs) oldest (140 years old) lobster ever recorded.  He was rescued in New York City, and his name is George.

NEWSSTAND NUGGET!
As I've said before, there are a lot of commemorative books and magazines out right now about the Obama campaign, and most of them are empty glossy photo sugar bombs filled with images you've probably already seen.  A notable exception is USA Today's Obama: A Historic Journey which just hit the newsstand early this week.  It is LOADED with reactions, analysis, overviews and great photos and graphics highlighting the election AND the upcoming inauguration.  It is well worth the $4.95 -- I got it at my local grocery store.

Leaning Closer from the Financial Times of London
"With Barack Obama’s arrival in the White House on January 20, differences between the US and Europe are likely to narrow on policies ranging from climate change to detention of terrorist suspects at the US prison camp at Guantánamo Bay in Cuba. As a result, leaders on both sides of the Atlantic – the alliance that won the cold war and which still represents the most significant economic relationship in the world – are looking forward to working together more closely than they have for years."

Person of the Year: Barack Obama from the Financial Times of London
"Mr Obama will be sure to enrage some erstwhile admirers pretty soon after taking the oath of office on January 20. But even highly informed people are having a hard time figuring out which groups he will alienate first."

"With the metabolism of a White House set by its occupant, Obama's team is preparing for a return to long nights, heavy weekend shifts – and a boss who will venture into Washington far more than the place's current resident."

Sorry, No Details (Andrew Sullivan) from the Atlantic
"Lots of emails from readers asking about the chat with the president-elect this morning. It was totally off the record and I'm a stickler for those rules. I can say, however, the following: it's hard to express the relief I feel that this man will be the president soon. I realize that's what I feel above all else: relief."

"In comments published Wednesday, Obama received high marks from Republican senators."

10 Take-Aways from the Bush Years (Bob Woodward) from the Washington Post
"There's actually a lot that President-elect Barack Obama can learn from the troubled presidency of George W. Bush."

Principles and Pragmatism from the New York Times Editorial Board
"One of America’s greatest strengths is its potential for redemption and renewal. We saw that again Tuesday during Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s confirmation hearing to be President-elect Barack Obama’s secretary of state."

The Logic of Choosing Hillary is Now 'Obvious to All' from Le Figaro [from France  in English]
"It was a first test of how Barack Obama will conduct global affairs. In front of senators on Tuesday, Hillary Clinton demonstrated the benefits that the new president will enjoy having as his chief of diplomacy a prestigious personality like the former first lady."

"Michelle Obama comes to global prominence bearing the weight of expectations that she’ll be every woman’s role model, representing every mother of young children and every professional trying to balance career and family."

"What is American about American art? Or American music? Or American literature? These venerable questions--to which there are certainly no simple answers and probably no definitive answers--have been on my mind for the past few weeks, since Barack Obama, on "Meet the Press," announced that "our art and our culture, our science, that's the essence of what makes America special"

Talk About Race? Relax, It's OK from the New York Times
"THE awkward conversations usually start with something like, “You look like Tiger Woods.”  Or, “Your last name is Rice — are you related to Jerry? Condoleezza?”"

"“I would put them up there with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie,” says Chris Doherty, owner of INF, the first agency, in 2006, to capitalize on Obama shirtless in Hawaii."

"Barack Obama is likely to spend the next four years with one big advantage over his recent predecessors — a first term in the White House with his party in uninterrupted control of both the House and the Senate."

In the Shadow of Nixon from the Guardian [of London]
"Until the end, Bush retains his self-delusion that he didn't bring out the darkest part of the American character."

"The challenge Mr Obama now faces is surprisingly similar to the one that faced Roosevelt in 1933: an economic crisis."

"At 9:00 p.m. Friday, the highest-level staffers will turn in their gear; and the West Wing will become a ghost town."

No comments: