In his Nobel peace prize lecture, Barack Obama evoked the notions of just wars to counter the irony of being “the Commander-in-Chief of the military of a nation in the midst of two wars.”
Best of the Rest: December 9, 2009
Copenhagen’s A-to-Z guide, how to know when you’re being an absolute bore, mucking up Alaska (again) and more.
A Chopin Polonaise
“Simplicity is the final achievement,” Chopin said. “After one has played a vast quantity of notes and more notes, it is simplicity that emerges as the crowning reward of art.” [media id=4]
Gerrymandering
Gerrymandering’s origins had plenty to do with the wily efforts of Elbridge Gerry, governor of Massachusetts in 1812, whose redistricting scheme ensured that Democrats would clobber Federalists in elections.
What Health Care Reform Means for the Underinsured
Besides the nearly 50 million uninsured, some 40 to 50 million Americans are underinsured. Reform would vastly improve their lot.
Milton Berle’s “Anaconda”
Alan Zweibel was among the original writers on Saturday Night Live, back when Gerald Ford was still president. Here’s his story of coming face to face with Milton Berle’s legendary penis.
Protected: The Price of Biodiversity
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.