A Few Thoughts on Kate Winslet

A few thoughts this weekend for the Long Island Sentinel on Kate Winslet's win at the Academy Awards.

Despite the views expressed by Hollywood elites like Winslet and husband Sam Mendes about the unfeeling life of the suburbs, their choice of projects might say something about their own feel for life, morality and aesthetics.

Bill Moyers? Really?

I had heard the story about Bill Moyers trying to dig up dirt on Jack Valenti's sexual orientation when he worked in the administration of Lyndon Johnson. But apparently there's a whole lot more dirty tricks in Moyers' past than I had ever known. Wow.

The picture to the right is Moyers back in the day. One could run an interesting caption contest on what he is hearing. Feel free to add your suggestions in the comments.

P.S. I met Jack Valenti back when I worked at National Review. He struck me as a dapper, somewhat Napoleonic figure, what with his square jaw and deep booming Texas voice compensating somewhat for a diminutive stature. If this was his mien consistently through his life, then it seems to me only the politically obsessed, such as J. Edgar Hoover, LBJ and Moyers could have projected onto him that he was hiding something about himself.

Sentinel Interview with Steve Levy

Interesting interview with Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy, a Democrat, one of Long Island's most fiscally responsible and emotionally intelligent politicians; often spoken of as a candidate for higher office.

I've known Steve Levy for a number of years in my experience as a columnist for Newsday. While I don't agree with everything Steve stands for, there is no doubt that we could use more elected officials of his character and sense of responsibility to the electorate.

A Baseball Contribution, and Some Additional Thoughts

Another contribution to the Long Island Sentinel, this time about my desire to skip the baseball season this year.

It's just going to be another unpleasant season, with the steroid mania, and all the rest. I spent the last several years obsessing over the Yankees chances, only to be disappointed. Add in the controversy, and I don't need it.

Not to mention, professional sporting events are ridiculously overpriced. In the golden days of baseball, tickets were relatively cheap, and baseball was a rite of family bonding. Now, the world is much more heterogeneous, and offers so many more choices of what to do. Why waste so much time when there are so many other ways to develop oneself, rather than idolize those who will eventually disappoint you?

Chavez a Lifer: Venezuela's a Goner

We are living in strange, dangerous times. With yesterday's news that Hugo Chavez can have his job for life, it's time to short Venezuela. Latin America should prepare for refugees.

Meanwhile, the U.S. continues to emasculate itself with massive deficit spending, and the promise of more interventionist regulation and spending to come.

The world, it seems, is on a path to fiscal instability and the increasing politicization of economies. Willingly, through the popular vote.

Madness.

Newsweek Not the Best Source of Economic Advice

Bias and economic illiteracy continue to rule in the mainstream news media, as Daniel Gross at Newsweek has put forth a stupid argument against tax cuts.

Gross's entire argument is predicated on the notion that tax cuts won't stimulate immediate consumption - contrary to conservative claims. A college professor may feel especially "flush" and buy books, Gross argues, but an average worker, in today's unique economic climate of fear, will not.

Putting aside the specious claim that today's climate is uniquely fearful, compared to say the days of the Carter Administration, Gross's argument is a straw man. It has nothing to do with the arguments that conservatives have been making on behalf of permanent, marginal tax rate cuts to create incentives to entrepreneurship and investment, which in turn creates new, good paying jobs.

It's never been about spurring consumption among the average worker. Newsweek is not the best source to get your economic policy guidance, I would suggest.

Did David Letterman Deliberately Abuse a Mentally Unstable Joaquin Phoenix?

Was David Letterman really the aggrieved party in his odd interview with Joaquin Phoenix? (Phoenix, who everyone knew from media reports, might be suffering from mental illness?) It seems to me that Letterman was somewhat prepared for what he got, and was equally ready to mock someone who could be mentally ill. (Even if it was a a "put on," as has been suggested, does David Letterman have a responsibility to his audience not to appear to be abusing the mentally ill? I never liked Brother Theodore on Letterman for the same reason.)

You lost me for good Dave, and I've been a fan from the beginning.

Should Letterman or Sean Hannity or the View really have had on Rod Blagojevich? It seems to me that our media heroes deserve some scorn sometime for the things they bring before us.

More Sully, less exploitation please.

AP Fact Checks Obama's "No Pork" and Other Fibs

Helpful piece today from the AP in response to what can only be described as brazen untruths told by President Barack Obama about his stimulus bill and his administration.

The campaign may be over, but the campaign mode is not. But it seems now the media are not so wowed by Obama and are beginning to question his tactics more seriously. A good development, if a little late.

Today's Contribution to the Long Island Sentinel

Another modest contribution today to the Long Island Sentinel, this time about Sam Tanenhaus's argument that "conservatism is dead."

I don't think so. I agree that America is not full of conservative true believers. Nor is it full of liberal true believers. There are many people who don't pay attention (which seems to me a sane approach to politics.)

But when people's backs are against the wall, and the porky stimulus god fails, and the economy worsens because of endless meddling (not that I am wishing for that, but there is something about adversity that will concentrate the mind), I think, with some discipline on the part of the Republican Party, conservatism can make a comeback. Here's to the midterms in 2010. Don't blow it this time GOP, with a return to your stupid, big spending ways.

Real Leaders Needed to Combat Forthcoming Inflation, or Stagflation

Make no mistake, with the Fed printing money like mad, inflation will return. George Melloan explains why it could also be a return to "stagflation."

The question that is particularly acute, especially after the disgraceful performance of Congress on the disgusting, irresponsible stimulus pork barrel bill, is are there any real "statesmen" in Congress, or in the government at all for that matter.

Leaders, who who will call the government and the country to account for its wishful fantasies that cheap money and spending by government on just about any stupid thing (Keynesian stimulus - a great excuse for pork) will solve all of our problems. America needs true courageous leaders in government, more than ever.

The Biological Roots of Goodness

Fascinating, fascinating discussion on John Batchelor's KFI radio show/podcast of February 1, with Dacher Keltner about his book "Born to Be Good." (Listen about 1 hour and 35 minutes into the show.)

Keltner's book explains how we are biologically wired from birth to be good, not live lives that are nasty, brutish and short. He talks brilliantly about the biology of shame, embarrassment, conscience and more.

Check out the podcast, it's brilliant. And just one more reason why John Batchelor's wide-ranging Sunday evening radio programs on WABC and KFI are some of the most interesting on the radio.

I'm adding this book to my ever-growing reading list.

It's Now Acceptable to Criticize Obama

Bad news for President Barack Obama. With this article from the New York Times, it's now officially acceptable for the so-called mainstream media to criticize the new administration for hypocrisy. Less than month after the glorious inauguration.

How About An Interactive Oscars?

Interesting story about attempts to make the Oscars more interesting. Hugh Jackman hosting? C'mon. He's talented, but the show will still drag, Peter Allen numbers or not.

Want to make the Oscars more interesting? Try making the show interactive. Put some graphics on the screen about who won, where they are from, what they have done. Let people Twitter on screen about the show - edit of course - and add some context. Maybe throw in a pair of industry commentators. Right now it's all host and celebrities going on and on.

There is so much you can do with that show, and yet it's taken the Academy years to still not do it. (For the record, I still liked Steve Martin hosting the Oscars the best.)