This is the most accurate depiction I’ve seen of Obama’s struggles to rebuild an economy left in tatters by the incompetent and corrupt Bush Administration. I’m still amazed, though, that no one in the Wall Street camp has been held accountable (i.e. thrown in prison) for the debacle. Then again, considering how wimpy the Democrats have been in the past decade, I really shouldn’t be surprised.
The fledgling “Burma Spring” has opened an unprecedented travel window into the beautiful and mysterious Myanmar. With Nobel Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi securing a major election victory, the Southeast Asian nation slowly emerges from a half century of isolation, and pro-democracy advocates urge foreign visitors to seek authentic cultural experiences to support local communities. The country’s poor infrastructure makes solo travel through Myanmar’s unexplored valleys and ancient villages difficult. But, ancient Buddhist temples, like this one in Bagan, are worth the adventure. Photograph by Pascal Sittler, REA/Redux.
Filed under News
“I think I correctly gauged the American public’s willingness to elect a biracial president. I think I drastically under-rated their willingness to actually be governed by one.”
– Andrew Sullivan, in The Daily Beast
Filed under News
Survivalist Tip: If you have a pickup truck like me, consider buying a camper for it. This is mainly for those who are certain they might have to flee their home when the apocalypse hits. A hard-shell camper will protect your gear and supplies from wind, rain and any zombies, hip-hop artists or IRS agents that might survive the initial upheaval. A good one will cost about $500 and it should be made of heavy duty fabric and be easy to install. As you traverse the barren wasteland, you can be assured that your food, water and chocolate will be safe for a long time.
Filed under Mayan Calendar Countdown
If your birthday is today, “Happy Birthday!”
Pianist – composer André Previn (Oscar-winning film scores: Gigi, Porgy and Bess, Irma La Douce, My Fair Lady; conductor: Pittsburgh Symphony, London & LA Philharmonic Orchestras) is 83.
Singer – songwriter Merle Haggard (Okie from Muskogee, If We Make It Through December, Hungry Eyes, Workin’ Man Blues) is 75.
Actor Billy Dee Williams (Brian’s Song, Lady Sings the Blues, The Imposter) is 75.
Actor Roy Thinnes (From Here to Eternity, The Invaders, Outer Limits, The Hindenburg) is 74.
Director – producer – writer Barry Levinson (Rain Man, Disclosure, Bugsy, Good Morning, Vietnam, The Natural, Diner) is 70.
Actor John Ratzenberger (Cheers; The Empire Strikes Back, Timestalkers) is 65.
Actress Marilu Henner (Taxi, Evening Shade) is 60.
Actress Ari Meyers (Author! Author!, Kate & Allie, Think Big) is 43.
Actor Jason Hervey (The Wonder Years, Wildside, Fast Times) is 40.
Filed under Birthdays
1776 – The Continental Congress opened all American ports to international trade with any part of the world that wasn’t under British rule.
1830 – Joseph Smith established the Mormon Church in Fayette Township, NY.
1882 – Rose Schneiderman, U.S. women’s rights activist and the only female member of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Labor Advisory Board, was born in Sawin, Poland.
1895 – Writer Oscar Wilde (The Importance of Being Earnest, The Picture of Dorian Gray) was arrested for homosexual acts, after he lost a libel case against the Marquess of Queensbury.
1896 – The first modern Olympic Games began in Athens, Greece with 13 nations competing.
1909 – Commodore Robert Peary became the first man to reach the North. Actually, Peary and Matthew H. Henson, Peary’s servant, were the first men to reach the North Pole. Because Henson was a Black, hired man, his presence was not recognized until 1945 when he received a medal for outstanding service in the field of science from the U.S. government.
1916 – Charlie Chaplin signed a movie contract with the Mutual Film Corporation with an annual salary of $675,000, becoming the highest-paid film star in the world.
1917 – Two days after an 82 to 6 vote to declare war against Germany, the U.S. entered World War I.
1927 – William P. MacCracken, Jr. earned license number ‘1’ when the Department of Commerce issued the first aviator’s license.
1956 – Capitol Tower, the home of Capitol Records in Hollywood, CA, and the first circular office tower designed in America, was dedicated.
1957 – Trolley cars in New York City completed their final runs on this day.
1992 – War erupted in the former Yugoslavia, as Bosnia and Herzegovina declared independence.
Filed under History
“We’re going to close the unproductive tax loop holes that have allowed some of the truly wealthy to avoid paying their fair share.”
– President Ronald Reagan, Northside High School, Atlanta, GA; June 6, 1985
Filed under News
“Ronald Reagan, who, as I recall, is not accused of being a tax-and-spend socialist, understood repeatedly that when the deficit started to get out of control, that for him to make a deal, he would have to propose both spending cuts and tax increases. Did it multiple times. He could not get through a Republican primary today.”
– President Barack Obama, at a meeting of the Newspaper Association of America
Chief Writing Wolf 