Until January 7th, I had never heard of Charlie Hebdo, but when Islamic terrorists broke into the offices of what was described as “a small French satirical magazine’’ and killed dozen people, including the editor-in-chief, four other cartoonists, two other editors, an economist, a mainterance worker, and two police officers, I instantly identified with the …
I wish I had documented this observation, but this was the year when everything needed to happen twice: two trips to Home Depot to get a part, two trips to Daniele’s to repair a mirror, and so on. Much time wasted, but then again, what would I have been saving it for? One hopes 2015 …
Originally published in The Wall Street Journal, December 11, 2014 Let us pause in the day’s labors to raise a glass, preferably containing Madeira or a rich, full-bodied port, to the centenary of the greatest historical novelist ever, and one of the best novelists of our era. Patrick O’Brian was born Dec. 12, 1914—or, rather, …
Originally published in The American Interest, December 9, 2014 In October, when I began reading Bill Cosby: His Life and Times, by Mark Whitaker, the 77-year-old comedian was enjoying a bit of a boom: a new television series in the works, a new special set to get the Netflix treatment, an exhibition at the Smithsonian …
Senator Elizabeth Warren delivered this speech on the Senate floor last Friday night: “Democrats don’t like Wall Street bailouts. Republicans don’t like Wall Street bailouts. The American people are disgusted by Wall Street bailouts “And yet here we are, five years after Dodd-Frank with Congress on the verge of ramming through a provision that would …
“I know from personal experience that the abuse of prisoners will produce more bad than good intelligence. I know that victims of torture will offer intentionally misleading information if they think their captors will believe it. I know they will say whatever they think their torturers want them to say if they believe it will …
Forgive me my breathlessness, but the Cushing November and December to Remember Promotional Tour has come to an end, leaving me exhausted. Three appearances! Nine days! Two states! Ooof! First, on Saturday November 29th, I visited the Village Bookstore in Pleasantville NY, and helped sell books on Small Business Saturday. This is all because last …
Frank Rich interviewed Chris Rock this week in New York magazine. Rock was brilliant–creative, provocative, and enormously perceptive. He said things about race in a way that should change the discussion forever. Here is one comment: “Here’s the thing. When we talk about race relations in America or racial progress, it’s all nonsense. There are …