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https://web.archive.org/web/2009120419id_/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2009/11/25/DI2009112501530.html
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Liz Kelly: Welcome back. I just took a quick peek at the questions piling up and it looks like we may be devoting a lot of today's discussion to Tiger, but hey, there's a lot to say. The latest: Rachel Uchitel canceled today's skedded press conference. TMZ claims it has something to do with a phone convo last night between Tiger and Uchitel. And RadarOnline is buzzing about an alleged $1 million payoff. All specualation, but as I wrote yesterday, maybe this is what comes of not meeting the rumors head on. Here's a question I have: Yesterdsay's poll, in which I asked whether Tiger should make a public statement -- meaning behind a camera, not via his Web site -- 65 percent of respondents said "No, he has a right to his privacy." Really? I'm wondering if this was wishful thinking on our part -- maybe painting ourselves as a bit further above the fray than we actually are. What do you think? I also wanted to put last Friday's list of the back on the table. It's open for dispute, discussion, additions, etc. And, yes, Tiger may have a case for a late addition to the list. Tomorrow, we'll be compiling an equivalent list of women. What to call it, though -- Comely Skanks? Help, please. Alrighty, it's 64 degrees in D.C. on Dec. 3. I'm eating a homemade gingerbread cookie. Life is good. Let's get started... RE: Top Ten Dirtbags: Nice Top Ten Dirtbag list last week, sorry I missed it while I was making Thanksgiving goodies. Have to give it up for Sam Elliott! Have you ever watched "Sons of Anarchy" on FX? The main character Jaxx (Charlie Hunnam) is quite the hot dirtbag himself (and he's British!) washingtonpost.com: Celebritology : Hot Dirtbags: The top 10 Liz Kelly: I haven't, but given your recommendation, I might just have to check it out. That's the show with Katey Sagal, right? Washington, D.C.: Liz, Tiger cheated on his wife and the mother of his two young children. There is no excuse for it and he deserves all the negative attention he has been given. However, after viewing the condition of his car, the smashed out back windows, and the reports of cuts on his lips and face it is pretty clear to me that his wife did the damage to the car prior to the accident and probably some of the damage to Tiger himself. If Tiger had been interviewed by police, this would've come to light and charges probably would've been filed against his wife. In this instance, Tiger chose to protect his wife and for that I commend him. If I ever cheat on my wife (which I would never) than she deserves the right to beat me senseless with a golf club and I will not press charges. Some people may cry that there is a double standard when it comes to women abusing men. To that I say of course there is! Shouldn't there be! washingtonpost.com: Also, will we start hearing about "fiery, hot-tempered Swedes" from now on? Liz Kelly: Here's the thing -- if we assume that Elin did a bang up job on Tiger (and we don't know that), we're getting awfully close to condoning physical violence. It would never be accepted as "deserved" if it were the other way around and I'm of the mind that while a novelty, for sure, we should be mindful of the fact that there are a large number of men battered by their wives/girlfriends, that it often goes unreported and that to cheer anyone for taking that kind of action could be dangerous. Tiger and Elin are in counseling now, according to some reports, and that may be the best place for them. Tiger can perhaps internalize the fact that he's a low down dirty dog and Elin can find other ways to express her disapproval of said dirt-doggedness. Bethesda, Md.: This is probably a bizarre aspect of the Tiger story to get hung up on, but I'm irritated by all the people who say, "What if the roles were reversed, and Elin were the victim?" Domestic violence is terribly underreported, and, even when reported, often under-prosecuted because the victim refuses to go forward. That's why Florida and other states have laws on the books permitting or requiring prosecution even where the victim refuses to press charges. All of this, as I understand it, is based on what we've (unfortunately) come to know about the dynamics of abusive relationships. So, does anyone really think those dynamics are present in Tiger's marriage? I.e., that one of the richest, most recognizable men in the world would somehow be too intimidated or fearful to come forward and report abuse? Can one of the role-reversers please tell me what point, exactly, you're trying to make? washingtonpost.com: I'm not a role-reverser -- or at least not on weekdays -- but the tone of amusement or the "he got what was coming to him" vibe would not be reflected if the roles were reversed. Liz Kelly: This person says the same thing, basically, I did above -- just more eloquently and with more concrete information. Thanks. Baltimore: Liz: I know you have lawyers who read and post to the chat, so I hope someone can answer this. According to the Post today, the Salahis have retained a New York law firm named LaBoeuf and Dewey to represent them. (Is Shia practicing law now?) Seriously, my question is, given the long, long string of unpaid debts these people have left behind, why would a law firm agree to represent them? Have they handed over a check that has already cleared, or what? Thanks. Liz Kelly: I'll go ahead and put this out there for our legal team to answer. I'm embarrassed that I know this, but Pamela Bach, reportedly arrested for DUI recently, played Daisy Duke on the Dukes of Hazzard. Catherine Bach is David Hasselhoff's ex-wife, is she not? Two different people. How did People magazine not catch this? Liz Kelly: Scratch that, reverse. Catherine Bach played Daisy. Here's her wiki page and, according to said page, Bach herself -- unhappy with the network supplied warddrobe -- created her short short "Daisy Dukes" herself. I'd like to see Jessica Simpson bring that kind of creativity and commitment to a role. , veteran of such memorable TV as "Baywatch" and movies, too, including one titled "Nudity Required." Fairfax, Va.: I am sure many of the comments received today regarding Tiger Woods are of the "Leave Tiger Alone" variety. Heck, Wilbon here at your very own paper suggests that Tiger is no big deal because, you know, all male sports figures are always gettin' what they can. Yet here's the thing. Tiger is different. I despise golf. I cannot play the game and find myself admitting to random crimes when forced to watch it. But I liked Tiger. I liked him enough that I sorta kinda trusted him when he said that I should consider purchasing certain cars, or shoes, or processed cheese curls. I realize this was naive of me, but I did. So when I discover that he isn't quite who I thought he was, well, it does sting. washingtonpost.com: Wilbon -- The company Tiger keeps Liz Kelly: Yep. I tried yesterday to get at that enchanted quality of Tiger's that had us all convinced he walked two feet above the ground and could do no wrong. His carefully crafted image was built on a bedrock of the guy's wholesomeness. It's like finding out a chaste aunt led a secret life as a stripper. Or is it? Should we really be so surprised that a human being is, after all, only human? I've heard Natalie Portman is not nice...: ...can you confirm or correct? Liz Kelly: Haven't met Natalie, so no, I can't. I'm sure she's nice, though, when stoned. that she is an occasional pot smoker. I can tell you that her new movie, "Brothers," looks like a massive stinker. Anonymous: From the WaPo story on Michaele Salahi crashing the Redskins cheerleaders' events: "For her to get out there and think she can just shake her pompoms is upsetting" I think "shake her pompoms" should henceforth join the Celebritology lexicon to mean any time a girl/woman is trying to flaunt herself, get her name in the news, etc. Liz Kelly: I like it. So we could rewrite my intro to say "Rachel Uchitel today reversed course and opted to not at an afternoon news conference." Sam Elliott: I liked him as Gar in Mask. Liz Kelly: Same. Very similar to his "Road House" character. On Sunday, Mr. Liz and I happened to catch "The Outsiders" (one of my favorite movies) on cable, and there was some serious hot dirtbaggery going on there. Matt Dillon. Yes please. Bronx, NY: Yay for "Twits!" Thank you, Liz, for a few minutes of celebrity silliness, no golf clubs involved. But why was I totally expecting the word "jail" after that ellipsis in Nick Hogan's second entry? Liz Kelly: It wouldn't be surprising. And I should add that this was taped before Nick had his most recent fender bender. So we weren't really trying to kick him while he's down. It just worked out that way! Jack Nicholson: Is there such a category as Dirtbag Emeritus, as for retired distinguished faculty? Liz Kelly: I don't know. The paunch factor kind of cancels out the dirtbag hotness. Fairfax, Va.: Okay, it's one thing to fib to the Secret Service, but when you lie to a bunch of cheerleaders, well, I figure Michaele Salahi is in for a world of hurt. washingtonpost.com: Cheerleaders get fired up about Salahi Liz Kelly: Yeah, these two just seem to get seedier and seedier. You know it's bad when a castmember from "Real Housewives of N.J." is faulting your decision-making. 5. Iggy Pop: Eeew. He's anorexic. I'd put in Viggo Mortenson. And I wouldn't put Tiger on this list. If one of the criteria is being attractive. Liz Kelly: Viggo almost made the list -- as Aragorn in "LOTR." He had the requisite layer of grime there. dirtbag addition: okay. My husband thinks I'm crazy but I have always had something for Tommy Lee Jones. Yes, I realize he's like 70 or something. But you can't tell me he wasn't smokin' in "Fugitive" and "US Marshals" as the marshal with the dry humor and the direct and steely gaze.... Liz Kelly: Okay, I can see that. I'm not there with you, but I can see that. Expectations...: Expectations of Tiger Woods... it just hit me. People "expected" him to be a certain kind of person because he endorsed products and plays golf so extraordinarily well. He never claimed to be this kind of guy or that guy to anyone. This is really bugging me. Everyone knows endorsing products is for money. Someone stated he showed photos of his family like he was proud. He was proud. He was also screwing around. Do you know how many jerks fool around and yes, love and feel proud of their families? This is getting insane! What planet are people from? Open your eyes to this very real part of life! Liz Kelly: Hold on -- just because he never came out and said "I am a paragon of purity and can do no wrong" does not mean that isn't the image, the Tiger brand, we've been spoonfed for the last decade or so. It was financially expedient. Salahi's Lawyers: Why would they represent these deadbeats? Because the publicity generated by the case could be worth more to one's practice then any fees they could pay. epjd (who should be drafting a pleading): Domestic violence is never acceptable. Just because he cheated does not give her right to beat him. Walk out? Yes. Take him for everything in a divorce? Yes. Hit him with a hand or a weapon? NO. As for why Tiger would be intimidated to report. It's not reported for a lot of reasons. One of them is embarassment. Many professional people who are battered do not report it because they believe they should have prevented it or not been in the situation to begin with. That as professionals, they should be able to handle things better. Truth is battering occurs across all soci-ecnomic strata. It takes no notice of education, money, skin color, religion, celebrity status or anything else. Guys tend not to report because they are embarrassed they "got beat up by a girl." Washington, DC: Can anyone explain why stylists across the city continue to do the gate-crashers hair when they never pay their bills?? Liz Kelly: Bravo may be footing some of those bills now. My Mom's Take on Tiger: My elderly conservative mother said the other day that men like Tiger's big mistake (aside from being morally questionable and having really poor judgment) is that they believe women still don't have rights to their own stories. Her point being that when Tiger engaged in his affairs, it became part of the private lives of his mistresses,too, and they have as much right to talk about it as he has not to. She sees powerful men and their affairs as very much dependent on having almost complete control over the women in their lives and that doesn't sit well with her. Liz Kelly: Your mother speaks some truth. She's right -- those stories are Rachel's and Jamiee's to tell, or sell. In engaging in relationships -- however brief -- with them, Tiger opened himself up to the possibility of it all blowing up in his face. Now it has and it isn't anyone's fault but his. I know this isn't Reliable Source but...: The Salahis are Heidi and Spencer + 20 years. I'm sick of talking about these people, I'm sure you are too, but the connection struck me yesterday. They both seem to be couples that are willing to make themselves look like "bad guys" as long as they get something in exchange, (e.g. publicity.) Or maybe they have nothing in common, but all that excessively blond hair has dazzled my critical thinking skills. Liz Kelly: I am totally sick of the Saladis. I think they've managed to eke 45 extra minutes of fame out of this thing and are long overdue for a return to the fringe of social-climbers. By the time "Real Housewives of D.C." premieres, let's hope they're old news. Hot dirtbag, comely skanks: Brad Pitt in "Thelma and Louise." Julia Roberts in "Pretty Woman." But actually did anyone really believe she was a hooker? Alex Kingston as "Moll Flanders." Liz Kelly: Hmmm, good nominees all. I still need the right name for the chick list, tho. Tommy Lee Jones is another category: Rather than dirtbag, there is that category of men I think of so ugly they're handsome. You know that French actor Jean Reno? He is not good looking but wow is he, um, good-looking. Knowwhatimean? Harvey Keitel. Liz Kelly: Right. We've had similar discussions here before. I think we arrived at the term "ugly hot" or "hot ugly." Brittany Murphy: fired and troubled, or just misunderstood?: Between the lip injections and crazy eyes, I am more inclined to believe that Brittany Murphy was fired from her latest film rather than choosing to leave for "creative differences," Am I off base here? Here's her PR defense:Brittany Murphy Denies Being Fired from Movie The case for the prosecution, seems to be stacking up: -Having a weird appearance on Craig FergusonBrittany Murphy's Sudden Irish Accent: Drinking or Nerves? -Getting fired off another film recentlyBrittany Murphy Gets Kicked Off Another Movie -Perez (take w/a grain of salt as always)Brittany Murphy Fired From Upcoming Film! Liz Kelly: Zzzzz. Brittany is a whackadoodle. Case closed. Rupert Everett - failed career b/c he was out, or for other reasons?: RE makes a good point that Hollywood is hesitant to accept an out gay man (Neil Patrick Harris aside, who is not a leading man in films), but couldn't the fact that he is 1) way too outspoken (i.e. a bridge burner) 2) has had bad plastic surgery 3) maybe isn't super talented -- the reason he has failed to have a superstar career? Liz Kelly: I'm leaning toward him being kind of a difficult guy to get along with -- he's not so much outspoken as crass. The guy has written a couple of books and spread a lot of nastiness in the form of digs at other celebs. Alex P. Keaton's mom: Does anybody actually care that Meredith Baxter is gay? How awkward/shabby was that Today show announcement? They had all these teasers starting at 7 a.m. that Meredith Baxter was there to make a surprising announcement of a very personal nature. So how does that work anyway: you call The Today Show and say "I'd like to come out." Liz Kelly: Yeah, kind of underwhelming. It might have been more exciting had she made the announcement at the peak of her "movie of the week" run. Tiger and Rachel : Why would someone like this Rachel chick want to compete for whoredom? Obviously she changed her story after the Jaimee person sold her story to the media. Really I don't think there is enough money that would make me want to shame myself or my family like those dimwits have. Liz Kelly: Whoa -- I think we need to be careful with our verbage. The women aren't really the villains in this scenario. Tiger is. He's the one who is married. Rachel, Jaimee -- if they had a dalliance with Tiger, so be it. Neither is married, neither under any obligation to honor Tiger's -- or anyone else's -- marriage vows. The "W" word is going way too far and connotes that Tiger would have been a faithful husband if it weren't for these loose women throwing themselves at his feet. Reese and Jake?: On? Off? Ginning up PR interest because Jake has a movie opening? Total sham from Day One? Liz Kelly: But Jake's movie doesn't come out until May, right? It's a bit early to start drumming up a tabloid frenzy. For now, the two are denying a split, so I guess that means they're still together. Name for new list: Hot messes? 'Nuff said. Liz Kelly: Ooh. Ooh. You win! Skanky Sexy Siren Nomination: Hi Liz, I've got to admit a real thing for Carmen Elektra. She doesn't seem deluded about her fame - so she's cool with being a sexpot discovered by Prince. Liz Kelly: Another good nominee -- for Carmen and for the list name. Drat. Dirtbag Jobs: I've read your definition of Dirtbag and I'm still confused. Your definition included the AND/OR condition of physical grime AND/OR some degree of moral turpitude. If being physically grimy without having moral turpitude qualifies, doesn't that mean that Mike Rowe should be on your Dirtbag List? Liz Kelly: He should -- but I had to stop myself at 10. He didn't make that cut. There's always next year. Naivete: With all due respect (really) -- To say "We trusted him; he let us down" (re: Tiger) exhibits a level of naivete that is just stunning to me, esp in your line of work, Liz. People actually believe everything that Nike or IMG says? They are in the BUSINESS of manipulating, of creating falsehoods. I really don't get people's need for a hero. I really don't. Liz Kelly: Carm down. Some did really look up to Tiger and admire his seemingly admirable qualities. People like my teenage nephew, and trust me, it isn't easy to find someone worth admiring that a teenaged boy will actually admit to liking. But it isn't necessarily that we literally trusted him. It is that we were fed a carefully crafted image of the guy as saintlike. There's a certain element of schadenfreude here -- some of us are interested because there is a certain satisfaction in seeing someone pushed on us as superhuman exposed as merely human. Salahi's Salon: I wouldn't have paid the bill either if my hair came out looking like hers did. I mean, really. Such a stringy mess that I noticed it on the first picture, even before the hullabaloo really started. On an unrelated note, I'm outraged by the Salahis and of the state of reality TV in general. If they are picked for "Realhousewives of DC" I will boycott all their advertisers. I still boycott Wendy's for something they did years ago. I can hold a grudge. These people need to be blasted from the planet. washingtonpost.com: You gave up Frostys! You are a person of conviction, my friend. Liz Kelly: Mmm... frosty. Twelve ounces of corn syrupy goodness. But there's no way Bravo will pass up on the chance to include the Salahis -- unless prevented for legal reasons. Cherry Hill, NJ: The women who were involved with Tiger don't get a pass here. It's public knowledge that the guy is married, a father and rich as Ft. Knox. They knew what they were doing too and didn't care about the potential consequences. While he's the one who's married, they were willing to ignore the fact righrt along with him. Then he expects honorable behvior from them when he asks them to delete their Caller ID names! Swanky Skanks. Liz Kelly: I agree with the second part of your comment -- Tiger had no reason to expect loyalty from these women. But I do not hold them -- the women -- responsible for the potential consequences to Tiger's wife or family or finances. It's like blaming the chick behind the counter at Wendy's for selling a Frosty (see, it all ties together) to someone who is clearly morbidly obese. It isn't her fault the guy is obese and she knows the consequences of his downing that Frosty will likely be weight gain. Bronx, NY again:: Jake Gyllenhaal plays the other man (brother) in Natalie Portman and Tobey McGuire's new movie. So, fair question from... whoever asked about him and Reese. Liz Kelly: My bad. I was thinking "Prince of Persia." So, yes, fair question. The answer is still "I don't know." Ooo ooo Viggoooo: Definitely Viggo gets my vote for playing Gwyneth Paltrow's hired killer/starving artist lover in 'Perfect Murder.' He's got the dirty/mysterious/crazy/hot guy thing down in that film. Liz Kelly: Yeah -- and he was hot when he did that Russian mafia movie, too. Man...assas, Va.: Tiger and Letterman have the worst taste in women to have affairs with. I cannot believe tiger would cheat on that beautiful wife with barflys? What is up with that? Liz Kelly: The rules of attraction don't always make sense to third parties. And I just don't think Tiger's beautiful wife was at the top of his mind when he was hanging out at Vegas clubs at 1:30 a.m. Lexington, K.Y.: Hi Liz -- Really enjoy your chats. I read this AM that Tiger's wife received a multimillion dollar transfer of money to an account controlled only by her from him and that she is rewriting her prenup. How can anyone know this? Who would be the source? It seems like anyone who would really know, would be in lockdown right now. Thanks. Liz Kelly: Right, there's that. It's likely speculation, but it's possible that Elin is anxious to get back a bit at Tiger and show that she's not a doormat. In that case, I could see her allowing a small controlled leak of some information that paints her as getting some kind of restitution. epjd (who should be drafting a pleading): Gloria Allred canceled her press conference. Gloria "I never met a microphone I didn't love" Allred cancels a press conference!!!! Can we irresponsibility speculate as to why? Liz Kelly: My first guess is that the entire press conference idea was a tactic -- a sort of deadline for Tiger and his camp to make some kind of overture to Rachel. What to call Tigers (3 and counting!) girlfriends?: "Mistresses" seems so victorian. What do you advise calling these chicks he's stepping out on his wife with? Also, if one of these women is a "Tool Academy" alum - I advise both Mr. and Mrs. Woods to scurry over to their doctor for a full STD screening. Ew. Liz Kelly: Hmmm, how about "Side Dishes" ? Bethesda, MD: Hot Mess Nominee: Drea de Matteo Liz Kelly: Good one. Adriana would definitely fit the category. Tampa, FL: All I can say about the Tiger situation is that I am just very sad. Sad for him, sad for his wife, sad for their families. I can't imagine what it is like in the Woods household right now. There sure isn't going to be a lot of holiday cheer for them right now, but let's all hope that they get the counseling they both surely need right now and do what is best for themselves and their family in the long run, whether that means staying together or not. Liz Kelly: Agreed. It's a sad situation all around. Say WHAT?!: "...neither under any obligation to honor Tiger's -- or anyone else's -- marriage vows." Um. So it's okay to bang a married man? That's his problem? And his unwitting wife's? Hmmm. Liz Kelly: I'm just saying that in the equation of single person + married person, the onus is on the married person to honor his or her vows. To the author of the first comment about abuse: You are clearly not a victim of domestic abuse by a woman. I am, and my advice to Tiger would be to get the hell out. As the bumper sticker says, there's NO excuse for domestic violence, regardless of the perp. No problem if he chooses not to press charges, but IF this actually happened, for his own safety, he had better be somewhere else. washingtonpost.com: Chatters in other discussions have also raised the Phil Hartman example, FWIW. Liz Kelly: Good points, all. Anonymous: I'll tell y'all what. I'll have an affair with Elin and it will be even. k? Liz Kelly: That's very big of you. Thank you, Meredith Baxter. other foot: If a particular celebrity created a "thug" image and used that thug image to sell products...and IF said celebrity actually went to prep school and had a degree in art history and spent their weekends volunteering at an animal shelter...would that celebrity's fans, who bought endorsed products because they wanted to be thuggish, be entitled to an apology? washingtonpost.com: Sure, but good luck getting Vanilla Ice to give you one. Hartford, Conn. - Hulk Hogan's taste in women: Am I the only one who's creeped out that Hulk Hogan's new fiancee looks like a carbon copy of his daughter/first wife? ...At least the guy knows what he likes. From the wrestling ring to the diamond ring! Hulk Hogan engaged to Jennifer McDaniel (N.Y. Daily News) Liz Kelly: That whole family is just mind-boggling. They all have a type and it is... each other. Ick nast. Frosty = sex: Please don't tell me that ordering and paying for a frosty is the same as entering into a relationship (of whatever kind). The Wendys employee is there specifically to take your money and hand over whatever you ordered. Those two women are not there to give Tiger whatever he wants (unless you're saying it's a financial transaction and he paid for that). Two different situations that don't compare. Liz Kelly: Neither are they -- the women -- there to control Tiger's impulses. That's his job. DC: I just don't understand why a man who is rich/famous/etc., and would have something to lose, chooses a cocktail waitress or "actress" or other X-factor with whom to have sex when there are probably some pretty discreet call girls out there. It's not like these guys are having "affairs" or intelligent conversation. It's just sex, and maybe a little ego-pumping, right? washingtonpost.com: During the Kobe Bryant case, there was a lot of discussion that because he came from a very insular, overprotective family and management team, he didn't have a "fixer" type of shady character (think Keitel in "Pulp Fiction" -- see, it does all tie together) to arrange these things for him. Liz Kelly: Again, the heart -- or portions south of the heart -- wants what it wants. Cheetah Woods: Will Tiger now change his name from Tiger to Cheetah? I totally disagree, Liz.: Usually I agree with everything you say, but you are really off on letting these women off the hook. They should be vilified as much as possible for cheating with him. I don't think the "W" word is too harsh. They are just as responsible as Tiger is, not less. They knew exactly what they were doing. Not sure if they thought Tiger would leave his wife and family for them, but obviously they were planning to get something out of the deal. Besides quality "Tiger time." Liz Kelly: Oh, okay. Maybe we should force them to wear giant scarlet A's or W's on their clothes. Then a public stoning might make for a nice Super bowl halftime show. No matter what their intentions, Tiger should have known better. He was the the one with everything to lose. He didn't just fall off the turnip truck. And he was likely surrounded by at least a few people telling him it was a bad idea. I guess we're just going to have to agree to disagree. best quote this week, possibly ever.: "That's very big of you. Thank you, Meredith Baxter. " I did not see that coming! Im on a conference call for work and I just snorted. Thank god I'm on mute. Liz Kelly: Yay! I live to make you snort! Undisclosed location: Has anyone noticed that the National Enquirer is doing better investigative journalism (cf John Edwards and Tiger Woods) than say...some other national papers of note...with "real" news (cf WMD etc)? washingtonpost.com: Slate's Jack Shafer has -- I Believe the National Enquirer. Why don't you? Liz Kelly: I'll pass this along without comment. Cheetah Woods: Hahahahahaha! Oh my goodness, tell me that this person ripped that off the New York Post or something. If not, they really need a job there writing headlines. Liz Kelly: Yep. That was a good'n, alright. methinks: I work in sports and know a lot of pro athletes. I once went to a wedding where the groom was wearing makeup to cover the bruises and scratches on his face received by his fiancee after she learned he went to a strip club as part of his bachelor party. They're still married. Go figure. RE: "Sons of Anarchy"...watch it. I think you'd really dig it. Katey Sagal is my new hero. She's absolutely terrific in it. You'll forget all about Peg Bundy. Liz Kelly: So athletes -- overpaid people surrounded by hordes of sychophants -- are behaving like rock stars? Who'da thunk it? Hot Mess Nominee: Does the actress need to be a hot mess or can it be just her character? Because, even as a straight woman, I think Kate Austin is an amazingly hot mess. But I don't know if Evangeline Lilly would qualify.... Liz Kelly: Absolutely, characters count. I included at least one -- Josh Holloway as "Sawyer" on "Lost" -- on the guys list. DC: So, it's not like Tiger is sitting by himself at the bar and gets himself picked up/or picks up. He's out with a posse. Some of whom are friends(?) and some of whom are paid to keep an eye on him. How do "they" let the man and the skank hook up? Liz Kelly: Where there's a will... washingtonpost.com: Liz, I'd like it to be known that every time I've been hit on by Angelina Jolie, Christina Hendricks, Scarlett Johansson and other married starlets, I totally turned them down, even though I had a few drinks in me. Because it would be wrong. Liz Kelly: Good to know. We'll add to the public record. Thanks, Paul. Ace Seattle, WA: Anyone who thinks they know what is happening in someone elses marriage is simply wrong. We know he cheated, but we don't know anything else about what their marriage was like. We don't know that Tiger's wife was a saint, and did nothing at all that lead to him going outside the marriage. When a wife withholds sex, I guess the man has to put up wiht it, or get divorced. But some men just cheat instead. washingtonpost.com: You were doing so well until that last graph... Here's a good exercise: Before hitting send, try reading these things to yourself out loud. Cherry Hill: No, they're not responsible for the consequences to Tiger's family. But when the wife finds out and calls them in pain, are they shocked? Do they feign surprise? Do they apologize? Do they just not care? It would be refreshing to see one of these babes acknowledge that they helped wreck a family. Didn't drive the bus but surely they sat in the front seat - if not on the driver. Liz Kelly: What should they say? "Gee, I'm sorry your husband is a lying let down? I wish I had not tempted him. Cuz otherwise I'm sure your marriage would be just peachy?" washingtonpost.com: The 'Lost' Hour: Season 3 Review Liz Kelly: Okay folks -- I'm out of here a couple of minutes early so I can prep for today's 3 p.m. "Lost" chat -- link above. This week, Jen and I will be joined by a very special guest -- actor/comedian Paul Scheer, who has been a central figure in this off-season's "LOST" alternate reality game. Join us, won't you? If not, stay tuned for tomorrow's Hot Mess list and I'll see you back here next Thursday! Women and married men: I agree with you. Tiger's moral obligations are HIS moral obligations. He's the one married to his wife, not the other women. The basic message is people expect the women he hits on to be more moral than he is. How very Victorian and how convenient for the cheating scumbag. Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.
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Join Celebritology blogger Liz Kelly to gab about the latest celebrity pairings (and splittings), rising stars (and falling ones) and get the scoop on the latest gossip making waves across the Web.
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https://web.archive.org/web/2009110519id_/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2009/11/03/DI2009110301238.html
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In recent columns: Scientology gets a congressman to help christen its new D.C. church. Sasha and Malia at the Miley Cyrus show. OMG, Andre Agassi did meth AND wore a toupee? Looks like January Jones is maybe dating a Hill staffer. White House florist accidentally leaks news of her new job on Facebook. Elizabeth Kucinich has a new job, still looks great. Mel Gibson welcomes eighth child (first by his new Russian girlfriend). Amy Argetsinger: Good morning everyone. Ever have one of those days when you suddenly feel (1) old and (2) unsuccessful? That's what it's like when you wake up to find that a college classmate is the new attorney general of Virginia. But enough about me... Jungle land: One of my friends was directly across from Rahm Emanuel at Monday's Springsteen concert. He and his fam were on one side of the stage, she was on the other, so whenever she looked at the stage he was in the background. According to her, he dances a lot like a demented three year old -- her description was something like "he kept his hands in his pockets most of the night, but was still twitching his upper body side to side or sometimes twisting at the waist and knees." I've been to Springsteen shows before, and people dance badly, but she'd used the word "violently" somewhere in there and that sounds a little amazing. Roxanne Roberts: You know, even if he's a really bad dancer, I have to give him credit for at least trying. So many D.C. types sit on their hands and barely move, so I like a Chief of Staff who even TRIES to dance. Baltimore, Md. : Use of the word "starlet:" That's the noun you employed to describe January Jones in an item earlier this week. Frankly, I think that's quite demeaning, given that Ms. Jones is the female lead in Mad Men, the most critically acclaimed TV series of past three years. "Starlet," to me, conjures up images of those wannabe movie stars who, in the old days, would shed their tops at the Cannes Film Festival and run up and down on the beach. I think "actor" is the word that applies to Jones. Thanks. Amy Argetsinger: Okay. Fair enough. I don't think "starlet" is pejorative, but what does anyone else think? Anyone see her on the cover of GQ? For all her impressive acting credentials, those were kind of starlety photos. Washington, D.C.: Hello ladies, Not sure if you have any influence over this, but can you please, please, please ask whoever is in charge of your new page 2 home to either move Doonesbury farther up on the page, or back to the comics section? Even running in color, and knowing to look for it, I consistently miss it. I read your column, scan the other articles on the page, and then jump straight to page 3. I think my brain sees it as one of those little ads or something. Please, welcome Doonesbury back into your fold! Amy Argetsinger: Thanks for your thoughts. For starters, we have no control over this. I know a lot of readers aren't pleased to find Doonesbury lower on the page. However, I can't say that it ever really made sense to have it within the confines of our column. It suggested that we were somehow responsible for the comic, and it also constrained our space. But please take your thoughts to the email set up for editors to receive feedback on the paper's redesign -- [email protected]. Vienna, Va.: Hey ladies... I was watching the news the other day and saw Chris Cooley featured, and since he's injured and all, did you know he was into the arts? He showed some of his own paintings and even the equipment for his own pottery-making in his garage. What a dreamy guy. Will you ladies be in town for Tgiving? Amy Argetsinger: Cooley -- what a guy! I just saw his twitpic of him on his pottery wheel. Link to follow. Washington, D.C.: Okay, I don't get how someone like Mel's Russian GF goes from Timothy Dalton to him to. . .whoever's next. How do some women do it? What is their secret and why don't I know it? Roxanne Roberts: You know it and have probably passed without realizing it's the key to....lots of child support. You zero on a wealthy/famous man, pretend to find him fascinating and sexy, and stroke his ego. You decide you love the life he can give you, put up with a fair amount of crap until he marries you/fathers your child, and don't get caught up in messy emotions. It's a job, and some women do it very, very well. washingtonpost.com: Twitpic: Chris Cooley has plenty of time to throw pots. Arlington, Va.: I've lived in the D.C. area for 15 years and my list of celebrity/slightly-famous people that I've met is pretty short: Fred Gandy, Bill Clinton (after he was president), David Gergen, and Fran Drescher (I heard her laugh while dining at Galileo before I noticed her). That's not a very long list. Am I hangin' out at very un-hip places, or is my list about average? Amy Argetsinger: I don't know. That's about average, I'd say. You say you're living in the "DC area," which suggests some time in the suburbs, which removes you from the high-density star neighborhoods. It's also possible that you're like me -- completely unobservant. I lived in Venice/Santa Monica for a year, while working just adjacent to Beverly Hills, and I never noticed anyone (except Zach Braff that one time in the grocery store) unless someone nudged me and said, "Look, Jon Lovitz!" or whatever. Cleveland Park, Washington, D.C.: "Ever have one of those days when you suddenly feel (1) old and (2) unsuccessful? That's what it's like when you wake up to find that a college classmate is the new attorney general of Virginia." Would it make you feel any better if I told you that a guy a few years behind me in high school was an astronaut? Roxanne Roberts: That's how I felt when I realized Condoleezza Rice was born the EXACT day as I was. Her resume: presidential adviser, university provost, Secretary of State, concert pianist. Mine: Reporter, cookie decorator, crazy cat lady. Washington, D.C.: While Andre Agassi's drug revelations are bizarre, why is crystal meth even be a tested drug? Isn't the whole point to test for drugs that might enhance a player's performance? No one can seriously argue that crystal meth, pot, heroin, or most other street drugs could boost a top athlete's performance, can they? Amy Argetsinger: Crystal meth is a form of amphetamine -- really revs you up and can definitely affect one's performance. I've heard of people who got into it specifically because it was supposed to give them more energy for their work-outs. Amy Argetsinger: Waaaayyyy down at the bottom of page two. A college classmate is the new attorney general of Virginia.: Only in Bizarro World Virginia. The guy is a nut. Nothing to be proud of. Sorry. Bethesda, Md.: The word "starlet" does have a pejorative connotation. Young, essentially talentless, and almost famous. I don't know if Ms. Jones fits that description. Amy Argetsinger: Official definition: Young actress being coached and promoted as a future star. Wait ...: So January Jones hits it off with a senate staffer and dines with him in D.C.? How can a lowly lawyer at an agency hit it off with a star? I don't even need January Jones caliber. I'll take that cute dorky guy from Big Bang Theory. 2. Guts. He asked, she rewarded his nerve. 3. Novelty. She gets hit on by everyone in Hollywood, toys with political type until she gets bored. college classmate is the new attorney general of Virginia. : You think you feel bad? I went to college with Eric Heiden. My chances of being elected Attorney General of Virginia are infinitely higher than winning an Olympic Speedskating gold medal. Amy Argetsinger: That's a good one. Hey, you going to run in 2013? Starlet: Cleavage-y cover of GQ definitely = starlet. Jennifer Aniston would qualify also, except that she's too old to be a starlet. Roxanne Roberts: Oh, I forgot that Ms. Jones's breasts starred on the cover of this month's GQ. Another definition of starlet: An actress starring on a hit TV show called "that girl on 'Mad Men' " because most people don't know her name. Serial Celebrity Significant Others: Washington DC does ask an interesting question. There is that very strange phenomenon of non-famous women who serially date/marry famous people. Case in point, I noted the passing this week of Michelle "Palimony" Triola, who sued Lee Marvin after he dumped her and established the legal concept of out of wedlock alimony. In her obit it said she had been the long time girlfriend of Dick Van Dyke. Amy Argetsinger: I'm very sorry for the passing of Michelle Triola Marvin and for the sadness of her loved ones -- but I was delighted to read the obituaries, which took us back to an odd little bit of '70s pop culture. As a little kid, that was a pretty eye-opening story to follow -- Michelle with her totally unglamorous aviator-frame glasses, suing an actor I had never heard of at that point (so in later years, watching "Cat Ballou" or "The Dirty Dozen," I'm always thinking, "hey, he's THAT guy..."), and this thing called "palimony"! And the idea of unmarried people living together! Totally new to me at the time. And she took his name! And her quote about how from now on, "if a man wants to leave his toothbrush at my house, he bloody well better marry me." And yet in an incredible coda, she then goes to shack up with another famous guy -- Dick Van Dyke -- for 30 years! Fascinating. Hey, you going to run in 2013? : I'd like to, but first I have to convince my husband to move to Dixie (we're east coast lefty Jews) and then I'd have to clean up my sex-drugs-rock and roll past. At least my bar membership is up to date. Amy Argetsinger: All right. Clock is ticking, so get on it. Jon Stewart was a couple of years behind me at W&M: I was at least as funny as him at parties! Amy Argetsinger: That's a good one too. At U-Va., Tina Fey was two years behind me. No One Knew Her. We've all scoured our brains and everyone else's. Falls Church, Va.: Did you ladies catch "This Is It"? I loved it and would like to Thank the people that put it out there for us to see. Three generations of my family saw the movie (together) over the weekend. What a bargain! There is no way we could have afforded concert tickets. I might go see it again, if I can find time in my busy schedule. Amy Argetsinger: Really? Chris Richards' review of it -- a total pan -- convinced me I don't need to bother. (link to follow).... Anyone else? How do some women do it? What is their secret and why don't I know it?: Pamela Harriman was well-known for this, in spite of having a dumpy figure as a young woman and zero interest in sex, apparently. She just had an amazing way of making a man, even a powerful one, feel special and really understood. Your colleague Richard Cohen wrote about this aspect of her some years ago when she was ambassador to France, possibly shortly after her death. Roxanne Roberts: No great courtesan has "zero" interest in sex. They are great students of what their men like and become expert at it. Harriman's genius was her ability to do the same thing outside the bedroom. washingtonpost.com: 'This Is It' doesn't do justice to M.J.'s magic (Washington Post, Oct. 29) washingtonpost.com: Wale and D.C. Hip-Hop: Can it Break the Hold of Go-Go? (Washington Post, Oct. 18) Beautiful Silver Spring, Md.: Amy and Roxanne, you have a highly respected gossip column in a print publication that remains relatively healthy (compared to the rest of them), no doubt due in part to the interest you drum up in its pages. This is no small achievement. Seriously. Now please give us a Wale update in advance of the release of "Attention Deficit" next Tuesday. Amy Argetsinger: Chris Richards (again!) did a fine job with that three weeks ago. Link to his Wale story to follow... Meanwhile, here's what Allison Stewart said about his new single, "The Letter," in yesterday's paper: "This 'Attention: Deficit' outtake begins as an open letter to the president, in which Wale lectures Obama on his smoking habit and tries to wangle an invitation to the White House. It inexplicably devolves into a séance with Tupac, in which Wale wonders how the Biggie feud is going. Equally inexplicably, John Mayer is on it." Washington, DC: I was also at the Springsteen show, four people back from the stage, in the pit. Clarence pointed and winked at me once and I was so over-the-moon about it, I didn't even notice Rahm. Does this make me a hopelessly inadequate celeb sighter? Amy Argetsinger: You'll have many other opportunities to see Rahm, so, no. Washington, D.C.;: My guess is that January Jones does not get hit on often. She's gorgeous and so men are probably intimidated. Only in D.C. land of "If I told you I'd have to kill you" boasters would a guy probably have the cojones to ask her out. And even then, I still bet the guy was super nervous. Rahm Emanuel studied ballet: So he should bust a pretty good move. Springfield, Va.: I'm seriously messed up. I found Andre's toupee revelation far more startling than the crystal meth. It seems like every athlete, actor, musician, model, etc. has experimented or done - some - kind of drug but the toupee thing really threw me. Not to mention that he looked worlds better after shaving his head (I even thought so at the time!). Roxanne Roberts: What did you do when you discovered the truth? Shampoo? Shave? Washington, D.C.: "Starlet" does seem like something left over from the Hollywood studio days. You know, when our grandmothers were going to the cinema and the WP classifieds listed "Help Wanted: Female" and "Help Wanted: Male" entries. But with what do we replace "starlet"? (Please, let's do.) And what is the male equivalent? Amy Argetsinger: "Red carpet luminary"? Or something like that? Because it seems the red carpet scene tells us more about the star system these days than anything else. (Link to follow to my Deep Thoughts about red carpet.) Good question, though, what is the male equivalent? If there isn't one, can we devise one? Can we use "starlet" to describe a guy? Why not? washingtonpost.com: Arriving Stars Play Sought-After Role (Washington Post, Feb. 23) Starlet: I think Starlet has always been slightly pejorative, unless applied to someone completely new to the acting biz. A quick perusal of IMDb reveals no serious dramatic actresses named "January," although someone named "January Darling" did star in "Strip for Pain." Amy Argetsinger: I think it's been noted already that "January Jones" is the most porny name ever given to someone not working in porn. Star-let it be: I'm fine with "starlet," but I wonder when actresses became actors? What's wrong with the word actress? "Actor in a Female Role" or whatever the Academy calls it is just too much and makes me think if Hoffman in Tootsie or Travolta in Hairspray. Amy Argetsinger: I know. It's interesting to me that everyone in Hollywood got really snippy a few years ago about the term "actress," wanting to call everyone "actor" -- and yet no one blinks at the fact that we've still got separate-but-equal categories for awards. What's that about? Falls Church, Va. - Again: I just read the review and disagree. I didn't expect to see a concert. I expected to see a glimpse of what he and his crew were planning for the concert. It was great to see him dance and hear him sing. The revamped Thriller tease was incredible. MJ talking about saving our planet and the accompanying video were very moving. Will it win an Oscar? I don't know and don't care. It was just a great stroll down memory lane with the family. Sarasota, Fla.: re: old and unsuccessful My brother, who is only 18 months older, never graduated high school. Got the old GED and joined the Army. Turns out he's brilliant but was just lazy. He now makes more money each year than I will see in a lifetime. I have a degree and my task today is picking up the dog poo in the back yard. Amy Argetsinger: There's dignity in every job. Serial Celebrity Girlfriends: Loree Rodkin (Hollywood jewelry designer) is another. She was gf to a bunch of actors and rock stars, there were even songs written about her! Then she became a manager of young struggling actors, then she started designing jewelry. I think Michelle O. likes her work. She's another person who could give lessons. Roxanne Roberts: Ambition is the key, I think. Fmr. Ballerina Here: Most of the ballet dancers I knew were horrible club dancers. Two different skill sets ... you can learn both, but there is a reason there aren't many Ballet dancers on "So You Think You Can Dance." The one ballet dancer they had was not a great ballet dancer by any stretch of the imagination. celebrity classmates: I went to college with Vince Flynn, and had him in a couple of English classes. Really nice guy, with an incredible memory (he has dyslexia so things had to be read to him--it was amazing to sit in a writing workshop with the guy and have him recite back to me something I wrote on page 2 of a 10 page paper). Can't stand his books, frankly, but I don't begrudge him his fame. He worked his butt off for it. Amy Argetsinger: Okay, I just had to Google Vince Flynn... Anyway, that's interesting. Roxanne Roberts' Resume: What, you omitted "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me"? the greatest show on broadcast media? Madam, please don't sell yourself short! Roxanne Roberts: Yeah, that's awesome but a group effort of which I play a small but very happy role. Not Secretary of State on the resume caliber, but awesome. Starlet: is condescending as heck. How about actor? Roxanne Roberts: Only if they can act. Many starlets cannot. January can. Classmates, Washington, D.C.: One of my Harvard Law School classmates was Michelle Robinson Obama. Personally, I wouldn't want her or Barack's jobs right now! Judge Smails: re: "There's dignity in every job." Yes, and the world needs ditch diggers, too. Albany, N.Y.: In Response to: In recent columns: Scientology gets a congressman to help christen its new D.C. church. I am pretty excited about this. Thank you for mentioning it. Amy Argetsinger: That was a pretty huge event. Shut down 16th Street. To Michelle's Harvard Classmate: Hang on - details, details. Your fellow chatters need details. Was she impressive then? Did you see a bright future for her? Did you ever hang out? Get drunk in a bar? Who was she dating then? Amy Argetsinger: Yeah, come on! Reston, Va.: Regardless of whether 'starlet' is pejorative, I hardly think January Jones is a 'star'. She has the potential to be a star, but being the lead on a critically acclaimed show that hardly anyone watches, doesn't really qualify. Amy Argetsinger: Fair point. Everyone you know watches "Mad Men" -- but only about 2 million people across the country. That's about one tenth the drawing power of "NCIS: Los Angeles," actually. starlet ... aka ...: asterisk? from Latin asteriscus, from Greek asterikos "little star". most starlets do end up as asterisks eventually, in any case ... Amy Argetsinger: Hmmm, let's keep playing with this. January: Maybe she just really liked the guy. I don't think she's been high-profile long enough to fully realize that how/who she dates is now part of her job description and her romantic life will be arranged by her PR firm. Amy Argetsinger: Well, she did date Ashton Kutcher when he was already a big deal. "Ambition is the key": I would argue that willingness to sell yourself out is the key. How many of these women dated these guys and weren't into them at all...or were treated like crap, but put up with it because the guys were famous/rich? I'm guessing that these same women wouldn't date a grocery store cashier, even if he was the best guy around -- considerate and good looking and totally compatible in every way. It's all about the money and the power these women are searching for. And that's my cranky answer for the day...see what too much cough medicine does? Roxanne Roberts: Well, that's between the woman and the wallet, isn't it? Many folks consider it a fair exchange of goods and services. One of my favorite lines on the subject: "Women who marry for money earn every penny of it." Born same day as Condi: I was born the day Dulles Airport opened. So, I constantly compare myself to IAD. Makes me feel better when they add terminals/buildings - like I'm allowed to gain weight. Plus, it explains my difficulty in meeting schedules and finding parking. Most porn-y name: I expect we're all familiar with the sleep-over game of "name of your first pet" + "street you grew up on" = your "porn star name," right? Signed: Pixie Demarest. Amy Argetsinger: Be careful playing this game, everyone -- I'm convinced it's a trick to make you cough up your bank account password. Starlets: Recently I watched two movies. One was "The Princess Bride" in which the opening credits read "And introducing Robin Wright" and "Star Trek: Wrath of Kahn" introducing "Kirstie Alley as Savak". Does that mean at the time they were starlets? Roxanne Roberts: My porn name: Vanilla Thomas. I always considered it a missed opportunity. Kensington, Md: I'm a little confused about the combo of Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin cohosting the Oscars this year. It seems to me there comedy styles are very different. Any thoughts? Amy Argetsinger: Oh, I don't think so. They'll dovetail pretty well. They've each hosted Saturday Night Live, like, a dozen times. It will be a total mind meld. High School: A girl I went to school with from elementary school through high school played in the WNBA and is now a sportscaster for ESPN. I am unemployed. Actually, I think I like my life better. Amy Argetsinger: As the Steve Phillips story taught us: Parents, don't let your daughters go work for ESPN. A solution to the D.C. School Problems: While reading the latest, I was struck by an answer to all of Michelle Rhee's problems - HIRE TONY DANZA! Since we've heard nothing about his stint teaching for the reality show, he must be doing a great job! Amy Argetsinger: Oh my lord. That's brilliant! I have to assume he's lying low right now, waiting to step in when she leaves the job. Ballet dancers: Ballet dancers are, nine times out of 10, horrible dancers when it comes to non-choreographed stuff. It's a sliding scale, too. The better they are at ballet, the worse they are are just busting a move. Roxanne Roberts: Then Rahm must have been great at ballet. But I don't know if I really buy that: I've been at parties with ballet dancers off duty, and they are magical on the dance floor to almost any song. Agassi: While drug use was interesting, so too was the toupee/hairpiece revelations. Kudos to Bruce Willis who goes without. Who are some other favorite hairpiece-wearing men and why, why, why do we love them? Amy Argetsinger: Um, yeah, let's name all the incredibly attractive men with hairpieces. Here's the thing: If you know it's a hairpiece, then it's not really attractive. Classmates: : Meryl Streep. I saw her first college dramatic performance in Strindberg's "Miss Julie" -- obvious even then that she had "it." Amy Argetsinger: Wow. That's pretty enviable. re success & etc: I'd rather hang out with y'all then Condi or the AG. Y'all would be a lot more fun. How's Mr. Modhi doing? Inquiring (yet non-stalker-ing) minds want to know. Amy Argetsinger: We've actually had some sightings of Mr. Kalpen Modi reported to us in recent weeks -- out at restaurants with friends -- but at this point, the guy lives here, works here, so we're giving him some space; no real news in him going out unless he's dancing on the tables or making out in the corner or punching someone out at the bar(and you all will let us know if that happens, right? [email protected]) Born same day as IAD opened: How did you feel when the TSA set up shop and started frisking airline passengers? Do you require your guests to remove their shoes? HLSA again: I didn't really know Michelle well at the time, but yes, even then she was a very impressive figure. A stunning, nearly-six-foot tall woman stands out in a crowd, especially in a crowd of Harvard Law wonks. But more than that, she was quite well-known as an activist for the poor and very engaged - and public - about her passion for public interest law. Sarasota, Fla.: The marrying/dating up thing doesn't just apply to women. Ivana Trump married that nobody Italian model. Even my public defender friend married a senior VP/board member of a major company he met while she was picking up some classes at the same university. But my friend is really nice, so he has that going for him. But guess who paid for law school ... Amy Argetsinger: Hey, well, well done, then. Brooklyn, N.Y.: "old and unsuccessful?" How about finding yourself living in a foreign country, unemployed and seeing a former high school classmate on the cover of a cereal box in a super market. Amy Argetsinger: Okay, break this down for us. This is an overseas brand of cereal? Is your classmate famous in the U.S.? Or only famous overseas? (Or is Brooklyn a foreign country to you?) Why don't you just tell us who this is? Re Dulles: But does everyone hate you? Like, they have to deal with you, so they do it begrudgingly and then complain about you to everyone? (Though they'll reluctantly concede that you have ONE nice feature (like the access road), but they still hate you.) Roxanne Roberts: And they don't understand why you insist on using stupid little buses that somehow seem to take FOREVER? Not that they bother me, or anything. Ted Danson = hairpiece: He's been pretty open about it over the years, which is why I even know about it. A fine looking man, with or without hair. Amy Argetsinger: True. But he doesn't wear a rug anymore, does he? Forget Baldwin and Martin: I read that the original request was for Ben Stiller and Robert Downey, Jr. Now that would have been a show! Of course, Ricky Gervais says he will never be asked because they want everything rehearsed and scripted, while he thinks you should just drink a lot and show up. Amy Argetsinger: Or so claims Deadline Hollywood. It would have been good. former high school classmate on the cover of a cereal box in a super market: I thought the missing kids' pictures were on milk cartons. Men marrying up: Larry Fortensky and Liz Taylor. Danny Moder and Julia Roberts. Amy Argetsinger: Yes. It happens. Good toupees: Sean Connery must have worn a hair piece in the Hunt for Red October. He even made that look good. Amy Argetsinger: Yeah, good point. Speaking of hairpieces and Alec Baldwin: His rug looks pretty good. Amy Argetsinger: You talking about that chest rug? Old and unsuccessful: My dad went to high school with Stanley Kubrick. My mother went to high school with Beverly Sills. I went to law school a few years BEFORE President Obama. Beat that, folks! Amy Argetsinger: No, only counts if you were in school with him. Try Swarthmore: Oh, don't get me started. My alumni magazine makes me depressed every time I get it. The accomplishments of people who went to my school are Onion-level things: "Joe won a Nobel Prize in Physics this year, and he also started a nonprofit to feed AIDS orphans, and won the Bloondin Prize for best professor at Harvard." Seriously, at least two of three of those in every class. Sigh. New York, N.Y.: Regarding Brad Sherman at the Scientology DC opening: Brad Sherman said through a rep that he has appeared at events for "over 100" religious groups, and "this does not give me the time to evaluate each of their organizational structures or doctrines because I am also showing up at hundreds of events for nonreligious organizations." But he praised Scientology as a positive force for human rights and religious freedom. That's big praise. Doesn't he have a staff? Besides the France case, there are many civil cases going on in the U.S. right now, and criminal cases are currently going ahead in Belgium and Italy. Is Sherman just gullible, or what? Amy Argetsinger: Just putting it out there... There has indeed been a lot of prominent investigative journalism about Scientology. Star sightings: I have lived in Venice/Santa Monica for three years and I have only seen a handful of stars. This is star-central so I think seeing any celebs in the D.C. area is pretty good. I did serve Pink and her husband once. It wasn't as exciting as my rapidly pumping heart thought it would be when I gave them their menus. They didn't even tip well. Gosh! Amy Argetsinger: Sorry about that! Most accomplished serial relationship-ist: The great Tom Lehrer introduced his song "Alma" thusly: "Last December 13th, there appeared in the newspapers the juiciest, spiciest, raciest obituary that has ever been my pleasure to read. It was that of a lady name Alma Mahler Gropius Werfel who had, in her lifetime, managed to acquire as lovers practically all of the top creative men in central Europe.." Wikipedia says she was a Viennese-born socialite well known in her youth for her beauty and vivacity(1879-1964). Roxanne Roberts: I bet she had moves. Celebrity Sightings, Boston: Hey all -- I had the luck of nearly running into (LITERALLY RUNNING, I WAS RUNNING) into Justin Timberlake last week. They're filming a movie about the founders of Facebook (sounds laaaame), so he and Jesse Eisenberg have been around the area. They've been filming at the Thirsty Scholar, a pub 2 blocks from my house, and in Medford, MA (3 blocks from my sister's house)... apparently Medford is dirt cheap to rent space, so they're trying to make it look like Harvard. (And to explain, I'm training for a marathon and was wearing all black running at night... woops. No one saw me coming and I was distracted by the set and just kept going until I was 5 feel from JT!) ALSO -- Bruce Willis was in my office building a while back filming for the Surrogates, and he's HOT in person. YEAH to bald men. Amy Argetsinger: But... you didn't actually see Timberlake, did you? The local stories I'm seeing say he wasn't involved in the shoot up there; I think his character didn't get involved until after Facebook's Harvard years. Baldwin/Martin: I'm excited about this. Not Daniel Craig level excited, but still. As long as they are allowed to be their quirky selves it could work. Amy Argetsinger: I have high hopes. Old and unsuccessful: The great Tom Lehrer said it best: "It is a sobering thought that when Mozart was my age he had been dead for two years." Amy Argetsinger: Some of you have been asking about an incident that happened at the Post last week. I'll refer you to Gene Weingarten's very lucid thoughts on the topic. Link to follow. Men Marrying Up...: Barack Obama for one? Sure, he looks like the catch now, but it is clear when they met that she was kind of out of his league. Fellow Swattie!: That chatter is not kidding about the Swarthmore alumni magazine. Sheesh -- those class notes are not to be read on a low self-esteem day. Mr. Modhi: A perfect gentleman. I had the opportunity to meet and photograph him at a professional event last week. He was quite cordial. Amy Argetsinger: Glad to hear it. Mel : All this coverage of Crazy Mel's new baby and his Morticia Adams doppleganger girlfriend has me nostalgic for the days when he was hot. I must've watched "Tequila Sunrise" a billion times. Amy Argetsinger: That movie is something else, huh? Just saw it last year. Star/Starlet: Star, Mandy Moore/Starlett, LiLo Star, Jessica Simpleton/Starlett, Ashlee, I mean, come on, how do you get fired from Melrose place? Roxanne Roberts: Oh, you are far too generous. New York : Grammar school with Sean Combs, High School with "Mikey" from the life cereal commercials and college with Chris O'Donnell. All were in my class(s) at the time. Amy Argetsinger: Oh, that is a trifecta. Well done. But I guess that's what it's like growing up in New York. ARGHHH: Are you saying that the hottie I saw was NOT JT? I did also see Jesse Eisenberg, but was more excited about my supposed JT-sighting. UGHHHHHHHHH. Amy Argetsinger: I could be wrong but... it's sounding like it probably wasn't him. Mark Sanford brush: My sister attended Furman University with (now) governor Mark Sanford. She said he was a schmoozy kind of guy, involved in campus government, but definitely not a womanizer -- she's convinced the affair is an indication of fatigue and possibly mental illness. I think it's interesting that he looks much, much older than her -- the cost of a public life and public scandal. Amy Argetsinger: Yeah, politics ages you. Scandal ages you even more. Cleopatra slept with Caesar and Marc Antony: The gold standard for moves! Roxanne Roberts: And with that thought, ladies and gentlemen, we will have to sign off for today. Send you tips, moves and hairpiece sightings to [email protected]. Same time, next week. E-mail and bookmark Reliable Source Blog. Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.
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Washington Post columnists Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts discuss your favorite gossip, recent celebrity sightings and their recent columns.
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https://web.archive.org/web/2009110119id_/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/30/AR2009103002863.html
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Virginia has a long-standing habit of voting in its off-year gubernatorial elections opposite to the way the nation went in the previous year's presidential race, and it appears poised to do so once again. Up the coast in New Jersey, Republican Chris Christie, a former U.S. attorney, has been the aggressor all year against Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine, the multimillionaire transplant from Wall Street. As in his previous successful races for senator and governor, Corzine has made up for his lack of personal political skills by hitting his opponent with an expensive and highly negative TV assault. Corzine's vulnerability for not solving the state's chronic dependence on high property taxes could elect Christie. But New Jersey has a far more solid Democratic voter base than does Virginia, so Obama, who has campaigned with Deeds and Corzine, has a better chance to welcome the Garden State result. The third contest in which the president has raised money and delivered a personal endorsement is a special election in New York's 23rd Congressional District, crowding the Canadian border. Obama set up the race by appointing Rep. John McHugh, a moderate Republican, as his secretary of the Army. Faced with finding a new candidate, Republican district caucuses turned to state Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava, another moderate who fits the profile of the district. But the man she beat for the Republican nomination, businessman Doug Hoffman, grabbed the Conservative Party nomination and, pledging his own money to the fight, quickly became the favorite of many movement conservative leaders. Among his endorsers are Sarah Palin and one of her potential rivals for the 2012 presidential nomination, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
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The first key votes of the Obama era take place this week, not on the floor of the House or Senate, where health-care legislation still languishes, but in Virginia, New Jersey and northern New York...
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Brian, who considers himself a well-rounded geek, can also field queries about broader technical topics, such as mobile banking, online and location-based privacy, as well as social networking and tech policy issues. Brian Krebs: Good morning, dear Security Fix readers. Welcome to Security Fix Live! Before I plunge into your questions, I will make my usual plea: Please, please, please toss me a clue or two about the basics of your setup. Are you using Windows? Great. What version? Use IE as your main browser? Okay, tell me. Have three different security programs guarding your PC? Super. Just let me know what they are. You get the idea: The more info I have about your basic setup, the more accurate I can be in answering your question. Okay, that said....ONWARDS! Anonymous: I'm planning to upgrade to Windows 7. I downloaded windows 7 upgrade Advisor report and ran it.It looks like my computer is almost OK except: "Virtualization Technology not supported". What does that mean exactly?? Also,"Outlook Express" is no longer included in Windows 7. Do I need this? I don't really use it anyway as I use Incredimail as my mail provider. Thank you, Robert Brian Krebs: That message is telling you that Microsoft believes the hardware in your computer does not support the type of technology that powers one of Windows 7's most vaunted features: XP Mode, or the ability to run applications in Windows XP mode in case for whatever reason they don't function properly under Windows 7. You didn't say how old your computer is, but I'm going to guess it's more than 3 years old. If that's the case, there's a good chance that you would be out of luck using these feature with that PC on Windows 7. Now, hold on a second...you're not completely out of luck. It's not uncommon for a PC to be hardware virtualization-capable, but only to have that option turned off by default in the system BIOS -- the settings that PCs run through at startup to see which hardware and software defaults they should accept. That is, you may find that in your computer's BIOS settings there is an option to change the default from the "locked off" setting to "lock on." a href='http://www.mydigitallife.info/2008/07/06/comprehensive-list-of-how-key-to-press-to-access-bios-for-various-oem-and-computer-systems/'>this page has decent manufacturer-specific instructions on how to access the BIOS. If you find that option in your BIOS, and can make that switch, I'd try the upgrade advisor again after doing so and seeing if the advisor changes its tune about whether your system supports hardware virtualization. If it doesn't, you may need to upgrade to a new PC to take advantage of this feature. RE: Outlook, MS has changed the defaults in W7, so that many of the programs that were currently bundled with earlier versions of Windows are no longer shipped with the system by default. You can still download them from Microsoft for free if you like, but if you don't use the program, why bother? Thanks for answering my question regarding Vista SP2. I was able to ultimately install the Vista SP2 after removing the Avast Antivirus. (Go Figure :)) I was thinking to upgrade to Windows 7, but the Ungrade Advisor said, Sunbelt Windows Firewall is not supported in Windows 7. Is there a free Firewall, that you would recommend for Windows 7. It might be a good idea for you to put out a list of security software (free ones, especially) which you would recommend for Windows 7. As always, Love your blog. Brian Krebs: Always happy to hear from readers about their experience with my previous advice (particularly if it had a happy ending). Re: Win7 & Sunbelt, I'm confident the folks at Sunbelt -- if they don't support W7 -- will do so soon. That said, why not take advantage of the built-in Windows firewall? It has come a long way from the early Windows Firewall days, and is probably more than sufficient for the average Windows user. Thanks for your always informative sessions. I have started using a Live CD for banking but at times find it inconvenient and I think it will cause my wife, who is strictly a user, more than a little trouble. Presumably setting our system (XP SP3) to dual boot would be as safe. If so, are there any programs for dual booting you would recommend? Brian Krebs: Well, many Linux OSes that start as Live CDs also allow you to install the OS, and by default use the GRUB boot loader, which allows you to choose between multiple operating systems at boot time. The main thing I would encourage you to do if you decide to explore the dual boot route is to make sure you have a whole disk image backup of C: drive before proceeding. In order to make Windows fit side by side on a hard disk with another operating system, you will need to use a disk partitioning tool to resize the existing Windows partition, to create another partition, and to move the location of the existing Windows partition. There are linux versions that you can use for this process, but they are not very user-friendly, are command line based, and you'd better know what you're doing before you use these tools. Anyway, there are plenty of tutorials out on the Web on how to do this. I have recommended Acronis Disk Director for this task because I find it works very well. But regardless of the approach you use, if you decide to go wtih a dual-boot system, you should understand the process for recovering from a corrupted "master boot record," (MBR), the filetable that tells your computer which operating systems are available to load. If this table gets trashed (and this has happened to me at least twice over the past decade when I've played with dual-boot systems), you'd better know how to recover or repair the MBR or you're hosed. Silver Spring, Md.: Today, i have been bombarded with Cyber Security. Sometimes scary stuff. i have Norton and every thing is working. How do I get rid of CB. When i try to remove it It says removal disabled. Any suggestions will be appreciated. Brian Krebs: I really want to answer this question, but I'm not sure what the question is. Could you try again? Being bombarded with cyber security is, alas, not the worst thing that could happen, I suppose. Lexington, Mass.: Many moons ago, you (and a blogger from Florida) helped me with Darwin kernel panic situation (complete with real bells & whistles) that occurred on iMac G5 with ethernet. On 15 Oct the screen went all black and white in blocks, but Firefox continued working. Then a message in 4 languages appeared-- you need to restart your computer. Did so & then the following appeared (but would not let itself be printed): Unresolved kernel trap(cpu8).(No bells or whistles this time.) Well - - - what was THAT?? Brian Krebs: Kernel Panic, sir, reporting for duty! Seriously, I have no idea what the problem is there, soldier. But I can offer a couple of tips. Kernel panics sometimes are caused by hardware issues, other times because of a corrupt filesystem deep in the operating system. I would try the following: Grab your OS X installation CD, pop it in and a run the Disk Utility and choose the Repair Disk option. You might also run Software Update to make sure you've got all the available hardware and software updates installed. Sometimes, reinstalling the operating system is the fastest, most painless way to fix stubborn, hard-to-diagnose problems like this. I'm sorry I don't have more specific answers for you -- but in the traditional of this particular thread -- I'd be interested in hearing advice from other readers. Good luck! Pleasant Hill, Calif.: Okay Brian, all your info is good stuff and I enjoy your articles immmensely. However, it's getting to be little like "whack a mole" with this cybercrime. How much damage has to be done until the banks, the government start to do something proactively? This is like the wild west and I find it very depressing that nothing seems to be being done about this. Judging from your articles our only protection we have right now is our own security. Do you know of any movement by the banks or the government to start doing something to protect us? Brian Krebs: I share your frustration sometimes, California, about the constant attacks. Unfortunately, the lure of easy money is just too strong, and the likelihood of getting caught too low, for the less scrupulous to consider abandoning this line of work. I believe this true regardless of what the banks and law enforcement do about it. That's my opinion, of course. I think there is a great deal more that banks and law enforcement *could* be doing. For example, banks could be doing a LOT more in terms of combing their customers' transactions for signs of fraudulent activity, much the way that credit card companies build profiles of what's normal activity for their customers and send up red flags when there is drastically different activity. Sure, this results in false positives from time to time. But by and large that approach is very good at spotting fraud. However, I think your intuition -- that security falls to the Internet user, ultimately -- is correct. Having the basic security setup -- with keeping software up-to-date, using some form of current anti-virus, and a firewall -- is a good start. But it's also vitally important to understand that fraud detection starts with your brain, and some basic street smarts: Is this too good to be true? Well, then it probably is. Should I open this email attachment or click this link? Well, if you have to ask, then you have to ask. Assuming it appears to have been sent by someone you know, send them a quick note confirming they meant to send you an attachment. Should I download this file/install this program? If you can't be sure about where the file/program came from (you're not downloading an add-on or plug-in from the source itself, or you're downloading programs from P2P networks), then you're playing Russian roulettte. Bill B, Eugene, Ore.: When formatting containers in Truecrypt, the program requests that I move my mouse, the more the better, in order to improve encryption. What is a reasonable length of time to do this? Thanks for the great Web chats and columns. Brian Krebs: Hi Bill. That mouse movement it's asking you for is so that you can introduce randomness into the encryption key that it is devising. By all means, don't wear your wrist out; a few seconds of wild, random jiggles is probably sufficient. Columbus, Ohio: I use both NoScript and RequestPolicy with Firefox (my default browser) and like them both. When I "lower my shields" in NoScript to permit scripts on a trusted (per McAfee SiteAdvisor) web page, I almost always see a permission line for google-analytics.com. I routinely leave that domain denied, both because I don't know what it's for and because leaving it blocked never seems to intefere with the functionality of a web page. What exactly is "google-analytics" and why--if ever--should I allow it scripting privileges? Brian Krebs: Google Analytics helps sites track visitors. It is often integrated with a Google Adwords account to track ad conversions, click-throughs, etc. I haven't encountered many sites that fail to work properly if you deny this script from running. At worst, you will deny that site the ability to use that tracking function. Palm Harbor, Fla.: I saw the recent story about vulnerability of Time Warner cable modems to hackers. I have a cable modem from a TW spinoff, Bright House. How can I tell if my cable modem is secure, and if it isn't, what can I do to protect my home computer? Brian Krebs: The device in question is manufactured by SMC, and the model number is SMC8014. You can see the specs and a picture of this device at this link here. If you have this device, your only real workable solution is to replace it with a newer, less crappy router. Bowie, Md.: For the user who considers dual boot: I would suggest to first try and put a Live Linux distro onto a USB thumb drive. Puppy Linux is a good choice for this. You can then store a persistent home directory on the same memory stick, which will allow you to store your desktop preferences, bookmarks etc. (first boot off a Live CD, then there's a program to prepare the USB stick). Before you do this, check the BIOS to see if your machine can boot off a USB drive. I'm using this setup to allow my kids to use my (employer-supplied) PC - they got used to it as well... Brian Krebs: More advice for the dual-boot guy. Thanks, Bowie! a chick: you are super cute and so nice. someone is lucky in this life to have latched onto you. she is lucky. you're my #2 virtual crush. #1 is Joe Kernen from CNBC. but you come close! post more pix! throw me a bone, or two. Brian Krebs: Aw shucks. Thanks for your..um..question. But really? I'm #2?? Vienna, Va.: You are more positive about Windows Firewall than I expected. I've been using the free version of Zone Alarm for several years. Should I just uninstall it now and rely on Windows Firewall? I'm on XP and do not intend to upgrade this computer to Windows 7. Brian Krebs: That's because my views on the overall efficacy of software-based firewalls in the face of advanced threats has evolved quite a bit over the years as has my understanding of these threats. The issue is what happens when you get malware on your system. Some of the more advanced malware will try first thing to disable any security software on your system, including ZA and the built-in WF. What I'm trying to say is that software firewalls are great for blocking incoming Internet bits that you don't want or didn't ask for. They're not so great at stopping bad things that you allow onto your system through downloaded files or exploits that take advantage of browser exploits. So, it's important not to overstate the function and ability of the firewall, is what I'm getting at. I've recommended programs like ZA free because they give people some idea of what programs are trying to dial out of their machines. But a lot of people don't like being pestered and would just assume the program made that decision for them. That's what the Windows firewall does, and does pretty well as long it's turned on. I guess, given the choice between two firewalls that can just as easily be disabled by malware that happens to make it past my first line of defenses, I'd choose the one that takes the least amount of system resources. I hope that helps explain some of my (evolved) thinking on this issue. Upper Marlboro, Md.: Hi Brian. Thanks again for staying on top of all these never-ending security issues. I have a Toshiba laptop with 2G ram running WIndows XP Media Center. I use Verizon Fios for internet with WPA2 enabled. I use Firefox as my internet browser. For security, I use System Suite 9 by Avanquest which has a firewall, anti-virus and spyware bundle. When doing a scan recently, I got a notice from Avanquest that my virus definitions need to be updated. No problem - except now they want to charge $14.95 whereas in earlier versions, updating just occurred automatically. Would it make sense to skip System Suite 9 altogether in favor of Microsoft Security Essentials and the Windows firewall? If so, would I need anything else to have workable security on my system?? Brian Krebs: Hrm. I wish I had more words of wisdom for you about Avanquest, but your question is actually the first time I've even seen this company's name. They're defnitely legit, having been around for a while it seems, but everthing I can find about them says this suite is sluggish and does not peform too spritely. Amazon reviewers mostly panned this latest version. It sounds like you're of a mind to keep to a free solution, and if that's the case I'd say nix the Avanquest install and follow your gut. If you don't care for MSE, my favorite free AV solution is AVAST!. Stockholm, Sweden: Brian, just as a follow up to your comment on corrupted MBR files, Partition Free and Mount (http://findandmount.com/) offers free partition recovery software which would seem to be ideal for Windows users unfamiliar with doing things via the command line. I haven't tried it myself, as I generally deal with problems of this type via the Ubuntu command line, but it received a very nice review (http://preview.tinyurl.com/yjwve2l ) on Gecko&Fly a couple of weeks ago.... Brian Krebs: Thanks, Henri. Welcome back to the chat. Reston, Va.: How secure is Verizon's mobile broadband connection? We're planning on using our cell phone as a modem for our Netbook whenever a WiFi hotspot isn't available, and I was wondering what security risks that may introduce. Brian Krebs: Honestly, every hacker convention I've ever attended I've used either a Sprint or Verizon aircard, and I know a number of other security pros who do exactly the same. Before that, I still refused to get on the regular wireless networks at hacker cons, so I would tether my laptop to my Sprint phone and use their dial-up instead. It was slow, but man did I feel a lot less paranoid. You may actually be more safe using the mobile broadband connection than an open wifi hotspot. In any case, the Rest easy, Reston. Anonymous: I have installed a Windows Live One Care for my notebook Sony-Vaio VGN-FZ18E Vista Home premium.The expiring date is in March 2010.Must I install now the new free anti-virus by Windows or must I let the program expire? Thanking you in advance. Yours Truly, Pierpaolo Brian Krebs: You can do either. Or neither, and remove the program and go with another option, of which there are many. As regards your specific question, you don't have to nix the OneCare solution; you may certainly wait until it expires next year, then remove it and go with something else, MSE if you so choose. If it were me, and I were choosing between the two MS offerings, I'd go with the one they weren't phasing out in a few months; I'd switch to MSE. Bethesda-ish, Md.: I just bought a refurbished Dell Latitude D610 (1.7 Ghz, 512MB, 40GB, XP Pro) for my mom to upgrade her ancient laptop. So far, I've downloaded Windows Updates, installed AVG, IE7, Firefox, and created a limited user account for her. What's next? Do you have a primer for new computer setup? Brian Krebs: You probably want to make sure automatic updates are turned on, and if you have backup software installed, make a backup of the C drive installation with everything just so, so that in case things go south later you can just reimage and start over. Also, if your mom is the kind of person who will need remote tech support, you might think about setting her up with something like LogMeIn Free and a strong passowrd, so that when that "help!" late night tech support call comes from Mom you can quickly hop on and help her out. London, UK: Hi. Love your chats. I have Spyware Doctor as one of my antispyware applications.After the scan it found stuff to remove but it tells me some threats could not be removed.How come?I use WXP SP3,2 gig RAM,clean and well maintained PC. Thanks Brian Krebs: Without more information about what files can't be removed and where they are located on the Windows system, this is going to be a hard question to answer. But I will say that I get this question a lot, and often times the files that can't be removed are files that have been quarantined by the anti-virus program resident on the machine. These are files that the AV program has detected as possibly (and probably) malicious, and the default setting on the AV software is to put said files in a kind of software jail instead of outright destroying them. You might try emptying the quarantine bin in your anti-virus application, and scanning again. Just a thought. Virginia Beach, Va: I tried and tried to make a LiveCD with Puppy. It worked fine except I couldn't connect to the Web using the Firefox browser. I looked specifically for a Firefox "build." I then tried Puppy with SeaMonkey and had the same results. Then, I tried the Ubuntu version, as suggested by you, and things worked fine. Is there something that I missed with Puppy? Even though, I did this at work, I just wanted to try it. I really didn't want to get into changing my Internet connections, and with Ubuntu, I didn't have to do that. In the comments section, many posts suggested everyone should use the LiveCD method for banking. I gather you are saying that as consumers, and not actual businesses, the banks will reimburse us? Did I interpret this correctly? (Full disclosure: I generally use a Mac to check my accounts.) Brian Krebs: Yes, as a consumer, your bank will generally reimburse you due to losses from cyber fraud. So, for instance, you get a Trojan on your system, someone steals a few hundred bucks from your debit account...provided you notify your bank relatively soon after the incident (after 10 days it gets much trickier), you should be fine. I'm not saying you'll get the money back right away, but you should eventually. With credit cards, of course, you just need to call your bank or issuer, and alert them, and they will reverse any unauthorized charges, close out the account and issue you a new card. Washington, D.C.: Should I worry about using a library computer? If I check my email and visit web sites at the library instead of on my home computer, does that mean that any viruses, spyware etcetera remain in the library computer, or could they also be somehow infecting my e-mail and/or email attachments, and then getting in my computer when I do log on at home? If a library computer does get infected, could the bad stuff infect my webmail and steal my mail, address books and email attachments while I'm at the library? And my flash-drive if I plug it in to copy something onto it? Do you think libraries probably have stronger anti-virus and anti-spyware programs than what most of us use at home, the same way they usually have stronger disinfectants? Brian Krebs: Any public computer you use that has malware on it can be a problem for you if you're using it to log into sites that require a user name and password. If that machine is infected with a keylogger, it will steal your credentials and the credentials of anyone who uses that computer. It's that simple. And plugging your USB drive into strange computers is a good way to pick up unwanted hitchhikers. That said, I know that a great many libraries have been doing this computer stuff for a long time, and most of them get pretty tired of cleaning up constantly infected PCs. As such, many schools and libraries have moved to implement a free Microsoft tool called , which essentially makes it so that critical areas of the system are off-limits to the user, and that any inicidental changes can be destroyed when the system is rebooted. There's a very easy way to tell whether the public PC you're using has this type of protection installed: Click Start, Run, and see what happens when you type "msconfig". If you get an error message, in all likelihood that computer is locked down pretty good. Brian Krebs: Okay folks, I'd love to do this all day, but I'm out of time for today. Thanks to everyone who dropped by to submit questions, and also to those who came through here just to have a look at the transcript. We'll do another one of these Security Fix Live chats in a couple of weeks from today. In the meantime, please stop by the Security Fix Blog on a regular basis to keep up to date on the latest security and technology threats and tips. Like today, we introduced a semi-regular new feature called Nastygram, which warns readers about especially sneaky and nasty new e-mail threats. Be safe out there, people! Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.
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Security Fix blogger Brian Krebs answers your technology questions and offers ways to protect yourself from online security threats.
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https://web.archive.org/web/2009101519id_/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2009/10/13/DI2009101301022.html
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Tom Boswell: No shortage ofsudjects today with Skins and LDS starting in baseball, plus, plus, plus... I agree with most of your column. After reading I reviewed the Redskins roster -- they're getting old too. Looking for some quality, core players with under four years in the league I found two, Orakpo and Landry. The last few drafts have been largely wasted, the offensive line will take years to retool. Put me down for things getting worse and/or a rebuilding time before they get better. washingtonpost.com: Thomas Boswell: They've Fallen Far, But Still Far From the Bottom (Washington Post, Oct. 15) Tom Boswell: This is a huge point. A friend, who's a lifelong Washingtonian and sport nut, asked me the other day if I shouldn't ask the same question about the Redskins that I always ask about the Nationals: Who on the roster could be a key part of a championship team in three years? He thought: Landry, Rogers, Hall, Orakpo and ... That's not much. I'd add, though not as stqars but good complimentary players, McIntosh and Horton on defense. Haynesworth is a big question by then. Huge 350-pound guys who look exhausted at times in October, don't seem to wear too well. But he's a vast talent -- if he can stay healthy and motivated. On offense, Cooley, yes, certainly. In three years, Portis: no. Huge gap to fill. Moss in three years, maybe, in a lesser role with somebody else as the No. 1 target. On the OL, nobody. Dockery? So you have an entire OL to build/rebuild. Oh, and QB. Do you live with Campbell's apparent limits -- a 15th-best QB in the NFL at best -- and try to match him with a superior defense and a vastly better running game/O-line? After talking around the league the last month, the Skins are probably going to have to take a shot at drafting a QB this year from a fairly deep pool. The "up-capped year" in '10 probably isn't going to be the talent bonanza for wealthy teams that some thought. Everybody from Roger Goddell to, increasingly, the union, suspects that NFL salaries will qactually go down a bit next year. Sitting On the Fence: Wow. Based on the responses to your The Redskins are Only Mediocre column, it looks like there is an out-and-out rebellion against Snyder and Cerrato. Apparently, if you're not against Redskins management, you're for them. For your own safety, be careful out there! Tom Boswell: I like to annoy people by actually having my own view. Reaction to the Redskins has been consistently hysterical, and often wrong, since the George Allen era. The hardest thing to find, at least within 100 miles of DC, is a balanced and only semi-emotional perspective on the team. Yet, for some reason, that's always come fairly naturally to me. If the Skins lose to the Chiefs at home, then it's probably a watershed event. K.C. has been beaten badly in 15 of its last 30 games. They are seldom even competitive on the road. They lost 13-10 to pathetic Oakland in KC. Their OT loss to Dallas last week probably means that, with a turnover edge, they are capable of beating the Skins. But I doubt they will. I've been very critical of Snyder and Cerrato and am comfortable with that. Nothing changes there. But, even if you draft poorly, even if you keep your team in constant turmoil (except when Gibbs was back), even if you hire unqualified head coaches, even if you ignore your offensive line...add to the list whatever you please...it is extremely hard to be extremely bad when you spend as much money on salaries as Snyder has. He's created the George Steinbrenner Connundrum: How long does it take a really bad owner with a truly huge wallet to drive a classic franchise into a deep hole. It took George a long time. He even went to five WS in six years in his early '76-'81 days. But, by '88-'91, the Yanks were far under .500. As I said in my Sunday column, this season looks a lot like Spurrier's second season. If the Skins beat KC to get to 3-3, they can probably avoid being one of the 6-to-8 really bad teams and maybe even get to 7-9 (even though, at the moment, they would be Vegas underdogs in nine of their last 10 games). If they lose Sunday, the bottom drops out. It's a big game. Just six weeks ago, who would have believed it? As I said in my first Skins column in August in the first sentence, "The Redskins aren't very good." But I didn't think they'd need to beat the Chiefs at home to get to 3-3. Sec 114, Row E: Hey Bos, as a season ticket holder, the Nats will give 82 free tickets for renewing my 2 seats for the full 81 games ... don't they know how many tickets I had to eat out of the 81? Has it gotten this bad? You give more tickets to full season ticket holders? Tom Boswell: Yes, I was surprised/shocked when I saw the 50 percent giveaway free tickets to my Nats season-ticket group (of which I'm a tiny part). On the one hand, it certainly makes you want to renew. All you have to do to get the free tickets, as I remember, was re-up by Nov. 1. But it may also give people the idea that they should cut back from an 81-game plan to a 40-game plan that actually gives them tickets to 60 games. Or cut a 40-game plan to 20 games, which is really 30 games. Of course, you domn't get to use the "free tickets" in exactly your same seats. But you can use them for any comparable tickets in the park. And, at this point, there are tickets available to almost every game in almost every type of seating section. Let me put it this way: It is a great deal for current season ticket holders. And an incentive to become a season-ticket holder. This is a 33.3 percent price cut, as I see it. But it also proves a point I make over and over. Baseball attendance is not directly connected to on-field performance. There is, roughly, a one-year lag. If you are awful in '08 (102 loses), you pay the price in '09 -- tickets down 21percent -- regardless of offseason improvements, like getting Dunn. So, because they were so bad in '09 (103 loses), they will pay a price for it in '10, even though they signed Strasburg and will presumably sign two or three free agents. The Lerners need to understand this. They can't say, "Hey, we spent some money and made some improvements. Where are the fans?" They'll come. But it will take a while. You have to keep improving. Once you mess things up, it takes patience to wait for things to improve again. That's part of the price you pay for alienating youre fan base with a worst-in-the-sport product in the first two years in a new ballpark. TV Land: Could you provide any illumination to the baseball scheduling process? Phillies fans have to stay up past 1 a.m. on a work night, Rockies fans can't watch a road game without taking a half day off work, and Angels fans who went to church on Sunday missed part of their game. I assume there is some sort of rhyme or reason that I'm just not seeing. Tom Boswell: No, there is no reason for it. At least not a reason that has very much to do with fans. However, ask a different question: How might this help TV and ratings? Then you'll start seeing the light. McLean, Va.: Why does my tummy ache every time I recall that we gave up two picks (nevermind Champ) for Portis, two picks for T.J. Duckett, two picks for Jason Taylor, and two picks for Brandon Lloyd? I get the feeling we could have used those after all. Tom Boswell: Yes, that could be part of the problem, couldn't it! On opening day, the Skins had 18 or 19 (expensive) free agents on their rosters. That was two-to-three times as many as the Giants, Eagles or Cowboys. But, as you point out, the Skins haven't even been able to spend money particularly well. Snyder, obviously, has no eye for the game and Cerrato should have gone long ago, as the whole town finally seems to recognize. Why did it take so long? Well, the four years of Gibbs kept everybody on hold in evaluating the team. They made the playoffs twice without a franchise QB. Then, perhaps because the parts of a decent team were already in place when he arrrived -- including a good cohesive locker room after the Sean Taylor trauma -- it took half a season for things to come a bit unhinged. Remember, early in '08, even Zorn joked about how his offense was "Ground Zorn" because he simply fell back into using the Gibbs approach while installing his own offense. I pointed out then that what was working best for Zorn was simply using what Gibbs had already given him. But injuries to the OL and, I suspect, a few weeks of film for the league to study on Zorn, threw everthing into reverse. Fairfax, Va.: If/When Zorn is fired, logically would Vinny be out the door as well? Wasn't Zorn hired on Vinny Cerratto's recommendation? I thought I remembered Cerratto saying the hire was on him, and he is also responsible for the last two drafts, which both look like failures as well. Can/will Dan Snyder be able to fire his raquetball partner? Tom Boswell: On any sanely run franchise, this would be the end for Cerrato. Yes, he said Zorn was his hire. But was it really? Was he just covering for Snyder because famous coaches didn't want to come to Washington to work for him, like Bill Cowher? Vinny has always been Snyder's shield. He deflects criticism. He says, "It was me," when it was Dan. I watched the same syndrome in Baltimore, but worse, when Mike Flanagan and others would propose good moves -- sign Ortiz from Minny, make the Beckett-Lowell for Bigbie-plus trade -- only to have Peter nix it. But the O's front office guys would take the fall for him or never say that their advice was not followed. It took Angelos an eternity to learn. He didn't have a four-year Gibbs interruption in the pain and criticism to soften it. And it took him 10 straight losing years to hire MacPhail and only after Bud got in it, pushing him to act sensible and not become a kind of shunned outsider in the game. The last time I spoke with Goodell, he was nowhwere close to this kind of Franchise Intervention. You can't force it. But you can certainly facilitate it. That's another reason I pointed out in this a.m.'s column that the Redskins are -- not yet -- truly bad. Really major changes usually take a complete fall to the bottom. And often that takes a long time, complete with slashed attendance (like the Orioles cut in half.) Is that really what Redskin fans want? Is this a case of "Be careful what you wish for?" For now, the Skins still have the possibility, at least in theory, that Snyder shows Cerrato the door or put him in a secondary role -- despite a "merely" mediocre season, and hires a team builder as President to run the ship with little imput from him. I have to admit that this does not seem to be "in character" for the owner. San Diego, Calif.: Here is a Nats question for you: Strasburg is presently pitching in the Arizona Fall League. Why should the Nats, instead of pitching him there, have made a deal with Mexicali of the Mexican Pacific League to pitch him in Mexico this winter? The players are all AAA quality or better (Mexicali has five Cubs prospects on their roster), and Mexicali is only 90 miles from his home in San Diego ... Tom Boswell: The Nats aren't trying to reinvent the wheel. They are developing Strasburg the standard way. And one reason Boras was comfortable dealing with Rizzo was that he assumed Mike would be patient and by the book with SS. Why would you want to send a 21-year-old to another country -- any other country -- right after getting a $15M deal!? You want to have your people around him to help him. Section 405, nosebleed row: Bos, Thanks for the column today - it talked me down from the ledge somewhat. I think the reason why Redskins fans are so apoplectic at ownership (aside from game day at FedEx being expensive and a pain in the backside to get to and out of) is twofold. One, guys like me grew up during Gibbs I and know how good the Redskins have been. Wilbon mentioned the Cubbies, but no living Chicago fan has memories of a championship. Two, with the resources the team has (see 'game day' above), the team should be a whole lot better. My question is: does Cerrato have naked pictures of Snyder? Why does he keep him around (this is a serious query). Thanks. Tom Boswell: Yes, you make the one point that I wish I'd made again -- the Skins are getting the most pathetic return on investment in the NFL. Their record, relative to their payroll, is certainly as bad as any team in the NFL. But, man, I've made that "underachievement" point so many timwes before (as everybody has) that you'd think it was unnecessary. I was looking at it from an "absolute" level, not a "salary-adjusted" perspective. It's the salary-adjusted view that makes Snyder and cerrato look so bad. But didn't I just write that column on Monday? And I think I placed Snyder in the Marshall-Griffith-Short-Angelos tradition of Bad Owners before the season even began. It's helpful to look at issues/teams from different angles. Also, the Awful teams phenomenon is an NFL wide story. It interests me that a team can fall apart as badly as the Skins and still not come close to teams in streaks like 1-21, 2-23, 2-28. The Rams are about to go 0-16 "around the corner" from last year. Teams like the Bengals, Browns, Raiders, etc., have been bad for many years, almost without any winning seasons. And this is in a league that gives bad teams very easy schedules the next year! The NFL will do anything to make it look like "everybody has a chance" when, in reality, the sked often makes it hard for a 5-11 team to avoid having an 8-8 year every once in a while to keep its fans hooked on the possibility of progress. Mardella Springs, Md.: We're awaiting the first planned November Classic, and Peter Gammons is advocating adding two additional wild card teams into the mix. Am I the only person hoping for the Twins and Rockies to make it to the Series in 2010? Dream on, I know, but outdoor baseball games in November played in Denver and Minneapolis might bring these idiots to their senses. Probably not, but we can hope. Tom Boswell: Thanks. I agree. Eight teams in the baseball playoffs is the right number. I heard a friend, who knows a lot about sports but almost nothing about baseball, say that what the game needed was another round of playoffs. "Why is the baseball post-season so short?" I almost fell over. The sport needs to start earlky enough and/or trim its schedule by a few regular season games, so that, even with a couple of candelations and a seven-game Series, the whole thing ends before November. (P.S.: The owners want every one of the 162 games. They are wrong. It's not in the game's best interest or theirs.) Today's Colu, Mn.: Just when I start frothing at the mouth, and bleating and blathering to my family and friends, you provide perspective. Can you please loan me your kerchief so's that I may wipe my face? washingtonpost.com: Thomas Boswell: They've Fallen Far, But Still Far From the Bottom (Washington Post, Oct. 15) Seriously, folks, people all over the country snicker at Washington for constantly being so over-the-top and usually off the mark in evaluating the Redskins. WE know that New York fans, in general, overvalue their own stars and are a very provincial sports town -- despite being a huge and sophisticated town otherwise. New York is knowledgeable about sports, but also hopelessly homerish. Well, the "book" on us is that we have lost our marbles over the Redskins and don't want to find 'em. And that, as a result, while we support the other teams in town adequately, we don't quite give them the enthusiasm that they deserve especially when they win. However, I prefer a town that's Redskin-crazed (and it has been all my life) to a town that's not really crazy about anything. Again, do we really want to see the Redskins fall to the bottom of the barrell just to "show" the owner the errors of his ways? Isn't it possible that he's capable of learning from his (repeated) mistakes without a punishment quite that bad? That's not a rhetorical question. I really don't know the answer to that last one. When a guy walks around everywhere surrounded by a bunch of body guards worthy of a President, is he totally in touch with reality? He marched around the field in Detroit with the whole entourage thing going, plus Tom Cruise, then came through the Charlotte press box with a phalanx of security guys. (Is that the easiest job in America or what..."protecting" Dan Snyder...from what, all the people who don't want his autograph?) When a person's Look at Me quotient is that high, it's possible that, as long as he's in the discussion, he's pretty happy. Bowie, Md.: The NFL schedule isn't as differential as it used to be. Division mates always have 14 games in common (counting playing each other as "in common"). The only difference is that first place team has two games against other first places, second two games against second ... Tom Boswell: Good point. Thanks. Rockville, Md.: Imagine this: Next Monday night the Redskins vs. Eagles. Zorn's last stand as coach with each player, play-call and strategy move being critiqued by the man who could be the next head coach (Gruden) conceivably as early as the next game. Doesn't that make for must see TV? Tom Boswell: That would be Must Laugh TV. Another reason to hope the Skins win Sunday. If they don't, Gruden might already be the coach by the Eagles game. (And I enjoy Gruden on MNF. That is a shock. He always looks wound much too tight as a coach. The whole "Chucky" act. But he's really got a nice self-depricating goofy streak on TV.) Silver Spring, Md.: Bos, The Nats (especially Rizzo) have moved with dispatch to fill front office holes with what appears to be highly respected, experienced baseball guys. Given everything Rizzo's done with player and front office moves since he became (interim) GM last summer, what's your evaluation of the job he's doing? Tom Boswell: I think he's doing very well. He must be happy to get n assistant GM in place. He's been doing both jobs since Bowden left on March 1. What's most encouraging is that at three important positions -- including Dominican operations -- he has attracted known proven people, not "Who is he?" Quality attracts quality. Bowden, despite his "sizzle" at times, had such a spotty personal reputation in the game that he didn't attract many quality people, with a couple of noteable exceptions like Bob Boone. Rizzo is the opposite. No sizzle. Lots of steak. And it looks like quality people want to join him. Also, for a GM, his ego is about as totally under control as anybody you can imagine. If you can't work with him, who canm you work with? Now we find out if he can pull of free agent signings tghis off-season. The Nats need to strike early, not wait and see who is left in the bargain bin and hope to get lucky, as they did with Dunn and Beimel last year. I'm pretty sure Rizzo and kasten feel this way. But new owners tend to overvalue their limited experience and the lesson of last winter was "wait and get 'em cheap." Speaking of draft picks: Bos, since I actually am a Ravens fan and just follow the Redskins since I live here, I thought I'd make a comparison on draft picks, since that one chatter brought up all those picks given away in trades. I think it gives a clear example of the failings of the Redskins "brain trust." Here's what the Redskins have picked up in the first three rounds of the last two drafts: 2008: Devin Thomas, Fred Davis, Malcolm Kelly, Chad Rhinehart 2009: Brian Orakpo, Kevin Barnes Here's who the Ravens picked up in the first three rounds of the last two drafts: 2008: Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, Tavares Gooden (starter at LB), Tom Zbikowski (back up safety), Oniel Cousins (back up OT) 2009: Michael Oher, Paul Kruger (DE-LB back up), Lardarius Webb (back up CB) The Ravens had a clear need to improve their offense and in two years time, added a starting QB, a starting RB and a starting OT, three of the most important spots on an offense. They also picked up four useful players to flesh out a great defense. The Redskins, meanwhile, didn't really address needs, and they didn't pick good players! The only exception appears to be Orakpo. Did any of those other guys really make the Redskins better? Isn't that the point of the draft? Many in the NFL think that Orakpo is a superior pass rusher bt will be rookie-lost as a LB for quite a while. He got turned inside out on man-to-man coverage with the TE on Charlotte's 17-yard TD pass to cut the Skins lead to 17-9. However, Orakpo may turn out to be an excellent, though hardly obscure, pick. I went back through every Skins draft for the last 30 years yesterday and compared them to several other teams. Yes, I'm a nut on that, too. You can now find out how many years every player in the NFL ended up being "the primary starter" at his position for his team. For example, the Skins draft picks in '81 -- their best year ever -- had a total of 43 seasons as starters at their positions. Mark May 10, Russ Grimm 9, Dexter Manley 9, Darryl Grant , Charlie Brown 4, Clint Didlier 3. The previous year, they drafted Art Monk 14. Since '00, here are the Skins totals. being a starter in '09 is not included. Obviously, this is not apples-to-apples. Recent players who are starters, likle Landry, will keep adding to their numbers. Still, it gives a general sense of how little impact the Skins have gotten from the drafts of the Snyder-Cerrato years. Also, there are measures of the total impact of a player's whole career. I don't like the methodolgy much. But in the '80's, the Skins had players with career numbers like Green 104, Monk 93, Mann 81 and many in the 40's and 50's. In recent times, there are far fewer of those players, tough there have been some nice ones: Champ Bailey 96 (ooops), Samuels 60, Jansen 49, LaVar 46, Cooley 35, taylor 34, Camnpbell 24, Rogers 18. Among QB's: Rypien 57, Frerotte 57, Humphries (took a team to Super Bowl) 50. Again, no time to explain the method. You can find it at pro-football-reference.com. Alexandria, Va.: Randle-El was a pretty good receiver for the Steelers. Makes me wonder if he's really not all that, or if it's just the fact that he plays for the Redskins that you don't hear about him much anymore. Tom Boswell: He's a slot receiver, not a real WR. When used properlky, he has value. Might run a few single wing, I mean "wildcat" plays, eventually. He's a terrible "big play" punt returner now. Really he's just back there to "fair catch" or return a few yards then dig a hole. No problem. That's what they want him to do. No fumbles, sure hands. Maybe a good return once in a great while. They don't want to risk Moss back there very often. And there's nobody else. Longer Season: Keep it 162 but play more double headers! I haven't heard that. The union might fight it. And they might be right. But one "split-gate" DH a month -- 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. games the same day -- might be conceivable. As for old-fashioned DHs, just for the fun of it (for fans) that won't happen. It's about the money. You could only do it with split-gates. That's probably a problem. But I still like the idea. Schedule them before an off day? Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.: Tom, The Angels -- destined to win it all? After the Twinkies fell to the Yanks, the Angels are the only team remaining that I feel positively about. And while you didn't write it, on that same note, the very moving article on the Angels and Nick Adenhart had me struggle to hold back tears on the metro this morning. Just another reminder that the Post has some of the finest sports writers in the country. washingtonpost.com: Angels Are Touched by a Rookie Lost, and Never to Be Forgotten (Washington Post, Oct. 15) Tom Boswell: For those who might have missed it. I haven't read it yet. Will right after this. Picking the LDS is driving me crazy. And just realized I haven't done it in this chat. I've been pulling for a Yanks-Dodgers Series with Torre back to New York with Manny vs. A-Rod ever since Ramirez landed in L.A. (I realize this is shallow of me.) My favorite team is, easily, the Phils. They have a ton of heart and a much better team with Lee, Ibanez and Werth becoming even better. But Lidge is still a nightmare. I'm glad he survived two saves against the Rox. But he's just using a mid-to-high'80's "cutter" and praying, it seems to me, that they are looking for the fastball/slider that he threw 99% of the time his whole career. How long can that last? I think Manuel, a fav, too, really messed up Pedro Martinez when he left himin for 130 pitches in a September start. I couldn't believe it at the time. Pedro had been good. After that, he was toast. Now they're thinking of bringing him back for Game Three. Anything can happen for one game. Maybe his arm has bounced back. But if they'd kept him fresh with 90-to-100 pitch starts and moved Myers and madson into the 8-9 inning roles, I'd have liked their chances better. Charlie is loyal and hates to abandon Lidge after his Perfect Season in '08. Dodgers have no ace, unless Kershaw keeps pitching as he did in the division series. And they merely have good power, not great. But LA is really deep -- two LH relievers (Sherrill!), pinch hitters. I'll go with Angels and Phils. But I think these could be two long wonderful series. I'm much more interested in watching them than picking them. Key factor. The Yankees really want to use a three-man rotation with Sabathia in games 1-4-7 with three days and four days off, respectively, between starts. However, if Friday night is rained out in NY, then that's not possible, unless he came back on two days rest in a Game Seven. Mike Scoscia says the weather forcast is so bad that "We may face CC seven times." The Angels have always hit him well. But he's at his career peak now. Why readers are panning your column: It's about hope. It's not just today's win- loss record that matters; in fact for a bad team it's less important than prospects for the future. All of the teams you cite as being worse off than the Redskins can point to something as a reason to see light at the end of the tunnel: Lions - early returns on Stafford as a franchise QB are good, Calvin Johnson, finally got rid of Millen St. Louis Rams - yes, in serious rebuild mode but have one of the brightest defensive minds in the game as head coach, Spagnuolo, also Stephen Jackson Chiefs - creative playcalling from Haley, Matt Cassel, finally got rid of Herm Edwards Browns - true, Mangini off to a rocky start but he was runner-up coach of the year two years ago, Josh Cribbs is the most exciting returner in football Bills - Dick Jauron is gone, but they still have TO, Marshawn Lynch, and Marcus Stroud Bucs - in full rebuild mode, Kellen Winslow, Antonio Bryant, Cadillac Williams, Aqib Talib Titans - a good team having a bad year, will be back in force next year Jaguars - Del Rio is also gone, might be addition by subtraction there, Jones-Drew, Mathis, move to a bigger market will generate more cash for free agents Seattle - one of the best home fields in football, new start under Mora Jr., T.J. Houshmandzadeh Raiders - okay, total dysfunction, resemble the Redskins Redskins - see Raiders, Oakland Tom Boswell: Lots of good info for chatters. Thanks. Once people (finally) work up a good "hate," they don't want it spoiled. That's okay. Have fun. See you all next week. Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.
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Washington Post sports columnist Thomas Boswell will be online to take your questions about the MLB playoffs, the Redskins, the NFL, the Nats, Orioles and the latest sports news and his recent columns.
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You can find previous Talking Fashion Live Q&As here. Janet Bennett Kelly: Good morning and welcome to Talking Fashion. A few things on my mind today -- first, did you happen to see Lindsay Lohan's collection for Emanuel Ungaro? What was supposed to be a boost for an ailing design house turned out to be a bust! Second, it may be worth a trip to NYC to see Jil Sander's new collection for Uniqlo -- great style at wallet-friendly prices. And third, reportedly, Zara is selling bags with swastikas on them. Shame on them. Thoughts, comments welcome. And, of course, we'd love to hear how you've solved any recent wardrobe or beauty dilemmas. As ever, we've got goodies for you -- Aveeno Positively Radiant Cleanser and a how-to book on knitting. I already own a pair of black and gray long tall, flat boots. I walk 2 miles to work, so walkability is key. I'd like to buy a pair of brown boots for this year. Should I go for a short pair or long? Camel colored and cowboy style, or chocolate brown and modern? I am so obsessed with boots that I'd like to buy both, but I need to pick one for budget reasons. Also, could I wear my pair of brown boots with black? I saw someone do it last week and it looked really fresh. Thanks! Janet Bennett Kelly: Good morning, Boots DC, I'd say if you already own a pair of tall flat boots, pick that brown pair in a shorter style. I love cowboy boots but I also like the new booties that are everywhere. It depends what works best with your wardrobe. And by all means wear brown boots with black. It's an elegant combination. Washington DC: Where is the best place to find unique and fun party dresses for under the $150 mark? Holly Thomas: For under $150 and unique, I'd say your best option is to scour some of the District's vintage shops -- start with Treasury, Junction, Meeps and Mercedes Bien around U St/Adams Morgan, then maybe Remix on Capitol Hill and Annie Creamcheese in Georgetown. Going vintage is definitely the best way to find something no one else is wearing, and you'll probably walk away with some of that $150 still in your pocket. DC - going to NYC: Help! I'm heading up to NYC this weekend to visit with friends from college. I'm having a hard time thinking of what to pack for both walking around during the day and going out at night. I'm in my mid-20s and going to dinner in the meatpacking district then dancing one of the nights. Thanks! Holly Thomas: Ooh, a fall weekend in NYC ... lovely! I'd suggest a pair of flat black boots for walking around during the day, and you can always pair them with a short shift dress for dinner. If you're of the higher-the-better heels persuasion, maybe slip a pair of flats in your bag just in case -- those cobblestones in Meatpacking can be lethal to a pair of stilettos (and ankles). Washington, D.C.: I'm at a job where I have to walk or stand throughout the day. Can you recommend some stylish flats to go with business attire? Janet Bennett Kelly: One of my faves for flats is BCBG and BCBG Girls, both of which I've found at Bloomie's and Macy's. Some people rave about French Sole, which I've seen at Sassanova. Look at Nine West, too. D.C.: I love the Balmain blazers with the overly-structured '80s shoulders. Is there anywhere I can find this style of blazer/jacket without the Balmain price tag? Holly Thomas: Easy -- thrift stores! Check out some of the small charity resale shops and big thrift stores outside the District. I picked up a boys' Oscar de la Renta tuxedo jacket last fall at Unique Thrift in Falls Church and it was worth every penny of the $4 I paid for it. Judge the fit by the shoulders -- you can always belt it or have a tailor nip in the waist if the body is a little too roomy. Pentagon City: Hi ladies. I'm new to DC and I'm hoping you can help. I'm looking for a tailor in DC or Arlington who does originally hemming on jeans using the method where you cut off the hem then sew it back on. I don't want someone who folds up the hem and sews it. I recently took a pair to the tailor recommended by the Denim Bar founder and he used the latter method. I think it looks sloppy. Any suggestions? Janet Bennett Kelly: I just called Georgetown Valet in Dupont Circle, and they said they do original hems on jeans. The chain has other locations, including one in Arlington on Clarendon Blvd. Washington, DC: Where is a good place to find a dress for my wife ? I would like something that would be good for both work (office) and casual social events. Holly Thomas: Betsy Fisher in Dupont Circle is a good jumping-off point for work-friendly clothing that can transition to after-hours events, and the boutique is known for their customer service. I'd recommend calling ahead and giving the staff a rough idea of your wife's size and taste, then visit the store to see what they've found for you. party dress under $150: I'd check out Loehmann's or Filene's Basement. Might have better luck than a thrift store. Holly Thomas: A suggestion for the chatter looking for a party dress -- both options require a bit of digging, but you're bound to find something good between the two! Laurel, MD: Ladies...I would love to wear a pair of white jeans with my new black booties and a black shirt. Too late in the year? Janet Bennett Kelly: I don't think it's too late. The black boots and black shirt takes the white jeans into fall quite nicely. Good idea. Want Boots!: Hello ladies! Thanks for introducing me to endless.com -- they stock Dansko boots! But I feel a little uncomfortable, still, with ordering a few shoes for sizing and then sending some back, even though they say free shipping both ways. I shouldn't feel uncomfortable, because it works, right?? Holly Thomas: I haven't heard any reports of problems (or had any myself) with free shipping through online shoe sites like Endless or Zappos, but one word of advice -- make sure you read the fine print and know the final date the shoes can be returned. Nothing worse than being stuck with the same shoe in three different sizes because you missed the return-by date. Baltimore: Hi fashion gurus! I'm looking for shoes to wear on medical school interviews, something professional, comfortable enough for lots of walking, and, ideally, inexpensive (I'm on a student budget). Do you have any suggestions? many thanks! Janet Bennett Kelly: Is there a DSW near you? I'd go and see if I could find a pair of Cole Haans. They'd be both comfortable and professional-looking, and if you could find them at the right price, well that would be ideal. Fairfax, VA: I am obsessed with dresses. Work dresses, party dresses, lounge-dresses...sometimes a gal doesn't want to wear pants. For the poster looking for modern, party dresses at under $150, try ModCloth.com. I haven't purchased anything from them yet so I can't speak to quality but I have a wish list 12 dresses long. They seem to highlight smaller, indie designers and their stock is fresh and a little funky. The most expensive dress I've found is $140. (I hate to give up this secret site I stumbled across but the more business they have, the more likely they'll stick around!) Holly Thomas: A vote for ModCloth for party dresses ... thanks! I received three (!) strands of vintage pearls from my recently departed mother-in-law. They are just lovely, large, with that glow they get from years of wear. BUT - the clasps are broken. The pearls are strung on some kind of cord and individually knotted. I'm in need of a recommendation for a place to take them that will repair the clasps. I probably don't want to have them all re-knotted as she didn't leave me a bundle of cash to go with the pearls. Janet Bennett Kelly: Hi, Silver Spring, The pearls sound lovely. I recently took some pearls to Amethyst in Bethesda (on Bethesda Avenue), and they did a great job re-stringing them. They suggested that I put on a new clasp at the same time, and now I regret that I didn't. Anyway, that might be a good place to try because they're conscientious and not pricey. Richmond, Va.: What's your opinion on 'jeggings'? (leggings that look like jeans) I was at a store recently and was considering a pair to wear underneath a cute tunic. I am in my mid 30s and the tunic is from Boden, so kind of preppy-mom wear. They looked comfortable which is why I paused, as that's usually a signal that I'm about to make a mistake. Holly Thomas: Oh dear ... I'd hoped that "jeggings" would stay in the UK, where they originated, and never actually make it into stores in the US, but I saw a pair in H&M last week. They looked comfortable (let's be honest, when does an elastic waist NOT look comfortable?) but they gave me the creeps in a sort of "painted-on" meets "maternity jeans" way. I think you're better off with traditional leggings in an opaque cotton or a pair of skinny jeans that have a lot of stretch. Vintage Clothes: I recently came into some vintage clothes and furs from family members. Is one of the vintage stores you mentioned a consignment store where they would buy the clothes I don't want? Holly Thomas: I know that Junction on U Street buys items up-front (cash on the spot, not consignment) and I believe Treasury, Meeps and Annie Creamcheese do the same. It's standard practice to call ahead and give them an idea of what you have first, to gauge their interest and make sure you're not wasting a trip. If you have a ton of stuff, some owners will make arrangements to come to your home. University Park, MD: Time to replace my winter coat! I prefer a full-length one but have seen very few online or in ads. Is full-length passe? Any tips on styles, colors, or shapes to watch for in a coat this season? Janet Bennett Kelly: I think we're seeing a return to coats that are longer -- at least to the knee. The newest shape is the cocoon look as shown by high-end designers like Martin Grant. I've seen a range of styles and colors from lines like DKNY, Jones New York and Ellen Tracy at Bloomingdale's. Don't go too long, though; in my opinion, then, the coat tends to look like a bathrobe. In need of a tailor: I recently lost some weight and need to have some suits altered (about 1.5 to 2 sizes down). They're J Crew, so I guess moderately priced -- so I don't want to spend a ton of money having them altered, but also don't want to just give them away (seriously, I've worn them maybe twice). Are there any reasonably priced (and good!) tailors in the DC area (or Northern VA) that could help me out? Janet Bennett Kelly: Any chatters have experience with having suits altered for a reasonable price in DC or Northern Virginia? Football Widow: Hi Fashionistas. My husband has entered the world of obsession (aka football season), and I get bored just sitting there pretending to care about completed passes and flags on the play. I have thought about knitting in order to spend time with him but still accomplish something. Any ideas on what I should start with and what could be an asset to my wardrobe? I could do a scarf, but I don't really want a huge chunky one. Thanks. Janet Bennett Kelly: I feel your pain and admire your willingness to watch even though it's boring. I usually go read a book or go shopping myself. In any event, yes, start with a scarf. It's a terrific accent for your fall/winter wardrobe, and it doesn't have to be chunky. I don't know much about knitting, but can you find some lightweight wool and make a long scarf to drape stylishly around your neck? Washington, DC: Where is a good store or brand to find nice blouses for young women who are big busted? I wear a size 6 and it is kind of difficult to find cute blouses. Please help. Thank you. Holly Thomas: I've heard great things about the brand Rebecca & Drew, which offers custom shirts that you can order by bra size. The new Insignia collection offers a couple cute options -- I like the twist-front and shell styles. They're not cheap, but one or two might be a worthwhile investment if you're having trouble finding blouses that fit. Zappos/Endless return policy: Funny, I was just reading an article in the New Yorker about Zappos and how they know that people use their website to try stuff on and return and that's why they have free shipping/such a generous return policy. So I think you're fine! Holly Thomas: Thanks for the background! Old Town: I'm looking for a gray (darker shade) trench coat. I've really liked the ones Banana Republic had last year and their similar one this year, but I want to bridge the gap between tan and black with a darker gray (They have a lighter gray). Any suggestions in a similar price range? Janet Bennett Kelly: Although gray is a big color this fall, I haven't seen many trenches in that color. If I were you, I'd look through the racks at Loehmann's and Filene's to see if I could find something there. Washington, DC: Hi, thanks for taking question. I am looking for cowgirls boot for my daughter. She is 4 and loves them. If I can find them for a reasonable price it will be great. Holly Thomas: A few years back, I bought my 7-year-old niece a pair of red leather cowboy boots from Amazon.com ... she slept in them for the first couple nights, so I'd say they were a hit. Prices for kids' boots are a little steep (most are in the $40 range), but Amazon's selection is good. Wilmington, Del.: For the woman thinking of taking up knitting - check out ravelry.com. It's a social networking site for knitters, and it's also a huge resource for gorgeous knitting patterns and knitting help. Holly Thomas: Suggestion for Ravelry.com -- thanks! Modcloth: The quality of their clothing is hit-or- miss. I've started clicking on "Composition and Measurements" to get a feel for how the quality of the item is. Their return policy is anything less than 30 days. And they tend to sell out of things quite quickly, so if you see it, snatch it. It could be gone tomorrow. That being said, it is my favorite site for quirky accessories, and I probably shop there more than any other site. Holly Thomas: Some info about ModCloth.com ... Wedding Dress Shopping???: So I am going dress shopping in a few weeks and have no idea what the process should entail! Do I make an appointment? Will an afternoon at David's bridal take an hour or 4? What kind of questions should I ask? Are wedding dresses true to size? Janet Bennett Kelly: Yes, non-bridezilla, it's best to make an appointment. I would guesstimate that an hour would not be enough, not matter where you go, unless you happen to be extremely lucky and find something you love immediately. It would be very rare to find a wedding dress that didn't need to be altered to fit your proportions. Expect that whatever you choose will have to be altered. As for the kind of questions you should ask, go out and get yourself a bride's magazine -- there are some still publishing -- such as Martha Stewart's. They almost always have tips on bridal fashion and how to buy a dress. There's also a site called "The Knot" that offers advice on buying a bridal gown. Good luck! Closet wasteland: I need to do a total wardrobe makeover. Tim Gunn (does he even still have that show?) isn't knocking on my door but I could really use his help. Is there a stylist/service that will do what he does? I need someone to come in and go through my closet tell me what looks good, bad and why; and help me find clothes/styles that flatter me. I think I get too swayed by what looks good on other people and not what's good for my body. Thanks Holly Thomas: The DC metro area has a handful of personal shoppers/closet stylists that do this kind of thing -- I'm not sure where you're located, but Alison Lukes (AlisonLukes.com) and Margaret Lilly (LillysClosetOnline.com) have gotten high marks here in the District. Boots: I would recommend a pair of Ariat Fat Baby boots. Kids can wear them just like tennis shoes and they can be worn until they are practically worn out. Holly Thomas: For the chatter looking for kids' cowboy boots ... Size Change: I have noticed in my failed shopping attempts lately that clothes seem to be bigger. For example, a size 2 is fitting more like a size 4. I thought it was just the designer, but it appears to be across the board. Any thoughts on retailers/designers who stay true to the size? I typically end up buying something too big and having it altered, which costs a fortune, or buying nothing. Janet Bennett Kelly: Any chatters have ideas on designers that run true to size? for Old Town, Gray Trench Coat: Nordstrom website shows a Kenneth Cole Reaction trench in a color called Gravel, dark gray with a wide collar, for $148. Hits mid-thigh, single-breasted, wool blend Janet Bennett Kelly: For the chatter in search of a gray trenchcoat, this chatter recommends you check out Kenneth Col Reaction. Thanks for the tip! skinny jeans: Does anyone sell skinny jeans that are NOT super low rise? I'd love a pair, but prefer a higher rise (about 2" under belly button with full back coverage). Thanks for any help! Holly Thomas: Try the in-house brand from Up Against the Wall -- the rise is higher than most I've tried, and they offer a bit more coverage in the back. J.Crew suits: I've been through the same scenario, and I really think it's not worth altering down more than a half size or so - especially the jackets. Altering everything inevitably gets expensive, and it just never looks the same. If I were you, I'd sell them on eBay or Craigslist to recoup some of your money, and then treat yourself to new suits. Janet Bennett Kelly: I tend to agree, except that I'd say not to alter down more than one size. And it does become expensive. Good idea to try to recoup some money by selling on eBay or Craigslist. You could also try a local consignment store. Fairfax, Va.: Me again from dress-obsessed... I own a pair of the "jeggings" and I did indeed buy them on a recent visit to London. Now I realize why I've never seen them around town. I think they are cuter then tights-leggings but only because I adhere to the adage: "Never wear a trend when you wore it the first time." I wore too many stretch-leggings with over-sized sweaters in my youth. I thought the "jeggings" were OK because they were closer to skinny jeans but without the fatal belly cut. However, I don't wear them very often because the elastic is so comfortable - not tight - that they ride down when I'm walking. Holly Thomas: I agree with your adage ... hence why I'll never wear stirrup pants ever again. Thanks for the firsthand advice on jeggings! Re: med school interview shoes: I think even Cole Haan at DSW might be out of a student price range. I would start with looking at the shoes you have now: is there a pair that's comfortable? What makes them so? Measure the heel heights of your shoes to see which are easiest to walk in, and make sure your new ones are the same or shorter. What brands have you found comfortable in the past? Start with those. I've had good experience with Nine West, Kenneth Cole Reaction, and Sofft (a little pricier) being comfortable. Also, for me, 2"-2.5" heels that are thicker (or even wedged) helps with balance and walking. And be sure to wear them beforehand so you know if you need band-aids for blisters! Janet Bennett Kelly: For the medical school student in search of comfy, stylish shoes, some advice. Arlington, Va.: I always say I'm going to branch out and shop at smaller boutiques, but then I keep ending up at Banana Republic and Ann Taylor. Can you recommend some more interesting (but not super expensive) stores? I need business casual work clothes and dresses for a couple of fall weddings and rehearsal dinners. Thanks. Holly Thomas: Good for you for trying to branch out! Here's a quick list of places to try in Arlington/Alexandria: South Moon Under, Current Boutique (for consignment), Treat, and Diva. For business casual via chain stores, there's always Zara. And outlet stores are another good option for changing up brands/styles while sticking to an Ann Taylor/Banana Republic budget. Janet Bennett Kelly: We gotta go. Thanks for joining in and sharing your wisdom. And the winners are the chatter who gave ideas to the medical school student on a budget seeking stylish, comfortable shoes and the chatter who suggested the knitting site, ravelry.com. The former will receive the Aveeno cleansing cream and the latter the knitting book. Please send your info to [email protected], and we'll get those right out to you. And do follow us on twitter.com/WashPostFashion. See you next Tuesday. Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.
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Janet Bennett Kelly and Holly Thomas answer questions about the latest fashions, how to make the runway trends work for you and how to shop wisely.
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washingtonpost.com: Hey guys. It's that time again. Bosslady Anne is on vacation and Fritz is on some serious post-root canal medication, so things could get interesting around here today. Let's get to it... Free For All: Any idea how popular (crowded) this will be? The Shakespeare Web site says that you can pick up the tickets 2 hours before each performance, should I be sure to get there exactly 2 hours before or even earlier than that? Any guesses as to whether my better bet would be the noon show or evening show on Saturday, or should I let the buzz die down and wait a week or two? Thanks! Stephanie: This weekend will be pretty crowded between opening weekend of the Free for All and the theater's family fun day on Saturday. If you want to avoid crowds, I'd probably wait a week. Washington, D.C.: I am sure tons of people are asking, but do you know anything about the Free Fest line up? It says doors at 11am, but what time will the show start? I don't want to miss Girl Talk or the National. Thanks! David: The FreeFest lineup will be released tomorrow. Let's hope it goes a bit smoother than the extra tickets being put on sale. (Which just started, after a 3-hour delay, BTW. You can get them through ticketmaster.com and they are $10, with all money going to charity.) I did an interview with Girl Talk yesterday and I can tell you that he'll be playing on the later side of the day. D.C.: Help! Two friends just broke up with their boyfriends of 5 and 8 years, are tired of their initial forays into online dating and looking for a place to mix and mingle with bachelors in their 30s. Somewhere semi-classy (no sign of the whale or rumors, please!) though no need to be swanky (not hunting for sugar daddies). Any suggestions where we can find a Friday or Saturday night refuge from wedding season? Julia: I think the phrases "semi-classy" and "karaoke" are mutually exclusive. Haven't stumbled on too many of those classy karaoke joints around these parts. That being said, Recessions is a blah bar but I have really enjoyed Friday karaoke nights there in the past. It's been a while since I've been, but as I recall, half of the people there were belting out amazing renditions of gospel and R&B songs. The other participants sang Hall & Oates and other throwback fun karaoke songs. It was a good supportive environment -- cheering and dancing. I also love karaoke at Nick's, but you gotta be a little bit country. Skyline, Falls Church, Va.: Hi GOGs! Gotta tell you I love the blog & chats & all that you do! Though I know this is not a "going out" related question, I know I can trust you all to help me out. At my work we are going to be putting together a themed basket that we will auction off for charity. The theme is a Hot Air Balloon Ride & picnic. Obviously this will be no KFC picnic. My job is to help figure out what local businesses might a) Offer the types of products that one might expect to find in a nice picnic spread, and b) Be willing to donate their goods for charity. If you guys can help me out with this I will jump for joy and just in general be eternally grateful. :) Julia: I'd talk with some local beloved businesses like Cheestique, Cowgirl Creamery, Grape + Bean, Griffin Market and maybe Cork Wine Bar (as the owners are about to open the new Cork Market). They'll have the gourmet-ish spread you're looking for. karaoke?: Where in her question did she ask for karaoke? Julia: OMG, I accidentally answered the wrong question! My answer is for this one: karaoke guy: Guru's, I need your help. I'm into karaoke, but was diasappointed by peyote cafe. I realize karaoke is in addition to drinking, but the crowd was boorish and did not compliment or clap for the singers. Is there a place with good drinks, possibly good grub and an appreciative karaoke crowd. Either in DC or the inner suburbs. Weekends especially nice, weekdays OK... I know I can't be the only one. Potomac, Md.: Do we know if the airplane/helicopter rides at the College Park Aviation Museum event are free with admission this Saturday? Fritz: Sadly, they're not -- a plane ride will cost an extra $15 (on top of the $4 adult/$2 17-and-under admission), while helicopter rides are an extra $40. U Street: Despite reading every online review/description I can find, I cannot figure out what the heck the format of the Washington Improv Theater's "Neutrino" Video Project show is. I know it involves filmed footage (I assume projected onto a screen in the performance space?) and live improv along with that footage? Do the actors go out and film during the show and get the footage live streamed into the show while other actors act? Is it filmed prior and then the actors use it in their improv? I am trying to figure out what the format is to see if friends (who may not have seen much live improv before) would like it, or if it would be better to go to a more standard improv offering for their first time. And if it would be a good option for them I need to understand the format a bit better so I can pitch it to them. All the descriptions I have read seem so vague. Stephanie: It's definitely a little hard to explain, but basically the Neutrino Video Project consists of 3 teams who run out into the street and film scenes (based on audience suggestions). After each (around) two-minute scene is filmed, runners bring a steady stream of video clips back to the theater where they are edited together in front of the audience. I haven't caught the show yet, but WIT always puts on a great performance, so I'm sure it will be good. Rosslyn: Gurus, I'm thinking of checking out the Skyline Hotel's pool party on Sunday. I'm excited to try a Spike burger and also catch the 8:15 showing of Old School. What time would you suggest I show up if I want to do both? Do I come for lunch and turn into a prune swimming all day, or do I come later to catch the movie? Fritz: Fresh-off-the-grill Spike Burgers are served (and included in the $10 cover charge) from noon to 4. I'd say show up maybe 2:30-3ish, chill out for a while, then catch the movie. (You could, of course, leave and come back once you've got your Spike Sundays wristband, but come on -- you'll be lying by a pool. Bring a book and relax.) D.C.: Help! Two friends just broke up with their boyfriends of 5 and 8 years, are tired of their initial forays into online dating and looking for a place to mix and mingle with bachelors in their 30s. Somewhere semi-classy (no sign of the whale or rumors, please!) though no need to be swanky (not hunting for sugar daddies). Any suggestions where we can find a Friday or Saturday night refuge from wedding season? Julia: So, since I botched this one before... let me take it again. Public Bar seemed to have a nice mixed-aged crowd when I was there recently, but it may be a little less swanky than you're looking for. I'd try the lounge route -- ESL comes to mind. Chatters any other ideas? Karaoke Fans: I'd also suggest Playbill on 14th Street for their Karaoke on Mondays and Thursdays. Always wonderful people who are supportive of each other and more than the same old songs over and over and over again. Also, unlike Peyote, you don't have to tip $20 just to sing your song. Clifton, Va.: Hot Air Balloon Ride and picnic basket for charity auction For variety and a good chance they will do it contact Wegman's in Fairfax. Their fried chicken and cookies by the pound are worth committing treason for! Friday Night Happy Hour: Hi Gurus, I'm meeting my boyfriend downtown on Friday night for our long awaited restaurant week date. We'll be near Metro Center and we're looking for somewhere to have a cocktail before dinner. Any suggestions for great happy hour locations nearby? Fritz: I prefer the discounted cocktails at Ceiba and Acadiana -- both have great cocktails (South American and New Orleans, respectively) for $5 until 6:30. Clarendon: Re: for the girl looking for "semi-classy" places to take her recently single friends to meet guys in their 30s: Local 16, Marvin, Gibson, Cork, ESL, Eventide, Zaytinya are few that come to mind. Julia: Excellent choices all. Zaytinya's bar doesn't strike me as the best place to mingle. And it's kind of hard to strike up conversations with strangers at Cork or the Gibson, but they're definitely classy spots. Washington, D.C.: Howdy, Gurus! La-love the chats! On to business: the SO and I are celebrating an anniversary in late October. I've searched the GOG site for romantic weekend getaways and there are great suggestions, but here's the thing: I don't hike. I don't antique, I don't love wineries, etc. All I really want is a lux room, a private hot tub, and a killer restaurant (or one close by). Other romantic cliches would be fun ("massages side by side in your room! rose petals!") but not necessary. Are there hotels (or even B&Bs? historic houses?) that fit the bill? Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks, gurus! Stephanie: How much are you willing to spend? If you're looking for something pretty luxe, then I'd say head to Nemacolin Resort in Pennsylvania. The rooms are amazing, they have every kind of spa treatment imaginable and the food is delish. And if you or your SO is into golf, then it's a great destination for that as well. D.C. follow-up : Hi GoGs - I'm super excited that you took my question and hate to be ungrateful...but I really dislike Karaoke. Any suggestions for a quieter venue for mingling with other singles? I was thinking more along the lines of a Local 16, but we're looking to branch out. Julia: Sorry -- I screwed up! I answered you above! 13th St. S.E.: Going to Bombay Club for RR tomorrow, do you know if they require coats for gentlemen?? Thanks. Fritz: Well, a true gentleman -- you know, a member of the landed gentry, or a man of independent means who doesn't have to work for a living (cf. Merriam-Webster) -- always dresses for dinner. I've been to Bombay Club a couple of times, and always dress for it -- maybe not a jacket every time, but at least nice shirt and slacks. No jeans or khakis. Arlington, Va.: This might be a question better suited for Tom, but thought I would get your opinion. My in-laws are visiting us this weekend and we are looking for a nice place for brunch on Sunday in the Arlington/Falls Church/Tyson's Area. Any suggestions or personal favorites? Thanks! Hotel Helix: I've got a friend coming to town and staying at Hotel Helix. What's the bar scene like there? Worth meeting her there for a drink or should I direct her to somewhere in Logan or Dupont Circle? Fritz: Helix was the quintessential "We wish we were on 'Sex in the City'" bar when it opened, and it still draws a crowd of women who like sweet flavored martinis, a good share of men from the neighborhood, and people who love the very cool patio. The mod, mainly-white bar attracts a mix of gay and straight customers, especially around happy hour and on Friday nights. I'd say it's worth a pitstop for one drink, especially if the weather's fine and you can sit and sip outside. Then you could move up 14th Street towards Cork or Bar Pilar. Karaoke: How about Flying Fish? Or Rock It Grille? Both fun and not skeezy. Julia: Never been to either -- thanks for the tip! Falls Church, Va.: I just finished a really busy time at work. This weekend I want to stay near home and relax. Do you know of any fun games or other ideas that I could do with my roommate? I wanted to grill but the weather doesn't look great so indoor activities are preferred. Thanks! David: Um ... Paper football? Hungry Hungry Hippos? Christopher Walken impression contest? Spin the bottle? Picnic basket!: I just got some lover-ly burrata at La Fromagerie on King Street in Alexandria. They have great stuff and are really nice people. There are also a couple wine and coffee stores in Old Town, one on S Royal I think (blanking on name) that has wonderful wine, coffees, cheeses, breads, and then Brabo's store on upper King. Julia: The S. Royal place is Grape + Bean -- so cute! Brabo's market is definitely a great idea. Washington, D.C.: I'm planning a happy hour for co-workers next Thursday with limited funds from the company. Where can I go in the Farragut/Dupont area to get the most bang for our buck? Fritz: I just wrote about Midtown Loft, and let's run through the specials again: Free beer -- seriously, free beer -- from 5 to 6, discounted drinks until 8, plus free pool, free shuffleboard, free foosball, free Megatouch screens with adult photohunt and poker games. (You might not want to play those in front of the boss.) The buckets of five beers for $20 won't break the company budget, will they? RE: Washingtond D.C. anniversary: I suggest the Hotel Monaco Alexandria (Loft Suite) and dinner at Restaurant Eve, Vermilion, or the Majestic for his anniversary romantic date. Fritz: Oooh, the Monaco/Eve Tasting Room combination would win me over, especially if there were after-dinner drinks at PX. Columbia Heights Day: I love Chatday too! I am planning on checking out Columbia Heights Day and the all day happy hour at Wonderland (the best bar in the city in my opinion) but I have never been there for HH before so I don't know what the specials are! Can you fill me in... Thanks! Will any of you gurus also be at CHD?? Julia: It's usually $2 off drafts and $4 rail drinks -- pretty sure that's what they're doing Saturday. I will most definitely be stopping by CHD. I'm a neighbor. Washington, D.C.: Hi Gurus, love the chats! I don't have a "going out" question per se, but am hoping that you (or the readers!) can help me all the same. I'm looking to take kick-boxing classes, more for exercise than butt-kicking. I'd prefer NOT to join a healthclub to do it. DC preferred, though could travel to a close-in burb, and, if I can be picky, I'd love a "girls rule!" type of atmosphere. Any suggestions would be great! Thanks! Stephanie: Well I know Julia and I would advocate for Washington Sports Club (since we like to compare the cheesy videos we've seen on the club's music channel), but if you're totally averse to that, then check out martial arts studios. I know there are a couple in Dupont and a couple along 14th street, but haven't personally been to any. Chatter, any recommendations? Follow up on Neutrino improv show: So is there any improv acting or is it just the video stuff?? Stephanie: The video clips are the actors outside Source doing improv. As far as I know, they just get one take for each scene. For Washington, DC who wants a romantic getaway: Definitely check out the Hotel Hershey in (duh!) Hershey, Pa. Fantastic spa, awesome restaurant on site, romantic setting. For gosh sakes you can have a chocolate fondue wrap in the spa!! Stephanie: Thanks for the suggestion! For the single 30 something girls: Tallula (I think that's how it is spelled) in Arlington roof of Clarendon Ballroom - while I was desperately searching for the gurus at their happy hour (never found you guys - you must have been inside) I spied a lot of cute guys that looked like they had their ---- together! St. Ex and Bar Pilar on U This may sound random - but go to Stoney's on P street. Lots of guys there - its very casual. If you sit at the bar with a friend you can usually find someone to strike up a convo with. This would probably also work at other chill type sports places but on a slow night, not when its packed (Bar Louie in Chinatown, Buffalo Billiards, etc.) Julia: Hmm. As much as love Bourbon, I think Adams Morgan is a rough place to find guys who have their act together. St. Ex can also suffer from a bombardment of youngins on weekends. Love the Eat Bar (bar at Tallula) suggestion though. I was just there last night. Nice chill vibe. Also, we were up on roof during happy hour! Rhome and David must been some of those cute guys you saw:) Leesburg, Va.: Where can one go swing dancing in a place that serves alcoholic beverages? Fritz: Well, since swing dancers don't drink, the point is moot, right? I kid -- sort of. Swing dancers get a bad rap because they're more worried about dancing than having a few cocktails, especially since that throws off your balance. So the bar doesn't make money on swing dancing nights, and then they're over. It's been that way for years and years. You can try McGinty's in Silver Spring on Sunday nights, where there's a DJ from 8-10 (and no cover). Nick's in Alexandria on Tuesdays. Clarendon Ballroom on Tuesdays, though that's on hiatus until after Labor Day. H Street: A friend mentioned something about a new bar on H with great outdoor space. Little Whiskey's, maybe? I live a few blocks away and haven't seen it. Where is it exactly? What's it like? Rhome: The outdoor porch at Little Miss Whiskey's Golden Dollar is pretty ill, as in awesome. It's like a Victorian goth zen garden designed by Tim Burton. They put a ton of thought and effort into the entire decor. Management asks that you keep the volume down because they've made peace with their neighbors to allow them to keep the patio. The rest of the space shows the same attention to detail. The first floor being a standard bar and the upstairs being a dance club, all designed to look like Vincent Price chilling at a biker bar with Appolonia performing. Procrastinator in D.C.: Hi GOGS -- have some friends getting married next weekend that both enjoy cooking. They reside in Silver Spring. Can you recommend a cooking school that sells gift certificates? Thanks! Julia: I believe L'Academie de Cuisine and CulinAerie both sell gift certificates. Burke, Va.: In your opinion, is H Street Country Club a good place to take a 9 year old , or is it really for Big kids Fritz: If you go on family-friendly Tuesday nights, or on Saturdays between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., the kids generally outnumber adults. Striking up conversations at Cork and elsewhere: Usually when people arrive at these spots they are in a small group especially the food spots. So there's not necessarily an opening for conversation. Still as someone who frequents Cork, I've gotten into conversations with strangers every time I've been there some of which have lead to really good friendships. This gets back to a previous controversial chat about relative friendliness. Just this past weekend, at Cork no less, a person I'd just met complained that it's hard to strike up conversations with women in D.C. And I certainly saw him get shot down during a perfectly polite and innocuous attempt to start a conversation. Nevertheless, his friend started a conversation with me and he and I started a conversation with a few others. So, my take was that if you're open to it conversations are possible. And if people blow you off for no apparent reason, it's not worth worrying about. Julia: Thanks for this. Love it when conversations with strangers turn out on a happy note around here! Being open and friendly is a big part of the equation. Fort Dupont, D.C.: Is it worth trying to get to Fort Dupont this weekend for their activities? Could I walk there from the Benning Road metro station? Fritz: It's about a mile from the station to the park, so it's definitely walkable. The U6 bus runs from Benning Road to Fort Dupont Park. (Cabs are, in my experience, pretty much non-existent.) Washington, D.C.: Just came back from Philly. It was a deep house/hip hop thing, I even ran in ?uestlove, the Roots frontman/Jimmy Fallon house band of late. Q: In D.C., is there a spot that would be for read hip-hop heads: read, no go-go (sorry)? I'm thinking more undergroundish or something like last weeks "Jump and Funk" at Liv nightclub, the thing with Rich Medina--even a one-time event this week at a club/lounge? Please help me get my fix locally. Thanks Rhome: We Love Michael on Saturday, Black Light Special tomorrow, '95 Live tonight with Geometrix and every Thursday at Steve's Bar Room. And keep an eye out for the return of Uncle Q's Living Room on the 17th. Thank you!: Hi GOGs, I want thank Julia for a wonderful brunch suggestion from a few weeks ago. I went with some friends to Vermilion and we loved it!!! We all ordered different things and we were all pleased with our choices. I wouldn't have thought to go there, thanks for the great idea! Julia: Hey there -- usually don't put ones like this through, but I wanted to say thank YOU for making my day! Midtown: I went to Midtown for happy hour last night. Cheap drinks and they let you bring food in! I enjoyed playing foosball and shuffle board for free. There wasn't much of a crowd there and the music was too loud at times. But I had a good time and would recommend it. Fritz: I was in Midtown briefly last night, too. Good times, and very easy on the wallet. My wife and I just moved to dc from Philly. We live in the Dupont area and so far Dupont is a dud. Hopefully thing will pick up after labor day. We are looking for great people watching, small indy music venues, good but less traveled restaurants and great drinks. Any suggestions? Stephanie: Welcome to town. I personally love Dupont because I feel like there is always good people-watching, especially around the fountain in the summertime. But I also hear your need to find entertainment in a neighborhood without so many chains. The places around 14th and U are certainly growing in popularity, but you can still find good indy venues. For music, you could check out DC9 or the Black Cat. For an even less traveled destination, catch the bus to H Street NE. Head to the Red and the Black or Rock and Roll Hotel and explore the many great restaurants and bars in the neighborhood. Drinks in Dupont?: Going early next week to get drinks with an old friend and looking for somewhere sorta quiet where we can talk, but isn't cookie-cutter or expensive. Suggestions? Thank you! Fritz: Science Club, the Tabard Inn's bar, Vidalia's happy hour (free wine!) and the bar at the Topaz Hotel would all be high on my list. Washington, D.C.: Hello GOGS, I apologize for being a bit clueless here but I have a question about dress codes in certain restaurants. What is the proper dress code for a place like Spezie or Obelisk or Tosca normally? I want to try some of these places out, but in August I'm a bit reluctant to put on a suit or a tie and jacket to eat out. Would a nice button down or polo shirt with docker pants and shoes be underdressed for these places? Thanks! Fritz: If you're wearing a polo and khakis, you might feel out of place in all three of those restaurants. I'd say nice shirt and jacket, minimum. Arlington, Va.: OK, need ideas for an impending parental visit this weekend: My boyfriend's parents are coming Labor Day weekend, and mine are coming THIS weekend (I know two parental visits a week apart!) and he has already planned events for his parents including a boat cruise and a day trip to Annapolis--and is constantly rubbing it in how he has planned the most fun weekend and I have done nothing to plan for my parents visit (except make great dinner reservations). I can't think of anything to do with them on Saturday! They have been to DC a few times, and I feel like we have exhausted the museum scene. They like sports, but DC United and the Nats are not in town. I need something GREAT that will trump my BF's supposedly "awesome" weekend for his parents. Thanks for your help! Julia: The good news for you is that this weekend is AWESOME. Sure, they've done the museums, but have they done the Corcoran, which usually charges for admission? It's free for everyone on Saturday. There's also Poetry in the Park on Friday and Columbia Heights day and Shakespeare. Check out our top picks for weekend events here. You could also try a trip to parent-friendly Eastern Market or a picnic in Rock Creek Park. Alexandria, Va.: I'm looking for a good cover band in the Va./D.C. area that plays a mix of songs (old and new). It's fun to hang out at a bar, listen to live music, AND know the songs! Are there any out there? Any suggestions? Fritz: Keep your eyes on the schedules at Clarendon Grill, Clarendon Ballroom, Tortoise and Hare or Ned Devine's, all of which are heavy on the cover bands. Kristen and the Noise, Burnt Sienna, Gonzo's Nose, Road Soda and Flip Like Wilson are among the better bands on the circuit. washingtonpost.com: To the person who returned from Philly and looking for a hip-hop head/Jump N Funk vibe, I forgot to throw The Main Ingredient in there. It stays crunk Monday after Monday, even through the steamy heat torture of August. Couple in Dupont: Check out Floriana's at 17th and Q for good restaurant, and if you're lucky Flo will be there herself...She's a Marlboro-chain smoking, F-bomb droping Italian who cried when her pitt bull died. Great entertainment with good food and drink. Some of the bar regulars can dominate the conversation, but still a good time. Stephanie: Definitely more entertaining than sitting by the fountain... Washington, D.C.: I wanna ride a mechanical bull with 25 friends on a Saturday night at a club that doesn't play hip-hop. Rhome: Don't know if they have a full hip-hop ban, but the Cadillac Ranch down on the National Harbor has the only mechanical bull 'round these parts. Sterling, Va.: hi Gurus! Have a friend visiting from out of town who is under 21. It's her last weekend here and for a last hurrah I'd love to take her out for some D.C. nightlife. What do you recommend given her age? thanks! Fritz: The Michael Jackson birth dance party on Friday -- with a midnight recreation of the "Thriller" video -- should be a blast, and it's 18-and-over. If she's into fashion, Panda Head Magazine's Friday night party has some of D.C.'s best local bands and DJs, and you could have dinner at Comet first. And the Brightest Young Things Pool Party on Saturday is just all-around fun, with good crowds, poolside tanning, live music, DJs and a general crazy scene. Re: Philly expats: I did that move, oh wow I'm old, 14 years ago. Philly is a huge city, around 3 times the size of DC with sprawling suburbs, so a direct comparison won't be fair. Still what I miss from Philly, like First Fridays where you have dozens of galleries in walking distance and hundreds (yup, hundreds) of people from every spectrum of society wandering in and out of the galleries, is made up for by a more international flair, much more beautiful and varied green space and accessible and relatively safe neighborhoods. From Dupont you can walk to U street where there are some pretty good music venues and a rebuilt night scene. Coming from Philly in the 90s I loved U street due to Polly's and State of the Union and although not on U, the Black Cat which is similar to the old Trocadero in Philly. So my suggestion is, walk around, cab it over to H street and you'll find stuff here that will take away some of the pain of leaving one of the great food cities in the U.S. Stephanie: And some more advice for the new D.C. residents. Dress Codes: Quibble about the decline in dress sense if you will... but I think that about 99% of places in the area (even very expensive and highly regarded restaurants) are fine with slacks and a button down shirts nowadays. And I don't think any place (other than a stuffy steakhouse or 1789) would expect guys to walk in wearing a suit or sport coat in August. Just a thought - though as a rule, I never think people are over dressed. Fritz: I agree with you. I generally don't wear suits out to dinner, and think that a button-down, slacks and nice shoes will get you in almost anywhere, but at some places, like Bombay Club, 99 percent of the men in there are wearing suits, unless they're tourists. And you don't want to be that guy. Finding "good guys"/Re: guys dont have their act together in Adams Morgan: Repying to Julia's thought that Bourbon wouldnt have guys with their act together being that Bourbon is part of the Adams Morgan strip and all of its craziness. Let me get something off my chest. I think you can meet cool people anywhere - and to write off a certain area b/c of what its known for (Adams Morgan = too crazy therefore its a bad place to meet guys with their act together) is just wrong! And also to obsess about where to go to meet guys is sort of silly too. Think about it - you may not consider yourself to be a crazy partier but you have gone to some of those Adams Morgan bars before. So inevitabley there are guys who are there who shouldnt be defined soley by the fact that they are there and may be really awesome and well rounded. What us ladies need to do is hone our scoping skills so we can pick out the good ones anywhere. Go wherever you are gonna go be it Adams Morgan, U Street, a hotel bar, anywhere. Look for guys that are cute, are having fun but not acting like fools. Maybe they are just talking with their other guy friends up at the bar for example. Here is the most important step - be willing to take the initiative - if you see a guy or a group of guys who seem interesting just go up to them and break the ice with a hello. (If they are lame, then you move on - and repeat and repeat until you meet someone quality!) THAT is how you meet guys - and that approach matters more than finding the "right" places to go!!!! Rhome: I've preached variations of these sentiments in this space for years. Socials skills seem to be getting worse and worse. And it's the 21st century ladies. You can chat up a dude. Petworth: Why are people so quick to judge and compare? Look Dupont dude, you said you JUST moved here. Give it time. It grows on you! Wander. Sit. Talk to people. Shop at Second Story, then read the book in circle. Is Paradiso's new space open yet? That will be cool. Walk in the park. This list could go on quite a while, but I guess my point is - take some time and check out the place remembering that DC is like no other place. So look for what makes DC DC, not for what makes it cool like wherever you're comparing it to. Fritz: Paradiso's new location on P Street opens Saturday. You heard it here first, or something. Roots fan: Ugh, it pains me that ?uestlove is being referred to as the frontman to Jimmy Fallon's house band. Rhome: I'm sure he doesn't mind getting those regular checks while being able to tour on the group's own terms and do those amazing weekly jam sessions. And after Grammies and 15 years of being on the road, he was still often unrecognized as a star/celebrity/whatever you want to call it. What is the most interesting thing going on tonight? It is my turn to find something to do and I am tired of happy hours. Thx. Fritz: Shakespeare Free for All at the Shakespeare Theatre, if you go get in line for tickets soon. DJ Geometrix spinning an all-'90s set at Steve's Bar Room. The local indie-rock doubleheader of True Womanhood and Deleted Scenes on the Black Cat's back stage. I'd take any of those. AFI Silver area: Never been to the AFI Silver theater, but husband and I are going to trek up there tomorrow night. Do we need to get there very early (I've heard it's small)? Also, anything good to eat nearby? Thanks! Julia: Yeah, definitely get there early and/or buy tickets in advance. Ceviche and Ray's the Classics could work. I've heard great things about the Across the Street Cafe, but have yet to eat there. Washington, D.C.: I know you've answered this before, but do you have a list of restaurants that offer private dining rooms? I am thinking about 30 or so people in D.C. for our holiday party. Thanks!! Julia: Start here. Then go here. Then go to this MASSIVE list. Good luck! D.C.: I know it's the end of the chat, but please answer my question. I have a really strong craving for pupusas! Where can I find the best ones in DC? Thanks! Julia: I love the ones at Sergio's in Wheaton. So delish. washingtonpost.com: Well that about does it. Enjoy your weekend checking out Columbia Heights Day, exploring new neighborhoods and/or playing spin the bottle. We'll see you here next week. The Going Out Gurus write about restaurants, bars, movies, the arts, special events and visitor attractions, and they're out every night to keep you on top of the D.C. entertainment scene. Check in with them throughout the week on the GOG Blog or join their live Q&A every Thursday at 1 p.m. Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.
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Today's: Fix: Polling the Town Halls. Chris Cillizza: Welcome to the weekly Live Fix chat! Our motto: It's not Gene Weingarten or Carolyn Hax but it's not bad! I want to extend a special thank you to the folks joining us live on this chat as we have LOTS of competition this morning: Michael Vick holds his first press conference as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles right now and Arlen Specter and Joe Sestak face off in a debate of sorts at Netroots Nation in Pittsburgh. For those who care, we are at unofficial Fix Live chat sponsor Buzz bakery. Coffee choice for the morning: medium hazelnut latte. Music choice: Low End Theory by Tribe Called Quest. "Low-End Theory": Nice try, but "Sex Packets" by the Digital Underground edges it out. A rap concept album that is funny, clever, and flat-out groovy. Chris Cillizza: Also a GREAT album. Other nominees for best rap albums of the 1990s from Fix readers: The Chronic, Doggystyle and Jazzamatazz. Also, odd Digital Underground fact: Tupac was in DU. Weird. Dallas, Tex.: Do you think the town hall outbursts is the work of political operatives or is this genuine "outrage"? Republicans know how to run interference. Is there an indication that the GOP has had a hand in creating or encouraging it? Chris Cillizza: Hello Dallas! (Home of Fix in laws). Stop by the Hulen mall for me! The debate over whether these outbursts are genuine outrage or the work of political operatives in Washington has dominated the media coverage over the last week. The truth is likely somewhere in the middle. There's no question that some DC-based conservative groups have helped organize protests, but, if you believe polling, there is also evidence of significant discontent among the general public toward the Obama Administration's attempt to reform the health care system. I wrote on the polling on town halls this morning in Morning Fix -- Rocci, the crack editor of this chat, can put the link in after this answer. Richmond, Va.: I don't have an issue with having a debate on health care....it needs to happen. But the tone and signs brought to these townhalls should concern everyone. The guy rounded up by the secert service with a sign saying "death to obama" clearly indicates that the anger is not about healthcare reform.... It's hard at times to sort through the people who are legitimately upset with the way health care is being overhauled and those who simply flock to any event where they know there will be cameras in order to get their 15 minutes of fame. For those who are genuinely upset about the health care system, the people painting swastikas on offices, shouting down supporters of health care etc. hurts their case. Look at the USA Today/Gallup poll released yesterday. A majority of Americans said protesting loudly at town halls was part of democracy but when asked about members of Congress being booed or protesters shouting down supporters of health care reform, people were far more likely to say those tactics were an "abuse of democracy". SW Nebraska: Have the wackos at the town hall meetings succeeded in killing any health-care reform or will the democratic legislators be more resolved by the nuttiness to pass something? Can you put democratic legislators and resolve in the same sentence? Chris Cillizza: Well, as I said above, differentiating the so-called "wackos" (your words) from people who are simply upset about the Obama Administration's handling of health care reform is VERY difficult. It remains to be seen what these protests will mean to the broader health care debate when Congress returns after Labor Day. Several new polls suggest that the American people are paying VERY close attention to the town halls, which means that it is likely to have some impact on the health care debate. What impact that it is tough to predict at the moment. It's only August 14 after all. Will sucking up help here?: you are my favorite political chatter, and go Catholic! (As a Xavier fan, I won't root for the Hoyas, but at least they are both Jesuit schools.) This is more of a comment than a question: I am no fan of the rude and boorish techniques used at these town hall meetings in which protesters make it impossible for the member of Congress to speak his/her piece on health care. They ruin their case. But I think members of the media and Democrats protest too much. As an example, members of what I consider the fringe group code Pink drowned out President Bush's July 4th speech at Monticello last year, calling him a war criminal, and Hitler, among other things. The occasion? He was there to congratulate the newly-sworn-in citizens at Jefferson's home on Independence Day. That was not unique. Nor can many conservative speakers present their case at college campuses--if they are allowed to speak at all. I heard no complaints from Democratic leaders about how outrageous these incidents were. Why weren't the Democrats outraged when those equally rude events took place? The hypocrisy cuts both ways. (The Cincinnati Enquirer today ran an editorial wondering where the members of the area's House delegation, three Republicans and one Democrat, and they all said they were not going to hold town meetings. Here is the link: Health care and turbulence (Cincinnati.com, Aug. 14). Skeptics would call this evidence of a "liberal media." I don't go that far, but it makes one wonder. Chris Cillizza: Sucking up ALWAYS works. Catholic field hockey season begins in one week. I am palpably excited.... Woodbury, N.J.: Comment 1: If there is no public option and that is what will happen, free market insurance companies will have no competition so they will continue to deny coverage and make billions of dollars of profits with HMO CEO's getting multi-million dollar bonuses, not to mention the bonuses the insurance company's give to their staff for every denied claim. Truthfully, they are similar to the banks so they will abuse the consumer except instead of stealing their money, they will steal your chance of living longer - all to make more bucks because profits override the value of a human life. Comment 2: Trusting Government Care -- The VA medical care and Medicare (except Part D) have no profit-making overheads - Private insurance companies have a 20 percent overhead for advertising, lobbying, etc., so both the VA and Medicare are way more cost effective than private insurers. All professional health- care reports cite these facts. Comment 3: Trusting Government -- But I completely understand the real fear that government is overextending itself and we all have a fear of big bureaucracy not producing the desired results although the intentions were good. Conclusion: So there in lies the real problem. Do we trust greedy, selfish, inhuman insurance companies or the real fear of government bureaucracy messing this up? Very healthy people will trust the insurers more since they pose no risk that the insurers will have to pay very much for them and therefore have not been abused (yet) and people with medical conditions would rather trust the government since they have been raked over by the insurers too many times and frankly have no choices left to them. Chris Cillizza: Another well-thought out commentary on where we are on healtj care... Indianapolis, Ind.: So does the newpaper newsroom empty out during August because nothing is happening in D.C.? Re: The "death panels": Chris, the best piece of journalism I've seen today comes from Amy Sullivan at the Swampland blog on time.com. She points out that the Medicare prescription drug plan supported by President Bush and passed with the votes of a number of Republicans included funding for "counseling the beneficiary with respect to end-of-life issues and care options, and advising the beneficiary regarding advanced care planning." The only difference between that law and the proposed bill in Congress now is that the first one dealt with terminally ill patients and the current one deals with offering the counseling to people before they become ill. You know, what Sen. Grassley said should happen when he said people had a right to be afraid of the current legislation. That would be the same Sen. Grassley who voted IN FAVOR of the prescription drug bill, along with 41 other GOP Senators and 204 Republican House members. No, no political posturing here... Chris Cillizza: Always interested in good pieces on the halth care debate. Amy Sullivan is a VERY talented reporter. She is also part of a DC journalism power couple -- her significant other is Noam Scheiber of the New Republic. if you don't read his "The Stash" blog on economic policy, start reading it now. Coffee choice for the morning: medium hazelnut latte: That's not coffee, that's dessert. No wonder we have an obesity crisis in this country. Why doesn't Starbucks have to list its "nutritional" information the way other food places do? Chris Cillizza: A good point...do NOT tell Mrs. Fix what I had for breakfast. If she asks, I had one soft boiled egg and white toast. Wokingham, U.K.: The polls have been kinder to the Republicans of late. But don't they need a clearer alternative economic policy to sustain their gains? Chris Cillizza: Love the U.K. Reminds me of this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICXdQR1VVhw On to your question. Republicans would say they have offered any number of alternatives on health care and the economy more broadly but the average person doesn't know about those policies because the media doesn't cover it. But, Republicans are really depending heavily on the fact that with Democrats in charge of all the levers of power in Washington voters all they have to do is be the loyal opposition. Prior to the 2008 election, there was a expressed desire -- in both polls and election results -- from the American people for divided government. Republicans are hoping that sentiment returns in 2010. Chantilly, Va.: "Chris Cillizza: Agreed. It's hard at times to sort through the people who are legitimately upset with the way health care is being overhauled and those who simply flock to any event where they know there will be cameras in order to get their 15 minutes of fame. " I agree completely with this statement ... It's odd, though: the MSM didn't seem to hold this same standard when people were saying "Bush == Hitler" or that he was a "Christian Fascist" or that he ought to be assassinated ("Drop Bush, Not Bombs"). That was considered to be a normal expression of the citizenry's frustration with the war criminal Bush regime. But now it seems almost anyone who dares to question why President Obama wanted to push legislation through before the August recess is treated as a wacko. Hey ... we've given up asking that you be unbiased -- but you could at least be consistent. Chris Cillizza: Several people expressing this sentiment...thoughts? Ft. Washington, Md.: Let me enter my votes for Enter the Wu-Tang, Illmatic, Ready to Die and Only Built for Cuban Linx... Chris Cillizza: Illmatic HAS to be up there. Amazing album. I was never a huge Biggie Smalls fan but loved Wu-Tang. Baltimore, Md.: What are the true chances of Linda McMahon laying the smackdown on Rob Simmons and making Chris Dodd hit rock bottom? Does she have any sort of views on anything or just using her celebrity as a jumping off point and thinks she can form views on issues as she goes along? Chris Cillizza: for those who don't know, I reported this morning that Linda McMahon, the CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, is seriously considering a run for Senate in 2010 against Chris Dodd. WWE, which the Fix has followed since our early days growing up in the Nutmeg State (WWE is based in Stamford, CT), would be a very intriguing platform from which to launch a Senate campaign. On the one hand, the company is worth more than $1 billion and McMahon is apparently willing to spend heavily from her personal fortune to make herself viable. On the other, WWE has been attacked for years for the violence and lewd nature of their shows -- charges Linda McMahon would have to find a way to rebut if she ran. Either way, this is the most interesting trial balloon since Lou Holtz running for Florida's 24th district, right? Boston, Mass.: I question what people think they are answering when saying the town halls make them "more sympathetic" to the protesters. Because while I completely disagree with them and think they are purposely mis-informing themselves, I do feel more sympathetic to them. I spent the last 8 years trying to figure out what had happened to my country. I absolutely understand their confusion and anger and fear at the majority of the country suddenly being opposed to their cherished beliefs. Cameron, N.C.: A lot of the complaints from protesters being interviewed are not about health-care reform but about how the USA they grew up in is disappearing, slipping away, and they're angry about it. Sorry, my mom was not Donna Reed. I didn't grow up in an upper middle class home. My father worked 2 jobs and into an early grave to support us. One benefit we did have was health insurance. It wasn't gold-plated but it did help. Why are these protesters against health care? Why are old folks on Medicare against government-supported health care for others? I'm sitting here on the confusion couch trying to fathom the answers to these questions. Any help? Lake Forest, Ill.: Hi Chris -- Thanks for taking questions today. If nothing happens with health care in the next couple of months, what does that mean for Obama and his ability to get anything done the rest of his term? Will he try again to get something passed, or will that be it? Chris Cillizza: Very good question. If nothing passes, it's hard to imagine President Obama -- and Congressional Democrats -- wouldn't take a major political hit. The President has made clear that he is willing to put himself on the line politically to pass meaningful health care reform. At this point, it appears as though Republicans -- and a few wavering Democrats -- are going to make him make good on that promise. Obama and his political team understand that he is way out on a limb on passing some sort of health care plan and, I believe, will make sure that there is some sort of bill that he can sign and declare victory on the issue. Whether or not voters see that legislation as a true overhaul of the system or not (and ho they react either way) is likely to be the linchpin of the 2010 election. Chris Cillizza: "I've got the skinny legs but I move just like Lou Brock" -- Q-tip. Hard to argue with that sort of genius in lyrics. "Several people expressing this sentiment...thoughts? ": Given that the town hall protests seem to be making independents more sympathetic with the protesters, I imagine liberals wish that the media had covered their protests more like they cover the conservative ones instead of being ignored and passed off as wackos who don't like Bush. I think Bush's personal disapproval was in the 30s before the media started accepting that normal rational people didn't like Bush. And for good reasons. Chris Cillizza: Thanks...keep it coming... Washington, D.C.: Chris Cillizza: Several people expressing this sentiment...thoughts? My thought is that no single instance of coverage has convinced of the liberal bias of the MSM. And ditch the hazelnut lattes -- get a tall skinny cap with sugar-free hazelnut syrup. You'll save mucho calories and fat grams. Chris Cillizza: Interesting...That is a VERY complicated order. And can sugar free possibly taste good? Columbia, Mo.: Marquette fan here. Back when the Big East was expanding a friend of mine and I were discussing an all-Jesuit league, Georgetown, Xavier, St. Louis, Marquette, Creighton, BC, several Loyolas etc. His reply "And the league motto will be 'See how they love one another.'" Chris Cillizza: Aside from being a Marquette fan, that is GENIUS. Also, has Jerel McNeal graduated yet? That dude has been in college forever. He should win the honorary Jess Settles award. Washington, D.C.: I work the federal govt. The problem is all the lawyers who work for various executive branch agencies. I don't trust our govt and I dont trust my agency. Anyone who trusts their govt is naive and overeducated. The health-care debate can be explained by age, geography and education level. Overeducated city dwellers who work for NGOs or at Starbucks support Obama and the Dems health-care plans. Folks in flyover country, those over 50-year-olds know better than to trust their govt. We didn't trust it with Cheney and Bush advisers and we don't trust it know with Obama and his crew! Roseland, N.J.: Hey Chris. Shout out from Jersey -- the state so nice you can bribe us twice. I'm a lifelong Democrat who has been certain for months Gov. Corzine was burnt toast. Now I feel like I'm being teased with false hopes -- polling that has Christie's lead at just five points, an economy that's stabilizing, and some hard questions about what the former attorney general might have had to do to not get fired by Karl Rove. I still think this race goes blue in November unless Corzine gives ambivalent Dems a reason to vote for him. Are you moving it down the line? Chris Cillizza: "The state so nice you can bribe us twice." Are they putting that motto on the license plate? If not, they should. I think the Christie-Rove ties revealed earlier this week help Corzine at the margins as it reminds voters that Christie is Republican and links him directly to George W. Bush who is not at all popular in the Garden State. That said, I think Democrats should be wary of overconfidence that the Rove revelations are a game changer in this race. The election is and will be a referendum on Corzine and his handling of the state's economy. That dynamic has been building for several years and isn't likely to change dramatically as a result of the fact that Christie and Rove discussed politics when the former was still a U.S. Attorney. Also, the new Democratic poll that shows Corzine down just six is a good news/bad news scenario for Democrats. Yes, Corzine has closed the gap BUT the fact that an incumbent governor is mired in the high 330s on the ballot test is evidence that he is still in real trouble. Washington, D.C.: On the other, WWE has been attacked for years for the violence and lewd nature of their shows -- charges Linda McMahon would have to find a way to rebut if she ran. She's running for Congress -- WWE is only a pale imitation of the real wrestling ring. Columbia, Md.: As much as I disagree with most of what the town-hall protestors are yelling about, I do have to say that it's a nice change that they are in the room yelling about it and not down the street in a "free speech zone" far from the cameras and the politicians. Chris Cillizza: Anyone remember the episode of "Arrested Development" when Lindsay Bluth is protesting in a cage miles away from the military base? Also, if anyone knows where I can find a used Cornballer shoot me an email. (Don't get any of the above? Go buy the three seasons of "Arrested Development" at Best Buy. Best show this side of "Friday Night Lights".) Denver, Colo.: Wait a minute, I live in "flyover territory," and I work for the federal government too. I do trust my agency and the people I work with. Sure there are losers, but do you really think there aren't losers working for every other business (hospital, insurance company, etc) in this country? The government is no different. Chris Cillizza: A government defender! Columbus, Ohio:: The guy who tells me not to trust the federal government works for the federal government. Should I trust him when he tells me that it's naive to trust the federal government? I support health-care reform even though I meet all of his demographic descriptions of a nonsupporter, except I suppose that I am "overeducated." I do not think the original poster has this problem. Chris Cillizza: Columbus drops the hammer! Sidenote: I dig that Jim Tressel wears a tie on the sidelines. Winnipeg, Canada: Just a note from the Great White North: I am old enough (barely) to remember when our country brought in universal health care. We had a similar hue and cry, including a doctor's strike in Saskatchewan that resulted in at least one death. Now it's one of the things that makes most Canadians proud, and in the Greatest Canadian TV show, the guy who won was Keifer Sutherland's grandfather, Tommy Douglas, who brought in Medicare. Just hang in there folks, despite the dire warnings from Mr. Beck and others, you'll never regret it. Chris Cillizza: Thanks for the perspective from our neighbor to the north. What the heck ever happened to the Winnipeg Jets? I loved that team. Always played as them in NHL hockey game by EA Sports Ready to Die beats Low-End Theory: College Dropout wins for the decade... Tupac was a DU roadie, and the gave him his first break. It wasn't really that weird. Political question: Why is the CBO estimate of only 4 percent of people being in the public option by 2016 not making it into the debate? This seems like a pretty pertinent fact or talking point that Democrats could use to demonstrate that they won't be moving people to a public plan forcibly. The numbers pushed by the RW comes from the insurance funded Lewin Group. Chris Cillizza: College Dropout wasn't the 1990s was it? Also, is there a better group jam than "Scenario"? Runner up: "Buddy" by De La Soul. Abingdon, Md.: "...do NOT tell Mrs. Fix what I had for breakfast..." So I take it she doesn't read your chats -- how sad... Chris Cillizza: She is too busy preparing the Catholic field hockey team to have their most kick-ass season ever.... Arlington, Va.: Has there every been a movie about girls' field hockey, the American equivalent of Bend It Like Beckham? Chris Cillizza: No. But there should be. For those who don't know, the sport rocks. Tentative movie title: "Mrs. Fix: A story of the greatest field hockey coach ever" Boston, Mass.: Hi Chris! Do you get the feeling that people are more passionate about Micheal Vick returning to professional football than health- care reform? I mean, my Facebook friends are obsessed with posting angry status updates about Vick. Why aren't they spending their time motivating others to get involved in the passage of a health care reform bill? Chris Cillizza: I think it's in our collective nature to gravitate toward stories like Vick -- easy to understand and easier to have an opinion on -- than to health care because of the complexity of the issue. We live in a forever-distracted culture -- we are constantly being lead away from things that have a HUGE impact on our future by stories that have almost no impact. (Vick, Jon and Kate Gosselin, TO is Buffalo etc.) Nature of the beast methinks. And can sugar free possibly taste good? : Trash the aspertame and go for stevia root. You'll like it. Chris Cillizza: Stevia root. Sounds shady. or like a band in the mid 1990s. Henderson, Nev.: I read yesterday about Harry Reid calling the town hall protesters 'evil mongers.' How is that playing in Nevada and what is the latest on the race? Chris Cillizza: Henderson! I have been there. Good times. Reid's numbers in Nevada are not particularly good. The problem for Republicans is that they lack any credible challenger to the incumbent at the moment and we all know that you can't beat someone with no one. Rep. Dean Heller was clearly Republicans strongest candidate but he decided against running earlier this week, a decision due at least in part to his fears about the reverberations from Sen. John Ensign's admission of an extramarital affair. Some Republicans in the state are trying to get state party chair Sue Lowden into the race and released a poll that shows she would be competitive with Reid. Lowden has significant personal wealth too, which could make her more viable. Reid is a very savvy pol who won't go quietly into that good night no matter who Republicans put forward. Still, given his numbers this is likely to be a competitive race if Republicans can find someone who is remotely credible. Don't -- go for stevia root.: Stevia is an herb and tastes like one. A sweet one, yes, but an herb. Agave nectar is where it's at these days. Chris Cillizza: Agave. That is the preferred sweetener of the Fix mother-in -law who has good taste in everything.... Starbucks: Actually, Starbucks DOEs have lots of nutrional info on its website, for all its drinks and food items as well. Calories, fat, you name it. I use it all the time. (Starbucks also gives you a lot of options for its drinks -- skim milk, sugar-free syrups, etc.) Yes, I'm an addict. But my fancy venti coffee this morning had fewer calories than a can of Coke. Chris Cillizza: I am coming back around on Starbucks...but I am also a big fan of supporting local business... Washington, D.C.: Just back from a road trip through the "real America." Upon learning that I am from Washington, D.C., and didn't vote for Obama (although I am now supportive of his efforts), person after person unloaded their "concerns" on me. Unfortunately, no one seemed to know any specifics about what had happened to the economy and why or what is being tried to fix it or why jobs are a lagging indicator, nor do they seem to know any specifics about proposed health care legislation. There is just a free floating anxiety, no doubt exacerbated by some of the media and, so far, at least, unsuccessfully addressed by congressional representatives and the President. Chris Cillizza: "free floating anxiety" is a good way to describe the mood of the country. I think people (unrealistically) thought that President Obama wo9uld fix all that ails the country during his first six months in office. Now that he hasn't, it appears as though people are returning to their pre-election state of anxiety about their futures -- particularly on the economic front. Girls' Movie About Field Hockey...: Yes, actually there has been one: Sure, it's a foreign film but it's great and it counts. Chak De! India (2007) (The New York Times, Aug. 11) Sorry to direct to a rival. Chris Cillizza: So AWESOME. Getting it from netflix today. (not kidding.) And, again, for those of you who are sketpical about field hockey, I urge you to come to a Catholic U game this year. it is an awesome sport -- equal parts strength, skill and finesse. Want to say hi to me at a game? I am the guy siting in the middle of our fans -- yelling support, nervously pacing and complaining about the refereeing. J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS: The jets moved on south to Phoenix and became the abysmal Coyotes. I'm not sure how much longer Gretzky can keep that ship afloat. Chris Cillizza: This is a slap in the face equivalent to when my beloved Hartford Whalers ditched Connecticut for that hotbed of hockey -- North Carolina. Also, there is no better team anthem than "Brass Bonanza". On this point I will brook no disagreement. Fort Belvoir, Va.: No question... just throwing out my nomination for the University of Scranton in the all Jesuit league. GO ROYALS! Chris Cillizza: Scranton was felled -- twice -- last year by the mighty Catholic University field hockey team. Just saying... Stevia Root: still doesn't have full FDA testing...it is approved, but no full testing with years of info to determine effects like aspartame. Sucralose (Splenda) is currently the safest known, but still artificial.. Chris Cillizza: People are advising me to use something that hasn't been approved by the FDA! Man! I am the father of a six month old! Dissent: But Chris, I thought dissent was the highest form of patriotism. At least, that's what I heard whenever Code Pink or other people rioted against Bush. Shoe's on the other foot, huh? It's not Gene Weingarten or Carolyn Hax but it's not bad! : But can you compete with WaPo's own Pookie (the Divine Ms. Lisa de Moraes)? Chris Cillizza: Rankings of most kick ass Post online chats. 1. Weingarten. (also winner of best mustache award) 3. De Moraes (live at 1 pm today!) 165 (and rising!): Live Fix Fort Worth: Chris, you idiot! The Hulen mall is in Fort Worth. PLEASE! Chris Cillizza: Oh. My. Gosh. I confused the two. Inexcusable. What would Jim Wright think? San Diego, Calif.: What do they mean when they say "I want my country back?" From whom? Chris Cillizza: 1. Stay classy, San Diego. Washington, D.C.: Thank god for Jon Stewart! If it weren't for the Daily Show last night, I wouldn't know that Glenn Beck couldn't stop talking about how horrible our health-care system is (after he had his own bad experience), and that "the Family" on C St. is super, super creepy -- including believing that women serve men in the Family/Fellowship because the men equal Jesus. Huh? Chris Cillizza: I thank God for Jon Stewart every day. Whether you agree or disagree with him, the guy is making people pay attention to politics again. And for that I am thankful. Also, Stephen Colbert dropped a Fix mention last week. To quote Ron Burgundy: "I am kind of a big deal. People know me." Overland Park, Kan.: Jess Settles! (In retrospect, maybe he should have stayed in the NBA draft after his junior year... but I digress.) Chris Cillizza: Guy was in college for seven years. Chris Cillizza: Folks, the hazelnut latte has grown cold and our time is up. Do me a favor and spread the word on the rampant hilarity combined with deep insight on the political process that is the Live Fix chat. We will be here every Friday come rain or shine. Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.
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Every Friday, The Fix goes live, as Chris Cillizza discusses the latest news about Congress, the Obama administration, upcoming elections and all the latest political news.
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"It's not as bad as you think," MacFarlane promised a group of reporters and TV Academy members Wednesday night at the Ricardo Montalbán Theatre in Hollywood, right before he and his cast members, including Mila Kunis and Alex Borstein, launched into a live table reading of what he called the "infamous abortion episode." There's been a mystique surrounding MacFarlane's unaired opus -- that it would violate taste boundaries that even Fox, which once let loose "Osbournes: Reloaded" and "Temptation Island," had never dared to cross. But MacFarlane's shrugging assessment proved largely on the mark. Only a few jokes, all very much unprintable, caused audible gasps and demonstrated the episode is not TV-safe. Otherwise, the crowd laughed, applauded and groaned in all the predictable "Family Guy" places. Cases in point: Peter asking a couple unable to conceive, "Which one of you has something horribly wrong with you?"; an antiabortion advertisement implying that if abortion didn't exist, the Three Stooges might have found a fourth; and some Hitler and Osama bin Laden attention-getters. The episode, in which Griffin matriarch Lois becomes a surrogate mom for a college friend and her husband, really focuses on the "will she/won't she" abortion question only in the third act, after the couple dies in a car accident. What follows is a trip to a family-planning center, where Peter, initially encouraging his wife to end the pregnancy (and thus avoid her crazy-while-pregnant phase), is stopped by a group of antiabortion activists who try to change his mind with a video featuring Ziggy the Zygote, who just wants a hug. A rousing family debate takes place, including baby Stewie and dog Brian. Lois makes an impassioned speech about the importance of bringing children into the world no matter the circumstances, and Peter abruptly cuts her off with, "We had the abortion." Cue credits. The event, held to stir Emmy buzz after the show became the second animated series in history to be nominated for best comedy, also took a swipe at censorship. This, after all, marks the second time that Fox decided not to air a "Family Guy" episode; the first was back in 2000, involving "When You Wish Upon a Weinstein," about Peter trying to convert his son to Judaism. In between the first and second acts of the table reading, MacFarlane sang a rendition of the show's Season 4 song about the FCC, including the lyrics: "They're as stuffy as the stuffiest of special-interest groups/Make a joke about your bowels, and they order in the troops." During the post-reading Q&A, audience members seemed unfazed by the episode's central provocation, asking no questions about the issue. The closest anyone got was, "Have you ever found a line you couldn't cross? And if you have, what was it?" MacFarlane hesitated before answering: "Obviously, you know, it took a long time before we would even mention the phrase '9/11.' . . . We do try to be as careful as we can, but at the end of the day, sometimes you have to make a decision one way or another." Then, after another pause, he added, "What a dry [expletive] answer."
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LOS ANGELES, Aug. 13 -- Several weeks after "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane announced that the Fox network refuses to air an abortion-themed episode -- on a series best known for combining controversial topics with off-color jokes -- the puzzle remained: How offensive could it possibly be?
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Dwight Thomas wasn't especially surprised his son, Devin, turned in a disappointing rookie season. He'd seen it before, his son making a big step to a new level and inevitably struggling to adjust. "Throughout his little football career, I mean, this always happened," Dwight Thomas said Thursday, taking in training camp at Redskins Park. "When he started in [youth] football, his first year in junior high, his first year in high school, whatever it was, he was always just a little slow to get going, just moderate." But Dwight Thomas has reason for optimism. In Year 2, he says, his son has always adjusted and exceeded expectations. The Redskins are counting on it. Determined to upgrade their offense, coaches are banking on either Thomas or Malcolm Kelly to prove that they belong in the starting lineup and can bolster the team's passing game. In the second day of this year's training camp, it was Thomas who saw the most action with the first-team unit, and he appears to have a slight edge over Kelly in the initial stage of the position battle. Of course, that's how the Redskins started last year's camp, too. Since the two receivers were each taken in the second round of the 2008 draft, their names have appeared in the same sentence -- Thomas and Kelly, the Redskins' version of a buddy comedy -- and coaches and fans alike are paying close attention these next several weeks to see which is able to distinguish himself. "Devin is showing that he is a little more seasoned than Malcolm right now, but they're both going to be competing and Antwaan [Randle El] is not going to give it up," Redskins Coach Jim Zorn said. "So we're having great competition at that flanker position, especially with those two guys." The goal is the same as a year ago, when injuries stunted the preseason progress of both receivers: Coaches are hoping one of the two can line up opposite Santana Moss as starting flanker. That would allow Randle El to shift into the slot, where his speed and size could create matchup problems. The plan never developed last year, and the Redskins had to rely on James Thrash. But Thrash was released in June, which creates a hole in the passing game, one that some fans and observers aren't certain either Thomas or Kelly has shown he's ready to fill. "I haven't seen anything from either one of them that says they're starting material yet," said former Redskin Brian Mitchell, now an analyst for WUSA-TV. "I've never seen Kelly. He's been hurt. Devin Thomas last year they said he couldn't learn plays because he was a little overly aggressive. He could ultimately be somebody. What is it that made them demote Randle El and made them promote one of those guys without ever seeing anything from them?" Though Moss and Randle El combined for 132 receptions and 1,637 yards a year ago, the team is hoping to spread the ball around more and develop a deep threat. Last season the Redskins ranked 28th in the NFL in receptions of 20 yards or more and 29th in receptions of 40 or more. Thomas and Kelly both say they've improved since last season and are ready to prove it to coaches.
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After rookie seasons that never really got going, Redskins wide receivers Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly are eager to live up to expectations and to step in at wide receiver across from Santana Moss.
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Perry Bacon Jr.: Looking forward to the chat. Lots happening in politics this week, particularly on health care. Fort Bragg, NC: Governor Palin's words Sunday included a parting shot at the media: "So how about in honor of the American soldier, you quit making up things." What is it that the media was making up (I assume by media she includes conservative and liberal commentators, not just print, radio and television)? And what does she mean by "in honor of the American soldier"? Should she just be saying "How about you quit..." Perry Bacon Jr.: Gov. Palin has done lots of media-bashing, so I was not shocked. I wasn't quite sure about the soldier reference, but she has had lots of negative coverage. I find criticism of "the media" a little hard to define, as Us Weekly and the Post are both part of the media, but do very different jobs. unsurprised college student: Look, here's why health care reform isn't going to happen: Congress is full of old, out of touch and exorbitantly wealthy people who don't understand the realities of life for the average American citizen. They waste time contemplating resolutions on Michael Jackson, etc. but don't want to spend time working on legislation that could truly help millions of Americans. Maybe if they were stripped of their health care benefits until they came up with a viable plan, reform would happen. Thoughts? Perry Bacon Jr.: In defense of Congress, they have debated health care for hours and did nothing on Michael Jackson. Would it help if members of Congress didn't have insurance or where in regular contact with people who did not? Maybe. I think President Obama is trying to make this very point; Congress is now approaching this issue with the urgency they should. a fellow Yalie: I see a LOT of bashing of Canadian health care on US news networks (full disclosure: I was raised in Canada). Have any of your fellow reporters even been to Canada? Most of us are very very happy with the quality of our care. Certain pundits (I'm sure you can guess which ones) pick up a dissatisfied Canadian or two and use them as examples of "how terrible the Canadian system is." News to me and news to many of my fellow citizens...but have fun paying higher health care premiums. Perry Bacon Jr.: I must have missed all of the Canada-bashing. Are you watching lots of Fox News? I have been to been to Toronto, but I remained in good health while I was there and didn't test out the health care system. Silver Spring: Do you think that Palin is doing so much bashing (media, Hollywood, fellow politicians) that she is burning almost every bridge behind her? What is there for her to do other than write a whiny book? Perry Bacon Jr.: President Obama frequently complains about press coverage, as did Secretary of State Clinton. Media bashing is not a career-killer. My guess is if she wanted to host a radio or tv show, she would have her pick. Her book will be reviewed in every paper in the country whenever it comes out. She could become the president of virtually any conservative non-profit in the country. I think she will be doing just fine, as long as her goal isn't elected office, which may be a challenge. Saint Paul, Minn.: Hi Perry -- Thanks for taking questions today. Nancy Pelosi says she has the votes in the House to pass health care. Any basis in reality for this, or is she just cheerleading (which, of course, is part of her job)? Perry Bacon Jr.: Look at her statement. She said when they have a vote, they will win it. Of course they will. She is the Speaker of the House, she gets to determine if the vote is this, week, in October and or next June. I don't think it was cheerleading, but in many ways it was meaningless statement. The majority party rarely loses votes on the Housee floor. Los Gatos, Calif.: Good Morning: What do you think the chances are that Democratic Senators will vote to end a filibuster and then vote against a health care bill? Thus allowing it to pass without their vote. How much can Sen. Reid lean on his caucus to do this? Perry Bacon Jr.: Once Franken won, that was the message Reid and Durbin gave the senators, always vote to end the filibuster (that requires 60 votes), then you can do whatever you want on the bill itself (which only requires 51 votes). The problem is the Democrats right now don't have 60, as it's not clear they can rely on Kennedy and/or Byrd to come to votes because of their health. And Ben Nelson has already he won't vote for cloture then vote against a bill he adamantly opposes. So this is complicated still I think. Richmond, Va.: I see a lot of the pundits talking about how any health care changes would hurt small business. From where I'm looking there is no way I'd even consider starting up my own business since I could never get health care insurance for my family since my wife had cancer. Doesn't this hurt the economy when people who might have good ideas can't pursue them because a health problem could bankrupt them? Has that angle even been brought up? Perry Bacon Jr.: I am sorry about your wife and her illness. I think the two issues you are bringing up are a big part of the health care debate actually. One, Obama and the Democrats want to make it easier for people who have illnesses like cancer to get health insurance and one way they propose to do that is to stop insurance companies from denying anyone who has a pre-existing condition. The Democrats also want to set up something called a health care exchange where you can buy a health care if you work at a small business or unemployed or self-employered. Republicans worry these exchanges will mandate health coverage in ways that will drive up costs, particularly for people who are younger and healthy. Anonymous: In an interview with Fox News, Rush Limbaugh said that there are no great moderates, since moderates wait for eveyrone else to state their views before deciding. Not sure if I'd heard such a strong defense of extremism since Barry Goldwater's 1964 campaign. Making the GOP more moderate would not be a good idea. Would you expect to hear a contrary viewpoint from anyone in the GOP (e.g., Michael Steele)? Perry Bacon Jr.: Olympia Snowe and Lindsey Graham talked about the importance of respecting moderates after Specter defected to the Democrats. I would say in deeds, if not words, the GOP is quite eager to have more moderates. In terms of getting candidates to run for the Senate, Republicans wanted Specter and they succesfully recruited Crist in Florda and Mark Kirk in Illinois, who voted for the climate change bill. Not sure Rush represents the party on this. Northern Virginia: Based on your earlier answer it seems like Sen. Ben Nelson, who represents a tiny percentage of Americans, is in the driver's seat in the Senate. Please, if possible, tell me why that's an exaggeration on my part or alternatively why that is a good thing. I find it tremendously disheartening. Nothing against Nelson, but I don't want him in control of my future when I have no way to vote for or against him. Perry Bacon Jr.: Ben Nelson, Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins, and a few other liberal Republicans and conservative Democrats will have a lot of influence over health care reform, like the Blue Dog conservative Democrats in the House. This is not particularly unusual, Collins and Snowe had a lot of power in the Bush years and earlier this year on the stimulus. The Blue Dogs have effetively stopped Democrats from pursuing any gun control measures this year. Knoxville, Tenn.: The average length of service for a White House Press Secretary is 18 months. Do you think Robert Gibbs will leave earlier or stay longer? What will Robert Gibbs do with himself afterwards since he seems so put off by punditry? Any thoughts on the replacement (before you say it's too early, Sarah Palin 2012 talk is all the rage right now) Perry Bacon Jr.: to make sure I my calls get returned, I will not speculate on this sort of thing, except to say Gibbs seems to be enjoying the job. My colleague Michael Shear wrote a piece a few week about how exhausted people at the White House are, but people I talk to over there seem excited about working on all these big issues. Gibbs' deputy, Bill Burton, is well-regarded from what I hear. Re: Old Men In Congress: Since the collective "we" voted for these old men, who else can we blame but ourselves ? Perry Bacon Jr.: Unless you live in Nebraska, you didn't vote for Ben Nelson. I think lots of people in New York didn't vote for any "old men" this year who are Republicans, and the voters of Texas didnt' send many Democrats. So I see no harm in criticizing members of Congress you don't like. It's the American way in fact. Scotia, NY : We are constantly told that Pelosi has a low approval rating, as do Reid, Boehner etc etc. What's the point of such a poll, since there's probably no Congressional leader who would fare well in terms of national popularity, and its totally irrelevant to their chances of re-election in their own jurisdictions? Was Gingrich nationally popular? Tip O'Neill? Did it matter at all? Perry Bacon Jr.: I largely agree with you. The leader of a party in Congress is usually a fairly partisan person, that's how you get the job in the first place. They're usually focused on getting bills through Congress, not positioning themselves for White House runs. I find this whole "who is the Republican leader" discussion baffling on these same lines. Congressional leaders don't try to have great personal poll ratings, so of course Boehner is not as popular as President Obama. Northville, NY : Won't it be hard for Palin to get coverage now? So what if she makes an outrageous speech to a right wing think tank in August, or follows it up with a rabble-rousing talk to an anti-abortion group? Isn't it old news, or rather, non-news, now that she's out of office and without any apparent base of power? Perry Bacon Jr.: I'm not sure the Post will cover every speech she gives, but she will get coverage. The media as a whole is a business and Sarah Palin gets ratings/hits/views, so I expect she will get covered. And as long as she remains a possible 2012 candidate, she will deserve some coverage. I'm written about Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney this year. But I do hope the breathless and constant coverage of her ends. Re: Gates-Gate: I am a huge Obama supporter, but I am worried. I feel as if the incident with Gates just won't die, and might have a profound effect on his present clout and future presidency --one of those seemingly little events that become huge -- a so-called "defining moment." I am so sorry Obama trapped himself in that "stupidly" word (though I believe he was speaking straight from the heart, drawing a picture white people like me could never understand), but having said that, there seems to be a shift in the air. Over the weekend, for example, I heard it said that Obama would now lose the working-class male vote, though I can't remember if he ever had it. Do you get a sense there might be permanent damage in this incident? Perry Bacon Jr.: I don't think he ever really had the working-clas male vote, and it's a shrinking part of the electorate anyway. That said, as you could tell Friday, Obama didn't feel like he expressed himself well in that moment. Will it be a defining moment? It's too soon to say, but I suspect not. Why? Because it doens't reinforce anything people already think about Obama. I don't think people view Obama as overly-focused on race/racial profiling. "Mission Accomplished" became a moment for President Bush because it symbolized his failures in Iraq and his team at time not realizing them soon enough. The controvery last year over John McCain and the number of houses he had become a big issue, rightly or wrongly, because of the perception he was a wealthy man who might be out of touch. I think we in the media tended to assume Hillary Clinton and her husband had ulterior motives at times when they didn't because of the 1990's experience. I think this will be limited for Obama. Buffalo, NY: John Cornyn evidently thinks he doesn't need the Texas Latino vote as he sheds crocodile tears to wash away his adverse stand on Sotomayor, and that he won't be much noticed when he calls India a "threat." But is Cornyn really this invincible? Perry Bacon Jr.: I think he's not up for relection again till 2014, i dont' think that vote hurts him much. there are no great moderates: I think like a football team, you might have a few great players in the House or Senate, but you need to field a team of role players, and that is a lot easier when you have 60 players on the bench instead of 40. Perry Bacon Jr.: I think both parties would have rather have large majorities with some moderates than being in the minority. Being in the minority leaves you with little power. Although you can tell from the look on Henry Waxman's face when he deals with the Blue Dogs that being in the majority has its own challenges. Boston: So when the President invites you down to the White House for a beer who pays for the travel costs? Is there a bar at the White House? Does it have good TV choices to catch, say, a Sox game? Perry Bacon Jr.: I wonder how this will play out. I know the White House has a nice tv and a theatre, as they invite members of Congress there to watch games with the President. And I"m sure you can get a beer there. Let me check on the travel costs. I would love, love to be in this meeting if it ever happens, although I suspect the officer would be nervous, but not Gates, who already knows Obama and is a professional lecturer. Since the collective "we" voted for these old men (in Congress): Ahem, Maine and California voters haven't elected any male Senators in quite a few years! Perry Bacon Jr.: Great point! Re: Northern Va: It is galling to most people that folks like Baucus (who has the support of 300,000 voters) Conrad (100,000 votes) and Ben Nelson (380,000 votes) are the biggest determinants of whether we finally reform health insurance. These guys are getting $5 insurance bucks for every one voter they represent! Perry Bacon Jr.: People have complained for decades small states have as much power in the Senate as do large states. Blame it on the Founders. Prescott, Ariz.: Riffing off the unsurprised college student, I don't think Senators or their staff put up with the nonsense the rest of us who DO have insurance put up with. I bet when a Senate staffer calls and asks for permission to get an x-ray on their ankle, out of network (e.g. because they tweaked it hiking at the Grand Canyon), the person on the other end of the line sees that they are on a congressional plan and approves it. The rest of us get the runaround for at least a couple hours and get the runaround again when the bill comes and get to make another couple phone calls. Perry Bacon Jr.: I"m not on the Senate health plan so I have no idea. I think the Senate and the House is aware many people dont' like the current health care system. To Ft. Bragg: Sarah Palin asksm "So how about in honor of the American soldier, you quit making up things?" Palin is using a logical fallacy here to try to convince people that it's unpatriotic to publish any criticism of her, valid or not (since she contends that any criticism of her can only be "made up"). The tragedy is that some folks actually buy her flawed sophistry. Perry Bacon Jr.: Don't agree. We tend to overpersonalize these issues. The people who like Sarah Palin tend to be conservative, pro-choice, for small goverment, i.e. Republicans. The people who dont' like her tend to be Democrats and indepedents at this point. It's about her political views; I don't think people rally to you because the media bashes you; they were with you already and ignore the media coverage because they like you. In defense of Congress: Do not think it was the larger point, which is - You sit there with your gold plated tax payer funded healthcare system....and ignore those who have none. Somthing does need to happen, and it could if they buckled down and did it, making it a priority, one they seem to not feel the urgency for since they already have the gold standard - FOR FREE. Perry Bacon Jr.: I hear this argument in different forms a lot; Congress would not vote for war if their kids were in the military is another version of it. It's simply hard to know. Franconia, VA: Just a compliment to you. I really liked it that the question re small business, which mentioned the person's wife's cancer, elicited a response that started "I am sorry about your wife and her cancer." So many questions and comments in the healthcare debate weave in a point about a personal circumstance like that, and all too often it goes unacknowledged, like this is tough political stuff and they shouldn't have feelings. Expressing your sympathy was a pleasant grace note and exception. Thanks. Perry Bacon Jr.: A rare and shocking thing for a chat, so I will not this. Thanks, Franconia. Baltimore: Sarah Palin stated that one of the reasons why she resigned is because, having only one year left as governor she would be a lame duck. Does she advise all lame duck governors to resign when there is one year left in there term? Perry Bacon Jr.: Lots of people have pointed this. Tim Pawlenty, who is also a lame duck, is actually doing lots of the political speeches while at the same time being governor. It's Sarah Palin, she does things differently as we have all seen. Pittsburgh: When my clock-radio clicked on early this morning, NPR was playing an audio-clip of part of Sarah Palin's remarks yesterday re stepping down as Governor of Alaska, and her future. Although I was still too groggy to focus on the exact words, I was startled by Palin's tone of voice, which at times spiked very high in pitch and sounded terribly stressed, almost hysterical (to me). Has any expert ever studied what this attribute of speech can tell us about what a person is really thinking and feeling? I found it most disturbing. Perry Bacon Jr.: I'm sure someone has but you may be in the wrong chat to learn about that. Detroit: When is it expected that the attorney general will make a decision regarding a possible independent prosecutor to look into possible detainee abuses of the Bush administration? (If it is positive, any idea who might be such a prosecutor?) Perry Bacon Jr.: I don't know, but my colleague Carrie Johnson has been breaking news on this subject, so I suspect we will learn from her. Philadelphia, PA: What gives with the "birther movement"? They have no point. The media needs to squash this every time. It is a reaction from racists who can't accept the fact that a black man with an arabic name was overwhelmingly voted in to the office of POTUS. As a white woman I am sickened by the amount of face time the lunatics receive. The man was born in Hawaii, period. End of story. Perry Bacon Jr.: I think the media has repeatedly said they are wrong, both during the campaign and more recently. Perry Bacon Jr.: Thanks for the chat folks. Have a great week. Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.
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Discuss the latest news about the White House and Congress with Washington Post national politics writer Perry Bacon Jr.
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The giant bank topped by 36 percent the $2 billion it earned during the comparable period last year, but earnings per share fell to 28 cents from 53 cents because of heavy issuance of new shares. The strong earnings exceeded the predictions of most financial analysts, two days after Goldman Sachs also reported better-than-expected results. The combination is likely to increase the confidence of investors that the healthiest banks are once again reliable bets to make money. Most of the good news came from J.P. Morgan's investment bank, which benefited from the absence of former rivals such as Lehman Brothers and the weakness of others, such as Citigroup. The company said, for example, that it doubled its revenue from helping companies sell shares to investors. It also nearly doubled its revenue from buying and selling financial instruments. The New York company's retail businesses had a much tougher quarter. J.P. Morgan's credit card division, among the nation's largest, lost $672 million as more borrowers defaulted on loans. Problems were particularly severe in a portfolio the bank acquired with the failed Washington Mutual, which had focused on lending to customers with credit problems. The company's retail bank, also among the nation's largest, eked out earnings of $15 million. J.P. Morgan's strong performance is creating distance between the bank and its largest rivals. The company repaid $25 billion in federal aid last month, freeing it from restrictions on compensation that still apply to Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Citigroup. By repaying the money, J.P. Morgan also escaped restrictions in hiring foreign workers. But perhaps most important is the perception that the bank is free from government meddling. Bank of America and Citigroup both are operating under elaborate and restrictive agreements with federal banking regulators that affect everything from executive appointments to corporate strategy. Bank of America and Citigroup are scheduled to report earnings tomorrow. Other banks, including Wells Fargo and Capital One Financial, report earnings next week.
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J.P. Morgan Chase reported this morning that it earned $2.7 billion in the second quarter as the massive success of its Wall Street trading activities outpaced its rising losses on consumer loans.
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Where he ended was with an Arab boy in the 1890s, at his family farm near what would become the Jewish metropolis, hallucinating about a future in which an army invades and builds skyscrapers over the land. The novel based on Hilu's ruminations has now embroiled him in an intense discussion of Israeli letters and the identity of the Jewish state. Critics have labeled the book anti-Semitic, lambasted what they call its loose use of historical details and branded Hilu's unflattering portrayal of early Zionist immigrants as an effort to undermine the state. Admirers awarded the book Israel's richest literary prize, only to have their decision reversed over conflict-of-interest allegations. Hilu, who is Jewish, said he felt that blunter talk about the country's founding, far from weakening Israel, would make it stronger by advancing reconciliation with the Palestinians. The first immigrants "came from Europe with an attitude," Hilu, 37, said in an interview at his apartment north of Tel Aviv. "It was kind of a typical meeting between colonialists and natives. There are aspects of colonialism in Zionism. You can't deny that." The novel's plot centers on the relationship between the local Dajani family and Haim Margaliot Kalvarisky, a real-life figure who in 1895 moved from Europe to what was then Palestine. A member of Brit Shalom, an early Zionist group that looked for ways for Jews and Arabs to coexist, Kalvarisky was also an agronomist deeply involved in efforts to acquire land. In the book, he is portrayed as an adulterous schemer who ingratiates himself into the Dajani clan, befriends the prophetic son, Salah, and has an affair with the family matriarch while persuading her to hand over the farm. Reviewers praised the novel's style and its structure -- built around the intertwined diaries of Kalvarisky and Salah -- and hailed Hilu as a rising literary star. Hilu is unsparing in his treatment of the birth of the Jewish state, from the book's locator map -- the landscape that is now Tel Aviv is rendered with the Arab names and locations from that era -- to his portrayal of iconic Israeli figures. Characters resembling national founders, including David Ben-Gurion and Moshe Dayan, are described as "warmongers dancing on blood." Naftali Herz Imber, composer of the Israeli national anthem, is portrayed as an itinerant peddler of verse who "dies in New York in sickness and drunkenness." An opening quote from the Koran sets the tone: "We destroyed them and their people. . . . So those are their houses fallen down because they were unjust." The backlash, while deferential to Hilu's right to publish what he wants, reflects the mood of a public that has become increasingly impatient with criticism of the country. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has argued that -- counter to Hilu's vision -- reconciliation will come when Palestinians stop regarding Jews as interlopers and acknowledge Israel as the rightful Jewish homeland. Members of his government have advocated measures that would require Israel's Arab citizens to take oaths of loyalty to the Jewish state and prohibit them from commemorating Israel's independence as the "naqba," or the disaster. "Self-criticism is okay, but sometimes it is beyond the redlines," said Ben-Dror Yemini, a columnist for the Maariv newspaper whose articles helped trigger a campaign against the book after it was awarded the coveted Sapir Prize. "When Jews or Zionists are depicted in this way, it is going from criticism to delegitimization and demonizing the whole idea of the Jewish state." The Legal Forum for the Land of Israel, the group that challenged the award, said its objections were unrelated to the book's content. Rather, the group alleged that the head of the award panel had a conflict of interest because his niece was Hilu's editor -- a fact not noted on required disclosure forms. (The prize, amounting to more than $35,000, is funded by the Israeli state lottery, and the threat of litigation over the use of public funds prompted the lottery's governing agency to retract the award from Hilu, along with smaller awards to the four other finalists.)
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HERZLIYA, Israel -- The idea for Israeli author Alon Hilu's latest novel, " The House of Dajani ," came to him one day in a Tel Aviv cafe when he began mentally stripping the city to its roots.
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"He is an over-the-top manifestation of that undercurrent in the black community," says Alice M. Thomas, associate professor of law at Howard University. "If you are light, you are all right. If you are brown, you can stick around. If you are black, get back." Jackson has insisted that his skin faded as the result of vitiligo, a condition that damages the skin's pigment. But experts say that condition leaves the skin spotted and blotchy. To the outer world, Jackson's skin appeared consistently white. And before-and-after photos of Jackson tell a deeper story about color discrimination, also known as colorism -- an intra-racial discrimination among African Americans. Colorism began during slavery when darker-skinned blacks were relegated to field work and lighter-skinned blacks, often the children of slave masters, were given housework. For years after, many blacks, some say, internalized the declaration that the lighter one was the better one. Nobody wants to talk about colorism. And yet everybody talks about it. "Colorism was venomous because it did so much damage to the psyche," says Alvin F. Poussaint, media director at the Judge Baker Children's Center in Boston and professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. "There was nothing like walking around feeling you are a rejected person, a wretched person, as Frantz Fanon put it in 'The Wretched of the Earth.' " The attitudes toward dark skin have progressed as a result of discussion and the civil rights movement. But those attitudes have not been completely corrected. They linger in the recesses of human culture. Though circumstances differ, colorism is an issue in countries all around the world: Vietnam, Brazil, India, Japan and Mexico, for instance.
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Colorism is the crazy aunt in the attic of racism.It's best not to mention her in polite company. Or if you find it necessary to talk about her at all, do it in whispers among relatives and people...
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For the the Thursday, July 2 discussion watch these season 1 episodes: 6. "House of the Rising Sun" Liz and Jen, both obsessive "Lost" fans, have been writing their weekly dueling analysis of the show since 2006. When not debating the merits of Sawyer's hotness, Liz Kelly writes the Celebritology blog and Jen Chaney acts as movies editrix and DVD columnist for washingtonpost.com. For episode analysis, discussion transcripts and more, visit washingtonpost.com's Lost Central. Jen Chaney: Welcome to yet another installment in "Lost: The Rehash." (Or maybe, The ReHatch? Perhaps that's a better title to use once we get to season two.) Three quick points/provocative questions from me re: moments in the episodes we covered today, then it's over to Liz for more. (Warning: these points contain spoilers about future seasons. So if you're totally new to "Lost," read with caution.) 1. In "White Rabbit," Christian tells Jack via flashback that, "When you fail, you just don't have what it takes." Based on what happened after the Oceanic Six returned to regular life, that would seem to be true. When Jack realized he perhaps made a mistake by leaving the island, he got all pill-poppy and bearded and obsessed with depressing Nirvana songs. But will this turn out to be the case in general? Based on the season five finale, do you think that Jack's plan to "undo" the pain of the Losties' lives will succeed? And if it doesn't -- if he "fails" -- will Jack have what it takes to regroup or has he redeemed himself? 2. In "House of the Rising Sun," it's made very clear that Sun's plan is to ditch Jin at the airport, disappear and make her family think she is dead so she can start a new life. Interestingly, Sun eventually found herself on the other side in a similar situation: she believed Jin was dead when, really, he just disappeared. Was what happened to Jin -- nearly being killed on the exploding freighter before Sun's eyes -- some sort of cosmic punishment for Sun, given the plan she once had in place? 3. Charlie's guitar -- and guitar case -- were crucial pieces in this episode. The presence of his guitar, as pointed out by Locke, was what made him turn away from drugs and try to -- to use this phrase yet again -- start a new life. Is that why Jacob wants Hurley to bring that guitar case on the Ajira flight? Does it have to be there so that Locke can convince Charlie to have faith and fulfill his destiny? Liz Kelly: I am running late and I'm sure some of the questions address most of the points I would have raised, so I'll just limite myself to this: I'd completely forgotten about the white and black stones found with the skeletons of Adam and Eve in the caves. That fact, taken with Locke's description of backgammon to Walt last week and the season six finale where we are led to believe that Jacob and No. 2 are light and dark/opposing forces, really has me thinking the producers knew where they were going as early as season one. To which I can only say "Wow." Morgan Hill, Calif.: I don't think I could have waited week to week for the next episode. I just started watching when the reruns started on SiFi and get 9 episodes a week. Jen Chaney: Hey there, Morgan Hill. That's the thing about watching shows on DVD, online or OnDemand after they've aired. You can completely binge, as opposed to taking the steady diet approach that comes when watching during the regular season. I am sure I would have binged if I had held off on watching "Lost." But I'm sort of glad I didn't. The waiting -- as Tom Petty has made abundantly clear -- is definitely the hardest point about watching during the regular season. But having a week's pause in between also gives us time to absorb, digest, read the blogs and discussion forums and prepare the following week. Now, this several months between seasons thing, on the other hand? That just sucks! Washington, D.C.: Last week we discussed the possibility that Locke is already possessed (or whatever) by the man in black. Yet, in The Moth, we see the brilliant, healing side of John Locke, as he helps Charlie come to terms with and then decide to break his addiction. This Locke certainly seems more like Jacob than the man in black. Is it possible that, in fact, Jacob and the man in black are both trying to gain influence over Locke in the early days of their crash, which is why we see such varying personalities from Locke (i.e. Locke the drug addict healer vs. Locke the Sayid knocker-outer and torture enabler, when he gives Sayid the knife)? The other possibility is that it is indeed the man in black influencing Locke, but Jacob's nemesis has a good side as well and is a far more nuanced character than we are now led to believe. Jen Chaney: He definitely see-saws back and forth quite a bit, doesn't he? I feel like we all may (understandably) start to interpret every Locke moment now through the prism of the Man in Black information we got from this past season finale. I still haven't decided if it's a valid interpretation or not. I do think, at the least, the writers wanted the other characters and the audience to not quite know what to make of Locke in that first season. Just when you start to think he's a man of integrity, he does something vaguely sinister that makes you question that integrity. As to whether that relates back to the Man in Black, I'm still undecided. But it's certainly fun to consider. Liz Kelly: Agreed -- I could be accused of getting carried away with the man in black interpretations (with all apologies to Johnny Cash) and Jen is right to remind us that we could be retrofitting something into these early seasons that just didn't exist. One thing the "Lost" writers have always done really well is to create rounded characters (no matter how hard Evangeline Lily ends tries to make Kate one-dimensional) and to show the duality of human nature. Sawyer -- he's the con man with a heart of gold. He looted the plane and tries to sell off supplies, but he's there in a pinch. Jin -- he loved Sun so much that he was willing to kill for her father. Sayid -- he's a man of integrity, but ends up torturing Sawyer and, later, Ben Linus. So it isn't out of the question that Locke's noble and dastardly actions are just the normal range of behavior of which each of us is capable. Ben's Place (aka Baked Ham a plenty): Not really a question, but a comment/revelation: On a recent trip to Philadelphia, I kept hearing the smoke monster all around me. It was freaky! I continually felt the need to run and hide. Then I discovered where the sound was coming from. It was the taxi meters! At the conclusion of every ride, the meter would make that noise as the cabs were pulling away. I don't know if it was printing receipts or what, but I'm sure it was the meter. Has LindeCuse ever said where they got the sound for Smokey? If not, I'm POSITIVE this was where it came from! Just thought I'd share (even if I am waaaaay behind the curve and this "mystery" has been solved long ago). Liz Kelly: Something tells me the Smokey sound is not an amplification of a taxi meter. But stranger things have happened. Any amateur foley artists out there who want to venture a guess? Jen Chaney: Actually, this reader is right. People behind the scenes of the show have indeed said that a taxi meter is part of the sound mix. (Lostpedia confirms it.) Denver, CO: When you say several months between seasons suck ... well, I deployed to Iraq Jan 2007, right after Season 3 ended, returned from my lovely 12 month tour in Jan 2008, just in time for Season 4. If this were a contest of suck-ness, I vote that my suck waiting time wins! Jen Chaney: All right, I'll give that to you, Denver. You definitely win. On the bright side, at least you returned from deployment in time for the fourth season. It was so nice of ABC to arrange everything around your schedule. Portland, OR: Rewatching these episodes is making me see Locke (or is he already UnLocke?) in a completely different light. I had forgotten how sinister and oddly in control he was in these first episodes. It is difficult to reconcile this Locke with the man who tried to hang himself post-island or even with the man who lost faith in the power of button pushing. What do you ladies think - was Locke himself up until his death and resurrection, or were there traces of Number #2 from the moment the plane crashed? Liz Kelly: Remember, Locke is coasting on the high of having regained the use of his legs and he believes he's found his place in the world on the island. He tells Jack (after saving Jack's life): I looked into the eye of the island and what I saw was beautiful. This is the man of faith talking. And Locke retains that strong faith unwaveringly until Ben Linus enters the picture and starts getting him to question what he believes about the island. But that's season two and something we can revisit when we get there later this summer. Also, remember that Locke's encounter early on with Smokey could be interpreted as the moment at which he became possessed (fully or in part) by No. 2. And that could account for his seeming omniscience, too. Jen Chaney: As I said before, I'm not sure about the traces of No. 2 yet. I think one could easily interpret it that way, but I'm not totally prepared to just yet. As Liz suggested, one could easily reconcile post-button pushing Locke with the fact that his deep faith has been shaken. He gets his faith back when he returns to the island, resurrected. And (possibly) possessed. And, definitely, convinced that no one can tell him what he can't do. Alexandria, Va.: This may be a bit of a stretch, but recently I got back into a favorite album from about 20(!) years ago, "Diesel and Dust" by the great Australian band Midnight Oil. And there are a few things about it that remind me of "Lost" - it captures the isolation and sometimes desolation of that part of the world, and several songs hint at the struggles of civilization, man vs. machine and potential post-nuclear apocalypse. There are a few moments musically that sound like they could be part of the "Lost" soundtrack as well. Like I said, it may be a stretch, but for anyone who enjoyed that album and also likes "Lost," it might be a good time to revisit it. Jen Chaney: Wow, I'll have to go back to "Diesel and Dust" now to see what you mean. The fact that they are Australian is a weird coincidence, isn't it? All I know is I saw Midnight Oil live once, and my God, Peter Garrett (lead singer) is a scarily imposing figure. (See .) He kind of looks like an ultra-tall version of Locke. Liz Kelly: How can we sleep while our beds are burning? Jen Chaney: Liz, enough with your ridiculous questions. The time has come to say fair's fair. Liz Kelly: Jen. Don't even get me started. Just pay your rent, ok? Pay your share. Silver Spring, MD: "really has me thinking the producers knew where they were going as early as season one." You mean, as opposed to all these times they've been saying they've known where they were going since season one? Liz Kelly: Listen, smartie -- there's a difference between a general over-arching idea of how they'd like things to end up and the inclusion of specific details that don't pay off until four seasons later. Jen Chaney: Right. I think we all wonder to what level of detail the writers really knew what they were doing in season one. Yes, they knew broadly how they wanted the story to end. But I think they have been deliberately vague when pressed to say which details they knew would be key -- Christian's sneakers, Charlie's guitar, for example -- because it takes away some of the mystery. And I think they definitely want to preserve that, at least until the show is done. Has anyone seen my razor?: Don't let's succumb to the bias of knowledge of future events when rewatching these old episodes! Just because Locke is "possessed" in season 5 does not mean he is "possessed" in season 1. And moreover, at no point is Locke "possessed" by the man in black. Locke is dead, his body is accounted for. Rather the man in black has merely assumed the FORM of Locke in all the post-Ajira crash island scenes, just as he (or some other island entity/ies) occasionally assumes the form of Christian or Yemi or Kate's horse. I do not know why Locke needs to be dead for the man in black to assume his form, but please note that this in no way contravenes the facts above! Jen and Liz, you Rawk. Liz Kelly: I'm not sure whether to respond to the point you raise or your sarcastic signature. Occam's razor, indeed. Maybe "possessed" is the wrong word, but the man in black did exert some influence over the living Locke in order to get things to play out to the point where he'd have the opportunity of assuming his corporal identity. So it isn't out of the question that the island -- in the form of Jacob or No. 2 -- is tinkering with Locke already. Much as it is obviously already tinkering with Jack by having him chase his dead father through the jungle. Jen Chaney: True, fair point. Possessed might not be exactly the right word. How about if we just refer to what happened as The Weirdness? You know, sort of like M. Night Shyamalan's "The Happening"? Washington, D.C.: Okay, so I understand you both (and us, hopefully) have other jobs to attend to - but can we possibly keep going into Seasons 3 and 4? I'm re-watching Season 4 right now, and in the third episode, Locke (leading his merry band of Losties who believe the Freighter Folk are there to do them harm) has encountered upon the ash line that surrounded Jacob's cabin in the finale when UnLocke found the "loophole". Or so we think. He's looking for Jacob's cabin, finds it to be no longer where he thought it was, and reaches down and touches the ash line. I think there's a lot of insight in Season 4 that would definitely be worth re-watching before we get into the last season. Liz Kelly: Maybe for a small fee we could arrange something. Kidding. Let's get through 1 and 2 first. Then we can talk about it in September. Jen Chaney: Uh, Liz? Today probably isn't the day to be joking about Post employees receiving small fees. I am with Liz on the waiting until September. I say this mainly because I am tired and my chest hurts. That's right: I now have adopted the same decision-making process as Grandpa Simpson. Liz Kelly: Thanks for drawing the diagram, Jen. All hopes of that one sliding under the radar may now be dashed. Wait -- Jen -- your chest hurts? Should we, uh, be worried or giving you aspirin or anything? Jen Chaney: Don't worry, Liz. I don't think cardiac arrest is imminent. Unless of course someone gets mad about my fees joke... Having a brain fart: I don't remember what the deal is with Christian wearing sneakers in recent Lost land. Could you please explain? And I gotta hand it to you...I can't discipline myself to only watch 3 eps per week. Of course I'm probably not as busy as you guys, and the only thing I watch in the summer regularly is So You Think You Can Dance, but I'm already half way thru the first season. I plan to re-watch all 5 seasons before the last one starts. Jen Chaney: Happy to refresh your gassy memory. Remember, Jack had to put his father's shoes on Locke's feet in the "316" episode last season. And during that episode, he said something to Kate about how he outfitted his father with white tennis shoes after his death in Sydney. And in season one, Christian is indeed wearing bright, white sneaks. Thanks for admiring our discipline. Business definitely is part of it; life has this way of preventing me from ODing on "Lost" episodes. Perhaps that's what the island wants. Falls Church, Va.: I'm watching White Rabbit right now. The first five minutes and I have questions/comments! 1. Seems appropriate for Jack to have the same flashback in Season 5 "you shoulda stayed down Jack" 2. I thought Charlie was a great swimmer? But he claims that he can't swim. Isn't that why he was sent to the Looking Glass? 3. Seriously there is NO ONE ELSE in the whole encampment besides Boone and Jack that can swim and help the drowners - give Jack a hand why dontcha? Liz Kelly: I noted Charlie's statement about not being able to swim, too. Maybe we're to assume he learned in the weeks between the crash and his swim down to the Looking Glass? Here's a question I have: Why is Jin so obsessed with Sun's modesty on island? He's constantly making her button up her sweater, when in Korea she seemed to be quite free to wear whatever she wanted -- including that silk shoulder-bearing number she wore the night they snog at the restaurant. And another -- does anyone else get the feeling that early on the producers were toying with developing some kind of romantic relationship between Sun and Michael? In "The Moth" there's a moment where Walt says something to Michael like "These caves sure are neat, I think I'm going to like living here" and the next shot is Michael turning around to look questioningly at Sun. Then the show moved on... Jen Chaney: Yeah, the Charlie swimming thing has been noted before, especially since we know from later episodes that his dad actually taught him to swim. I think it was a continuity error. And yes, I also think they really overdid it with Jin's overprotectiveness. And I'm not sure why; it doesn't jibe with his character in flashbacks or later in the series. But because he doesn't speak English, it plays into this stereotype that he's an overbearing Korean husband -- remember the woman in the airport who makes that same snide observation about him, which Sun understands since she actually can speak English? Maybe, again, the writers were toying with the notion of prejudice and how we tend to assume things about people without knowing the real story. It's what happens constantly between the characters, and we as viewers sometimes fall into the trap, too. Natick, Mass.: re:I do not know why Locke needs to be dead for the man in black to assume his form... I believe that Locke has to be dead to give the power of Resurrection to the Nameless One taking his form. Even Richard and Ben are bowled over by Locke being resurrected -- they're so focused on this new event that they never consider they're being scammed. Jen Chaney: That's a fair assumption. But as far as Ben being bowled over ... I don't know. He knew Locke needed to be dead. But I wonder if he just killed him so he could serve as Christian's proxy, or because he had some inkling that he really had to resurrect. As with all things Linus-related, I am not quite sure what the real story there is. Natick, Mass.: Every time we see Locke off-island, either in flashback or as Jeremy Bentham, he is a different character -- than the on-island version. The on-island version can be admired, but not quite trusted -- note that he attacks Sayid early on. The off-island flashbacks seem to consistently show a man who can be manipulated. My theory is that Nameless One zeroes in on Locke as someone he can manipulate to his purpose early on. He tests him, sometimes influences him, perhaps occasionally possesses him. I don't think that's just looking through the prism of the recent finale. I think it explains Locke's inconsistent on-island behavior -- a man who can be admired but also one that can't be completely trusted--note he attacks Sayid early on. Even with all that happened to Locke on-island--all his achievements -- he is a poor leader when he returns to the mainland, unable to persuade anyone to his mission. I think the main difference in on-island and off-island Locke is the influence of Nameless one. Liz Kelly: I don't want to alarm you or anything, but did you suffer a head injury recently? Just asking. Off-island Locke is a man out of place in the world. An adventurer stuck in a cubicle, a man of action stuck in a body that can't function. So that might account a bit for the differences between off and on-island Locke's. Of course he would behave differently when he finds himself not only wholly able to function physically, but dropped into an environment that values the skills he possesses above those valued back here in the real world. Jen Chaney: Well, I would argue that the island is what makes Locke in control. It heals his legs, and his confidence and perhaps even gives him the skills he doesn't have off the island. But again, I'm still not sure that means he turns into the Nameless One right after he shows up on the island. Am not ruling it out, but am not totally convinced either. That said, please continue developing your theories. I like trying to be persuaded see this differently. Annapolis, Md.: Just an observation--Christian's body was not in the coffin. Did we ever see his body on the island? When Locke "resurrected" his body was still around. Any significance? Liz Kelly: I can't remember. My thought when Jack opens the coffin is that the Oceanic Airways people might have purposely loaded an empty coffin on to the flight just to mollify Jack and get him out of their hair. Jen Chaney: No, we don't ever see a dead Christian on the island. That's a really good point, one that I'm not sure how to explain. But I'll think about it more. Liz's thought about loading an empty coffin is valid. But Jack didn't seem to instantly recoil as soon as he saw the coffin itself, in a way that would signal, "Oh crap, this isn't even the right coffin." Granted, not that coffins are so memorable in their style choices. But I got the sense that we, the viewers, were supposed to assume that Christian somehow escaped the coffin, as opposed to never being there in the first place. I could be wrong, though. Liz Kelly: Thanks for joining us again today. Have a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend. Don't launch bottle rockets from any orifi, etc. Next week we'll be discussing season one's next three episodes: "Confidence Man," "Solitary" and "Raised by Another." Jen Chaney: That's right, ladies: the next episode in our trio of rewatching of a Sawyer flashback. While you mull on that, we bid you adieu. Thanks again for the questions/comments and we'll see you here next week, at the same time. Charlie not being able to swim:: What if it was not a continuity error but Charlie being too cowardly to attempt the rescue? That would be consistent with the troubled character he was prior to stopping the dope. Jen Chaney: Sorry, going to answer two more... Good point. Maybe Charlie was lying. People on "Lost" are known to do that. I still think it was just a screw-up, though. Lost Salon!: You shouldn't joke about the fees thing! Imagine how much money you could make for the Post by charging people to watch Lost episodes with you. Jen Chaney: Ha! Well, we would never charge for such a thing. We would consider it a public service, not to mention a pleasure. It's possible, as we did with the happy hour in May, we may host some sort of "Lost" viewing party in the future. We promise you this, though: if we do, we will not let it affect our journalistic integrity. Our objective views on Sawyer's hotness and Ben Linus's manipulativeness will remain, as always, untainted. All right, seriously, have a good Fourth. Later, Skaters (and Jaters). Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.
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Join Liz Kelly and Jen Chaney, both obsessive Lost fans, as they try to get to the bottom of the show's mysteries. Bring them your questions, comments and theories (no matter how far-fetched) about just what the heck is going on.
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https://web.archive.org/web/2009062819id_/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/audio/2009/06/25/AU2009062502842.html
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» This Story:Read +|Listen + { "movie":"http://media10.washingtonpost.com/wp/swf/OmniPlayer.swf", "id":"oplayer-video-swf", "width":"100%", height:"100%", "vars":{ "title":"Reactions to Sanford News in S.C.", "stillURL":"http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/06/25/PH2009062502828.jpg", "mediaQueryString":"http://static.washingtonpost.com/wp/swf/OmniPlayer.swf?id=06252009-10s&flvURL=/media/2009/06/25/06252009-10s&playAds=true&adZone=wpni.video.bc&canShare=false" }, "params":{ "allowFullScreen":"true" } } Suspicious package sits at Fed building for months Toyota expects to halt production in U.S. Aerial view of Japan destruction Truck dangles over ramp; two trapped Aftermath of blast, Gaza strikes Elementary class graduate after tsunami Baking behind bars on Rikers Island Plea deal nixed in Conn. home invasion case Police: Teen shot guardians after being grounded Playing the oil prices money game Elizabeth Taylor's stand against AIDS Obama struggles to enter White House Radioactive water triggers fear in Japan Buying a new home means paying more Allied forces crippling Gaddafi's power Goldman CEO offers no cover for ex-boardmember Audio: Silence in the tower at DCA Libya mission gaining; U.S. looks to cede control Deadly plane crash in Republic of Congo Strong storms bring wild weather Watchdog groups want Ukraine zoo closed Blast at bus station shakes Jerusalem Japan buries its dead as radiation fears grow Obama struggles to enter White House Obama again defends U.S. involvement in Libya McCain on no-fly zone: "It's been very effective" U.S. fighter jet crashes in Libya Obama lauds Chile's transition to democracy Coalition stops Gaddafi push on rebel stronghold The Post's Perry Bacon on Obama in Chile Obama favors Gaddafi stepping down Palin: 'Overwhelming' to be in Israel Gates: U.S. will soon yield control in Libya The Fast Fix - Is Romney winning the base? Obama: Brazil's democracy example to Arab world Obama plays soccer with Brazil youth Obama authorizes military action against Libya The Post's Forero analyzes Obama's trip to Brazil Obama: Coalition prepared to act in Libya Banks boost dividends as Fed loosens leash Wisc. judge blocks controversial union law Obama: U.S. ready to enforce sanctions in Libya Clinton: 'No other choice' in Libya Westfield and Robinson tie, 1-1 Post Sports Live: Boudreau vs. McPhee - who deserves more credit? Post Sports Live: Sweet 16 preview Post Sports Live: Alex Ovechkin's mysterious injury Post Sports Live, March 22 Georgetown Prep beats Langley, 12-3 Post Sports Live: Verizon Center has Big East feel for NCAA Tourney Ali asks Iran to free U.S. hikers JaVale McGee on his first triple-double Post Sports Live: Mason faces tough road in East region Post Sports Live: Georgetown's chances rest on Wright's hand Navy knocks out in-state rival Towson, 14-11 Georgetown draws 5th-seed, faces Princeton this Sunday Post Sports Live: NCAA Tournament preview Post Sports Live, March 15 George Mason reacts to first-round matchup with Villanova Sneak peek: 'History Will Be Made' North Point claims 4A title Centennial loses to Milford Mill, 56-44 Toyota expects to halt production in U.S. Aerial view of Japan destruction Aftermath of blast, Gaza strikes Elementary class graduate after tsunami No Tweeting: A royal wedding etiquette guide Playing the oil prices money game Radioactive water triggers fear in Japan Allied forces crippling Gaddafi's power Libya mission gaining; U.S. looks to cede control Deadly plane crash in Republic of Congo Watchdog groups want Ukraine zoo closed Blast at bus station shakes Jerusalem Japan buries its dead as radiation fears grow Mass protests in Yemen as emergency law imposed Bomb explodes at Jerusalem bus stop Obama again defends U.S. involvement in Libya Missing Va. teacher's body located in Japan U.S. fighter jet crashes in Libya Carriages prepared for royal wedding Japan slowly recovers, mourns dead Obama lauds Chile's transition to democracy Coalition stops Gaddafi push on rebel stronghold The Post's Perry Bacon on Obama in Chile Truck dangles over ramp; two trapped Post Today, March 24: U-Md. demands nuclear fallout info Baking behind bars on Rikers Island No Tweeting: A royal wedding etiquette guide Police: Teen shot guardians after being grounded Elizabeth Taylor's stand against AIDS Obama struggles to enter White House Aflac debuts Gilbert Gottfried-less commercial Strong storms bring wild weather Elizabeth Taylor's tempestuous love affair Adorable polar bear twins meet the public Bomb explodes at Jerusalem bus stop Elizabeth Taylor dies at 79 Massive shark spotted off Florida coast Iowa tornado caught on tape Post Today, March 23: Naming military operations Circus elephants take a walk through D.C. Missing Va. teacher's body located in Japan Footage of crashed U.S. fighter jet U.S. fighter jet crashes in Libya Carriages prepared for royal wedding
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The Washington Post's Phil Rucker calls in from South Carolina and shares local reactions to Gov. Mark Sanford's admitted affair. Photo by AP. Audio by Sarah Lovenheim/The Washington Post
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https://web.archive.org/web/2009062819id_/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2009/06/22/DI2009062201673.html
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Ezra Klein: Morning (afternoon?), folks. I'm Ezra Klein, and I'll be your chatter today. Let's get started, shall we? Boston: Is it dangerous for a political leader to make promises about job levels in a free market economy when in reality that politician has very little control over it? What other politicians, besides Obama, have crawled out on that limb during difficult U.S. economic times? Do you think he would like to reword his previous statements? Ezra Klein: Probably. If I remember this week's presser correctly, he refused to make more predictions, and I'd judge that wise. But I'd add one wrinkle to your comment: Presidents don't have much control over macroeconomic events. But they're blamed for them anyway. And Obama is in a bit of a weird position, as the stimulus was a direct jobs program. So he's in a tough spot. Healthcare Rationing: This seems to be the new Republican mantra to thwart healthcare reform this go-round. However, I noticed in the news the other day that Steve Jobs got a new liver. Pretty quickly, I might add. As opposed to everyone else that sits on a waiting list for who knows how long. Wasn't a value judgment made here, that Steve Jobs life is more valuable than someone else on that waiting list, so he's bumped to the top? Or that "money changed hands" and Stevie gets a liver but the next guy on the list didn't because he doesn't have the cash? Seems to me we are already rationing and picking and choosing who gets care under our current system. Ezra Klein: We are indeed. And I don't really know the specifics of Jobs' liver transplant except to say that I didn't realize androids from the future even had livers. I don't even have a real point to make in response to this question. I just wanted to link to Steve Pearlstein's OnLeadership roundtable in which a lot of rich and, presumably, smart people discuss whether Jobs should have disclosed the operation. I found their answers interesting, but couldn't figure out a natural way to link on the blog. So I'm doing it here! Moscow, Idaho: What's a good climate policy blog, Ezra? I've checked out Grist, but I'd like something that hits the science a little harder. Ezra Klein: I quite like TNR's the Vine, too. But if you want more science, check out Joe Romm's Climate Progress" and Real Climate. They've got more science than you can shake a pocket protector at. Princeton, NJ: I used to be in favor of the elimination of for-profit health insurers because they serve no useful purpose and they waste about $400 Billion each year. Now we discover that on top of that, they are out & out crooks. Why has Medicare for All (HR676) received no (zero, zilch, nada) coverage in the Post? Ezra Klein: I can't speak to the Post. But I think the reason HR 676 -- the single-payer bill in the House -- hasn't received coverage is because it's not moving forward in the legislative process. In general, news organizations, for better or for worse, direct their political coverage towards things that are *happening* as opposed to things that are *important*. Put another way, reporters try not to be normative. Similarly, three years ago, no one cared about the Senate Finance Committee's health care ideas. Nothing was happening with them. This of course does get to one of the problems in the media, which is that if they were doing a lot of reporting on HR 676, maybe it would be likelier to pass. The news business has never quite figured out how to reconcile the fact that they have a lot of agency with the fact that they do their best to deny their agency. Lawrence, Kan.: Why is socialized medicine such a dirty term?! I want health care like Sweden, except better! We popped a man on the Moon, what's the problem? Ezra Klein: Not only that, but I'll bet you that Neil Armstrong got his health insurance through the government. And he seemed pretty fit. Washington, D.C.: I'm confused as to why so many people seem to continue to hold Obama in such high regard. The economy continues to perform poorly. Job losses continue to mount. The economy continues to slow or stagnate. The stock market is barely above the level it was at when he was elected. His "stimulus" has been a failure from what I can tell. He hasn't done anything about Iran other than make a few pretty speeches with his beloved teleprompter. In my view, he's been entirely ineffective. Why all the glowing love for him? Isn't there anyone in his administration that can think straight well enough to do something? Ezra Klein: I think the question you have to ask is "compared to what?" The economy is performing poorly, but more or less poorly than we might have expected a year ago, when serious commentators thought we had a real chance of another Great Depression? Lifting us into mere recession territory is, arguably, a tremendous achievement. Moving from really bad to not very good doesn't leave in an excellent place, but it's still a large improvement. As for the stimulus, that money largely hasn't been spent yet. It's a funny thing: People think the government is so skilled at spending cash. But it's actually really hard to spend that much money very quickly. It's sort of like a kid who's great at eating candy but ends up totally confused when asked to polish off the contents of Wonka's outlet store. Boston: Comment: If the Dems want to tax my health insurance I'm done with them. Ezra Klein: It's a fair position. Sadly, I don't think they're going to tax your health insurance nearly enough. because just to be clear, taxes are zero-sum. The employer tax exclusion is a subsidy to people with employer-benefits from people who are unemployed, who are buying health insurance on their own, or who can't afford it at all. And that group is economically worse off. Why should they be subsidizing those lucky enough to have employer benefits? Ezra Klein: Here's a question for all of you: I have a couple dozen songs left on Emusic this month. Any suggestions? Steve's liver: He didn't get it as fast as it seems because we just learned about his need and his transplant at the same time. He's been on the list for a long time. The lists are based on need and likelihood of recovery. The folks who maintain the lists are very ethical and do not sell positions. Jobs got great treatment because he has great health care -- which is what I want for everyone regardless of their employment status. Ezra Klein: As I said, I have no details on Jobs' transplant. Boston: Ezra: With respect to a progressive (ie., including a public option) healthcare bill, there's been much talk of late about the possibility of using reconciliation to circumvent the filibuster. But what about the conference committee? Could you envision a scenario whereby, say, the Senate sends a public option-less bill to conference, and receives back a bill WITH a public option? Any thoughts? Ezra Klein: Yep, it's entirely possible. It's important to distinguish, though, between reconciliation and conference committee. Reconciliation is a way of fast-tracking budget bills past the filibuster. The problem is that it can only be used for things that directly change federal spending. You could use reconciliation to increase Medicaid eligibility, for instance. But you probably couldn't put a rule barring private insurers from discriminating based on preexisting conditions. Conference is where the House and the Senate agree on a single version of the bills they've just passed. In general, the Senate's bill is more moderate and the House's bill more liberal. Republicans, in the Bush era, were very skilled at using conference to make bills more conservative (Medicare Part D is the archetypal example where something bipartisan left the Senate and something heavily partisan was returned). There's no reason Democrats couldn't do the same. The question is whether they could then get the votes needed to pass the resulting bill. I'm stumped: What's the argument for single payer for someone like me who likes the idea of insuring everyone, hates the idea of government being in charge of industry - god forbid the physician profession go the way of public school teachers (I say this as a former teacher myself). Ezra Klein: There isn't one, pretty much. Single payer is probably quite a bit cheaper, but if you don't want the government involved, it's not the policy you're likely to support. Although under single payer, gov wouldn't employ doctors. But we're not going to have single payer at any point in the near future, so this is a bit moot. What we might have is a system in which you can see how a public options performs against private options. If it proves itself better, you might find yourself rethinking your position. Atlanta: I've been listening to "Philosophy" from Ben Folds Five's self-titled album on repeat. Good stuff. Ezra Klein: I'm just going to publish some of these recommendations. Alexandria, Va.: It seems like advocates of the "public option" are having a hard time making the case that it will introduce needed "competition" because to the layperson it seems like, aren't there multiple private plans, and don't they compete with each other? How would you phrase this distinction in a way that makes sense to the layperson? Ezra Klein: Private insurers make money by denying you care. A government insurer would not have the same incentive. Why shouldn't people be able to choose between those two styles? It's not crazy for me to want to be insured by someone who's not interested in boosting their stock price by rejecting my health care claims. Another way to think of this is that private insurers are like a fire department that loses money every time they put out a fire and so try and find ways to not respond to calls. If anyone wants to start such a fire department and try to make money off it, I wish them all the best. But I don't want them to be my only choice when my house is burning down. Cleveland: If it came back more liberal in the conference bill, is it still subject to the filibuster? Ezra Klein: Yes. But for reasons I don't totally understand, conference bills generally aren't filibustered. Honestly, though, I'm a bit hazy on this question. I'll look into it. Republicans, in the Bush era, were very skilled at using conference to make bills more conservative : Even a better example is Phil Gramm's Commodities Modernization Act which lead to the Enron loophole, oil speculation and Credit Default Swaps. Believe it or not it was never debated in either house, but the whole bill was added in conference in a footnote!!! Any suggestions? : Bach's Italien Concerto is a killer. Lots of great performances. Ezra Klein: You know, I listen to very little classical. Maybe I should start. Vienna, Va.: It's pretty clear we spend a lot of money in the U.S. that in many cases doesn't go to better quality care. I think you've said that, conservatives have said that -- we have pretty broad agreement. But the data that proves that comes from Medicare. So why do liberals like yourself want to copy a deeply flawed single-payer system like Medicare, which encourages the kind of behavior Atul Guwande pointed out in The New Yorker piece? (this also offers you the chance to link to your interview with him). washingtonpost.com: An Interview With Atul Gawande Ezra Klein: I'd actually like to reform Medicare pretty substantially. But you know why the data is from Medicare? Because private insurers won't let anyone look at their claims data. So we don't even know how to evaluate them to better their practices. Meanwhile, medicare has actually exhibited less cost growth than private insurance. So we can say pretty firmly that they're doing something right, or at least righter, than the privates. But look, I don't want a full single payer system where private insurance is outlawed. I'd like something more like the French system, where gov provides basic benefits and private insurers compete to offer supplemental insurance. Or I'd like a very strong public plan that anyone can buy into. But I want people to have the choice. Washington, D.C.: Are you and Jonathan Cohn actually the same person writing under two pseudonyms? Ezra Klein: No! We just agree on, well, everything. This morning, we were on TV together. Shortly thereafter, one mutual friend e-mailed the two of us. "My TV was on mute," he wrote. "So I don't know what you were saying. But I assume it was a spirited and possibly even contentious debate." Also, have people read Jon's book Sick? It's the best introduction to these issues you're like to find. the girl can sing: Neko Case Ezra Klein: This is true. She can indeed sing. private insurers are like a fire department that loses money every time they put out a fire: In colonial Philadelphia, there was no fire department. Each fire insurance company had its own private fire department. When you bought insurance, you got a medallion to put on your house. If a fire truck from the Green Tree company came to a burning house that had a Penn Mutual medallion, they would let it burn to the ground. After this happened a few times, a municipal fire department was established, a socialized fire department What Conservatives fail to realize is that some things like health care are best done by cooperation, by government, while some things are best done by individuals. Their problem is that they cannot distinguish one from the other. Ezra Klein: Yep. I don't think health care should be a primarily market good. Consumers simply don't have the power (or, for that matter, the expertise) to say no, which means they don't have the power to force the market to function effectively. Arlington, not Stockholm: Sweden has much higher taxes than the US. And Sweden's health care system is in massive short-term financial straits. We already don't have enough money and a lot of debt. Ezra Klein: You don't want to compare our financial straits, though, do you? Because if you do, this site will let you do it. On health care spending, we'd *love* to be Sweden. Though I often disagree, I appreciate your persepctive on the health care reform debate. The response from those advocating for the more liberal versions of reform to the "rationing" talking point has been that we already ration in the U.S. -- by ability to pay. This is true; not every person can get every drug or treatment they want, especially if they lack an insurance plan. However, one of the key problems facing Medicare and the U.S. system generally is that we consume a lot more health care than other countries. So, we do ration somewhat, but not as much as other places. And the vast majority of Americans have a plan, and are fairly happy with their plan (even if they think the system as a whole needs reform); much of this happiness stems from the fact that this majority is not the group being asked to ration (ie, why HMOs haven't been successful in controlling costs). So, when someone says "OMG rationing!" I think what they mean is that they are concerned that a new plan will call for drastically more rationing that the U.S. currently engages in, and will ask the majority of people who are currently mostly not subject to such a regime to have their care rationed. How do you address those concerns? Ezra Klein: In part, by disagreeing with the premise. We don't consume much more care than other countries. A wide variety of studies have looked at this issue (look up McKinsey's analysis of why our hc costs so much more, or the Health Affairs paper "It's the Prices, Stupid") and concluded that our spending is not the function of utilization but prices per unit. It's not, in other words, that we buy more stuff, it's that we pay more for what we buy. As for the second part of your question, current trends have health care spending reaching 100 percent of GDP by 2082. That can't happen. Spending less on health care -- call it rationing or not -- is inevitable. The question is whether we do it with intelligence and compassion -- figuring out what's worth spending on and directing resources to that -- or dumbly and cruelty by letting 100 million people become uninsured even as we spend endless cash in the last year of life. As a longtime reader, I know you have already done what I am about to ask so I apologize in advance. Anyhow, can you list the...I don't know...top three (?)...articles, books, essays, etc. that you would recommend for a person trying to get a handle on the our health care crisis. What is the best place to get the kind of numbers/figures to prove to my very well-off family members that they are not seeing the problem as it manifests in us here in the working class? Ezra Klein: Keep an eye on the blog. I'm going to do a comprehensive version of this hopefully this week. Falls Church, Va.: "Private insurers make money by denying you care. A government insurer would not have the same incentive." This is a joke, right? In your blog you keep arguing that the public plan will impose stricter cost controls (i.e., it will deny more care). You keep talking out of both sides of your mouth depending on which question you're addressing, and that's hurting your credibility when you argue for the public plan. Ezra Klein: I think you misunderstand me. Stricter cost controls are not, in this context, denials of care. It's more the Wal-Mart theory of cost control: You use your massive market share and market power to bargain down lower prices. This is what other countries do (it's why our seniors reimport American drugs from Canada, who negotiates lower prices for its citizens). In the private market, Wal-Mart negotiates prices down to much lower levels. We don't call that "denying their customers products." Cleveland: Re: Emusic: Don't know your musical tastes, but I have really been liking Ben Folds' "Songs for Silverman" lately. There are some excellent songs, especially "Sentimental Guy" and "Bastard" (will that get past the moderators? :) Ezra Klein: The moderators have smiled upon you. Washington, D.C.: At dinner recently, some family members had a (sometimes heated) debate about whether it's fair or accurate to say that President Obama's stimulus package "passes a massive debt on to our children." What's your take? Fair? Misleading? Strictly accurate but incomplete? Ezra Klein: Accurate but incomplete. We did borrow money to fund stimulus. But we borrowed money at dead-low rates and we blunted a much largewr recession and we made important investments for the future. When a small business borrows money to get itself through a tough time, that's a debt for its future. But there's nothing intrinsically wrong with that. The question was whether it was a wise expenditure. I think it will prove to have been smart, but the jury, obviously, is still out. Ezra Klein: Speaking of music, you know what I've been liking lately? The Gaslight Anthem's "59 Sound." Listening to it now, in fact. Baltimore: From someone with excellent employer subsidized health insurance: People are stunned when I say this, but I would willingly be taxed on the employer subsidy (it amounts to income, after all) if it meant that I could buy decent coverage on the open market if I lose my job. And I would be doubly willing to be taxed if it meant that private insurers would agree to look at all the nation like one big risk pool and sell insurance regardless of age or prior health issues. (Just like they sell it to the company I work for, which has many, many employees around the nation.) Ezra Klein: I think this is an important point. A lot of people who benefit from the employer health care subsidy now find themselves penalized by it when they lose their job or strike out on their own or see their employer fold. There's really just no reason to discriminate between people who get their health care from their employer and people who want to buy it elsewhere. very strong public plan that anyone can buy into: But this still leaves the waste and criminality of private insurance. Most people have no choice; their employer chooses. This won't change under a public option. Ezra Klein: This is also an important point, and something I'm really worried about. The Dems and admin are much too interested in preserving employer-based insurance. They're so interested in it, in fact, that they're likely to restrict people's choices and make it so you can't buy into the health insurance exchanges (where public and private will compete) if your employer doesn't want you to. Health care Today, an Example...: I took my fiancee to an Urgent Care place on Saturday because she was very ill. We both have insurance through our respective employers. We waited two hours before they could see her. She was back there for two more hours. When she finally came out I asked "what's up?" She Replies "I have the flu, there's nothing they can do for me." I said "Oh, well what took so long?" "After they told me I had the flu, they ran every test on me under the sun to make sure I didn't have strep, mono, etc...and they say I should go get a chest X-ray." This is why health care in this country costs so much. Trading and bank bonuses: Has anyone gone through the unusually strong bank results at places like Goldman and others who hope to pay very strong bonuses this year to understand what is driving their profits? How much of it is from the trading desks on the other side of unwinding trades of positions held at AIG, Lehman, etc.? I heard stories that undermanned AIG traders were throwing their hands up and doing almost any trades to get the positions off their books which ended up being incredibly profitable for the trading desk on the other side. Ezra Klein: That's possible. Felix Salmon and Noam Scheiber have had some good posts on this topic. A lot of it has been, as you imply, from smartly arbitraging the financial crisis. Buenos Aires, Arg: Funky C "Chocolate" - from the album Joya (I like the whole album, as well). There's an ongoing debate here in BA over the use of bus lanes by taxis. Are taxis sufficiently public transportation-y to use a bus lane? Ezra Klein: No. My lord, who would argue otherwise? Orlando, Fla.: Would it be possible for people ideologically opposed to health reform to tank the system through obstinate fraud? I'm thinking of intentionally slow administrators, citizens who constantly seek needless care, etc just to prove a point reform would fail. As for emusic the newest Anathallo is brilliant. They're great live too. Ezra Klein: Sort of a version of Rush Limbaugh's Operation: Chaos (where Republicans voted in Dem primaries)? I have trouble seeing it. For one thing, they'd have to first buy into the public plan. For another, getting a colonoscopy, or lumbar surgery, is no fun. New York, N.Y.: If Congress cannot agree on a bipartisan bill this summer, what are the chances the Democrats would resort to reconciliation in the fall? And is there any likelihood that they would bend to exclude the currently-discussed public plan in favor of a co-op alternative and/or an exchange market? Ezra Klein: Hard to say. It depends on whether a deal isn't done and health reform is popular and repubs look obstinate or it's not done because the initiative has crashed and burned. Clinton's bill, remember, never even came up for a vote. New York, NY : Ezra, can't we just appoint you the pro-reform healthcare go-to guy for all TV interviews on this subject? I mean, I've seen some horribly misinformed (and/or misinforming) Democrats on the tube lately -- and don't get me started on the Luntz-talking-point Republicans. Seems like you really have the goods on what's going on, etc. I'll start calling bookers and producers now, if you like! Ezra Klein: I'm all for crowdsourcing my self-promotion. Emusic: My last emusic download was Tortoise's "Standards" album. Seriously awesome stuff. Ezra Klein: I'll check that out. Long Beach, Calif.: I've heard information that Sen. Conrad is open to changes that would make his co-op compromise health care plan a more viable alternative to a strong public plan. What would you need to see changed to truly be supportive of such a plan? If those changes were made, who would still be opposed to such a compromise and why? Ezra Klein: I wrote a post the other day saying that Conrad was moving in a very encouraging direction. I'd want national purchasing power, government seed money (this is a whole new thing, after all), and an enduring governance board. The Dems and admin are much too interested in preserving employer-based insurance. : It's not that they WANT to, but that they have to so as to avoid being labeled socialists. We can't do what's the most efficient because Rush Limbaught will call us names. Public plan: Ezra, I'm a liberal, but I'm surprised that liberal commentators are saying things like: "why are the insurance companies afraid to 'compete' with the public option?" This seems like an incredibly disingenuous line of reasoning. Like the way the Post Office "competes" with UPS? I know it's a tired analogy, but it's valid. They don't compete. The service at the Post office is terrible, every honest person admits UPS and FedEx would do it better, and the government has just made it illegal for UPS and FedEx to have certain services. Why would the government's concept of "competition" be different for health care? Why are we supposed to believe that? If you love competition so much, do you support a Nationalized Airline to "compete" and force American Airlines and Delta to "improve"? Maybe I'm not as liberal as I think. But if health care ends up "competing" like UPS and the Post Office, I think you'll find a lot of liberals who realize they weren't as liberal as they thought. Cast it in moral terms, in public policy terms, whatever. But don't lie to us and call it "free market" and "competition". Ezra Klein: But it's not valid unless you set the rules that way. Medicaid, for instance, doesn't lock private insurers out of providing health care for poor people (they just choose not to do so). No one is suggesting that they set the rules such that it is illegal for private insurers to offer private health insurance. So the analogy doesn't hold. What comes here, of course, is the slippery slope argument that gov. will do it later. But if the Dems can barely get 60 votes for a weak public plan now, what makes you think they'll get 60 votes to massive strengthen it later? Would it be possible for people ideologically opposed to health reform to tank the system through obstinate fraud? : My reading indicates that plenty of Brits felt that way when national health care was introduced. Now the most conservative Tory expects full healthcare to be part of what the governement provides for every citizen. Did we hear any conservative PMs lobbying to eliminate them? No. They like it and it works. Ezra Klein: Yeah, the popularity of single-payer and socialized systems in other countries is really startling. Margaret Thatcher support the National Health Service! Strongly! No one has ever given me a convincing answer of why other countries seem to like their dystopic hellspawn systems better than our glittering example. To put it more sharply, there are some countries, in recent years, that have built socialized system. No countries have replicated our model. Weird, huh? Ezra Klein: I think that's it for me. Thanks folks, this was fun! Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.
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Post blogger Ezra Klein takes your questions about economic policy, collapsing banks, cap and trade, health care reform and pretty much anything else you can attach a chart to.
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https://web.archive.org/web/2009062419id_/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2009/06/23/DI2009062301330.html
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Read today's column: The Productivity Revolution Trickles Into Government. Pearlstein won a Pulitzer Prize in 2008 and is co-moderater of the On Leadership discussion site. Reality-land: Can you name a company that has 400+ on its board of directors, some of whom have gotten on the board preaching the belief that the company is not necessary, all of whom can pull the various components of the firm in any direction that suits their personal agenda? Oh, and the CEO of this company gets to pick all the upper and most of the middle management based not on ability but on how much money they or their patrons gave to the CEO? Please name one corporation that operates like that in the private sector, otherwise contrasting government to the private sector is an apples and oranges comparison. Steven Pearlstein: Nobody is suggesting, let alone me, that the two sectors are the same. But there are lessons and techniques that can be brought and adapted from one to the other, including those that I mentioned today. You would be surprised how much leeway cabinet secretaries and top managers in the public sector have. Yes, there are very well-known examples of how the political process and the public exposure screws things up. But for 95 percent of what the government does each day, this rarely happens. It goes on under the radar. Arlington, Va.: For years government employees have complained how their wages did not measure up to the private sector, now that the gap between the two has narrowed (if not evened out), I think government employees should be easier to terminate just like employees in the private sector. I've heard many people say the average time it takes to fire a government employee for performance is 18 months. Not to mention the employee can go on and off probation multiple times before actual termination, thus extending that time even further. Don't you think if dead weight employees were easier to terminate than the other employees would actually become more productive? Steven Pearlstein: Look, I think every cabinet officer should identify a dozen people in his agency that are notorious underperformers and make a big deal about firing them, if for no other reason that they create a bad environment for the majority of people in the civil service who want to do good work and work hard and accomplish things. They also cast a pall over the civil service that makes it hard to attract good young talent, which is a big lost opportunity at a time like this, when government has less competition for talent from the private sector. And the government should make a big deal about these firings and make sure they stick, so that everyone gets the message and front line managers are reminded that they not only CAN fire people who don't perform, but SHOULD take the risks and time and hassle to do so. But having said that, people make much too much about the ability to fire under performers. From the people I spoke with for this column, and that I have spoken with over the years who know this subject, it's not the No. 1 problem. It's not the No. 2 problem. It's probably not the No. 3 problem. But it is the fixation of people who want to talk down government or blame labor unions. I hold no brief for the federal employee labor unions -- I think they are particularly selfish and think nothing of putting the selfish interests of their members ahead of the public good. I observe that they have generally fought reform at every turn and are doing so now on the issue of performance evaluations and pay tied to performance. But any fair analysis of what is wrong and what prevents people from fixing it will show that there is an awful lot that can be accomplished in terms of reforming the system and improving productivity without having to change civil service laws or other laws. So why don't we focus on those and see if we can't get some momentum going. Baltimore, Md.: For many federal employees, our ability to be productive is hampered by external forces -- Congress, advocacy groups, limited resources and the like. How can we improve our productivity without being insulated from those factors? Steven Pearlstein: Federal employees like to blame the "others" just like lots of Republican congressmen and taxpayers blame public employees. We need to stop that. Your collective ability to be productive is much greater than you think, if you just band together and do what you need to do. And if some jerk of a manager is standing in your way, then make an appointment to go see the secretary of your department and lay it out for him or her. As I indicated in today's column, sometimes the problem is that nobody bothers to ask. Anonymous: The recent peanut butter scandal and the uncooked cookie dough are typical examples of the FDA not assigning specific tasks to its personnel. In the peanut butter situation, there was a large supplier to a large market, who had a manufacturing plant over-run with roaches and rats. It had never been inspected. The recent illness of people who ate uncooked cookie dough without cooking it and became deathly ill, is another example of no supervision. The only known time that the FDA gets active is when someone becomes terribly ill and the illness can be traced to a specific food. The answer is: assignment or responsibility, and supervision of those responsible. Signed, Cyrano the Organizer. Steven Pearlstein: Often the answer provided by public employees and the union to every problem is to hire more workers and pay them more. No surprise there. But that is often not the best solution. Sometimes it is to work smarter and use technology and smart software and data bases to target attention on the most likely prospects -- like the plants that, based on past experience, have the higher probability of having roaches based on known data. One of the blind spots of the federal bureaucracy is that it doesn't understand the 80-20 rule, and feels that if it inspects or reviews one factory or application or shipment, it has to inspect every one so that it has a zero error rate (which, of course, it never achieves anyway). So it lets the theoretical perfect be the enemy of the good. Big problem in government, don't you think. San Francisco, Calif.: You should consider taking a longer look at insurance company reimbursement rates for basic procedures before you get too attached to your overpaid doctor thesis. One of the biggest problems is the government and private insurance companies have cut reimbursement rates for basic and preventative care to the bone. Translate the actual contractual reimbursement rate that doctors receive into an hourly rate and you'll see a big hint as to why defensive medicine and expensive tests and equipment are so popular. The argument can certainly be made that that sort of care should be left to nurses, and doctors move up the value chain, but that business model hasn't worked out too well. Check out Walgreens and CVS's retail clinic experiments. Steven Pearlstein: First of all, I'm not sure that business model hasn't worked out well and couldn't work out better with some refinement, if only the law would allow people to experiment with it and make it better. Second, you don't have to tell me about paying docs more for prevention and consultation. That's what quality medicine and medical home and all the other things I like are all about. Restructuring payment is a key to reform, as I've written many times. And shifting payments so specialists don't get overpaid and primary care docs don't continue to get underpaid is a big part of that, as almost everyone now recognizes. Richmond, Va.: Steve, Thank you for addressing the issue of government worker productivity. As government involvement in private business becomes more pervasive, the efficiency and productivity -or not - of government workers will have even more impact on everyone. This isn't a "business" of government question as much as it is a "politics" of government question. But as a long-time government worker, I think it has a critical bearing on any efforts to improve government worker productivity. Do you think that the increased involvement in traditionally non-government activities, or the emphasis that Obama says he is putting on "accountability", will instigate any efforts by politicians to appoint federal agency directors, deputy directors, etc. who actually know something about how to manage the enterprises that they are appointed to run. People outside of government often don't seem to realize how much of the inefficiencies and failures of government agencies are due to the appallingly poor qualifications of the people who are appointed to run them simply because they were political supporters. Unless more can be done to lead government workers by example from the top management, I think all of the business techniques that might be applied to government are diluted. Nothing can replace good, competent leadership. Thank you. Steven Pearlstein: There is probably not much you can do about that -- agency heads tend to get appointed on the basis of their policy expertise, experience, views rather than management talent. But we really should be more demanding when it comes to the next level down -- the Deputy Secretaries and Directors who actually have the title of Chief Operational Officers, and some of the people below them. We also should have very high professional and management standards when it comes to agencies like the GSA and the Office of Personnel Management, which are, by definition, management focused agencies. A number of Obama appointments in that regard have been very disappointing. Washington D.C.: Government agencies normally have two managements -- one political, comprised of campaign workers and party loyalists, and the other of career professionals. Sometimes it's like they're in a parallel universe, related but not fully appreciating the other. The politicals see the bureaucracy as their antagonists or at best, tools to be co-opted to achieve their ends. The bureaucrats think the politicals know nothing about operations, management or performance. Who's right? Steven Pearlstein: They are both wrong. The political type's antagonism to the civil service is simply counterproductive. If there is a problem and the agency is being unresponsive to legitimate demands, goals, policies, efficiencies, then fix it -- don't grumble about it. But there is a widespread dismissive attitude, as well, on the part of many top civil servants who have very very narrow perspectives and think any change to the way things have always been done are illegal or improper or will result in a reduction in quality. They tend to be very risk averse. And because they are the people through which change has to happen at the front lines of the agency, they are a big part of the problem right now. They don't think so, of course. But they are. They need to be empowered, and given more authority, but they also need to be given responsibility for making things happen and squeezing out more efficiency. And if they fail, they need to understand that they just can't go on blaming the system or political interference or the usual excuses. They have to accept responsibility with authority, which right now is quite uncomfortable for them. Just as Dr. Chu. Washington, D.C.: No, Mr. Pearlstein, the government cut the time it took to complete an investigation that is then adjudicated for a security clearance. The investigations conducted by OPM and their contractors are incredibly poor. They rarely resolve issues developed and because of the way the contract was written the contractor only does the bare minimum required. They don't get the answer, they close the case. They can't check law enforcement records and get copies so we get court records. Not good enough. If the case isn't clean the DOD adjudication facility receiving this awful product must then resolve the issues that OPM and their contractors failed to do. They could go back to OPM and have them conduct additional investigation but that takes way too much time. Instead they resolve the issues using their own resources. Sorry this is not a good example of government efficiency but it is a great example of a government agency manipulating the numbers to make things look good for Congress. I have been a DOD adjudicator since the mid 80's and currently OPM turns out the worst investigative product I have ever come across. I don't trust the work has been done and recent court cases verify that contractors lied about completing the work! Steven Pearlstein: Interesting. But this sounds to me like the traditional civil service attitude, which is that the only way to do things faster or better is to hire more staff and then hire more checkers and checkers to check the checkers. It also sounds like the typical response of the civil service unions to the use of outside contractors, whose work is in every instance that I know of denigrated by the civil servants who would rather protect their own rather than admit that maybe somebody on the outside can do it better. The instinct of the last administration, to outsource everything they could, was wrong. But the instinct of the federal employees unions, that every instance of outsourcing yields inferior work, is equally ridiculous. Frankly, I've had my fill of both sides. Pox on both your houses. Define "productivity": I'm sure there actually is some here, but I love your line about "you'll find workers working nights and weekends to meet ambitious deadlines" (add in hoo-hah cheering). Now last I knew, as an economics graduate student, labor productivity was defined as output divided by hours. If you can get 100 widgets/hr, and then can get 120 widgets/hr, you've increased productivity. If you get the same widgets/hr, and just browbeat more hours you're just bullying free labor. You haven't increased productivity one jot. Please define your terms, and distinguish the two. Using a tight labor market to bully free work is not productivity, and any increase in output as a result doth not get added to the calculations. Right now you're blurring the two. Steven Pearlstein: Again, typical union response when the issue of productivity comes up. How about changing processes and using technology so that the same number of people, working the same hours, can generate significantly more output. Your analysis simply assumes that the current processes are the most efficient use of labor that there can be. Dr. Chu proved that that assumption was very wrong. Thanks for holding a great session. Have there been any audits or studies that have been able to identify departments that are redundant to each other? I would imagine there is a copious amount of work that could be shared between departments instead of many doing the same thing? Steven Pearlstein: That's really another whole issue, whether the government is doing stuff that isn't really that vital that could simply not be done. I'm sure there is some of that, and it would make for a great series of news articles, but I also suspect that when you add up all the savings, it wouldn't move the needle much in terms of overall federal spending and taxes. Which is not to say it shouldn't be done. But my focus today was on doing the things that are important and vital in a more efficient way. Washington D.C.: Do you think the Federal Service needs employee unions? I do not. The Civil Service offers enough protection. Thanks, from a retired civil servant. Steven Pearlstein: Frankly, I don't see the need for both. I think there are jobs that should be unionized and not part of the civil service -- security guards, housekeeping functions, that sort of thing. And I think there are civil service jobs that involve core government functions that should never have been unionized. But there is no need for both -- that is just a setup that the public employees have used to weaken public sector management and increase their pay and benefits. Unfortunately, the Democratic Party, including President Obama, is too chicken to confront the Public Employee Unions on that. Vienna, Va.: Your article on Productivity Improvement was the best news I've read on how federal agencies are achieving the TRANSFORMATION possible that is promoted by our new president. Many agencies have been improving process and performance through collaboration and the use of Knowledge Management principles to define, measure and achieve goals through team collaboration. All it requires is enlightened management leadership which has empowered employees to implement their best ideas for improvement. Boulder,Colo. (Formerly Alex Va. and Takoma Park Md.): Human psychology and/or the human ego will prevent widespread changes in terms of productivity, unless positive reinforcement techniques are employed, much as one would use to train dogs. I am not a government worker nor have I ever been one, but I hear horror stories on a weekly basis from friends in the DC region who are -- they are earnest, hard working people who are thwarted constantly due to internal office politics (human egos rearing ugly heads). When they are productive they are punished because they make others -- their mediocre supervisors who long ago gave up caring out of their own frustration -- look bad. It's a real shame. My friends (40-something-year-old mid career females) are completely demoralized by it. The reward for being productive and/or managing a productive staff/department must be great enough to subvert the power of individual egos and their insecurities, from which they operate. Steven Pearlstein: I think this is an accurate description of many offices in the federal bureaucracy. The bad pushing out the good. This is why tough and frequent and candid evaluations are key and why it is crucial to tie pay and promotions to those evaluations. And it has to start from the top down, so mid level managers know that they themselves will suffer if they don't get better performance out of their people. The people I blame most for the current situation are the GS-13's and above who really have the power to change things but don't because they believe its above their pay grade. It's not. They are, frankly, very well compensated, which is fine with me, but they need to deliver. Southwest Nebraska: Mr. Pearlstein, thanks for the excellent, sharp discussion. I really appreciate your candor and your willingness to talk with questioners. Steven Pearlstein: You are welcome. Washington, D.C.: I'm a federal government worker in my 20's and your column today rings so very true. What can those of us in non-managerial positions do to help? Where I work, empowerment is a dirty word and despite paying us six-figure salaries, we have zero autonomy and ownership in our work and are prohibited from making even the simplest decisions. Steven Pearlstein: I say just take ownership, start acting like you think you should, get your good colleagues to join you, and if somebody gets in your way, explain that you look forward to having a full and frank discussion with the secretary or somebody in his/her office. Also, take good notes and find a back channel to Jeff Zeintz. Princeton, N.J.: I have never been a member of a government workers union, but I have seen the results of the private security investigations and sorry, but DC is correct. They stink. Steven Pearlstein: Fine. Then fix it. But what's not accepetable is that a security investigation takes 440 days. Washington, D.C.: I think the current system encourages government workers to talk about how busy they are without actually doing anything. I'd like to see "billable hour" concept used in private law firms where you're actually reporting what you do. I know many people work for government so they don't have to do that, but really, it's sad how little gets done. It's blamed on the system but mostly, it's the people. Right, Steve? Steven Pearlstein: Any re-engineering that really improves productivity has the equivalent effect of "billable hours." I'd be afraid to actually adopt such a concept in the federal government because all you'd get is another layer of paperwork and bureaucracy and inflexible rules, with an entire handbook on what is a billable hour. Beautiful Downtown Lake Ridge, Va.: The issue with government (I have worked in state/local for 17 years) is risk tolerance. Government tends to abhor failures - even normal, expected ones. A single occurrence tends to set in motion meetings, new procedures, etc. These slow the process (what ever that may be) and reduce individual morale and motivation. (Group punishment model.) Private business tends to be more tolerant of risk and associated failures. Government needs to foster a culture where it's good to try, and failure isn't the end of the world. Steven Pearlstein: You have hit the nail on the head -- and we've just got to change that. People have to grow up and understand that just because one government employee, as an example, commits fraud with a government credit card, it doesn't mean that the government should take credit cards away from all its employees. Leaders have to be big enough to stand up and explain that the money saved by giving employees credit cards far exceeds the money lost to fraud. That doesn't mean you don't adopt effective systems for rooting out and punishing fraud. You do. But you don't throw out the baby with the bathwater. Washington, D.C.: DOD adjudicator again wrong. I want to do my job the most efficient way possible and give the taxpayers the biggest bang for the buck. Your OPM example is not a good one. Don't talk to OPM but the users of their product. OPM back in 90's turned out a quality product i.e. investigation. However, now they have outsourced the investigation to contractors. The contract administrators never talked to folks using the product and they, i.e. OPM was more concerned about closing investigations quickly rather than turning out a quality product. Problem started under Clinton when he laid off 5000+ DSS folks and wanted to turn investigations into a business. So, before you run your Pulitzer Prize winning mouth know the facts. And never assume! Steven Pearlstein: I didn't run my mouth. I quoted something from the mouth of a McKinsey consultant who had looked at the process and thought it had improved productivity and wrote it up in a published article. If you have a beef, take it up with McKinsey, which knows a thing or two about management. But what's not acceptable is that a security investigation takes 440 days. : How do you know? For very high levels such as communications security if a person has lived out of the country or traveled a lot, it is immensely difficult to track down all his contacts. Steven Pearlstein: That was an average number, not an outlier. Anonymous: Improve productivity of Federal government workers?------how about providing less boring jobs, supervisors less narrow-minded and bureaucratic and more open to using the different talents of their employees, and public leaders who don't dump on the government to win votes. Steven Pearlstein: That would be good. And how about public employees who don't blame everyone else for their problems but roll up their sleeves, take responsibility and get it done, even if it does involve a bit of personal risk. Reston, Va.: I agree with the report in that gains in efficiencies should be realized in the government. The government has been trying to do this along the lines of identifying and implementing "best business practices". There may be a few examples of success; but agency level accounting - across the board - is still unable to adequately track the flow of funds. The best way to gain efficiencies is for Congress to mandate that every agency publish their detailed budgets, their contract cost data (applied at a low WBS level), and spend rates cross-walking the budgets with the contracts and in-house costs. If this info was public, then watchdogs could compare year to year and apply some pressure to the system. Steven Pearlstein: Sounds like some good ideas. Your points are well taken, but you should make an important distinction between the federal government and the state and local governments. One important reason why the federal government has the ability to innovate is because the officials who make management decisions are not beholden to Public Employees Union. At the state and local levels our officials are significantly beholden to all of the assorted unions for votes and contributions. Go try making a management decision at the state level that will adversely affect the unions. Good luck. I think this is one of the main reasons why so many of the states are in total disarray. On a related point, I think it's a total moral outrage that in these trying fiscal times the states are cutting social programs of every stripe (Medicaid, food stamps, elder programs). The only thing that is off the table from cuts is union salaries, benefits and pensions. So while poor folks can't get healthcare and Granny can't get her Meals on Wheels, the municipal workers are retiring early and living large. All because the elected officials are scared out of their wits from the union bosses. What an outrage! Freising, Germany: That's quite an interesting article today on bureaucracy and productivity. Here in the European Union, with less political unity than in the U.S., bureaucracy appears to be at times overwhelming, and the trend has been to privatize departments and encourage competition to drive down costs. But forcing lower salaries on civil servants certainly doesn't increase job motivation, and hence, by extrapolation, productivity. Did the U.S. go through this phase of privatization? What was the prevailing opinion regarding its success? Steven Pearlstein: Yes, we did, and I don't think privatization is the right answer in most instances. It is a workaround to the problem that government isn't working well. That suggests fixing the problem rather than letting it fester. Anonymous: The article hit the nail on the head. The problem with government programs is government regulations that have to be met--the proverbial red tape. I made a suggestion in my department to include several (currently separate) approval documents into the strategy document that must be prepared for actions over $100K. It didn't go anywhere. Why? Because it was felt I didn't go through channels. Not that it wasn't a good idea, mind you, but I didn't go through channels. My explanation wasn't accepted. Do I now respect that my management has the best interests of our customers at heart? No. Steven Pearlstein: Good example. Wonder what the Secretary or Deputy Secretary of your department would think of that if he/she knew? Herndon, Va.: Mr. P: As a now-retired USG employee (most of the time with the Dept of State), I believe there needs to be a change in the most common system of pay (GS-1 through GS-15), with the so-called "automatic" pay increases, but what will replace it? Pay banding doesn't seem to work much better. The major problem - until supervisors are well-trained and prepare evaluations of employees that clearly delineate their strengths and weaknesses, with pay tied to the evaluations - no cure is in sight. Steven Pearlstein: That's probably right. New Carrollton, Md.: I'm curious, who told you it takes the IRS 15 days to hire someone? I asked 10 senior managers what the fastest they ever brought someone on board was. They said two months. The 500 Revenue Officers who started last week took over 90 days to bring on board from the date the application period closed. While I don't doubt that somewhere around here someone was hired in two weeks, that is much different than what you wrote. I wish it was true and we could bring people on that fast, but currently that has no basis in reality. Steven Pearlstein: As before, that was from McKinsey. Your column implies that the private sector is efficient and that's just not true. It's not about government vs. the private sector, it's about good managers vs. bad managers. Both the public and private sectors have an ample supply of both. The quality and productivity of any organization is in large part a function of management. Steven Pearlstein: I never said that private was good and public was bad. Most of the problems you find in government bureaucracies can be found in large private sector bureaucracies as well. It is just that the private sector is father along in the productivity revolution. Steven Pearlstein: That all the time we have today. Thanks for a lively discussion. "See" you next week. Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.
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The Washington Post's Steven Pearlstein will be online to discuss ways to improve the productivity of government workers.
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The Washington Post, June 10, 2009 According to the British Web site PeaShoots.com, there are five good reasons to use the leaves of pea plants in stir-fries, salads, sandwiches, sautes and risottos. Three of them are relevant on these shores: Pea shoots are versatile, they taste great and they are nutritious, containing seven times the Vitamin C found in blueberries and four times the Vitamin A found in tomatoes. I found delicate, sweetly flavored pea shoots at a Pennsylvania-produce farmers market last week. They won't be around much longer (a week or two). If you can't find them, use baby mache leaves for this recipe instead. And just to close the circle, the other two reasons are: They are grown on British farms and widely available in grocery stores. Wish the latter were true in America. For the spice blend: Combine the coriander seeds, sugar, ground ginger, peppercorns, crushed red pepper flakes and fleur de sel in a spice grinder; grind thoroughly. Transfer to a small bowl. For the tuna and salad: Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, until the oil shimmers. Cut the tuna into 4 equal portions, then gently press the spice onto all sides of each portion. Reserve the remaining spice blend for another use. Add the tuna to the skillet and sear lightly on all sides, about 10 seconds per side (the tuna will not be cooked through). Transfer to a plate. Cut the avocados in half lengthwise; discard their pits and peels. Cut the flesh lengthwise into thin slices. Peel the mangoes, then cut the flesh lengthwise into thin slices. Squeeze the juice from the limes into a liquid measuring cup to yield 1/4 cup. Finely grate the ginger to yield 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon (to taste) and add to the cup, along with the toasted sesame oil, soy sauce and remaining 4 tablespoons of oil. Whisk to form an emulsified dressing. Trim off the root ends of the scallions; cut their white and light-green parts on a diagonal into 1/4-inch slices, then place in a medium bowl. Cut the red bell pepper (leaving the stem and seeds behind) into very thin strips to yield 1 1/4 cups; add to the bowl. Add the pea shoots, discarding any of their thicker or more fibrous stems, then add three-quarters of the dressing. Toss to coat evenly. Arrange the avocado and mango slices in an overlapping circle at the center of each serving plate. Place a mound of the dressed vegetables at the center of each circle. Use a sharp knife to cut the seared tuna portions into thin slices; fan 6 to 8 slices on each plate, over the dressed vegetables. Drizzle the remaining dressing over the avocado and mango slices on each plate. Garnish each portion with equal amounts of the pickled ginger. Serve immediately. Adapted from a recipe by Jason Wilson, chef of Brix Restaurant and Wine Bar in Vancouver; as featured in "A Good Catch" (2008) by Jill Lambert. Reprinted with permission of the publisher, Greystone Books: a division of D&M Publishers.
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Recipe database of thousands of Washington Post recipes. Quick meals, healthy recipes, meatless recipes, holiday recipes and more.
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Are you prepared for the digital television conversion on Friday, June 12? We've asked the experts for help. Jessica Almond serves as a legal advisor to the chief of the media bureau at the Federal Communications Commission. She's been involved in digital television transition issues for the past year, and has traveled across the United States to help inform consumers about the transition. Jessica Almond: Good morning everyone. Happy you're here! Washington, D.C.: If you inadvertently allowed your converter coupons to expire, are there any places in D.C. to exchange an expired coupon for a new one or do you have to call the 800 number to request a replacement? Jessica Almond: For anyone with expired coupons, you can reapply for a coupon at www.dtv2009.gov or by calling 888-DTV-2009. Lyme, Conn.: Will all transmissions switch to digital? This doesn't affect me, yet my cable operator stated that some stations are going to continue with the old signals even after the deadline? Is this true? Jessica Almond: All full power stations will transmit only in digital. In some areas there are low power TV stations that will continue to broadcast in analog, although many of these stations now broadcast in digital as well. New Brunswick, N.J.: I have cable, but Comcast sent me a new "digital receiver" and a new "digital transport adapter" for my two old televisions. I only got them a week ago and haven't had time to even look at the documentation. Do I have to try to connect them BEFORE the switchover, or can I do it at my leisure? And, don't these pieces of equipment, with their thick documentation, fly in the face of the assertions that "If you have cable, you don't have to do anything?" Jessica Almond: Comcast's digital cable service is not related to the digital television transition. In some areas, Comcast is moving certain channels to digital tiers, which means you need a digital cable box to receive them, but this isn't related to the digital transition. If you have cable, even without a box, you are prepared for the digital switch. Nederland, Tex.: If I buy a new digital TV, I won't have to worry about any interface box or special antennas, right? Jessica Almond: That is correct, if you buy a new digital tv you will probably still need an antenna to receive channels, but you won't need a converter box. Bristow, Va.: I purchased two converter boxes. However, they don't work on my small, pocket-sized TV sets that I use when I'm outside working in the garden. How come no one has addressed this topic of converter boxes not working with some TVs? All I see is signal strength questions. Jessica Almond: The box needs to be connected directly to an antenna in order to pull in the TV signals. I'm assuming your pocket size TV has an antenna built into the body of the TV, so there isn't a cord to connect the antenna to the converter box. If you want to use your current portable tv, you'll need to buy an extra antenna to hook to the converter box. New digital portable TVs are available at retailers and online - if you decide to purchase one of these you won't need the converter box. Washington, D.C.: One of my girlfriend's TV sets was manufactured in November 1981, according to the sticker on the back. It uses one of those ancient loop antennas that connects to the TV via spade connectors with two screws, whereas the converter boxes have a coax in jack for the cable from the antenna and then a jack for another coax run to the TV. Do you know whether there is any sort of adapter or other way to hook up a converter box to an old TV of this sort that was manufactured prior to the days even of cable TV? She usually has that TV on when she's cooking (it's in her kitchen), so she doesn't think it makes sense to spend money on a new TV in there and would like to keep this one, but I don't have a clue how to configure it. Thanks in advance. Jessica Almond: There is an adapter that will convert the coax connection to the 2 screw connection. It's called a balen and they usually run under $5. I've seen them at most Radio Shacks and Best Buys. Montgomery Village, Md.: I have a five year-old Sony TV connected to Comcast cable. No converter box. What can I expect tomorrow? Thanks. Jessica Almond: You'll be fine! Since you subscribe to cable you should expect to no changes tomorrow. Hyattsville, Md.: I have a converter box already hooked up along with an antenna. I get the regular channels, but they seem to freeze up and the screen will say low signal, most of the channels come in. Do I need to get a stronger antanna? Could it be because it hasn't fully switched over yet. Thanks! Jessica Almond: Have you tried moving your antenna to a different location or adjusting the way it's pointed? If that doesn't resolve the issue you may need a stronger antenna. Wait until after the stations have switched tomorrow, make sure that you run the scan function on your box, and see what kind of reception you get tomorrow. If you still have the same problems, consider buying a new antenna. Ramsey, N.J.: Thanks for taking my question. The first time I scanned the channels, the converter box came up with about 15 channels. The other night I scanned again (it was raining) and it came up with about 11. Is this a common occurrence? Jessica Almond: It is, rain tends to interfere with digital signals, so when you ran the scan some of the signals may have been too weak for the box to pick up. Try scanning again on Saturday after all the stations have switched and you should see all 15 again. Dayton, Ohio: I have a Hitachi digital TV. Do I need a converter box? Jessica Almond: Nope, if you have a digital TV you don't need a box! Antique TVs and recycling: Just found out our mom's TV is soooo old that she can't even use a converter box (don't ask how old). So we are going to buy her a new tv. How can we recycle the old TV? Jessica Almond: There are quite a few options for recycling old electronics. Many local governments have recycling options, you can donate it, or you can search for your options on these sites: South Riding, Va.: I have old analog TV sets and cable. That puts me in the category of people who don't need to do anything to get ready for the conversion to digital. But, I do have my old rabbit ears behind one TV for those few times each year when the cable is out. And I have a few radios that can tune in the TV stations. Are there any cheap options for having the infrequent need to get access to the new digital signals? Jessica Almond: Order one of the $40 coupons from NTIA www.dtv2009.gov and then purchase one of the $40 boxes to use as a back up. At the most you might You can usually find $40 boxes easily online at retailers like Amazon. Jessica Almond: I was trying to say that at the most you might pay shipping and handling for the box! Arlington, Va.: I'm having a lot of trouble understanding the front page story in the Washington Post about the switch that will occur tomorrow. The Post tells us that millions of people who rely on their TV are unaware of the change and that they will have no way to receive important emergency information. First, if you watch television even ocassionaly, you had to have seen dozens of advertisement in ths past few months informing us of the change. Second, even people in the lowest income levels have access to radios - I've seen them for sale for about five dollars. How much of this "problem" is exaggerated by the new media? washingtonpost.com: Here's that story: Digital TV Rules the Tube, (Post, June 11). Jessica Almond: Actually I think the numbers refer to people who are unprepared, not unaware. Seems like everybody knows about the switch, but people are still procrastinators! Atlanta, Ga.: I have converter boxes. Screen says "NO SIGNAL." Boxes are connectedproperly with new HD antenna. What to do? Jessica Almond: Call 1-888-CALL-FCC, they can walk you through troubleshooting your connection and help figure out the problem. Spokane, Wash.: I have a 2005 TV and notice whenever I press the button to turn off the TV, it goes to SLEEP mode and the converter box is still on. I have to turn the TV back on, a number of times, then off, and then manually turn off the converter box. What is going on? Jessica Almond: You need to turn the converter box off with the remote for the converter box. If you've programmed the converter box remote to work as a universal remote for both your TV and your box, there are 2 different power buttons on the remote, one for the TV and one for the box. Medford, Oregon: What sort of antenna will be required to receive local channels after the conversion? Jessica Almond: You need an antenna that can receive both UHF and VHF signals. Traditional indoor antennas will have both the rabbit ears and the bow tie or loop. The newer antennas have many different shapes. Be sure to read the box and that the antenna will receive both UHF and VHF signals. N.Y.C.: Apparently, I needed TWO cords, but only got one. What to do? Jessica Almond: Your box should've come with one cord, to connect it to the TV, you should use the existing cord from your antenna to connect the antenna to the box. Ewing, N.J.: What are the benefits of switching to digital TV? Jessica Almond: Hi Ewing! Lots of good things happen because of the switch to digital TV, you'll see a better picture and sound and get extra channels. When the TV stations turn off their analog signals public safety officials and emergency responders will be able to use those signals to communicate better with each other. Virginia: I live in the mountains and didn't realize until recently that the DTV signal is UHF. On the switchover date, my digital TV will go totally dark. Are there any programs to help people like me find a solution? So far I've spend quite a bit of money to purchase a digital TV, an HDTV compatable antenna and a signal amplifier. Jessica Almond: Does your antenna receive UHF signals? If so your TV shouldn't go dark. I want to note that you don't need a special HDTV antenna to pick up digital signals. Many broadcasters are broadcasting in HD, your regular antenna will pick them up - but you won't get the full benefit of HD if you don't have an HDTV. Call 1-888-CALL-FCC if you would like someone to go over your equipment with you and tell you if you'll be OK tomorrow. D.C.: We have a neighbor who just asked whether her TV "is going to change." Where should we direct her for answers to her questions? Don't think she's online. And, will the FCC be able to handle calls -- especially over the weekend? Jessica Almond: She should call 888-CALL-FCC. The FCC has operators on hand 24 hours a day now and they should be able to handle all the calls! Arlington, Va.: I just got a new TV last week and hooked it up with my old rabbit ear antenna. I got very good result on some channels. Will I get better reception on more channels if I buy a digital antenna? Thanks. Jessica Almond: Try moving your antenna first, and then rescan your box Saturday. If you still aren't getting great results from some channels you should consider a new antenna. Make sure it will pick up both UHF and VHF signals. Alexandria City, Va.: Will cable channel line-ups change? It seems that this transition to digital means everything will be HD now, so I don't see why I would need to pay extra for my cable service just to have two copies of the same station. Jessica Almond: Cable line up changes are a business decision of your cable company. Only broadcast stations are going digital (ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, Fox and other local stations)as a result of the transition, so any changes in HD offerings are purely up to the cable company. Washington, D.C.: Hi Jessica! I am a Comcast customer with two televisions: an HDTV and an analog set. The HDTV is connected to a cable box with HD service. The analog set is connected to a coaxial cable with no box. Will the analog set continue to receive signals after the switch? Jessica Almond: Yup, you're fine! If you have any sort of cable service you're prepared for the switch. Washington, D.C.: Exactly what time tomorrow are the local (D.C.) stations going to take their analog signal off the air? Will it be 12:01 a.m., 11:59 p.m., or somewhere in between? Just thought it would be interesting to watch as the analog picture fades to black! (Or static, probably.) Jessica Almond: Your local stations are all changing at different times of the day - a few in the early morning, a few later in the morning a few in the afternoon and a few late at night. This is true in many areas, the switch won't occur at one set time! Olney, Md/: To that guy in "the mountains": If he is watching digital version of his local station (maybe like the one in Harrisonburg, Va.), it is already on UHF channel 49; they just call it channel 3. After the change tomorrow, not one VHF digital channel is moving to a UHF, but many now-UHFs are moving back to VHF. So if you see it now as an HD channel, it will remain the same or improve. Jessica Almond: Good advice! Another opportunity for me to remind people to rescan their boxes on Saturday in case some of your channels move. N.C.: We bought a digital TV and hooked our old (but high-powered antenna) up to it, and the TV didn't seem to recognize the antenna (the manual says the TV needs to be hooked up to a digital antenna). So we got a converter box and hooked that up to the VCR/DVD player and the antenna, and we get a few digital channels, but less than half of what we had before. Do we have to break down and buy a new antenna, or is there something else we can do? Jessica Almond: Please call 1-888-CALL-FCC and describe your equipment to the call operator. They can help you figure out if you need a new antenna or if there's just an issue in the connection. Hyattsville, Md.: I purchased a pair of rabbit ears on Friday night. I hooked them up correctly to my converter box, picture was crisp Friday night and all day Saturday. Since Sunday, I have not been able to get one digital channel. What can I do to fix this issue? Jessica Almond: It's been raining/pouring here since Sunday, so I'm sure that's affecting your reception. Try to move your antenna to a different location and see if your reception gets better when (if!) the weather ever clears up! If this is a consistent problem you might want to purchase a stronger antenna, instead of the standard rabbit ears. Falls Church, Va.: Can I get HD TV over the air starting tomorrow or do I still need cable/satellite for HD? I'm confused over digital and HD. Will HD be transmitted over the air starting tomorrow? Jessica Almond: Some stations are offering HD over the air - not all. You will need a cable or satellite subsription to receive any HD programming for channels other than your local stations like ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, and PBS. Arlington, Va.: Do I need to buy a new TV if I don't have cable? Why does the government hate my trusty antique rabbit-ear antennas? Jessica Almond: You don't need a new TV, if you get a converter box your old TV will work fine! Pontiac, Ill.: I live in the country and have used an outdoor antenna forever. Bought a converter box and 2/3rds of the channels I used to receive now show weak signals and no pictures. New antenna work will cost over $1,000. This is progress? Jessica Almond: Please check your outdoor antenna. They tend to deteriorate over time. If you were receiving fuzzy analog stations, the digital ones just won't come through. With a weak analog signal you'll see snow and get sound or a fuzzy picture. With a weak digital signal, you won't see any picture. Anonymous (for obvious reasons): I get cable at my house only because we have cable internet and cable phone and they can't stop me from getting TV cable when that signal is coming into the house. Will I still have cable TV tomorrow, if I have no converter or box? And at what time will the switch occur? Thanks. Jessica Almond: Anonymous, you probably shouldn't be telling the FCC such things, but yes, you should still have cable tomorrow. The switch happens at all different times during the day. Springfield, Va.: I'm sure you're hearing this A LOT, but this transition is certainly not going to go smoothly. I have installed converter boxes on two TVs. I also purchased two $80 antennas (box type made for digital reception). I hooked up my converter boxes and get no signal on NBC Chan 50 (in the Washington market) or any PBS channel. The only thing left for me to do to get regular TV is to get a roof antenna and we can't have those where I live. My mother lives in a condo in and has the same problem. We all cannot get channel 4 because of the interference of trees. TREES! So frustrating. Yes, I have scanned repeatedly. Yes, I have moved my antenna around and NO, I am not spending another dime on making this work. I just wanted you to know that for a great many people, some channels will never come in again. Jessica Almond: We are aware that many people will lose some stations. I'm sorry you're frustrated and have lost some channels. I'm hoping that you have better reception after tomorrow. Have you tried calling the stations to see if they have any suggestions? It's also helpful for the stations to know where people aren't able to receive their signal. Jessica Almond: I'm at the end of my time, thanks everybody for the questions! I want to remind you that if you need help we have people answering DTV questions 24 hours a day now at 1-888-CALL-FCC and you can also go to www.dtv.gov. Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.
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FCC's Jessica Almond answers your questions and offers advice on what you need to know about the digital TV conversion.
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The agreement followed weeks of intensive, closed-door negotiations among the Security Council's permanent members -- the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain -- plus Japan and South Korea. Going into the talks, one of the key questions was whether China and Russia, North Korea's longtime allies, would join the United States and other Western powers in backing tough new measures to punish the Pyongyang government for its May 25 nuclear detonation and a flurry of ballistic missile tests. Russia's U.N. envoy, Vitaly Churkin, said Wednesday that his government shares the "frustration" of the United States and other powers over North Korea's actions, which "pose some real proliferation risks." But he said the text is carefully worded to exclude military action and to leave the door open to political talks. Still, the resolution, if passed, would represent an escalation of the United Nations' efforts to restrain North Korea. It would sharply restrict Pyongyang's access to international grants, financial assistance and low-interest loans. It would also reinvigorate efforts to enforce a range of sanctions imposed on North Korea after its first nuclear test in October 2006. The text calls for U.N. member states to inspect all shipments entering or leaving North Korea if there is a reasonable suspicion that the cargo contains banned nuclear or missile technology. It also authorizes member nations, for the first time, to search ships suspected of carrying banned materials on the high seas and to seize any contraband found. The draft, however, includes important caveats, such as the need for the flag state -- the country in which a ship is registered -- to approve the searches. U.S. Ambassador Susan E. Rice and other U.N. diplomats said that if the flag state does not allow inspection on the high seas, it would be required to direct the ship to a nearby port for a search. Rice also said the draft resolution would strengthen existing sanctions against North Korea in "five critical areas," including a comprehensive ban on arms exports by the country, while permitting the import of only light weapons and small arms. The resolution's adoption would send a message to North Korea that its "behavior is unacceptable" and that it "must pay a price," Rice said, adding that the resolution "will bite." But her predecessor, John R. Bolton, who represented the Bush administration at the United Nations, said the draft marked only a "modest" strengthening of sanctions he had helped negotiate three years ago. He said that it is unlikely that North Korea will allow its vessels to be searched on the high seas and that the resolution contains no provision to use force to compel North Korean ships to dock in a foreign port. Hours before the deal was struck, Stephen Bosworth, the U.S. envoy for North Korea disarmament talks, provided public assurances that the United States has "no intention to invade North Korea or change its regime through force." Bosworth also said that Pyongyang will remain a global pariah if it persists in provoking the international community. "They can stay in the darkness of the cave and see the world only as shadows," he said in an address at the Asia Society in New York. "Or they can come out into the light of the international community."
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UNITED NATIONS, June 10 -- The United States, China and other major powers reached agreement Wednesday on a draft U.N. resolution that condemns North Korea's recent underground nuclear test and imposes additional military, financial and trade sanctions on the communist state. The draft was presented...
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Read Dan's daily smorgasborg of the bizarre side of D.C. sports at the D.C. Sports Bog. Dan Steinberg: Well, every week I think the next week can't possibly have less stuff to write about, but then life surprises me again. In happier news, if you've been wondering about my for-sale house, we seem to have two offers. Also, I've been playing this game....assume there is a cosmic, perfectly accurate list measuring the power and influence of every person who lives in the D.C. metro area, how many Washington Post sports section staffers would make the top ten percent, and in what order would they be ranked? Wilbon's a one-percenter, I'd think. My goal is to enter the top 40 percent before I die. Anyhow, Nats TV ratings, Redskins OTAs, Spelling Bee, Mike Williams's weight, awkward interviews with Erin Andrews, whatever. Have at it. Section 138: Why does it say you will be online to "discuss the Nats ..." Shouldn't it read "dismiss the Nats" since that's your M.O.? Dan Steinberg: I'm sad that it's come to this again. I thought my trip to Viera might have been a turning-the-corner moment, but then I slipped right back into my bad habits. Apologies. I do think the TV product is more compelling this year, and I said so yesterday. I think Rob Dibble is great, and I think the team is exponentially more interesting and, frankly, more talented than last year's. But you can't think it's a good thing that the average household audience in this market is 12,000, or that the Orioles get more D.C.-viewers than the Nats. The "MASN HATES US" argument only goes so far. Whatever, I'm still not concerned long-term. The team will win, and fans will come back. I don't even buy the "you're doing long-term damage to the market" argument. The Caps were woeful for several years, and how much long-term damage did that do? Not very much. People will emerge from under RFK piles of dirt to cheer on a winner. In the meantime, I just think they offer some good laugh line opportunities. Arlington, Va.: I am bummed that D.C. United's ratings are so pathetic. Is that on-par with last year? I guess the Nationals had nowhere to go but up. Dan Steinberg: No, the United rankings I saw through four regular season games on CSN (a 0.1, for about 2,500 households) are significantly lower than the ones I saw last year (0.5, or 11,500 households). I'm not sure why that would be, but I'd want to examine the four dates from this season to see what else they ran up against (Caps second-round playoff games, for example). Based on extremely unscientific things like our Web and blog traffic, I'm pretty sure that D.C. United interest also waxes and wanes based on on-field success, which makes sense. But the string of ties might not do much to fire up a fan base. Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.: Reasons for higher TV ratings: Dan Steinberg: Do they show the hot dog guns on TV? As much as I've been watching this year, I haven't seen that. Incidentally, has anyone seen any fans disciplined at Nats Park for using foul language? I'm possibly hearing about an interesting case of this. My reasons go like this, in order: 1) Fewer people at stadium = more people at home 2) Zim hit streak + Adam Dunn 3) Pitching of the future to examine Since the 50 percent increase means about 4,000 more households, each of these reasons only needs to contribute about 800 households. Washington, D.C.: So are you looking forward to Eddie Jordan's return? Do you think it will be blog worthy material? Dan Steinberg: Eddie's a great guy with a terrific sense of humor, but he's not a blogging goldmine like, say, Jim Zorn. I had to spend most of yesterday's media availability session at Redskins Park talking to Chase Daniel and Colt Brennan, so I missed out on the Zorn session, but I'm looking forward to finding out that he's taken up Swedish calligraphy in the offseason. This whole coaching carousel worked out about as good for him as possible, huh? Stays on the East Coast, gets a talented roster, and I believe he still owns a house in New Jersey. RFK, Washington, D.C.: Explain: How is it that Goff gets to cover the U.S. national team in Costa Rica but they won't send you to cover herding dogs? What gives? washingtonpost.com: USA at Saprissa (Washington Post, June 2) Dan Steinberg: I can go wherever I want, provided I drive there and am not too picky about asking for mileage. So if I could have found a long-distance ferry, or possibly a tug-boat, I could be with Goffer in Costa Rica. And skipping the herding dogs was my call. Though speaking of great events, supposedly T.O., Caron Butler, Albert Haynesworth, Nelly and a host of other mega stars will be in town this weekend for the Big Tigger charity celebrity basketball and party extravaganza to raise money for HIV/AIDS causes. Now that trumps both herding dogs AND Costa Rica. So if your editors take you up on your request and do fire you, what would you do next? Go back to selling cheese? Join the ComcastSports TV gravy train? Be a stay at home dad? Dan Steinberg: Probably be a relatively poor blog freelancer scrapping my way to a meager existence. I'm glad CSN showed that you can go from scribbling to yammering, since that's what every scribbler aspires to, but I don't necessarily share Ivan Carter's looks. Annandale, Va.: Why not add a new category to standings to see how the Nats are doing vs. the 1962 Mets? Having a rooting interest in beating the Mets could help with fan interest (and blog traffic). If the Nats can't beat the 2009 Mets perhaps they can beat the 62 edition? Dan Steinberg: Why oh why are the Cleveland Spiders always slighted in these discussions? There is a 0 percent chance that the Nats seriously threaten the Mets' record. I firmly believe that. As for your rooting interest question, would the fans be interested in rooting for or against hitting 120 losses? I can't see the point in hoping for a 118-loss season. Silver Spring, Md.: I get that people are a tad bent out of shape about LeBron not shaking hands. But I never see baseball players shaking hands, except with their own teammates. The other team files silently into the dugout. No one gives them any crap. The cameras only hang around after final playoffs in football, and you see some hand shaking going on, but by no means everyone and I've never been in person to verify. Hockey? Did Crosby and Ovechkin shake hands? Why is this guy getting flack when the cordial post-game behavior we learned as kids doesn't even seem to show up in other sports? What am I missing? Dan Steinberg: Well, yeah, the end-of-series hockey handshake line is fairly sacred, and Crosby and Ovechkin not only shook hands, they chatted for quite a bit. I'm pretty sure the Pens and Caps had 100 percent handshake attendance. Football players at least have to make an effort to find each other, which is an easier excuse for not doing so. In basketball, you almost have to go out of your way not to shake hands. Not sure what the deal with baseball is, but you sort of judge guys based on their adherence to the customs in their own sport, not in other sports. Rugby custom would dictate that Dwight Howard buy LeBron beers, but no one's gonna get on him for not doing so, because he doesn't play rugby. It just seemed petty and silly and self-centered and self-pitying, which are all things that some have claimed to see in LeBron for years. Also, his explanation that he loves winning is understandable, but it implies that somehow anyone who is composed enough to shake a few hands somehow doesn't love winning. We all know LeBron's a great competitor; he doesn't need to prove it to us by sulking. Mt. Pleasant, Washington, D.C.: Down in Costa Rica for the next U.S. World Cup qualifier, Goff blogs that "VIPs in attendance will include Costa Rica President Oscar Arias, Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and USA Ambassador to CR Peter Cianchette." When Costa Rica visits RFK for a qualifier on October 15, what kind of VIPs do you think we could drum up? Obama? Fenty (if the DC United fans there can stand it)? Gilbert Arenas? Manny Acta (if he still has a job)? Dan Steinberg: Could probably get Jason Campbell. He'll go to anything. Is the Prez a footie kind of guy? I didn't know about that. Maybe they could have a sack race with the D.C. City Council, with the winners granted tickets and the losers forced to wage a months-long media campaign about the unjustness of it all. Western Alexandria, Va.: A theory on Nats TV ratings -- maybe, just maybe, the fact that they were not available to D.C. television viewers for almost two full seasons might be part of the problem. Could it be that giving the Nats' TV rights to a regional rival may not have been a decision that was made entirely in good faith? Dan Steinberg: Obviously you're right about the good faithness, but I tend to discount all the ridiculous back story in explaining these ratings. I guess it wouldn't help, but the fact is, the games ARE on TV now, and everyone who cares sort of knows that. I mean, I can't imagine there are tens of thousands of households who have an interest in watching this sub-.300 team but aren't doing so because they couldn't watch three years ago when the team was closer to .450. I'm not trying to be flip; I know some people think this is a legitimate reason, just as some people still think MASN overtly favors the Orioles in marketing and promotions. Just seems to me that fans who actually want to watch Nats games, by this point, should know where and when to find them. And again, we have other measures (STH, attendance, Web traffic) that are at least somewhat in line with these small TV numbers. Caps Fan: Ovechkin and Crosby did shake hands. Dan Steinberg: Yeah, that's what I meant to say. For a long time. Boston: I am glad the whole steroids in the NHL issue is confined to the Washington Capitals and no one on the Bruins ever took them ... This story is strange, huh? Of all the teams to mention, two franchises hundreds of miles from Florida that have never, so far as we know, been major hubs of PEDs. There's definitely a school of thought that 95 percent of pro athletes in every sport has at least danced down this aisle of the grocery store. Because I'm a gullible simpleton, I've always resisted such cynicism. I would say, though, that if one NHL team is heavily using, then probably more than one is. Alexandria, Va.: The Rams are up for sale. In my fantasy world, they move to RFK and offer the Redskins some competition for my sports dollar. What would the team be called? Dan Steinberg: IN all the pseudo discussions of what to call the Redskins if the trademark issue ever gets decided against them, I've never heard anything better than the Hogs. Esp if you're playing at RFK. Of all the fantasies to have, though, the Rams playing at RFK? Why not just go ahead and fantasize that Snyder sells the Redskins, some new owner pays out of pocket to build a new joint in the city, with all seats offered half-price to true fans, and with no drunken louts permitted. Oh, and that the team hosts a playoff game, if you're really willing to dream crazy dreams. At the end of the Caps-Pens series some media types (this isn't directed at you) said that since the Pens beat the Caps that showed that Crosby was better than Ovechkin. Does that mean I can argue that Dwight Howard is better than Lebron James? Dan Steinberg: Well, he's certainly more likable. However you come down on Crosby-Ovie, their duel struck me as pretty close to a draw. But if one team has one top-five player in the world, and the other team has two, and all of them show up at least reasonably well, you'd certainly expect the team with two all-world players to win. Like, if you're asking me to choose who's better between Semin and Malkin, I'll go ahead and take Malkin. As for your question, I went back and found a program last night for this prep hoops tourney I attended in Feb, 2004. LeBron had played in the event the year before, and Howard was the headliner this time around. Much of the promotional material was "So you're looking for the next LeBron James?" Weird to look back on that. I wrote a story about Howard that winter, and I didn't think he was going to be an NBA star. Upperville, Va.: Schedule of herding trials between now and the end of September June 27 and 28 Gladys, Va. USBCHA July 3,4 and 5 Berryville, Va. AHBA 29 and 30 Aug Lexington, Va. USBCHA 12 and 13 Sept Williamsville, Va. USBCHA 12 and 13 Sept Berryville, Va. AKC You should attend one USBCHA, one AHBA and AKC trial for a column. Come on, its not like the Redskins will win a preseason game, and they won't fire Zorn until the first week in Oct. Your editor will love it and the cheap expense reports. Besides, the kids need a puppy. Dan Steinberg: I swear, I'll give 50 cents to the person who can prove 1) That these herding questions aren't all submitted by the same person 2) That these herding questions are from someone who actually cares about herding. Can't you get Style to write about it? I hear J Freedom Peace and Harmony duLac has been clamoring for a herding assignment. Washington, D.C.: Favorite moment from last week's National Spelling Bee? And no, Erin Andrews interaction doesn't count. washingtonpost.com: Kavya Shivashankar Wins, D.C. Waits (Washington Post, May 28) Dan Steinberg: I thought Kennyi pulling out his glasses was pretty slick. Though whatever staged gimmick he did later in the night, during the ABC broadcast, was totally lost on me. They botched that one. The glasses thing seemed real genuine. Oh, and the post-Bee rave was incredible, but I promised not to write about it. Ashburn, Va.: Is Mike Williams the strangest person you've ever taken dietary advice from? Has to be up there, right? washingtonpost.com: Mike Williams: Bison Yes, Steak No (Washington Post, June 1) Dan Steinberg: He wasn't so much advising me as just kind of talking about some principles of nutrition. I have no idea what kind of football shape he's in now or will be in by late July. Strikes me he's still sort of a longshot, with his head coach openly wondering how long he can go full-speed. But he was nice, funny, smart, approachable, self-aware, etc. I'd love for him to find a spot here. S. Rockville, Md.: Is Yanda getting death threats from the U-Md. faithful over his latest Lance Stephenson article? It can't bode well for the Nats that U-Va. roughed up their putative savior in the NCAA Region of Death. Now onto the John Grisham invitational against Ole Miss! washingtonpost.com: Proving His Worth (Washington Post, June 1) Dan Steinberg: I think "roughed up" is a little strong. He hung in there pretty ok against the ACC champs on a night where he may not have had his best stuff, and he still gave his team a pretty good shot to win. Haven't heard of any death threats re yanda, but it struck me as a pretty straightforward story. I still think Lance is gonna help some team win a bunch of games next year. Whether you think those wins are worth a one-year guy with the "baggage" (real or media-created) he comes along with, that's not my call. Virginia sure got jobbed in the seeding, though, huh? Section 138: I'm glad to hear you're not in the "done for good" crowd, and thanks for the answer, Dan. Swing on by for a Yuengling or two at the next Nats game you attend. Dan Steinberg: I've never ever thought the current troubles were somehow implying long-term doom for the Nats. But the current troubles are hysterically repetitive. It's also the Wiz in '05 argument. They were awful, awful, awful forever. They get Gilbert, get into the playoffs, and the arena was bonkers against the Bulls. People will come, Section 138. If you win. Arlington, Va.: Dan, why does the Post contain no coverage at all of the Softball College World Series? Florida's comeback victory over Alabama was as thrilling as it gets, yet not even a mention in the paper. Dan Steinberg: Well, that's not a question for me to answer, but if there were coverage in these six-page sections we're working with lately, it wouldn't be much. There's really not a lot to work with in six pages. Would two paragraphs really have made a difference? I think people who are interested in postseason softball news are probably already going elsewhere. That, at least, is the bet we're making with so many of these national stories that we're scaling back from. Spidertown, Cleveland: Hey! What do you mean slighted? We signed a young Cy Young? Dan Steinberg: I mean, when people talk about the all-time worst MLB teams, they still tend to talk about the '62 Mets first and last. As someone whose Cleveland complex is arguably bigger than his Pittsburgh complex, I just want to make sure they get full credit for being awful. Chinatown/Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.: So steriods have been linked to the Caps and the Nats. ... When do we finally hear about steroids being linked to sports writers/bloggers? Dan Steinberg: As the Junkies so often say, there were rumors about all their football-playing buddies in high school using the juice. I wouldn't say that was the case at my school, but there were defintely a few kids we wondered about. And if that's the case at a small, fairly non-competitive rural high school in Western New York, you would have to be a particularly obtuse optimist to believe that people with gazillions of dollars on the line would never experiment. Oh wait, that's not what you asked. You asked about me, essentially. Well, I run 3.75 miles on the treadmill in 30 minutes, do a few bench presses once every never, and have the upper body of Elmo. Also, I've never once, not once, failed a drug test. (Pointing finger) Rockwell, Md.: Dan, how many DC United players could be put into the Nats lineup by Manny Acta before results got appreciably worse? I'd say as long as you kept Zimmerman, Dunn, and a pitcher, you could probably sneak in three before anyone noticed. Dan Steinberg: Rockwell, you're just being silly. Here's a more serious question. If you took the best AAA team, Norfolk (34-16) or Scranton (32-19) or Colorado Springs (31-19) and ran them out for 49 MLB games, what would their record be? Not, "Haha, I'll bet they'd do as well as the Nats," but seriously, what would their record be? They have talent at that level, though there's no chance those teams are as good as the Nats. It's hard to imagine them winning fewer than seven or eight games, right? Silver Spring, Md.: Any truth to the rumors about the Wizards and Mystics possibly going to Red, White and Blue uniforms in the next couple years? Do you see this happening anytime soon? Dan Steinberg: I haven't heard anything new about this in ages. ... have you? As I've said before, I think it improves the merchandise immediately, leads to lots of money into lots of coffers, and purges the era of bad colors from D.C., forever. It's too logical not to happen, but again, I haven't heard anything. Washington, D.C.: So if you're selling your house, where are you going to move to? Surely you're not leaving us, Dan?! Dan Steinberg: The goal is to become suburbanites. But don't worry, I'll get the D.C. flag tattooed on my chest before we leave. I hear Silver Spring is lovely this time of year. Washington, D.C., 20001: "Incidentally, has anyone seen any fans disciplined at Nats Park for using foul language? I'm possibly hearing about an interesting case of this." I haven't seen this in person, but it wouldn't surprise me. Is this in reference to the fact that you can often clearly hear any screaming moron on TV (since the place is normally empty)? I remember Joel Hanrahan mentioning how noticeable and odd that is. Dan Steinberg: No, it's a reference to a fan supposedly (allegedly, according to one e-mail, without any verification) being booted and banned for telling opponents they suck. I have no idea if it's true, and I haven't heard any other reports of this. Alexandria, Va.: As a DC United fan I was a little surprised by the ratings, but nearly as surprised to hear Comcast Sports Net shows DC United matches. Dan Steinberg: Comcastsportsnet.tv. Live it. Gilbert's Corner, Va.: Long time fan here - love your writing style! Ever thought about penning a feature story (not necessarily about sports) for the Sunday mag? And if I've missed such an effort, please provide a link. Dan Steinberg: I never have. I did used to write long (like, Looooooong) feature stories for the sports section, back when I was a struggling part-timer in 2003-2005 or so. Oh, and to the Redskins Insider commenter (Talent_Evaluator) forever going on about how everyone hates me, look! Someone likes me! Unless this is my dad/wife/editor/myself. Anyhow, I always say I'd like to do more feature-stuff with actual bylines, but then I wind up getting heartburn if I'm missing potential blog stuff. That's why I struggle to take vacation days. I think a good solution is to give me blog interns or a co-blogger so that I could more easily bail on the day to day stuff. Frustrated Sox Fan in D.C.: Dan,What's your take on the Nationals still refusing to sell single game tickets for the Red Sox series at the end of the month. They first tried a lottery and 20-game packs and when that didn't work, now have 5-6 game packs. I understand this is a chance to sell tickets, but the Lerners have to know that if they keep this up they will end up selling less. Nationals park could be full on three weekdays in June, a welcome change from the sparsely populated norm. But I can't buy tickets, and I am not alone. Thanks for letting me vent and keep up the good work. P.S. For what it's worth, I frequently go to Nats games and cheer for the team, although I have yet to be present for a single win yet. Maybe tonight ... Dan Steinberg: Actually, I haven't followed this. What's the rationale? Regardless, I think Nationals Park will be filled for those gamee. Washington D.C. in the 35332: Can I say I think you would be a great choice to take over Redskins Insider - and all Washington Sports Media in the world. Not that Reid or the others in the pool can't do the job but you possess the banter talent that helped Jason La Ca make Redskins Insider great. washingtonpost.com: Redskins Insider: A Heartfelt Good-bye (Washington Post, June 1) Dan Steinberg: Wait, I saw you publicly casting doubts about me for RI in the comments section! Don't think we don't read that stuff. I have no inside dope on that job, but I can tell you for 100 percent sure it won't be me, that I have no interest and the editors have no interest in me doing that. I'm sort of trying to do a different deal. If I wanted to go back into beat writing (or beat blogging, or beat boxing), I think I'd go back more toward the back of the line, instead of being gifted a job writing about the Skins. RI certainly started with lots of JLC banter and goofy asides, but we all realized that it could be kind of a premiere Skins destination with tons of copy and tons of writers and tons of news. I'd recommend that approach not be abandoned, no matter whose giant photo is up top. And again, congrats to Jason Loved the Spelling Bee last week. Seriously, I was riveted by the whole thing. I couldn't help but feel underwhelmed at the end when the Indian girl who everyone thought was going to win beat out the creepy homeschool kid from Centreville and the other Indian girl who no one knew anything about. I likened it to if the team in the black uniforms would have won at the end of "The Mighty Ducks." Dan Steinberg: Never saw Mighty Ducks. I don't watch movies. I think some folks were very gratified to see the hard-working, persistent, always-a-bridesmaid Kavya Shivanshankar come out on top. I'd like to see someone win it on the 25th word in more dramatic fashion after repeated all-make or all-miss finals rounds, but there was some drama there. Nats Park, Washington, D.C.: Do you plan on coming by tomorrow for Randy Johnson's bid at Win No. 300? Dan Steinberg: Perhaps. I also really want to have a chat with Rob Dibble about why he says WE. I've been meaning to do that with weeks, and if I wait a few more days, someone else is definitely gonna do it. Alexandria, Va.: What do you have to say about being racist and xenophobic in your spelling bee coverage? Dan Steinberg: Well, that's a friendly question. I would like to think that any racisim or xenophobism was misinterpreted. I mean, writing a silly tongue-in-cheek thing about how the D.C. kid (Tim Ruiter) lost in downtown D.C. to the out-of-town favorite (Kansas's Kavya) and how that resembled Crosby and LeBron....maybe that was a stupid thing to write, but I don't see the racism there. ANd saying how the event is diverse, with contestants black and white....I should have said "and Indian and Chinese and everything else," but I think that was just from typing fast at 11 p.m, not out of racism. But if you thought I was a racist xenophobe, I don't think I could likely convince you otherwise in three minutes of an online chat. re AAA: They'd be more fundamentally sound in the field, perhaps, but their pitching would be pounded (or else they'd be in the show already) and their hitters would be totally baffled by Major League curveballs and change-ups. Dan Steinberg: So, how many wins? You're not gonna argue zero, are you? Dan Steinberg: Ok, I'm out at RFK and new DCU owner Will Chang just walked in. I guess I should run now. There will be a decent amount of United content the rest of this day, and then I'm back off to the Redskins tomorrow I think. Anyone with tips for the slow summer months, [email protected] . Thanks Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.
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D.C. Sports Bogger Dan Steinberg discusses the Nats, D.C. United, the Caps and the latest sports news and your questions and comments about his latest bog posts.
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https://web.archive.org/web/2009060119id_/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2009/05/26/DI2009052602198.html
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Robert Thomson: Hello, travelers. Lena is ready for anyone who wants to talk about the morning delays on the Orange and Blue lines -- or any other transit topic on your mind. With her transit expertise on board today, I'll try to focus on other transpo topics. Anybody experience the commute on the 14th Street Bridge today? How about the new ramps at the Beltway's Telegraph Road interchange? Between the two of us, we'll try to tackle all your questions -- or just vent to us. Washington, D.C.: Help love survive, Dr. Gridlock. I live in Columbia Heights, my new boyfriend lives in Glover Park, neither of us has a car. It seems like there is no good way to get between the two neighborhoods using public transportation. Do you have a better route than these: 1. Take the H4 bus (infrequent and unreliable) to Wisconsin Ave NW then transfer to the 30s bus (notorious for bus bunching). 2. Take the green line to the red line to Tenleytown, then transfer to the 30s bus. 3. Take the new circulator (frequent and reliable) to Woodley Park, transfer to the 96 bus (infrequent but seems reliable) to Wisconsin Ave, transfer to the 30s bus. I know others are making this trip on public transportation. Why is it so difficult to get cross-town to Glover Park/Georgetown? Robert Thomson: We must attend to this situation immediately. Why not a double dose of the Circulator? Take the new one from Columbia Heights south to K Street NW, then transfer to a westbound Circulator along K Street. That will go up Wisconsin Avenue to Whitehaven Street NW. It's just a little south of Glover Park. The rest may be uphill, but that shouldn't stand in the way of true love. Fairfax, Va.: Dear Dr. Gridlock -- The answer to why Red Line trains are being turned back at Silver Spring and Grosvenor (to "provide more service to the core") is indeed bogus as the person who complained about service at Glenmont pointed out. The only way to increase service to the core is to introduce more trains on the Red Line, which is obviously not being done. Here's a thought experiment: If trains are going toward Glenmont at five minute intervals and every other train is turned back at Silver Spring, then a southbound train originating at Glenmont will go through the core every 10 minutes, as will a southbound train originating at Silver Spring. The result is one train every 5 minutes, exactly the same as if all trains went to Glenmont. Robert Thomson: I didn't get those questions about trains leaving Chicago and New York at the same time either. Someone else will have to do the math on this for me. Metro did add 20 cars to the Red and Green Lines this spring, using them to convert more trains to eight cars. But that's it. We don't have any more cars scheduled to arrive. NOVA: The 14th street bridge closures started today. Other than a bit of confusion about which lane was going where, it didn't seem to hold up traffic too much this morning (around 7:45). Will this continue, or is it going to get worse? Robert Thomson: I drove through at about 8 a.m. and had a similarly good trip. But as I said this morning on the Get There blog, I'm not quite ready to declare a victory for drivers on this year-long resurfacing project on the northbound bridge. Here's what we need to watch for: Monday traffic tends to be lighter than midweek. Let's see how the traffic does during the off-peak periods when there are lane closures. This first phase, with the right lane blocked off for three months and four lanes through, may turn out to be the easiest phase for drivers. Later on, portions of the center lanes will be blocked off and cars will have to divide around them. Another thing: The shoulders are gone. There weren't any accidents or breakdowns this morning to gum things up. Let's see what happens the first time we have an incident. Washington, D.C.: Why are traffic lights so badly timed in the District? There are only a handful of major routes leaving the downtown core, but if you are heading along 14th street or 23rd street to the bridges, you will stop for a red light at almost every intersection. Same thing along K street in both directions, along New York Avenue and on other routes. You can often see the light in the next block turning red just as the one in front of you turns green. Evening rush hour will always be a mess, but it would be less so if the downtown core could be cleared faster. Robert Thomson: I do get a lot of complaints about traffic light timing -- not just in the District, everywhere. Some routes do have problems. The signals can get out of sync, or the traffic flow can change. At others, there's just too much demand, including demand from pedestrians. A walker hitting the push button to cross can throw off the timing. In other cases, traffic engineers tell me with some frustration, they just can't make new seconds. If they give more seconds to one direction, they have to take them away from the other direction, or from the turning traffic if there's an arrow. One of the problems with giving signal priority to buses to speed them up in certain corridors is that they'd be messing with the traffic intersecting with those routes. Washington, D.C.: Sadly, Metro will need a major fare increase, AND increased "ancillary" revenues in order to cover upcoming deficits. I don't believe that it is an either/or situation, so riders should get ready to take a hit, maybe several. In my opinion the first thing Metro should do is raise the cash fare on the bus to $2; this will increase bus headways and raise money. Secondly, Metro should raise parking, other fees and rail in the appropriate amounts to fill the remaining budget gap. Lastly, Metro should continue to investigate possible revenue sources from retail vending, not ruling out anything including food sales. Let the proposals come in and evaluate each one. Vendors proposing food sales could be required to include clean-up in their submissions(perhaps by paying significant fees to Metro to cover the cleaning costs). Bottom line -- Metro needs new money, and Metro needs it badly! Let all those who are so vehemently opposed to food sales propose specifics as to how Metro will close the coming budget gaps, and how about proposing something besides simply raising fares (or cutting service), because I suspect that will not be enough!?! Dry cleaning and flowers are fine, but I think that food is the tail that wags the dog in this situation. It may just be time to move forward -- change is not necessarily a bad thing. Lena Sun: Hi Washington. Yes, you are right. When the board approved the last fare and fee increase for january 2008, they agreed to look at fares in two years and peg it to some sort of consumer price index. Unless there is some kind of economic miracle the second half of this year, I am betting that there will have to be a hefty increase. I also agree that the cash fare on buses should go up. Every time there is a fare increase, the biggest hit is on the rail side. That's because the District members on the board, most specifically Jim Graham, have blocked any significant increase on bus fares. On food, well, I think that's a lost cause. Even though lots of riders want to see what kind of proposals Metro might get that includes food, clearly, board members don't want to risk the wrath of many other riders who think it will inevitably lead to more eating and drinking on the trains. Silver Spring, Md.: Good afternoon! I was wondering what the legality is for passing a Metro/Ride On bus on a single-lane, double-lined road? I often take the Ride On route 12 or 13, which both go to the Takoma Metro station by way of Flower Avenue, which is a double-lined road. Without fail, every time the bus stops, a horde of cars will go out of their way to pass the bus, even when there's oncoming traffic. I understand that it's not fun to be stuck behind a bus -- I drive, too, and I hate getting stuck behind one -- but is it really legal to be passing a bus when there's a double line? Robert Thomson: No, it isn't legal for a driver to cross the solid double line to pass a bus or anything else. Flower Ave is getting busier and busier. Part of it is traffic cutting around the congestion in downtown Silver Spring. There are plenty of traffic-calming and pedestrian-safety measures in place along Flower, but there's only so much engineering can do. The avenue is worthy of more police enforcement. And the drivers should show a little more personal responsibility, especially in the situation you describe, where they are pulling around a bus that is discharging passengers. Charlottesville, Va.: The right lane of the GW Parkway (northbound) is riddled with potholes (big ones) and other sorts of grooves. Any rehab plans in the work? Robert Thomson: There are plenty of projects along the GW. In fact, there's a repair project starting this week at Spout Run. But I don't know of any major resurfacing coming up. You can keep track of the parkway projects at this link: Love the chat -- thanks for taking my question! Can you PLEASE tell people that if they are trying to get to the other end of the Metro platform faster, to PLEASE not walk in front of everyone, on both the bumpy surface and the very edge of the platform. This makes me SO mad -- yes, it's crowded, but is it really worth acting like an idiot to get to where you need to go? I liken it to people driving on the shoulder when there's traffic on the highway. Am I right? What are your thoughts? Lena Sun: I am so with you on this one. Of course, if you're a regular rider of the system, then you know that people behave in incredibly rude and boorish ways all the time in their rush to get where they're going. Food sales: "Let all those who are so vehemently opposed to food sales propose specifics as to how Metro will close the coming budget gaps, and how about proposing something besides simply raising fares (or cutting service), because I suspect that will not be enough!?!" That may be, but you can't assume that the revenue from allowing food sales wouldn't be outweighed by the additional cleaning costs once everyone starts eating on the trains. I would hope that Metro would conduct a cost/benefit study on that before considering a policy change. Lena Sun: Yes, I agree. But the food question is now longer relevant. The Metro board has already said they don't want to solicit any proposals that include food. Alexandria, Va.: Why oh why can't metro have train operators stop at the same place (give or take a foot) at the platform at each station every time? There is the guessing game and then there are the operators who go long or stop way short, ARGH! Lena Sun: Hi Alexandria. Did something happen to you recently where you were on a train that either left its last car in a tunnel or have its first car go too far and end up in the tunnel? This is a consistent problem, it seems, by train operators. During special events, i.e. inauguration, cherry blossom festival, etc., ALL train operators are required to pull their trains to the very end of the platform. It's where there is a bright yellow marker with the number "8" on it. It would seem logical to me to have the trains do it all the time. Riders would eventually get used to it and learn to stand at a different spot on the platform. What do you think? Springfield, Va.: What project is the construction in the center of the Springfield Interchange associated with? Is it the completion of the I-95/I-395 HOV ramps with the beltway, or is it part of the beltway HOT lane project? While I'm at it, are we ever going to see a full-blown diagram of the extent of the HOT lane project (i.e. number of lanes through each interchange, style of interchanges--cloverleaf, signaled, flyover, where toll collection area will be location, and most importantly, the cost to travel on the lanes)? Robert Thomson: If memory serves, the construction of the Beltway HOV ramps at Springfield has now merged with the Beltway HOT lanes project. HOT lanes construction is underway from Springfield up past Tysons. This is what VDOT says about the Beltway toll rates: "Toll prices may be as low as 10 cents a mile in light traffic conditions. To keep traffic on the HOT lanes flowing freely, tolls could reach around $1 per mile in some high-demand sections of the Beltway at peak times. As a guide, the average trip cost is estimated to be between $5 and $6." Look on this page to see some of the most detailed online information I've seen about the Beltway project, which is much farther along than the I-95/395 project: Bowie, Md.: Okay, I have to get off Metro everyday at Archives/Navy Memorial and for the past few weeks one of the two escalators is out. This wouldn't be much of a problem, but there are no stairs. So everyday we queue up to walk up the escalator and I am afraid that someone in a rush will fall and be hurt either going down or going up. How long is this escalator supposed to be inoperable? Lena Sun: Hello Bowie. Metro lists the status of its escalators and elevators on its website (it's under Rider tools). According to that, there are two escalators at Archives that are out--one because it is undergoing rehab and the other because it has been turned off to be used as a walker. They aren't skedded to come back until July 27. There are supposed signs for riders posted by the escalators saying when they will be back in service. Are they not there? Farragut North: You just responded to a question about traffic signal timing and I think this is a major issue in the District. While you were right in your response that you cannot time all of the lights so that no one ever has to wait anywhere you can certainly engineer some lights so traffic flows in a coherent manner some of the time and the District has done a terrible job of this. And left out of your response is that poorly timed lights ENCOURAGE speeding. If the lights are properly timed they should encourage and REWARD people for driving the speed limit -- e.g. If you drive 30 MPH you get a line of green lights while if you speed you just hit red light after red light. But the alternate is that when the lights are not timed there is often a reward for speeding. In Upper NW where I live the timing on the lights is just atrocious especially on Wisconsin and Reno Roads and the upper part of Connecticut is horrible as well. It is true that during rush hour congestion is always going to muck things up a bit but it drives me nuts to sit at a red light with 30 cars with a green light ahead at the next intersection, no cross traffic and lots of underutilized open pavement. Another thing the District really needs that would help would be car actuated traffic signals -- it is madness to sit at a red light with no cross traffic just because the light is on a timer and it is doubly frustrating when that light is not in sync with the rest of the lights on the Avenue you are on. We can manage cars so so much better than we do in the District and the bottom line is DDOT is doing a really poor job overall. Robert Thomson: I think you're right to stress traffic management -- like signal timing -- as a key to dealing with congestion. Most people drive, and no matter what we do to improve transit, it's not going to be enough to really control congestion. We know we're not going to build a lot of new roads. There's little room, and taxpayers say they won't pay for them anyway. So the future is more about spending the money and devoting the resources to improving things like traffic signal timing. Arlington, Va.: Since it appears no one has asked: What was the story with the Orange line this morning? It seems like at least twice a week there are backups and delays during the morning commute. While a few years ago I never would have believed I might say this, but the reliability really hasn't seemed to have improved from when Richard White was the manager. Lena Sun: Hi Arlington. I was wondering why no one was complaining about the Orange Line backup this a.m. I feel pretty badly for those riders who were stuck on the train that broke down--it was 51 minutes! Here's what Metro officials are saying. The Orange Line train was having a brake problem just before it got to Foggy Bottom. It broke down in a curved section of track. They used a Blue Line train behind it to push the broken train out of the way, but that maneuver took longer because of the curved section of track. I understand there were also some communication problems that added to the delay. Once the Blue line train was able to link up with the broken train, the two trains were able to go through a switch at Foggy Bottom. Then the trains did a reverse through the switch (so now the Blue line train was pulling the broken train) and headed out to the rail yard by the King Street station. Of course, that meant delays all up and down the Orange/Blue line as trains were backed up in both directions. But you knew that part. Passing buses: Dr. Gridlock, Re: passing buses, the buses pose a big problem to hindering traffic movement. They do not pull to the curb when they stop to load and discharge passengers. Also, they frequently run red lights. With traffic as bad as it is, people will pass a bus because it can create another 1/2 hour to get somewhere if you are stuck behind it. They also play leapfrog with each other and pull in front of cars as though they have the right of way. Robert Thomson: You're making good points about bus behavior. They do often hinder traffic flow without justification. It's particularly frustrating when a driver won't pull onto the concrete pad built specifically to handle stopped buses. Do keep in mind that the previous commenter was talking about a specific situation on Flower Avenue in the Takoma Park-Silver Spring area. There's no place for the buses to go. They have to stop in the travel lane. Bus pull-outs could be built, but it would mean taking a lot of front lawns. Fairfax, Va.: If the Metro board is not willing to look at proposals that could potentially make additional money for the system, than the budget gap should come out of their pockets, PERIOD! Lena Sun: Feel free to tell them that directly. If you live in Northern Virginia, your board members are Fairfax supervisors Cathy Hudgins and Jeff McKay, Arlington County board member Chris Zimmerman, and Alexandria Mayor William Euille. And here is how you can email the board directly, although if you make a generic comment, typically it is not a board member who responds: [email protected] Columbia, Md.: Why is it rude to walk on the bumpy part to get to the other end of the platform? I don't ride Metro often, but I've done this before without meaning to be rude -- it seems ruder to weave in and out of people than to walk on the edge. I don't think the "driving on the shoulder" analogy stands here, either, since everyone's not trying to go in the same direction. Lena Sun: People are waiting on the platform waiting to get on to a train. If you need to get to a different part of the platform, I don't think you should cut in front of them. There is usually room to walk behind them. Washington, D.C.: Dr. Gridlock, I live in the Palisades area in NW DC, and I travel into Virginia via the Chain Bridge, which is maybe 2 minutes from my home, 3 minutes if I hit a light or two. What will be my best alternative for weekend travel into Virginia on those occasions that all lanes on the Chain Bridge are closed for repair? Thank you. Robert Thomson: You're talking about the Chain Bridge rehab project getting underway this week, which will be a pretty big deal to thousands of drivers. Starting Wednesday, if the schedule holds, one of the two inbound lanes will be closed through January, when the project is scheduled to end. While there will be one lane open in each direction on weekdays, there may be some weekends when the bridge is completely shut down between 10 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Monday. When work requires such a shutdown, notices will be posted three days ahead of time, the District Department of Transportation said. There are only so many ways to get across the Potomac -- while staying dry. Depending on where you're bound for in Virginia from Palisades, you're either going to head up to the Legion Bridge (maybe for a shopping trip to Tysons, for example) or down to the Key Bridge, if you're heading for Rosslyn, or Alexandria, for example. The 14th Street Bridge is okay outbound. The project we've been talking about affects only the regular lanes on the northbound side. Friendship Heights: I have a question about WMATA and procurement accountability. Does WMATA put in performance requirements on its contracts? To give you some examples I see every day: The south entrance of the Dupont Circle Station was closed 10 years ago and the escalators completely replaced. But the new escalators have been less reliable than what they replaced from the very beginning and in the last year the escalators at this station have been chronically out of service. Same thing at Friendship Heights. Two years ago WMATA gutted and replaced all four elevators. From the beginning the new elevators have been nothing but trouble and are chronically out of service and under repair. Another example are the electronic displays in stations which are only six years old and also seem to have chronic problems and now we are being told WMATA is going to need to spend millions to replace them even though they should have years of useful service left. Everyone knows things break down over time. But clearly newer things should work properly and contractors should be responsible for the cost of fixing shoddy work and equipment and possibly damages to WMATA for the inconvenience caused by poor work and hardware. I'd love for the Post to actually look into this issue rather than take the WMATA's word for it that it is tough to keep things working and simply quote a WMATA official about how difficult their jobs are. Lena Sun: Lots of questions about escalators today. You make some very good points about them. On the electronic PIDS, Metro is looking to replace them all eventually with a different system known as Channel M. There would be large-screen video displays that have lots more information about service disruptions as well as advertising and some news component. They are working on bids this year. Reston, Va.: 395 was better than usual this morning around 8:40, even with the bridge work. Granted, I only take it from the Beltway to Seminary, but still, it was much better than usual. Is this because people are avoiding it because of the bridge work? Robert Thomson: Hi, Reston. You're experience this morning seems like what the rest of us enjoyed slightly earlier, so the response so far has been pretty consistent. I think the traffic volume was somewhat lighter today, because it's a June Monday. So I'm not sure how much we know yet about the congestion likely to stem from the 14th Street Bridge project. Based on experience with other projects, I'm not sure how much of what we saw today stems from drivers taking alternative routes. Many drivers don't get the word about big projects, despite all the publicity. Others want to see how bad the traffic is before going to the trouble of taking an alternative route. For many, the alternative to the 14th Street Bridge involves a major detour. Bump, Walker: I admit that on occasion, I walk along the front of the platform to get to the other end. I try not to, and I'm not doing it to be rude to others, but there are times when it seems that people feel it necessary to walk 3 or 4 abreast, very slowly, up the middle of the platform, and it makes it impossible to get around them. Really, I am just trying to get to where I want to be as quickly as possible so that I can get out of everyone's way. I can see where it would be perceived as rude, but the slow walkers in the middle are also being rude. I also wanted to thank Lena for her story about priority seating last week. One suggestion I would have for people who require seats is to try to time their commutes so that they don't ride during the crush times (I understand that on the Orange line this is probably never possible, but it is on the Green and Red). Riding early hours (and I had a job that was flexible enough to allow me to work early hours) made for pretty easy commutes during two pregnancies. Lena Sun: Thanks. I think the bottom line here is that people should use common sense and common courtesy. The bumpy tiles are there to help blind people know how far they are from the platform edge. I also agree that a shift of 15 minutes from the worst part of rush hour can make for a dramatically different commute. But then again, not everyone has that kind of flexibility. Bowie, Md.: Ms. Sun, Thanks for the information. I will check with the Metro website next time. No, there aren't any signs saying what the expected duration of the outage will be (at least none that are obvious). July 27 is a long time from now, but since it is summer and it does give me a timeframe I can be patient. Lena Sun: Dear Bowie: Let's post your comment so the Metro folks who read behind and monitor this chat and send this comment to the escalator personnel. Dave Lacosse, can you get your guys to please put up some signs at these escalators? Or if they're posted, turn them around so they are visible to riders? Alexandria, Va.: Re: Orange line delays - the thing that really frustrated a lot of the riders on my particular train this morning during the delay was the inability of the conductor to enunciate when giving us the updates. The only thing I could actually understand (not for lack of trying) was "we apologize for the convenience" at the end of her message. I finally had to go to the WMATA website to read the alerts. Lena Sun: Hi Alexandria. Were you on the broken down train, or just caught up in the delay? Either way, could you email me directly at [email protected]? thank you. re: walking in front vs. walking behind: Often there isn't room behind people, since people are leaning against the wall. I'm not cutting in front of them, just passing. Also, when I find a place I want to stand, I don't stand in front of the people who are already there, I move to the back. But if it's seen as rude, I'll stop. Thanks for the info. Lena Sun: I know the platforms sometimes get pretty crowded, especially if there is a delay. It happens to me a lot at Farragut North, so I sometimes end up walking behind the people waiting for trains going in the other direction. re: Light "timing": Look, I think this fetish about light timing is mistaken. Pull up a map of any area in the region where the lights are well-timed. Those street grids were all designed in the last half of the 20th century for the convenience of automobiles. Now pull up a map of DC. You may as well ask for order to be imposed on a flock of butterflies. Don't blame DDOT; blame L'Enfant. Robert Thomson: It's interesting about the street grids. They were more a real estate thing, in the late 18th-early 19th century. Places like Manhattan and Philly were laid out in grids so that lots could be marked off. I remember back to the mid 20th century when engineers were condemning grid street patterns. I mean, "gridlock," after all. Now, the planners who want to rebuild Tysons would like nothing better than a grid street pattern. They say it's the way of the future, and that it can ease traffic congestion. Why? Because a grid gives drivers options. If the traffic is blocked ahead, go left or right till you find a parallel roadway that offers relief. PIDS & Channel M: Lena, I think you missed the point of the question. The commenter wants to know what Metro does to enforce some degree of reliability in its contracts for information displays, and whether this newspaper is actively looking the lack of reliability. Lena Sun: No, I got the point of that commenter. It was a good point. I'm going to look into it. On certain subjects, it is already pretty clear to me that the way Metro is organized, the end users (who would have the best front-line operational knowledge) don't have enough direct feedback with the people who put out the contracts and do enforcement. Who can I speak with about the escalators at Union Station (in the middle of the platform). Every morning and every evening there are huge jams and craziness because there is a lot of cross over traffic. The majority of the people getting off in the morning are on the Glenmont side and the majority of the people getting on are heading downtown (the Shady Grove side). The opposite is true in the afternoon. An easy solution would be to reverse the directions on the escalators so that the up escalator is on the left and the down escalator is on the right. I've suggested this time and again to Metro and either get no response or am told that they are doing a study of all escalators on the Red Line and can't make any changes until its done. That makes no sense -- it doesn't matter what's happening at Silver Spring or any other station -- can't this be a station-by-station decision? One time for about two weeks it was reversed and it was the easiest two weeks at that station ever (in the 8 years I've been using it). So if customer service can't/won't help (and I tried emailing the red line email directly) who else can I talk to? Lena Sun: Did someone tell you recently that they were doing a study of all escalators on the Red Line? If you send me an email, I can try to find the best person for you. [email protected] Construction Telegraph Road: Due to the construction near Telegraph Road, traffic on Telegraph Road to Huntington Metro has been awful! I now takes anywhere from 20 - 40 minutes for me to drive 4 miles to the Metro. Any idea why and when this traffic on Telegraph Road will let up? It seems like it because the signals are not timed correctly, causing cars not to get through the intersection of Telegraph and Franconia. Robert Thomson: The Telegraph Road interchange with the Beltway is the center of attention for drivers in that area, because it's the last big phase of the Wilson Bridge project. It's going to stay disrupted for a couple more years. The construction work seems to have been particularly intense lately, and that has affected travel on the Beltway and on Telegraph Road. Over the weekend, several new ramps opened. They are going to help traffic a lot, but today, it was taking drivers a while to get used to them. It seemed that some drivers couldn't believe things could actually be better, and they were trying to go the way they always had, making difficult left turns where they no longer needed to. I'm going to do a posting on my Get There blog a little latter this afternoon and talk a bit more about developments at Telegraph Road. New Carrollton: What is the deal with all the broken (and missing) tiles on the platform at New Carrollton Metro station? For at least the past 6 months, the brown tiles (both the regular ones and the bumpy ones) at the northern end of the platform are cracking, broken, missing, and loose - it is a HUGE hazard for the disabled and the non-disabled riders. I have yet to see anyone replace them, and occasionally you will see cones put on top of one, but then you look to the side and about 20 others around that cone are broken. I saw one woman trip this morning getting out of the train on a missing tile. Lena Sun: Will look into this. I know in the past that it takes what seems like a very long time to schedule tile repair. Also, Metro is in the process of changing tile suppliers. They just announced today that they are going to be using a different kind of tile that is supposed to be more durable and most of all, not as slippery when wet. Metro Platforms: I disagree - if a train is not pulling into the station, why can't someone walk on the 'bumpy' part? Yes, if there is a train coming in, don't do it, but when everyone is waiting and the platforms are filling up, seems that's an easy way to impact the least amount of people. That being said, stay off the granite. Lena Sun: From a common sense point of view, the bumpy part is also the closest to the edge of the platform. If you are in a rush, and lots of people are standing on the platform, that does not seem to me to be the safest place to be walking. Especially during rush hour, when trains are coming every two to two and a half minutes. Reversible Lanes: Dr. Gridlock, Is there any chance that the District would lengthen the time period for the reversible lanes (i.e. Connecticut Ave.)? Traffic is still heavy at 6:30 p.m. and even another 30 minutes would help if you had 4 lanes out bound. Also, There is little enforcement of the no parking, no standing rules during that time, especially on L Street. Robert Thomson: I should double check, but I've heard of no plans at DDOT to lengthen the time period covered by any of the reversible lanes. I think this situation reflects the eternal tension between neighborhood residents, who want to park, and commuters, who want to get out. And my readers frequently complain about a lack of enforcement on parking during the no-parking periods on commuter routes, which seems weird, given how aggressive DC is at enforcing the parking meter rules. Bicycles: In DC, are bicycles considered vehicles? If so, then shouldn't they be following the rules of the road? I see bicyclists run red lights, turn on red without stopping, and ride in crosswalks or on sidewalks on a daily basis. I've even been hit by a bike, and the rider yelled at ME for walking on the sidewalk! I know it can be difficult for bikes to share the road with cars, but I know I'd be a lot more inclined to sympathy if they actually followed traffic rules once in awhile. Robert Thomson: Talk about eternal tensions: Drivers vs. cyclists, cyclists vs. pedestrians. Like you, I rarely see cyclists obey the traffic laws, to which they are subject -- and that's in DC and everywhere else, it's just that we're all closer together on the streets and sidewalks of DC. But when you're talking about who you want to show sympathy for: I never get the idea of treating travelers as a class, as in drivers do this and cyclists do that -- or people in BMWs do this, etc. By the way, I'm sorry that happened to you. I've had my own close encounters with cyclists on downtown sidewalks, where they shouldn't be riding. Merrifield Mess, Va.: Hello, doctor. I commute from Fairfax to Arlington each day, traveling through Merrifield. I used to take Route 29 but switched several months ago to Route 50, which moves a bit more quickly over the course of the entire 13-mile route. As you no doubt know, Merrifield is undergoing construction. This affects the intersection at Route 29 and Gallows Road, but there's also some lane closures on Route 50, in both directions. I'm not sure what the goal of those closures is. Perhaps a new lane is being added or expanded. I haven't traveled the route long enough to know, because that area has been under construction ever since I began taking Route 50. In the mornings, I get through Merrifield without too much problem, but coming home, it's brutal. When I used to take Route 29, I'd have to wait several cycles to get through the light at Gallows. I thought that was bad, so I switched to Route 50, which moved pretty well. However, in recent months the interchange with Fairview Park, followed closely by ramps to and from 495, and a light at a cross street near a Wendy's, has caused a massive slowdown in westbound traffic during rush hour. Traffic moves, but it crawls. The influx of traffic off other arteries is a problem, but the main culprit seems to be the light at the cross street. Sorry that I can't remember the name of the street. I approach it so slowly that you think I'd remember the name of the road. I'm sure other readers are aware of this problem. I doubt anything can be done about it, but I suspect that once construction on Route 50 ends, that will help. Do you know what that project will wrap? I don't think it's part of the work at Route 29 and Gallows, but it may all be linked. Robert Thomson: This intersection reconstruction project at Route 29 and Gallows Road in Merrifield is a huge deal, and it's not scheduled to be done until 2013. More cars and buses: Cars passing stopped buses are so dangerous, I always wait for the bus to pull away after getting off to cross the street since on numerous occasions cars pulling around the bus to pass it or make a right hand turn in front of the bus at my stop never look to see if there is a person crossing the street. It makes one wish for that the buses were equipped like school buses with the stop sign that comes down when dropping or picking up passengers. Robert Thomson: Yeah, I hear ya. That's why DC made it illegal to pull around a stopped bus and make a right turn in front of it. That was too dangerous for the passengers getting on and off the bus. Rockville: How many other difficult to enforce rules can we have on Metro. How about no talking? Or talking but only in English? Or a no thinking zone? New York does find with adults and food on the subway. Just build the cost of cleaning into the food price and we could have someone to pick up all those papers. I would expect a cleaner system than we have now. But we have to prove how smart we are by going against human nature. I bet pay potties would also make some money. Lena Sun: Dear Rockville. You touched on one of my (many) pet peeves. Riders who bring those free newspapers on to the train should TAKE THEM OFF THE TRAIN WHEN THEY LEAVE. Just stick it under your arm or in your briefcase and chuck it in the recycle bin after you exit the fare gates. You don't even have to break stride. Arlington, Va.: Regarding standing on the platform, here's a piece of advice: Don't linger in the doorway figuring out where you'll sit while people are trying to catch the train. Metro is unpredictable as it is. If I have to jostle you while you stand in the doorway so that I make the train, then yes, I'm going to jostle you and you're going to have to get over it. Lena Sun: Don't stand in the doorway means moving in to the middle of the car. Olney, Md.: The reason that half the trains turn back at Silver Spring and Grosvenor during rush hour is that a time of about 4-5 minutes is required at any end point for a train to be turned around. If every rush hour train went to Glenmont, there would only be 2 minutes available for the turnaround. This is the same reason that Yellow line trains are turned back at Mt. Vernon Sq. during rush hour. The 3rd track there-- and at Silver Spring, and at Grosvenor -- allows "short-trip" trains to have the needed 5 minutes to turn around. Even in "gold-standard" New York, unless there is a looping turn around track, no end point gets a train more than one every 4 minutes. Non-rush hour schedules could allow all trains to go to Glenmont, but more subsidy funding would be required for that, the way it has been given for non-rush all-train service to Shady Grove. Apparently, a train every 6 minutes at Glenmont in the non-rush periods would not translate into enough extra fare payments by users. Lena Sun: Do you work for Metro? Arlington, Va.: In your column on Sunday you suggested that not building more highways was a mistake. "But as a nation, we made a mistake after we built out the interstate highway system: We stopped." Do you think any apologies are due to those communities which were and are being destroyed by highways. The decline of family life attributable to longer commutes and exurban living. Perhaps instead of sinking a few billion on a linear parking lot we could reinvest a fraction in transit or in urban spaces and let people out of their cars. Robert Thomson: I'm not suggestion that our next big plan for transportation should be to build more highways. What I am saying is that we need a new big plan, and we don't have one. The Interstate highway system -- with all it's pros and cons -- was at least a plan. Now, we've got nothing. What I root for is a mobility plan, something that says it's really important to our future as a nation to make sure that people can get around. How can we help them? That's not weighted toward driving or riding or walking. People should have options, and planners should have the resources to pursue those options. I can give you my own critique of the Interstate highway system: It worked great when it was about getting people from one state to another. It didn't work so great as a local commuter network, and it soaked up a lot of money and brain power that could have been devoted to creating other transportation options. No Parking, D.C.: Not only is there lack of enforcement, the police are contributing to the problem! On Friday at 4:30, on 19th between L and M, there were seven cars parked on either side of the street and an eighth car - a police car - sitting there doing nothing! That street is a rush hour disaster - no lines, no parking enforcement. Seriously, eight cars in one block, effectively reduce what should be three lanes down to one. I hate that block. Robert Thomson: If I ran things, I'd put a lot more money into the traffic control officers. The Metropolitan Police Department just isn't going to do what we're asking for on traffic control. We need a large, dedicated force under the control of the District Department of Transportation for this mission. Laurel, Md.: I just have a question regarding train commuters and their "wheelie" bags. Today at Union Station some poor woman got taken out by another woman wearing headphones and dragging her wheelie bag behind her. Can I just please ask for some common sense when in a crowd and using these bags? When you are in a crowd keep them at your side or push them in front of you - better yet pick them up! I can't tell you how many times I myself have almost been run over by a rude wheelie bagger. Robert Thomson: Don't you sometimes wish people needed to get licenses to pull those things -- or to push strollers? And think about the revenue from writing tickets! Re: "Help love survive": This may not be an option depending on factors, but can one or both of them get a bicycle? Cheaper than a car, quicker than a bus. Plus it's good exercise. And wear a helmet. Robert Thomson: A bicycle built for two! Robert Thomson: Gang, I've got to sign off now till next Monday. This is always fun for us, and it seemed we had a great variety of topics today. Some of you were asking me questions, and I didn't get a chance to publish them. But I'll make a copy of all the comments in the mailbag and try to get responses on some of them posted on the Get There blog later in the week. The Dr. Gridlock column receives hundreds of letters each month from motorists and transit riders throughout the Washington region. They ask questions and make complaints about getting around a region plagued with some of the worst traffic in the nation. The doctor diagnoses problems and tries to bring relief. Dr. Gridlock appears in The Post's Metro section on Sunday and in the Extra section on Thursday. His comments also appear on the Web site's Get There blog. You can send e-mails for the newspaper column to [email protected] or write to Dr. Gridlock at 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071. Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.
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Robert Thomson is The Washington Post's Dr. Gridlock. He will be online to take all of your traffic and transit questions.
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» This Story:Read +|Listen + { "movie":"http://media10.washingtonpost.com/wp/swf/OmniPlayer.swf", "id":"oplayer-video-swf", "width":"100%", height:"100%", "vars":{ "title":"Partnerships to Protect Against Cyber Security Threats", "stillURL":"http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/04/27/PH2009042702911.jpg", "mediaQueryString":"http://static.washingtonpost.com/wp/swf/OmniPlayer.swf?id=05252009-1s&flvURL=/media/2009/05/25/05252009-1s&playAds=true&adZone=wpni.video.bc&canShare=false" }, "params":{ "allowFullScreen":"true" } } Suspicious package sits at Fed building for months Toyota expects to halt production in U.S. Aerial view of Japan destruction Truck dangles over ramp; two trapped Aftermath of blast, Gaza strikes Elementary class graduate after tsunami Baking behind bars on Rikers Island Plea deal nixed in Conn. home invasion case Police: Teen shot guardians after being grounded Playing the oil prices money game Elizabeth Taylor's stand against AIDS Obama struggles to enter White House Radioactive water triggers fear in Japan Buying a new home means paying more Allied forces crippling Gaddafi's power Goldman CEO offers no cover for ex-boardmember Audio: Silence in the tower at DCA Libya mission gaining; U.S. looks to cede control Deadly plane crash in Republic of Congo Strong storms bring wild weather Watchdog groups want Ukraine zoo closed Blast at bus station shakes Jerusalem Japan buries its dead as radiation fears grow Obama struggles to enter White House Obama again defends U.S. involvement in Libya McCain on no-fly zone: "It's been very effective" U.S. fighter jet crashes in Libya Obama lauds Chile's transition to democracy Coalition stops Gaddafi push on rebel stronghold The Post's Perry Bacon on Obama in Chile Obama favors Gaddafi stepping down Palin: 'Overwhelming' to be in Israel Gates: U.S. will soon yield control in Libya The Fast Fix - Is Romney winning the base? Obama: Brazil's democracy example to Arab world Obama plays soccer with Brazil youth Obama authorizes military action against Libya The Post's Forero analyzes Obama's trip to Brazil Obama: Coalition prepared to act in Libya Banks boost dividends as Fed loosens leash Wisc. judge blocks controversial union law Obama: U.S. ready to enforce sanctions in Libya Clinton: 'No other choice' in Libya Westfield and Robinson tie, 1-1 Post Sports Live: Boudreau vs. McPhee - who deserves more credit? Post Sports Live: Sweet 16 preview Post Sports Live: Alex Ovechkin's mysterious injury Post Sports Live, March 22 Georgetown Prep beats Langley, 12-3 Post Sports Live: Verizon Center has Big East feel for NCAA Tourney Ali asks Iran to free U.S. hikers JaVale McGee on his first triple-double Post Sports Live: Mason faces tough road in East region Post Sports Live: Georgetown's chances rest on Wright's hand Navy knocks out in-state rival Towson, 14-11 Georgetown draws 5th-seed, faces Princeton this Sunday Post Sports Live: NCAA Tournament preview Post Sports Live, March 15 George Mason reacts to first-round matchup with Villanova Sneak peek: 'History Will Be Made' North Point claims 4A title Centennial loses to Milford Mill, 56-44 Toyota expects to halt production in U.S. Aerial view of Japan destruction Aftermath of blast, Gaza strikes Elementary class graduate after tsunami No Tweeting: A royal wedding etiquette guide Playing the oil prices money game Radioactive water triggers fear in Japan Allied forces crippling Gaddafi's power Libya mission gaining; U.S. looks to cede control Deadly plane crash in Republic of Congo Watchdog groups want Ukraine zoo closed Blast at bus station shakes Jerusalem Japan buries its dead as radiation fears grow Mass protests in Yemen as emergency law imposed Bomb explodes at Jerusalem bus stop Obama again defends U.S. involvement in Libya Missing Va. teacher's body located in Japan U.S. fighter jet crashes in Libya Carriages prepared for royal wedding Japan slowly recovers, mourns dead Obama lauds Chile's transition to democracy Coalition stops Gaddafi push on rebel stronghold The Post's Perry Bacon on Obama in Chile Truck dangles over ramp; two trapped Post Today, March 24: U-Md. demands nuclear fallout info Baking behind bars on Rikers Island No Tweeting: A royal wedding etiquette guide Police: Teen shot guardians after being grounded Elizabeth Taylor's stand against AIDS Obama struggles to enter White House Aflac debuts Gilbert Gottfried-less commercial Strong storms bring wild weather Elizabeth Taylor's tempestuous love affair Adorable polar bear twins meet the public Bomb explodes at Jerusalem bus stop Elizabeth Taylor dies at 79 Massive shark spotted off Florida coast Iowa tornado caught on tape Post Today, March 23: Naming military operations Circus elephants take a walk through D.C. Missing Va. teacher's body located in Japan Footage of crashed U.S. fighter jet U.S. fighter jet crashes in Libya Carriages prepared for royal wedding
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The Post's Ellen Nakashima discusses the Defense Department's partnership with the private sector, established to protect against cyberattacks. Video by Audio by Sarah Lovenheim
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The attack occurred in the eastern city of Lahore, far from the conflict-ridden northwest and on a block that bristles with security. It came as Pakistan's army appears to be gaining ground in its battle with Taliban insurgents in the northwest's Swat Valley, and Interior Minister Rehman Malik said it was probably carried out by the Taliban or its Islamist allies in retaliation for the military offensive, which began this month. The blast was the third major terrorist attack in Lahore in as many months, and analysts said the choice of the location may indicate a desire by insurgents to strike back at the government on its turf. Lahore is the capital of Punjab, the nation's most populous province and the one that most top military commanders call home. "This was an attempt to deter Pakistani authorities from taking action," said Hasan-Askari Rizvi, a Lahore-based analyst. "They thought that if they could demoralize the people here, that would have a lot of impact and be a restraining influence on the military." Malik insisted that such a strategy would not succeed, telling reporters that insurgents had declared war on the state and that the government was determined to fight back. "I believe that anti-Pakistan elements, who want to destabilize our country and see defeat in Swat, have now turned to our cities," he said. Public opinion in the country has shifted over the past month toward greater support for the battle against the Taliban. It was unclear whether Wednesday's attack, which injured about 250 people, will increase that support or put pressure on the military to curtail its campaign. The United States has leaned heavily on Pakistan to intensify its efforts against militancy, and Gen. David H. Petraeus, leader of U.S. Central Command, was in the capital, Islamabad, this week to meet with Pakistani officials. He told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty on Tuesday that he was encouraged by Pakistan's renewed efforts in Swat. On Wednesday, the army reported progress in regaining control of the valley, predicting that Mingora, Swat's main city, would be back in government hands within three days. The Taliban has controlled Swat off and on since late 2007. The army's offensive there has left more than 1,100 insurgents and about 100 police officers and soldiers dead, according to the military. The battle has also caused more than 2 million civilians to flee. Although the Taliban insurgency is rooted in northwestern Pakistan, along the border with Afghanistan, Islamist extremism is not confined to that area, and security remains a major problem across the country. Wednesday's attack, one of the deadliest in Pakistan this year, occurred in front of two police buildings and an office of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency, or ISI. The buildings are located on Mall Road, the busiest thoroughfare in a city known as a vibrant cultural hub. It was not clear which building was the intended target. The ISI has had a complicated relationship with militant groups in Pakistan; it once armed and nurtured them, but in recent years it has officially turned against them. The attack began when gunmen crashed a car through a security barrier. Some got out and started firing at the ISI office, officials said. Security forces returned fire, and after a brief gun battle, the explosives-packed car blew up. The assailants continued to fire and hurled grenades for 10 to 15 minutes after the blast. The blast collapsed one of the police buildings, an emergency response center known as Rescue 15, trapping people in the debris. It also sheared walls off the ISI office and brought down the ceilings of operating rooms in a nearby hospital, injuring 20 people. Officials estimated the size of the bomb at more than 200 pounds. The explosion left an eight-foot-deep crater, with rubble spread across an area the size of a city block. Nine of the dead were police officers, and several intelligence officers were killed, officials said. Most of the injured were civilians who had been making their way through morning traffic. At least two suspects were arrested. Lahore, once considered removed from the insurgents' violence elsewhere in the country, has become a target this spring. In March, four gunmen hurled grenades and opened fire on officers at a police training center on the city's outskirts, killing eight people and themselves. Only days before, assailants had attacked a bus carrying the visiting Sri Lankan cricket team, killing six police officers escorting the bus and a driver. There was no immediate assertion of responsibility for the latest strike. But the army released Wednesday what it said was the transcript of an intercepted telephone conversation between Muslim Khan, a spokesman for Taliban fighters in Swat, and two other insurgents, apparently in the tribal area of Waziristan. In it, Khan asks the others to attack "generals or colonels from Punjab so that they know the pain, or at the houses of army people so that their children also get killed." "Yes, you are right," one of the others replies. "I will convey your message."
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ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, May 27 -- The powerful car bomb that tore the walls off an office of Pakistan's elite intelligence service, ravaged a police facility and killed as many as 30 people Wednesday morning is the latest reminder that insurgents are able to strike almost anywhere in this country as...
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Gene Weingarten's humor column, Below the Beltway, appears every Sunday in The Washington Post magazine. It is syndicated nationally by the Washington Post Writers Group. At one time or another, Below the Beltway has managed to offend persons of both sexes as well as individuals belonging to every religious, ethnic, regional, political and socioeconomic group. If you know of a group we have missed, please write in and the situation will be promptly rectified. "Rectified" is a funny word. On Tuesdays at noon, Weingarten is online to take your questions and abuse. He will chat about anything. Although this chat is updated regularly throughout the week, it is not and never will be a "blog," even though many persons keep making that mistake. One reason for the confusion is the Underpants Paradox: Blogs, like underpants, contain "threads," whereas this chat contains no "threads" but, like underpants, does sometimes get funky and inexcusable. Not chat day? Visit the Gene Pool. Important, secret note to readers: The management of The Washington Post apparently does not know this chat exists, or it would have been shut down long ago. Please do not tell them. Thank you. Weingarten is also the author of "The Hypochondriac's Guide to Life. And Death" and co-author of "I'm with Stupid," with feminist scholar Gina Barreca and "Old Dogs: Are the Best Dogs" with photographer Michael Williamson. New to Chatological Humor? Read the FAQ. P.S. If composing your questions in Microsoft Word please turn off the Smart Quotes functionality. I haven't the time to edit them out. -- Liz The poll today has provoked many interesting bleats and whines that we will deal with below; a few people called my attention to this story from England about a large-breasted woman who launched a successful Web campaign to get a chain of stores to stop charging a surcharge for big-booby brassieres. A reasonable question becomes: Why SHOULDN'T like-styled garments be more expensive if they require more material? Isn't this a form of "discrimination" that is completely and logically justifiable -- more so, arguably, than charging individual members of a demographic group (young men) more for insurance because their group, statistically, has more accidents? Why is it wrong to charge more for an XL shirt than for an identically styled S shirt, if the XL has twice the amount of fabric? Where was this line drawn, by whom, and why? I'm going to break precedent and give you my answers to the poll right now. All of these things bother me, to one extent or another, except the airline rates. That's a relatively simple calculus that recognizes that businesses have more money to throw away than individuals do - and more tax dodges with which to recoup said money. Can anyone explain to me why it is okay for insurance companies to institutionally discriminate against young men -- as opposed to young women -- but it is not okay for them to discriminate against an ethnic group that (for the sake of argument -- this fact is made up entirely) also poses a statistically greater risk? Yes, the ethnic discrimination is illegal, which is exactly my point: We find it icky, as a society, and don't do it. Why do we turn our backs on the blatant discrimination against young men, treating them not as individuals but as a suspect demographic? What about all the young men who are fine drivers and can't afford a car because their insurance premiums are nutso high? Really. Tell me how this is different from charging Jews more for their insurance, if stats showed Jews got into more accidents. On the issue of newspapers zoning ads -- I am pretty sure most papers do it, and I've never been comfortable with it. One thing a lot of you are wrong about: The issue of "coupons" is a red herring. The fact is, rich people are getting a richer paper, filled with more information. Ads are information -- they are a valuable part of the content of a paper, telling of sales, products the customers might want, etc. I think the zoning of ads is a form of intellectual redlining that can't really be justified. Okay, I am proud to report that my friend and co-author Gina Barreca has today been named to the United States Supreme Court. Ziv Kitlaro, in Israel, sent me one of the most compelling videos I've ever seen. Taken by a security camera, it captures the moment that a young mother discovers that her one-year-old daughter had been accidentally left in the car for three hours by the father earlier in the day. The mom was going to the car, as she did every day, to drive it to the daycare center where the girl was supposed to have been left. The little girl survived; still, this is not easy to watch. The indistinct nature of the video seems to enhance the drama -- it's like a shadow play. The mom doesn't realize what has happened until she turns around to back out of the spot; in fact, this is often the horrible way parents find out what they've done. On the death-to-horoscopes beat, Horace LaBadie noted these dueling predictions, for Gemini, in consecutive days last week. Geminis must be really susceptible to seismic mood swings: May 22: Your inner strength is stronger than ever right now, so see if you can get your people to open up and reveal their needs. You can be far more helpful if you have some guidance from them! May 23: Try not to let yourself give in to your dark fears -- though you do indeed have some limitations, you know perfectly well that your friends and family are there to help you move beyond them! And last, from Amy Hahn comes this fabulous illusion that may explain the difficulty of hitting a curve ball. Montgomery Village, M.: Gene No pithy comments or attempts at humor, just a big THANK YOU for Sunday's column to you and to Tom The Butcher for running this on graduation weekend and not waiting until Father's Day. It gives everyone an opportunity to reflect on some very important and meaningful relationships with dads -- and moms -- more than just the one day of the year. And early enough that we might actually DO something about it. My own father has been gone now for almost 18 years, but I felt the same as you when my sons received their undergraduate and professional degrees. I know how much that meant to him since he never had the opportunity to attend college. I carried a special coin of his to each graduation. Gene Weingarten: This was the second time in my life that I planned a column years in advance. It was always going to be on the day of graduation, because it needed that last "today." It was also the second time in my life that I almost missed the deadline to write it a story I had planned years in advance. Writing three weeks in advance requires more organization than I generally have. washingtonpost.com: Below the Beltway, (May 24) Home Office, Va.: A basic tenet of capitalism, which probably even grade-schoolers have heard of, is the law of supply and demand. There is nothing wrong with charging a higher price for something when demand for it increases-- movies cost more at night, dinner costs more than lunch, summer is 'high season' on the beach, etc. The only time this is unseemly is when it's taking advantage of someone's misfortune. For example, a natural disaster destroys the water supply and stores start charging $10 a gallon for drinking water. Otherwise, charging more when people will pay more is often how businesses make money to stay afloat when demand decreases. Insurance companies work on statistical modeling. Everyone who has any kind of insurance is treated as part of a statistical class. As long as everyone is subject to the same model, there is nothing wrong with it. Some people will come out ahead (say, young female drivers who get into an accident) and some people will 'unfairly' pay more (young male driver who gets in no accidents). Gene Weingarten: This is a very succinct summary of a reasonable argument. I am grudgingly with you until the end. Can't a case be made that a demographic model is inherently unfair, and that eventually will be found so by a fair-minded society? Can't it be argued that past behavior is the only fair criterion for assessing insurance rates? That doing it predictively, based on past behavior of a group, is just plain crappy? Ellicott City, MD: At a parking garage near Oriole Park at Camden Yards the parking during games is $10, expect if the Yankees or Red Sox are in town, then the price doubles to $20. The practices that you describe in your poll go on all the time. We learned in high school economics that it was the law of supply and demand. I think it is the law of greed. Gene Weingarten: I think the law of supply and demand IS the law of greed. Gene Weingarten: It's why capitalism works, and it's why all these questions today are intriguing, and mildly disturbing. Actuari, AL: Gene, young men cost insurance companies more than young women, or any other group. Why should they not pay more? Gene Weingarten: Repeat: What if Jews cost more? You okay with Jews paying more, if stats bore out that they get into a lot more accidents? Why cut the stats by age and gender? Don't you think you could split it in other ways that are statistically significant? Fairfax, Va.: Help me here. A friend of mine recently criticized you because your "customer service" columns endanger people's jobs. I think this is hooey but don't know for sure. I can't imagine you or the crack legal team of the WaPo tolerating these columns if this were the case. Gene Weingarten: This is a good question. There is a good answer. I do use the people's real first names, so they (or some of them) would be identifiable to their employers. Here is the thing: These people, almost always, are behaving personally reasonably. They have to: The customer is always right. I've been writing these columns for years, and I can count on one hand the number of times someone behaved even slightly unprofessionally, got angry, etc. And when that happened, I didn't use it. Alexandria, Va.: Gina Barreca is much, much more attractive than Sotomayor, who looks to be unfamiliar with the concepts of good haircuts, shampoos, conditioners, brushes and combs. Gina knows how to work those curls; Sotomayor needs to get herself to a stylist, stat, before any more pictures are taken. I'm sure she has had other important things on her mind and all, but man, she looks a mess in most pictures I've seen so far. Gene Weingarten: I am laughing. The photo of her with Obama wasn't so great, either. It's like she had no warning, just out of bed. Liz, can you link? WTF: Why is that security camera tracking the woman's movements? Either fake or simply awful. Gene Weingarten: Hm. Interesting question. It's not fake; this is a real case -- it's all over the news in Israel. Are there security cameras that do this? Gene Weingarten: Obama and Sotomayor Three dollar bill: Your thoughts please on this from an article by your post colleague Richard Cohen on Elizabeth and John Edwards. He says: "I never knew what to make of him. A three-dollar bill, I always suspected." To me, that would mean "queer as a three-dollar bill." Is there another meaning I don't know? Has Richard Cohen never heard that one? Seems like a bad choice of words to me. (Although I agree with many of his thoughts on Mrs. Edwards distateful book tour. Gene Weingarten: I thought exactly the same thing! I don't know! Anonymous: "The only time this is unseemly is when it's taking advantage of someone's misfortune. For example, a natural disaster destroys the water supply and stores start charging $10 a gallon for drinking water." If there is such a demand for water that people will pay $100 a gallon, suppliers will rush water to the area to take advantage. Thereby filling the need. Of course a smart company would give it away for all the free pub. Gene Weingarten: The state of Florida has passed special laws prohibiting this sort of opportunism, after a natural disaster. Man bites d, OG: Higgledy Piggledy Members of Parliament Kleptomaniacally Head for a fall No one is shocked that a Pol can be purchased; the Only surprise is the Price is so small. Bra pricing: One reason women get pissy about being charged more for larger clothing is that we are fighting the societal notion that we have complete control over our sizes. "Lose weight and you won't have to pay as much." Some women are naturally larger than others. It's not a diet issue - it's genetics. I wear a triple-D bra, without implants or being obese. It's just what Mother Nature gave me. Charging me more feels like I'm being punished for being over-blessed. I can choose to save money by seeing a movie earlier in the day or not staying in hotels on certain nights. I can't choose what size bras I wear. Gene Weingarten: Okay, I don't actually get this. To me, this is not an issue of self-image, or society's expectations of what we should look like. I think if I were six foot seven and 250 pounds, built like a power forward, I would EXPECT to may more for a shirt. I wouldn't understand why a five-six guy was paying the same. This is not some sort of predictive discrimination. This is about the cost of production vs. price. Actuarial science--more: Gene, they DO break things down by more than just gender. Where you live, for example. High crime area vs. low crime. City v. suburb. Etc. This is why actuaries get paid the (very) big bucks--to come up with fancy math ways of breaking down the numbers. But why is age and gender discrimination okay? Where you live seems more defensible. A high-crime area WILL have, er, more crime. Sotamayor: You're right. She's clearly not up to snuff fashion-wise. I mean, just imagine how she'll look standing next to ever-so-chic Ruth Bader Ginsberg! Gene Weingarten: I think Ruth is hot. Washington, D.C.: Hi, Gene - I'm submitting this very, very early. I'm wondering what you think of this advertisement and resulting discussion. It's an Australian fat acceptance advertisement that was banned from television after being deemed too offensive. I think the ad fails not because the jokes used are too offensive, but because they are too violent. By comparing the first three jokes with the joke about "fat chicks," they actually undercut the message they are trying to make by emphasizing the relative triviality of the latter. Although I think the intent was to equate hurt with hurt and discrimination with discrimination, which is fine, they end up making people think they are comparing the discrimination faced by the overweight with things like the Holocaust. Ok, so how wrong am I? Gene Weingarten: You are completely right, but you don't go far enough. This ad deserved to be dumped. It tried, nobly, for edginess in the service of the public good, but it failed in a spectacular train wreck. It violates a central rule of edgy expression: You'd better be damn sure it works as intended, or it is indefensible. Alert to those who watch the ad, or read my summary below: It can be seen as really offensive. The ad features four disagreeable people telling culturally poisonous jokes with a conspiratorial leer. First joke: How do black women fight crime? Abortion. Second joke: How do you keep a gay person from drowning? Take your foot off his head. Third joke: What's the difference between Santa Claus and a Jew. Santa goes DOWN the chimney. Fourth joke: Why did God create alcohol? So fat chicks can have sex, too. Then there is a pause, and a voice says "discrimination comes in all shapes and sizes." And a logo appears: "FatPride." This doesn't work for exactly the reason you state, but for another one, too: The video doesn't transport the reader where it wants to. In fact, until the very end, when the logo appears, you're not even sure why you are watching this. For this ad to have worked, the viewer would have had to find himself repulsed by the first three ads, and then guiltily laughing at the last, until he realizes none is funny because they are all of a type. That realization simply never happens. As you say, the last joke is a tangible degree more benign than the previous ones, so the point is lost there. But it's also not funny, or original, or clever. And even if you did find it so, by the time you got there, you'd be primed to view it negatively. Train wreck. Awful. Interesting attempt, but awful delivery. Here's how it would have worked: Same three first jokes, and then a standup comic, a good one, telling a MORE offensive anti-fat-woman joke, one that is so outrageous it is arguably "funny." I can think of one, offhand. THEN it would work. And be even skeevier. Gene Weingarten: Still directing this ad in my head. The last one, the standup guy, you'd need the start of a roar of laughter from the audience, then cut to the voiceover and logo. Her Hon, OR: Possibly Judge Sotomayor is waiting for the price of women's grooming, shirt laundering, etc., to come down to what Alito pays? Security camera: My take on the video is that it's real, and that for purposes of creating the video that was released, they zoomed in on the woman and her movements. The original view is doubtless much larger - five times the width, say - and they've zoomed in on her action to make it easier to see her. Gene Weingarten: Forgive my technological stupidity -- you can do that? The video is definitely real. This is no hoax. Sotomayor need a stylist?: Seriously? You're going to take that route? Gene Weingarten: Sure, what the hell? This is a very formidable woman. Her story is fabulous. She's a liberal and a humanist who will be confirmed. Best possible candidate. Probably could do with a makeover. Poetry that will make you, Ill.: Good morning, Have you had a chance to read Mike Huckabee's poem about Nancy Pelosi? That has to be the worst poem ever written by a Presidential candidate. Embarrassingly bad. God forbid he's elected, and decides to recite his own poetry at the inauguration! Gene Weingarten: Years ago, when I interviewed then poet-laureate Billy Collins, he suggested that you should have to have a license to write poetry -- a "poetic license." He suggested the licenses be issued by the poet laureate. Three dollar bill: Cohen used it as a synonym for phony. Gene Weingarten: I'm sure you're right, but is this not dangerous territory? Was the guy who unleashed a string of curse words at Rahm Emmanuel an Aptonym? Republican Congressman Steve Latourette? "With an impressively straight face, LaTourette walked up to Rahm and said something that began with "you mother" followed by a number of bleeped out expletives, according to eyewitnesses." I heard that story the other week and you were the first thing I thought of. Gene Weingarten: The "La" hurts it. Fairfax, Virginia: You are looking at it bass-akwards. Insurance companies aren't punishing the young, they are rewarding the old, and this is how the old like it. If an insurance company were to suddenly start charging conservative middle-aged people more money so as to underwrite young hormone-crazed speedsters, the outrage would be deafening. Gene Weingarten: Totally agreed, but they are NOT charging hormone-crazed speedsters. They are charging people who happen to fit into a group that has a lot of hormone-crazed speedsters. Arlington, Va.: Apple Computer announced today that it has developed a computer chip that can store and play high fidelity music in women's breast implants. The "iTit" will cost between $499.00 and $699.00 depending on speaker size. This is considered to be a major breakthrough because women have always complained about men staring at their breasts and not listening to them. Actuary, onemore time: So Gene, following your logic: why is it fair that poor people who live in Southeast (or middle-class people like me who live in Silver Spring, for that matter), who cannot afford to live in Bethesda, have to pay more for their car insurance? Gene Weingarten: It's not FAIR. It is arguably justifiable, the way people who live on the side of an active volcano might not be able to get lava insurance. But your point is taken. This whole area is really disturbing. Falls Church Nit Picker: Hey Gene. I finally did it - subscribed to the dead-tree Post, as it appeared that my desire to contribute to a "tip jar" for all my online use was never going to come to fruition. So I did as I was instructed - subscribed, put it on vacation hold for the duration of my subscription (6 months?) and donated the credits to Newspapers in Education. Alas, I've gotten the paper delivered to my door for the past week. After 3 days, I sent an email to the person listed under "My Account" but have heard nothing. I am super annoyed at this point. Any ideas? Email me at weingarten(at)washpost.com with your details. I'll see if I can help. Anonymous: Gene, is this the Lyn from your baby death in cars story? Gene Weingarten: It is, indeed. "The Doctors" did a segment on it. Alert: It's not easy to watch. washington, dc: Two questions re your stances on bumpers and airplane seats. 1) was I justified in jostling the man in front of me on a long plane ride yesterday every time I tried to get something out of my bag because he had leaned his seat all the way back and there was no other way for me to access my belongings? I say yes, but he gave me a few dirty looks and heavy sighs, which I heard because his head was almost in my lap for the whole trip. (Oh, and of course he didn't ask or anythign before, and nearly broke my kneecap when he crashed back during takeoff and my legs were crossed) 2) I agree with you on the bumper tap, but I arrived home to my car yesterday evening and it appears that someone who is decidedly unskilled in parking scraped the entire street side edge of my bumper and car so that it now has long black scrapes from the end of my car to nearly the wheel well. Can we agree that this is poor form? Gene Weingarten: On point two, of course. Bumper tapping doesn't mean bumper mutilation. On point one, I have come to believe we need dialogue. There is too much seething in silence. I tried it not long ago, in as diplomatic fashion as possible: When the person in front of me reclined, I asked him not to, and brought him into the conversation as a fellow victim. I said it was the fault of the airlines, don't they suck, we SHOULD be able to recline without discommoding the person behind us, etc. It was a long speech, and at the end of it, he was a nice guy about it. There are situations where that won't work. See next post. What Would Gene Do?: Thought you'd appreciate this. At the beginning of a nine-hour flight, the 10-year-old girl in front of me tipped her seat all the way back. After a respectable waiting period, I politely asked her to tip it forward. She did so, and I thanked her. Her parents then called the flight attendants (yes, plural) over to get me to move to a different seat. (This required a third person to move also.) As I complied, aghast but not wanting a dust-up, the father screamed, at the top of his lungs, "You should be ashamed of yourself! She's a CHILD! If you want room, you should've bought first-class!" Now, I'm one of those who thinks of what to do loooong after the event has passed. How I wish I were a quick draw. What would Gene do in this situation? Should I assume karma will take care of it? -- especially since the mother bought nine... hundred... dollars of perfume from Sky Mall and had to split that across three credit cards to afford it? Gene Weingarten: Nice reporting on that last fact! Why would a child be in greater need of reclining than an adult? Would you object to an insurance company charging a 100-year-old man higher life insurance premiums than a 30-year-old woman? If not, how is that different than the more expensive car insurance for men under 25? Gene Weingarten: Interesting point. It's true that this is also actuarial-based. But this is a far easier prediction, no? RE: Today's Poll: If the hotel issue bothers you so much, let me ask you this question, o wise one: A humorist and his son have created a new comic strip. They are offering it for syndication. They expect a newspaper in a large metropolitan city to pay more money for a licensing fee than a small Midwestern paper with a fraction of the readers. Same product, same production costs, nothing fancy or different about the strip being offered to either of the papers; is the fact that the humorist expects to be paid more for the comic strip in the newspaper with larger circulation: a. fair and ethical; b. okay, but a little unseemly; c. totally hypocritical in light of the today's poll. Gene Weingarten: Fair and ethical. They are paying different rates based upon the circulations of their papers. So, in a sense, I am selling little paper the right to run 9,000 copies of my comic strip, and selling big paper the right to run 500,000 copies. Silver Spring, Md.: I believe in NC, there is no difference in the rates charged between young men and young women drivers (probably because someone sued). All "inexperienced drivers" pay higher rates during their first three years of driving, regardless of their actual age. Gene Weingarten: Wow. This makes sense to me. This I buy. Crystal City: Did you know: The first testicular guard "cup" was used in Hockey in 1874 and the first helmet was used in 1974. It took 100 years for men to realize that the brain is also important. Gene Weingarten: There were no helmets in hockey until 1974??? Discriminati,ON: Great poll today, particularly the final two questions. This is an area of great internal conflict for me because, while I am an unabashed liberal, I also work in marketing and know how important it is for advertisers and businesses to target consumers to maximize return. Although any of the examples cited are worthy of thought and debate, I'll limit myself to the last two. I was easily clicking that all of the choices were just-fine-thank-you-very-much examples of how businesses work until I hit the final question. My first inclination was that this must be wrong. This then caused me to briefly reconsider my prior answer about insurance for men and women being different. Finally, I concluded that the reason gender-based differences are okay while ethnic differences would not be is because it much easier to determine one's sex than ethnicity. I am on a slippery slope here, though, and I know it. Gene Weingarten: That's a cop-out, and you know it. Washington, D.C.: I hate the gender discrimination at dry cleaners because it is so clearly baseless. I am a tall woman (5'10") whose dress shirts are bigger than the shirts of some men (and thus the justification that my shirts do not fit on the machine and instead require hand steaming is just bunk). When I bring my dress shirts to the cleaners, I get charged more than double what my husband is charged. If he brings my shirts in for me--and mixes them in with his own shirts--it's the same man-charge for all of the shirts. I mean really. Gene Weingarten: This is the perfect example of why this practice is unjustifiable. It's a what-the-traffic-will-bear economic philosophy. By the way, I believe Libertarians have no problem with stores charging whatever they want, in any circumstances. Let the market react as it will. Bumping: If you accidently bumped the seat while trying to reach something, fine. If you deliberately did it to prove a point, you are mean, arrogant and selfish. Gene Weingarten: Okay, but do we give the reclining man a pass? He is mean, arrogant and selfish. We don't need to revisit this topic, but he is. Tralfamad, Ore.: What's the underlying message of your vignette about your dad having lunch everyday with a black guy but not knowing it? Would it have made a difference if your dad had known? Gene Weingarten: My father was making fun of himself: that his blindness made him unaware of something that was a central fact about a man who was his friend. If there was an underlying message, it was the irony that in the years of small-talk between them, race appears to have been irrelevant as a topic of conversation. They were two old people trying to get by in a new world of an assisted-living facility. I was not trying to make a race or class distinction. Did you see one? My father didn't. washingtonpost.com: Below the Beltway, (May 24) Heaven, OH!: Are you aware that the guy whining about the dead tree edition being delivered posted the same exact query to Howie Kurtz? Gene Weingarten: I was not. Strange and highly personal question - but that's your specialty. You've mentioned often your past serious drug use...How did your father, who sounds like a very level-headed gentleman of the old school, deal with what you were doing? Gene Weingarten: He didn't know until decades later. In fact, he didn't know until he was about 80 years old, and I had to tell him I had Hepatitis C, and why. I had to tell him because it was about to come out in 'The Hypochondriac's Guide to Life. And Death.' Response to the screaming fathers...: or any similar situation is just say "Wow!" without any facial expressions whatsoever. (I learn this from Hax's chats.) Gene Weingarten: I like that. I had to put my dog down late last night. It was the right thing to do--big mass, probably malignant, bleeding in abdomen. But I am sad, sad, sad today. Trying to think of the best way to help the kids (they are pretty little) and us gather up and move on. This dog was such a character, I think she deserves an Irish-style wake to recount her truly outrageous adventures/misdeeds. I bet the kids could help us set that up (and contribute stories). How did you handle pet deaths with your kids? Gene Weingarten: The kids were teens; not the same problem. I like the idea of a wake. It provides closure, and humor, both of which are important. Adult Family Circus?: I need your educated reading of Family Circus for Memorial Day. Is it possible that Keane made a reference to pole dancing? Or am I giving him too much credit? Is this some kind of historic moment in the history of Family Circus? And congrats on Molly's graduation from vet school! Gene Weingarten: It is very, very odd. Note that the pretty lady has about a seven-inch waist. Note how haggard and beleaguered Thel looks. Note how there is no humor, only darkness. Is there a "pole" or "pole dance" reference? Maybe. The whole thing is vaguely disturbing. washingtonpost.com: Family Circus, (May 25) When I was in my early 20s, I wrote to my congressmen to complain that age, sex, work and marital discrimination determined how much I pay for car insurance. I kept a copy of that letter so that, in case I ever became a congressman years later, I would remember how I felt about what I consider to be blatant discriminatory practices. I think the insurance industry gets away with this particular brand of discrimination because there's no lobby group for 24-year-old males. By the time we're rich and savvy enough to lobby against this form of discrimination, we're no longer discriminated against. It sucks when we're 24, tolerable when we're 42. Gene Weingarten: That's a good point. Er, no: "Three dollar bill: Cohen used it as a synonym for phony." BS. One of the standard right-wing knocks against John Edwards for years has been that he's in the closet. Cohen knew exactly what he was saying. Of course, my side says the same thing about Mitch McConnell, Charlie Crist, and Lindsey Graham, every one of whom is way queenier than John Edwards, so there you go. Gene Weingarten: Yes, the hilariously odious Coulter actually publicly suggested Edwards was gay a couple of years ago. But I assure you Cohen was not going there. He would not consciously print an anti-gay slur. He is no bigot. Are you aware that the guy whining about the dead tree edition being delivered posted the same exact query to Howie Kurtz? : this GIRL did post to both chats, as I had to hope at least one would help me. So sorry to bother YOU. Even worse than the poem: This morning, Huckabee released a statement forcefully opposing the naming of Maria Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. If we find out who Maria Sotomayor is, we'll ask what she thinks. The judge who was actually nominated, SONIA Sotomayor, has had no comment. Does Mike Huckabee think all Puerto Rican women are named Maria? Yay Molly: Congratulations to Molly. What's next for her? Gene Weingarten: Thank you. She's got a one-year internship in very large animal hospital in Connecticut. The "La" hurts it:: Actually, the "la" is right on target: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georges_Gilles_de_la_Tourette Gene Weingarten: Ah. Deal, then. Good aptonym. Walking away: Gene, I'm preparing to do something I never thought I'd even consider. I'm planning to walk away from my mortgage. The only thing standing between me and retirement is my mortgage. I own a small condo in Alexandria that I purchased just before the bubble burst. I can't sell it and I don't want to live here any more. I'm going to walk away. All my life I've been responsible, paid my bills, been a good girl. My son is grown and I hate my job. I'm going to use my savings to buy a small house in another state and then I'm going to walk away. I know there will be consequences, rightly so, but I'm still going to do it. So, can someone who is more fiscally intelligent than I am tell this woman what the consequences will be? I don't actually know if there are any. Adult Family Circus: I think pole dancing was implied. Plus the woman's hand is on his shoulder and he's smiling. I mean, in front of the kids! Gene Weingarten: It's ... odd, isn't it? Is This Ethic, AL: What are your thoughts on the Daily Telegraph's purchase of the expense reports of Members of Parliament? While the expense reports are scheduled to be released in a few months, they will have MPs' addresses redacted, and broad categories of expenses (i.e. repairs) rather than itemized lists. Only by examining the un-redacted reports did the Telegraph discover the worst of the abuses -- expensing things like manure and moat repair to the taxpayer, telling the Parliamentary authorities one thing and the tax man another when it comes to house sales, "flipping" the second home designation to have the taxpayer finance home repairs, etc. So in short the Telegraph paid for a story -- and after several other papers passed -- but in so doing allowed the release of data that would otherwise have remained obscured, and has prompted the resignation of the Speaker of the House of Commons and several other MPs. Does the public interest justify the shady tactics employed by the Telegraph? Gene Weingarten: There's a reason reputable news media don't pay for information: If you've paid for, say, an interview, it raises the appearance (if not the likelihood) that the person is saying what he is saying not because he believes it but because it gets him money. Truth -- always the biggest issue -- becomes more suspect. What about buying documents, though? In some ways, the same danger exists. In the 1980s Der Stern magazine paid millions for supposed Hitler diaries that proved to be forgeries, created precisely to make money. The ensuing scandal nearly destroyed the magazine. In this case, presumably, the Telegraph knew its source and knew the materials were genuine -- everyone knew this scandal was brewing and that there were very compromising documents out there. Still, I don't like it. I don't like it mostly because I think they probably broke the law to get it; these materials were sealed under a court order -- paying someone to break a law is not reputable journalism. Comparison: The New York Times and the Washington Post probably, possibly maybe arguably broke a law by printing the Pentagon Papers, classified documents leaked to them by a disgruntled employee of a think tank. But no money changed hands. Had Daniel Ellsberg demanded bucks, I don't think the Pentagon Papers would have been published. It would have crossed that final line. Occam's raz, OR: Re Family Circus: No, Bil Keane is incapable of including a double entendre in the strip. The father is giving a discount to a pretty lady just because she's pretty, and Bil Keane needed to draw something vertical that would fit in the space. It could have been a fishing pole, if the concept of a lady going fishing weren't hilarious on its face. Thel's waist is maybe nine inches; I wouldn't worry about it. Gene Weingarten: He is giving her a ... pole. So, this good looking woman goes into a bar and asks for a Double Entendre. So the bartender gives it to her. Fairto, ME: As a former young male driver who is now an old male driver with three daughters approaching driving age, I have to say this is going to work out fairly well for me. Amazing how good discrimination can make one feel when he is on the long end of the stick. Gene Weingarten: I had a son and a daughter. My son is about to turn 25. I probably won't care about this terrible discrimination much longer. McLean, Va.: I know you've seen this: the Natinals strike again! Re: Usage: "Gene Weingarten: He didn't know until decades later. In fact, he didn't know until he was about 80 years old". And how did he react when you explained it to him? Thank you. She's got a one-year internship in very large animal hospital in Connecticut. : Forgive my dumbness, but does this mean a hospital for very large animals or a big hospital? I know there is a diff between large animal vets and small, and am not sure if there's a "very large" category... Gene Weingarten: Sorry, I was imprecise. A very large hospital that deals with small animals. She is a small animal vet. Arlington, Va.: The consequences of walking away from a mortgage are that her credit will be in the toilet for the next seven years or so. Which means, I guess, that the small house she wants somewhere else had better be paid for with cash. Mortgage Guy: The problem with walking away from your mortgage, aside from the years of damage to your credit rating, is that you're still liable for the loan amount. If you owe $100,000 and walk away, say the place sells for $70,000 in foreclosure. You still owe $30,000. Plus fees. And don't think they won't come after you for it. The far better choice is to talk to the company and try to work out a decrease in interest rate, payment or, as is sometimes even done, amount of the loan. Gene Weingarten: This makes sense. A nightmare. God and Santa: My apparently existential 5-y.o. daughter made this comment at dinner last night. We were talking about the number Pi (long story) as a very long number that doesn't end. "The only things that don't end are God. And Santa. And the Earth." Speaking of daughters, can we get any updates on Molly? Maybe a guest chat now that she's graduated and has some time on her hands? Which reminds me, I was at UPenn's graduation last week and all the vet-school students had inflatable cow-exam gloves. Gene Weingarten: Same thing at Cornell. Molly and her classmates waved them throughout the ceremony. Those things are BIG. Arlington, Va.: GW: "Had Daniel Ellsberg demanded bucks, I don't think the Pentagon Papers would have been published. It would have crossed that final line." So national security is less of a concern than the newspaper's standing within its profession? Gene Weingarten: The Pentagon Papers did not compromise national security. Newspapers from time to time decide not to publish things for that very reason, sometimes to their regret. Turner Catledge at The Times knew in advance about the Baby of Pigs invasion, and was persuaded by Kennedy not to publish it. Both men later felt the world would have been better off had it been leaked. The invasion would have been called off. Ethics in med, IA: In Great Britain, journalists paying for sources is considered ethical. It's not considered ethical here. Of course, it's also considered unethical over here to conceal expense reports of public officials. Chacon a son gout, to coin a phrase. Gene Weingarten: I should mention: I don't believe the Telegraph has acknowledged it paid. This is simply a general assumption. It's not saying it DIDN'T pay. DC: Re shirt question on poll. Most laundries do not hand iron men's shirt's. They put them on a "shirt form" thingy, and machine-press them. If women's shirts are too small for the form and must be hand-ironed, that explains the difference. Didn't know this until I used a laundry where you could watch them do this. Gene Weingarten: I have researched this. It is sometimes but not always true. But: Um, they can't invest in a girl-size shirt form thingy? Coulter and Edwards: Coulter's exact phrasing was that Edwards was "of the bathhouse." That's hardly as subtle as Cohen's column and so much more offensive. Gene Weingarten: No, she went further. She called him a slur word. I saw the video. Walking away?: The person who is thinking about walking away from her mortgage might want to look into renting her house. I live in Arlington, and here people pay more to rent than what they might expect to pay on a mortgage payment. She (?) might be able to get her costs covered with a renter, not trash her credit, and get that little house she wants. Gene Weingarten: This is good advice. Dog ear notch: Hey Gene, Earlier this year we adopted a two year-old Plott hound who came from down around Roanoke, VA. She has exactly the same notch in her right ear that Murphy appears to have (in the pic that ran acouple weeks ago). Do you know, or has your daughter told you, anything about that notch? Our vet seemed sure it was man-made, but beyond that couldn't tell us much. Gene Weingarten: I don't think Murph has a notch. ooo Baby: Baby of Pigs is going to cheer me up for the rest of the day. Gene Weingarten: Hahahahaha. You're welcome. Fo, MA: In your Sunday column you mention that your dad thought that "only a few things are important in life" which I presume means getting a quality education since congratulating your daughter on her vet degree is the point of the article. Since you never got your degree and are a little disdainful of journalism school, how does your life experience square with your dad's lessons? And congrats to Molly for her well-deserved diploma. Gene Weingarten: You over-complicate my father's message. My father thought family trumped everything. Love your children. Help them. Be proud of them. When I dropped out of college three credits shy of a degree, to hang with a Puerto Rican streetgang in New York, it was my father who kept my mother sane. He knew I had a Plan and everything would be okay. I did, and it was. Washington, D.C.: Gene: "She is a small animal vet." So, is she a vet who works on small animals, or a vet of small personal stature? Okay, we're done. I will be updating through the week, including, tomorrow, a link to the dorkiest big-time rock act of the 1960s. Gene Weingarten: Regarding the arguably unfortunate phrase in Richard Cohen's column, in which he referred to John Edwards as a "three-dollar bill": It turns out that there are about 900 googlehits for "as phony as a three-dollar bill" and about 700 for "as queer as a three-dollar bill." The conflation of "three-dollar bill" and "queer" -- to mean "phony" -- is pretty ancient. Horace LaBadie found this from The New York Times of March 25, 1888. It explains the word's adoption as a anti-gay slur. Richard is not a slinger of slurs. I just spoke with him: He had no idea about the sexual connotation of the phrase. He meant "phony." Gene Weingarten: From time to time, critics accuse me of both curmudgeonry and generational chauvinism. I think these are unfair charges. I am not grumpy, I am righteously critical by failings of modernity. It is not my fault if the attention spans of the modern young adult have been truncated to the point that they have no patience with compound sentences, for example. It is not my fault if popular music stopped being good around 1974. I am simply an observer of events and a teller of truths. One clear truth is that young Americans are entertained by crap. I was reminded of this other day when a reader directed me to a video of one of the superstar groups of the early 60s, and their appearance on a variety show. Freddie and the Dreamers were big -- several of their hits outsold the Beatles -- and this was their biggest hit of all. The song is "I'm Telling You Now." The choreography is "The Freddie." What ever happened to great entertainment like this? Richmond, Va.: Doesn't the out-of-wedlock baby stop the Republican rumors that Edwards is gay? (or do the $400 haircuts outweigh that) Gene Weingarten: It dealt a sharp blow to the rumors! This was the Coulter video I remembered; yes, it was more than innuendo. Boy, she is poison, isn't she? Westminster, Md.: Gene, I am curious about how cartoonists are paid. If a cartoonist is syndicated in 1,000 newspapers, as some are, and is paid a mere $5 by each paper, the cartoonist (and his distributor, agent, etc.) make $5,000 PER DAY for drawing a cartoon. But it seems equally unreasonable that a paper like The Post pays a mere $5 for something that may draw more eyes than the headline story on the Metro page. So what's up? Gene Weingarten: As the old Yiddish expression goes, re wishing something stated were true: "From your mouth to God's ear." Alas, no. The formula for comic strips is that the author and the syndicate split about $1,000 a YEAR for each newspaper that runs the strip. So, if a strip is in 1,000 newspapers (this is almost unheard of) the cartoonist would get $500,000 a year. A typical, moderately successful strip might be in 100 papers. Do the math. It isn't pretty. Auto Insurance: Your question about 25-year-old males and insurance reminded me of a Barats and Bereta skit, in which one of our heroes becomes somewhat unhinged over the insurance company's "Penis Tax." (Barats and Bereta, in case you don't remember, are they of the "Knock-Knock, Completely-Uncalled-For-Face-Slap" video you loved so much.) Gene Weingarten: I had forgotten this. It is right on point, and excellent. Falls Church, Va.: I think the problem with a "Past Behavior" model with young drivers is that there IS no past behavior on which to base the new insurance rates. So insurance companies wait until the magic age of 25 (the 10th year of driving experience?) to drop the rates. If a person has been a good driver in that time, the difference should be negligable. But you're still right that it's not fair - mostly because the rate of accidents with young female drivers has increased so much, and I don't think there's been any big deal made about insurance changes to deal with that fact. Gene Weingarten: Past Behavior, to me, includes lack of experience. Someone new to driving should pay more. I am fine with that. And someone with a history of accidents or speeding tickets (if tickets statistically correlate with more accidents) should pay more. I don't buy age or gender discrimination. Seems to me someone who is 30 when they first get a license should pay more than a 22 year old who has been driving, without incident, for six years. Reston, Va.: Can you submit a link to the story about the child in the car in English? I found it very upsetting and want to see for myself that I haven't watched a video of a mother carrying her dead child. Gene Weingarten: Toddler in Critical Condition After Hours in Hot Car New Orleans, La.: Re: Why is the camera following her? Yes, some security cameras do offer the ability for someone monitoring the live feed to move/rotate/pan/focus the cameras. And Israel being Israel, it's not surprising. Gene Weingarten: Makes sense; it would require a live monitor? Niggledy, niggledy: re: Man bites d, OG: Higgledy Piggledy Members of Parliament Kleptomaniacally Head for a fall No one is shocked that a Pol can be purchased; the Only surprise is the Price is so small. The fifth line does not scan. Gene Weingarten: Wrong. This is a perfect double dactyl. The lines are stacked this way: No one is shocked that a Pol can be purchased; the Chair Tipped Back: Why would you ask someone in front of you to tip their chair forward? The amount of room your chair can tip on a flight is the same for everyone, and it's your right to tip it. When she tipped her chair why didnt you just tip yours to have the same amount of space again? Obviously the parents overacted, but I would have turned around and told you the kid could tip her chair if she liked. Once on a train ride from Baltimore to NYC my friend and I (17 and on our first train ride) were talking excitedly about the possiblity of going to NYU for college when some jerky guy came over and told us to be quiet. Let's just say my friend's dad put that grumpy man in his place. (no we werent on the quiet train) Gene Weingarten: Here is why you don't just "tip your chair to have the same amount of space again": Because you are not a thoughtless jackanape. Because you recognize, as do most fliers, that airlines have jammed their seats together so tightly that everyone is uncomfortable all the time, and that your discomfort level is elevated a lot more when someone reclines a seat into your face. You do not recline yours in response because you do not want to create a chain reaction of rudeness. You do not tip yours back because you understand that when a seat is tipped back the other person cannot use a computer, eat, read, without your head in his lap. You do not tip yours back because you realize that in a world of discomfort created by airline greed, it is up to the victims to retain a degree of civility, to recapture a measure of dignity for everyone. But you don't recognize this, no sir, because it is your "right." Well, it is also your "right" to flagrantly flatulate on an elevator. No law against it. It's people like you. That's all I have to say. It's. People. Like. You. Not New York, N.Y.: Gene, I was at my local "New York" style deli this weekend in Adams Morgan. A patron in front of me ordered a corned beef sandwich with cheddar cheese. Several of us behind him snickered and rolled our eyes. I immediately thought of Mitch Hedberg and his skit on New York delis -- he jokes about ordering a pastrami and cottage cheese sandwich on banana bread. (I miss Mitch) How would a corned beef with cheddar order go over in New York? Gene Weingarten: Great, sadly prophetic line from Mitch Hedberg: "I used to do drugs. I still do, but I used to, too." I'll bi,TE: So what was the OTHER time you planned a column way in advance? Gene Weingarten: The one about Roger Maris. I wrote it in about an hour, on deadline, on account of I had forgotten the key date. Washington, D.C.: I'm Asian, and male, and was once under 25. I'm also an economist. Although you pose it this way, I don't think all of the questions are comparable. The insurance and newspaper ad examples aren't really a matter of supply and demand; you have a problem with them because they require certain assumptions that, while perhaps statistically true in the aggregate, aren't necessarily true for a given individual. The hotel example is different; the hotels are filled even with the inflated prices. A person who is priced out because of inflated prices might not even have gotten a room at regular prices simply because there wouldn't be any available. And the bra example is another thing entirely; a bigger bra requires more material, and that's that. Personally, I'm most bothered by the insurance examples because (a) they affect me directly, and (b) because they're based on possibly false assumptions about me individually. I'm less bothered by the newspaper example because I frankly don't think ads qualify as information, and also because the company has made its own decision to limit its customer base. I don't feel like I can fairly assess the haircut/laundry example, but I think if the situation were reversed, I'd be unhappy about it. The hotel example bothers me least of all; rooms would be even harder to find at lower prices. Here's a question for you--how bothered are you that the best seats in the new Yankee Stadium are, almost by definition, going to the people who care LEAST about baseball or the Yankees? Gene Weingarten: The Yankees have overpriced their best seats; it was a grotesquely bad calculation for a lot of reasons, among them that these are the seats that are most frequently shown on game broadcasts. The stadium looks empty when it is almost full. And yes, these are the world-series corporate-fatcat type seats, inhabited largely by non-fans. But the biggest problem with this is symbolic. This is the team with so much money they can afford to overprice tickets and outwait the recession, until enough plutocrats line up again. Alexandria, Va.: Curve balls look like they curve, because they do. A decent HS/College pitcher can throw a curve that will mostly drop straight down (a 12 to 6 curve) or will throw one with a little more angle (a 2 to 7 curve). Come on over to Alexandria. At 43, I can still throw the bender. Gene Weingarten: There is nothing in this optical illusion to suggest that a curve doesn't curve. It does. But the curve is largely continuous -- Bernoulli's Principle works on that sucker from the moment it is thrown to the moment it is caught. This illusion makes a different point: That what is illusory is the "break" of the curveball, and that occurs at the point that the eyes transfer from watching its track on peripheral vision, to direct vision. Fairfax, Va.: I don't think it is inherently fair that I, as a female, would have to be charged more to make up for young male drivers who (as apparently can be proven) tend to have more accidents. Why should I have to pay more to make up for another group who has a higher rate of accidents than my group? Gene Weingarten: Why should there be "groups" based on stereotype, when each person is an individual? What if I chose to re-draw the "groups" on equally valid stats. I just confirmed, for example, that college-educated people have a lot fewer car accidents than people without college educations. How about that distinction? Do you like that one? I bet you'd still be in the right "group"? You comfortable with this distinction? Why is it any fairer than discriminating against a young man, just because he is a young man? Boston, Mass.: I did not understand Sunday's Arlo & Janis. Thoughts? Am I obtuse? Gene Weingarten: This is actually quite brilliant. Arlo is recognizing that he has become Janis's "beard," as in, a public prop to be able to indulge her private vice -- chocolate. He is giving her cover, and now he recedes to leave her alone with her real lover. We mourn the demise of the world's copy-editors. . .: . . . but this is still pretty funny. Submit to Next Week's Chat Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.
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Post columnist Gene Weingarten answers your questions about his column, "Below the Beltway," and more. Funny? You should ask.
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He spent the next quarter-century in the region, moving from garrison to garrison, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel. But he always dreamed of moving back west, counting on the government's promise to reward officers with apartments upon retirement. Now, as the Russian government pushes ahead with an overhaul of the military that eliminates the positions of more than half the army's officers, Primak is jobless at age 46 and stuck in Ussuriysk waiting for an apartment he may never get. "They're finding any excuse not to keep their promises," the gray-haired colonel said coolly, maintaining ramrod posture as he sighed over a plastic cup of coffee in a roadside eatery. "When we were young, we put the motherland first. We were ready to tolerate discomfort and wait for something better. . . . Of course I'm disappointed." Low morale over pay and housing has afflicted the Russian military since the fall of the Soviet Union, but grumbling in the ranks is rising sharply as President Dmitry Medvedev attempts to carry out the most ambitious restructuring of the nation's armed forces since World War II in the face of a severe economic downturn. The plan seeks to transform an impoverished, unwieldy conscript army built to fight a protracted war in Europe into a more nimble, battle-ready force that can respond quickly to regional conflicts. Key to the overhaul is a drastic reduction in the number of officers, who now account for nearly one in three Russian servicemen. By eliminating thousands of officer-only units that were designed to call up draftees in wartime, and moving to a leaner, brigade-based structure, Medvedev intends to cut Russia's officer corps from 355,000 to 150,000, dismissing more than 200 generals, 15,000 colonels and 70,000 majors. The plan has run into stiff resistance, with some top military officials resigning in protest and the Kremlin firing others. Retired generals and nationalist politicians have accused Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin of scaling back Russia's military ambitions by essentially giving up on trying to maintain an army capable of confronting NATO. Officers and troops have staged scattered demonstrations across the country against the reform plan, which would also shut dozens of military hospitals, schools and research institutes. A top complaint is the government's failure to provide apartments to all officers who are discharged after more than a decade of service -- a benefit that dates to the Soviet era and is written into Russian law. The apartments are important because military pay has lagged far behind the cost of living and few officers have enough savings to buy homes. But the army has suffered a severe housing shortage since the fall of the Soviet Union, when a wave of servicemen in need of lodging returned to Russia. The military's construction efforts have been plagued by corruption and inefficiency, and hundreds of thousands of active-duty officers as well as retirees are on waiting lists for accommodations. "Our military organization, our fleet, has cheated me with housing," said Vyacheslav Zaytsev, a former submarine officer who was interviewed on television during a protest in the arctic city of Murmansk. "A homeless officer is a shame for a nation," read one demonstrator's sign. Here in the coastal province of Primorye, tucked between China, North Korea and the Sea of Japan, as many as 8,000 officers are expected to be discharged in the restructuring, local activists said.
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USSURIYSK, Russia -- As a young officer fresh out of a Soviet military academy, Alexander Primak was assigned to serve in this frontier city in the Russian Far East, eight time zones away from his home town in Ukraine.
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The move comes as the administration prepares to lift the nation's other faltering car company, Chrysler, from bankruptcy protection as soon as next week, industry sources said. The shifts into and out of bankruptcy are landmarks in the Obama administration's attempt to broker a historic restructuring of the American auto industry in the space of months. The legal tactic is viewed by some as the best means of reviving the companies. But the speed of the government-led transformation has triggered complaints that the rights of investors and dealers are being trampled. Meanwhile, fears that a bankruptcy could lead to cascading business failures are spreading throughout GM's vast chain of suppliers. Under the GM draft bankruptcy plan, the company would receive just short of $30 billion in additional federal loans, a source said. The figure is a starting point in negotiations between the government and the company, the source said, and could change. A cash injection that large would boost the U.S. investment in GM to nearly $45 billion. The timing of the filing is also fluid, and could happen the first week of June. The government previously indicated that it planned to take at least 50 percent of the restructured company, and likely would take the right to name members to its board of directors, as it has at Chrysler, where the government will control four of nine seats. The United Auto Workers retiree health fund is set to own as much as 39 percent of the restructured GM, in exchange for giving up its claim to at least $10 billion that the company owes it. Yesterday, the union announced that it reached an agreement with GM that will reduce the company's labor costs. Still unknown is what part the Canadian government might play in the ongoing GM restructuring. GM operates several plants north of the border. The Canadians agreed to invest about $3.5 billion in the Chrysler restructuring and control one of the nine board seats. In the GM negotiations, the Canadians are poised to make a similar investment, but they are seeking assurances that the share of GM production in their country will remain the same. "China isn't putting up the money, and Mexico isn't putting up the money," said Tony Clement, Canada's Minister of Industry. "But if we're putting up the money, just as the Americans are, then we have the right to protect our production capacity."
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The Obama administration is preparing to send General Motors into bankruptcy as early as the end of next week under a plan that would give the automaker tens of billions of dollars more in public financing as the company seeks to shrink and reemerge as a global competitor, sources familiar with the...
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It's not that I don't like wine; quite the contrary. No, my problem is with tasting rooms: I never know what to say. I don't know if it's performance anxiety, an ignorant palate or some combination of both, but when I belly up to a tasting bar, the best I can do is, "nice." I sound like a dope. I know what you're thinking: Just don't go to wine country, jerk. Well, it's not that easy. I was going to San Francisco with my boyfriend, and we love a good road trip, and I figured there must be lots more to wine country than wine. With a little searching, I came up with a great itinerary: a couples' mud bath, a cute hotel room in Calistoga, a little history, a little shopping. . . . Wait, what does that sign say? "Larson Family Winery, Tasting 10-5 Daily, Bocce & Picnic Area." Hmm; a winery is one thing, but a winery with bocce and a picnic area? That's totally different. Who cares if we're just an hour outside San Francisco? Let's stop. It's raining lightly when we head down a wooded lane past a series of handwritten signs nailed to trees ("WINE TASTING .412793685 MILE AHEAD," "WATCH OUT FOR KAMIKAZE SQUIRRELS," "YOU'RE ALMOST THERE" and "KEEP GOING"), at last arriving at the Larson tasting room, a converted barn across from a pen of goats and a peahen pecking the grass. Then the rain starts to fall steadily, whereupon it becomes obvious that bocce, not to mention a picnic, is not happening. There's nowhere to go but the tasting room, so I try to bluff my way through a pinot noir, a chardonnay and a Gewurztraminer. Behind the bar, a mural alludes to the winery's past: The land was formerly a ranch that hosted the Sonoma Rodeo from 1929 to the early 1950s, and before that it was the farthest navigable point of the Sonoma River, where steamboats would dock and unload their northbound cargo. "Not too sweet, right?" I say to my boyfriend about the Gewurztraminer. I don't even try to pronounce Gewurztraminer. "Yeah, they're usually too sweet," he replies. "Yep, this one's pretty dry for a Gewurztraminer," says the pourer, as I think, "Right, dry. Why didn't I say that?" And so it goes as I stumble through the reds, and it's becoming clear why I'd planned to avoid the wineries of Napa. After buying two bottles of Gewurztraminer (which I have my boyfriend ask for), we hit the road, vowing to stick to a subject we know something about. Like history. We head toward the tiny town of Sonoma to see the last mission built by the Spanish in California. Turns out the San Francisco Solano Mission wasn't constructed just for the conversion of Native Americans. The one-story adobe structure was also designed to repel invading Russians.
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Calistoga is best known for its hot springs and mud baths,but being lodged in wine country has given the town a new entree for visitors.
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But it's not what you think it is. Since Coleman is no longer a senator, a Hill official told us, "the Senate does not have the authority to maintain state office leases beyond the expiration of a senator's term, and we are awaiting notification of the election results from the state of Minnesota." So is everyone else. The Al Franken camp is so confident that he'll emerge the senator from the Land of 10,000 Lakes that Franken actually met publicly with Vice President Biden on Wednesday at the White House -- a move that some of the state justices might not appreciate. Still, most of the smart money seems to be leaning Franken's way in that court, which is known for moving with dispatch and might rule by the end of June or so. A loss there, especially if the court certifies the election, would put the Coleman camp in a tough spot. The most likely option would be to ask Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, the justice for that region, to freeze any action pending a review by the Supremes here. Chances are that Alito would demur and refer the matter to the full court for review. But a vote to block state installation of Franken would require a majority of the high court -- a court that might be a tad disinclined to get involved in another contentious election, given the trauma of Bush v. Gore. Despite the odds, those who saw the 50-to-1 Kentucky Derby winner know things can happen. And it's risky to bet against Coleman's lawyer, Ben Ginsberg -- whatever the handwriting on the glass door may tell you. But it's looking Sen. Franken. Don't forget your entry for the Loop Name the Flu contest. The panic may be fading for the moment, but we could be dealing with this in the fall. And we need to come up with a better name -- more accurate than "swine flu," less wonky than "H1N1" -- for the virus. Something that people can remember, something bold like SARS, that might help remind them to wash their hands regularly. The 10 winners will receive one of those coveted, fine-quality, In the Loop T-shirts. Send your entries via e-mail to [email protected] mail them to In the Loop, The Washington Post, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071.You must include a phone number -- home, work or cell -- to be eligible. Deadline for entries is midnight Wednesday, May 13. Good luck. Visit Mexico . . . Please Speaking of swine flu, don't be surprised to see billboards, buses and TV ads soon blaring something like: "Hurry down to Mexico! Sunny beaches, blue waters and really, it's not as dangerous as they say." The problem with all those gorgeous beaches now of course is, well, they're empty. Facing a potential precipitous drop in tourism -- 80 percent of Mexico's dwindling annual tourists come from the United States -- government officials decided to take action, and fast. So they hired two powerhouse Washington public relations firms, Qorvis and Apco, to help spin the country out of its image crisis, what with rampant drug violence and the flu scare gripping the nation, our colleague Mary Ann Akers reports. The two firms got a total of $1.2 million over one year, with the biggest chunk of the money going to Apco, according to sources familiar with the contracts. As soon as the flu outbreak further stabilizes in Mexico, the epicenter of the global epidemic, the tourism ministry plans a full-throttle effort to announce, in the words of Mexican Embassy spokesman Ricardo Alday, "Mexico is out of the woods, and we're open for business." He's optimistic that will be soon, perhaps within as few as 10 days. The decision to hire savvy spinmeisters was made back in February, and it originally centered solely on the out-of-control drug cartel violence -- until swine flu entered the public relations equation. Still, Alday says, the long-term focus of the PR strategy will remain on the drug problem. As he put it, "Drug violence might be here to stay a long time. The flu is going to go away." The Senate yesterday confirmed Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske as the director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy -- a.k.a. the drug czar.
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A passerby recently snapped a shot of Norm Coleman's office in St. Paul, Minn., which, it seems, is on the market. A few days ago, Coleman's name was removed from the door, though the Senate office designation remained.
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Submit your questions and comments before or during today's discussion. Andy Alexander: Welcome to the first of what will be regular online chats about The Post. Before we get started, I should mention that we've launched a new ombudsman's "Omblog" on washingtonpost.com. It will be updated frequently. I'll be raising issues, and inviting your feedback, about The Post's journalism. OK, let's tackle your questions. Greenville, S.C.: Andy -- Do you consider it your job to be an intermediary between the paper and its readers, or an apologist for the paper and its reporters? Andy Alexander: I view myself as the internal critic of The Washington Post, as well as an advocate for readers. As newspapers (including The Post) struggle for survival, I think it's critically important to give voice to reader concerns and to hold The Post to its own high standards. In the end, it yields better journalism and makes The Post - both print and online - more credible. It might interest you to know that I am not on the staff of The Post. Rather, I am an independent contractor with a fixed term (two years, with an option to extend my mutual agreement). My contract affords me extraordinary independence. In fact, I don't really have a "boss" at the Post. And as mentioned in my first column, it would be extraordinarily hard to fire me. When I began my term, I sent a note to The Post's staff that made it clear that I don't consider myself an oracle. Rather, I told them, "I see myself as a veteran reporter and editor - like so many in the newsroom - who cares passionately about journalism and isn't afraid to raise uncomfortable issues in pursuit of excellence." Oviedo, Fla.: The ombud you follow was brutally honest -- her take on the over-reliance of Obama photos vs. McCain photos was brilliant. It changed how I think about news and the Post. From you -- I am not feeling the eager desire to knock the door down. Are you aggressive enough? Can you man up and step into her shoes? Andy Alexander: I'm a fan of Deborah Howell, who also is a long-time friend. I thought she did a very good job as ombudsman. As she warned me repeatedly before I agreed to replace her, it's a tough undertaking. Readers often think you're in the tank for The Post. And The Post staff views you as the evil interrogator from internal affairs. It's not a job for the emotionally insecure. Readers will have to judge whether I'm tough enough. My goals are to be fair, accurate and to call them as I see them. So far, I think I've taken some pretty hard shots at The Post. My column on the Post's terrible record on responding to correction requests got the immediate attention of the paper's top editors and the situation has been addressed. I've criticized The Post for not disclosing its internal "Ethics & Standards" policies, and I've also taken The Post to task for not explaining the rationale behind the many changes taking place in the paper. Rolla, Mo.: How do you view someone like me, who has never subscribed to the Post, even pre-online content, and only am a reader because of it's online availability? The Web site didn't cause me to cancel or forego a subscription. Am I just seen as "no harm, no foul"? Andy Alexander: I view you as another valued reader. To me, it doesn't matter if you read the print product or washingtonpost.com. You're part of The Post's audience. Boston, Mass.: Andy, the Supreme Court will get a lot of coverage in the coming months, and I for one find so much of the terminology reporters use in SCOTUS stories to be offensive to the readers' brains. Reporters know that "Activist" and "Constructionist" are both hollow terms, so why use them? "Litmus Test" is just dull. And finally, on a court where the range of political thought stretches from far right to Rockefeller Republican, can we get rid of the silly "Conservative/Liberal" tags? Andy Alexander: I agree that The Post needs to be very careful in using these terms. They mean different things to different readers. If reporters and editors think they must use shorthand labels, I'd hope they offer some description so readers understand precisely what they mean. To me, this extends to using these terms to describe politicians and even think tanks. As an aside, I also think reporters and editors need to be careful of presumed knowledge about terms and even acronyms. Years ago, when I was a foreign editor, my correspondent in Jerusalem wrote frequently about the "intifada," the term used for the Palestinian uprising. Those who followed the situation closely knew precisely what it meant. But one day a reader called and said: "I'm embarrased to say this, but I read this term in every story and I don't have the foggiest idea what it means." It taught me a vluable lesson: Don't presume. Washington, D.C. : You wrote on Sunday about the survey that found more "favorable" stories about Obama -- as if that was a reflection of bias in the press corps. Couldn't it be a reflection of reality? I'm guessing that writing that Obama is making people feel more optimistic and has a high approval rating would be coded a "positive" story -- but writing that Bush had a credibility problem and a low approval would be coded a "negative" story. But wouldn't you consider both "fair"? Doesn't this kind of thinking put pressure on reporters to write negative stories about positive events and positive stories about negative events, just to be "balanced"? What good is that? washingtonpost.com: A Column Feeds Perceptions of Bias (Post, May 3) Andy Alexander: Good question. I'm not suggesting that coverage needs to be measured so that it's precisely 50-50. And the Pew study that I referenced explained some of the reasons that President Obama is enjoying favorable press. For example, he came to office with a sizable electoral majority (unlike President's Clinton or George W. Bush). Also, he's had a very activist agenda in response to extremely challenging issues confronting the nation. My advice to reporters covering Obama is simple: be critical, be accurate and be fair. That means asking the tough questions and paying attention to what's being raised by the loyal opposition. It's the job of the press to hold public officials to high standards and to closely question them. Finally, about my Sunday column. . .the Pew study was raised in the context of how readers often see bias in The Post's coverage. I focused on very favorable pieces Tom Shales has written about Obama's TV appearances. Shales is a superb TV critic, perhaps the best. It's his job to offer his view of what's on television. My only point was that it should be clearly labeled as a "review" or as "criticism." Surprisingly, not all readers know his role. Dunn Loring, Va.: Have you ever examined the breakdown of questions posed to Post reporters and columnists in these online discussions? The overwhelming number of questions are from a liberal perspective and in many chats there is not a single question from a conservative viewpoint. And for a conservative question to be accepted, it must be completely "bland" whereas liberal questions are often obnoxious. Given that several reporters have told me that there were no conservative questions even though I personally had submitted several to their chat, would the Post check that the moderators are not unduly exercising their political biases in passing questions to the question-takers? Andy Alexander: I have not exmanined this, but you raise an important point. It's something I'll monitor. It's important that all viewpoints get exposure. Before I began this online chat, I called the moderator and encouraged him to send me questions from across the idological spectrum. He sent me yours, and I'm responding, so he honored my request. Washington, D.C.: Curious as to your take on the demise of Book World and how it affected the rest of the paper. It seems to me that although BW went away, the reviews are cluttering up other sections that used to have a stronger sense of purpose. Comparing Outlook this past week to Outlook a year ago, does making half the content book reviews add or detract from Outlook's mission? Andy Alexander: I got a ton of reader reaction to the demise of Book World. I still get a few e-mails each week. That decision was made just as I joined The Post in February. It was one of the first things I looked into. I can tell you it was a painful decision for editors. Book World had a comparatively small - but very loyal - readership. Unfortunately, it also suffered from very modest advertising support. Book publishers, the traditional advertisers for Book World, are suffering terribly in this tough economy. Reluctantly, the decision was made to fold the stand-alone Book World section and move the reviews to Style and Outlook. Many readers have written to me about the new format. I'd guess complaints outnumber compliments about 4-to-1. I'll admit, it takes getting used to. My advice: give it a little time. In my nearly 40 years in the newspaper business, I've learned that even the smallest changes are upsettling to readers. I've often likened it to someone breaking into your house while you're away at work and rearranging all your furniture. You open the door and you're upset. As to whether the reviews help or hurt Outlook, I think the jury is out. The Post does a good job of constantly gauging reader sentiment through surveys. If reader reaction is overwhelmingly negative, I'd have to believe The Post's editors will make adjustments. As an aside, it's my impression that The Post has solid reader data to back up most of the changes that have been made in the paper. But I don't think they've done a good enough job of explaining their rationale to readers. I've noted this in a number of columns. The decision to virtually end staff coverage of the Baltimore Orioles was a good example. In that case, The Post didn't even explain what it was doing, much less offer a rationale. Readers pay for the paper, after all. They deserve to be told what, and why. Washington, D.C.: The Post is cutting sections, cutting the sizes of its sections, cutting content, cutting everything. I am a newspaper junkie; I have to have my paper every day, but the Post's shrinkage is getting to the point that it soon may no longer satisfy my addiction. If there are others like me, the Post will then die, at least in print. Is addressing this problem part of your portfolio? Andy Alexander: Yes, The Post has gotten smaller. In years past, it had more heft. Now, the "fly weight" is diminished. It's all in reaction to these tough economic times for all businesses, including newspapers. The Post is losing money, like many papers. The problem is a sharp decline in advertising. It has to cut costs. There are several ways to do it. One is to reduce staff, and the Post currently is going through its fourth buyout since 2003. Another way is to reduce the size of the paper, including the number of pages. That saves on newsprint and ink. That's what's been behind some of these difficult decisions to eliminate the stock tables (I strongly agree with that decision, by the way), and to cut the stand-alone Book World section. I think The Post will survive. It's in a good market, it remains a quality product and it has terrific owners who understand the critical role the paper (including online) plays in this region and in society. That said, I predict more pain ahead. Management has not ruled out layoffs. Many readers write me to talk about The Post's declining readership. They're wrong. Readership of The Post - print and online combined - is perhaps at an all-time high. And circulation of The Post is holding steady while circulation at many other metropolitan newspapers is plummeting. In fact, first quarter Monday-to-Friday print circulation for The Post was up slightly less than a peercentage point from the same period a year ago. Daily is now 642,000. Average Sunday circulation dropped 1.7 percent to 871,000. In this rotten economy, that's pretty good. Fairfax, Va.: What if any relationship does an ombudsman have to the opinion page? Is your focus strictly on the news, or do you weigh in on factual errors by columnists? Andy Alexander: I try to focus on the news pages. That's been the traditional role of the ombudsman at The Post. That doesn't mean that I will never write about the opinion pages. In fact, I did just that in my second column. But that was mainly because I was inadvertently drawn into a controversy over the editing of a George Will column. I try to limit myself to the news pages for several reasons. First, most of the readers who contact me are raising issues about the news sections. Second, the opinion pages are. . .well. . .they're about opinions. Writers on those pages use their own set of "facts' to make arguments. Readers sometime contact me to complain that a columnist, or an editorial writer, is off base because "they got the facts all wrong." If I tried to assess each set of "facts" on the editorial page, I'd never have time to deal with the news pages, where most readers say I should be focused. I should note that my column is edited by the copy editors who work for the Editorial Page. But that's because my column appears in the Sunday Editorial section. No one on the editorial page tells me write to write, I should note. In fact, I've never had so much as a suggestion from them. Washington, D.C.: Do you assess the impact of online reader comments on WP columnists and journalists? Some columns (such as the one by David Broder suggesting there be no prosecutions for Bush officials for the "torture" memos, etc.) receive a huge number of comments in opposition to the viewpoint expressed in the column. Do the columnists and editors read them (at least the constructive ones)? Andy Alexander: I'm likely to address the question of online comments in my Sunday column. I can't speak to whether reporters or columnists view the online comments for their writings. I hope they do, because some of them are very thoughtful and informative (although I acknowledge many of them are mindless). I review the comments for my column. They can be brutal. But I very much believe in online commenting, and I also believe it's OK for them to be offered anonymously. As mentioned, I'll address them on Sunday unless something more urgent pops up. Stay tuned. Andy Alexander: I see we've reached the end of our hour together. This is my first online chat and I've enjoyed it. We'll do more. I was unable to get to many of your questions. If you'd like me to respond, please e-mail them to me at: [email protected]. Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.
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Ombudsman Andy Alexander discusses the dramatic changes taking place at The Post and how to maintain journalistic standards in print and on-line.
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Ivan Carter: Welcome to the chat folks. I'm in a little different role than my days as Post beat writer covering the Wizards but I'm having fun here at Comcast. Let's get to it. New York, N.Y.: Ivan, Why is all the talk about the Wizards taking Rubio in the draft if it goes in order? Isn't what the Wizards need Thabeet, a center who actually plays defense and rebounds. Last time I checked the Wizards' D was close to non-existent. We already got the scorers! Ivan Carter: Good point about the defense, I can't disagree with you but, I'll make two points about taking Rubio: 1) The GMS, scouts and other NBA folks I've spoke with are in agreement that he could be a super, duper star someday. Hard to pass on that. 2) What guarantee do we have that Gilbert Arenas is ever going to be the old Gilbert Arenas again? I wouldn't want to pass on Rubio and then find out a year from now that Gil's knee will never be the same. Just saying.... What are your thoughts on the Nats' struggles to work out a deal with Stephen Strasburg? Do you think the MLB draft is flawed? Ivan Carter: It's pretty simple actually: Boras is the kid's agent and Boras NEVER does anything until he's good and ready. Say what you want, but the guys squeezes every dime out of a team that he can. I see the Nats taking the kid simply because he is of the so-called "can't miss" nature. We'll see. I'm good with the MLB draft. Columbia, Md: Hey Ivan, congrats on your excursion into the TV world. Theoretically the Wiz should have the opportunity to draft Griffen or Rubio. Where would these two players fit in with the Wiz given that you have established players (esp with the glut of big men) at each of those spots. I'm not saying they should trade out. But how might they use those respective players (Griffen/Rubio)? Ivan Carter: If they get Blake, Flip Saunders would have some serious options. He could slide Caron Butler to the two spot, and play Griffin and Jamison at forward in a big lineup that would have Arenas at PG and Haywood at C. That would be my first thought. As for Rubio, I would assume that given his age and build, he'd be best served coming off the benchto begin with. Again, I'm curious to know where exactly Arenas is going to be come training camp and the preseson. Arlington, Va.: I'm not a big, huge hockey fan (that's my better half), but what was Sidney Crosby thinking Monday night? It's Wednesday, and I'M STILL laughing about his complaint to the refs about the length of Ovechkin's hat trick celebration. I hope the Caps pound the Penguins tonight and Friday. Ivan Carter: I felt the same way. Regardless of what Crosby intended, he came off looking like a pouty little kid. It just added fuel to what so many Caps fans think of the guy. Then again, Ovechkin did the same for Pens fans with his post-goal celebrations. Either way, I love it all. Rivalries are great. Washington, D.C.: I really enjoy watching you on the show. Where can I get those fly Steve Harvey looking suits that you wear on the show from? Ivan Carter: Ha! That's funny. I have a few conversative suits but have mixed in a few with flavor from a guy I know in georgetown. It's all new to me folks. Just having fun. Kensington, Md.: What do you like better about reporting on television as opposed to print? Dislike? Ivan Carter: After 10 years as a beat reporter working at newspapers, I've found the tv biz to be refreshing. It's fun to work with a crew every day putting together an hour-long live show and then see what happens. I do miss the writing however. It was a huge part of my life. I do not miss the travel associated with NBA beat life and for the first time in my life, I actually have weekends off. Naturally, I've been going to games. You get in on those Obama basketball games yet? Ivan Carter: Working on it. Might have to call him out for that awkward left-handed J he has. Then again, I wouldn't want to hard foul the prez and end up in a cuban jail.... Fairfax, Va.: People...Caps are in the playoffs! What's with the Wizards and Nats questions off the bat? Ivan, looks like they've solved the goaltending questions, how far do you think they'll go? Ivan Carter: Varlamov has seriously altered my expectations for what this team is capable of doing. With Theodore, I figured the Caps could call a second-round loss acceptable and a trip to the conference finals outstanding. Now, the sky is the limit. Not sure if this team has enough to beat Detroit but when you've got a guy like that between the pipes and a monster like number 8, you can dream anything. I'm intrigued..... Washington, D.C.: I hate to ask this but is it just me or does LeBron James and the Cavs look really good in the playoffs? His team has stepped up this year and he doesn't seem as whiny lately. I hope ATL or Orlando is able to steal their shine, but I just don't know about it happening this year..... Ivan Carter: That team is playing with a real swagger, no doubt. I'm very impressed. It's a much more cohesive and confident team than the one that got smacked by the Spurs in the Finals a few years ago. Washington, D.C.: I'm curious, is WSL a Comcast program with Washington Post guests, or is it a Washington Post program that airs on Comcast? Ivan Carter: WPL is a Comcast program that is sponsored by the Post. Comcast has full control over content, style etc. We do, of course, lean heavily on Post reporters (brilliant people naturally). It's a great relationship. Anonymous: Ivan, I won't hate, but bro', you got to get a wardrobe sponsor! I know the deal from having four or five suits to becoming a daily suit wearer. It's a shock. You and that St. Paul pimp walk are worth watching the show alone. Anyway, go with basics, darks and neutrals. Set a precedent and drop the neck tie too. Ivan Carter: More thoughts on style. Yeah, I'm working on it.... Arlington, Va.: Sports Illustrated is saying Houston's strategy is to get into the bonus so Yao can win games at the free throw line. It would be a disaster for an attractive team like the Lakers to lose, but particularly to lose like THAT. It's time for Commissioner Stern to step up and pull one of his "LA 41 foul shots, Houston 3" specials. Ivan Carter: I hear you but let's be real: the Lakers have to earn it. That front line got pushed around in Game 1 and where is Lamar Odom? Unlike Cleveland, that team has been cruising in the playoffs so far and if they aren't careful, they're gonna get bounced. I see Kobe going into "I gotta do this on my own" mode if it continues early on tonight in Game 2. Richmond, Va. : Great show sir. Do you find that you are now recognized more than when you wrote for the Post. I really thought you did a great job there and wish you nothing but continued success. Maybe you and your boy Michael can be the next Kornheiser and Wilbon. Ivan Carter: Thanks. Having fun and we'll see where it goes. Silver Spring, Md.: Do you think the Cowboys will be better or worse this year without Terrell Owens? I am not a Cowboy fan, so I hope worst! Ivan Carter: Much of that depends on Roy Williams. He talks and acts like a true number one wide receiver and not it's time that he shows it. Still, there is something institutional wrong with that franchise and it starts at the top. I unlike most do get excited at the prospect of us getting a true PG. Granted, Gil showed when he came back he could be a great distributor of the ball, but I would think agent zero is so much better suited for shooting daggers into opponents. Personally, I want to see the Gilbert that hit that shot in Chicago and is always willing to take the "last shot" even if that shot is mid-way through the third quarter. Am I just crazy in my thinking? Maybe long term if Rubio develops like everyone says he might, he could ultimately end up being a better fit than Blake. Ivan Carter: The problem is that Gilbert is pretty adamant about needing the ball in his hands. He'll play off the ball some, as he did when Larry Hughes was here, but he's most comfortable brining it up and initiating the offense. I don't see that changing.... Falls Church, Va.: Now that you have weekends off have you and Gene Wang been tearing up the town? Ivan Carter: The Ivan-Gene tandem has been a little hit and miss of late. I prefer U street. Geno's a virginia guy. Just say we're picking our spots.... Gaithersburg, Md.: I lived in Montreal when the Expos were created out of the dregs of the other NL teams. During their first five years, there were several that were painful to watch. But the pitching and defense of this team is atrocious. I'd rather see them bring up some of their younger players and see if their promise has substance than continue to watch the retreads they're using out of the bullpen continue to blow games. Or, trade one or more of their corner outfielders for a centerfielder (Dukes appears lost there) and/or some pitching help. Ivan Carter: The real shame is that this team has some real offensive power. Dunn is killing the ball, Zimmerman is hot, Dukes has been pretty solid and Guzman is getting on base. That lineup is pretty scary but, as you point, the bullpen has been nothing less than disasterous. Nixon and WH pickup hoops: Paraphrasing Nixon in Frost/Nixon as it relates to pickup hoop games with Obama at the WH, if Obama does it it is not a foul. Just a helpful hint to you if you get invited and get hacked by the president on the way to the hoop... Ivan Carter: Good point. Maybe I'll just park myself by the three-point line.... Falls Church, Va.: It's great that the Caps are in the playoffs! Or so I hear. I cannot actually watch them on TV because they are on a station I have never heard of and do not get on my cable. Glad I have baseball to watch...maybe that's why I'm no hockey fan. Ivan Carter: C'mon, Verses is not that hard to find. And the good news is that we'll have games 4-7 so, that's good news. I do feel for folks who don't have Verses though. This series has me totally sucked in..... Congrats on the new gig -- I remember meeting you at summer league and I'm not surprised you've moved on to TV. My question - Say the Wiz don't get a top 2 pick (Blake or Ricky) and want to trade out. Do you think they'd target a 2 guard? How about Jason Terry (not sure his salary, or how many years he has left). Seems like the type of guard Gil could really play with, can play the 1 or 2, or could come off the bench and light it up. Thoughts on Terry or any other vets you'd like to see the Wiz go after. Ivan Carter: The 2-spot is a very interesting situation. How will DeShawn Stevenson's back be? What is Nick Young's ceiling? That's why I suggest shifting Butler to 2-guard if they land Griffin. If not, I use the pick to try to find one as you suggest. I personally love Jason Terry. Richmond, Va.: In your opinion, will JaVale be as good as Amare? If not, what will hold him back? Ivan Carter: The sky is the limit for the kid. I really believe that. And to be honest, I don't even know who I'd compare him too. His skill set is that unique. Upper Marlboro, Md.: Hi Ivan, Do you believe Juan Dixon is a Wizard next year? In addition to that would you, as GM, let Etan Thomas and Mike James fall off the books next season or make a trade or would that depend on the draft and who they select? Ivan Carter: I don't see Juan being here next year. He's a free agent and this team is already looking at paying the tax. As for Thomas and James, Ernie Grunfeld could try to package one or both of them with the pick to land another player or, he could hold onto them and make a move at the trade deadline next season. Then again, he could sit on 'em both and let them come off the books after the season. Washington, D.C.: If I am a GM in the NBA, I am figuring out who the LeBron-Stoppers, or at least LeBron-Slowers in the league are, and how to get one on my team. The Wizards don't seem to have any -- there's hope for McGuire, I guess, but Butler doesn't seem to show any interest in the role. Who are the LeBron-Slowers in the league, and who might the Wizards get? Ivan Carter: Dom McGuire is your best hope given the team's salary and roster situation. He has the physical tools and in my opinion, mental makeup, to at least make LeBron work in a long a playoff series. Charlottesville, Va.: Do you plan to get UVA and college sports more time on the show? Ivan Carter: Come college footballs season, I will be talking UVA fball. In fact, the great Shawn Moore (and pictures of his cheesy high-top fades from his playing days) will be involved breaking down the hoos. Don't worry. 20165: Who is The Real Mayor of D.C.? Portis, Arenas or Ovechkin? (I vote Ovechkin). Ivan Carter: Right now it's Ovechkin and if he keeps this stuff up, he's going to own this town. Ballston Followup: I'd love to see Caron at the 2 as well -- besides that though, I think I don't care how Stevenson back is, nor care to wait around waiting on NYs ceiling. You don't really think either of these guys are legit starting 2's in this league do you? Maybe descent guys off the bench, but starters? I'm not sure there is a worse starting 2 guard in the NBA. Ivan Carter: I do like a healthy Stevenson next to a healthy Arenas. Remember, he was a perfect fit two years ago when this team was rolling. He plays defense, sticks the open J and makes good decisions. I like me some healthy DeShawn Stevenson but last year, he was nowhere near that. Houston, Tex.: SI is totally off base if they are saying that Houston's strategy is to send Yao to the free throw line. Yao is one of the worst officiated big men in the NBA, and even if Houston wanted to enact that strategy, the refs wouldn't call the fouls. If Houston wins that series, they will have earned it, fair and square. Ivan Carter: Agreed. Again, Lamar Odom is going to be key. He's so up and down. Falls Church, Va.: Now that you don't cover the Wiz, do you have to pay for tickets now? Or are you calling up Mike Lee and Mike Jones to sneak you in? Ivan Carter: I'm sure I'll be able to get in somehow. I'm pretty crafty... Not a Washington question but...: Want to hush the Brett Farve supporters and perhaps Mr. Farve? Tell him that if he wants to return to play for one more year for one more team, that's the team cap he'll wear if and when he goes into the Football Hall of Fame. Do you think he really wants to go in a Viking or a... Ivan Carter: Favre wants to be a Vike for one reason and one reason only: to stick it to the Green Bay Packers. I'm not sure how much he has left in the 'ol tank but he can't be worse than Tavaris Rosenfels or Sage Jackson or whoever is up there now. New York, N.Y.: Regarding Rubio, his stats from the Spanish league are like 10 ppp. How is that dominance? I understand he's young but seriously. It's Spanish League! Plus, like you said, Gil won't play off the ball. If you bring him in Gil is gone. I'm not against bringing in Rubio, but what is it that GM's are so enamored with? Why would that be better than bringing in a dominant center and keeping the team intact? Ivan Carter: Well, Rubio is young and GMs love his....wait for it....potential. Then again, Chris Paul and a few of the dream teamers who played againt the kid in the Olympics raved about him as well. As for Thabeet, are you that sure he's going to be a dominant center? Really? I see Theo Ratliff. Richmond, Va.: Does it really matter if the Caps have enough fire power to beat Detroit? Shouldn't the real question be whether they have enough muscle to outlast Anaheim? Ivan Carter: The Ducks are rolling? Question: just how good is Chris Pronger? He helped take Edmonton to the Cup finals a couple of years ago and now he's helping Anaheim roll along. Makes you wonder just how close the Caps came to landing him this season at the deadline doesn't it? Then again, if they wanted Varlamov, it's a very good thing they didn't do it. Washington, D.C.: Hey at 19 Rubio just won Spanish League DPOY... Ivan Carter: Love for Rubio. Dupont Circle, Washington, D.C.: Ivan -- I've been in D.C. my whole life and cannot remember an athlete in any sport that comes through for the home team the way Ovechkin is. He's just so much better than anything we've had...and he's only 23. Ivan Carter: It's so hard to dominate a hockey game and yet the guys manages to do it. Nothing less than amazing. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I saw Gretzky live as a kid in Minny and I don't remember being wowed by him the way I was the first time I saw Ovechkin. Not saying that No. 8 is as good as No. 99 but he is eye-popping good. Ivan Carter: Thanks for stopping in folks! Please check out the show tonight at five and keep reading that Post! Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.
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Former Washington Post Wizards reporter and former contributor to Washington Post Live Ivan Carter discussses his new role as host of the Comcast SportsNet program, his thoughts about the Caps and the Wizards' chances next year with new coach Flip Saunders.
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Vicky Hallett: Did you miss me? Well, I've missed you -- and I've missed having a MisFits partner! So we're going to fix that today right after this chat. Now's your chance to meet our four fabulous contestants to ask them about their columns and anything else on your minds. (I know, sports bras and farting. As usual.) Then the super important editors are going to name a winner and the two of us will head off on a secret fitness adventure. You'll get to read all about it next week... But before we get started, some stuff you should know about!: -We're in the middle of Dance is the Answer, the D.C. area's celebration of movement, and that means FREE classes. See the schedule at Danceistheanswer.org. -And get ready for DC Yoga Week (12 local studios offering FREE and $5 classes). The fun starts May 2 and ends May 9 (with yoga on The National Mall). Get the details at Dcyogaweek.com. -Don't live around here? The whole country is invited to take advantage of the Gold's Gym Fitness Stimulus Package (Goldsgym.com/stimulus), and get a free 7-day pass. And now, Ryan Seacrest-style, I present your final four! Contender 7: I'm laughing over here, picturing my three male rivals in sports bras! Contender 1: You mean we weren't supposed to wear them for this chat? Contender 2: Yes, that and your jock strap. If you can't figure out which goes up top and which goes on the bottom you're going to get voted off the island. www.washingtonpost.com: In the Long Run, You Can Find a Way to Make It to the Finish Line (The Washington Post, Contender 3, April 7) Losing Weight Is Easy. Losing Bad Habits Is Something Else. (The Washington Post, Contender 1, April 14) Mixing It Up With Women Who Like to Talk Derby (The Washington Post, Contender 7, April 21) Even After a Boomer Goes Boom, the Race for Fitness Continues (The Washington Post, Contender 2, April 28) Vicky Hallett: In case you missed one of their columns... Washington, D.C.: Why the anonymity? Contender 7: Good question. I think the editors want to sheild us from the embarrassment of having our weights become public knowledge. Vicky Hallett: It's also sort of an unusal way to apply for a job! One thing that I think maybe hasn't been clear is that our contenders are Washington Post staffers. So all 10 were pretty brave to go through the process in the open at all...The bonus for readers, of course, is that you know these folks are up for anything. And that's an important qualification for this gig. Contender 1: It would be unfair if you knew which of us was Weingarten. Contender 3: We are high-level background sources. This is DC after all. Washington, D.C.: I was a daily bike commuter until total knee replacement in October. It's been six months and I'm still not on the bike. The doc says I don't need to go to physical therapy anymore -- just "do what you need to do". It's very depressing as my daily routine has been disrupted (not to mention walking distances and being without pain in other areas as a result). Any suggestions as to what I can do to get out of this funk and on the bike? Contender 2: Many years ago I went to a orthopedic doctor for my knee problem. He said so long as I didn't run more than two miles it would stop hurting. He was shaped like a pear and looked like a heart attack waiting to happen. These days I've got the best doctors in the world, but if you get one who doesn't understand your desire for fitness, you'll get pear-shaped advice. There is no reason you can't return to biking. (I did it within 10 days of having my hip screwed back together in 2006.) If I knew the nature of your problems now I could put you on the path to a lifetime of happy riding. Tell us more. Contender 1: What exactly is keeping you off the bike? Is it pain in the hip? If so, has your doctor cleared you to take OTC painkillers? I've torn up both my knees over the years, and some naproxen usually helps me with any aches from running (which I've also been advised against by various docs.) And is it the good kind of pain -- muscle soreness from exercising in a way you haven't for awhile -- or something sharp and specific and just "wrong." Is it a flexibility issue? Maybe some yoga or Pilates can help loosen it up. Both would also help with strengthening the hip, also. Germs at the Gym: With swine flu cases on the rise, I am worried about touching the weight machines and treadmills at the gym. I also often see people not wipe down the machine after they use it. Please, please remind them it is the polite thing to do! Contender 2: Swine flu is coming our way, according to the local health officials, so being alert to it as you would to any illness is smart. This will serve to remind people, but be proactive about it and grab a couple of wipes yourself as you world your way around the equipment. New York City: I want to buy my 68-year-old mother a heart-rate monitor, the type she can wear like a watch. I am willing to spend up to $50. She is going through cardiac rehab after finding out that her recent gall-bladder attacks may have been heart. The display will need to have big numbers due to her vision. She hates gadgets and computers and frustrates easily. What models do you recommend? Contender 1: The Omron HR-100C, available online for around $30, has a good rep for being easy to use and relatively reliable given the price, but I think the conventional wisdom is that, to get truly accurate readings, you're going to spend upwards of $100. The display looks like a decent size, at least. Contender 7: In the $50 price range, your best bets are probably Timex or Omron. Personally, I think the Timex display looks brighter and clearer. If you hunt around you might find a Polar FS1 for that much, but they generally start around $60. The Polar FS1, FS2 and FS3, all have the same nice big display, with extra options (and higher pricetag) in FS2 and FS3. For pictures and more descriptions, look at this: http://exercise.about.com/od/cardiomachinesresources/tp/HRM.htm And just for the sake of looks, check out this: not-quite-as-affordable pea green women's heart rate watch by Suunto. Contender 2: I've been using Polars since they first came on the market eons ago. Their first model was half the size of my current cell phone. I now have three on my bikes and one on my wrist. How often do you get to buy a product from Finland? I work a high-stress job which keeps me moving and on my feet the much of the day. Even so, I do manage to get in a 15-20 minute jog 2-3 times a week (I am just too tired to make it any longer!). Morning runs are out of the question - I can't make it through the work day after completing one. I know I am supposed to be engaging in aerobic activity for much longer than 15 minutes (and more than 2-3 times a week), but I don't feel particularly guilty. Should I be doing more in the name of health? How bad is it for my health if I am not working out regularly? If it matters, I am 25, otherwise healthy and a former collegiate athlete. I'm definitely not overweight, but I am certainly not fit and toned like I once was. Contender 7: So let me get this straight... You're active at work and you go jogging on top of that. And you're not overweight. You sound like you're in shape to me! If you really want your college body back, you could always get back into the sport that kept you super-fit, assuming you still enjoy said sport and have some time to devote to it. But if you're looking for permission to ease off on the workouts, you have my blessing! Contender 1: It's great you're working out at all, and yeah, you don't need to feel "guilty." As to if you should be doing more -- I guess it depends on your goals. Just because you're not overweight doesn't mean you couldn't benefit from aerobic exercise -- it's good for your blood pressure, your bones and your stress levels. And, I know this is one of those "easy for you to say" pieces of advice, because for all I know you're working 12-hour days, but if you're too tired to jog more than 15-20 minutes, you might need to get some more sleep. Contender 2: What you're doing is just fine. Would more be better? No question about it. But, guess what? That's going to take care of itself in time because as a former college athlete you know the benefits of working out. And eventually you will begin to slide down that slippery slope and realize you're not fit and you don't like what you see in the mirror. Then you'll be movtivated to do something about it. By the way, gaining fitness is a matter of over stressing your body and then allowing it to recover and adapt. You'll find the same thing happens if you workout in the morning. After a rough week or so, your body will adapt and you'll be able to make it through the work day. Contender 3: Agreed, with all of the advice from the other contenders. Also, have you tried changing the time of day you work out to see if you can squeeze in a few more minutes (is lunchtime an option)? Or working out with a friend so you can push each other? Ramsey, N.J.: Which is a more efficient use of a treadmill for weight loss/maintenance: walking at the maximum incline (15 percent) or a lower incline? Because I have balance issues, I hold on to the bar. Contender 7: The highest incline will certainly work your body harder. The question is, will it wipe you out too soon? You may be able to better tolerate a few more minutes by switching back and forth between steep and low inclines. Think of it as interval training. And please do be careful not to fall. If you think your balance issues might have something to do with the blood going to your brain, maybe power equipment isn't such a good idea. Passing out on your treadmill could get ugly! Best of luck to you! Contender 1: Good advice from No. 7. One thing you didn't mention -- do you walk faster at a lower incline or not? Picking up your speed can help make up for using a lower incline. The important thing is that you're doing something though. I believe the difference in calories burned between walking more slowly at a steeper incline or a bit faster at a more level incline isn't going to be major, so I would do whichever you find most comfortable (and safest.) Contender 2: Put that puppy at one percent and walk. Remember that it's an endurance activity which will activate your fat burning muscles most effectively. When you turn that treadmill into a mountainside at 15 percent you might as well be working a weight machine. Don't. Walk lower and longer. You'll lose weight faster. Contender 3: I'm a believer in long, slow distance for burning fat. I think a lower incline would be more effective. You could go a bit higher than 1percent, but I definitely wouldn't do 15 percent. Alexandria, Va.: So glad you are back! I've missed you. I have a question I've been meaning to ask for awhile. Four months ago I was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer at the age of 34. I was in fairly good shape at the time, not overweight, but rather inconsistent with exercise (would barely get in two days a week and regularly skip whole weeks). I underwent four months of hard chemotherapy and am now facing six weeks of daily radiation treatments that will end in mid June. My oncologist has informed me that exercise can tremendously reduce my risk of a cancer recurrence. She says I need to work up to five hours a week of vigorous exercise. Believe me when I say that I will no longer be slacking off. What better incentive than your life, right? I have been exercising on my home elliptical machine while in treatment, but when I finish I'd like to treat myself to a really nice gym membership. My ideal place would have a pool, a steam sauna, knowledgeable trainers, and many classes, including yoga. I'd like a place that will lift my spirits rather than, for instance, a smelly basement atmosphere (my previous gym). I am rearranging my work schedule for this and am looking to get into the best shape of my life. Any suggestions for a fantastic place? Contender 2: Good for you! There's no question that exercise can improve your overall health and keep your body on the right track. There are several good gyms in and near Alexandria. Approach it like you're buying a new car. Go to several places and kick the tires before you select one. In addition to the setting, you want a place full of people you feel comfortable with, so before you plunk your money down on a place make sure you visit it at the times of the day when you're most likely to be working out. Washington, D.C.: In defense of Finland, Nokias come from there and saunas too! Contender 2: Does Finland need to be defended? Are the Russians massing on the border again? Re: Germs at Gym: Swine flu or not, wiping down equipment is just a good idea all around. MRSA infections, the common cold, nasty sweat, whatever... Speaking of the gym, any recommendations for outdoor workouts that are not running? Obviously, there is joining a formal sports league, but what about in terms of things we can do on our own on trails, at parks or in the city? Contender 2: People tend to underestimate the value of simply walking. It activates your muscle groups, burns calories and keeps you limber. I'm a great believer in cycling. It's easier on the joints and provides a terrific workout. Kayaking is a major sport in the Washington area, and you don't have to shoot the rapids to do it. Very good exercise! Washington, D.C.: How can we influence the ever-important, knowledgeable, kind, attractive editors who choose The MisFit? Seriously, do readers get a vote, chad or otherwise? Vicky Hallett: Promising new subscriptions always helps...But seriously, we've been soliciting reader thoughts throughout this process. Have you emailed yours to [email protected]? And feel free to pose some questions more directly to the contenders -- think of it as a job interview. All of that stuff is going to help inform the gorgeous, marvelous editors' decision. What do you think of skipping for exercise? (Not skipping rope, just skipping). I haven't been able to find anything substantive online about intensity, injury prevention, etc. I'd like to integrate this into a walking/running routine to relieve boredom. Thanks. Contender 2: Why not skip? Exercise is about activating your muscles, getting your heart thump-bumping and developing your fitness. Skipping is fine exercise so long as you listen to your joints -- knees and hips in particular. They're going to absorb the impact of that skip. If they begin to ache, then skipping isn't your best path to fitness. For now, try to find a nice, grassy field or a path through the woods rather than concrete and asphalt. Contender 7: Yeah, skipping works. I guess it would fall into the "high-impact" category with running and jumping rope, since you're lifting off the ground. Out of curiosity, do you have someone to hold hands with? That seems like a major equipment requirement :) Contender 1: You should see the quads on Goldilocks! Have you talked to any boxing trainers? A retired boxer at a gym I used to go to would alternate between skipping in circles and shadow boxing. I did not make the Goldilocks joke at him. First-time sprint triathlete: I registered for a triathlon later this summer. . . any advice? I'm concerned about the logistics of switching between the three sports and about the swimming. I'm a competent runner and am not too concerned about the biking. But how can I improve my swimming? I'm very slow. Contender 1: Does the race allow water wings? I will largely defer to Contender 2, a triathlete himself. But I would think a Master's swim class, if there's one available in your area, would be a good way to get in a laps and improve your form (and confidence.) Contender 2: The logistics of switching between the three sports is fairly simple so long as you plan ahead and arrange the things you'll need in an orderly fashion. Swimming for beginners is about two things: overcoming the conviction that you are a lousy swimmer and then refining your technique. The book you want to lay your hands on is "Your First Triathlon" by Joe Friel. Or, after we rid ourselves of the cloak of anonymity, e-mail me! Blisters during marathon training: Love the article on marathons! (The Washington Post, Contender 3, April 7) I am training for my fifth marathon and I am getting awful blisters on the outside of my big toe on my right foot (I know, pretty specific!). I haven't changed my brand of shoes and have successfully trained in this brand for the past three marathons. I also buy new shoes pretty regularly. Why do you think I am getting blisters now but never have before? Could my feet have changed and that is why I am getting blisters now? Contender 2: Sure, your feet can change. More likely, however, your gait has changed in some fashion. Have you had any other injuries? Knee problems? IT band soreness? Does your back ache after a run? We all tend to look at the point of the apparent injury, in your case the big toe and the shoe, for the cause of the injury. You want a pure guess? If I were looking I'd begin by testing the flexibility of your left IT band. I'm betting it's tight and your over compensating. Alexandria, Va.: Hi Vicky and potential MisFits! A challenge for you: last week, my husband and I began the South Beach Diet. We're in week two of the super strict Phase I (no carbs, no sugar) and are also doing cardio and/or weights most days of the week. I've already lost four pounds and feel absolutely fantastic. I feel like four pounds down, 30 to go! My husband, who has about 50 pounds to lose, however, hasn't budged. He has been much more strict with the diet than I have, following it to a T (I have allowed myself two glasses of red wine), but hasn't seen any results on the scale or in attitude/general overall health feeling. Is it possible that this "diet" just doesn't work for him? Contender 1: I have to say, I'm a little surprised to hear this. One of the main ideas behind South Beach is that you get a psychological boost from quick weight loss during those first two weeks. Sometimes results don't show up right away on the scale though -- are his clothes any looser? Does he look any slimmer? If he has been good about the quantities of what he's eating and not just the fact that it's low-carb, it might be worth a trip to the doc's office (which is always a good idea before going on any seriously strenuous diet/exercise program.) Contender 7: I, too, am surprised your man hasn't lost any weight after two weeks of strict dieting. You tend to see the most dramatic weight loss in the early stages of a diet, before your body starts to get used to it. Contender 3: I've never tried the South Beach diet myself, but I would give any new approach -- diet, exercise -- more than a week before worrying whether it isn't working. Even if it is designed to yield early results, I'd have to assume various people will see different results. Alexandria, Va: Thank goodness you are back! How long does it take to get your stamina back after an injury? I had Achilles tendon surgery and my right leg has no muscle tone! Contender 2: I wish there were a simple answer like "six to eight weeks." Unfortunately, the truth is that it depends on a lot of factors. One of the most important is the quality of your physical therapist. After my knee surgery (2005) I went to a local PT outfit where they wanted me to do two-pound knee lifts in reps of 10. I could have punted the two-pound weight through the ceiling, so I split that scene and found a sports physical therapist who has nursed me back from much more serious trouble. She understands that, fortunately, I'm not couch potato without muscle tone. Yours is a tough injury and you need the best care. Find it! Contender 1: To Alexandria, in search of a luxurious and uplifting gym -- I'm not a member, but I think Vida strives for the kind of opulence you are looking for. Arlington, Va.: Well, summer is about here and I frequently drive up to Massachusetts to a beach cottage. However, now that I am aging, I wake up stiff the next morning from the long drive. What kind of stretches can I do along the rest stops so I am not so stiff the next day? Contender 7: Sounds like you are suffering from the syndrome known to travelers as Driver's Butt. Try toe touches and lunges! Contender 2: There are a bunch, but your big issues in the car are likely to be your back and your hamstrings. If you don't mind being gawked at by fellow rest stoppers, try sitting flat on the floor with your butt firm against a wall. With shoes off, extend your feet and toes away from you, with knees and ankles touching. Slowly rotate from the hips, keeping legs straight, until your feet form a V. Then rotate back until you touch. Repeat this with your toes and feet pointing straight up. (That's for the hamstrings.) Then sit on a straight-back chair with your back straight. Bend at the waist until you feel those back muscles stretching. Next, same chair, your back straight. Put right ankle crossways on right knee. Press down on left knee until you feel it in the hip. Switch and repeat. Big Arms: Hello Misfits! Just wondering if you or the peanut gallery had any tips. I lift weights pretty regularly: once or twice a week during the winter and fall, less often during the spring and summer as I'm outside more and at the gym less. I do the standard major muscle groups on the machines including chest press, shoulder press, seated row, and the tricep and bicep machines usually for three sets of 10 reps. My arms are very muscular, but they don't really look muscular, they just look big. I'm considering buying some small hand-held weights to keep at home and use to develop a more sculpted, toned look. I'm looking for suggestions for a good routine to get my "Michelle Obamas" in shape. I would also love tips for how to stick to an at-home routine. (I typically need to force myself to the gym or outside in order to work-out.) Thanks! Contender 7: I have no idea what weight you should buy, but if you happen to be built like me, the perfect freeweight would be a 5 pounder. I'm guessing you're much stronger than me, though. You want to pick a weight that seems light to lift once, but kinda burns after 20 reps. Then switch arms and do 20 on that side. Then switch again. When you curl, start with your weight parallel to your leg and twist it toward your face as you pull up. To make this a regular part of your life, you'll want to pick a time of day that you know you'll be home and free from other obligations. Also, stretch first by grabbing a corner of the wall at about shoulder height and twisting your body toward the floor. I forgot to stretch Sunday before I used my new weed whacker and my arms are still sore! Contender 7: Almost forgot... keep a TV or stereo near your freeweights!!! Contender 1: In general, you're on the right track -- you build muscle with higher weights and fewer reps, and you sculpt with lighter weights and more reps. It might be worth at least one session with a personal trainer, to whom you can explain your goals and come up with a routine. He or she can also help with things like proper push-up form, or recommend a sculpting class. To look leaner and more defined overall, it will also help to add some aerobic exercise, like running or biking. Contender 3: I had the opposite problem, I could never build bulk. A trainer explained I was doing too many reps with too little weight. Changing that up helped some. A good bit of it is genetic. Lance Armstrong says in his books that he was thick-chested for a cyclist and had to adjust his workouts accordingly. Baltimore: OK, I have read your articles. Now what about those of us in the older bracket that are fighting that age-related weight gain. What advice do you have for us? What I did in my 30's even my 40's doesn't work anymore. Contender 2: Hmmm, well, I can relate to that. But without knowing what you did in your 30s or 40s it's hard to know where we need to make adjustments. You need more endurance activities because you're not burning calories the way you once did, so the challenge is finding the right activity that suits your lifestyle. Vicky Hallett: Alexandria: Your fancy gym needs sound like a good match for Equinox in Tysons. There's a pool, a ton of yoga classes (in a gorgeous studio) and poshness galore. But you'll pay for it... My husband and I are thinking of getting into bike riding to break out of the semi-vegetative state we've been in for the last few years. We plan to take leisurely trips down the trails around the area, at least to start. Is this a good way to get moving? Or are we just fooling ourselves into thinking we're getting good exercise? Contender 2: It's great exercise. As I said in responding to an earlier post, it's easier on the joints than jogging and you get just as much benefit. Set some goals in terms of mileage. Be reasonable and never increase more than about 10 percent a week. If you want a grand goal, plan to "train" yourself into shape so that a year from now you can do one of the 100-mile "century" rides that usually take place in the fall. They are great fun. And, please always wear a helmet, properly buckled. I'd be dead had I not been wearing mine. Burning Calories: How many calories are burned while reading your chat? (Reading, scrolling, typing...) Contender 2: 212 if your are sitting up. 97 if your are lying down. Contender 7: Are you still lying down, Contestant 2? I'm so jealous. Anyway, this is a trick question. There are so many variables, like whether we are chewing gum or doing butt squeezes or thinking about Dwight Schrute in heels... Contender 1: On a Mac or PC? Washington, D.C.: This could be the dumbest question you've ever gotten, but here it goes: I started working full time about six months ago and my posterior has gone completely flat. Bright side? Calves look great because I wear high heels all the time. I still try to do about 40 minutes of running a day or one hour of other cardio a day, but I was wondering, without looking like Dwight from "The Office," is there anything I can do to offset this unfortunate situation? Maybe special desk exercises or something to sit on that would challenge my balance and force my body to work out, that kind of thing? Contender 7: Nice... Thanks for making me think of Dwight Schrute in heels! I know this is going to sound funny, but you can do butt squeezes while sitting in your chair. I've never committed to an exercise regime involving seated butt squeezes myself, but I've heard it works. If all else fails, you could get push-up jeans! Contender 1: I'm a little confused by the question -- you've lost your butt since you started working full-time (no small feat nowadays, btw) -- but you're still working out 40 minutes to an hour a day? What in the world were you doing before your new job to maintain the junk in your trunk? Or you've just lost it from sitting all day? Does that really happen? You could try an exercise ball as a chair, but that's going to work your core mainly (not a bad thing.) Can you sneak away and get some squats in somewhere during the day? Maybe do some step-ups on the staircase? For Ramsey, N.J.: If you have to hold on to the bar to stay balanced, you're going too fast and need to scale it back. As the muscles that stabilize you side-to-side grow stronger, you'll be able to bump it back up. Contender 2: If you're holding onto a bar to stay balanced you probably ought to stop drinking. (If you're having balance issues, practice standing in front of the mirror on one leg. Hold it for 30 seconds each leg, then repeat five times. Once you have that down, start over doing it with your eyes closed. Not so easy, but eventually you can progress to a balance ball.) Philadelphia: If you aren't lucky enough to be chosen as the next MisFit, which of the other contenders would you vote for, and why? Contender 7: I think Contestant 2 is the most knowledgeable about fitness and Contestant 1 is the funniest. Contender 2: Always vote for the contender from Philadelphia. And as a Philadelphian, I can assure you it's perfectly fine to vote several times in the same election, particularly if you live in Ward One. (Has Vince gone to prison yet?) Houston: But there are no Gold's Gyms in Houston...sob...sob...I miss my old one in Ballston....Gold's, at least the ones in the D.C. area, are above and beyond! Vicky Hallett: What about the one on 16211 Clay Road? But I agree it may not be as nice as the one in Ballston -- love how it's a former car dealership. Great windows. Soon-To-Be-Biking-To-Work Guy: Contenders: If you were a gladiator on "American Gladiators," what pseudonym would you use? Vicky Hallett: I know you don't care about my answer, but I'd wanna be Sprain. (Also, I interviewed Wolf not too long ago, and asked him how they came up with his Gladiator name. His answer? I look like a wolf. He also can howl pretty well, so I suppose that helped.) Contender 7: Is there a one-word name rule? I guess I'd go with Belcha. Contender 3: The Incredible Bulk. Stretching: Stretching before running is of little or no value and actually may slow you down. True or false? Contender 3: True. Warm up those muscles for 15 minutes or so before stretching. Don't stretch cold muscles. Sometimes it feels good after a long day at the office, but it's the wrong approach. Contender 2: Stretching before running used to be a ritual. Now research indicates it 'tain't so. Two of the reasons are these: cold muscles can develop micro-tears when stretched, and over stretching can lead to joint injuries. Instead, try what's called "dynamic stretching." Contender 1: This is completely anecdotal, I realize, but stretching has definitely helped me cope with and overcome various injuries. In general though, this seems like one of those issues where the conventional wisdom changes every six months. (I blame all those studies sponsored by Big Stretch.) Contender 2: The best book in my library on stretching is "Stretching Anatomy" by Nelson and Kokkonen. Great art work and explanation. Washington, D.C.: After training hard and shaving 10 minutes off my previous year's results, I am finding that running post-Cherry Blossom race is a real drag and darned difficult. I'm sure some of the difficulty I'm having is due to burnout, but I don't want to lose my running fitness. I'd also like to start adding in weights and cross training. Do you have any ideas about training programs that will allow me to stop losing momentum but mix it up a bit? Any advice encouraged. Thanks in advance! Contender 3: This is a very common problem among runners -- maintaining fitness without getting stale. You've actually answered your question, at least partially. Let's say you were running five to six days a week as you prepared for Cherry Blossom. You could drop a day of running and go for a bike ride instead. Or drop a day and simply rest that day each week, at least for a few weeks. When you do go running, choose a different route, which will allow you to see new things and cover new terrain. It's warming up--maybe you're switching from a treadmill to the outdoors? Have you been mixing in a track session with your distance running? That helps your speed and is another way to change things up. Lastly, you should try to get into the gym twice a week for some work with the weights. But between work, family and putting in the miles, I find this to be the biggest challenge. Contender 1: What was your Cherry Blossom training routine, and is there a way you can make it more interesting? Like No. 3 said, by choosing a different route. Or you could join a running club -- check out Pacers or Fleet Feet for one near you -- you could run intervals or (hee hee) fartleks...whatever you think will keep things from getting stale. And, signing up for another race is always excellent motivation. Contender 2: Without knowing how many days a week your training or the mileage your putting in it's hard to diagnose your problem. That said, my guess is that you may be overtrained and that you may be addressing that by training harder. "Overtrained" actually is a serious condition that takes 3-4 months of recovery. My recommendation is that you think about triatlon. I was a dedicated runner for 30 years before I took up cycling at the behest of a fellow runner who was injured and wanted company riding. Then I got hurt, so I took up swimming. Now I'm a triathlete. How did that happen? Anyway, it's great training. Baltimore: Hello, I have a question about intervals (high-intensity interval training). How often should you incorporate them into your weekly aerobic schedule? Contender 1: I think the general rule is no more than 1-2 a week, because they can be hard on your body. (Full disclosure -- I happen to love running intervals and have certainly exceeded that from time to time, and paid for it.) Which reminds me -- Vicky mentioned she's working on a story about exercising with one's dog. I've recently gotten a new pooch, and an excellent way to work intervals into your run is to sprint whenever another dog is around in order to keep him from pulling and barking... Contender 7: I have a highly intense dog too, but he's on Prozac now! It's been a while since I did any gym workouts, but when I used to go three times a week, I would do a little bit of high-intensity training once or twice a week, followed by some strength training and 20-40 minutes on the elliptical, set to easy. Contender 2: Pacing your workouts really depends on your goals. If it's just fitness then one to two hard workouts a week is correct. If your goal is race-oriented -- like running the Baltimore Marathon -- you want to structure your workout schedule by working backward from the date of that race using periodization that incorporates base building phases with strength building phases that use more interal workouts. Contender 2: that would be "interval" workouts! Contender 1: I wanted to mention (it got published before I could chime in) that if I had to vote for another contender, it would be No. 7, for invoking Danzig and the Misfits in her "get to know me" essay. The Misfits were the rivals of Jem and Holograms, right? RE: Alexandria, Va.: Whichever gym you choose, please be sure your trainers understand how to train someone who has undergone mastectomy and reconstruction. There are specific protocols in training women who have undergone these types of surgery. Vicky Hallett: This is a very good point. And I think it pays to be extra picky about stuff like this -- make sure you're working with someone with extensive experience with breast cancer survivors. No sense in being someone's guinea pig. Potomac, Md.: My kids seem to take up all available time, including exercise time. They're too young to run or bike with me (if I want to get a decent workout). Any tips for getting a good workout with the kids in tow? Contender 2: When my kids were small I got a trainer for my bike and did my riding in the basement. You can do the same thing with an exercycle. There are lots of good workout tapes to help you along (See Troy Jacobson's Spinervals series.) Contender 3: When mine were really young, I had one of those trailers that I hooked to the back of my bike. It was great exercise, but make sure you have the right gears for steeper hills. Also it was unusual enough back in those ancient times that cars, joggers, inline skaters stayed out of our way. On a couple of vacations we would collapse it, throw it in the car and then hook it to rented bikes wherever we were. I'm not a huge fan of pushing one of those jogging strollers, but sometimes you have to go with what's possible. Contender 7: Games like soccer and basketball are easy enough to get small children in on. They'll love it, especially if you let them win. Vienna, Va.: I'm thinking of ditching my gym membership and buying a functional trainer machine for home. Am I going to regret the decision down the road? Contender 7: I ditched my gym membership and bought Dance Dance Revolution. I only regretted letting a fat friend use my floor mat. I've gone through several floor mats. Contender 1: Better than a non-functional trainer, I suppose. I can't predict my own future emotional states, let alone yours, but I guess whether or not you're going to regret it depends. Are you more likely to use a machine if it's at home, even if it's not as versatile as a gym? Or are you more likely to utilize the variety of the gym, even if you have to schlep over there? Contender 2: Think about your motivation for going to the gym in the first place. If you're self-motivated and know you'll stick to a workout plan at home, then ditch that membership. Contender 3: Any home gym equipment I've ever bought becomes a very expensive clothes hanger. I HAVE to go to the gym for exercise. I just won't get it done on home equipment. I wish I knew why. Re: Treadmill incline: Anything involving holding onto the bar is not a very effective workout. Do the highest incline that you can (without holding on!) Contender 2: I watch people do that in the gym. It's pointless, but they like it, so good on them. At least they're doing something and if going 15 percent for three minutes rocks their boat, so be it. Contender 1: Right. Given that the poster said balance was a problem, walking while holding the bar trumps not walking while holding nothin'. Contender 1: I just wanted to say thanks for the questions today, I hope we were helpful, and we have some lovely waivers we would like you to sign... Contender #1 Is the Best: This is my official vote. Vicky Hallett: That will be taken into consideration. (I could so be a press secretary.) And with that, I'm going to let them all say goodbye. Contender 3: MisFit editors: Free food at my desk. For the next two years. It can be healthy stuff if you insist. Posters: Hope we can do this again sometime... Contender 2: This has been fun. When it comes to fitness, remember what our pal Tom Krause said: "If you only do what you know you can do -- you never do very much." Contender 7: Bye everyone! Thanks for reading! It's been quite a brain workout trying to answer all these questions! Read more information on all the contenders. Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.
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MisFit Vicky Hallett will be joined by the final four contenders vying to be her new fitness partner. They will share tips and advice on staying in shape.
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Kellermann usually brought a three-page list of to-do items. Moffett was new to the company, appointed by the government after it seized Freddie Mac in September, and he recalled leaning heavily on Kellermann's 16 years of experience at the firm for guidance. Kellermann, 41, was found dead yesterday morning in his Fairfax County home in an apparent suicide, police said. He left no note, law enforcement sources said, and his motivations were not known. But even if his final act was unrelated to work, his last months were consumed by the mounting stresses at the center of the financial crisis. People who knew him said he was deeply committed to Freddie Mac, just about the only place he'd worked professionally, and its struggles had taken an increasingly visible toll. "David was engaged in all parts of the company," said Moffett, who tapped Kellermann as his chief financial officer before resigning the top post last month. "The CFO of any company in today's environment is a very stressful job . . . particularly when you're in a company that's undergoing a tremendous amount of change and uncertainty." Kellermann had worked his way up at Freddie Mac from a young financial analyst to one of the mortgage giant's main points of contact with its government overseers. Recently, he'd faced intense pressures dealing with the company's billions of dollars in losses and myriad other accounting and legal issues, refusing to take time off, his colleagues said. "He endured a tremendous amount of stress over the years . . . It's been a difficult environment," said Peter Federico, Freddie Mac's treasurer and a close friend. The news of Kellermann's death yesterday stunned his colleagues. "It's one of the things that puts everything in perspective. It's difficult for everybody to deal with it," Federico said. Kellermann was found by his wife, Donna, yesterday in the basement of their home in the upscale Hunter Mill Estates subdivision in Vienna, law enforcement sources said. He had hanged himself on a piece of exercise equipment, the sources said. There were no signs of foul play. His body was taken to the office of the medical examiner, who will rule on the cause of death. Soon after Kellermann's death was reported, television trucks pulled up outside his stately brick home and its manicured lawn, beaming the image around the world. Many neighbors were taken aback by the attention given to the apparent suicide. Susan Unger, a neighbor, said she last saw him a few weeks ago working in his yard. She woke up early yesterday morning to the sound of rescue crews arriving. "They took the stretcher in and brought it out empty, so I thought everything was okay," Unger said. "It's just so sad. . . . I'm just in total shock." The neighbors knew Kellermann mostly as a doting father of a young daughter and meticulous gardener. He decorated his home lavishly for Christmas and threw great parties for Halloween and University of Michigan football games. He'd attended Michigan before receiving a graduate degree from George Washington University. But Sergio Moreno, who lives up the street, said he had recently noticed some changes. Kellermann was busier than ever and more stressed. A large man, Kellermann had lost a lot of weight.
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In the months before he died, David B. Kellermann would trek most evenings to Freddie Mac's executive suite to see his boss. Long after other employees had headed home from the McLean campus, Kellermann, the acting chief financial officer, would remain cloistered with chief executive David Moffet...
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Dana Priest: Hello out there! Thanks for joining me. Big news to discuss. Let's begin. Washington, D.C.: Former vice president Cheney argues that the secret prisons and rough treatment of prisoners made us safer. Is there any evidence that torture produced actionable intelligence that actually saved lives? Dana Priest: There is no public evidence to support that claim. It is possible that this type of proof is still classified. My gut feeling is that, if it were clear-cut, we already would have seen it. But I'm not certain. Germantown, Md.: Does the average person in the US really care about this issue? I doubt it. Time for all those "Bush haters" to find a new whipping boy. Time to "Move On" shall we say. Obama has lots to work on. Dana Priest: That's certainly one view. The other is that how the US behaves on this issue actually does affect the outcome of the larger fight against terrorism. Does it help to have techniques like this available for the reason supporters say (to get actionable intel) or does it hurt our efforts because young Muslims become anti-American and willing to join the fight against us, and we loose our standing in the wider world which makes it difficult to achieve our goals elsewhere . Oceanside, Calif.: What are your thoughts on the viability, possibility, or desirability on prosecuting those that developed the legal justifications for torture in the Bush administration? Is there anything in the memos that stands out as indefensible legal reasoning? Dana Priest: It is a certainty that this question is being pondered right now at the Dept. of Justice, on the hill, probably at the American Bar Association, and within civil rights groups willing to consider further legal action. the indefensible reasoning would go back to the original definition of torture in the Aug. 2002, that it needs to be so grave as to cause lasting, permanent physical or mental impairment, organ failure or death. Albany, N.Y.: My understanding is that the OLC Memos grant the CIA officers who participated in invasive interrogation immunity from prosecution on the grounds that they were following established law, as the OLC defined it. Does this protection extend to those who ordered or authorized waterboarding, etc., in the first place? Dana Priest: The OLC can't do that. It doesn't have the power to do that. The Detainee Treatment Act, spearheaded by Sen. McCain, did that. But it also left open the possibility that in cases where the legal advice appears clearly illegal, than it would be the duty of the officer not to act according to it. Richmond, Va.: If there is another attack in the continental United States, do you see these techniques being reinstated? Dana Priest: Not necessarily. Since it's not clear there was much of value gained from these, I would think the FBI, CIA and others have had lots more time to figure out what actually works better. Thanks for these chats. You're one of my journalistic heroes! How did folks at the CIA feel about the release of the torture memos? I've read how they were quite upset, but don't at least some agency people feel good about the White House's role in this whole affair coming to light? How did the CIA rank & file feel about the "enhanced interrogation techniques" in general? Dana Priest: CIA employees worry about being viewed as rogue operators off on their own doing waterboard, etc. That is clearly not the case. There are those who worry about the agency's reputation, but others in the CIA and elsewhere in the intelligence community and the military who see the value of making a clear break from these practices -- and who didn't agree with them when they were first disclosed anyway. Anonymous: What do you think the chances are that there will be an investigation into those policy makers who devised the legal justifications for torture? Dana Priest: I'm certain the intel committees will be taking this up very soon. Prescott, Ariz.: When the President said they didn't intend to prosecute CIA officials who did this torture, do you think he was talking about doctors and psychologists who were in on this stuff? I cannot see how the hippocratic oath could ever be twisted to where these people could act as professional torture mediators. Dana Priest: I interpreted that to mean doctors and psychologists would be immune. But that would not make them immune from what their profession might decide to do. Shippensburg, Pa.: So did the Obama administration actually call anything in these memo's torture? Holder seemed to skirt the issue yesterday. Dana Priest: Holder has previously called waterboarding torture "Enhanced Interrogation Techniques" or...?: Will the Post now start using the word "torture" to describe these techniques? Dana Priest: probably not since there are some techniques there that would not amount to torture...but I agree we should find a more accurate description than "enhanced." I usually try to use "harsh" and then the actual techniques. West Chester, Pa.: If we let the officials who authorized these programs to get away with it, aren't we setting a precedent for the next president to secretly do the same if the U.S. is attacked again? Dana Priest: That would be the case whether or not they are prosecuted. New York, NY: I've read that according to most experts torture only works to elicit false confessions. Is there any evidence in these memos (or elsewhere) to point to these methods being used for that purpose? Is there any evidence that these methods resulted in any false confessions or led the U.S. to imprison and torture others who might have been innocent of any crimes? Dana Priest: There is some evidence in the third memo that they got false information from these sessions. We know that separately too from previous reporting. Alexandria, Va.: Dana, the president and attorney general took what I believe to be an eminently reasonable position on not prosecuting civil servants and soldiers who followed the letter of memos out of the Bush Office of Legal Cousel. Does this, in combination with the guarantee to pay for legal counsel for officers in congressional inquiries and the like, assuage the fears of those in the intel community? Does it damage the perception of Leon Panetta at CIA? Thanks. Dana Priest: I'm sure it goes along way in making them feel at ease, but not entirely since Congress is still intent on delving deeper and it's likely the spotlight will continue to be on the actions of both those who crafted the program and those who carried it out. previous Congressional oversight: Did anyone in Congress ever see these particular memos previously or were they kept secret to them as well? Dana Priest: I'm not sure at this point. trying to find out. Boston: Hassan Ghul is mentioned in one of the torture memos. He wasn't on the list of high value detainees moved out of the "Black sites." Is he still at a "Black site" or is he dead? Dana Priest: His whereabouts are unknown to us. What's worse?: That people all over America are adding "waterboard" and "waterboarding" to their spell-check dictionaries, or that so many already have done so in the years since 2002? Pretty sad when your word processor is more naive and optimistic about the world than you are. I keep expecting that annoying Microsoft paperclip guy to pop up and say "you appear to be writing about torture, which must be wrong because it's 2009, not 1009." New York: Dana, thanks for chatting -- on Friday! I've heard the Spanish legal attack on the six Bush officials referred to as a grandstanding move, while others are urging these officials not to leave the U.S. How serious is this situation? I know the Spanish Attorney General is against prosecuting them for CIA torture, but what is the real likelihood these guys will end up as defendents? Dana Priest: Zero. They won't travel to Europe probably. But, just like in Italy, it's very likely that a Spanish court will, at some point, throw it out on national security grounds. In other words, that continuing with the prosecution would damage Spain's national security (because, theoretically, it weakens its relationship with the US, or US intel cooperation, or something like that). Washington: I have the definate feeling that other civilized nations across the world are using every one of these techniques, and often much worse. There undoubtedly are dictators around the globe laughing at our handwringing about these techniques. I mean, putting a bug near someone? For goodness sake, add a few cases of beer and the list sounds like a fraternity hazing. Dana Priest: I take it you have not read the memos. I suggest you do. It's far from hazing. Also, do you really want to have this great country compared to a dictatorship where torture is okay? Washington: Ms. Priest, perhaps the caterpillar in the confined box was the CIA's attempt at a metaphor -- just like the little caterpillar emerging from detainment as a beautiful butterfly, so too would this rehabilitation transform the hardened mujaheddin into a peace-loving global citizen? Or is that too poetic for these guys? Dana Priest: yeah. no way. they supposedly told him it was a stinging insect, which is what he was afraid of. Washington: Hi Dana. Jay Bybee, the author of the 2002 memo approving the insect box and the waterboard, is a Federal Circuit Court judge now. Do you see the release of these memos as having any effect on his position? Dana Priest: That's a possibility if DOJ or the American Bar Association decided to develop a legal or ethical case against him. Washington, DC: Is it true that most of these techniques are used on our own armed forces in training exercises? Dana Priest: Some of them derived from the Air Force SERE training which teachs elite fighers/airmen, etc, how to resist during captivity. Old Blue in exile: Is John Yoo's tenure at Boalt Hall (Cal's law school in Berkeley) endangered by his torture memos? Ward Churchill just won his free speech/academic freedom lawsuit against Colorado, which stripped him of tenure and fired him. Dana Priest: Not necessarily. If he were to be prosecuted, and it's not clear this will happen, then maybe. On the other hand, if he were to be disbarred, he could still teach. Rockville: I assisted with interrogations in Vietnam with the Army and as a civilian and found no reason to use harsh techniques. I am no against keeping someone awake for a while, but never have done it. YOU can hurt someone, but the objective is information not revenge. On the other hand, this smacks of retribution and the people in Congress being angry that we did not quit when they gave up on the war. I agree with President Obama. Stop it, but let the past go. One last item, the harsh efforts are not torture and many want to blur the line to say we were as bad as it gets. Not even close. Chicago: I prefer starting with the administration hunchos who gave the orders, then to the members of the Justice Department who approved them and then to the people who executed them. Do you think it is fair to start with the people who executed the orders? Perhaps that's why our president doesn't want to go there. What are the chances of bringing Cheney and gang up on charges first? Dana Priest: Cheney was definitely briefed on all these techniques, in fact his legal counsel, David Addington, had a hand in creating some of them. Congress may proceed in this direction, it's too early to tell. Anonymous: Enhance is a terrible choice of words. It implies that it is a better, or even more accurate form of interrogation. Richmond, Va.: Did you read Gen. Hayden and Mr. Mukasey's Op-Ed in the Wall Street Journal today and if so did you find it persuasive? washingtonpost.com: The President Ties His Own Hands on Terror Dana Priest: I read it and I would find it persuasive if they gave a little more evidence to support their claim. Dana Priest: Thanks for joining me. And stay tuned. I'm sure this is not the end of this subject! Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.
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Washington Post reporter Dana Priest takes your questions about the release of memos that outline the legal foundations for the Bush administration's interrogation techniques, and the decision by the Obama administration not to pursue prosecutions of CIA officers who employed the techniques.
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You may also browse an archive of previous Home Front discussions. Jura Koncius: Good morning! Terri and I got in last night from New York after attending the Kips Bay Show House press preview in New York. The house is amazing -- all $75 million worth! Check out next week's Home section for the details, and meanwhile today we have the Washington Design House in Georgetown for you to read about. Today we have a great guest for the chat, Elizabeth Mayhew, who is just publishing a book "Flip For Decorating" (Ballantine Books Trade Paperback Original; $24). Elizabeth is a lifestyle expert for the Today Show and special projects editor at House Beautiful and she has a lot of great tips and ideas. So email us some of the questions you've been dying to ask. Let's go. Shepherdstown, W.V.: Does Farrow & Ball have a retail store in the D.C. area? Terri Sapienza: They do not have their own retail store, but you can buy their paints and wallpapers through the Color Wheel in McLean, Va. Domino subscription: I have received a card letting me know that I'll be receiving Glamour instead of Domino until the end of my subscription. Not quite the same theme, but oh well... Terri Sapienza: Yes, we received that card as well. Not my choice for best replacement. I did hear weeks ago that some people called Conde Nast subscriptions directly and requested the publication of their choice, and CN honored the request. So, if you don't like Glamour, you might want to try calling and switching. Bethesda, Md.: Good morning! I plan to work with a fabric store to have shades made for windows in an open living area (kitchen, dining room, living room combined). I am thinking of white roman shades or something like that, since it is a small space. Any ideas for styles/fabrics that would work best? Terri Sapienza: I think a nice crisp cotton or linen (or combo) would be nice. If you're going with white or off-white, think about adding a fun tape trim on the ends to give it a little color and personality. Alexandria, Va.: In the colonial era, quince was used as a drawer sachet. Where can I get some? Jura Koncius: If you want real quince, we recently got some big branches at Johnson's Florist and Garden Center at 4200 Wisconsin Ave. They have other locations too. Jura Koncius: What do you all think of the rooms in the Design House in our section today? Silver Spring, Md.: Good morning, ladies! Just saw the HouseCalls. What a gorgeous sunroom! I am envious! I am sure you will get the usual comments about the cost of the furniture, but you can get the same look for less at HomeGoods (my favorite). The only thing I would change is: Remember, there are eight children living here. Presumably some of them are very young. The round end tables with the lamp and vase are accidents waiting to happen. In their place should be short end tables with shelving to hold the games, toys, paraphernalia which come with eight children. Same effect, more storage, no trip to the emergency room! washingtonpost.com: House Calls (The Washington Post, April 16, 2009) Jura Koncius: Silver Spring weighs in on today's House Calls. Curtains: Good morning! I have a small window in my powder room, approximately 22" wide by 40" high. I'm not sure what window treatments to put on it. I don't care for the look of curtains that go just to the sill, but I think floor-length curtains for a small window would be too much. I've considered roman shades or woven bamboo shades, but I haven't found any short enough and I don't know if those shades can be shortened. I'm not usually a fan of valances, but I would be willing to try it since I don't seem to have many other options. Do you have any other suggestions? Thank you! Elizabeth Mayhew: Good morning! The best way to treat a powder room window is to use cafe curtains hung from a tension rod. Usually one puts the rod in the middle of the window frame and has short "cafe" curtains that hang just to the window sill. I suggest having the curtains made out of a light fabric that lets the light in, but one that is opaque enough to give privacy. Fairfax, Va.: My Domino subscription will be replaced by Architectural Digest, which makes me much happier than Glamour. Don't know if it makes a difference, but I had only received one issue on my subscription before Domino pulled the plug. FYI: another collapsed shelter magazine (I forget which) randomly replaced my subscription with Boating magazine! So maybe Glamour isn't so bad. Jura Koncius: I'm sure you have picked up a lot of tips on decorating your boat. I also was selected to receive Glamour magazine instead of Domino, so stay tuned for a better dressed me. Domino: I got a card saying that I was getting Cookie magazine. I like Cookie, but it is so not a replacement for Domino. Jura Koncius: Hmm. Why didn't they send me Cookie? Do you think they decided I needed glamour more than cookies? Rockville, Md.: I'm looking to redo my kitchen cabinets. What's the difference between refinishing and refacing? Any feel for the difference in pricing for these two different processes? Would it be better if I just repainted them myself?! Thanks! P.S. How do you feel about white cabinets in the kitchen? Elizabeth Mayhew: I love white painted cabinets, but painting them yourself is quite a bit of work. Keep in mind that every door needs to be sanded, primed, and then painted with several coats of paint. Also all hardware has to be removed -- it's lots of work. More often than not, it is less expensive to install new cabinetry or at least new doors. Chevy Chase, Md.: What are your five favorite paint colors? Terri Sapienza: Oh, this is an interesting and fun question. It's an answer that's constantly changing, but at the moment my favorite paints colors are: White Tie, Clunch, Pale Powder (all Farrow & Ball) and Linen from Restoration Hardware and Pale Almond from Benjamin Moore. I know, I know, all pale neutrals. Some may find it a dull selection, but I make no apologies. I love my neutrals. Bowie, Md.: I am trying to redecorate my bedroom and am having a miserable time trying to figure out a color to paint. Right now it's pale yellow with white sheer curtains, end tables are sage green (light), white bed coverlet and an antique gold dresser, and a large picture over the bed that is a porch with a swing over looking the beach with blues and greens. Also use a quilt at the end of my bed that is soft sage with yellow and gold tones. The room is fairly large and seems cold. I want warm. Thank you. Elizabeth Mayhew: I would suggest changing the wall color to Benjamin Moore's Bird Egg blue (I list it as one of my favorite colors in my book). Blues are much more soothing than yellows! Yellow says wake up!!! Not great for sleeping. I think the blue would look better with the rest of your color scheme too. Rockville, Md.: Last night I ordered Ms. Mayhew's new book off Amazon. I am hoping that it will help me decorate my living and dining rooms. I really need help with picking accessories for these rooms (right now I have bare walls staring back at me!). Any tips for me? Elizabeth Mayhew: Thank you so much for ordering the book. I suggest you read the sections on accessories and picture hanging ASAP! Don't be afraid to hang things on the wall -- the biggest mistake you can make is to do nothing. As for accessories, raid your china closet -- you probably have some bowls, vases or plates that can help fill the space. Also go out and buy your self some pretty spring tulips, a pot of pansies or a bag of green apples (which you can put on your dining table in a bowl) -- nothing perks a room up more than something living. Terri Sapienza: Before I forget, I'd like to hear from chatters who have opinions on glass shower doors. We're considering a mini-makeover in one of our bathrooms and I'm considering replacing our shower curtain with a frameless door. I think it would make our tiny bathroom feel much larger, but I'm hesitating because of the cost, the possible trend factor and because I hear they are annoying to keep clean and streak free. Plus, I really love the look of a crisp, white linen curtain. I'd love to hear from anyone who has any thoughts about this choice. Thanks. Re: Domino: My postcard said they were giving me Lucky, which I already get. If you call the magazine you'd like, they will happily switch your subscription for you. I switched to Conde Nast Traveler. Here is a list of CN's publications and their contact numbers Terri Sapienza: Oh, this is great information. Thanks for passing it along. Arlington, Va.: Hi. Do you have any suggestions for where to look for big stick-on appliques for the walls of a nursery? Thanks! Jura Koncius: Check out www.sunnys-paint.com. They have great monogram appliques and also easy-to-do stencils. Also go to www.uswallpaper.com. Great Falls, Va.: Elizabeth's book sounds very unique and I am anxious to see it after reading today's article. Can she tell us she might edit a room for the change in seasons -- I switched out my closet today in honor of the warmer temps and this has made me itch to seasonally refresh my living spaces -- on a budget of course. Elizabeth Mayhew: This might sound strange from a decorating editor/writer, but the first thing I would do to celebrate the arrival of the new season (spring finally!) is wash your windows. You will be amazed at how much it changes the way your room looks to have unfiltered sunlight poor in -- and best of all, it costs nothing. Also think about putting a fresh, colored throw over the arm of your sofa and change the pillows to another pattern or color as well. I recommend buying some fresh flowers -- tulips, daffodils, anything that says spring -- from your grocery store. Buy more than you think you need so that your vase looks plentiful. Bethesda, Md.: Hello, I'd like to update my dining room furniture since moving from colonial to an open contemporary home. I have antique English oak barley twist buffet, chairs, and gate-leg table. I love the Amish mission chairs. What else would you suggest -- keeping in mind a reasonable budget? Am totally at a loss of what to do with the old stuff. Thanks. Elizabeth Mayhew: Your furniture sounds incredible, but I would suggest painting a piece or two white or even black. That may sound like heresy, but, too much wood furniture is just too much. White or black paint will make the furniture pop and will give it an up-to-date look. Alternatively I would suggest checking out CB2 or West Elm for some affordable modern pieces that you can mix in, after all rooms look better with a mix of styles. Good luck! Rockville, Md.: There were a lot of tub refurbishing questions last week. Any suggestions on how to clean a tub from rust stains (from a shaving can) so that I can avoid refurbishing? Jura Koncius: Some people have suggested RoVer Rust Remover. Let the Light Shine!: For me, a kitchen today demands glass door cabinets; anything else seems so played out and cheap. Jura Koncius: I love my glass door cabinets, I must say. re: Terri's bathroom question: We recently redid our bathroom and took out the door. The room was quite tiny and the door was extremely awkward. So make sure it doesn't make for awkward towel-reaching! Plus, we didn't like how it was just asking for mildew. Terri Sapienza: Yes, these are my concerns. And now that I think about it, a door would hinder easy towel access. Great point. I think you just saved me and my husband hundreds of dollars. thank you! Washington, D.C.: I'm looking for a blue for my bedroom. I don't want anything that is towards the yellow/green side, and I don't want it too pale. I plan Doing white window treatments and pretty light bedding to offset the wall. Any color suggestions? Jura Koncius: Farrow & Ball Borrowed Light would be a nice choice. Or Mikonos by C2. Nursery Wall Sticks: We got ours from www.whatisblik.com, and I know that Etsy has a good selection, as well. Jura Koncius: Oh great. Thanks. Glass shower doors: I have flashbacks to childhood when I think of glass shower doors. Every time I took a shower my mom made me spray and squeegee the door so that it wouldn't have streaks or soap scum build up. I vowed never to have glass doors in my own house -- too much work! Jura Koncius: Yuck. Mommy Dearest. Rockville, Md.: Not sure if this falls under your purview or not. Can you suggest how I'd find a good family photographer, but not one that is a "studio" sort? I'd love to have nice, professional ones done outside and natural-looking, but have no idea where to start. Thanks! Elizabeth Mayhew: The best family photographer I know of is Monica Rich Kosann. Shower Door: Dear Terri, last fall we had our daughter's tiny bathroom remodeled and by far the biggest change to the space was the beautiful new shower door -- we opted for the cheaper semi-framed version -- which still looks sleeker than the older versions. And I find the glass is very easy to keep clean. My teen has a squeegee and I doubt she uses it much, but it still looks good. The openness and ability to see the nice tile work is a big plus. Go for it. Terri Sapienza: Oh, shoot. Now I'm re-thinking the curtain again. I think we would opt for a semi-framed version as well and we are having the shower completely retiled, so it would be nice to be able to see it. still thinking... Design Show House: This year, I appreciate almost every room in the house (unlike many in previous years). Interesting to see the color choices this year. Elizabeth, what is your reaction to the colors in the Design Show House? Elizabeth Mayhew: Haven't been to the Design Show House as I live in NYC (went to Georgetown though!). I would love to get down to see it... HomeGoods: What is HomeGoods? I just went to their website, which isn't really functioning. Is it new furniture or consignment? Also, does anyone have any feedback on Upscale Resale in Fairfax? I'm looking for a nice "comfy chair" for my den, and would prefer to get a better quality chair secondhand than a cheap new IKEA chair. Jura Koncius: HomeGoods is part of the Marshall's, TJMaxx company. They buy goods from all over when they can get good prices. Here is something from the ABOUT US section on their website. "Every store is packed with an ever-changing array of one-of-a-kind, and unexpectedly incredible finds from all over the world. ...Explore our eclectic merchandise mix. Distinctive home fashions like furniture, rugs, lighting, kitchen, dining and bed & bath . . . HomeGoods is also your destination for the basics, from kitchen essentials to luxurious towels. All priced 20-60% off department and specialty store prices. Our stores are always changing with new shipments arriving every week." Can I Donate Shades?: Thanks for taking my question. I just replaced my double cellular bedroom shades with something more opaque. The originals are still functional, though, and very nice, and I'd like to donate them. What home building/renovating charities that will take them? The only information I can find is on charities that don't want them. Are they just junk, now, or (hopefully) is there someone who could use them? Thanks! Terri Sapienza: Try an organization called A Wider Circle. They're a non-profit that provides furniture and other basic needs to families moving out of shelters or living in neglected neighborhoods. I'm not sure they have a use for shades, but it's worth a try. Kitchen question: Do you have any thoughts about oriental rugs in kitchens? Have a darkish grey tile floor I'd like to brighten up. Kitchen has light wood cabinets on both sides (galleyish kitchen), brownish-grey silestone counters, white appliances, and bright green glass tile backsplash. So other than the backsplash, it's pretty neutral. Jura Koncius: A lot of people like to warm up their kitchens using a rug. I think that look works best when the rug isn't too large. Just make sure you have a very secure and thick pad under it. Overwhelm, ED: Hi Elizabeth! I love watching you on the Today show and I've sent my fiance out to buy your book today. We're closing on our first house in about a month and just three weeks after our wedding. Though I think I have a pretty good sense of style and design, I'm a little overwhelmed by the thought of designing and decorating an entire house (especially since I don't have much time to think about it)! How do you suggest I start to break down the design process into smaller, less overwhelming steps? Are there any books, aside from your own that give good, basic instructions? Elizabeth Mayhew: First of all, congratulations on the wedding and the new house! I am so glad you are getting FLIP! because it will be perfect for you. Know that I have been married for 16 years and am still decorating! It is a process that takes time, but should be fun. I suggest you start with the most important and useful pieces: sofa, dining table, and bed. Also make sure you lay the groundwork for future additions -- paint and lighting are the most important! It is a blessing to live in a space for a while without tons of stuff; you will get a better sense of how you use your space. Good luck and take a deep breath... Pittsburgh, Pa.: Re: Glass shower doors for Terri: Ugh. I agree with all the cons in your list and will add to them my biggest complaint with ours: the track that the doors slide on. It's very uncomfortable to lean over the tub to clean it, do handwashing, or wash my hair in the spout with that metal track there. It also lessens available space for putting a wine glass or a book during a bath! washingtonpost.com: And if you ever break your ankle, you'll have a heck of a time getting in and out of the tub, because you can't lean on the edge. - Michele, speaking, unfortunately, from personal experience. Terri Sapienza: Ugh...awful. Though, this bathroom only has a shower, so we wouldn't have the tub issues. And I don't think the kind we are looking at have a track, but I'll have to double check that. thanks. And, Michele -- that's sounds like a terrible experience! Nursery wall stickers: Babygadget.net is my favorite place for all things baby decor. I know I have seen all kinds of wall stickers on there. Pottery Barn Kids also has some as does JCPenney.com. Beltsville, Md.: To Terri on the shower doors. I worked as a kitchen and bath designer at the now closed EXPO design center. There is a lot to consider. The custom frameless door are beautiful but if you are not doing new tile it is a little silly to spend all that money. A quick fix at Home Depot would be a "frameless style" door. They are in stock or in the special order section. At a price tag of $300-600. Compare to $1500-5000 for a custom frameless door depending on size. There is also a special treatment called "shower guard" that makes custom shower doors less likely to have buildup and streaks. I recommended that treatment to all of my clients and it really made a difference in cleaning. Terri Sapienza: Wow, this is great advice. Thank you! We are getting new tile, which is another reason for considering a glass door. And I think we would go with the "frameless style." There are other things in the house I'd rather spend $1500+ on. Thanks, again, for writing in. Very helpful. Sorry about Expo Baltimore: Hi, just moved into a new home and wanted to do something new with draperies. Do you know of any good online stores or a good specialty store? Jura Koncius: Try www.thecurtainexchange.com or www.silktrading.com Silver Spring, Md.: I received my first issue yesterday of Canadian House and Home. This magazine is pricey but I think I am going to really like it. That said, I ordered it about three months ago and JUST received it! It is very Domino-esque! Jura Koncius: How are Canadian homes different from ours? It would be interesting to see. I wonder how much the northern climate affects their decorating style. Just wanted to thank you for the beautiful pics from the Washington Design Show. I just love the chair on the front page of the Home section -- the one upholstered with the Greek key-like design. I also wanted to welcome Ms. Mayhew! I've seen some of her work in House Beautiful and always love how she works her magic. I was hoping Ms. Mayhew may have some advice for what kind of fabric to use on a bedskirt that I've been thinking of sewing. I'm new to sewing and DIY, so I'm hoping to use an old bedsheet as part that sits under the mattress, but wasn't sure what kind of fabric to use for the actual skirt. I have a rattan/seagrass woven bed from PB that I would like to soften and brighten the look of, but don't want a very stiff fabric and nothing too frilly -- you know, something for Baby Bear. Also, with such a dark bed, would you recommend painting the room gray? I'd like to give it a warmer look and I can't decide if I should go with a soft gray with warm yellow accents or just paint the room a barely-there yellow. Thanks for all the help! Love your discussion! Yes, paint your room gray! My bedroom is Benjamin Moore's Gray Owl (it is one of the 8 colors I recommend in my book). I find it very restful and soothing, plus it looks incredibly chic with dark wood furniture. As for your bed skirt, I am partial to all white -- I am not much of a sewer so I would take the easy route and order one from Garnet Hill. I love the white Orleans Scalloped style or the Cotton Hemstitched style. I am an all white girl when it comes to the bed -- it's crisp and clean. removing those rust stains: is simple with BarKeeper's Friend! Look for it at Lowe's, HD, Bed Bath & Beyond, local hardware stores and sometimes even the supermarket. It's also great on soap scum. Plus it's pretty inexpensive. Jura Koncius: Great tip. Thanks. Woodbridge: We just painted our master bedroom Bird's Egg from BM. We love it! It is such a pretty color and so soothing. With the south facing windows, it's very calming. We are getting ready to paint a nursery (Kittery Point Green) and a guest room (Yarmouth Blue). Lots of fun ahead! Terri Sapienza: Those are all great color choices. B'More Cat and Decorating Lover: Funny that you ask about installing glass shower doors. I am considering removing my glass/metal shower doors because they are impossible to keep clean and they leak! I'm hesitating because I'm not sure what condition the tile/tub will be from the adhesive. Any ideas/suggestions? Terri Sapienza: I'm not sure about that, but if it's a track that you're removing, I imagine there will be some damage to the tile. But I could be wrong. Best to ask an expert. Or maybe other chatters. Can anyone chime in here? Arlington, Va.: I moved into my first townhouse last fall. My first floor and guest room look great (I was given an entire Pottery Barn living room set by a friend, so it really did itself!), but it's time to redo (well, "do") my bedroom. It looks like I just threw a bed, dresser, and a few lamps in (which is what I did when I moved in). I have a few things up on the walls, but now that I have my tax return it's time to make an actual plan and buy some coordinating pieces. Where do I even start? I really want a finished look, a sanctuary, but it's overwhelming when I don't even know how to start. Elizabeth Mayhew: Start with the bed! It is always best to begin your decorating with the most important piece and there is no question that in the bedroom, it's the bed! Do you have an actual bed or headboard or just the mattress and box spring? You have to start with the framework first. Next invest in pillows, sheets, etc. Good lighting is also key to your bedroom -- skip the overheads and opt for two good reading lamps. Allergy-Free Bedroom: My allergist just told me that what can't be encased in my bedroom must be washed weekly in scalding hot water to destroy any lurking pollen, dust mites, etc. So much for my silk wine-colored duvet set. Is there any way to be sterile without looking it? Walls and carpet are neutral (off-white), furniture is dark cherry wood, and it's vaguely Asian. I'd be grateful for any suggestions to keep it from looking like a hospital suite. Thank you so much! Jura Koncius: I would get a duvet with a washable cotton cover. Stick to something white maybe with a border in another color. Many allergists prefer bare floors which can be kept clean better than wall to wall rugs can. You could do a painted floor for a neat look. Silver Spring, Md.: Good morning, ladies! I want to warm up my white living room with a mocha-style paint. SW's Macadamia looks good on the swatch but unappealing against the walls, and seems to have a greenish tint in some light. I'd like to go a bit darker, too. Can you help with color recommendations? Thanks! Love the Home Section and the chat. Terri Sapienza: I love the coffee/mocha paint color selections from Restoration Hardware. I am looking for a good carpet cleaning company in the area and it is a bonus if they do grout cleaning too, any suggestions? Thanks! Jura Koncius: Had a great review of Absolute Carpet Care in Dulles from a very exacting consumer. 703-584-5066. glass shower doors: I think glass doors on a tub/shower combination are a pain; I have sliding glass doors on my walk in shower and love them; a quick after shower spray with a shower cleaner keeps them virtually streak free. And no billowy curtains with mildew on the bottom. Terri Sapienza: Agreed. I think they would be a pain on a tub and easier on a shower. But either way: no track. Washington, D.C.: I got a great camelback sofa with carved claw feet from Second Chance in Baltimore, but it really needs to be reupholstered. I have the fabric selected. Any recommendations for where to get the work done in D.C.? Jura Koncius: Try The Workshop 202 232-4888. Those Canadians: I second the love for Canadian House and Home. Another good Canadian magazine is Style at Home. Both are available from Amazon. I miss my Domino, and these help! Jura Koncius: Wow. Who knew? Washington, D.C.: Stencils for rooms -- check out www.modellodesigns.com -- fantastic. Suburban MD: Can you offer some recommend some books/resources that show decorating tips for renters? The most flexibility I have in my plain vanilla apartment is painting the walls. I cannot pull up the carpet, install wall sconces, rearrange the kitchen, knock out walls.... All of the shelter mags and books I've read show some great before and afters, but they also involve things that renters cannot do. Can you help? (I've already discovered floating vinyl tiles in slate for the bathroom!) Elizabeth Mayhew: It's true that you can't pull up the wall-to-wall, but you can overlay a nice rug, sisal, or look into FLOR (they are squares of flooring that you can customize and take with you when you move). Paint is key, so you are lucky that your landlord will let you pick up a brush! You will be surprised how paint can transform. As for sconces, perhaps you can change out a shade or two? If you have ugly corners, exposed radiators or some architectural part of the apartment that you don't like, try hiding it behind a folding screen. My husband and I spent 10 years renting so I know exactly what you are going through. I just always spent my time and money on the things I could take with me rather than focusing on the things I couldn't change. Outside the house: Last weekend I got carried away and bought a flat of impatiens for my shady location. After the deed was done, I realized that we are weeks away from the frost date and I am probably not doing the plants any favors by keeping them in their little pots for another month. Can this situation be saved? Jura Koncius: Can you return them to the nursery and ask them to babysit them for you?" accent walls in Boston: Hi -- I am interested in adding an accent wall in my bedroom and/or guestroom/office. How do I pick which wall? Does it need to be the one behind the bed? Please advise. The walls are linen white and I will likely paint in a shade of green. Thanks. Terri Sapienza: I'm probably not the best person to answer this question because I am not a fan of accent walls. At all. And I don't understand the appeal. Why not either paint the entire room with the accent color OR leave the walls a neutral color and add the accent color with bedding and accessories? I'd love to hear from people who love accent walls and why they do. DC: I'm trying to lighten up a small, dark kitchen with birch cabinets and a light tan rug, but I'm not sure what to do for paint. I like the idea of a light, bright aqua. Any suggestions (for paint or other general room-lightening techniques)? Jura Koncius: I like the color Santa Barbara Green by Benjamin Moore. It looks like the waters off of that gorgeous city. The aqua color would definitely lighten things up a bit as would the birch cabinets. Choose stainless appliances and try to keep the clutter off your counters. removing glass/metal shower doors: Damage? The frame is installed by screws in the tile and a very strong gunk holds it on the bottom. I just took one out and it is a mess. Terri Sapienza: Yikes. That sounds pretty bad. Sorry. Did you remove a track or a frameless door? Nix on shower door: Removing the glass shower door was one of the first things I did when I bought my house. It was hard to keep clean and the track was always grungy. Plus, you get to change the look with a new shower curtain any time you want. I love my blue and white toile. Jura Koncius: Yes. I love my matelasse shower curtain I got at the Matouk outlet in Fall River, Mass. For Bowie: Look at near-neutral pale sand or peach tones. My parents recently did their guest room in a pale peachy sand, and it goes with almost everything but adds a little interest and warmth to the room. It sounded weird when Mom described it on the phone, but it looks gorgeous. Terri Sapienza: Try Benjamin Moore's Pale Almond. Painting stripes on wall(s): Hi. I am trying to solve dilemma of what to paint my LR, which is about 3 feet lower than the DR and therefore has 14 foot ceilings. Western exposure, so good light (less so when all the trees here in Reston bloom). Dining room is Behr Butter Touch with RL Candlelight over it. I have Behr Burnt Almond for the walls, but thought I'd paint a stripe pattern about 9 feet up, to tie in colors from the LR and emphasize the high ceilings. Can you recommend sites or books, magazines where I can see good examples of horizontal stripe patterns? Elizabeth Mayhew: Oh, my bathroom is painted in horizontal stripes exactly as you are describing! Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of it in my book because it is too small to get a camera in! To be honest, I think horizontal stripes look best in small spaces -- think foyer, hall, or bathroom/powder room. They can be overpowering in larger rooms and might accentuate the difference in the ceiling heights (not in a good way). I would worry less about tying the rooms together through paint and more about tying them together in style. Narragansett, R.I.: I have a question on kitchen cabinets. We are remodeling our kitchen at the beach. We have narrowed our choice to maple cabinets or white thermofoil beadboard. My question is regarding the white cabinets. The thermofoil is PVC over plywood and are supposed to be easy to clean. Will they yellow over time or has anyone had experience with them? Our floors are maple laminate. Thanks for your help. I look forward to the chats each week. Jura Koncius: Does your choice involve a budgetary concern? Maple cabinets would last longer, but I assume they are more expensive. The white cabinets would look fresh and clean and make the space look a bit larger. Washington, D.C.: A tip that I always do to prevent the rust ring stains on my tub from my shaving can. I use nail polish and cover the bottom metal ring and ever since then I never had to deal with the stains. Jura Koncius: Oh terrific tip. Alex, VA: Someone wrote in looking for wall appliques. Try www.walltats.com. Very cool designs. Easy on and easy off. Outdoor photography: We've used Pat Stewart twice, with great results. No child is too rambunctious for him to cope with. Curtainless house: We recently moved into a new house. It's in a very wooded area, and the previous owners didn't have any curtains, except for some of those honeycomb shades in the bedrooms and the room I'm using as an office. So no curtains in the living room, kitchen, dining room, or family room. I'm terrible with window treatments, and have a secret desire to leave the windows bare. Is this a terrible idea? Really, no-one can see in because of all the growth. Elizabeth Mayhew: There is nothing wrong with leaving the windows bare especially if you have all of the privacy you need. The only thing to keep in mind is what the windows look like at night -- they can be icy and black. If you want to have the option of covering them at night, you can do very sheer curtains that almost disappear during the day when they are open, but soften the windows at night when they are drawn. Accent walls: Terri, I agree. Hate 'em. I think they are very 80s (no offense to the poster asking about them). But if someone loves them, by all means go ahead and paint one -- it's your space and you should love it! Terri Sapienza: My thoughts exactly. I think people should do whatever they want and love in their homes regardless of what others think. Northern Virginia: I love aqua, great choice for a kitchen! For a lighter summer look, I would like to replace our faded red dining room curtains with lace curtains and wood blinds. I've been blind shopping and see that to install the 2" blinds inside the frame, your windows have to be pretty deep. The 1" version would work but they aren't really in style, are they? I'm really wanting to do this but don't want to invest in something that will look out of fashion from day 1. Thank you. Jura Koncius: If one inch is all that would fit, go for it. Wood blinds are pretty universally in style. Accent wall: I have one in my living room and absolutely love it. it is a poppy red and the other walls are taupe. It is the wall you see when you first walk into the house and it makes me smile every time. It helps that it is the wall with the sliding door and window and has a light TV armoire on it so it isn't totally painted. Terri Sapienza: Sounds nice, especially because it makes you so happy. Arlington, Va.: Can you please recommend a green for a front door and garage door? House is typical red/orange brick. I don't want sage and I don't want a leafy green or evergreen. Basically a medium green that says "mission style" -- I've seen it on some houses in No. Va., but can't really describe it. Elizabeth Mayhew: I used a very dark green, almost black. I think it was Essex Green from Benjamin Moore. Family Portraits: I like Stephanie from CleverlyCandid.com -- she has 3 boys of her own under 7, she knows how to wrangle the kids. Illinois: For Elizabeth: Don't tease us! What are the 5-8 perfect paint colors? For Terri: Guess I'm in the minority, but I loved my glass shower doors. Using the squeegee never bothered me -- 20 seconds and you're done. Elizabeth Mayhew: You have to buy my book to find out!!! They are 8 colors that I have used over and over (as the former style editor at both REAL SIMPLE and HOUSE BEAUTIFUL I have tested hundreds of colors over the years) and these are my favorites. A good rule of thumb: Look at Farrow & Ball paints -- expensive, but beautiful. Look at Benjamin Moore's Historic Charleston colors. Elizabeth Mayhew: So sorry to sign off, but I have to go. Loved your questions! You can continue to send them to me at www.elizabethmayhew.com Jura Koncius: We are out of time but we want to thank Elizabeth Mayhew for enlivening our discussion today with her wisdom. Don't miss the article on her today in the Washington Post Home section. Thanks everyone for joining us. Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.
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Post Home Section staffers Jura Koncius and Terri Sapienza take questions on your decorating dilemmas. This week they explore the D.C. Design House and are joined by Elizabeth Mayhew, whose first book, Flip! for Decorating, is just out.
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Do you have a leadership dilemma that's keeping you up at night? Maybe your question is about how to deal with the challenges facing your organization, inspire those who work for you, or manage a merger. Maybe it's about how to hold a tough conversation or bring more volunteers into your nonprofit organization. We are here to help you answer those questions. The three of us, Ron Heifetz, Alexander Grashow, and Marty Linsky, are principals at Cambridge Leadership Associates, a leadership consulting firm. Ron and Marty are on the Harvard faculty, and together with CLA, we've helped thousands of talented and emerging leaders work through all types of challenges. We'll respond to questions from readers on this blog and offer our practical advice on how to survive and thrive in times of continuous change. We hope you'll offer your own advice and feedback to further engage with us. You can send your questions anytime to [email protected], or simply write your question in the comment section of this blog. We are sharing our expertise with you, and we hope you'll share your experiences and insights with us. Inventing the new leadership needed today is a collaborative act, and in this online House Call, "doctors" and clients are partners in the journey. In this time of crisis, no one person has all the answers. We are all at the frontiers of leadership. Here's some more information about us: Cambridge Leadership Associates (CLA) is an international leadership development practice and the home of Adaptive Leadership. Its founders, Harvard Faculty Ron Heifetz and Marty Linsky, have been at the forefront of leadership practice and theory for more than three decades. Working with teams and individuals across the private, public and non-profit sectors, CLA is focused directly on the difficult process of leading change in the midst of uncertainty and turbulence. The contributors to this blog include the co-authors of a new book, The Practice of Adaptive Leadership, published this spring by Harvard Business Press. This book, the third from Cambridge Leadership Associates focused on the framework of Adaptive Leadership, is a hands-on guide for leadership practitioners, providing a set of stories, diagrams, techniques, and activities that will help individuals assess and address the toughest challenges before them. Marty Linsky has had 25 years experience as a leadership consultant, author and educator. His clients come from public, private and non-profit sectors in the US and abroad. Marty has been on the faculty at Harvard's Kennedy School since 1979, except for three years as Chief Secretary to the Governor of Massachusetts. He has been chair of several of the School's Executive Programs on leadership. He came to Harvard after careers in politics and journalism, having served as a Massachusetts state legislator, an editorial writer and reporter for The Boston Globe, and editor of The Real Paper. In addition to contributing regularly to the On Leadership panel discussion, Marty blogs at Linsky on Leadership. Graduate of Williams College and Harvard Law School, Marty is married, the father of three children, and a vegetarian. For relaxation he runs (nine marathons, but no more), and enjoys good beer and Mexican food (a reward for exercise). Alexander Grashow is a Managing Director of Cambridge Leadership Associates responsible for the overall design and content of CLA programs. He has worked extensively with executive teams and is experienced in delivering adaptive leadership in a variety of formats and geographies. Alexander came to CLA from The Synergos Institute, where he was the co-founder and director of the Bridging Leadership Program, that designed collaborative partnerships and leadership trainings across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the United States Alexander has been on the executive education faculty at the Wagner School at New York University, Duke Corporate Education and the Harvard Kennedy School. A graduate of Wesleyan University, and a former Coro Fellow, Alexander studied economics and fine arts (a serious Japanese printmaker) and is also the co-founder of the US-Africa Children's Fellowship, an international non-profit that that partners with schools in Africa. Alexander lives with his wife Yasuko and their children, Sakura and ShÅgo in Brooklyn, NY, and spends significant time in Japan. CLA co-founder Ron Heifetz, is also the founding director of the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. He is renowned worldwide for his seminal work on the practice and teaching of leadership; he speaks and consults extensively in the United States and abroad with leaders in business, government, and nonprofit organizations. Dr. Heifetz's research at Harvard focuses on how to build adaptive capacity in societies, businesses, and nonprofits. His courses on leadership and authority are among the most popular in the university, and his widely acclaimed book, Leadership Without Easy Answers has been translated into many languages and is currently in its twelfth printing. Leadership on the Line: Staying Alive through the Dangers of Leading, written with Marty Linsky, was published in 2002. A graduate of Columbia University, Harvard Medical School, and the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Heifetz is also a physician and a cellist, having studied with the Russian virtuoso, Gregor Piatigorsky. By Andrea Useem | April 7, 2009; 2:21 PM ET | Category: Leadership Share This: Technorati | Del.icio.us | Digg | Facebook Next: Keeping Focused on the Long-Term
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On Leadership features Steven Pearlstein and Ben Bradlee and other leadership figures in debates on leadership, motivation and vision. Join the conversation at On Leadership.
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-- Patricia Mountjoy, Hanover, Pa. The sun would have to be quite low in the sky indeed to literally cast the Capitol's shadow all the way to the site of the original Sibley Hospital, but it certainly cast it figuratively. From 1895 to 1961, Sibley Memorial Hospital was at North Capitol and Pierce streets NE, about 10 blocks from the Capitol. It was built thanks to the generosity of William J. Sibley, who had made money in the lumber business before becoming prominent in the Washington banking and insurance scene. He was also active in the Methodist church. The church ran something called the Lucy Webb Hayes National Training School for Deaconesses and Missionaries. Students learned nursing skills and did good works in the community. "What they discovered was that they really needed a hospital to take patients to," said Dorothy Hunt, the hospital's spokeswoman and herself an "old Sibley baby," Class of 1944. Sibley came through with $10,000 to honor his late wife, Dorothy Lowndes Sibley, and the red-brick, 20-bed hospital was built. The Post rhapsodized when the hospital opened. "The wards, with their snowy cots and dainty appointments, are so inviting as to rob suffering of much of its terror," wrote an unnamed reporter. "The operating room, dispensary, and even the room used for cooking on the second floor are so constructed that the fumes from the food will escape without being perceptible." The hospital doubled in size in 1900; another building was added in 1913. Sibley continued to grow but was constrained by its location, and in the 1950s hospital administrators started looking for a new location. They settled on a site at American University, itself a Methodist-affiliated institution, and oversaw a merger with the old Hahnemann Hospital, a homeopathic institution. The neighbors, however, were not happy. They battled Sibley for years, and in the end ground was broken for the hospital on Loughboro Road NW, near the Dalecarlia Reservoir. On May 30, 1961, a fleet of ambulances moved 77 patients from the old hospital to the new one. The caravan included 10 babies, including the last baby to be born in the shadow of the Capitol, a 7-pound, 14-ounce boy. The hospital would not give out the newborn's name without permission from the parents. And the baby, The Post wrote, "wasn't talking." Answer Man was unable to find any data that confirmed that the Pearl Harbor attack induced labor, but two studies suggest it's not so far-fetched. Researchers in Croatia noted an increase in premature babies in the Croatian town of Zadar between 1990 and 1992, during the war in the Balkans. And a 2007 paper published in the journal Human Reproduction found an increase in low-birth-weight babies among women in New York City the week after 9/11. "Stress may contribute to observed associations," wrote the authors. More on "Truxtun" vs. "Truxton," the former being the spelling of a U.S. naval officer during the Revolutionary War, the latter the way a Washington traffic circle in his honor was spelled: Grover Hinds of Ellicott City pointed out that such switcheroos were not uncommon. The circle we know as Tenley Circle and the neighborhood we know as Tenleytown are named after the tavern keeper who spelled his name John Tennally. And Loughboro Road takes its name from Nathan Lufborough. Wrote Grover: "Lufborough was a Treasury official who moved to Washington with the federal government from Philadelphia in 1800. His home, Milton, was nearby in Maryland." Still looking for a Duke Ellington commemorative D.C. quarter? The Industrial Bank of Washington has them at its seven area branches. Send your questions about the Washington area to [email protected].
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Iwas born Dec. 11, 1941, at Sibley Hospital. My father always said I was born "in the shadow of the Capitol." My father died before I asked specifically where the hospital was. Where was the original Sibley? I was also told that my mother had her bed in the hall because many women suddenly went into...
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A U.S. Education Department study released yesterday found that District students who were given vouchers to attend private schools outperformed public school peers on reading tests, findings likely to reignite debate over the fate of the controversial program. The D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, the first federal initiative to spend taxpayer dollars on private school tuition, was created by a Republican-led Congress in 2004 to help students from low-income families. Congress has cut off federal funding after the 2009-10 school year unless lawmakers vote to reauthorize it. Overall, the study found that students who used the vouchers received reading scores that placed them nearly four months ahead of peers who remained in public school. However, as a group, students who had been in the lowest-performing public schools did not show those gains. There was no difference in math performance between the groups. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said in a statement that the Obama administration does not want to pull participating students out of the program but does not support its continuation. "Big picture, I don't see vouchers as being the answer," Duncan said in a recent meeting with Washington Post editors and reporters. "You can pull two kids out, you can pull three kids out, and you're leaving 97, 98 percent behind. You need to help all those kids. The way you help them is by challenging the status quo where it's not working and coming back with dramatically better schools and doing it systemically." Since it began, the voucher program has awarded scholarships to more than 3,000 students from low-income families, granting up to $7,500 a year for tuition and other fees at participating schools. This school year, about 1,715 students are participating. The Bush administration, and many Republicans, have championed the program as a "lifeline" for students in struggling schools. Supporters hailed the congressionally mandated study as proof the program works. "With concrete evidence in hand that this program is a success, we look forward to reauthorizing it as quickly as possible," Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon (Calif.), the top Republican on the House education committee, said in a statement. The study, conducted by the Education Department's research arm, the Institute of Education Sciences, compared the performance and attitudes of students with scholarships with those of peers who were eligible but weren't chosen in a lottery. Parents of students in the program were more satisfied with their children's new schools and considered the schools safer, the report found. Students showed no difference in their level of satisfaction. In a letter Thursday to Duncan, several GOP leaders urged him to continue awarding grants. "Under no circumstances should the funds be withheld by the U.S. Department of Education when so many children in the District need and deserve access to a quality school today," House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) and other lawmakers wrote. Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.), whose Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs has jurisdiction over the District, has said he plans to hold hearings on the program.
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A report finds that children receiving vouchers to attend D.C. private schools have made modest gains in reading but no progress on math scores.
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But the Assemblies of God minister is watching President Obama warily. He opposes abortion and backed last year's California referendum that banned same-sex marriage, which puts him at odds with the new president. At the same time, Rodriguez has joined with more liberal religious leaders to embrace social justice goals and global warming initiatives, as well as to seek common ground on abortion by focusing on reducing the number of procedures. The California-based Rodriguez is founder and president of the Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference. Although he is known more for his political activism than his self-help advice, he has recently published "Path of Miracles: The Seven Life-Changing Principles That Lead to Purpose and Fulfillment." He spoke recently to Washington Post religion reporter Jacqueline L. Salmon about his new book, faith in trying economic times and Obama's initial days in office. In the interview, he said that when he was younger, he didn't see a connection between social activism and preaching. "At the time, I understood that they came from two different streams -- it was either church or society. Preachers shouldn't be involved in politics. As time went on, the emergence of that hybrid, that synergy, really came to fruition and here we are." Q: Why did you write "Path of Miracles"? A: I wanted to speak to the possibility and the assurance that, through our faith narrative, we can experience miracles on a daily basis. We've seen books written to the extreme; where it's all about confessions and material luxury -- getting richer and succeeding and formulas for success. I wanted to talk about miracles that deal with our daily lives and how we treat each other and how we can reconcile. In the book, you say that if you follow your principles "and you pray for a house, you're not going to get a house -- you'll get a house with a swimming pool in the backyard and a car out front." Aren't you preaching the prosperity gospel -- that God rewards the faithful with material prosperity? Notice how throughout the rest of the book, there is no sort of emphasis on that sort of material wealth-acquisition process. What I wanted to say was that in life, if we follow these principles, there are some biblical laws, there are some natural laws ordained by God, depicted through scripture -- not only by the Bible but by many faith narratives, we will be able to do "exceedingly abundantly above all." [Ephesians 3:20 "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us."] In a simplistic way, it pertains to the house, but it has to do with a lot more than that. It has to do with relationships, our intrinsic self-assurance, our joy, our level of happiness, our level of self-satisfaction, our level of peace. That's more the message, rather than the house with the swimming pool. You were using the house with a swimming pool as a metaphor? A metaphor for all aspects of our lives. Now, can the Lord bless you exceedingly, abundantly above all even as it pertains to a house? Absolutely. But it goes way beyond a house with a swimming pool. It's a metaphor for "exceedingly abundantly above all."
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T he REV. SAMUEL RODRIGUEZ helped oversee a shift of Latino voters, disillusioned with the Republican Party over failed immigration reform, toward the Democratic Party in the November election.
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» This Story:Read +|Watch +|Talk + { "movie":"http://media10.washingtonpost.com/wp/swf/OmniPlayer.swf", "id":"oplayer-video-swf", "width":"100%", height:"100%", "vars":{ "title":"Raw Video: G-20 Family Photo", "stillURL":"http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/04/02/PH2009040200915.jpg", "mediaQueryString":"http://static.washingtonpost.com/wp/swf/OmniPlayer.swf?id=04022009-3v&flvURL=/media/2009/04/02/04022009-3v&playAds=true&adZone=wpni.video.bc&canShare=false" }, "params":{ "allowFullScreen":"true" } } Suspicious package sits at Fed building for months Toyota expects to halt production in U.S. Aerial view of Japan destruction Truck dangles over ramp; two trapped Aftermath of blast, Gaza strikes Elementary class graduate after tsunami Baking behind bars on Rikers Island Plea deal nixed in Conn. home invasion case Police: Teen shot guardians after being grounded Playing the oil prices money game Elizabeth Taylor's stand against AIDS Obama struggles to enter White House Radioactive water triggers fear in Japan Buying a new home means paying more Allied forces crippling Gaddafi's power Goldman CEO offers no cover for ex-boardmember Audio: Silence in the tower at DCA Libya mission gaining; U.S. looks to cede control Deadly plane crash in Republic of Congo Strong storms bring wild weather Watchdog groups want Ukraine zoo closed Blast at bus station shakes Jerusalem Japan buries its dead as radiation fears grow Obama struggles to enter White House Obama again defends U.S. involvement in Libya McCain on no-fly zone: "It's been very effective" U.S. fighter jet crashes in Libya Obama lauds Chile's transition to democracy Coalition stops Gaddafi push on rebel stronghold The Post's Perry Bacon on Obama in Chile Obama favors Gaddafi stepping down Palin: 'Overwhelming' to be in Israel Gates: U.S. will soon yield control in Libya The Fast Fix - Is Romney winning the base? Obama: Brazil's democracy example to Arab world Obama plays soccer with Brazil youth Obama authorizes military action against Libya The Post's Forero analyzes Obama's trip to Brazil Obama: Coalition prepared to act in Libya Banks boost dividends as Fed loosens leash Wisc. judge blocks controversial union law Obama: U.S. ready to enforce sanctions in Libya Clinton: 'No other choice' in Libya Westfield and Robinson tie, 1-1 Post Sports Live: Boudreau vs. McPhee - who deserves more credit? Post Sports Live: Sweet 16 preview Post Sports Live: Alex Ovechkin's mysterious injury Post Sports Live, March 22 Georgetown Prep beats Langley, 12-3 Post Sports Live: Verizon Center has Big East feel for NCAA Tourney Ali asks Iran to free U.S. hikers JaVale McGee on his first triple-double Post Sports Live: Mason faces tough road in East region Post Sports Live: Georgetown's chances rest on Wright's hand Navy knocks out in-state rival Towson, 14-11 Georgetown draws 5th-seed, faces Princeton this Sunday Post Sports Live: NCAA Tournament preview Post Sports Live, March 15 George Mason reacts to first-round matchup with Villanova Sneak peek: 'History Will Be Made' North Point claims 4A title Centennial loses to Milford Mill, 56-44 Toyota expects to halt production in U.S. Aerial view of Japan destruction Aftermath of blast, Gaza strikes Elementary class graduate after tsunami No Tweeting: A royal wedding etiquette guide Playing the oil prices money game Radioactive water triggers fear in Japan Allied forces crippling Gaddafi's power Libya mission gaining; U.S. looks to cede control Deadly plane crash in Republic of Congo Watchdog groups want Ukraine zoo closed Blast at bus station shakes Jerusalem Japan buries its dead as radiation fears grow Mass protests in Yemen as emergency law imposed Bomb explodes at Jerusalem bus stop Obama again defends U.S. involvement in Libya Missing Va. teacher's body located in Japan U.S. fighter jet crashes in Libya Carriages prepared for royal wedding Japan slowly recovers, mourns dead Obama lauds Chile's transition to democracy Coalition stops Gaddafi push on rebel stronghold The Post's Perry Bacon on Obama in Chile Truck dangles over ramp; two trapped Post Today, March 24: U-Md. demands nuclear fallout info Baking behind bars on Rikers Island No Tweeting: A royal wedding etiquette guide Police: Teen shot guardians after being grounded Elizabeth Taylor's stand against AIDS Obama struggles to enter White House Aflac debuts Gilbert Gottfried-less commercial Strong storms bring wild weather Elizabeth Taylor's tempestuous love affair Adorable polar bear twins meet the public Bomb explodes at Jerusalem bus stop Elizabeth Taylor dies at 79 Massive shark spotted off Florida coast Iowa tornado caught on tape Post Today, March 23: Naming military operations Circus elephants take a walk through D.C. Missing Va. teacher's body located in Japan Footage of crashed U.S. fighter jet U.S. fighter jet crashes in Libya Carriages prepared for royal wedding
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World leaders posed for pictures at the start of the G-20 Summit in London. The leaders are trying to work together to solve the world's economic problems. Video by AP
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AThis virus (sometimes called Downadup) has been infecting Windows computers for the past several months. It's an exceptionally persistent, aggressive threat. It can spread over shared flash-memory drives, and the most recent variant even blocks access to Web sites of security-software vendors. (If you can't reach http://microsoft.com, your PC is in trouble.) On April 1, copies of Conficker may download extra-malicious code -- to do what remains unclear -- so you'd better make sure your PC is clean before then. The Internet Storm Center, a project of the Bethesda-based SANS Institute, maintains a list of links to Conficker-removal tools from numerous security-software developers (http://isc.sans.org/diary.html?storyid =5860). Since Conficker can stop you from getting to that page and those links, you may need to borrow an uninfected machine to download a removal tool. Some vendors also have set up alternate Web addresses that Conficker doesn't know about; for instance, try http://fsecure.com or http://bdtools.net for free Conficker fixes from F-Secure and BitDefender. Of course, if you've set Windows to install Microsoft security patches automatically and have kept your anti-virus utility current, you should be safe. So if you haven't been downloading those updates, now would be a swell time to start. My four-year-old laptop's screen has gone almost completely dark. Can I fix that? The small fluorescent backlight inside the screen has broken or burned out. A computer store should be able to replace it, but that can easily cost several hundred dollars. You may find that it makes more sense to scrap the old computer and buy a new one. Rob Pegoraro attempts to untangle computing conundrums and errant electronics each week. Send questions to The Washington Post, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071 or [email protected]. Turn to Thursday's Business section or visit washingtonpost.com anytime for his Fast Forward column.
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Q: How can I tell if my computer has been hit by Conficker? How would I remove it?
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» This Story:Read +|Watch + { "movie":"http://media10.washingtonpost.com/wp/swf/OmniPlayer.swf", "id":"oplayer-video-swf", "width":"100%", height:"100%", "vars":{ "title":"Full News Conference: Obama", "stillURL":"http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/03/24/PH2009032402942.jpg", "mediaQueryString":"http://static.washingtonpost.com/wp/swf/OmniPlayer.swf?id=03242009-8v&flvURL=/media/2009/03/24/03242009-8v&playAds=true&adZone=wpni.video.bc&canShare=false" }, "params":{ "allowFullScreen":"true" } } Suspicious package sits at Fed building for months Toyota expects to halt production in U.S. Aerial view of Japan destruction Truck dangles over ramp; two trapped Aftermath of blast, Gaza strikes Elementary class graduate after tsunami Baking behind bars on Rikers Island Plea deal nixed in Conn. home invasion case Police: Teen shot guardians after being grounded Playing the oil prices money game Elizabeth Taylor's stand against AIDS Obama struggles to enter White House Radioactive water triggers fear in Japan Buying a new home means paying more Allied forces crippling Gaddafi's power Goldman CEO offers no cover for ex-boardmember Audio: Silence in the tower at DCA Libya mission gaining; U.S. looks to cede control Deadly plane crash in Republic of Congo Strong storms bring wild weather Watchdog groups want Ukraine zoo closed Blast at bus station shakes Jerusalem Japan buries its dead as radiation fears grow Obama struggles to enter White House Obama again defends U.S. involvement in Libya McCain on no-fly zone: "It's been very effective" U.S. fighter jet crashes in Libya Obama lauds Chile's transition to democracy Coalition stops Gaddafi push on rebel stronghold The Post's Perry Bacon on Obama in Chile Obama favors Gaddafi stepping down Palin: 'Overwhelming' to be in Israel Gates: U.S. will soon yield control in Libya The Fast Fix - Is Romney winning the base? Obama: Brazil's democracy example to Arab world Obama plays soccer with Brazil youth Obama authorizes military action against Libya The Post's Forero analyzes Obama's trip to Brazil Obama: Coalition prepared to act in Libya Banks boost dividends as Fed loosens leash Wisc. judge blocks controversial union law Obama: U.S. ready to enforce sanctions in Libya Clinton: 'No other choice' in Libya Westfield and Robinson tie, 1-1 Post Sports Live: Boudreau vs. McPhee - who deserves more credit? Post Sports Live: Sweet 16 preview Post Sports Live: Alex Ovechkin's mysterious injury Post Sports Live, March 22 Georgetown Prep beats Langley, 12-3 Post Sports Live: Verizon Center has Big East feel for NCAA Tourney Ali asks Iran to free U.S. hikers JaVale McGee on his first triple-double Post Sports Live: Mason faces tough road in East region Post Sports Live: Georgetown's chances rest on Wright's hand Navy knocks out in-state rival Towson, 14-11 Georgetown draws 5th-seed, faces Princeton this Sunday Post Sports Live: NCAA Tournament preview Post Sports Live, March 15 George Mason reacts to first-round matchup with Villanova Sneak peek: 'History Will Be Made' North Point claims 4A title Centennial loses to Milford Mill, 56-44 Toyota expects to halt production in U.S. Aerial view of Japan destruction Aftermath of blast, Gaza strikes Elementary class graduate after tsunami No Tweeting: A royal wedding etiquette guide Playing the oil prices money game Radioactive water triggers fear in Japan Allied forces crippling Gaddafi's power Libya mission gaining; U.S. looks to cede control Deadly plane crash in Republic of Congo Watchdog groups want Ukraine zoo closed Blast at bus station shakes Jerusalem Japan buries its dead as radiation fears grow Mass protests in Yemen as emergency law imposed Bomb explodes at Jerusalem bus stop Obama again defends U.S. involvement in Libya Missing Va. teacher's body located in Japan U.S. fighter jet crashes in Libya Carriages prepared for royal wedding Japan slowly recovers, mourns dead Obama lauds Chile's transition to democracy Coalition stops Gaddafi push on rebel stronghold The Post's Perry Bacon on Obama in Chile Truck dangles over ramp; two trapped Post Today, March 24: U-Md. demands nuclear fallout info Baking behind bars on Rikers Island No Tweeting: A royal wedding etiquette guide Police: Teen shot guardians after being grounded Elizabeth Taylor's stand against AIDS Obama struggles to enter White House Aflac debuts Gilbert Gottfried-less commercial Strong storms bring wild weather Elizabeth Taylor's tempestuous love affair Adorable polar bear twins meet the public Bomb explodes at Jerusalem bus stop Elizabeth Taylor dies at 79 Massive shark spotted off Florida coast Iowa tornado caught on tape Post Today, March 23: Naming military operations Circus elephants take a walk through D.C. Missing Va. teacher's body located in Japan Footage of crashed U.S. fighter jet U.S. fighter jet crashes in Libya Carriages prepared for royal wedding
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President Obama held a prime-time news conference Tuesday addressing the economic recession, his administration's recovery strategy, and other current events during the first 60 days of his presidency.Video by AP
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Eating red meat increases the chances of dying prematurely, according to the first large study to examine whether regularly eating beef or pork increases mortality. The study of more than 500,000 middle-aged and elderly Americans found that those who consumed about four ounces of red meat a day (the equivalent of about a small hamburger) were more than 30 percent more likely to die during the 10 years they were followed, mostly from heart disease and cancer. Sausage, cold cuts and other processed meats also increased the risk. Previous research had found a link between red meat and an increased risk of heart disease and cancer, particularly colorectal cancer, but the new study is the first large examination of the relationship between eating meat and overall risk of death, and is by far the most detailed. "The bottom line is we found an association between red meat and processed meat and an increased risk of mortality," said Rashmi Sinha of the National Cancer Institute, who led the study published yesterday in the Archives of Internal Medicine. In contrast, routine consumption of fish, chicken, turkey and other poultry decreased the risk of death by a small amount. "The uniqueness of this study is its size and length of follow-up," said Barry M. Popkin, a professor of global nutrition at the University of North Carolina, who wrote an editorial accompanying the study. "This is a slam-dunk to say that, 'Yes, indeed, if people want to be healthy and live longer, consume less red and processed meat.' " There are many explanations for how red meat might be unhealthy: Cooking red meat generates cancer-causing compounds; red meat is also high in saturated fat, which has been associated with breast and colorectal cancer; and meat is high in iron, also believed to promote cancer. People who eat red meat are more likely to have high blood pressure and cholesterol, which increases the risk of heart disease. Processed meats contain substances known as nitrosamines, which have been linked to cancer. Although pork is often promoted as "white meat," it is believed to increase the risk of cancer because of its iron content, Sinha said. Regardless of the mechanism, the research provides new evidence that people should follow long-standing recommendations to minimize consumption of red meat, several experts said. "The take-home message is pretty clear," said Walter Willett, a nutrition expert at the Harvard School of Public Health. "It would be better to shift from red meat to white meat such as chicken and fish, which if anything is associated with lower mortality." The American Meat Institute, a trade group, dismissed the findings, however, saying they were based on unreliable self-reporting by the study participants. "Meat products are part of a healthy, balanced diet, and studies show they actually provide a sense of satisfaction and fullness that can help with weight control. Proper body weight contributes to good health overall," James H. Hodges, the group's executive vice president, said in a written statement. For the study, researchers analyzed data from 545,653 predominantly white volunteers, ages 50 to 71, participating in the National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study. In 1995, the subjects filled out detailed questionnaires about their diets, including meat consumption. Over the next 10 years, 47,976 men and 23,276 women died. After accounting for other variables that might confound the findings, such as smoking and physical activity, the researchers found that those who ate the most red meat -- about a quarter-pound a day -- were more likely to die of any reason, and from heart disease and cancer in particular, than those who ate the least -- the equivalent of a couple of slices of ham a day. Among women, those who ate the most red meat were 36 percent more likely to die for any reason, 20 percent more likely to die of cancer and 50 percent more likely to die of heart disease. Men who ate the most meat were 31 percent more likely to die for any reason, 22 percent more likely to die of cancer and 27 percent more likely to die of heart disease. In contrast, those who consumed the most white meat were about 8 percent less likely to die during the study period than those who ate the least, the researchers found. Poultry contains more unsaturated fat, which improves cholesterol levels, and fish contains omega-3 fatty acids, which are believed to help reduce the risk of heart disease. The risk also rose among those who consumed the most processed meat, which included any kind of sausage, cold cuts or hot dogs. Women who consumed the most processed meat (about an ounce a day) were about 25 percent more likely to die overall, about 11 percent more likely to die of cancer and about 38 percent more likely to die from heart disease, compared to those who ate the least. The men who ate the most processed meat were 16 percent more likely to die for any reason, about 12 percent more likely to die of cancer and about 9 percent more likely to die of heart disease. Experts stressed that the findings do not mean that people need to eliminate red meat from their diet, but instead should avoid eating it every day. "You can be very healthy being a vegetarian, but you can be very healthy being a non-vegetarian if you keep your red-meat intake low," Willett said. "If you are eating meat twice a day and can cut back to once a day there's a big benefit. If you cut back to two or three times a week there's even more benefit. If you eliminate it entirely, there's a little more benefit, but the big benefit is getting away from everyday red-meat consumption." In addition to the health benefits, a major reduction in the eating of red meat would probably have a host of other benefits to society, Popkin said: reducing water shortages and pollution, cutting energy consumption, and tamping down greenhouse gas emissions -- all of which are associated with large-scale livestock production. "There's a big interplay between the global increase in animal food intake and the effects on climate change," he said. "If we cut by a few ounces a day our red-meat intake, we would have big impact on emissions and environmental degradation."
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The Washington Post Health section provides coverage and analysis of health,healthcare,nutrition and fitness news,trends and policy. Post Health includes discussions and blogs about major health issues.
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The bombings came on a day that Iraq's government had touted as another step in the restoration of normalcy to Baghdad. The capital buzzed with security for the arrival of Turkey's president, Abdullah Gul, the first visit by a Turkish head of state in 30 years. U.S. officials have said attacks like Monday's reflect desperation by insurgents, and cite numbers that show violence has dropped to levels not seen since 2003. But hundreds of Iraqis still die in attacks every month, and there is anxiety that violence may escalate as the U.S. military withdraws. Monday's deadliest attack came when a bomber blew himself up inside a crowded tent at a funeral for the brother of a Kurdish official in Jalawla, in the fertile province of Diyala, northeast of Baghdad. Interior Ministry officials said 25 people were killed and 45 wounded, many of them mourners paying condolences. Local police said 20 people were killed and 44 wounded. Witnesses, reached by telephone, said the bomber exploded himself after the evening prayers, sending a fireball through the tent. By nightfall, nothing was left except the tent's metal scaffolding, and chairs littering the ground. Witnesses said survivors carried out the dead and wounded, who screamed in pain. "We went inside the tent, and just a moment later, I heard a huge explosion and everything went black," said Riyadh Kamil al-Qaisi, a 34-year-old brought to the hospital in Jalawla with wounds to his right leg and face. Snared in a still-resilient insurgency, Diyala remains one of Iraq's most precarious regions. Its population is a mix of Sunni and Shiite, Arab and Kurd. Arabs there have bristled at what they view as Kurdish territorial ambitions, and insurgents still wield influence across the province. The funeral was for the brother of Khalil Abbas Khudadat, an official in the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, the party led by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, officials said. Ibrahim Hassan Bajilan, a member of the Diyala provincial council and an official with Talabani's party, said the majority of those killed and wounded were from his party. Earlier on Monday, police said a powerful blast tore through a house in Haswa, 15 miles east of Fallujah, killing nine people. Hospital officials said eight people were wounded. The Interior Ministry put the number of injured at 23. Police said the blast targeted Emad and Ayad al-Halbousi, brothers who served as leaders of Awakening -- a tribal uprising that, with U.S. support, helped defeat insurgents in Sunni regions. The family of Ayad al-Halbousi discovered an explosive planted outside the house Monday morning, said Mohammed al-Zawbae, a Haswa police major. The family alerted police, who came to disarm it. As family members and neighbors waited outside in the street, another explosive tore through Emad al-Halbousi's house before noon, he said. Both brothers were killed, along with three of their children, said Khalil al-Dulaimi, a doctor at Abu Ghraib Hospital, near the town.
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BAGHDAD, March 23 -- Bombs tore through two of Iraq's most dangerous regions Monday, killing 34 people, in the third day of devastating attacks this month.
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But with banks, insurance companies and investment firms now held in widespread contempt, Dodd's political fortunes have also taken a hit. For the first time since he was elected to the Senate in 1980, he could face a serious challenge. And some of Dodd's longtime supporters are saying they will not vote for him again. "I think his days are numbered," said Linda Walker, a retired nurse from Ridgefield. "He doesn't have the character I thought he had. That's where term limits come in." Speaking of all long-serving politicians, Walker said, "They become so disconnected from where they're from." "I'd rather he not run and save himself the embarrassment of losing," said Andrea Beebe, a teacher who also lives in Ridgefield. "You know, he was up to his eyeballs. He's had his hands in the mud pile for four or five years." And these are Dodd's onetime supporters. The most immediate issue for Dodd is the $165 million -- possibly more -- in bonus payments to employees of insurance giant American International Group. Many top AIG executives live in Connecticut, specifically in prosperous Fairfield County, one of the wealthiest in the nation. And the AIG Financial Products division, which is largely blamed for the country's financial meltdown because of its dealings in toxic mortgage-backed securities, is based here in the town of Wilton and was the target of a small but noisy protest rally Saturday. Dodd, 64, is chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, and Wednesday night, he said his staff removed a provision from the recently enacted economic stimulus bill that would have blocked AIG from paying those bonuses. Dodd said he was acting at the request of Treasury Department officials, who feared the provision would prompt legal challenges. But earlier in the week, Dodd had said he did not know how the provision got removed from the bill. That shift in position has only underscored for many Dodd's close relationship with AIG. The company's employees and political funds have contributed $300,000 to Dodd over the past decade, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. Dodd, who was traveling in the state this weekend after a tumultuous week in Washington, has remained defiant and tried to limit the damage. He was quoted in an Associated Press story from an event in Enfield, Conn., on Friday saying, "I'm going to do my job. Politics will take care of itself, one way or the other, in the final analysis. And I'll either once again earn the respect and confidence of the people of this state, or I won't." Dodd is also under a Senate ethics investigation involving two mortgages he received from Countrywide Financial for his homes in the District and Connecticut. Dodd in 2003 was enrolled in a Countrywide VIP program that gave him preferential treatment for those loans. Countrywide, once the country's largest mortgage lender, was sold last year to Bank of America as its subprime mortgage portfolio began to collapse. On top of all that, this state's pride and sensibilities were hurt when Dodd last year made his quixotic run for president, dramatically uprooting his family and moving to Iowa before that state's Democratic caucuses.
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The Washington Post Business section provides coverage and analysis of economic policy,business and finance as affected and influenced by the federal government and individual agencies. Post Business also offers video,discussions and blogs about major economic issues.
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A controversial road project through a prized wildlife refuge in Alaska, tucked into a sweeping bipartisan lands package, appears poised to make it into law. With Senate passage yesterday of legislation to protect more than 2 million acres of wilderness in nine states, the proposal to build a road traversing Izembek National Wildlife Refuge is a step closer to fruition after a decade-long battle. The 800 residents of King Cove -- a fishing village that abuts the refuge -- argue they need a one-lane road to connect them to the nearest all-weather airport, in Cold Bay. Environmentalists objected that the project would undermine Izembek's pristine landscape and that taxpayers have already paid to construct a terminal and supply the hovercraft that ferries residents across the bay. "It is, in our view, a world-class boondoggle," said Evan Hirsche, president of the National Wildlife Refuge Association, noting that the refuge supports migratory birds such as the Pacific black brant as well as caribou and the Alaskan brown bear. "Izembek is a sacrificial lamb in the public lands bill." A broad coalition of environmental, outdoor recreation and business organizations, along with local, state and federal officials, has been pushing for years to expand wilderness areas in the United States. These groups hailed the passage of the massive package, now headed for the House, which would provide the highest level of federal protection to areas such as Oregon's Mount Hood and part of Virginia's Jefferson National Forest, along with other sites in California, Colorado, Idaho, Michigan, New Mexico, Utah and West Virginia. "Particularly in these uncertain times, it's good for Americans to know they have some certainty when it comes to public lands protection, and this package definitely provides it," said Mike Matz, executive director of the advocacy group Campaign for America's Wilderness. He added that he and others "would prefer not to see" the Izembek road project in the bill, "but that's the art of legislating. It's about compromise." Although the Senate bill would put some checks on the Alaska road project -- the Interior Department would have to issue an environmental impact statement on the project and the Interior secretary could block it -- Alaskans hailed the Senate vote. "This legislation is the key that will provide an improved quality of life for the mostly Aleut [Alaska native] people of King Cove," Mayor Stanley Mack of Aleutians East Borough said in a statement. "They deserve to have safe, affordable, dependable surface transportation." Hirsche said taxpayers have spent $41 million addressing the medical and transport needs of King Cove residents, including building a medical center and buying the new hovercraft to transport them to Cold Bay. The hovercraft, which has conducted 32 successful medical evacuations, can transport 56 passengers across the bay in 20 minutes in 10-foot waves.
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Get Washington DC,Virginia,Maryland and national news. Get the latest/breaking news,featuring national security,science and courts. Read news headlines from the nation and from The Washington Post. Visit www.washingtonpost.com/nation today.
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https://web.archive.org/web/2009030819id_/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/05/AR2009030503264.html
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Members of the Senate Banking Committee pressed Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Donald Kohn about why his agency has refused to disclose the trading partners of AIG who have benefited from the government's rescue package, now estimated at about $170 billion. Large sums have been spent by the company to pay off its obligations to other financial firms. "My judgment would be that giving the names would undermine the stability of the company," Kohn said. That answer did not sit well with lawmakers. "Public confidence in what we're doing is at stake, it's their money that is being poured into these institutions," Sen. Christopher J. Dodd (D-Conn.), chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, told Kohn. "That kind of an answer undermines that very significantly." Sen. Richard C. Shelby (Ala.), the panel's top Republican, called Kohn's explanation "very disturbing." "If the American taxpayer's money is at stake -- and it is, big time -- I believe the American taxpayers, the people, and this committee, we need to know who benefited, where this money went," Shelby said. "The Fed and the Treasury can be secretive for a while, but we're going to find out." Senators criticized the federal assistance to AIG, calling the company "a bottomless pit," "a lost cause," and "a very disturbing story of malfeasance, incompetence and greed." They warned Kohn that the administration should not expect another dime from Congress if it does not improve transparency. "You will get the biggest 'No' you ever got," a red-faced Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) told Kohn. Two days after Fed Chairman Ben S. Bernanke expressed personal exasperation with the repeated bailouts of AIG, Kohn did the same. "These actions have entailed very difficult and uncomfortable decisions for a central bank," he said. But "the failure of AIG would impose unnecessary and burdensome losses on many individuals, households and businesses, disrupt financial markets, and greatly increase fear and uncertainty about the viability of our financial institutions." Kohn and the other witnesses -- New York Insurance Superintendent Eric R. Dinallo and Scott Polakoff, acting director of the Office of Thrift Supervision -- each cited AIG's Financial Products unit, whose faulty derivative contracts nearly destroyed its parent company last fall. Polakoff acknowledged that his agency technically was charged with overseeing AIG and its troublesome Financial Products unit. AIG bought a savings and loan in 1999, and subsequently was able to select the OTS its primary regulator. But that left the small agency with the enormous job of overseeing a sprawling company that operated in 130 countries. "Where OTS fell short, as did others, was in the failure to recognize in time the extent of the liquidity risk to AIG," Polakoff said. Dinallo insisted that his agency was not responsible for overseeing all of AIG, but rather only the handful of the company's insurance subsidiaries based in New York. That stance drew more ire from Shelby. "Are you trying to evade your responsibility?" the senator asked. "You can claim here today that you have little responsibility if any for all these problems?" Dinallo replied that Financial Products had destroyed AIG -- not its insurance businesses -- and that "Financial Products is not a licensed insurance company. It was not regulated by New York State or any other state."
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Angry lawmakers yesterday blasted the government's latest bailout of American International Group and threatened to thwart any request to give the troubled insurance giant additional taxpayer money without more transparency into how the funds are being spent.
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The attackers parked the car in the market during one of its busiest days, detonating it by remote control, said Maj. Gen. Fadhil Raddad, the commander of the Babil provincial police force. Virtually all of the victims were civilians who had come to sell their cattle and other livestock in this central Iraqi city, 60 miles south of the capital. "I was standing at one side of the market working as I do every day, and then suddenly there was this huge explosion," said Kassim Abdullah, 40, a butcher who was injured in the leg and neck and spoke from his hospital bed. "I felt I was hit, and was thrown on the ground. For almost 10 minutes I could not move. Then rescuers came and brought me to the hospital." "This was a cold-blooded crime against poor simple people who were here to make a living," he added. "I can't understand why we would be targeted." Although violence in Iraq is at its lowest level since 2003 and 2004, Thursday's attack underscored the ability of insurgents to stage deadly assaults. In recent weeks, there have been dramatic attacks across Iraq against U.S. soldiers and Iraqi civilians. In February 2005, a suicide car bomber killed 125 police recruits in Hillah, one of the most devastating attacks since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003. And last March, a pair of suicide bombers detonated themselves among a crowd of Shiite pilgrims, killing 120 people. A month earlier, another attack on a market in Hillah killed 73. Thursday's attack took place in the city's mostly Shiite enclave of Hamza al-Garbi. Raddad, the police commander, said the perpetrators had planned the attack well in advance and it had been designed to inflict maximum casualties. "We believe they had come to the area more than once to make people trust them and feel safe, then did this horrific explosion," said Raddad, adding that 15 people had been detained for questioning. "I don't know who would do such a thing, or why, because this is a poor area with poor people trying to make a living," said Hussein Rahim Abboud, 30, a cattle trader who was injured in the head by shrapnel. "There were no police, army or Americans here. This explosion was a pure act of terrorism, nothing else." Also Wednesday, gunmen killed a senior Ministry of Interior official, Brig. Gen. Salam Salman Mohammed, as he drove to work in Baghdad. Two roadside bombs blew up in the western part of the capital, wounding several people. Special correspondent K.I. Ibrahim in Baghdad contributed to this report.
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HILLAH, Iraq, March 5 -- A car bomb exploded in a crowded livestock market south of Baghdad on Thursday, killing at least 12 people and injuring scores of others, police said.
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Joseph O'Neill has won the 2009 PEN/Faulkner Award for fiction for his widely praised novel "Netherland." Set in New York after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the book has drawn repeated comparisons to "The Great Gatsby" while managing to overcome American readers' indifference to cricket, the game around which much of its narrative is built. "No better mind has gone to work on where we are post-9/11," said Lee Abbott, one of three writers who served as PEN/Faulkner judges. As for cricket, Abbott said, he has never watched a game, but "I'd love to see one in O'Neill's company -- and he makes me feel that I did." O'Neill, 45, is an Irish-born immigrant who sought out New York's cricket subculture when he arrived there in 1998. After a couple of seasons competing with cricket-loving immigrants from South Asia, the West Indies and elsewhere, he said in an interview, he realized there was "a story to be written about this marginalized and emblematically invisible world." In addition to the winner, the PEN/Faulkner Foundation named four finalists: -- Sarah Shun-Lien Bynum for "Ms. Hempel Chronicles," a novel- in-stories about a middle school teacher "navigating the final passage to her own adulthood," as the Christian Science Monitor's reviewer described it, "even as she ushers her students through the tricky narrows of adolescence." -- Susan Choi for "A Person of Interest," which draws on the story of the Unabomber and which Washington Post critic Ron Charles called "one of the most remarkable novels to have emerged from our age of terror." -- Richard Price for "Lush Life," a novel the Boston Globe's reviewer described as exploring "the collision between the old and new Lower East Sides, the disconnect between the faux-Bohemians who swan through the streets, coked up, in their moccasins, and the kids from the projects who are forever being stopped and frisked by the Quality of Life Task Force." -- Ron Rash for his novel "Serena," set in the Depression-era logging camps of North Carolina. Rash is a PEN/Faulkner finalist for the second year in a row, having been honored for "Chemistry and Other Stories" in 2008.
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Get style news headlines from The Washington Post, including entertainment news, comics, horoscopes, crossword, TV, Dear Abby. arts/theater, Sunday Source and weekend section. Washington Post columnists, movie/book reviews, Carolyn Hax, Tom Shales.
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https://web.archive.org/web/2009022219id_/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/13/AR2009021301531.html
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The free museum offers Spanish-only tours, though plans are underway for English-speaking guides. I therefore arranged a tour through Madrid's tourism office, which put me in touch with a local guide and translator. A dapper older gentleman sporting a robust mustache and a dark-blue corduroy suit, Jose Fernandez seemed to hark back to an earlier era himself. To reach the museum from Calle de Atocha, a main thoroughfare near the tourist district, we appropriately opted to take the subway, boarding at Anton Martin on Line 1 of the system's 14 lines. As we hurtled along underground, Fernandez delivered the stats: Metro has 292 stations and more than 174 miles of track and is one of the world's fastest-growing systems. He continued rattling off its virtues as we exited at Bilbao station and walked northeast on Calle de Luchana to the museum's incongruously modern entrance on Chamberi Square. Once down the spiral staircase and into the cool quiet of the old station, we settled into a small auditorium to watch an introductory video (Fernandez translated most of the Spanish-language film). That's how I learned that Chamberi was an air-raid shelter for residents during the 1930s Spanish Civil War. After the video, we ventured into the dimly lit ticketing area. Here, early-1900s riders would have consulted the fare board -- a ticket cost as low as one peseta (about a penny) back then -- and placed their coins on the worn marble block at the ticket attendant's booth. After they filed through the narrow metal turnstiles, another attendant would "obliterate" their paper ticket (as Fernandez quaintly phrased it) to prevent reuse. As we shuffled through the low, circular halls, the white Sevillian tiles, original to the station, cast an almost ethereal glow. The whiteness, a concept of Metro brainchild and architect Antonio Palacios, was supposed to simulate sunlight and calm the jitters of claustrophobic riders. I walked down the stairs to the platform, which was blasted with channels of rushing air, and suddenly found myself immersed in color. Across the way, a projector flashed rotating vintage advertisements on blank walls. On our side, original ads made of mosaic tiles stretched down the tunnel, some in shadow under a string of weak light bulbs. The ads plugged items that would put passengers on track to being -- or, at least, appearing -- wealthier: clothing detergent, pocket watches, jewelry, a "laxative" that was actually mineral water from Carabaña, a town southeast of Madrid. "It's sold and consumed all over the world," Fernandez translated, as I imagined early-20th-century Europeans with clogged plumbing earnestly chugging the Spanish elixir.
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With Western Europe's second-largest subway system, Madrid has all but perfected how to vamoose. So it made sense when the Spanish capital built a museum dedicated to the Metro out of the ashes of...
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For 30 seconds on the first day of April in 2002, there was no better view in college basketball than through the eyes of Maryland Coach Gary Williams. As the final minute of the NCAA tournament final ticked down inside the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Williams's team held a double-digit lead over the Indiana Hoosiers. The national championship capped the remarkable revival of a program decimated by scandal in the mid- to late 1980s, and Williams had done it his way: with players who hadn't been highly coveted coming out of high school and without resorting to the schemes that were becoming increasingly prevalent in recruiting. Seven years later, the view through Williams's eyes isn't nearly as appealing. The adoring fans have been replaced by angry skeptics. The Terrapins have reached the round of 16 only once since winning the title and are in danger of missing the NCAA tournament altogether for the fourth time in five seasons. A review of NCAA tournament records shows that no national champion in the past 18 seasons has regressed so quickly. How did this happen? Interviews with more than 50 coaches, players and others knowledgeable about the program reveal many explanations, and Williams, 63, is central to each of them. Some say his disdain for under-the-table recruiting tactics has left him out of touch with the influential summer league circuit; others say he has grown complacent, delegating most recruiting duties to an ever-changing group of assistants. Clearly, Maryland has been hurt by landing highly touted recruits whose potential was never fulfilled and by failing to identify less-heralded future stars, many of whom attended high schools within short drives of College Park. Williams argues that his 412-223 record at the school, including 11 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances from 1994 to 2004, proves his coaching acumen. He says he is as involved in recruiting as any coach in the nation and that the occasional recruiting misstep is to be expected in such an ephemeral task. "Well, you miss kids," he said. "This is not a perfect science." Regardless of cause, the effect on the court has been clear: A program located amid arguably the deepest pool of high school talent in the country is fading. And Williams, in his 20th season coaching at the school where he played point guard more than four decades ago, could face pressure to step down after the season. Williams has three years left on a contract that pays him about $2 million annually in salary and benefits, but with another March looming with limited postseason prospects, even he admits "because of the bar we set, [that] is probably unacceptable to a lot of people." From a personnel standpoint, the future of the Maryland program appeared incandescent on the night it claimed the national championship. The incoming recruiting class consisted of a McDonald's all-American power forward, a two-time All-Met shooting guard, a point guard who had been named the Virginia AAA player of the year as a junior and a small forward who was Maine's Mr. Basketball. No one knew then -- not Williams, not his staff, not Terrapins fans -- that the program would have been better off with some of the recruits it had rejected. Deron Williams, a point guard prospect in the recruiting class of 2002 out of The Colony, Tex., led his team to the Class 5A state semifinals as a junior, and Maryland was the first school with which he arranged an official visit. However, Deron Williams's mother, Denise Smith, said neither she nor her son ever spoke to Gary Williams. Smith found it odd that Gary Williams was not involved at all in Maryland's efforts to recruit her son, especially considering how hands-on head coaches such as Paul Hewitt at Georgia Tech, Bill Self at Illinois and Buzz Peterson at Tennessee were in courting Deron.
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After capturing the 2002 NCAA title, the Maryland men's basketball program has struggled to recruit -- and win. What happened?
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Statements issued by Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani after meeting with the envoy, who is in Islamabad on the first stop of a regional tour, emphasized the need to "expedite" a new, multi-billion dollar U.S. aid package, and "the importance of enhanced cooperation in defense and intelligence sharing." Holbrooke said only that he was there "to listen and learn the ground realities of this critically important country." The visit is the first step in what the Obama administration sees as a complex and delicate effort to stabilize Pakistan's civilian democracy even as it strengthens the Pakistani military and brings it more in synch with U.S. counterterrorism goals in the region, including the war effort in Afghanistan. Although his writ does not officially extend beyond Afghanistan and Pakistan, Holbrooke will also visit India as the administration tries to improve Pakistan-India relations and allay the tension between the two nuclear powers. The administration is formulating a more regional strategy it hopes will arrest the deterioration in the seven-year Afghan war and allow it to move more aggressively against al-Qaeda. But while administration officials said the strategy will acknowledge Pakistan's crucial role, they said that developing a new relationship with Islamabad is likely to be a years-long process, with intertwined challenges making it time-consuming and costly. "Not having patience makes all the sense in the world in terms of the Afghanistan threat," Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Michael Mullen said in a recent interview. But in Pakistan, he said, "there is not a quick answer," and any new U.S. strategy will have to "recognize the tension" between near- and far-term objectives. The next step, U.S. and Pakistani officials said, will be a visit to the United States later this month by Pakistani army Chief of Staff Gen. Ashfaq Kiyani. In late 2007, Kiyani replaced Gen. Pervez Musharraf, who also served as Pakistan's president under the military government that took over in a 1999 coup that led to congressional restrictions on U.S.-Pakistani military contacts. Since last year, senior U.S. military officials have assiduously courted Kiyani as the key to making up lost ground in the relationship and persuading the Pakistani military to turn its attention away from the perceived threat from India and toward extremist sanctuaries on the Afghan border. Pakistan's weak civilian government is doing its own balancing act. The Pakistani public is increasingly anti-American and Zardari's political opponents charge that he is too close to Washington. Increased U.S. military and civil assistance, the government has argued, will improve Pakistan's counterterrorism performance, make it easier to cooperate with U.S. goals, and ensure the survival of the civilian government. Kiyani will press existing requests for increased military aid in several categories, including Cobra attack helicopters, night vision equipment, and equipment to jam extremist radio transmissions, intercept satellite telephone communications, and improve communication among Pakistani military units in the extremist-ridden mountains of the western Federally Administered Tribal Areas, or FATA. Pakistan would also like at least to "be in the room" when targeting decisions for CIA aerial drone attacks in the FATA are made, a senior Pakistani official said. Pakistan also wants more funding stability and recognition of the leading role it plays in U.S. counterterrorism campaigns. "We are a front-ranked state," the official said. "We want government money to come in the same way it is given to Afghanistan and Iraq." Congressional funding for war and development costs in those countries has been approved outside of normal budgetary channels through supplemental appropriations subject to fewer restrictions. Mullen cited a number of positive steps Kiyani has taken, including: replacing the former head of Pakistan's intelligence service, who was widely mistrusted by the CIA, with a close army ally; appointing a new chief for the Frontier Corps, the local force in the FATA; and doubling Frontier Corps salaries.
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Inside the warm welcome and promises of a "new beginning" that Pakistan extended U.S. special envoy Richard C. Holbrooke yesterday was a warning that Pakistan expects more from the United States in return for its cooperation against al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
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The war in Afghanistan is not going well; almost all trends are moving in the wrong direction. But we still have time to focus, improve our strategy, calibrate our means. It will help immeasurably if we keep in mind the basic objective of U.S. policy: "Our primary goal is to prevent Afghanistan from being used as a base for terrorists and extremists to attack the United States and its allies," Defense Secretary Robert Gates said last week. That is an admirably clear statement. It is not that we don't have other goals -- education, female literacy, centralized control of government services, drug eradication, liberal democracy. But Afghanistan is one of the world's poorest and most war-torn countries. At best, many of these objectives will be realized partially, over very long periods, and they should not be measured as part of military campaigns or political cycles. They are also goals not best achieved by military force. The U.S. Army is being asked to do enough in Afghanistan. Helping it to stay focused on a core mission is neither cramped nor defeatist but realistic. Such a plan for success would have four steps, each more complicated than the last. Do counterinsurgency right. Despite David Petraeus's demonstrable success in Iraq, U.S. forces in Afghanistan have, to this point, largely relied on more old-fashioned tactics -- raids, search-and-destroy missions, air attacks. The needed number of additional U.S. troops is not large. Afghanistan is predominantly rural, with a limited number of large population centers and roads requiring protection. And Gen. David McKiernan, the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, has already begun to focus on this approach. Between the addition of two to four U.S. brigades and a ramp-up of the Afghan army, there should be enough troops to execute a modified version of the new counterinsurgency strategy. Make the Afghan government credible. The central government is widely seen as weak, dysfunctional and utterly corrupt. Unfortunately, many of its most corrupt elements are allies of the West and have thus gained a kind of immunity. The most immediate way to enhance the legitimacy of the Afghan government would be to ensure that presidential and local elections take place this year without disruption and that viable alternative candidates are free to campaign. But elections are only one form of political legitimacy. There should be a much broader effort to reach out to tribal leaders, hold local councils and build a more diverse base of support. The goal should not be a strong central government -- Afghanistan is by nature decentralized -- but a legitimate government with credibility and allies throughout the country. Talk to the Taliban. The United States is properly and unalterably opposed to al-Qaeda. We have significant differences with the Taliban on many issues -- democracy and the treatment of women being the most serious. But we do not wage war on other Islamist groups with which we similarly disagree (the Saudi monarchy, for example). Were elements of the Taliban to abandon al-Qaeda, we would not have a pressing national security interest in waging war against them. In fact, there is a powerful military advantage to moving in this direction. Al-Qaeda is a stateless organization that controls no territory of its own; it can survive and thrive only with a host community. Our objective should be to cut off al-Qaeda from its allies in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Deprived of local support, al-Qaeda would be a much diminished threat. It is true, of course, that some elements of the Taliban might be closely wedded to al-Qaeda. But others are not. Although the United States is in its seventh year of war in Afghanistan, not one Afghan was involved at any significant level in the Sept.11 attacks. All the plots that have been traced back to the region lead not to Afghanistan but Pakistan. Solve Pakistan. When the United States invaded Afghanistan, it did not defeat al-Qaeda and its supporters among the Taliban. They simply fled to Pakistan, their original home. Pakistan has long viewed the various Islamic militias it created and helped fund -- including the Taliban -- as useful weapons in its arsenal, low-cost ways to keep its historic foes, India and Afghanistan, off balance. For Islamabad to genuinely renounce these groups would require a fundamental strategic rethinking within the Pakistani military. The civilian government in Pakistan, although weak and ineffective, is allied with the international community on these issues. It, too, wants a Pakistani military that knows its boundaries, does not run militant groups and conceives of the country's national interests in less-confrontational terms. I don't want to make this sound easy. It won't be. Of all the tasks facing Petraeus, as head of U.S. Central Command, and newly appointed U.S. special envoy Richard Holbrooke, this is the hardest. Yet if the problem with Pakistan cannot be solved, the war in Afghanistan cannot be won. The writer is editor of Newsweek International and co-host of PostGlobal, an online discussion of international issues. His e-mail address is [email protected].
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PostGlobal features David Ignatius and Fareed Zakaria and other international figures in debates on global news and politics. Stay on top of international news and join the conversation at PostGlobal.
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https://web.archive.org/web/2009020419id_/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/03/AR2009020300900.html
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The Kennedy Center is aggressively moving to broaden its role beyond a center for the performing arts by announcing a new program to share its years of management and fundraising experience with struggling arts groups across the country. The national tentacles of the Kennedy Center have always been far-reaching: It sends two family plays nationwide each year, offers a performing-arts education Web site that gets 4.2 million visitors a year and sponsors eight annual college theater festivals and a national competition in Washington. But the center's latest move, announced yesterday, positions it as a national resource beyond the stage. "Arts in Crisis: A Kennedy Center Initiative" is a high-tech support service through which arts administrators can talk to the center's personnel about the challenges of shrinking income, budget-conscious audiences and other difficulties in keeping the doors open. The program's Web site explains the center's stepped-up agenda. The consulting, it says, will provide information "pertinent to maintaining a vital performing arts organization during a troubled economy." Assistance will be provided through e-mails, telephone calls, Web chats or site visits. "This is the first time we are saying to any organization, 'We are there to help,' " said Michael M. Kaiser, the center's president. "We have never reached out to everyone." "Crisis" is not too harsh a word, he said. "You see this multiple whammy. The length and depth of this economic downturn is unprecedented in my lifetime," the 55-year-old administrator said. The need to have a central place for strategic advice, and perhaps a word of comfort, has been building. "Over the last six months, we have gotten e-mails and letters from many groups. Now every single day you read about one or more than one that is cutting back their season or reducing the staff," said Kaiser, who recently published "The Art of the Turnaround: Creating and Maintaining Healthy Arts Organizations." Any arts organization that is nonprofit -- which usually covers orchestras, dance troupes and theaters -- can sign up for free assistance. Over the eight years since Kaiser took over the Kennedy Center, it has built a reservoir of information about how groups have managed their successes and failures through a half-dozen programs. "Organizations that have endowments have seen them cut by one-third," Kaiser said. "In cities like Detroit that are so dependent on the auto industry, the money is gone. Foundations are forced to cut back, and individuals have seen their wealth reduced. People are buying their tickets more selectively, and they are not going out as often." In recent weeks, organizations from almost every part of the country have reported belt-tightening measures, or worse. The Baltimore Opera Company filed for bankruptcy. The Seattle Repertory Theatre asked its staff of 55 to take two weeks of unpaid leave. The Orlando Ballet cut live music for "The Nutcracker" so the dance troupe wouldn't be reduced. The Santa Clarita Symphony in California canceled its season. The Denver Post reported Sunday that many local arts organizations had cut their budgets by 12 percent but had not instituted layoffs. And the Chicago Tribune reported Sunday that the Joffrey Ballet froze hiring eight months ago. For the Kennedy Center to step in is a good sign, said Jennifer Cover Payne, president of the Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington. "Most organizations are in need of some assistance. There is a decrease in foundation, individual and government funding," she said. More than half of the regions' arts groups have budgets of less than $1 million. "People are already making adjustments on staff, salaries and space." Locally, the Bead Museum in Gallery Place has closed, and Zenith Gallery has announced that high rent is forcing it to close its physical space soon.
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The next act in Michael M. Kaiser's quest to make all arts organizations smart and healthy is about to begin.
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BEIJING, Feb. 2 -- A Chinese government official has outlined new principles aimed at stemming the growing unrest triggered by an economic downturn that has left 26 million migrant workers looking for jobs. In the event of a mass protest, local officials should go to the "front line," not hide behind the police, which only triggers an escalation of conflict, said Chen Xiwen, director of the office of the central leading group on rural work, which advises the Communist Party on agricultural issues. To lessen the threat to stability, officials must also do more to solve land disputes, environmental problems and resettlement issues before they spiral into demonstrations, Chen said at a news conference Monday. Party leaders have been pressed to show that they care about the countryside, where prices for agricultural products have been falling and where residents are feeling a widening gap between urban and rural incomes that has reached the equivalent of $1,620, $200 more than in 2007. Demonstrations have broken out across the country recently as citizens protest the lack of compensation after factory closings or following illegal land grabs. There have also been protests about the construction of polluting factories near villages and farmland, corrupt local officials who try to cover up their misdeeds, and illegal investment schemes that officials have failed to shut down. "If mass incidents happen, all officials must go to the front line and try to persuade people face-to-face," Chen said. "They cannot hide and push police to the front lines. The police cannot be deployed unless there are truly unfortunate situations where people are beating, attacking, robbing or burning." After any incident, officials must draw lessons from the conflict, punish those responsible and make new plans to improve their work, Chen said. There are now nearly 20 million unemployed migrant workers, or 15.3 percent of the total 130 million migrant worker population, Chen said. They are competing with the 6 million who enter the migrant worker job market each year, according to figures from a Ministry of Agriculture survey of 150 villages in 15 provinces conducted before the Lunar New Year last week, when most migrant workers return home from cities for the holiday. Over the past 20 years, farmers have used outside income to supplement their farming income, making as much as 50 to 60 percent of their total pay. But for many farmers "that road is blocked this year," said Xu Yong, director of the Center for Chinese Rural Studies at Central China Normal University. "There is a saying in the countryside that to feed the mouth depends on farming but pocket money comes from outside." Xu could not say whether protests would increase. "During the Spring Festival, most migrant workers went home and had a rest," he said. "After this, they will hunt for jobs. If they can't find any jobs but stay in the cities, it will be easy to generate conflict and instability. April and May will be the most serious time." At least some migrant workers are taking the high unemployment rate in stride. "It's unavoidable that it will be hard to find a job this year," said Deng Hongshu, 43, from Daping village in Kaixian county near the southwestern Chinese city of Chongqing. "I'm prepared for spending six months or more to find a job." Deng worked in a leather factory in Shenzhen, just north of Hong Kong, until his factory sent everyone home for a long vacation in early December. A migrant worker for more than two decades, Deng made $1,000 in the second half of 2008. But in the past two months, he has already spent half of last year's income. "I always lose one job at the end of one year and find another job in the next year, so I don't worry about it too much," he said. Researcher Zhang Jie contributed to this report.
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World news headlines from the Washington Post,including international news and opinion from Africa,North/South America,Asia,Europe and Middle East. Features include world weather,news in Spanish,interactive maps,daily Yomiuri and Iraq coverage.
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https://web.archive.org/web/2009020119id_/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/31/AR2009013101376.html
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American officials have insisted the vote Saturday must prove credible -- that is, relatively free of fraud, with its results acceptable to most of its participants -- if elections are to begin taking root as a mechanism to transfer power in a country that has begun bracing for the intangibles of a U.S. withdrawal. In Diyala, credibility would mark a watershed moment, both for this troubled province and for Iraq itself, where power has long been monopolized by a party or man. In 2005, the Sunni Arab majority here largely boycotted the vote, delivering nearly two-thirds of the seats on the old provincial council to Shiite Arabs and Kurds, and helping ignite a struggle that stands as one of the bloodiest theaters of Iraq's sectarian war. Save for those in a radical fringe, no one boycotted Saturday, potentially making the vote the first since the fall of President Saddam Hussein to take power from one constituency -- Shiite Arabs and, to a lesser extent, Kurds -- and deliver it to another: Sunni Arabs. But perception may prove an obstacle in Diyala, where 638 candidates vied for 29 seats in a province that was so tense party activists hardly ever ventured across sectarian borders, a candidate and his two aides were kidnapped and executed, and leaflets still littered some streets to warn residents that casting votes was tantamount to treason against God and country. On Saturday, it felt changed. Only the most dangerous neighborhoods seemed besieged. Elsewhere, children played soccer in the streets, parents pushed their children in strollers and elderly men shared cigarettes under a winter sun. Yet in Saturday's vote, no one, neither Sunni nor Shiite, seemed prepared to lose. And that raised the prospect that in defeat, neither would acknowledge the other's victory. "A new dawn, God willing," said Sabah Bashir Hassan, known as Abu Talib, who leads thousands of former insurgents and others in the Popular Committees, the name here for the U.S.-backed Sunni militia that fought the insurgent group al-Qaeda in Iraq. "To me, the elections represent the point between darkness and light," the Sunni leader said. "Everybody wants to turn a page on the past. We're turning a new page over today." Raad Abbas, a Shiite member of the old council and a candidate, also felt certain of triumph over his rivals. He predicted his group, the Dawa party of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, would capture a third of the seats. With other Shiite candidates, they would win a majority. "If this is the result of the vote, how can anyone be angry?" he asked hopefully. Some residents like to call Diyala a miniature Iraq and, indeed, much of its turmoil reflects the country writ small. Northeast of Baghdad, its fertile land of dates and citrus, watered by the Diyala River, stretches to the Iranian border. Its Sunni Arab majority numbers 55 percent and perhaps far more. Shiites are the second-largest group, possibly a third of the population, with a sizable Kurdish minority toward the province's northern end.
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Washington Post coverage of the American occupation of Iraq, the country's path to democracy and tensions between Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds.
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https://web.archive.org/web/2009012919id_/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/28/AR2009012803821.html
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The House voted yesterday to strengthen whistleblower protections for federal employees, including those working for the Transportation Security Administration and others employed in national security areas. The bill also would create specific protections for those who expose abuses of authority by those trying to manipulate or censor scientific research in federal agencies for political purposes. Critics of the administration of former president George W. Bush alleged that scientific findings were often influenced by politics. The measure, passed by a voice vote, was attached as an amendment to the $819 billion House economic stimulus package. Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who sponsored the measure with Rep. Todd R. Platts (R-Pa.), said it was relevant to the stimulus package because that legislation proposes to allot $550 billion in public funds, and "we need to make sure these funds are effectively spent and that they are not lost due to any waste, fraud or abuse." "Most significant," said seven watchdog organizations including the Government Accountability Project, the National Whistleblowers Center and the Union of Concerned Scientists, "it creates a permanent shield for federal employee and contractor whistleblowers who challenge any misspending and it will keep protecting taxpayers long after stimulus funds are gone." Lawmakers have been trying for nearly a decade to strengthen federal whistleblower protections. Last year, the House passed a bill identical to the measure approved by the chamber yesterday, and the Senate passed a similar bill. But lawmakers were unable to find common ground and faced a veto from the Bush White House, which argued that the measure could compromise national security and was overly burdensome. Van Hollen said he is confident the Senate will consider the measure and that President Obama will support it. The bill would extend rights to all national security whistleblowers, including those at the FBI and the intelligence agencies. Also covered are federal contract workers and 40,000 airport baggage screeners working for the Transportation Security Administration. It gives those covered by the measure access to jury trials in federal district court to challenge reprisals and ends the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit's monopoly on appellate reviews.
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https://web.archive.org/web/2009011619id_/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/15/AR2009011504103.html
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Four days of official inauguration activities will get underway tomorrow as President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. embark on their train ride from Philadelphia to Washington. But officials had bad news yesterday for people hoping to greet the train at Union Station. The arrival in Washington is not public. "It's going to be a closed event in Washington," said Kevin Griffis, a spokesman for the Presidential Inaugural Committee. "It will be the end of a long journey." Spectators are "unlikely" to get a glimpse, he said. Until yesterday, officials had released no information about how the Union Station stop would be handled. Tomorrow's day-long whistle-stop tour starts off several big events that mix history, Hollywood and humanity. It is a tribute to President Abraham Lincoln, another former Illinois senator who rode the rails to his inauguration. Obama will begin the trek at 10:15 a.m. with a public ticketed event at a train station in Philadelphia. He will then board a train to Wilmington, Del., for a 1 p.m. public event with Biden at the back of the train station. By 4:15 p.m., they are to be in Baltimore for an event at War Memorial Plaza. In Baltimore, gates open at 1 p.m. The plaza can accommodate about 20,000 people. Mayor Sheila Dixon said there will be areas at the Inner Harbor amphitheater and in front of the National Aquarium where people can watch the event live on video screens. On Sunday, Obama's homage to the 16th president will continue with a concert of mega-stars, including performers Beyoncé and Bruce Springsteen, at the Lincoln Memorial. The free non-ticketed concert begins at 2:30 p.m. and will be televised live on HBO, with a rebroadcast at 7 p.m. Gates open at 8 a.m. The event is the official public welcome to Washington, but getting to it could be a challenge: Memorial Bridge will be closed to pedestrians, and the Arlington Cemetery Metro exit will be closed. Obama will honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday by focusing on its designation as a national day of service, encouraging the public to participate in community service projects found at http://www.usaservice.org. That night, the Obamas and Bidens will join the children of military families at Verizon Center for a free concert featuring Miley Cyrus, among others. It will be broadcast live at 8 p.m. on the Disney Channel.
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Get Washington DC,Maryland,Virginia news. Includes news headlines from The Washington Post. Get info/values for Washington DC,Maryland,Virginia homes. Features schools,crime,government,traffic,lottery,religion,obituaries.
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https://web.archive.org/web/2009011419id_/http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/postglobal/carlos_alberto_montaner/2009/01/gazas_true_disproportion.html
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The Current Discussion: What's the most likely outcome of Israel's invasion of Gaza? A wider war? A Hamas defeat? Just more of the same? Israelis are being accused of suffering too few casualties in their confrontation with the Hamas terrorists. Those who reason thus usually speak the words "disproportion" or "asymmetry" in an indignant tone. While at this writing close to a thousand Arab Palestinians have died or been wounded as a result of the bombings, the Israeli losses amount to just over a dozen. Tel Aviv's critics -- from whom an anti-Semitic stench often rises -- do not say whether Israel should increase its quota of cadavers or if it must reduce the Arabs' quota to achieve the reasonable proportion of blood that will soothe the peculiar itch for parity that afflicts them. Nor do they specify the morally permissible number of casualties to end the rain of rockets that for years has been constantly falling on the heads of Israeli civilians. This demand for "proportionality" can only be called surprising. Until this conflict began, history books everywhere always expressed great satisfaction and a certain chauvinistic pride when a nation's army inflicted on the enemy a large number of casualties, vis-Ã -vis a trifling price paid by "our boys." Israel is the only country expected to behave differently and, in fact, it does; I know of no other nation that announces where and when it will drop its bombs, thus enabling civilians to evacuate the territory. Of course, in this it behaves asymmetrically, because the Hamas terrorists, forever eager to cause the greatest damage possible, never announce when or where they will launch their rockets against Israel's civilian population. In turn, Israel has not the slightest interest in causing casualties. All it wants is to stop Hamas' attacks the only way it can: by eliminating the terrorists and destroying their arsenals. There's no other way to deal with them. Hamas is not a political organization with which agreements can be reached, but a fanatical gang intent on wiping Israel off the map. To achieve this objective, its members are even willing to turn their own children into human bombs, just to kill the hated Jews. Here's another very important asymmetry. The Jews build underground shelters in all houses near the border; they close the schools and hide the children at the least sign of danger; they treat the death of a single soldier as a national tragedy; they do everything possible to rescue their prisoners, and protect the civilian population from the consequences of war. In contrast, the authorities in Gaza, drunk with violence, fire their machine guns irresponsibly into the air to express joy or grief (causing numerous injuries), do not hesitate to install their headquarters or hide their guns in schools, mosques or hospitals, use human shields to protect themselves, turn to suicidal terrorists and reward the families of such "martyrs" with money. One week before Hamas broke the truce and stepped up its rocket attacks against the Jewish state (the spark that set off this conflict), I was in Israel, where I had been invited to deliver a lecture at the University of Tel Aviv. As part of the contacts organized by my hosts, I visited the Wolfson Medical Center to learn about the program "Save a Child's Heart." I was very moved. It is a foundation devoted to providing heart surgery for very poor children, most of them from the Arab world. As it happened, I witnessed the hurried arrival of a tiny 5-day-old girl, who had to be operated on at once to keep her from dying. She was brought in by her mother, a woman in a black head covering that allowed me to see only her tear-filled eyes, and her husband, a small, bearded man who watched with amazement the indescribable kindness with which a group of doctors and nurses treated the baby. The family came from Gaza. Since the war erupted, I have asked myself constantly what became of them all.
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Israel's critics decry the disproportionality of the war's casualties - but they forget the asymmetries that point in the other direction.
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https://web.archive.org/web/2009011319id_/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2009/01/the_obama_effect.html
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Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-Fla.), Rep. Artur Davis, (D-Ala.) and former congressman Harold Ford Jr. of Tennessee are among those who are more likely to take a chance on a race because of the success of President-elect Barack Obama. The rapid rise of President-elect Barack Obama -- from the Illinois state Senate to the White House in the space of six years -- is already driving candidates into 2010 races who likely would have been more cautious had the former Illinois senator not set the pace last fall. Take Florida Rep. Kendrick Meek who announced his candidacy today for the seat being vacated by Sen. Mel Martinez (R). At 42, Meek holds a coveted seat on the powerful Ways and Means Committee and is widely seen as a rising star in House politics. His run for Senate will force him to leave a Miami-area seat that he could have held without any real effort for the rest of his life. (Cynics point out that Meek's mother, Carrie, whom he replaced in 2002, could run and serve as a place-holder if Kendrick Meek comes up short in 2010.) In his formal announcement this morning, Meek directly echoed the rhetoric used successfully by Obama to claim the presidency. "This race is not about me -- it is about Floridians," said Meek. "I am running for Florida, and I am asking Floridians to run with us in this race." In Alabama, something similar is happening as Rep. Artur Davis (D) is a near-certain candidate for the open governor's race in 2010. Like Meek, Davis is young (41), African American and holds a comfortably Democratic House seat in which he would almost certainly not be seriously challenged if he decided to stay in it. Call it the "Obama Effect" -- an increased willingness among candidates (particularly Democrats and African Americans) to take a chance on races that are far from sure things. In Florida, national Democrats have made clear that state Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, who continues to deliberate about the race, is their preferred candidate; Davis faces a near-certain primary as Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom Jr., among others, is weighing a bid. Other young politicians looking to jump the line and make statewide bids in 2010 include: Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway (D) who is considering a run against Sen. Jim Bunning (R), former Rep. Harold Ford Jr. (D), a potential candidate for the open Tennessee governor's seat, Rep. Tim Ryan (D), who is weighing a candidacy in the newly vacated Ohio Senate seat, and former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio (R) who is likely to run for the open Senate seat in Florida. One senior Democratic strategist granted anonymity to speak candidly said that while Obama may inspire a younger generation to run for office, replicating his successes may not be so simple. "Barack Obama's victory does open doors for young and African American candidates to seek higher office -- the question will be whether those candidates have enough of President-elect Obama's unique talents and abilities to actually win," said the source. For candidate recruiters, the willingness of ambitious pols to take an electoral chance provides potential and peril. On the plus side, younger candidates are more energetic on the stump and in fundraising and also have a familiarity with new media strategies (Twitter, Facebook, YouTube etc.) to communicate with voters. But, a glut of candidates in a primary field can also complicate efforts by the national party to unite behind a single candidate early on -- thereby consolidating critical dollars and allowing the nominee to focus his or her fire on their general election opponent. (Of course, following that logic, Obama would never have challenged presumptive frontrunner Hillary Rodham Clinton last year, choosing instead to wait an election or two until it was deemed "his turn" by party bosses.) The impact of Obama's candidacy on future elections is only now starting to sort itself out but it's clear that in running (and winning) the president-elect has provided encouragement for aspiring candidate who might have previously been on the fence about taking a significant step upwards electorally. Can any of the individuals mentioned above become the next Barack Obama? Time will tell. By Chris Cillizza | January 13, 2009; 11:45 AM ET | Category: Governors , Senate , White House Previous: Senate GOP Faces Tough 2010 | Next: Hillary Clinton Re-Imagined Add The Fix to Your Site "I don't agree that it is a "more muscular version of Clinton's second term." No recent SoS has been "successful" with Israel, Iran or North Korea - although I agree that the Bush approach to Israel and the original approach to North Korea were awful." But some have been better than others and have at least had some successes somewhere. A lot of Clintons focus was on European issues, specifically the Balkans and Ireland, but of which have been fairly successful to the point that neither is a top foreign policy issue today, while Clinton did have quite a few successes in the case of Israel, I'd argue collapsing because he went for too much too soon towards the end of his term moreso than due to a failure of the overall strategy. Posted by: kreuz_missile | January 14, 2009 5:17 PM | Report abuse Didn't we all say that we now have shattered the glass ceilings for non-males and non-whites and non-straights?? It seems that grouping people by gender and race is the epitome of bias and discrimination -- how do we get to a the next level -- where we vote for people based on their suitability for the office? Am I the only one who thinks that the race/gender cards are divisive and unhealthy? Posted by: newbeeboy | January 14, 2009 5:06 PM | Report abuse "All about her talk and what she wanted to do (she was a far better SoS than NSA where she was totally incompetent), but what did she actually accomplish? Transformational diplomacy as she envisioned it is really a more muscular version of Clintons second term vision, so that's hardly innovative. Is getting diplomats to be fluent in two languages the highlight?" I don't agree that it is a "more muscular version of Clinton's second term." No recent SoS has been "successful" with Israel, Iran or North Korea - although I agree that the Bush approach to Israel and the original approach to North Korea were awful. Rice's pushing to engage with Iran in July of last year was, I think, a good thing - and surprising given the position of Cheney. She tried similar things with North Korea and with Syria. Of course, there are some able people below Rice who has been doing much of the heavy lifting - David Welch, for example - but Rice had to work to let these become policy. I wouldn't rank Rice among the most successful SoS, but she's done a lot more than buy shoes or get diplomats to speak more than English. Posted by: Kili | January 13, 2009 11:07 PM | Report abuse She was poor but she was honest Victim of a rich man's whim When she met that Christian gentleman Big Jim Folsom And she had a child by him. Its the rich that git the glory Its the poor that git the blame Its the same whole world over Its a low down dirty shame Now the moral of this story Is to never take a ride With that Big Bad Christian Gentleman Big Jim Folsom And you'll be a virgin bride. Posted by: mark_in_austin | January 13, 2009 7:12 PM | Report abuse "Meek is playing with fire - and no doubt counting on Obama to strong arm the DNC and Sink into stepping aside." If that's what he's counting on, it's a fool's errand; the President of the United States is not going to wade into primaries like that, especially not against significant elements of the party establishment; nothing good ever comes from that, and Obama's too smart to do it. Posted by: SeanC1 | January 13, 2009 6:54 PM | Report abuse "On the world stage, its hard to come up with significant accomplishments; certainly the Annapolis meeting last year that was touted as the next step towards middle east peace didn't produce. There are still significant problems with North Korea, Iran & elsewhere. In that context, her performance as SoS was mediocre." To be fair to Rice, if we judge SoS performance by progress made in the Middle East, pretty much every SoS in the last thirty years (since Cyrus Vance, and he wasn't even the central player in the Israel-Egypt talks) is a failure. Posted by: SeanC1 | January 13, 2009 6:52 PM | Report abuse "Rice operated under the Bush doctrine with the ill-conceived neocon policies, but she did some smart things with Transformational Diplomacy. Her focus on working towards regional solutions will undoubtedly be continued by SoS Clinton, and her requirement that diplomats become fluent in two foreign languages was long overdue." We talking about Israel here? Pakistan? North Korea? Hmmmm.... All about her talk and what she wanted to do (she was a far better SoS than NSA where she was totally incompetent), but what did she actually accomplish? Transformational diplomacy as she envisioned it is really a more muscular version of Clintons second term vision, so that's hardly innovative. Is getting diplomats to be fluent in two languages the highlight? Posted by: kreuz_missile | January 13, 2009 5:45 PM | Report abuse Kili writes "Rice operated under the Bush doctrine with the ill-conceived neocon policies, but she did some smart things with Transformational Diplomacy." I think Sec Rice's most valuable contribution was holding the Cheney faction in check, probably by establishing a coalition of sorts with Sec Gates at the DOD. We probably won't ever learn what kinds of games were at play behind the scenes, certainly not anytime soon. In that regard, her accomplishments were both indispensible and invisible to us - and the result of her personal relationship with the President (which Sec Powell lacked), not of her diplomatic abilities. On the world stage, its hard to come up with significant accomplishments; certainly the Annapolis meeting last year that was touted as the next step towards middle east peace didn't produce. There are still significant problems with North Korea, Iran & elsewhere. In that context, her performance as SoS was mediocre. Posted by: bsimon1 | January 13, 2009 4:22 PM | Report abuse "What has Rice accomplished, exactly?" I remember that day she bought some really nice shoes. ------- Don't Zouk out; you're more intelligent than that. Rice operated under the Bush doctrine with the ill-conceived neocon policies, but she did some smart things with Transformational Diplomacy. Her focus on working towards regional solutions will undoubtedly be continued by SoS Clinton, and her requirement that diplomats become fluent in two foreign languages was long overdue. Posted by: Kili | January 13, 2009 4:03 PM | Report abuse bsimon1 writes: "Who are the oldest now serving? In the Senate Lugar & Specter on the R side come to mind; on the D side the gentlemen from Hawaii are both WWII vets." Byrd (WV) is 91 and Lautenberg (NJ) is 84. There are lots of septuagenarians in the Senate including Bunning (KY), Grassley (IA), Feinstein (CA), Kennedy (MA), etc. On the other side, the youngest is Pryor (AR), I think, but Thune (SD), Klobuchar (yours), and Casey (mine) are close. I think the youngest in the House is still the idiot from NC-10. And Dingell (MI) is 82. It could be a cyclical thing. But from the few Reps/Sens I can remember getting elected in 1994, I don't remember a sea change in the median age of Congress. Posted by: mnteng | January 13, 2009 3:08 PM | Report abuse "What has Rice accomplished, exactly?" I remember that day she bought some really nice shoes. Posted by: bsimon1 | January 13, 2009 2:51 PM | Report abuse The "Obama Effect" should be in convincing black politicians that there is an alternative path to political power. Currently you run in a black district by pandering to black voters. All politicians win be pandering to their voters, but the more homogeneous your district the more your pandering is scary demagoguery to the general electorate and is the primary reason for the dearth of statewide black politicians. This is a situation any politician from a "safe district" must face. Safe seats are safe because they are philosophically homogeneous. Their majority of voters are an outlier of the larger statewide (or in Obama's case nationwide) voter population. The problem, a function of a long list of historical and cultural reasons, is simply more pronounced in black districts. The "Obama Effect" should be to educate young politicians that if you even remotely dream of statewide office, or of the Presidency, then use a "safe district" to win your first election but have a plan to broaden your appeal to a statewide audience and a statewide election. Posted by: caribis | January 13, 2009 2:48 PM | Report abuse "At State we have replaced integrity, accomplishment and performance with graft, nepotism and failure." What has Rice accomplished, exactly? Posted by: kreuz_missile | January 13, 2009 2:41 PM | Report abuse Are the Republicans reduced to trying Jedi-mind tricks? Dick Cheney's a sweet old codger. Bush and Rove compete to see who can read more books. Bush even reads Proust! (Not quite sure if even Yoda could pull off the last one...the peals of laughter from coast to coast were pretty deafening.) I hope Obama's success doesn't convince too many young and talented African American politicians to jump the gun prematurely. Remember, if Obama had lost, he still had his Senate seat. For someone like Artur Davis, whom I consider a real rising star, I'd hate to see him lose his House seat in his quest to become governor. Posted by: Bondosan | January 13, 2009 2:38 PM | Report abuse "Remind me again why we should entrust these idiots with HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS of taxpayer dollars just because they want to take advantge of this "opportunity", as Rham Emanuel put it?" Posted by: kreuz_missile | January 13, 2009 2:36 PM | Report abuse mnteng writes "The question may be whether the younger generation (Gen X) is more politically active and ambitious than the Boomers." Or is it a cyclical thing? With the ebb and flow of power between parties in Congress, doesn't the average age also ebb and flow? i.e. in 1994 when the 'Gingrich Revolution' swept through Congress, the average age presumably dropped. Then, as incumbents enjoyed subsequent and successive reelections, the average age climbs again. Now, with two cycles of sweeping out the Rs in favor of Ds, has the average age dropped again? The four + expected retirements from the Senate on the R side are all by rather mature members of Congress - their replacements will likely contribute to a lower mean age. Who are the oldest now serving? In the Senate Lugar & Specter on the R side come to mind; on the D side the gentlemen from Hawaii are both WWII vets. Posted by: bsimon1 | January 13, 2009 2:32 PM | Report abuse everyone sounds so happy today !!! NOT This is America. You can aspire to be President of the United States. Daddy doesn't have to buy it for you. You don't have to have the mob in your back pocket. Happy to be in America. Posted by: TheBabeNemo | January 13, 2009 2:13 PM | Report abuse I don't know about this Operation Dipstick, but it sounds as if Operation Non Sequitur is off to a fine start. Mega-dittoes to us all! Posted by: mattintx | January 13, 2009 1:57 PM | Report abuse To do my part in getting this comment section over 50% on-topic posts ... While BHO's victory may encourage minorities to take a chance on stepping up the electoral ladder, I fail to see why it would necessarily encourage younger candidates. WJC was 46 when he was elected in 1992 -- and that didn't seem to lead to a rash of younger candidates running for office. If anything, the median age of Congress has gotten higher in the last decade. The question may be whether the younger generation (Gen X) is more politically active and ambitious than the Boomers. Posted by: mnteng | January 13, 2009 1:44 PM | Report abuse Posted by: soonerthought | January 13, 2009 1:32 PM | Report abuse Wait and see if this leads to an "asian mother" effect starting among the parents of black politicians. "What's wrong with you, son? My son just wants to be a local alderman? Here in America with a black president? Look at that Meeks son over in Florida. That Kendrick is running for Senate. Or Artur Davis, trying to be governor! They're making their families proud while you shame us by remaining a lowly alderman! What are we supposed to say to them at the DNC? Why did God curse us with such an irresponsible child? We didn't fight for your civil rights for you to repay us by becoming an alderman!" ...if that happens it would be the real shaking up of American politics. We'd be flooded with candidates and start doing primaries 6 years in advance! Posted by: theamazingjex | January 13, 2009 1:14 PM | Report abuse Operation Dipstick in full swing... We'll find no greater example of what happens when the government runs any non-military operation that requires coordination, business acumen, technical skill, financial management and inventory control than we've seen in the "digital transition." In this arena, the government has once again made the Three Stooges look like the U.S. Marine Corps Silent Drill Team. After the broadcast industry spent billions in technical costs and on-air inventory to run a huge amount of FCC-required PSA's, many in Congress, along with President-Elect Obama, want to push back the transition date: The Obama team decided to push for a delay after the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, an arm of the Commerce Department, said Monday it had hit a $1.34 billion funding limit set by Congress to pay for converter box coupons. Once again, human nature wasn't taken into account in the planning of "Operation Digital Dipstick." The government, in its infinite wisdom, assumed that every converter box coupon sent out would be redeemed, and, as it turns out, they were way off. What remains to be seen is how the money put toward the non-redeemed coupons is accounted for - or if it's accounted for at all. It's only your money, so who cares? Remind me again why we should entrust these idiots with HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS of taxpayer dollars just because they want to take advantge of this "opportunity", as Rham Emanuel put it? The GOP members of Congress should fight this madness at every turn and prevent Obama and his Democrat cronies from stealing our prosperity for the next 50 years. Posted by: proudtobeGOP | January 13, 2009 1:10 PM | Report abuse It's not that black Democratic Party candidates are now more likely to run for political office because they think that voters are now more fair-minded re. race, it's because they saw the Main Stream Media's kid-gloove treatment of BLACK DEMOCRATIC PARTY CANDIDATE BARACK OBAMA, and think that they'll get a free ride also. Consitering the MSM's love affair with Obama because he was politically correct--i e black and well-spoken--any non-black running against any black candidate in the Democratic Party, has two strikes against him/her before they start. Small wonder then a lot of black Democrats are now thinking of running for higher office. Posted by: armpeg | January 13, 2009 1:07 PM | Report abuse The new Congress has just been sworn in, and already one Congressman has started campaigning for a Senate seat in 2012. That's just wrong. We need some limit on when campaigns can start, to ensure that our elected officials spend some time actually doing their jobs. Posted by: Blarg | January 13, 2009 12:59 PM | Report abuse The 2010 Florida Dem primary will be a major test of Obama's power. Alex Sink has been set up to run down here for years, and has statewide support and name recognition as being the only Dem (she was elected, not appointed) in GOPer Crist's cabinet. Meek is playing with fire - and no doubt counting on Obama to strong arm the DNC and Sink into stepping aside. Posted by: parkerfl1 | January 13, 2009 12:57 PM | Report abuse I'd rather go shooting with Dick Cheney than driving with Ted Kennedy. Posted by: AbolhassanBaniSadr | January 13, 2009 12:44 PM | Report abuse Cheney is an unusual person: very sensible, very measured, very trustworthy. No wonder he has been entrusted with so many sensitive government positions. He is a calm person, and he has a calming effect on others. He is the kind of man you want in public service â party or partisanship quite aside. In the last few days, Iâve been thinking a little about Dick Cheneyâs image. This stems from a lunch a group of us had with him last week (and I wrote about it here). Cheney is an unusual person: very sensible, very measured, very trustworthy. No wonder he has been entrusted with so many sensitive government positions. He is a calm person, and he has a calming effect on others. He is the kind of man you want in public service â party or partisanship quite aside. â Keep reading this article â McCarthy: âThe Right Manâ to Protect Us from Terror? Nordlinger: When up is down, &c. Editors: Roll up the TARP Hoekstra: Our Broken CIA and the Death of Innocents Sowell: Pretty Talk and Ugly Realities Editors: Transcendence on the Bench Murdock: Split Up and Sell Off Fan and Fred Hanson: Obama: The Great American Hope? In the course of our lunch, he said that the recent Democratic victory was âpart of the normal cycle of a competitive two-party system,â and âfundamentally healthy for the nation.â He also talked about how wondrous it was to swear in the first black president. And what is his widespread image? He is a kind of Dr. Evil to people, although, unlike the Austin Powers one, not a comical Dr. Evil. He is a right-wing menace, a scourge of civil liberties, a Torquemada. This is absolutely perverse. And what of President Bushâs image â at least one aspect of it? They say that he is less than bright: that he is stupid. And stupid is the last thing President Bush is. Call him willful, call him stubborn, call him petulant or cussed or difficult. Stupid, he is not. Consider one more public figure: Sarah Palin. I keep hearing and reading, in various quarters, that she is a âbimbo.â That is the word I hear about her, rather a lot: âbimbo.â This is a woman, of course, who has been married since her early 20s. She and her husband, Todd, have five children. Sarah is governor of her state; Todd works in the oil fields. From what anyone can tell, they delight in each other, and in their family. They seem almost an advertisement for monogamy: for the married life. And yet people say âbimbo.â In a nation full of bimbos, Governor Palin is one of the few who arenât. Posted by: king_of_zouk | January 13, 2009 12:35 PM | Report abuse SELECTIVE APPLICATION OF ANTI-TERRORISM MEASURES: "THE OBAMA EFFECT"? PLEA TO OBAMA: CANCEL RISKY, RECKLESS 'SITTING DUCK' TRAIN STUNT ⢠What happened to Homeland Security warnings of "heightened risk" during Presidential transition? ⢠How about the late November FBI warning about possible Northeast train station attacks? ⢠"Amtrak Joe" Biden's longstanding warnings about security flaws along the Amtrak Northeast corridor -- why isn't he waving this whistle stop tour to a halt? READ THIS LINK AND MAKE IT VIRAL. OR (if link is DEACTIVATED or corrupted): Posted by: scrivener50 | January 13, 2009 12:31 PM | Report abuse Apparently led Ken Blackwell to think he could chair the RNC. Although he'd be a lot more convincing if he'd posted double digit numbers in Cleveland. Posted by: davidscott1 | January 13, 2009 12:28 PM | Report abuse Change you can believe in: At State we have replaced integrity, accomplishment and performance with graft, nepotism and failure. Posted by: king_of_zouk | January 13, 2009 12:07 PM | Report abuse We encourage users to analyze, comment on and even challenge washingtonpost.com's articles, blogs, reviews and multimedia features. User reviews and comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions.
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Chris Cillizza is the author of The Fix, a blog on national politics. Cillizza provides daily posts on a range of political topics, from the race for control of Congress to scrutinizing the 2008 presidential contenders.
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The moves came as negotiators in Cairo sought to reach a cease-fire agreement, hoping to put a halt to violence that medical officials in the Gaza Strip said has claimed the lives of more than 900 Palestinians, as many as half of them civilians. Thirteen Israelis have been killed, three of them civilians. Speaking after a meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, special Middle East envoy Tony Blair said that "the elements of an agreement" for a cease-fire were in place. But Israeli officials with knowledge of the talks said significant obstacles remained. Hamas representatives were also in Cairo on Monday, conferring with Egyptian officials including intelligence chief Omar Suleiman. An Israeli Defense Ministry official, Amos Gilad, was negotiating with the Egyptians by phone Monday and was expected to travel to Cairo later in the week. The talks in Egypt center on the question of how to keep Hamas from smuggling weapons across the Egypt-Gaza border. A senior Israeli official said Israel and Egypt are in basic agreement on a plan that would allow the European Union and the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority to share responsibility for monitoring the border and the crossing point at Rafah. "We think the Egyptian position is very reasonable," the senior Israeli official said. Egypt has said that it is reluctant to have any international monitoring presence on its borders. But the Israeli official said the Islamist Hamas movement is adamantly opposed to any deal that would permit the Palestinian Authority, which is led by the secular Fatah party, to return to Gaza. Hamas, which won 2006 Palestinian legislative elections, routed Fatah forces in June 2007 and has had control of Gaza ever since. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, speaking from an undisclosed location on the movement's television station, attempted Monday to rally supporters. "As we are in the middle of this crisis, we tell our people we, God willing, are closer to victory. All the blood that is being shed will not be in vain," Haniyeh said, while also acknowledging that the group is pursuing diplomacy. Hamas leaders in Gaza could not be reached for comment because they have gone into hiding. If the negotiations in Cairo are successful, they could preempt an Israeli push into the strip's densely packed cities and refugee camps, where Hamas leaders are believed to have taken refuge. Israeli military officials allege that Hamas politicians are riding out the war in a bunker beneath Gaza City's main medical center, Shifa Hospital, in addition to other sites. Any broadening of the Israeli operation would also be likely to include an effort to retake the area around the Egyptian border, known to Israelis as the Philadelphi corridor, military analysts say. Israel pulled its troops and settlers out of Gaza in 2005 but continued to carry out raids in the coastal territory as Hamas and its allies used the strip to launch rockets at Israel. A six-month cease-fire expired in mid-December, followed by a barrage of rocket launches aimed at southern Israel. Israel began its military offensive with a surprise attack on Dec. 27. On Monday, Israel carried out more than 60 airstrikes, continuing to bomb tunnels along the border, as well as homes of Hamas leaders. There was intense fighting reported around Gaza City as Israel tightened its cordon on Gaza's largest population center, home to 400,000 of Gaza's 1.5 million residents.
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JERUSALEM, Jan. 12 -- Israel's leaders debated Monday how and when to bring their 17-day-old offensive in Gaza to an end, as battles continued to rage on the edge of Gaza City and as Israeli reservists flowed into the territory, ready for a possible deeper push into urban areas.
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For the holidays, I gave my family the Capitals -- tickets to the Flyers game in an Alex Ovechkin bobble-head box. My friends, who know I've covered the Caps 100 times, but often after I lost a coin flip to Kornheiser or Wilbon, can mock me freely now. Sure, I'm climbing on the Zamboni a little late. Okay, a third-of-a-century late. But why not? Like this whole town that has awakened in the last 10 months to its sizzling young hockey team with a sudden and unexpected explosion of puck passion, I've gotten Capped. First, a confession: Since my editor sent a kid reporter to interview Yvon Labre in '74, I've begged generations of Caps for an elementary hockey education and they've bent backwards to help. But trick questions can still stump me. For example, as the Caps beat Philly, 2-1, on Tuesday, for 12 wins in 13 games and an 18-1-1 home mark this year, my wife asked, "Who won the Stanley Cup last season?" "I'll Google it when we get home," I said. "New Jersey?" said my son, otherwise a sports nut. Yes, we're just a family of hockey fanatics. But that's the point. All over Washington, just when few thought it would ever happen, Caps craziness, Rock-the-Red fever, a region-wide Great Eight debate, has exploded. Just one year ago, the Caps had only one sellout crowd halfway through their season and wouldn't get their second full house until Feb. 24. The sport was still dormant, kept viable by the adoration of a devoted fan base but a whisper to casual fans. Now the Capitals are storming the city. So far this season, Verizon Center has been 98 percent sold out, an increase of 31.5 percent in attendance. The sellout (18,277) for Philadelphia was the 10th in 20 games. The Caps may sell every ticket for the rest of the season, though 15 to 18 sellouts in the last 21 games is the safe bet. In the past year, season ticket sales have doubled. Apparently, even in a deep recession, Washington will pay for -- what is that elusive word -- oh, a winner. At an economic moment when competition for the entertainment dollar has never been more intense, the Caps picked the ideal time to (finally) be both excellent and exciting. For total event experience, they now crush the too-often tacky Redskins. With the fourth-best record in the NHL, the Caps lap the Wizards, who have the NBA's second-worst record. As for the Nationals, please note, a better team draws much bigger crowds.
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The surging Capitals have awakened an entire city desperate for a winner with a jolt thanks to a bevy of young stars with the Stanley Cup in their sights.
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The Washington Capitals do not care for a number of opposing teams -- namely Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, the New York Rangers and Carolina. But for the current core of Capitals, there really isn't much debating who is the most hated: It's the Flyers, the team from 130 miles up Interstate 95, the one that squashed their storybook run last April with a power-play goal in overtime of Game 7 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals and then, two weeks ago, poured salt on Washington's wounds by handing the club its worst loss since 2006. "There are a lot of teams we don't like, and the Flyers are one of them," Coach Bruce Boudreau said. "It was a pretty interesting playoffs, and they beat us pretty good last month. There's not a lot of like with each other." Boudreau's team is one of the NHL's hottest, having won six straight and 11 of its past 12 games to vault into second place in the Eastern Conference. Its only loss in that span, interestingly, was a humbling 7-1 setback on Dec. 20 to the Flyers, who are tied for fourth in the East, just five points behind the Capitals. Fans might argue that Pittsburgh remains Washington's biggest rival because of all the heartbreak the Penguins have inflicted on the Capitals over the years. Pittsburgh has ousted Washington six times in seven postseason meetings, and more recently, there has been the rivalry between the NHL's past two MVPs, Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby. The Capitals, however, don't see it that way. Since the departure of Olie Kolzig via free agency last summer, there is no longer a locker room connection to all of the playoff letdowns against the Penguins, the most recent of which came in 2001 -- before many of the current players were drafted. And the Ovechkin-Crosby angle? That's little more than media hype to the players themselves. But mention the Flyers around the Capitals' locker room these days, and there's no longer any doubt that Philadelphia has surpassed Crosby's Penguins as enemy No. 1, even if only by a slight margin. "We played them 11 times last year," defenseman Shaone Morrisonn said. "It just seems the games against Philly are a little rougher. Pittsburgh plays more of a skilled game. Philly has skill, too; they are a great team. But Philly plays physical. It's a different game than against Pittsburgh. Those two teams have both been big rivals, but right now I think Philly is the biggest." It's not just wins, losses, bumps and bruises, Morrisonn said. It's everything about the Flyers, including their notorious fans, who infiltrate the stands at Verizon Center and wreak havoc outside the arena in Philadelphia. The defenseman recalled departing Wachovia Center after losing Game 4 of last season's playoff series to go down three games to one. What should have been a 15-minute ride to the train station took more than an hour. "People weren't moving" for the police escort, Morrisonn said. "They were mooning us, throwing stuff at us, beer bottles, whatever they had in their hands. It's to be expected from Philly fans. Didn't they boo Santa Claus?" Earlier in the series, when a busload of Capitals employees arrived in Philadelphia, a group of unruly fans surrounded the bus and rocked it back and forth while screaming obscenities. When the staffers returned, the bus was covered in mustard, ketchup and shaving cream. The bus episodes and the sudden and heartbreaking end to last season -- the Capitals rallied to force a Game 7, only to leave empty-handed after Joffrey Lupul's power-play goal -- has stuck with many of players, the majority of whom were in the playoffs for the first time.
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After ending Washington's run last year and delivering a humbling defeat last month, the Philadelphia Flyers are now the Capitals' most-hated team.
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India's foreign secretary, Shiv Shankar Menon, said that the material in the detailed dossier of evidence ties the gunmen who carried out the attacks to "elements in Pakistan" and added that Islamabad was obliged to extradite those responsible. [Stepping up the rhetoric, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in the capital Tuesday that the sophistication of the Mumbai attacks means they "must have had the support of some official agencies in Pakistan," the Associated Press reported. [Singh did not directly name any Pakistani officials at the meeting with top officials of Indian states, AP reported, but India has long accused Pakistan's spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence, of a role in attacks against India in recent years.] At a news conference Monday, Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee called the three-day siege, in which more than 170 people were killed, an "unpardonable" act, and he urged Pakistan's government to honor its promise to crack down on groups that foment violence against India. In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said India hopes the government in Islamabad will "undertake further investigations in Pakistan and share the results with us so as to bring the perpetrators to justice." India has accused the banned Pakistan-based Islamist group Lashkar-i-Taiba of planning and directing the assault on two luxury hotels, a train station, a Jewish cultural center and other sites in Mumbai. Six Americans were among those killed. Pakistan has offered to participate in a joint probe and detained several members of the group -- steps that India has dismissed as cosmetic. Indian officials said the file given to Pakistan contains material from the extensive interrogation of the lone surviving gunman in the siege, Ajmal Amir Kasab, who is in Indian custody. It also includes detailed information on communications between the gunmen and "elements in Pakistan during the Mumbai attack," recovered weapons and equipment, and data retrieved from the Global Positioning System equipment and satellite phones that police found on the boat used by the 10 gunmen to enter Mumbai on Nov. 26, the officials said. Mohammed Sadiq, a spokesman for Pakistan's Foreign Ministry, said authorities in Islamabad are reviewing the evidence and declined to comment further, AP reported. Menon said at a news conference Monday evening that under a South Asian agreement on terrorism, Pakistan is "obliged to extradite" anyone found to have engaged in acts of terrorism. On Monday, the Indian Foreign Ministry also began briefing representatives of "friendly governments" and countries that lost citizens in the assault about its findings, Menon said. Menon did not answer directly when asked whether Indian investigators had found a serving officer of the Pakistani government playing any role in the planning of the attacks. But he said it was hard to believe that an operation on such a scale "could occur without anybody anywhere in the establishment knowing that this was happening."
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NEW DELHI, Jan. 5 -- India handed over to Pakistan on Monday key findings from its investigations into the deadly November attacks in Mumbai and said it expected credible action against those named in the report "as quickly as possible."
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My three vices in life (at least the ones I am willing to talk about) are fireworks, cigars and cocktails. And swanky hotels. Oh, and politically incorrect food like foie gras, and heart stoppers like sweetbreads. Butter. Traveling first class. Sharp hats. Okay, so there are a lot more than three. I gave up fireworks after nearly blowing myself up celebrating Fourth of July. I am down to about one cigar a month (I smoke a house brand from Nat Sherman's in New York). Call it a concession to my health. But I still search for the Great American Cocktail. I love a well-crafted potable. Sometimes I love them too much. My cocktail search recently took me to Bourbon, a restaurant/bar in the District's trendy Adams Morgan neighborhood, where several skilled "mixologists" were holding a seminar on how to make holiday drinks. I watched these masters blend such classics as a Tom & Jerry, a Holiday Mojito and Baltimore Egg Nog, but the real take-away was an introduction to a cadre of young men and women bartenders creating complex and original drinks at several destination bars around the Washington region. Todd Thrasher, 38, is considered the godfather of local bartenders. He owns a part of Restaurant Eve in Old Town, where he bartends. He and partners also own PX, his creation on King Street that seats 32. Eight seats at the bar are for walk-ins; the rest must be reserved. Thrasher charges $11 to $19 for a cocktail. "My drinks are expensive," he said. For that, you get home-made cola for your rum and Coke. Quinine is shipped in weekly from a health food store in Carson City, Nev., for his tonic. Thrasher even makes his own ginger ale. You get the idea. It goes without saying there are no canned juices or canned mixers. PX's bitters -- the cocktail equivalent of a spice rack -- are homemade and plentiful, including a special cherry bitters. You also get more expensive booze. He pays $24 for a bottle of high-end gin, compared with $6.25 for the cheap stuff. He calls PX, which has been open two years, the cocktail version of fine dining but without the expensive overhead. Cocktails normally have high profit margins. That means if you charge $6 for a drink in your average bar, you make $5 or $5.50 after the cost of the alcohol and the ingredients. My question was this: How do places like PX make money when they are spending more on ingredients and ambiance, and employ craft bartenders? Thrasher's answer: hammering down his costs. His experience enables him to make homemade tonic water in half the time it took five years ago. Same with the cola and everything else. He shares his mortgage with the profitable Eamonn's fish-and-chips restaurant downstairs, which he also partly owns. Thrasher says PX is profitable. "I don't want a hobby," he said. PX is open 208 days a year. It fills up its 32 seats on Wednesday and Thursdays, and averages 90 customers each on Friday and Saturday. At about $25 spent per customer, I estimate PX is grossing over $300,000 a year. Thrasher said profits are rolled into a management company owned by investors. Thrasher said he is not getting rich. He gets paid a salary and owns a piece of Restaurant Eve as well as PX. That said, his income is less than $100,000 a year. But, he is doing what he loves and building something that he hopes might someday produce a windfall. He is part of the cocktail couture renaissance, led by places like the Pegu Club and Death & Co. in New York. These modern-day speakeasies are arriving in Washington. It's the distilled spirits version of artisanal bread bakers, specialty cheesemakers or micro-breweries. We are talking here about local bartenders such as Thrasher, whose mean Grog costs $12. Consultant Derek Brown gets behind the bar at The Gibson on 14th Street in the District, where you can sip a London Special and get a primer on the great drinks of New Orleans. Owen Thomson of Bourbon will mix up Manhattans with William Heaven Hill bourbon at $55 a glass. Like master chefs, these craftsmen take themselves and their cocktails seriously. No "fake-tinis" where you throw something in a martini glass and call it a cocktail. "Cocktails are America's original culinary pursuit," said Thomson, 27. "It's a lost art form. I would like to think that what we are doing is to bring back the simple art form." PX and The Gibson allow only as many customers as can be seated. No standing. Call ahead for reservations. You walk into The Gibson (if you can find it; there is no sign) and if there is room among the 48 seats, you can sit down. If not, leave your number or e-mail and they will buzz you when someone leaves. This is high art. The Gibson uses Kold Draft ice cubes, which are harder and larger than most, allowing the bartender to shake or stir the cocktail harder, which mixes the ingredients without diluting them. Ambiance is key. Eric Hilton sank around $200,000 into The Gibson, which opened a month ago. The interior was hand-built with lots of woodworking. The bar is covered with embossed leather. "It's custom-built for intimacy, to look like a place befitting someone coming in and spending good money on a good cocktail," said Hilton, who also owns The Marvin nearby and Eighteenth Street Lounge. Hilton said he hopes to break even or make a slight monthly profit on The Gibson; his and his partners' usual goal is to make their capital investment back in a year. "The high-end cocktail bar is a particular labor of love," said Hilton, whose Gibson is named for a local jazz pianist who passed away. "It's not like a dive bar where you pack them in and sell cheap beer and make a lot of money. This is not churn and burn." The churn at Bourbon is making Bill Thomas a ton of money. Thomas, 38, comes from a Prince George's County family that has been in the restaurant business for more than a century. Bourbon has fancy and tasty cocktails, but it doesn't aspire to be a speakeasy like PX and The Gibson. It has 180 brands of whiskey, and its head of operations, Thomson, has created a lively cocktail menu based on American classics like the Manhattan and the Old Fashioned. Owner Thomas (not Thomson) gave me a detailed rundown of his revenues and costs. He has one big advantage over the speakeasies: Bourbon is less selective about the number of customers it allows in. He also makes a lot of money selling run-of-the-mill drinks. There's more money in the masses. "You always make the most on vodka-soda, vodka-tonic, vodka-orange juice," said Thomas. "You charge $5 and make $4.50." The Adams Morgan Bourbon (the original is in Glover Park) grossed around $120,000 in November. Thomas pays himself a salary of $10,000 to $20,000 a month. He has his mother and brother on the payroll. He has made enough to buy two row houses nearby, one of which has four rental units. He also bought some commercial space on Florida Avenue. Thomas took $150,000 in profits out recently to open a third bar on Wisconsin Avenue. It hasn't been a completely smooth ride. Thomas spent hundreds of thousands of dollars -- and passed on salary for several years -- to buy out a partner who disagreed with his business plan. In the meantime, Thomson labors at turning normal customers into cocktail aficionados. "I want the customer to pay the same amount as elsewhere, but I want to give them something better for it," Thomson said. "So at $13 or $14, I am going to give you something better. Fresh juice. Original bitters. It's not like they are unwilling to pay $12 for a drink. But they want something more for their money." They want great American cocktails. By Terri Rupar | January 4, 2009; 8:00 PM ET | Category: Value Added Previous: Morning Brief: Annapolis Landmark Changes Hands | Next: Morning Brief: Mobile Phone Traffic to Spike on Inauguration I enjoyed this piece and immediately felt a strong desire to experience the perfect Martini. At the same time it does bring across the incredible growing disparities between rich and poor (now subsumed into the desperate remains of our 'middle class' for obvious political reasons) Headed for Hell in a Handbasket my mother observed during the Great Depression, which I experienced and recall. But hopefully with a cocktail to remember this time. Posted by: SisyphusinSoho | January 5, 2009 9:33 AM I live in New Jersey and serendipitously came across an establishment that serves refined cocktails for those willing to pay $12 each (sometimes $20 for the truly rarified). Initially there was sticker shock as I, like most I would presume, was accustomed to rail drinks at about half the price; my skepticism and thirst for something different were quenched with my first French 75. I now routinely frequent the establishment and enjoy such treats as the Gin-Gin Mule, the Nixon, and the Bees Knees. With seasonal, fresh fruit being mainstays of these concoctions the menu often brings a new beverage and occasionally a pleasant surprise. If you are ever in New Brunswick stop by Catherine Lombardi's and peruse the menu; after a sample I hope you will agree that Jersey produces more than just parodied accents. Posted by: nictsiz | January 5, 2009 2:56 PM Sounds nice and quaint. Maybe, one day, we'll be able to enjoy fine cannabis in such an establishment? Posted by: rcvinson64 | January 5, 2009 3:28 PM In New Haven, CT, 116 Crown, a great bar/restaurant opened about a year ago. If you like inventive drinks and are up here, I recommend it. You can see a menu online at http://www.116crown.com/. The decor is beautiful too. Posted by: kstickler | January 5, 2009 3:31 PM Love love love Bourbon. Another new favorite is the bar at Founding Farmers (20th and Penn.) - their passion for local and organic products makes it way to their bar and into homemade infusions for their cocktails. Get there early, though - it's always packed... Posted by: lawgirlguru | January 5, 2009 3:35 PM The idea of the custom drink mixes is great. Making one's own cola, ginger ale, and other flavor-building opens up a lot of opportunity for great art. Unfortunately, this article is written without any epicureal sense at all. The reporter doesn't describe any bouquets, or analysis of the effect of the artisanal drink mixing on actual flavor. And when the bartender mixes everything himself, that would be an artisanal drink, not "home-made" (unless he were doing it in your kitchen). What about this line: "No "fake-tinis" where you throw something in a martini glass and call it a cocktail." What does that mean? The level of articulateness is about that of someone who got most of his drinking experience in college, but didn't go to enough frat parties to become drink-savvy. There is so much information about the seating, pricing, business history, but little that reveals how these things might taste versus any Pepsi-and-rail-booze drink. The level of reporting in the WP, when it comes to anything having to do with food & drink, is really way below its professional standards. It's as if these food & drink articles were spit out by aspiring political reporters in-between politico press conferences. If papers in cities like Cleveland and Chicago can dig up some fairly culturally-sensually articulate critics and commentators, why can't the Post? Posted by: AsperGirl | January 5, 2009 3:43 PM Anxious to try these DC-based places. For those in NYC, Tailor in SoHo is a terrific example of this type of re-emerging craft mixology. In Boston: Drink, Barbara Lynch's new space in the Fort Point Channel neighborhood of South Boston is tremendous, as well (no drink menus - order a drink based on your favorite tastes, colors, or even your mood.) Posted by: MattyG510 | January 5, 2009 3:44 PM There's a great new cocktail bar on the Hill at 14th Street and Penn SE called Wisdom. Very tasty drinks. Posted by: mlc5556 | January 5, 2009 3:44 PM It is completely typical of the DC fauna to WASTE money on overpriced mediocre cocktails in a ritzy lounge in order to feel important. I have no doubt I'm missing absolutely NOTHING by avoiding these people and their haunts. I'll pour a fine whiskey at home, thanks, and I'll save the $4.00 upcharge for "atmosphere". Posted by: onestring | January 5, 2009 4:16 PM Rather pretentious. Calling ahead to get a seat at a bar that doesn't have a sign, oh puhlese. A good drink can be had at many places. Even at home. We read Eric Felten's column in the Wall Street Journal every week and enjoy that stories that go with the featured cocktail. Some of his drinks we try; sometimes we just enjoy the column. One point Felten made a few weeks ago is that a good bar has a professional bar tender with a wide and deep knowledge of cocktails. He cares about his craft. His goal is to make a good drink for the pleasure of his customer; I don't recall breaking the bank as a requirement. This column is not about cocktails but about people who need to one-up. It's the show, the cost, the exclusivity. Me, I'd rather sit at a comfortable bar and enjoy a good cocktail with my fellow travelers. Posted by: sue1047 | January 5, 2009 4:24 PM America's alcoholic past time doesn't have anything to do with $20 drinks. That is outrageous. Men mixed their drinks with ice, if they were lucky, not imported fruit juice. If you have to spend $20 to tolerate a drink, you are drinking for the wrong reasons. The cutting edge of American drinking is in people brewing beer in their own kitchen and in the myriad of micro brews out there that can knock the socks off any Imbev beer. It's in America reacquainting itself with the terms âregularâ and âneighborhood bar.â There is sophistication to be had, but Iâm begging you, donât pay $20 for a drink. Posted by: Bosco136 | January 5, 2009 4:29 PM I enjoy a fine drink as much as anyone, and even on my quite limited income wouldn't hesitate to budget for an evening at one of these places every now and then... ...but mentioning "serious" cocktails on the main page of the Post under a photo of a guy wearing a ridiculous ruffled shirt isn't the best way to set the tone. Posted by: random-adam | January 5, 2009 4:33 PM It's just Marvin, not The Marvin. Posted by: pcstorandt | January 5, 2009 4:40 PM AsperGirl: this is a blog about local business, not food. Perhaps the food writing in the post is less than you'd like, but this seems like an odd target for the criticism. The writer covered the business aspects fairly well, it seems. Posted by: ccbweb | January 5, 2009 6:12 PM I long ago found the solution to over priced designer drinks. I drink my liquor neat. If you need to put cola (even shop made) in it then it might as well be rail liquor. Give me a good 12 year old rum, a decent rye whiskey, or a nice ouzo ( ok on the rocks). Saves the overhead, and the knowit all bartenders. Posted by: crete | January 5, 2009 10:57 PM I love the comments made about how people would rather stay home and make their own cocktails, or pour their own whisky... clearly these aren't the bars for you and reading your comments makes me wonder why you posted at all? If you read an article and find it not pertaining to you, do us all a favor and skip your sermon. Thanks. Posted by: mej8h | January 6, 2009 11:40 AM Bar Pilar - Tuesday coctail night - not to be missed. Posted by: JohnnyBoy10 | January 9, 2009 3:15 PM The comments to this entry are closed.
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A blog about businesses in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan region, written by The Washington Post's Dan Beyers and Terri Rupar
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A cutoff of fuel shipments to Ukraine could have a ripple effect across Europe, because Russia supplies a quarter of the gas that the continent uses, and most of it is delivered through Ukrainian pipelines. Russia briefly followed through on a similar threat in 2006. Fuel shortages resulted as far away as Italy, and concerns grew about Europe's dependence on energy controlled by the Kremlin. The current dispute centers on Russia's desire to charge higher prices for gas next year and collect more than $2 billion in debts run up by Ukraine for gas this winter. But as in previous years, the commercial issues have been complicated by Moscow's tense relations with Ukraine's fractured, pro-Western government. Alexei Miller, chief executive of Gazprom, Russia's state-controlled gas monopoly, announced the collapse of talks and said the company planned to halt supplies for Ukraine at 10 a.m. "All responsibility for the situation rests on the Ukrainian side," he said. Gazprom warned two weeks ago that it would suspend gas supplies if Ukraine failed to pay off its debts and sign a contract for next year's deliveries by midnight Wednesday. As the deadline approached, Miller said Ukraine had met neither requirement. Russia stopped sending gas to Ukraine for three days in January 2006, but the current standoff could be more severe because the global financial crisis has left both countries more desperate for funds. Ukraine is struggling to avoid an economic meltdown, and Russia has been hit hard by falling energy prices. In a news conference before the talks unraveled, Gazprom officials accused Ukraine of trying to "blackmail" Russia and the European Union, saying its state energy firm had threatened to confiscate gas intended for European customers if a contract with Russia could not be drawn. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin warned on state television of "quite serious consequences" for Ukraine's relations with Russia if Ukraine acted on that threat. He said that Ukraine signed a deal last year to deliver Russian gas to Europe and that the agreement remained in force until December 2010. "We can recommend only one thing to our Ukrainian partners," said Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. "To make a reasonable decision quickly instead of dooming their own citizens to very great trouble." The Ukrainian government, which says it has enough reserves to meet domestic demand for three months and has repeatedly promised safe transit for gas to Europe, denied it was trying to blackmail Russia. President Viktor Yushchenko "is calling for every effort to be made for the earliest possible signature of an agreement with Russia," said Bohdan Sokolovsky, the president's energy security representative. Yushchenko issued a statement Tuesday saying that Ukraine had paid $1.5 billion to an intermediary firm and that the payment covered the cost of all gas deliveries in 2008. But Gazprom said it had not received the money and added that Ukraine owed $600 million more in late fees. The two sides also appeared far from agreeing on a 2009 price for gas. Gazprom had demanded that Ukraine pay as much as $418 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas, more than double the $180 Gazprom charged this year. On Wednesday, it offered a contract with a price set at $250, which Putin described as a subsidized rate and a "humanitarian" gesture to a neighbor. But Ukraine said the price was still too high, given declining energy prices around the world. Sokolovsky said Ukraine could accept the 40 percent price increase only if Russia also agreed to increase what it pays to use Ukraine's pipelines. Some Ukrainian politicians have accused the Kremlin of trying to use the gas dispute to exploit Ukraine's economic crisis and weaken its Western-leaning government, which is seeking NATO membership and backed Georgia in its August war with Russia. The gas standoff has contributed to a widening rift between Yushchenko and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, his former ally in the 2004 street protests known as the Orange Revolution. The two are expected to compete for the presidency next year, and each has accused the other of mishandling the dispute. Tymoshenko has sought to position herself as the candidate better able to negotiate with Russia, and she struck a gas deal with Putin in October that she said would remove the influence of "corrupt" middlemen with ties to the president. Analysts say Moscow may be taking a harder line in negotiations in an attempt to undermine Yushchenko further.
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MOSCOW, Dec. 31 -- Russia said Wednesday night that it planned to suspend delivery of natural gas to Ukraine on Thursday morning after negotiations to resolve a politically tinged dispute over prices collapsed without an agreement.
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It's easy to get into hot water doing a high school musical. Choosing "The Wiz" for a largely white student body is a textbook example. Drama teacher Scott Pafumi dared to do that last year at Westfield High School in Chantilly, and everything from auditions to opening will air tonight on ABC in the two-hour "20/20" special, "Drama High: The Making of a High School Musical." "I know most of you are a bunch of white guys from Northern Virginia," Pafumi tells the kids before auditions. "So am I. But that doesn't mean I can't celebrate the style of the show." The choice of this version of "The Wizard of Oz" -- a pop-soul-blues adaptation that starred Michael Jackson and Diana Ross when the Broadway show went Hollywood -- ruffled feathers, especially among the theater clique of white seniors disappointed to have a bit of expected limelight shifted toward the influx of minority students. But Pafumi says he wants to "break down walls," and that kicks up a bit of dust. Not that "Drama High" is two hours of racial tension -- far from it. It's both surprising and reassuring how much of what the cameras catch is routine theater angst, from the pressure of auditions to the tears at not getting cast. "I'm a poppy!" gushes a girl who's just glad to get a role. The young performers, who are all treated sympathetically in this piece, are incredibly self-aware; they know their own strengths and weaknesses quite well, the main variables being dramatic confidence and genuine vocal talent. Or so they think. Race inevitably turns out to be a deciding factor when the leading roles are cast, which naturally goes down hard with the losers. One white student asks why Pafumi wasn't candid about his intentions before auditions, and that one-on-one conversation is one of the more uncomfortable moments in the piece. Viewers lured by the prospect of eloquence on a thorny subject, though, will be disappointed. The documentary takes a fly-on-the-wall approach, offering no narration and little in the way of pointed questions. "Drama High" tiptoes to the jagged edge of the issue and lets us watch everyone muddle against it. Mistakes are most definitely made, by students and adults alike: There's a culture clash over music in the dressing room, unnecessary humiliation in rehearsal, and Pafumi says a dumb thing that rankles some of the black girls for a while. The drama of being a kid and of raising a kid is definitely part of the deal here, and this wouldn't be a proper documentary without the cameras pushing into family kitchens and bedrooms to gaze at private conflicts. Will Mom support the heavyset girl hoping to audition for Dorothy? Is the busy "theater kid" letting his grades slip? "To talk about why I am overweight on national television is a little embarrassing," one winning young man gently suggests to his mother. You can't have a high school musical without a happy ending, though, and everything -- or everything that we're shown -- ends in hugs. And what did we learn, people? "I learned," says one of the enlightened students, in as sage a line as the piece ventures, "that the theater is full of surprises." "20/20's" Drama High: The Making of a High School Musical (two hours) airs tonight at 9 on Channel 7.
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Search Washington, DC area TV schedules and reviews from the Washington Post. Features DC, Virginia and Maryland entertainment listings for television programs. Visit http://tvlistings.zap2it.com/partners/zipcode.asp?partner_id=wpc today.
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As rookie offensive lineman Chad Rinehart watched Sunday's 24-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, he had a pretty good idea that his role with the Washington Redskins might soon change. Starting tackles Chris Samuels and Jon Jansen had left the game because of injuries, and Rinehart, inactive in every game, readied himself to do more. "It's kind of an unfortunate way to get an opportunity, but at the same time, you know you always have to be prepared for anything," said Rinehart, Washington's third-round pick in the this year's draft. "If this is the week, I feel like I'm ready to go." With Samuels having suffered a season-ending upper-arm injury, Jansen not expected to play this Sunday because of knee damage and reserve center-tackle Justin Geisinger (knee) also out for the remainder of the season, the Redskins shuffled things along the offensive line this week in preparation for their game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. In addition to second-year tackle Stephon Heyer returning to the starting lineup in place of Samuels, journeyman Jason Fabini rejoined the first team at right tackle in practice. Washington plans to activate Rinehart for the first time and signed tackle Devin Clark and guards Will Montgomery and D'Anthony Batiste. Reeling after an unexpectedly impressive start, the Redskins are trying to hold it together and win their last three games in an effort to remain in the NFC wild-card race, and a makeshift line must do its part to help spark a turnaround, offensive linemen said. "No matter who's out there, we've just got to get it done," right guard Randy Thomas said. "We can't make excuses and we can't wait and hope it gets better, we can't worry about what's happened in the past, because we've just got to block 'em up when the play gets called and keep on going. You hate to lose your guys, yeah, but you know injuries are part of this game. You can't let that stop you." The Redskins (7-6) will play their final three games -- at Cincinnati (1-11-1), home against Philadelphia (7-5-1) and at San Francisco (5-8) -- without Samuels, who must undergo surgery to repair a torn right triceps. The injury occurred while the five-time Pro Bowler, slowed for much of the season by a nagging knee injury that prompted him to sit out a victory over the Detroit Lions on Oct. 26, was pass blocking on the first play of the fourth quarter against Baltimore. An MRI exam on Monday revealed the extent of the tear. In the first half at M&T Bank Stadium, Jansen experienced knee pain that Washington's medical staff has diagnosed as a Grade 2 sprain of the medial collateral ligament in his left knee. An ankle injury in the opener against Miami ended Jansen's 2007 season, and he missed the entire 2004 season because of a ruptured Achilles' tendon. Geisinger was injured after taking over for Samuels against the Ravens. Although Jansen, the Redskins' longest-tenured player, has not been ruled out of Sunday's game, Washington has prepared to move forward with two new starting tackles against the Bengals. Fabini has been inactive in nine of 13 games, but the 11-year veteran played in every game last season and started 13 after Thomas missed most of the season with a triceps injury. Heyer played in 12 games, starting five, as an undrafted rookie free agent from Maryland in 2007. He began this season as the starting right tackle after Jansen was demoted to the second-team because he often was ineffective in pass protection during the preseason, but Heyer suffered a shoulder injury early in the season and Jansen reclaimed the position. Heyer played for the first time in five games Sunday night. The Redskins hope rookies Rinehart, who struggled in pass protection in the preseason, and Clark, an undrafted free agent the front office promoted from the practice squad, are capable of providing depth and competition at the position. "We have seen a lot of growth from both Chad and Devin since the start of the season," offensive line coach Joe Bugel said. "We always talked about the fact that everybody in the offensive line room has to have a starter's mentality. During the week, we try to provide them different reps at both the guard and tackle positions to get them ready." Said Jansen: "It's a long year, and sooner or later, chances are you're going to get your shot. You better be ready to make the most of it, and they've done a great job preparing, so they'll do well." The line has come under intense scrutiny for its struggles in pass protection during a 1-4 stretch in which quarterback Jason Campbell has been sacked and hit often. The Redskins rank 29th in the league in scoring, averaging only 16.8 points per game, and the line's performance has been a major factor in the lack of production on offense.
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Info on Washington Redskins including the 2005 NFL Preview. Get the latest game schedule and statistics for the Redskins. Follow the Washington Redskins under the direction of Coach Joe Gibbs.
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They're out there now, chilling on the vines, long after the other grapes' fall harvest. The Rieslings and Vidals of Ontario's vineyards are destined for bottles of the region's "liquid gold": ice wine. I had heard of the dessert wine before, even tried it once or twice, but I learned more about it -- and came to appreciate it -- in September, when a money-saving idea turned into an unexpected road trip. My destination was Toronto, but I discovered it was cheaper to fly to Buffalo and then drive or take a bus to my goal city. Rounding up three friends to split a rental car made economic sense, and setting aside a whole day to make the two-hour drive turned out to be brilliant. We stopped by Niagara Falls, of course, and then hit the road for wine country. Driving to Niagara Falls from Buffalo, we could see from a distance a white plume of mist rising like industrial smoke from the falls. On both the American and Canadian sides, we gawked at the thunderous cascades. I liked the Canadian side better, with its head-on views of both major falls and its carnivalesque collection of casinos, hotels and such attractions as the Guinness World Records Museum, an old-fashioned fun house and junk food galore. Though it was well before noon, we got hot dogs from a friendly teenage vendor who darted after us with a forgotten soda. What service! Suitably fortified, we drove north to Niagara-on-the-Lake's Inniskillin, the winery that put Canadian ice wine on the map. Since the 1970s, when a few aspiring winemakers recognized the grape-friendliness of the land and opened the first Ontario vineyards, the region's wine production has taken off, with wineries now numbering more than 100. In the mid-1980s, winemakers started to realize that the region's hot summers and cold winters might be suited to something far more valuable than table wine, and in 1991, Inniskillin's founders, Karl Kaiser and Donald Ziraldo, entered their Vidal Icewine in a prestigious French wine competition and won. A bottle of ice wine routinely sells for three or four times the price of regular table wine. No wonder other Ontario wineries soon got into the act. The road to Inniskillin runs parallel to the Niagara River, which separates the United States from Canada and links Lake Erie to the south with Lake Ontario to the north. The fields look nothing like the ones in, say, Northern California or Tuscany: They stretch flat all the way to the horizon, the rows perpendicular to the river to let the breezes off the water circulate. Waiting in the Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired Founders Hall for the next tour, we relaxed in comfy club chairs and watched a video, on mute and a loop, playing on a screen above the wood-paneled Demonstration Kitchen (watch the video yourself at http://www.inniskillin.com/en/ice/video.htm). The men swirling wine in glasses and the close-ups of grape clusters were shot in snow-covered landscapes, and one scene showed hooded people snipping grapes off icy vines in the middle of the night and dumping them into huge wooden barrels. It looked vaguely clandestine. Was this the ice wine harvest? In a word, yes. Our chipper young tour guide, who'd worked the harvest once, told us how ice wine grapes are left on the vine after the fall harvest, covered with nets to keep animals away. They freeze and thaw through the fall and early winter, dehydrating and concentrating their sugars. The first night the temperature drops below 17.6 degrees Fahrenheit, the winemaker calls in the workers, who spend all night picking the grapes and pressing the frozen fruit right there in the field. Not only is it labor-intensive, but it takes many more pounds of grapes to produce one bottle of ice wine than table wine. Our tour guide told us that the time she harvested, her fellow workers seemed unusually cheerful, chatting and singing despite the bitter cold. Later she realized that everyone else had packed a flask. After visiting the vines, touring the cellar and learning about the complex chemical processes of winemaking, we gathered for the tasting. ("That's what you all came here for, right?" the guide asked jovially.) A few sips of the red and white table wines preceded the big reveal: Inniskillin's famed Vidal Icewine, which was fruity, thick and joltingly sweet. Before we left, I asked our guide how I could volunteer for the harvest, which seemed as if it would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. She gave me an "are you crazy?" look, as if I'd just asked where I could buy tapeworms. Then she calmly told me, "If you're planning to be in the area, you can leave your name and number, and someone will call you when it's time." She also reminded me that the dates of the harvest are unpredictable, so it's hard to plan ahead. Still, I'd be tempted. After Inniskillin, our next stop was Cave Spring Cellars, in tiny Jordan Village. The tasting room is on Main Street, a tree-lined thoroughfare flanked by cafes, shops and two Cave Spring-owned properties: the On the Twenty restaurant and the Inn on the Twenty. At the tasting room, a chipper middle-aged woman wearing a shirt that said "CAVEWOMAN" poured us samples of ice wine, pinot noir and Cave Spring's specialty, Riesling "Dolomite." That wine is named for the layers of dolomitic limestone found in the vineyard's section of the Niagara Escarpment, a natural cliff formed by erosion that runs from the western shores of Lake Michigan, along the top of Lake Huron, south to the Niagara Peninsula and across New York toward Rochester. This massive geological feature just happens to give Riesling a terrific flavor, which Cave Spring's wine captures delightfully. A tip from the "cavewoman" led us to low-key Lakeview Cellars, where I bagged a port-style red, a sparkling white and a small bottle of liquid gold: a 2004 Vidal to sip before the next midnight harvest.
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Find Washington DC, Virginia and Maryland travel information, including web fares, Washington DC tours, beach/ski guide, international and United States destinations. Featuring Mid-Atlantic travel, airport information, traffic/weather updates
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The move will allow Tribune to stay in business while it seeks better terms from its creditors. The company stressed that all of its businesses, which include eight major daily newspapers and 23 television stations, will continue their day-to-day operations while Tribune restructures its debt. According to Tribune's bankruptcy filing in a Delaware court yesterday, the company has $12.9 billion in debt and $7.6 billion in assets. Tribune's largest creditor is J.P. Morgan Chase, which is owed $8.6 billion. Merrill Lynch is second, at $1.6 billion, and Deutsche Bank is third, at $900 million. Chicago-based Tribune owns properties in most of the nation's largest cities. Its holdings include the Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times; cable television superstation WGN in Chicago; the Baltimore Sun; and WDCW-50 in Washington, a CW affiliate. The company also owns Major League Baseball's Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field, which are for sale and outside of bankruptcy protection. Real estate mogul Sam Zell engineered an employee-owned transition of Tribune to private status in December 2007 with $8.2 billion in new loans, layering on top of the $5 billion in debt already being carried by the company. Even then, Tribune was reporting declining ad revenue and newspaper circulation. This placed the company in a perilous position when the economic crisis and credit crunch exploded in late summer. Plummeting Tribune profits put the company in danger of being unable to meet its debt covenants, according to a source close to the company who spoke on condition of anonymity because Tribune is privately held. "Their newspapers are profitable," newspaper analyst John Morton said. "But their profits have dropped so much and they're so heavily leveraged that they've been put in a hole." Or, as Tribune said in a release yesterday: "We simply have too much debt." In November, Tribune reported a $124 million third-quarter loss, compared with an $84 million profit in the same period of last year. To cut costs, Tribune has mandated hundreds of layoffs across the company. Those who did not take their severance in a lump sum could be hurt by the bankruptcy. "All ongoing severance payments, deferred compensation and other payments to former employees have been discontinued and will be the subject of later proceedings before the [bankruptcy] court," stated an internal Tribune document sent to employees yesterday. The future of the employee stock-ownership plan is unclear, the company said.
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Media giant Tribune Co. yesterday became the first major newspaper or chain in several decades to enter Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, as the debt-saddled company fights sharply dropping advertising revenue and an ongoing recession.
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» This Story:Read +|Listen + { "movie":"http://media10.washingtonpost.com/wp/swf/OmniPlayer.swf", "id":"oplayer-video-swf", "width":"100%", height:"100%", "vars":{ "title":"Excerpts: Sermons at Calvary Temple", "stillURL":"http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2008/11/14/PH2008111402115.jpg", "mediaQueryString":"http://static.washingtonpost.com/wp/swf/OmniPlayer.swf?id=11142008-6s&flvURL=/media/2008/11/14/11142008-6s&playAds=true&adZone=wpni.video.bc&canShare=false" }, "params":{ "allowFullScreen":"true" } } Suspicious package sits at Fed building for months Toyota expects to halt production in U.S. Aerial view of Japan destruction Truck dangles over ramp; two trapped Aftermath of blast, Gaza strikes Elementary class graduate after tsunami Baking behind bars on Rikers Island Plea deal nixed in Conn. home invasion case Police: Teen shot guardians after being grounded Playing the oil prices money game Elizabeth Taylor's stand against AIDS Obama struggles to enter White House Radioactive water triggers fear in Japan Buying a new home means paying more Allied forces crippling Gaddafi's power Goldman CEO offers no cover for ex-boardmember Audio: Silence in the tower at DCA Libya mission gaining; U.S. looks to cede control Deadly plane crash in Republic of Congo Strong storms bring wild weather Watchdog groups want Ukraine zoo closed Blast at bus station shakes Jerusalem Japan buries its dead as radiation fears grow Obama struggles to enter White House Obama again defends U.S. involvement in Libya McCain on no-fly zone: "It's been very effective" U.S. fighter jet crashes in Libya Obama lauds Chile's transition to democracy Coalition stops Gaddafi push on rebel stronghold The Post's Perry Bacon on Obama in Chile Obama favors Gaddafi stepping down Palin: 'Overwhelming' to be in Israel Gates: U.S. will soon yield control in Libya The Fast Fix - Is Romney winning the base? Obama: Brazil's democracy example to Arab world Obama plays soccer with Brazil youth Obama authorizes military action against Libya The Post's Forero analyzes Obama's trip to Brazil Obama: Coalition prepared to act in Libya Banks boost dividends as Fed loosens leash Wisc. judge blocks controversial union law Obama: U.S. ready to enforce sanctions in Libya Clinton: 'No other choice' in Libya Westfield and Robinson tie, 1-1 Post Sports Live: Boudreau vs. McPhee - who deserves more credit? Post Sports Live: Sweet 16 preview Post Sports Live: Alex Ovechkin's mysterious injury Post Sports Live, March 22 Georgetown Prep beats Langley, 12-3 Post Sports Live: Verizon Center has Big East feel for NCAA Tourney Ali asks Iran to free U.S. hikers JaVale McGee on his first triple-double Post Sports Live: Mason faces tough road in East region Post Sports Live: Georgetown's chances rest on Wright's hand Navy knocks out in-state rival Towson, 14-11 Georgetown draws 5th-seed, faces Princeton this Sunday Post Sports Live: NCAA Tournament preview Post Sports Live, March 15 George Mason reacts to first-round matchup with Villanova Sneak peek: 'History Will Be Made' North Point claims 4A title Centennial loses to Milford Mill, 56-44 Toyota expects to halt production in U.S. Aerial view of Japan destruction Aftermath of blast, Gaza strikes Elementary class graduate after tsunami No Tweeting: A royal wedding etiquette guide Playing the oil prices money game Radioactive water triggers fear in Japan Allied forces crippling Gaddafi's power Libya mission gaining; U.S. looks to cede control Deadly plane crash in Republic of Congo Watchdog groups want Ukraine zoo closed Blast at bus station shakes Jerusalem Japan buries its dead as radiation fears grow Mass protests in Yemen as emergency law imposed Bomb explodes at Jerusalem bus stop Obama again defends U.S. involvement in Libya Missing Va. teacher's body located in Japan U.S. fighter jet crashes in Libya Carriages prepared for royal wedding Japan slowly recovers, mourns dead Obama lauds Chile's transition to democracy Coalition stops Gaddafi push on rebel stronghold The Post's Perry Bacon on Obama in Chile Truck dangles over ramp; two trapped Post Today, March 24: U-Md. demands nuclear fallout info Baking behind bars on Rikers Island No Tweeting: A royal wedding etiquette guide Police: Teen shot guardians after being grounded Elizabeth Taylor's stand against AIDS Obama struggles to enter White House Aflac debuts Gilbert Gottfried-less commercial Strong storms bring wild weather Elizabeth Taylor's tempestuous love affair Adorable polar bear twins meet the public Bomb explodes at Jerusalem bus stop Elizabeth Taylor dies at 79 Massive shark spotted off Florida coast Iowa tornado caught on tape Post Today, March 23: Naming military operations Circus elephants take a walk through D.C. Missing Va. teacher's body located in Japan Footage of crashed U.S. fighter jet U.S. fighter jet crashes in Libya Carriages prepared for royal wedding
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In this sermon from January 29, 2003, Pastor Star Scott talks about people who leave his church. More can be found at swordofthespirit.org Audio courtesy Star Scott
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The NFL and the players' union are at odds over disciplinary actions the league has taken against players for hits that are deemed illegal during games. Richard Berthelsen, the union's acting executive director, said players believe the league's discipline for on-field actions, those that draw penalties as well as those that do not, has become excessive. The union will seek in labor talks with the league to establish a new system for appeals by which players could attempt to have fines or suspensions overturned or reduced by an independent arbitrator, Berthelsen said in a telephone interview this week. "It is something the players feel is getting out of hand," Berthelsen said from San Francisco, where the union is involved in litigation. "We've now covered about two-thirds of the league in terms of our player meetings, and we've heard that over and over. On one of the commissioner's conference calls with the players' advisory council a few weeks ago, some of these issues came up. The players definitely feel it has gotten excessive." NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell defended the league's disciplinary measures during an interview this week. "What we're trying to do is support the policies and the rules that are established -- with a great deal of the players' input, by the way -- and that are designed in large part to protect the players on the field from a safety standpoint, make the game as safe as possible for them," Goodell said after attending a luncheon in Arlington early in the week. Berthelsen's comments echo public remarks made by several players. Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu said last month that the league was making the sport "like a pansy game" and the fines for hits seemed to be more about money than player safety. Ray Anderson, the NFL's executive vice president of football operations who is largely responsible for imposing the league's discipline for illegal hits, and another league official later went to Pittsburgh to meet with Polamalu, other Steelers players and Coach Mike Tomlin to discuss the players' concerns. The union appears to be giving formal backing to the players' complaints, first in a recent written statement posted on its Web site and now with Berthelsen's comments. Berthelsen said he did not have data available regarding the total amount of this season's fines. But discipline for illegal hits has increased sharply this season, he said. "There are plays where there is no penalty called and there still is a fine imposed," Berthelsen said. "Now, it stands to reason that some plays are missed on the field. But the players feel there are cases when even the review of the play shows no penalty and there is still a fine imposed. The players know it's a violent game and they feel that's not taken into consideration. It comes up in virtually every conversation that we have with players, and it definitely needs to be addressed at the bargaining table." As an example, Berthelsen cited the league's one-game suspension and $50,000 fine of New York Jets safety Eric Smith for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin during a September game at Giants Stadium. "People who have seen the play say there was movement by both players in the air that set up the helmet-to-helmet contact," Berthelsen said. "If it's not intended and it's just something that happens as part of the game, virtually all the players we talk to feel you have to take that into consideration if there was not intent. . . . When someone has to defend their actions, when the league has to defend what it has done to an outside arbitrator -- if it's a safety issue, they should be able to easily demonstrate that to the arbitrator." The league declined to release specific figures but indicated that fines for on-field rules violations are up marginally this season because of what it called strict enforcement of player safety rules. According to the league, historically there are about 20 such fines assessed per week after a review of the approximately 2,300 plays in that weekend's games. Players are told in their fine letters that "player fines collected by the league are used to support the [union's] Players Assistance Trust and charitable initiatives supporting youth, education and sports-related medical research." Earlier this season, Goodell sent a memo to players and coaches stressing that player safety was important to the league and warning that illegal hits that pose injury risks would result in severe punishments. "When somebody uses an illegal technique that we have clearly tried to remove from the game over the last several years, that puts at risk the player who gets hit," Goodell said this week. "But not only the player that gets hit -- also the player doing the striking. We underestimate the importance of protecting the players that are doing the hitting [as well as those] being struck. This is a tough game under any circumstances. Using techniques that clearly increase the risk to either the player being struck or the player doing the striking is something that we have to do everything we can to eliminate from the game. It makes the game safer and hopefully we'll avoid any unnecessary injuries." On Smith's hit on Boldin, both players reportedly suffered concussions. Boldin also suffered two facial fractures and missed two games after a surgeon repaired the fractures with eight plates and inserted wires in his jaw to realign his bite. Smith's appeal of his suspension and fine reportedly was rejected. Currently, any appeals by players of disciplinary measures for illegal hits are heard by Goodell or a person he designates. That's the same arrangement used for deciding appeals by players for discipline imposed by the commissioner for off-field misbehavior under the NFL's personal conduct policy. Berthelsen said the union also will seek to use an outside arbitrator for those appeals. The union pointed out on its Web site that it has had success recently in using the arbitration process to reduce team-imposed penalties on several players. Penalties by teams can be appealed to an arbitrator through a grievance by the union, under the sport's labor agreement. Goodell said the notion of appeals to an outside arbitrator for certain forms of league-imposed discipline has been raised by the union previously. "That's not a new issue," Goodell said. "They've raised it before. I think that's one of the things that makes the NFL unique in that they entrust the credibility and the upholding of that credibility publicly to a commissioner. I take that responsibility very seriously. I speak to a wide array of people before I make decisions, including players and including coaches and including owners and others involved with our game. None of those are done without a great deal of consideration." Goodell toughened the personal conduct policy in 2007 with input from the union. The policy empowers the commissioner to impose discipline even if a player is not charged with or convicted of a crime. It also empowers the commissioner to impose a permanent ban from the league on the worst of repeat offenders. "We also have some issues with the conduct policy," Berthelsen said. "Without getting into anyone's specific case, if there is discipline imposed before any criminal charges are resolved, we feel that's prejudging the case." Goodell said of the toughened conduct policy: "That's something that was created with Gene [Upshaw, the union's executive director who died in August] and myself talking to well over 100 players, recognizing that we need to do more to help educate our players and get them in a position where they could make better decisions. When they don't, there are consequences for those actions. No one likes the discipline piece of it, certainly not me. We would love not to have any discipline. The reality is, when there's a violation, there are consequences for it and they'll be held accountable, just like all of us are." Goodell also pointed out that the NFL has begun sanctioning teams under the conduct policy this season, requiring them under certain circumstances to give to the league a portion of the pay withheld from players who are suspended without pay.
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Get sports news,schedules,rosters for Washington Redskins,Wizards,Orioles,United,Mystics,Nationals. Features Washington DC,Virginia,Maryland high school/college teams,Wilbon and Kornheiser from The Washington Post.
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https://web.archive.org/web/2008110619id_/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2008/11/06/BL2008110601694.html
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For one, Obama's decision to fill that job first indicates its return to its historical significance. In most recent White Houses, the chief of staff has essentially been a deputy president -- managing the staff, setting priorities, and putting his stamp on the presidency in any number of other ways. By contrast, during most of the Bush era, political guru Karl Rove and Vice President Cheney loomed much larger than the chief of staff ever did. Bush's first chief of staff, Andrew H. Card Jr., was popular with his staff and oversaw the most leak-proof, on-time, on-message White House in history. But he was not a big influence on Bush. He was more like Bush's nanny. Card spent many hours of his legendarily long work days aggressively monitoring and limiting the information flow to the president. "The president has to have time to eat, sleep and be merry, or he'll make angry, grumpy decisions," Card said in a 2004 radio interview. Bush sacrificed Card in March 2006, in response to the growing complaints after Hurricane Katrina about the administration's incompetence. And Card's replacement, Joshua Bolten, by most accounts, has been much more assertive with Bush. But he remains mostly a technocrat, rather than a political player in his own right. In Emanuel, Obama would be putting a force of nature at his side -- a man who, for better and for worse, has a reputation as being one of the most aggressive political figures in Washington. Carl Hulse writes in the New York Times that Emanuel "earned the nickname Rahmbo for his determination and take-no-prisoners approach -- an advantage when trying to bring a thorny issue to resolution, but a style that can be off-putting to those accustomed to gentility." Naftali Bendavid writes in the Chicago Tribune that Emanuel "is best known as something of a Democratic political assassin. From his days as a top aide to President Bill Clinton to his recent role leading the Democrats to a House majority, Emanuel has relentlessly attacked his foes and gone ruthlessly after anyone who stood in his way. . . . "Emanuel earned a reputation for a colorful intensity unusual even in the hard-hitting world of politics. His profanity is legendary and seems designed in part to throw his interlocutors off-balance." That said, Bendavid also notes that "a different Emanuel has emerged in recent years, one who has forged friendships with Republicans and shown an ability to work with them on occasion." John McCormick, Mike Dorning and Christi Parsons write in the Chicago Tribune: "In terms of management and interpersonal style, Emanuel is strikingly different from Obama. He is dramatic and partisan, with an affinity for the kind of hardball politics from which Obama shies away. That may be part of the attraction, some say. "'Ultimately, Barack would rather be the good cop than the bad cop,' said the Obama insider, who spoke on condition of anonymity. 'He knows what his strengths and weaknesses are. He wants Rahm in there to play that role.'
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In selecting Rahm Emanuel to be his chief of staff, President-elect Barack Obama is telegraphing that he intends his White House to operate very differently from President Bush's.
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The Department of Homeland Security announced plans yesterday to dole out $3 billion in counterterrorism grants next year to state and local agencies with far-fewer strings attached than in past years, in a concession to sharply tightening budgets at all levels of government. The total amount mandated by Congress to go to the 50 states and the District, as well as funds for ports, transit systems, emergency managers, tribes, nonprofit groups and others, remains close to last year's levels. But, unlike in past years, DHS acted months earlier in revealing specific amounts that will go to the states and the 62 designated high-risk cities. The DHS move marks a response to criticism from a Democratic Congress and increasingly restive state and local leaders. They have complained that the Bush administration's domestic security officials have focused on terrorism at the expense of other law enforcement priorities, such as fighting drugs, gangs and violent crime. That tension is expected to intensify as the nation's financial crisis deepens. The incoming Democratic administration will face hard funding choices as it tries to improve ties with state and local partners who must choose between keeping police officers on the beat; maintaining costly equipment, systems and supplies intended to respond to a terrorist attack; and other needs. "The economic crisis is placing a great strain on local resources, forcing officials to decide between, say, a school-lunch program and cops on the street," said David Heyman, homeland security analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "This sounds like the department being very responsive to years of deep-seated complaints from local authorities about the enormous federal funding bureaucracy." An aide on the House Homeland Security Committee, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of panel rules, said bluntly, "There is no more room for folks from state and local government to complain. They got pretty much what they wanted." Among other changes, DHS loosened rules to allow recipients to spend up to 50 percent of homeland security grants for personnel expenses, up from 25 percent; ease a 25 percent local-match requirement for rail, transit and port security aid; lift a three-year limit on funding for intelligence analysts in law enforcement "fusion" centers, which police chiefs nationwide have requested. The department also agreed to spread aid for immigration law enforcement to states with international water as well as land borders, and to let grants be used to store -- not just purchase -- emergency supplies such as prepackaged food, water and medicines. The money designated for Virginia and the national capital region will remain roughly the same, said Robert P. Crouch Jr., homeland security adviser to Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D). The District, Maryland and Virginia stand to receive about $200 million under the six biggest DHS grant programs, including $38 million for Metro transit security, $61 million in urban security grants and $48 million in state homeland security grants.
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News about the U.S. military from The Washington Post and washingtonpost.com. Full coverage of defense budgets,Army,Navy,Air Force,Marines and the Pentagon.
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Gen. Ray Odierno said in an interview that Iran, a Shiite Islamic nation eyed warily by the United States and Sunni Arab countries, is working publicly and covertly to undermine the status-of-forces agreement as officials from Iraq and the United States report nearing a deal that must be ratified by Iraq's parliament. "Clearly, this is one they're having a full court press on to try to ensure there's never any bilateral agreement between the United States and Iraq," Odierno said. "We know that there are many relationships with people here for many years going back to when Saddam was in charge, and I think they're utilizing those contacts to attempt to influence the outcome of the potential vote in the council of representatives." Odierno said he had no definitive proof of the bribes, but added that "there are many intelligence reports" that suggest Iranians are "coming in to pay off people to vote against it." The reports have not been made public. The U.N. resolution that sanctions the presence of U.S. troops in Iraq expires Dec. 31. Failure to reach a deal could hasten the withdrawal of U.S. troops and allow Iran to expand its influence in Iraq, a predominantly Shiite, oil-rich nation at the center of the Middle East. Efforts to reach Iran's ambassador in Baghdad and the embassy's spokesman on their cellphones Sunday afternoon were unsuccessful. Iranian officials have denied undue interference in Iraqi affairs. They accuse the United States of using Tehran as a scapegoat for what Iranian officials describe as failed American policy in Iraq. Many Iraqi lawmakers and government officials, including Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, spent time in exile in Iran during Saddam Hussein's rule. They tend to value Iraq's close relationship with its largest neighbor, which is also a key trading partner. In recent months, Iran has courted potential allies in Iraq's parliament, including Kurds and Sunnis, said Kurdish lawmaker Mahmoud Othman. The Arab Sunni speaker of the Iraqi parliament, Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, recently traveled to Iran on an official visit. "Iran has been doing this for the last six months," said Othman, a vocal backer of the bilateral agreement, adding that he has not been approached by Iran. "They will try their best to influence anyone they can. They will tell people that this is dangerous, that this is not good for Iraq." Odierno said Iran's alleged efforts to derail the agreement could backfire. "I truly believe that Iraqis are nationalists," he said. "They want to choose on their own what's best for their country, and they don't want somebody else to decide what's in their best interest." Iraqi and U.S. officials have spent months negotiating agreements that would cover the rights and responsibilities of American forces and establish legal authority for their presence after the U.N. mandate expires. Whether American troops will be granted full immunity from prosecution under Iraqi law, or limited immunity that would exclude transgressions that occur off-base, while off duty, has emerged as the most contentious issue. Maliki said reaching an agreement is important. But he faces a loss of political support if he signs off on a deal that is perceived to prolong what many Iraqis see as a U.S. occupation and that appears to give Americans free rein in his country. Odierno, 53, a tall, stern-looking general who speaks in rapid-fire sentences, took over as the top U.S. military official in Iraq last month, replacing Gen. David H. Petraeus. Petraeus oversaw the deployment of an additional 30,000 troops last year when Iraq was on the brink of civil war. Odierno was Petraeus's deputy during that period. Odierno has periodically voiced concern about Iranian actions and intentions in Iraq. In January 2007, he said Iran had provided insurgents with rockets and armor-piercing rocket-propelled grenades, an allegation that was challenged but not definitely proven or disproven. He told the New York Times in August 2007 that Iran was "surging support" to Shiite militias, in part to influence a congressional debate on whether to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq. And he told Pentagon reporters in March that Iran continued to support insurgents, calling it "a long-term threat" and "what I worry about most." In the interview, Odierno said al-Qaeda in Iraq, a largely homegrown Sunni insurgent group that U.S. officials say is led by non-Iraqis, and Shiite militias that receive training and support from Iran have lost a significant amount of power and influence across the country. But both groups remain dangerous and could make a comeback if Iraqi politicians are unable to resolve differences over key issues, such as control of disputed territories in northern Iraq and distribution of revenue from the country's vast oil reserves. He said provincial elections scheduled for early next year are likely to test the endurance of the recent security gains. Violence in Iraq has dipped to a four-year low as Iraqi security forces became stronger, former insurgents took on a security role and were put on the U.S. payroll, and the ferocity of sectarian tensions ebbed. Odierno said much of the recent violence in Iraq appears to be motivated by politics. He mentioned as an example the recent slaying of an Iraqi lawmaker who belonged to the political party of anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. "What I worry about most is the assassination of candidates as people try to gain influence," Odierno said. "There will be a lot of political maneuvering to try to consolidate power bases in order to prepare themselves for the national election." He singled out two potential flash points: In Basra, a port city in southern Iraq where the army clashed with Shiite militias in the spring, Shiite parties are aggressively trying to expand their bases as the election nears. And the outcome of the provincial election in Nineveh province, which includes Mosul, in northern Iraq, could dramatically alter the political landscape of the predominantly Sunni province, which is governed by Kurds. Sunnis boycotted the 2005 election. "I characterize it as a communal struggle for power," Odierno said. "It's evolutionary. You have a struggle at the local level, the provincial level and the national level about who's going to control Iraq." The general said al-Qaeda in Iraq, which does not enjoy Iranian backing, has been particularly resilient in Mosul. That, he said, is largely a result of tensions between the city's predominantly Sunni population and its Kurdish leaders. The continued infiltration of the city's police force by extremists has exacerbated the problem, he said. Special correspondent Qais Mizher contributed to this report.
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BAGHDAD, Oct. 12 -- The commander of U.S. forces in Iraq said Sunday that American intelligence reports suggest Iran has attempted to bribe Iraqi lawmakers in an effort to derail a bilateral agreement that would allow U.S. troops to remain in Iraq after the end of this year.
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The National Symphony Orchestra came charging out of the gate on Saturday night. The opening of Glinka's overture to "Ruslan and Ludmilla" was hell-for-leather: a thundering, exuberant stampede. Not surprisingly, given the wildness, the piece stumbled a bit as it rounded the first curve, perhaps because it was not absolutely clear who was supposed to be where; Itzhak Perlman, who did duty as conductor, is too warm to be a tough traffic cop. But it certainly got the job done by starting off with a bang an evening that was designed to be all about having fun. The purpose of an orchestra gala is to be a great party, and raise money, and give everyone an excuse to dress up. Saturday night's season-opening ball succeeded admirably on all counts. (Stephen A. Schwarzman, the chairman of the Kennedy Center, announced that it had raised more than $2 million.) The festive mode extended to the stage, where the female members of the orchestra had a rare chance to shine in colorful evening gowns. If only it had extended to a more relaxed ambiance. It seems a shame to have to listen to a Strauss waltz like "Wiener Blut" in motionless silence when the music, even if played a little heavily, is positively demanding everyone to dance along -- particularly on an evening when everyone in the audience is dressed for it. It would be offensive to say that art isn't the point here. More accurately, the orchestra was called upon to perform the function that most people demand of it. From a sociological perspective, orchestras occupy a funny in-between terrain. A few people -- critics, notoriously, among them -- want them to continue to offer cutting-edge art to challenge, stimulate and, inevitably, provoke listeners. But many people want them simply to provide the familiar, warm, robust, predominantly 19th-century fare popularly known as "orchestral repertoire." And this taste, which is perfectly legitimate, was targeted on Saturday: The program offered lovely tunes, virtuosity and familiarity. Alisa Weilerstein, the cellist, embodied the two latter qualities. She is the embodiment of passionate intensity, and she has already played Tchaikovsky's Variations on a Rococo Theme with the NSO to kick off its subscription season in 2005, so her return to open the season with the same piece in 2008 was by way of being a reprise. Weilerstein is a pleasure to listen to: She has a thick, chewy tone that gives meat even to inherently light music. Her trademark is a kind of visible ardor, with a lot of head-tossing, that can lead, in fast climactic passages, into a sloppiness that she is too good to lapse into. But she certainly sells a piece. Perlman was the other virtuosic element -- not as conductor but as violinist. He and Pinchas Zukerman offered Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante, a piece they have been playing together for what must be half a century by now, and that still had all of its sunniness. Perlman projects in all things an amiability, his big fingers flowing across the strings like oil; Zukerman dug into the viola and gestured energetically at the orchestra when he was not actually playing -- he got the conducting duties on this one -- though it was not immediately evident that his waving bow had much effect on what was going on. Mozart was not a hallmark of the Leonard Slatkin era, which the NSO has just ended. What was offered here was old-school, 20th-century-style Mozart, big and pretty, and the two soloists worked most pleasingly together in the second movement. Interpretive finesse is not what anyone was going for. One does not engage Itzhak Perlman to be a great conductor; one engages him for star power and his easy -- sometimes too easy -- warmth. Perlman is, in fact, taking a stride in his (largely self-taught) conducting career; he has held advisory or principal-conductor positions with orchestras in the past, but next month he is taking over as artistic director and principal conductor of New York's diminutive Westchester Philharmonic. If that appointment represents a learning curve, well, he could use a little education. Ravel's "Bolero," which concluded the program, was mechanical for its entire beginning, though he kept it chugging along. The orchestra ended the evening as it had begun: quite loud, even a little strident. Not to knock Perlman, who certainly did everything that was wanted of him, including two encores that were rapturously received: Brahms's fifth Hungarian Dance had the audience clapping along, and there was actually a squeal of excitement at the announcement of a Slavonic Dance, though Perlman himself expressed bemusement at this excess of enthusiasm. It all added up to a lovely party. Thank you for having us. Now let's see what Ivan Fischer will bring in October.
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Search Washington, DC area music events and venues from the Washington Post. Features DC, Virginia and Maryland entertainment listings for music news, events, reviews, clubs, and concerts. Visit http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/eg/section/music/ today.
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Mbeki, South Africa's second president since the end of apartheid, is set to step down next year after 10 years in office. But his influence has waned dramatically since he lost the leadership of the ruling African National Congress in December to Jacob Zuma, who is now on track to become South Africa's next president. Last week, a judge dismissed corruption charges against Zuma, saying that prosecutors had not followed procedures and that the charges appeared to be part of a politically motivated scheme involving Mbeki. Mbeki has denied the allegation. Zuma, who faced 16 counts of corruption, fraud, money-laundering and racketeering stemming from a multimillion-dollar arms deal, was charged days after winning the ANC presidency. The dismissal of the charges prompted the head of the ANC Youth League and other Zuma supporters to call for Mbeki's ouster. Prosecutors have said they will appeal the ruling. If the party's top decision-making committee opts to eject Mbeki but he refuses to resign, the ANC could use its parliamentary majority to deem him unfit to serve. The party would then choose a lawmaker to take his place until elections next year -- but not Zuma, who is not a member of Parliament. Alternatively, the ANC could issue a vote of no confidence in the government, forcing early elections that some political analysts say the party is not ready for. The party's deliberations prompted outrage from Mbeki, who decried what he called a "growing tendency to hurl insults at organs of state" and denied that he had influenced the charges against Zuma, his former deputy president and ally. Mbeki fired Zuma in 2005 after Zuma's financial adviser was convicted of soliciting bribes in relation to the arms deal. "It impoverishes our society that some resort to the tactic of advancing allegations with no fact to support these," the president's office said in a statement. "Arising from this, the question will have to be answered now -- what kind of society are we building, informed by what value system and with what long-term effect to political and overall moral health of the nation?" Zuma, for his part, has not joined calls for Mbeki's resignation. At a rally last weekend, he said there was no need to "beat a dead snake."
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JOHANNESBURG, Sept. 19 -- South Africa's ruling party began a three-day meeting Friday to discuss whether to force out President Thabo Mbeki, who has faced mounting calls to resign since a court ruling suggested he had pressured prosecutors to charge his political rival with corruption.
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Washington Mutual, the Seattle-based savings and loan giant whose stock has been hammered the past week, has raised concern because its demise would be the largest bank failure in U.S. history, putting stress on the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. to cover depositors. Washington Mutual yesterday closed at $2 per share, down 27 percent on the day. The stock is 95 percent off its 52-week high. Standard & Poor's downgraded the company's credit rating to junk status, citing the deteriorating housing market. "The cost to the FDIC if this company fails is likely to be quite high," analyst Rich X. Bove of Ladenburg Thalmann wrote. He estimates the net cost to the FDIC at $24 billion, which is about half of the assets in the FDIC's insurance fund. The FDIC doesn't comment on specific cases, but a spokesman said yesterday that the fund has sufficient resources to cover the failure of a very large bank. In most cases, the FDIC promises to guarantee deposits up to $100,000. The government regards that promise as sacred. The FDIC might just have to borrow money from the Treasury Department to meet its obligations to depositors. "We're confident that our resources would be more than adequate to cover any losses from bank failures," FDIC spokesman Andrew Gray said. Washington area hedge fund managers who specialize in financial firms think the chances of Washington Mutual seeking bankruptcy protection are unlikely. Even if the bank does go under, they said, the FDIC could endure the hit. "The loss can be absorbed by common shareholders, preferred shareholders and bondholders, in that order, before you get to the deposit insurance," said Gary Townsend of Hill-Townsend Capital, a Chevy Chase hedge fund that concentrates on financials. "I assume that's not enough to break the [FDIC] bank." Eric D. Hovde of Hovde Financial, a District hedge fund that trades in bank stocks, said Washington Mutual should not be lumped in with Lehman Brothers because he said it has billions of dollars in savings account deposits that make it less vulnerable. "Does WaMu have problems? Yes," said Hovde, who said he has no stake in the company. "But fundamentally, they shouldn't be in a position of failing but for the press and others whipping up the fear on a failure. They are meeting their tangible capital requirements today. They have a much better funding structure [than Lehman], and it's a much more regulated entity. You can't compare WaMu to Lehman." TPG, one of the country's largest private-equity funds, bought a 14 percent stake in Washington Mutual earlier this year and presumably could buy more. "Likely, when push comes to shove, they would make a further investment to keep the ship afloat," Townsend said.
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The credit crisis that yesterday pushed Lehman Brothers to file for bankruptcy and drove Merrill Lynch into the arms of Bank of America has many on Wall Street looking at other troubled financials.
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In a speech that served as her introduction to most of the nation after Sen. John McCain's surprise decision to pick her as his vice presidential running mate, Palin pitched herself as the product of small-town America and laced her address with sarcastic digs at Sen. Obama. She said it is his experience, not hers, that is lacking, and she embraced the role of leading the attack against the Democratic ticket. "I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a 'community organizer,' except that you have actual responsibilities," she deadpanned. "I might add that in small towns, we don't quite know what to make of a candidate who lavishes praise on working people when they are listening, and then talks about how bitterly they cling to their religion and guns when those people aren't listening." Palin, who would be the first woman elected to the vice presidency, said she will ignore the "Washington elite" who do not consider her qualified for the post, and she served notice that she will not wilt in the face of critical coverage that followed McCain's announcement. "Here's a little news flash for all those reporters and commentators," she told the convention delegates, who wagged their fingers toward the arena's media boxes as she delivered the punch line. "I'm not going to Washington to seek their good opinion -- I'm going to Washington to serve the people of this country." The 44-year-old wife and mother of five was greeted with thunderous applause after a fiery and rousing introduction by former New York mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, who called her a woman "who has no fear" and added: "This is a woman who stands up for what's right." Palin focused on almost every tactical misstep Obama's campaign has made, painting a caricature of the Democrat as an out-of-touch elitist and a lightweight celebrity with no sense of what matters to average Americans. "We tend to prefer candidates who don't talk about us one way in Scranton and another way in San Francisco," she said. Mocking the speech in which Obama accepted the Democratic nomination before a crowd of more than 84,000 at a Denver football stadium, she asked: "When the stadium lights go out, and those Styrofoam Greek columns are hauled back to some studio lot, what exactly is our opponent's plan? What does he actually seek to accomplish, after he's done turning back the waters and healing the planet?" She leaned heavily on her own biography, introducing her husband, Todd, as a commercial fisherman, a union member, a world-champion snowmobile racer and an Eskimo. She described herself as a mom-turned-politician with the "same challenges and the same joys" as other families. She also offered at least one apparent ad-lib: "The difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull?" she asked. "Lipstick." Palin pledged that she would join McCain in a crusade for change, promising to "govern with integrity, goodwill, clear convictions, and . . . a servant's heart." And she praised McCain's character, making it clear that Obama has not served his country the way McCain has. "It's a long way from the fear and pain and squalor of a 6-by-4 cell in Hanoi to the Oval Office," she said of McCain's time as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. "But if Senator McCain is elected president, that is the journey he will have made."
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ST. PAUL, Minn., Sept. 3 -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin electrified the Republican convention Wednesday night, pitching herself as a champion of government reform, mocking Democratic candidate Barack Obama as an elitist and belittling media criticism of her experience.
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But when she and her husband sought a divorce last year, she said, the ultra-Orthodox rabbis in charge of the process had some questions. Among them: Did Yael observe the Sabbath? Did she obey the prohibition on sex during and after menstruation? Dissatisfied with the answers, the rabbis nullified her conversion. Yael did not need a divorce, they ruled, because she had never been married. She had never been married because she had never been Jewish. And because she had never been Jewish, her children were not, either. "I was in shock. I couldn't believe it," said Yael, 43, who would allow only her Hebrew name to be published out of privacy concerns. Blond, blue-eyed and athletic-looking, Yael is baffled by the ordeal. "My kids grew up Jewish," she said. "They don't know anything else." Yael's personal trauma has become a cause for Israeli soul-searching over what it means to be Jewish, a term that carries both religious and ethnic dimensions. The case has set off a roiling debate between those who see themselves as saving Judaism and those whose first priority is to safeguard the Jewish state. On one side are ultra-Orthodox leaders who are using their long-standing dominance of Israel's rabbinical court system -- which has authority over marriages, divorces and conversions -- to tighten restrictions governing who can become Jewish. They see themselves as defending the religious purity of a people who, according to their interpretation of Jewish law, need to live apart from other groups. Those on the other side are much more concerned with demographics: They believe that at a time when the number of Arabs living between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea is poised to surpass the number of Jews, Israel needs all the converts it can get. This group includes secular Jews, but it is led by the religious Zionists, who form the core of the settlement movement in the occupied territories and who feel it is their duty to populate the biblical land of Israel. The stakes have escalated since Yael's conversion was tossed out: When she appealed to the High Rabbinical Court of Israel, it not only upheld the original decision but also threw into doubt the legality of thousands of other conversions. "There is a cultural war going on between various segments of Jewish society," said Benjamin Ish-Shalom, chairman of the Joint Institute for Jewish Studies. A trim man with a philosophical bearing who relishes any discussion of Judaism, he helps administer a government-funded education program for Israelis who need help getting through the rigorous process of conversion. Over the past two decades, Israel has admitted hundreds of thousands of immigrants from the former Soviet Union, over the objections of ultra-Orthodox leaders who spoke out against allowing non-Jews to enter the country. Many of the immigrants lacked the paperwork to prove their Jewish ancestry. Others had fathers or grandparents who were Jewish, but did not qualify as Jewish themselves because Judaism is passed down through mothers. Until now, ultra-Orthodox leaders have not acted as forcefully to invalidate immigrant conversions. To Ish-Shalom, facilitating conversion has been good for the converts, good for Judaism and good for the state. "Israel needs people. It needs loyal people," he said. At the moment, there is rough parity between the Palestinian and Jewish populations in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, according to Eliyahu Ben-Moshe, a demographer and former deputy director of Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics. Because of a high Arab birth rate, Ben-Moshe said, they are expected to establish a clear majority in the coming decades -- a terrifying prospect for Israeli policymakers as the well of diaspora Jews who are willing to immigrate to Israel dries up.
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ASHDOD, Israel -- Yael converted to Judaism in 1992, and for the next 15 years she lived in Israel, celebrating the major holidays and teaching her children about the Jewish faith.
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A recent recovery in the value of the dollar, meanwhile, and slowing growth abroad could temper what has been a rapid rise in exports. They have been a key support for a U.S. economy buffeted by falling real estate values and a financial crisis that has spread from brokerage firms to include banks and mainstay companies such as the mortgage giant Fannie Mae. Sales abroad jumped by 13 percent from April through June and accounted for most of the growth in second-quarter GDP. White House spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters yesterday that the strong growth in exports "demonstrates just how important it is to continue with President Bush's efforts to open markets for America's goods and services." She called on Congress to pass a trade agreement with Colombia and other such negotiated agreements when lawmakers return from their summer recess on Sept. 8. Asked whether the White House felt any vindication from yesterday's numbers, Perino said that "no one's doing a victory dance, but what we are doing is making sure that we continue to press Congress on one of the most important aspects, which is free trade." While the overall GDP figure "looks good," the economy was nearly stagnant when exports are factored out, wrote Ian Shepherdson, chief U.S. economist with the consulting firm High Frequency Economics. "We expect much weaker" growth in the last half of the year, he said. The Dow Jones industrial average rose yesterday by 212.67, or 1.85 percent, to close at 11,715.18. The Standard & Poor's 500-stock index gained 19.02, or 1.48 percent, to 1300.68, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index finished at 2411.64, up 29.18, or 1.22 percent.
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U.S. economic growth accelerated from April to June as taxpayers spent their federal rebate checks and a weakened dollar boosted exports, the government reported yesterday.According to new data from...
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POSTED: 02:21 PM ET, 08/28/2008 by Derek Kravitz Reports of measles are on the rise, with health experts attributing the increase to the decision by some parents to forego vaccinations for their children out of fears the shots could trigger diseases. Scientific research has found no link thus far between vaccinations and diseases such as autism, but some parents remain suspicious. Pediatricians and health experts are sounding the alarm, noting that measles, which is virulently contagious, is the first disease to crop up when vaccination rates fall. In the past six months, 131 cases of measles have been reported, more than in any other six-month period in the past 12 years, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The American Academy of Pediatrics says extensive reports from several leading researchers have found no "proven association" between autism and measles vaccines. Experts recently told the Chicago Tribune that autism "tends to emerge at the same age children receive their shots, leading to a false sense of cause and effect." "Parental suspicion is now so high that public health officials fear it could undermine one of the most important advances in medical history," the Tribune reported. "Although vaccination rates have remained fairly steady, pockets of vaccine rejection can lead to outbreaks of childhood diseases that were once thought conquered." Of the 131 cases reported to CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases between Jan. 1 and July 31, most were school-aged children whose parents had yet to vaccinate them. At least 15 patients were hospitalized; no deaths were reported. Illinois led the nation with 32 reported cases, followed by New York with 27 and Washington State with 19. Washington, D.C., and Virginia reported one case each. There were 55 cases of measles reported in the United States in all of 2006. Two of the biggest outbreaks, in Illinois and Washington State, occurred after unvaccinated children infected others. In Washington, a child caught the disease at a church conference attended by 3,000 junior high school students. That child infected seven other children in her household and they spread measles to 11 other people, according to the health site WebMD. Many of those infected were home-schooled and none were vaccinated due to their parents' beliefs. Health authorities are concerned that larger outbreaks of the disease could be next. Dr. Dave Tayloe Jr., president-elect of the American Academy of Pediatrics, told the Raleigh News & Observer that an epidemic can be "only a plane ride away." The New York Times reports that the number of parents who claim a philosophical exemption to mandatory vaccine laws has grown. At least 20 states allow personal or philosophical exemptions, according to the nonprofit National Vaccine Information Center. Many parents of children afflicted with autism continue to argue that a link exists, pointing to a legal dispute in Georgia between the family of 9-year-old Hannah Poling and the federal government. In that case, a court awarded Poling a still-undetermined amount of money from a federal vaccine injury fund, finding that vaccines aggravated a rare underlying metabolic condition that resulted in a brain disorder "with features of autism spectrum disorder," The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. At the time, several researchers -- including Dr. William Schaffner, professor and chairman of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University, and Dr. Ira Rubin of Naperville Pediatrics in Naperville, Ill. -- said legal action does not equate with scientific proof of a link between vaccines and autism. Still, Poling's case, and others like it, have left some experts asking questions. Dr. Bernadine Healy, the former head of the National Institutes of Health, told CBS News in May that a consensus opinion within the medical community over an autism-vaccine link has not been reached and that more study is needed. "I think that the public health officials have been too quick to dismiss the hypothesis as irrational," Healy said. But the National Network for Immunization Information and two books published by the National Academies Press say autism is caused by genetics, not by any chemical found in vaccinations. By Derek Kravitz | August 28, 2008; 2:21 PM ET Previous: Biden Family Financial Connections Detailed | Next: Letters Paint Picture Of 'Humble' Abramoff Maybe if the drug companies didn't put mercury in the vaccines, maybe if the FDA and public health officials weren't so corrupt and could be trusted by the public, then this wouldn't be a problem. Posted by: Tirade | August 28, 2008 6:34 PM Europeans seem to be getting along just fine and they do not vaccinate for measles. Posted by: Bill J | August 28, 2008 6:50 PM Posted by: henry | August 28, 2008 7:09 PM Tirade - There is no mercury in the vaccines. Mercury was in the thimerosol that was used as a preservative in vaccines but thimerosol was taken out of the vaccines in 2002. And yet, autism rates continue to rise. Most experts think the rise in autism rates has to do with greater diagnosis, not an actual increase in cases. It has nothing to do with mercury. Posted by: Ugh | August 28, 2008 7:13 PM Posted by: henry | August 28, 2008 7:20 PM The flu vaccine is chock full of mercury. Posted by: ohenry | August 28, 2008 8:38 PM 90% of flu vaccines still contain mercury. Even while the amount of mercury has been reduced in many childhood vaccines, the use of flu vaccine containing mercury for pregnant women has greatly increased. Years ago it was discouraged; now pregnant women are strongly urged to get the flu vaccine, and not told that it contains mercury. Since the fetus is even more vulnerable to the toxic effects of mercury, the rising rates of autism could be due to the unprecedented exposure of pregnant women to mercury. Posted by: jerri | August 28, 2008 10:00 PM Investigations??? This is one of the most one sided artice I've ever read in the post. Let's all do our research people! Forget about autism for a moment. What about the rise in asthma, diabetes, A.D.D? Were any of the 131 kids vaccinated? That seems to be left out of the article. And when did 131 cases of ANYTHING in this country get SO much press? Let's do our own investigations and not just spout out quotes from experts who are in bed with the drug companies. That's what thousands of families are doing around the country. Good for them and good for their kids! Posted by: Anonymous | August 28, 2008 10:08 PM When the CDC and ACIP start investigating why some kids are getting vaccine-strain measles in lesions lining their gastrointestinal tract, they might earn back some public trust. Instead vaccine-injured children are written off as collateral damage in the war on disease, and families are left twisting slowly in the wind going broke handling these illnesses and disabilities. You find out just how unscientific these scientists are when they babble on about how the benefits outweigh the risks. Measles lasts a week; vaccine-induced "autism" lasts a lifetime. Posted by: prevent vaccine injuries please | August 28, 2008 10:59 PM According to an article in The Post 3 years ago, measles has killed somewhere around 200 million people in the last 150 years. It is also incredibly contagious. Let's not forget that the measles are not as tame as some people make them out to be. The vast majority of doctors and medical researchers are thoughtful and dedicated professionals. Posted by: Ummmm... | August 29, 2008 12:16 AM Posted by: Robin Nemeth | August 29, 2008 10:07 AM Sure, "legal action may not equate with scientific proof" but science and emerging science is an important part of any legal proceeding -- especially in this type of debate -- and to think that science doesn't play a significant role in a court's decision is simplistic and naive. In Hannah's case, government *medical* officials working for HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt decided to concede the case *before* it ever went to "court" and they based their decision on her *MEDICAL* records. Kelli Ann Davis, DC Political Liaison for Generation Rescue Posted by: Anonymous | August 29, 2008 10:27 AM This world we live in is so polluted and full of toxins how would you ever know the one cause is, maybe we are supposed to live in the world god created not the toxins man made. Posted by: Missa | August 29, 2008 11:52 AM I hope we're finally getting to the crux of this matter; viz: what is the REAL ratio between the risks vs benefits of various vaccines; and how much of a downside in a certain instance is the public willing to risk. That decision has been taken out of the people's hands by health authorities who have lied for years about the total downside of vaccines. Now parents have said they're mad as hell and they're not going to take that obfuscation anymore. And past time. Good for democracy. Not so good for rigid authoritarians, who would decide for us what is best for us. No more. That day is done. Posted by: kibitzer | August 29, 2008 12:35 PM UGH!! Mercury is JUST the scratch on the surface. What about formeldahyde, aluminum and all the other garbage that goes into making a vaccine? The problem lies in the multiple doses a baby receives. My child received pediarix at 2 months old. Pediarix is a combination of Diptheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio and hep B. Let's not forget the pnuemocacal, prevnar and HIB . Sure my child received 4 injections but he actually got 8 shots...with only trace amounts in each...times that by 8...then go for another round 2 months later then again 2 months later then 6 months later add another 5 injections with only trace amounts of mercury and the child cannot rid itself of all that garbage their brains can be affected...thus autism, add, learning difficulties, speech delay, etc etc.. could go on for hours. They need to quit injecting so much garbage in a tiny infant.Might as well make an infant eat a cigarette which nobody would do but it's the same principal. Still getting "garbage" and toxins. Posted by: Tamsyn | August 29, 2008 2:02 PM What happened? Was there too much news about young girls dropping dead or becoming paralyzed by Gardisil? Let's change the subject to the dreaded measles. What's the diagnosis for the above. Sudden adolescent Death Syndrome (SADS)? Posted by: Tom | August 29, 2008 2:43 PM Why doesn't any reporter just ask the most important (and simple)question... would you rather your child have measles, or autism? Compare the severity of both: Measles - Most patients with uncomplicated measles will recover with rest and supportive treatment. The fatality rate from measles for otherwise healthy people in developed countries is low: approximately 1 death per thousand cases. AND..get this, no drugs are known to cure measles. Autism - There is no cure. Children recover occasionally, sometimes after intensive treatment and sometimes not; it is not known how often this happens. Many medications are used to treat problems associated with ASD. More than half of U.S. children diagnosed with ASD are prescribed psychoactive drugs or anticonvulsants, with the most common drug classes being antidepressants, stimulants, and antipsychotics. Treatment is expensive; indirect costs are more so. A U.S. study estimated an average cost of $3.2 million in 2003 U.S. dollars for someone born in 2000, with about 10% medical care, 30% extra education and other care, and 60% lost economic productivity. Of that $3.2 million that each autistic person may cost, who do you think is at the receiving end of this spending? Possibly...pharmaceutical companies...that not only make the vaccinations but also make the drugs used to manage the disorder. How could anyone choose to put their child at risk of developing a lifelong disabling disorder like autism in order to reduce (not even eliminate!) the chance of contracting measles? Posted by: hodey | August 29, 2008 8:14 PM Thank you for presenting both sides in this argument. The question regarding vaccines and autism is still somewhat open. The fact that the HHS conceded that Hannah Poling's autism is the result of her vaccines makes me think that it's not an open question but an answered question. The only real question is WHY do some children get sick from vaccines. Maybe study the sick children. What I would like to see is a piece on vaccines and how they are produced, what they do in the body, and what can go wrong. Might scare A LOT of people away from vaccines. Posted by: Knowthefacts | August 30, 2008 6:47 AM The measles vaccine is the only live-virus vaccine mandatory for children. Polio, formerly a live virus vaccine, is now attenuated. It is well-known that polio can be spread as a result of vaccination (for one example, see case studies in Minnesota) when the live vaccine is given. No long-term studies have been done on the effects of a live-virus measles vaccine. However, autism researchers have found vaccine-strain measles in the gastrointestinal system of children with autism. These children have measles titers that far exceed normal standards. The fact that the MMR vaccine contains a live virus is a real concern. We get disease by breathing viruses or ingesting them where we have organs and immune functions designed to attack them. Injecting a live virus into the tissue of a child is not a natural means of getting disease and it throws the body into chaos trying to fight it off. Until adequate safety studies have been done on vaccines containing live viruses, parents should continue to raise their concerns. Posted by: Elizabeth | August 30, 2008 7:01 AM My son spoke. My son got shots. My son stopped speaking. My son's Doctor committed suicide. My son's new Doctor is a Defeat Autism Now Doctor. New GFCF diet and supplements and he spoke again. His first words in six years..."Hi Daddy" the week before Father's Day 2008. I will not rest until every mother of an Autistic child hears "I Love you Mamma". Wake up people these children are the canaries in the coal mine. If the bird dies you run. You do not debate the cause or potential cause. First do no harm. You will know someone with autism soon. I pray that it will not be your son. Posted by: Tanners Dad | August 30, 2008 8:47 AM I am the mother of a formally (autism)diagnosed son who will soon be 11. Over the course of the past 8 years we have come to understand this a as a vaccine reaction issue. That being said I believe the diagnosis rare is NOT 1 in 150. I believe (much like Michael Savage) that children are in fact being over diagnosed. And again like Savage I believe it too is to fatten the wallets of the drug cartels. Most parents are using pharmaceutical products in one way or another to help off set the effects of "autism". Also, I believe since the CDC is in bed with these drug cartels that it does in fact help the CDC by (on the surface at any rate)disassociating the vaccine link. At the very least it is STILL keeping people guessing. With more questions than answers. Back in the summer of 05 when California came out with the first decline in autism in a decade (http://www.sacunion.com/pages/california/articles/5424) increased the possible association between vaccines and autism. In 06 the CDC came out with new averages of 1 in 166. How they came to these numbers I don't know. However, in 07 when the CDC came out with the latest ratio of autism of 1 in 150, they came to this conclusion by doing a count of the seven WORST states for ASD diagnosis and averaged the new ratio based EXCLUSIVELY on those 7 (43 short of the what I would call a true national average)states. Again to further the disassociation of vaccines and autism. Posted by: Deborah | August 30, 2008 10:40 AM Like Tanner's Dad, my son spoke a respectible 30 words or so and walked by the time he was 18 months old. On his 18 month well-baby visit, he received the MMR and DTaP shots on the same day. Several hours later, he was running a 105 fever, screaming these horrible high pitched shrieks and going into convulsions. His pediatrician said that his reaction was normal (NORMAL???). At the ER, they ran a CT scan and found that he had an encepalopathy. My son stopped speaking, my son stopped walking, my son was diagnosed with autism. For 5 years, he did not speak until, 2 weeks after we began his GFCF diet, he said "Daddy" on Father's Day. But, of course, when the vaccine-thugs arrive, they will all tell you that we are lying. They will tell you that thousands of these eerily similar stories are fabrications and that we picked vaccines out of thin air. They will tell you that our children who are recovering never really had autism to begin with. Think about the current status quo when they do, and realize that those in power will do anything they can to stay in power. Posted by: Craig | August 30, 2008 10:59 AM Another thing...less than 200 cases of measles in a country with 300 million people, and 0 deaths. Wow! Everyone run for your lives! Where is the guy from Monty Python with the big cart walking through our streets yelling "Bring out your dead?" Everyone saw through it. Except, of course, for the vaccine-thugs. This is an attempt to scare the public into being good boys and girls and getting their vaccines. And then we have all of these people yelling at those who don't vaccinate, saying that they are endangering everyone else. Well, if the pro-vaxxers had vaccinated, why are they worried? Shows you how little faith that people have in the vaccines, doesn't it? Because their vaccine might not have worked? Oh, I know, the vaccine-thugs will say that vaccines aren't 100% effective, that we must maintain a 90% or better herd-immunity (I have always resented that phrase. I am not a cow, but seeing the mentality of the vaccine-thugs, it is plain to see that they are happily part of the herd). Well, Gerberding and Pauly prOffit need to quit telling us that they are 100% effective. And, if they were truly effective, then people shouldn't worry. Maybe we should look into WHY they aren't that effective. Posted by: Craig | August 30, 2008 11:08 AM With over 25 years of Nursing experience(mostly pediatrics) I feel "seasoned" enough to chime in on this topic. I would NEVER Vaccinate a child these days. NO child can come out healthy after over 60+(SIXTY PLUS) Vaccines. You did know that right? Actually, there is not a medication on the market (prescription or over the counter) that can be given across the board to EVERY adult without a serious negative consequence to someone. Everyones genetic makeup is different. What works for you can give someone else an Anaphylactic reaction. In addition, that is why meds are taken off the market, recalled and get "Black Box" warnings. So how can vaccines be ONE SIZE FITS ALL ? They can't ! And to start to mix them together in multi-dose shots only complicates things more as when a reaction occurs, how would anyone know what coaused it? Did any parent who vaccinated their child even wonder about how these vaccines are tested and who are they infact tested on? Do you personally know what is in them? I doubt your doctor does either! Get them while they are young... Many young and new parents do not have a clue what it is like to bring a perfectly healthy child into a doctors office for a "shot" which is really more like 5 shots (or 3 in one) and a couple of others and to have a screaming child that then has seizures and THEIR LIFE IS NEVER THE SAME AGAIN. NEVER THE SAME AGAIN. NEVER THE SAME AGAIN. And to top it off, the doctor and the company that makes the Vaccines are NOT liable for the damage caused from the Vaccines to YOUR child. So while not every person who smokes cigarettes will get lung cancer, not evey child who gets vaccines will become neurogically impared or Autistic. However, we know that cigarettes DO infact cause Cancer. Could a smoker identify which cigarette is responsible for the cancer? Or was it a cumulative effect? ARE YOU PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE WITH YOUR CHILD ? Unfortunately, being that there is an ongoing funneling of HUGE BIG $$$ for vaccines, for children injured by vaccines, for medications given to children injured by vaccines, for ONGOING care of these children, the government has a huge stake in allowing the drug companies all of this profit. It is easy to figure out... just follow the money ! Ohhh... and just some food for thought. Do you really believe that your pediatrician gives their own children all of the recommended Vaccines on the CDC Vaccine schedule? I highly doubt it. Do you think they are going to tell you that? I doubt that even more highly. That would be risking their livelyhood. Posted by: Seasoned Nurse | August 30, 2008 3:23 PM there is a link. as long as the CDC continues to bury its head in the sand over the millions of reports worldwide from parents of vaccine-damaged children and continues to ignore the the blatant conflicts of interest of the ACIP (Advisory Council on Immunization Practices), it only has itself to blame for more and more citizens turning away from the bloated vaccine schedule. And to the poster who said the live vaccines are extremely dangerous - I agree. But it isn't just measles that has a live vaccine. Vaccines for mumps, rubella, chicken pox and rotavirus are all live. All dangerous and supremely unnecessary. Posted by: Anonymous | August 30, 2008 4:10 PM Tanners Dad, Your son's story is remarkable. Your son's doctor committed suicide? Why? Posted by: anonymous | August 30, 2008 4:44 PM Tanner's dad's story is indeed remarkable...perhaps even unbelievable. R Posted by: R Finley | August 31, 2008 9:54 PM We need brave, concerned soul from medical profession like "seasoned nurse" ( one of commentators above ). Someone posted her comments at babycenter.com immunization board, a popular website for a new mom. Many new moms are confused and stressed with so many vaccines that are given to their babies. One provax mom responded. "Seasoned nurse needs some professional help to make her lose her black helicopters, otherwise she is NEVER EVER going to be in touch with reality again." What is going on to our nation's children is a real tragedy with 1 out 150 kids becoming autistic and 1 out of 6 becoming learning disabled. What is more tragedy is the fact that there will always be people who try to supress the truth especially in the area of immunization. The number of vaccines added to children's immunization schedule is increasing every year. Posted by: Anonymous | September 1, 2008 6:56 AM Good source of info on immunization: NVIC.ORG Good source of info about real stories from families with autistic children: AGEOFAUTISM.COM Posted by: Carla | September 1, 2008 10:22 AM We encourage users to analyze, comment on and even challenge washingtonpost.com's articles, blogs, reviews and multimedia features. User reviews and comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions.
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Track Washington Post investigations and get updates on past investigative series from The Post. A blog about investigative journalism by The Washington Post.
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Daniel H. Mudd will continue to serve as chief executive and the departing company officers will be replaced by other Fannie Mae insiders. The company, battered by the meltdown in the mortgage market, said it was putting in place a team that will help it endure mounting losses that have put the firm's survival at stake. "This team will be responsible for meeting the dual objectives of conserving capital and controlling credit losses," Mudd said in a statement. "As we move through the bottom of this cycle, maintaining capital, managing credit and driving revenues are the priorities." District-based Fannie Mae -- along with its sister Freddie Mac of McLean -- are the largest source of mortgage finance across the country. Both made bad bets on securities backed by home loans and have been badly bruised by the housing bust. The companies' shares have lost most of their value this year. Last month, Congress gave the Treasury Department authority to lend money to the mortgage giants or buy their stock to help prop them up. Under the management shake-up, chief financial officer Stephen Swad, who joined the company just last year from Internet giant AOL, is exiting "to pursue other opportunities in private equity," according to a Fannie Mae statement. He will be replaced by David C. Hisey, Fannie's senior vice president and controller, a three-year veteran of the firm. Robert J. Levin is retiring as chief business officer and will be replaced by Peter Niculescu, head of the company's capital markets business, who has been with the firm nine years. And Enrico Dallavecchia, also leaving the company "to pursue other opportunities," is being replaced as chief risk officer by Michael Shaw, a senior vice president for credit risk oversight, who has been with Fannie for two years. In addition, David C. Benson, senior vice president and treasurer, has been promoted to executive vice president of capital markets and treasury. Joshua Rosner, managing director of independent financial service firm Graham Fisher in New York and a Fannie Mae critic, said the shake-up made sense but wondered whether it would make a big difference. "The reality is that this management and this board have failed investors and failed their public mission," he said. "Why should we have great confidence that they have finally made the right choice after stumbling?" Rosner said it was surprising that Mudd didn't leave with his team. "Mudd should probably be held accountable as well," he said, though he noted that Mudd was named chief executive once the company was already in trouble during the middle of an accounting restatement in December 2004.
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Struggling mortgage giant Fannie Mae shook up its senior management yesterday, announcing the departure of its chief financial officer and two other top executives.
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Mazen Asbahi, a Chicago lawyer who had been appointed to help Obama reach out to Muslims, stepped down on Monday, the Wall Street Journal reported late last night. The paper had inquired about his relationship with Jamal Said, who served on a board with Asbahi in 2000 that is a subsidiary of the North American Islamic Trust, which holds titles to mosques, Islamic centers, schools, and other real estate around the country. Said had been named in an investigation of alleged Hamas fund-raisers, which ended in a mistrial last year, the paper reported. "I am stepping down from the volunteer role I recently agreed to take on with the Obama campaign as Arab-American and Muslim American coordinator in order to avoid distracting from Barack Obama's message of change," Ashabi wrote in a statement Obama's campaign staff released last night. Obama aides said Asbahi had only worked in his volunteer position in the campaign since July 26 and they would appoint a new person to the job. After his appointment, Ashbahi had written on the campaign's blog, "we need Muslim Americans to get excited about the Campaign, and there's a lot to get excited about." "Sure, there have been mis-steps," he said. "And of course there are added sensitivities with our faith given the "smear" campaign trying to paint the Senator as too exotic and too un-American to be President." Obama had apologized to two women who were barred from sitting behind the podium by campaign volunteers seeking to prevent the women's headscarves from appearing in photographs or on television with the candidate at a rally in Detroit in June.
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Barack Obama's national Muslim outreach coordinator has resigned amid a controversy of over his connections to a man who the Justice Department named as an unindicted co-conspirator in the racketeering trial last year of several alleged Hamas fund-raisers.
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Lori Drew became the focus of national outrage after the girl committed suicide. Court papers filed yesterday seize on a possible weakness in the prosecution case that has been noted by several legal experts since the May indictment: While Drew's alleged behavior may have been wrong, there is no legal sanction against it. In charging Drew, prosecutors relied on their belief that she, like countless others on social networks such as MySpace, created a fake identity -- in this case, a 16-year-old boy, "Josh Evans," who flirted with and then rejected 13-year-old Megan Meier. Because the false profile violated MySpace policy, prosecutors charged Drew with four counts based on her accessing a computer system "without authorization." In doing so, they relied on a statute commonly wielded against hackers and information thieves. Drew was charged with one count of conspiracy and three counts of accessing a computer without authorization and via interstate commerce to obtain information to inflict emotional distress. Each count carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. "The government, in its zeal to charge Lori Drew with something, anything, has tried to criminalize everyday, ordinary conduct: the wayward or misuse of a social-network website," defense attorney H. Dean Steward wrote in a motion to dismiss that was filed yesterday. A spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office declined to comment. Drew's alleged harassment of Meier is often cited as an example of boorish behavior on the Web, where the freedom of electronic communication has often devolved into vitriol and vulgarity. But whether such behavior can be or should be legally regulated is disputed. Prosecutors say Drew created the "Josh Evans" identity in order to strike up a flirty conversation with Meier, who had been friends with her daughter. After a few weeks of chatting, "Josh Evans" began to send Megan nasty messages. Finally, her father said, one suggested that "the world would be a better place'' without her. In October 2006, soon after allegedly receiving the message, Meier hanged herself in her bedroom. The resulting public outrage led state and federal prosecutors in Missouri to examine the case.
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The lawyer for a Missouri mother accused of creating a fake MySpace page to harass a 13-year-old girl is arguing that charges should be tossed out of court because if she is guilty, then so are millions of Internet users every day.
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A power outage at RFK Stadium forced yesterday's D.C. United game against the Houston Dynamo to be rescheduled for 7:30 tonight, marking the second time in United's 13-year history -- and the second time this season -- a home game has been postponed. Yesterday's game was supposed to be the makeup of a June 4 game against Houston, which was suspended because of severe weather after 15 minutes of scoreless play. Tickets from June 4 or yesterday will be honored tonight. The decision to postpone yesterday's game is believed to be the first time in RFK's 47-year history that a sporting event has been postponed because of a power shortage. RFK and a nearby housing complex lost power early yesterday morning, Pepco spokesman Bob Hainey said, and the game was called because enough power could not be regained before the scheduled start time. "It kind of takes you back to high school or something," United defender Devon McTavish said. "Back there, your games were getting canceled all the time for weather. Kind of interesting." Houston (4-4-8) rescheduled its league game against United (7-7-1) for yesterday because of last week's SuperLiga tournament game. The teams played each other Saturday in tournament play -- Houston won, 3-1 -- but they have not yet met in MLS this season. The Dynamo has stayed at a hotel in downtown Washington since Friday, adding an extra night's stay because of yesterday's postponement. "From what I was able to see in the team meal, they were little disappointed," Dynamo spokesman Lester Gretsch said. "They wanted to go home so we can get our legs back before the all-star break. It comes with the trade. It's things that happen, I guess." For United, tonight's game will mark its return to league play. United was one of the MLS's hottest teams, but an intermission from the regular season -- two tournaments fractured the league schedule during the opening weeks of July -- slowed the team's momentum. Last night's game was supposed to be a chance for United to remedy its problems. "We're ready to get the game over with, for sure," McTavish said. Three main power lines feed RFK and the nearby Langston Terrace housing projects. One of those lines was powerless because it was undergoing maintenance and another of the lines lost power at 2:23 a.m., after which time the stadium lost power necessary to host an event. "You've got vendors in there, microwave ovens, popcorn, cotton candy and lights," Hainey said. "Those lights burn up a lot of juice." Pepco workers had yet to fix the problem as of 7 last night. Though it is the first time a United home game has been postponed because of electrical problems, it is not the first time lighting issues have affected one of its games at RFK. In 2000, a bank of lights at RFK malfunctioned during a United-Kansas City match, which was declared an official game after one scoreless half.
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D.C. United's makeup game against Houston tonight at RFK Stadium has been postponed due to power outages. Thunderstorms originally postponed the game on June 4.
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Although the police captain offered help to the pedestrian, who declined medical treatment and walked away, the captain did not immediately report the accident to his superiors, police officials said. Metro police found out about the incident after a witness contacted the department later that day to check on the man's welfare, officials said. Transit Police Chief Michael Taborn said one of his deputies is conducting an administrative investigation. He said it appears that the captain, Leslie Campbell, "wasn't paying full attention" when the accident occurred. The car was moving slowly, and the pedestrian was not knocked down, Taborn said. "Even though there was no injury and no damage, he should have made his officials aware of that particular incident," Taborn said. Campbell, 43, is an 18-year veteran on the force and commander of one of two Transit Police districts. Deputy Chief Jeff Delinski, who is handling the probe, said he is investigating whether procedures were violated. Taborn said Metro police are required to report all incidents involving pedestrians. The accident took place June 11, shortly after 2:10 p.m., in the bus bay of the Anacostia station, Delinski said. Campbell was in uniform and on duty, conducting a check of the station, Delinski said. Delinski declined to provide details of the accident except to say that Campbell's car made "contact" with a pedestrian in the bus bay. "The captain did stop. He offered first aid and took the person's information down," Delinski said. In Campbell's opinion, there did not appear to be any physical injury and, therefore, no need to call for an ambulance, he said. About an hour later, a witness called Metro police to check on the man, Delinski said. She had to catch a bus and "leave before the incident had resolved itself, and she wanted to make sure the person was all right." An hour after the witness notified police, Delinski spoke with Campbell about the accident. Campbell provided a written statement the next day. Asked why Campbell did not immediately report the incident, Delinski said: "That's part of the investigation." The Transit Police Department has 423 officers, 106 security special police and 24 civilian personnel. The police patrol the Metrorail and Metrobus systems throughout the 1,700-square-mile transit zone in the Washington area, serving a population of 3.2 million.
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Metro Transit Police are investigating an accident involving a Transit Police captain who struck a pedestrian with a police car last month near the Anacostia Metro station in Southeast Washington, officials said yesterday.
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washingtonpost.com: Sonya is signed in and will begin answering questions shortly. Hungry in Va: What's the truth behind the change in time to 10 minutes? Is it because of secret documents found indicating the previous events were 10 minutes, or is it because Nathans didn't want to see any reversal of fortunes of their hot dogs? Sonya Thomas: I dont know of any secret documents, and I dont think the whole "reversal of fortune" thing was behind Nathan's decision to change from 12 to 10 minutes. I just think that making it 10 minutes makes it a quicker and more exciting event. Besides, during the last two minutes of previous contests, I can tell you that all the eaters were pretty well spent, and not much eating occured. I thing 10 minutes spices up this year's event. Arlington, Va: How do you feel that the reduction in time from 12 minutes to 10 minutes will affect the competition? Sonya Thomas: Like I said in me previous response, I like the 10 minutes change as a fan of the sport. Personally, for me as an eater since I'm so small, I like the longer events because the big guys get tired and I want to keep on going. If you'll notice over the last five years at Nathan's I keep pretty steady pace of eating, where the big guys tend to slow down. I consistently eat throughout the contest 4 to 5 dogs a minutes without slowing down. Sometimes steady the pace wins the race. WDC: In my office, we have a biannual hot dog eating contest and usually the best anyone can do is 12 hotdogs. We eat them with toppings and do not have a set time limit, but after doing this, your food records seem impossible. Is it better to eat quickly in a competitive eating contest? Also, do you go into a food coma after a challenge? Sonya Thomas: Your contest sounds like a lot of fun and 12 dogs is nothing to be ashamed of. When I won my first Nathan's qualifier in 2003 I ate only 18. Regarding eating quickly, it helps to be fast. But for me I am more of steady paced minute by minute eater. That's why should watch me start of at the bottom of the pack of eaters this year and work my way up the field as the contest goes on. Bethesda, MD: What is the most difficult food (either strategically or un-appetizing) you have tried to eat for competition? Sonya Thomas: There are two types of foods in the eating competition world -- technique and shovel. Techniques requires some skill such as eating chicken wings, lobsters, oysters, etc. Shovel food is stuff you just cram down as fast as you can, like cheese cake, popcorn, baked beans, grits, etc. Obviously, technique foods are harded but I like that type of competition better because it gives me advantage over the big guys, with big mouths. Yet, I did once eat 18.5 lbs. of grits in 10 minutes. Washington D.C: How do you eat all those hot dogs and still stay so thin? Sonya Thomas: A lot of running and I have a job as a Burger King manager that keeps me on my feet all day. Of course, I don't eat, like I eat at competitions every day and I try to keep by daily eating habits healthy. Washington, D.C.: Sonya -- you're the bomb. At what point in your life did you realize you had the "gift" for speed eating and food volume consumption? Second, do you consider competitive food eating a "sport" with "athletes" or more of a competitive hobby like kite-flying? Finally, I've heard that the top food competitors are simply anatomically different, true and if so, how different? Sonya Thomas: Back in 2002 I saw Takeru eating at Nathan's and said to myself I think I can do that. Well, I guess I was right because one year later I was competiting at Nathan's. For me it's a sport, it definately requires physical skills, you have to stay fit, sometimes practice, and the competition is high. The Discovery Channel looked at me and found that there really are no differences in me physically than anyone else. Yet, throuh brain scans they did find that I had a greater ability to deal with pain than most. Concord, N.H.: What effect do you think sport-eating will have on your body in the long run? I can't help but think there will be unpleasant repercussions down the road. Sonya Thomas: Like I said earlier, I don't eat like that everyday. My doctors tell me that I'm in great shape and have seen no physical changes in my stats -- cholesteral levels, etc. Good luck tomorrow! Are there any local annual eating events that we might be able to see you perform in person? I'm also an Asian female, and it's cool that you can beat the guys. I'll be rooting for you! Sonya Thomas: I recently ate 17 slices of Three Brothers Pizza in 10 minutes at their Greenbelt, Md., location on May 31. Thanks for backing me. I'll be thinking of you too and all my fans while I'm eating tomorrow -- GIRL POWER! Philadelphia, Pa.: Has choking ever been a hazard at any of these contests? I presume there are people at the sides prepared to handle choking victims? Sonya Thomas: It is an International Federation of Competitive Eating requirement that EMTs be on hand at any eating event. Believe me, they are very strict about. I was recently on a top news morning show and was just demonstrating how to eat hot dogs and they had an EMT standing by. Berkley, Mich.: Do you fast before competion, and if so, for how long? Do you ever eat hot dogs for a meal (outside of a competition)? Sonya Thomas: Sometimes, but they have to be Nathan's. Alexandria, Va.: I know that some athletes in your sport concentrate on pickled vegetables and avoid meats. Are you equally talented in all types of foods? Sonya Thomas: I love the veggies, often having a meal of raw vegetables. About eating pickled veggies, I've not heard that. But, I do love my Kimchi. Records I am most proud of eating 624 oysters in in about 13 minutes, 8.4 pounds of baked beans in 2 minutes 47 seconds, and 65 hard boiled eggs in 6:40 seconds (they actually ran out of eggs and could have ate more). BC Canada: What is your -least- favorite food to eat in a contest? Sonya Thomas: Being of Korean heritage I am not used to eating a lot of sweets. So for me, eating 11 lbs. of cheesecake in 9 minutes was the only time I felt a little sick after an event. Harrisburg, Pa.: You work for Burger King? I'm surprised they don't take advantage of your celebrity and have you making appearances at Burger Kings all around the world. (Hey, maybe they'll read this.) Sonya Thomas: Hey, thanks for the plug. I'm up on the Burger King employee website as we speak. In fact, Jay Leno once said that he thought that maybe someday he might buy me a franchise. That would be fun! Indianapolis, IN: Where did your nickname, "the Black Widow," come from? Sonya Thomas: It kind just popped up. Everybody was talking about how I was beating all the men in the competition and the analogy to Black Widow spider just seemed to follow me. Silver Spring: Ms. Thomas, the way I see it, the 40 hot dogs you alone gulp down could provide a meal for 5 hungry poor families of four (at two hot dogs each). In these tough economic times, is this the best use of food? Sonya Thomas: That's your choice and I respect that. Let's all celebrate the freedoms to express ourselves that this country offers this July 4th. Toledo, Ohio: Sonya, Good luck tomorrow. I'd would be interested to know (don't get too graphic) what you go through and how you feel in the 24-48 hours following an event. How long until you feel normal again? Sonya Thomas: Really I'm fine right after an event. Sometimes I like something cold after the event such as fruit or ice cream. Fort Washington, Md.: First of all, I love watching you compete, especially against the really big guys!! I would imagine that competitive eating involves at least some form of purging. What affects, if any, has competitive eating had on your overall digestive health? Sonya Thomas: Nope no purging. It's not good for you. My doctors tell me all aspects of my health are good. Los Angeles: What do you eat in a typical day when not training? Sonya Thomas: I love my Korean food -- rice, kimchi, Korean noodles, bulgoki, etc. And, on a typical day I love my vegetables, salads, and fruit. Omaha, Neb.: How did you get interested in competitive eating? How many other women compete in the event? Sonya Thomas: I saw it on TV and said to myself I can do that. Follow your dreams everybody! South Riding, Va.: How easy or hard is it to become a contestant in the contest? Can anyone sign up or do you need to qualify first? Sonya Thomas: Anyone can sign up for qualifiers. Just go to the website: www.IFOCE.com. Looking forward to seeing you out on circuit. Sonya Thomas: This was really a lot of fun! Don't forget to watch ESPN tomorrow at Noon Eastern time. I want to thank all my fans, particularly those in the Washington area who have supported me. You guys are the greatest. Happy 4th of July everyone! Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.
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Competitive eater Sonya Thomas takes your questions about the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest, what it's like to eat almost 40 hot dogs in 12 minutes, how she trains and more.
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» This Story:Read +|Watch + { "movie":"http://media10.washingtonpost.com/wp/swf/OmniPlayer.swf", "id":"oplayer-video-swf", "width":"100%", height:"100%", "vars":{ "title":"Ballmer on Microsoft\'s Mission", "stillURL":"http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2008/06/05/PH2008060500264.jpg", "mediaQueryString":"http://static.washingtonpost.com/wp/swf/OmniPlayer.swf?id=06052008-3v&flvURL=/media/2008/06/05/06052008-3v&playAds=true&adZone=wpni.video.bc&canShare=false" }, "params":{ "allowFullScreen":"true" } } Suspicious package sits at Fed building for months Toyota expects to halt production in U.S. Aerial view of Japan destruction Truck dangles over ramp; two trapped Aftermath of blast, Gaza strikes Elementary class graduate after tsunami Baking behind bars on Rikers Island Plea deal nixed in Conn. home invasion case Police: Teen shot guardians after being grounded Playing the oil prices money game Elizabeth Taylor's stand against AIDS Obama struggles to enter White House Radioactive water triggers fear in Japan Buying a new home means paying more Allied forces crippling Gaddafi's power Goldman CEO offers no cover for ex-boardmember Audio: Silence in the tower at DCA Libya mission gaining; U.S. looks to cede control Deadly plane crash in Republic of Congo Strong storms bring wild weather Watchdog groups want Ukraine zoo closed Blast at bus station shakes Jerusalem Japan buries its dead as radiation fears grow Obama struggles to enter White House Obama again defends U.S. involvement in Libya McCain on no-fly zone: "It's been very effective" U.S. fighter jet crashes in Libya Obama lauds Chile's transition to democracy Coalition stops Gaddafi push on rebel stronghold The Post's Perry Bacon on Obama in Chile Obama favors Gaddafi stepping down Palin: 'Overwhelming' to be in Israel Gates: U.S. will soon yield control in Libya The Fast Fix - Is Romney winning the base? Obama: Brazil's democracy example to Arab world Obama plays soccer with Brazil youth Obama authorizes military action against Libya The Post's Forero analyzes Obama's trip to Brazil Obama: Coalition prepared to act in Libya Banks boost dividends as Fed loosens leash Wisc. judge blocks controversial union law Obama: U.S. ready to enforce sanctions in Libya Clinton: 'No other choice' in Libya Westfield and Robinson tie, 1-1 Post Sports Live: Boudreau vs. McPhee - who deserves more credit? Post Sports Live: Sweet 16 preview Post Sports Live: Alex Ovechkin's mysterious injury Post Sports Live, March 22 Georgetown Prep beats Langley, 12-3 Post Sports Live: Verizon Center has Big East feel for NCAA Tourney Ali asks Iran to free U.S. hikers JaVale McGee on his first triple-double Post Sports Live: Mason faces tough road in East region Post Sports Live: Georgetown's chances rest on Wright's hand Navy knocks out in-state rival Towson, 14-11 Georgetown draws 5th-seed, faces Princeton this Sunday Post Sports Live: NCAA Tournament preview Post Sports Live, March 15 George Mason reacts to first-round matchup with Villanova Sneak peek: 'History Will Be Made' North Point claims 4A title Centennial loses to Milford Mill, 56-44 Toyota expects to halt production in U.S. Aerial view of Japan destruction Aftermath of blast, Gaza strikes Elementary class graduate after tsunami No Tweeting: A royal wedding etiquette guide Playing the oil prices money game Radioactive water triggers fear in Japan Allied forces crippling Gaddafi's power Libya mission gaining; U.S. looks to cede control Deadly plane crash in Republic of Congo Watchdog groups want Ukraine zoo closed Blast at bus station shakes Jerusalem Japan buries its dead as radiation fears grow Mass protests in Yemen as emergency law imposed Bomb explodes at Jerusalem bus stop Obama again defends U.S. involvement in Libya Missing Va. teacher's body located in Japan U.S. fighter jet crashes in Libya Carriages prepared for royal wedding Japan slowly recovers, mourns dead Obama lauds Chile's transition to democracy Coalition stops Gaddafi push on rebel stronghold The Post's Perry Bacon on Obama in Chile Truck dangles over ramp; two trapped Post Today, March 24: U-Md. demands nuclear fallout info Baking behind bars on Rikers Island No Tweeting: A royal wedding etiquette guide Police: Teen shot guardians after being grounded Elizabeth Taylor's stand against AIDS Obama struggles to enter White House Aflac debuts Gilbert Gottfried-less commercial Strong storms bring wild weather Elizabeth Taylor's tempestuous love affair Adorable polar bear twins meet the public Bomb explodes at Jerusalem bus stop Elizabeth Taylor dies at 79 Massive shark spotted off Florida coast Iowa tornado caught on tape Post Today, March 23: Naming military operations Circus elephants take a walk through D.C. Missing Va. teacher's body located in Japan Footage of crashed U.S. fighter jet U.S. fighter jet crashes in Libya Carriages prepared for royal wedding
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Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer talks about Microsoft's mission, how it has evolved, and the company's strategy for the future at a discussion Wednesday with The Washington Post. Video: Anna Uhls/washingtonpost.comEditor: Jacqueline Refo/ washingtonpost.com
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"If the people will have me, I will run enthusiastically," Miller, the state's longest-serving Senate president, said during an emotional news conference where he appeared on the verge of tears. "I don't make this decision lightly. . . . My primary concern is the people I represent. I feel I have a great debt to them." Miller, who has presided over the Senate for more than two decades, declined to say whether he would ask his colleagues to reelect him as president in 2011, assuming he is returned to the Senate for a 10th term by voters in the district that includes parts of Calvert and Prince George's counties. Several colleagues, however, said that they could not envision Miller, a gregarious lawyer with a well-deserved reputation for steering legislation through his chamber, serving in a Senate that he does not lead. "I can't even imagine that," said Sen. James E. DeGrange Sr. (D-Anne Arundel), who is close to Miller. DeGrange and others predicted that jockeying among several would-be successors would subside, at least for now, after Miller's announcement, which he repeated at a fundraiser last night in Baltimore. Although neither Miller, 65, nor his counterpart in the House of Delegates -- Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) -- is a household name, both wield tremendous power in Annapolis. "The president of the Senate plays an important role in shaping state policy, not as much as the governor, but not that far behind," said Sen. Brian E. Frosh (D-Montgomery), among those who had been positioning themselves to take over the gavel from Miller. Frosh, chairman of the Judicial Proceedings Committee, said that it would "be very unusual" for Miller to serve in the Senate in a capacity other than president. "It would be challenging for both him and his successor," Frosh said. "I wouldn't feel compelled today to challenge him, and I doubt anyone else would, either." Frosh was among the Senate leaders who -- along with Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) -- turned out at last night's fundraiser to pay tribute to Miller. About 300 guests, including former governors Parris N. Glendening (D) and Marvin Mandel (D), convened in a hotel ballroom overlooking Baltimore's Inner Harbor, nibbling hors d'oeuvres and sipping beer and wine. Addressing the jovial gathering, O'Malley credited Miller with helping much of his legislative agenda during the past 16 months. Although more conservative than many Democrats in his chamber, Miller has often seemed more interested in maintaining discipline in the 47-member Senate than pursuing an ideological agenda. Even some of his detractors expressed awe when he muscled through a package of tax increases and spending cuts sought by O'Malley during a special session called in the fall to fix the state's finances. During recent years, Miller has been the state's most powerful advocate of legalizing slot machine gambling, but he has otherwise largely deferred to Democratic governors and his committee chairman to drive the Senate agenda. He has not been shy, however, about using his power on occasion to derail bills he does not care for. Miller spoke at length during his afternoon news conference about the circumstances that led him to announce, shortly after the 2006 election, that his current four-year term would be his last. Miller said he had grown frustrated during the four years that O'Malley's predecessor, Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., led the state, calling it a period of "stalemate" between the Republican governor and the Democratic-controlled General Assembly. Moreover, Miller said, the 2006 campaign was "a very bitter, divisive campaign," both for his seat, as well as for the governorship and an open U.S. Senate seat from Maryland. His district was blanketed with negative mailings, Miller said, including one implying that he was a racist. And a highly misleading flier was distributed by Republicans on Election Day, Miller said, targeting the race of the Democratic nominee for Senate, Benjamin L. Cardin, who managed to prevail. Given that environment, the prospect of ending his Senate career and spending more time with his family seemed very attractive, Miller said. "It was a decision for Mike Miller and his family," he said. "It was the right decision." But, Miller said, "decisions are not always for individuals. . . . You think about people that you owe things to." He credited O'Malley with returning a spirit of cooperation to Annapolis and said that his relationship with Busch, which had been frosty during the Ehrlich years, has markedly improved. Miller's decision was warmly welcomed by some in his district, including Mel Franklin, a community activist and a member of the Prince George's County Democratic Central Committee. "I think he looked at the current situation in the state . . . and his district and realized if he stepped away now, there'd really be a void in leadership," Franklin said. "What better advocate can you have for your district than the president of the Senate? He's always pushing efforts to bring dollars back to the district."
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Reversing an earlier decision to retire, Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) announced yesterday that he plans to seek reelection in 2010, saying he had been persuaded by constituents and state leaders to continue serving a district where his family has lived for...
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The Clinton campaign issued a statement late yesterday that did not officially confirm her decision but said Clinton would hold an event in Washington "to thank her supporters and express her support for Senator Obama and party unity." The event was originally scheduled for tomorrow, but in a subsequent release her campaign announced that it would be moved to Saturday "to accommodate more of Senator Clinton's supporters who want to attend." The decision came hours after the launch of an aggressive campaign by some of Clinton's supporters to encourage Obama to pick her as his running mate had further stoked tensions with backers of the senator from Illinois. Robert L. Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television and a prominent Clinton confidant, said in an interview that she was "absolutely ready" to talk to Obama about the No. 2 slot and would take it if offered. The vice presidential talk and pressure on Clinton to quit the race created an awkward ending to the Democratic race at a time when Obama is eager to turn his attention to the general-election campaign against Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the presumptive Republican nominee. McCain, meanwhile, put his opponent on the spot yesterday with a call for 10 joint town hall meetings at which he and Obama would share the stage and begin a dialogue that would be unprecedented in modern presidential politics. Although Obama was the newly crowned winner of the Democratic race, the focus remained on Clinton through much of yesterday as Democrats pushed anxiously for her to bring her candidacy to an end. Even some supporters of Clinton were baffled by the fact that she had still neither endorsed Obama nor announced an intention to continue fighting for the nomination all the way through the Democratic National Convention in August. Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.), one of Clinton's most stalwart supporters, said he would back her efforts to join Obama on the ticket. But, he added, it is incumbent on her to acknowledge she had lost the fight to Obama. "What I don't know is what the heck she needs this extra time for," he said, referring to Clinton's speech Tuesday, in which she said she would take a few days to consider her options. "How much more time does she need to be able to say the person she wants to help is Barack Obama? I don't know what this intrigue is all about." Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.), Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (Nev.) and West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin sent out a joint letter urging the remaining uncommitted superdelegates to quickly declare their intentions, though without giving Clinton a timetable for making her decision. Clinton visited her campaign's Northern Virginia headquarters after speaking to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and told staffers that they would be paid through June 15 but that tomorrow would be their last day of work, leading to speculation that she would drop her candidacy then. Endorsements for Obama continued rolling in from party officials, senators and House leaders. He was greeted warmly at the AIPAC conference, where sentiments might have tilted against him among audience members wary about the depth of his support for Israel.
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Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is likely to suspend her presidential campaign on Saturday and endorse Sen. Barack Obama, the Democratic Party's presumptive nominee, according to informed sources, after a day in which many of her key supporters and party leaders encouraged the senator from New York to...
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The tests come as the Federal Communications Commission wraps up an investigation on complaints that Comcast blocked certain users from sharing video, music and other files. The complaints fueled a larger debate, with hearings in Congress and by the FCC, on how much control Internet service providers should have over the flow of data. "The cable companies see a hammer hovering above their heads and are scrambling to find ways to reduce the appearance of wrongdoing," said Ben Scott, head of policy for the public interest group Free Press, which advocates for better oversight of cable operators. He called the plans "Band-Aids" on the bigger problem of network capacity, which he said can be solved only by larger investments in the cable companies' networks. Comcast said that on Friday it would begin tests in Chambersburg, Pa., and Warrenton, Va., that would delay traffic for the heaviest users of Internet data without targeting specific software applications. Public interest groups complained in November that Comcast targeted users of BitTorrent, a file-sharing application, by blocking or delaying video and other files exchanged with the technology. Free Press said the practice discriminated against certain content and impeded users from having full access to the Web. FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin has said the commission would announce the results of its review of the complaints by the end of June. Analysts said the test would not differ significantly from Comcast's current network-management practices. The new approach would, however, target a broader range of heavy bandwidth users instead of delaying all traffic using BitTorrent. Roger Entner, a senior vice president at Nielsen IAG, said about 5 to 10 percent of peer-to-peer users -- those who directly exchange files with other users -- gobble up about 50 percent of all Internet bandwidth. "This is the politically correct version of doing what Comcast had been doing before, though it takes the occasional [peer-to-peer] user off the hook," Entner said. Sena Fitzmaurice, a spokeswoman for Comcast, acknowledged the earlier criticism but said, "This says we won't be looking at what type of traffic that there is, even though we still need to manage the network." Time Warner Cable is trying a different approach with a test that will charge customers more for larger volumes of data and faster Internet access. The metered-billing test, which the company compared to cellphone billing structures that charge extra for those who go over their minutes, will begin tomorrow with new customers in Beaumont, Tex. The company said its approach allows customers to choose plans that fit their needs. "Instead of raising prices across the board, consumers who are excessive users would pay," said Alex Dudley, a spokesman for Time Warner Cable. "It is clearly the fairest way to fund the investment that is going to be required to support that use." Analysts warned that customers have become accustomed to flat fees for Internet and television service. "Flat rate and unlimited service is an endgame move. When you go to that kind of rate structure, you can't go back," Entner said.
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Cable service operators Comcast and Time Warner Cable said yesterday that they would begin testing new approaches that would slow Internet access for heavy users and charge more to those who want additional speed.
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Half the homes are vacant, their windows broken or boarded up. Driveways are strewed with debris. "No Trespassing" and "Beware of Dog" signs dot trees. Banging sounds come from empty houses where burglars pry copper pipes from the walls. The culprit is not foreclosure but the imminent arrival of the six-lane intercounty connector that will slice through the Derwood neighborhood. This week, highway workers demolished a brick house and will soon raze five more on Garrett Road. That will leave Mike Vechery's house alone at the end of the road. A short walk to the local park will become one mile after the state reroutes his residential street around the highway. His address will change. And his property value, predicted Vechery, who works in real estate, will drop by more than 35 percent. "I've lost my road. I've lost my neighborhood," said Vechery, who lives in Bethesda but had considered moving one day to the five-bedroom home, which he rents out. "I'll have the ICC in my front yard and side yard, but they don't want to discuss anything. . . . It's going to change the whole way of life here. That's something they haven't really recognized." Across the planned highway route, Kim Asbury and her parents are hoping to stay in their home of 44 years but will soon have six lanes of traffic and concrete sound walls cutting them off from all but two of their remaining neighbors. "It's just devastating," said Asbury, 38, whose parents are fighting in court to save their house from demolition. "Before, you felt secure and knew your neighbors. Now, we don't know who's coming and going, or if someone is coming to break in. It's a very uncomfortable feeling." This is life in Cashell Estates -- or what's left of it -- as work crews have begun building the intercounty connector. The highway's construction, scheduled to last five years, will be heard and felt by thousands of residents along an 18.8-mile swath of central Montgomery and northern Prince George's counties. But few communities have taken as direct a hit as Cashell Estates, a quiet, 60-year-old neighborhood of midsize houses, large lawns and towering oaks. The toll highway between Gaithersburg and Laurel was long planned to run about a half-mile from Cashell Estates, which is off Redland Road about five miles northeast of downtown Rockville. But three years ago, residents learned that state highway officials had changed the route to cut through their neighborhood to reduce the environmental harm to nearby Rock Creek. In the past two years, the state has condemned and bought nine of the 20 houses on Garrett and Overhill roads, requiring families to leave homes that some had lived in for 50 years. Although those left behind kept their homes, they say they now fear a worse fate: being stuck in a decimated neighborhood that will soon be cut in two by a highway and concrete sound walls. The vacant houses are now state property, and highway officials say those who tamper with them are trespassing and stealing. But neighbors say that hasn't stopped a steady stream of strangers from helping themselves.
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A few miles off Interstate 270, in the heart of bustling Montgomery County, a once-thriving neighborhood has taken on the feel of a ghost town.
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At issue in the ongoing probe by the House inspector general is the role of a former assistant to Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.), said the sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation is not yet complete. The aide, whom Sanchez says was dismissed, reimbursed the lawmaker by nearly $10,000 around the same time that her work for Sanchez ended, according to congressional records. Caroline Valdez made a series of four unusual payments to her boss's office at the end of 2006, according to disbursement books maintained by the clerk of the House. Two of those transactions were labeled "reimb: payment error." Valdez did not respond to several cellphone messages seeking comment. The reimbursements to Sanchez came during a financial quarter when the lawmaker placed three staffers -- including her scheduler and legislative director -- temporarily on the House payroll of her sister, fellow California Rep. Linda T. Sanchez (D), records show. The reason for that decision remains unclear. During the period in question, the lawmakers shared the same bookkeeper, according to congressional records. The bookkeeper is not under investigation by the inspector general. Loretta Sanchez, elected to the House in 1996, declined to explain why Valdez returned the money to her. On Capitol Hill on Thursday, Sanchez said of the Valdez incident: "It's a personnel issue. Unfortunately, I'm not at liberty to discuss it. It's not for me to decide. It's to the House counsel, because all employees are really employees of the entire House." Paula Negrete, her communications director, said she could not comment on the shift of personnel to Linda Sanchez's staff. Michael Torra, the chief of staff for Linda Sanchez, also cited personnel factors in declining to comment, but said that the office is cooperating with House authorities. In testimony this week, Inspector General James J. Cornell told the House Administration Committee that he is investigating financial irregularities involving a former staffer who had control over an unnamed lawmaker's books. At the close of his inquiry, Cornell could forward his findings to the House counsel and to federal prosecutors. This week's hearing closely followed the sentencing earlier this month of Laura I. Flores, who worked as a bookkeeper for four different House offices. Flores pleaded guilty to embezzling nearly $170,000 through false expense reports and other means. She is now cooperating with federal prosecutors investigating allegations that some congressional staff members were compelled to work on political campaigns and perform personal errands for lawmakers on official time. The Flores case underscores what some officials and lawmakers describe as the historically loose oversight of congressional office funds, known on Capitol Hill as a "member's representational allowance." Cornell, the inspector general, is urging lawmakers to require employees who work for several House members to file financial disclosure reports and to submit to background checks. He says the moves could help expose conflicts of interest and reduce the risk of fraud. Rep. Robert A. Brady (D-Pa.), chairman of the Administration Committee, said the Flores case amounts to a wake-up call to lawmakers to begin closely monitoring their accounts. "It's a pretty hairy situation, but we're working to make sure it doesn't happen again," Brady said. "It was almost open season out there." In the Loretta Sanchez case, Valdez had been earning more than $40,000 a year as executive assistant, House records show. She earned $9,000 per quarter for most of 2005 and $10,000 per quarter for most of 2006, according to the records. But in the last three months of 2005, she received a $6,000 bonus -- more than 17 percent of her base salary. She collected another $6,000 bonus midyear in 2006, records show. In addition, the amounts she paid back for "payment error" -- $465 and $430 -- match expense reimbursements paid to her earlier that year. Around the 2006 Memorial Day recess, Valdez received $465 for "airfare" from Sanchez's office, records show, and she received $430 for "local transportation" expenses accrued over a 3 1/2 -month period. In late 2006, the three staffers were detailed for a time to Linda Sanchez's office, according to House records that listed two of them as "part-time" employees there. They did not return phone messages or referred calls to a spokeswoman for Loretta Sanchez. Researcher Julie Tate contributed to this report.
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Authorities are investigating whether a former executive assistant in the U.S. House misappropriated thousands of dollars to finance a vacation and personal items, as part of a widening effort to determine whether congressional accounts are inadequately monitored, according to two sources familiar...
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A nice cinematic moment, and a total fabrication. Klain says -- and HBO acknowledges -- that it never happened. The movie, which premieres tomorrow, is the latest docudrama to pledge allegiance to the facts of a historical event, but with fingers crossed. The director says he concocted certain details -- the technical term, I believe, is "making stuff up" -- in search of a larger truth. Filmmakers love to toss around phrases such as "larger truth." But it's hard to argue that you're trafficking in nonfiction if you use people's real names -- James Baker, Warren Christopher, Katherine Harris -- and have them doing and saying things that never happened. There's an obvious need for compression -- there were two Supreme Court hearings, not one -- in telling the tangled tale of the 36-day Florida court battle that gave the 2000 election to George W. Bush. And dialogue can't be verbatim when there's no way of knowing everything that was said in back rooms. But while dramatic license might support exaggeration, it can hardly justify some of the wholesale creation in which the movie indulges. The makers of "Recount" tout their reliance on several books about the crisis, and hired as consultants CNN's Jeffrey Toobin, ABC's Jake Tapper, Time's Mark Halperin and David Von Drehle and Newsweek's David Kaplan. In an interview airing tomorrow on CNN's "Reliable Sources," director Jay Roach tells me of the invented Klain dialogue: "We wanted, as with a lot of moments in the film, to capture the essence of a certain attitude in the Gore team." The movie, he said, "wasn't 100 percent accurate, but it was very true to what went on. . . . That's what dramatizations do: stitch together the big ideas with, sometimes, constructs that have to stand for a larger truth." He cites as an example "All the President's Men," in which Hal Holbrook's Deep Throat tells Robert Redford's Bob Woodward to "follow the money," although the real Throat never used those words. Fair enough -- screenwriters have been taking such liberties forever. A film that attempts a certain fidelity to the historical record deserves praise for making the attempt, rather than using the money to make another flick about horny teenagers. But "Recount" is being marketed as an honest re-creation of events. In a promotional interview released by the cable channel, Kevin Spacey, who plays Klain, declares: "Our sort of motto has been, get the story right, get the facts right, tell it honestly and tell the truth." Careful viewers might notice the disclaimer that the film is "based on certain facts," while some events and characters are "fictionalized for dramatic purposes." How convenient. A film, by its nature, must have a point of view, must settle on characters around which to build the plot. But in depicting history, there's also the question of fairness. The movie portrays Baker (Tom Wilkinson), the former secretary of state leading Bush's team, as canny and ruthless, while Christopher (John Hurt), the former secretary of state heading the Gore operation, is played as a naive fool. "I was just flabbergasted," Christopher said in an interview. "They invented a character, put my name on it and put words in my mouth that I had never spoken. . . . It's drama masquerading as history. This is how many people will perceive it, and you can never catch up with that." Christopher, who is depicted as counseling against a court battle to force a Florida recount that could give Gore the election, reviewed a partial script provided by the New York Times. "It's absurd to say I thought it could be done through diplomacy and compromise," he told me. Christopher said he heard about the movie from his tailor -- "They went out of their way to get my suit right" -- and that by the time screenwriter Danny Strong called him, they were already shooting the scenes that involved him.
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Things are not going well for Al Gore's team, as chronicled in the HBO film "Recount," when his longtime aide Ron Klain turns to a Democratic colleague in a bar and says: "I'm not even sure I like Al Gore."
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| HANWANG, China, May 17 -- Suddenly the groaning steam shovel went silent. Rescue workers in orange jumpsuits swarmed over chunks of concrete debris and closed in. Carefully, deliberately and, it seemed, respectfully, they began digging into the rubble with their hands. | DUJIANGYAN, China, June 1 -- Tears of grief and anger mixed with smoke from ritual fires lighted on the ruins of Xinjian Primary School on Sunday, as hundreds of parents commemorated the deaths of their children and pleaded for the government to punish those responsible for the building's collaps... | MIANYANG, China, June 7 -- Access was so difficult that heavy equipment had to be airlifted by helicopter. The Chinese premier flew overhead to emphasize the urgency of the work, while more than 620 soldiers labored round-the-clock to dig a sluice to drain a large lake formed by last month's... | CHAPING, China -- To reach this shattered, deserted mountain town, Chen Tong Quan hiked for six hours the other day, his third trip back since the earthquake to convince his mother-in-law that it was time to go. | MIANYANG, China, May 29 -- A local Sichuan province official has withdrawn from the Olympic torch relay after acknowledging that lax government oversight of construction may have contributed to the collapse of dozens of schools that killed at least 9,000 children in this month's earthquake. | BEIJING, May 23 -- The official New China News Agency reported the other day that people around the world are suggesting that President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao deserve a Nobel Prize for their handling of the Sichuan earthquake. | BAIYUNDONG EVACUATION POINT, China, May 30 -- Eleven thousand people were ordered to evacuate to this mountain slope in a matter of hours on Friday. With floodwaters to be diverted through the valley below, it was Shen Yuanfeng's job to make sure those from her community settled in safely. | MIANZHU, China -- The day the earthquake hit was supposed to be a special one for Ding Yao. Her hair done up in pigtails, she was sitting in the front of a fourth-grade classroom, waiting for the teacher to hand out prizes to students who had the highest scores on a math test. She wasn't sure, bu... | YINGXIU, China -- Grass-roots organizations and informal networks of private citizens are playing a vital role in getting supplies to rescue workers and survivors of this month's devastating earthquake in China. The government, in a notable shift, appears content to let them do so. | The town of Yingxiu, in Wenchuan county, China, was close to the epicenter of the earthquake and was completely destroyed. The sides of the mountains used to be filled with trees, but landslides have made them mostly barren. | CHENGDU, China, May 25 -- The strongest aftershock since a May 12 earthquake devastated parts of Sichuan province struck the area Sunday afternoon, killing two people, injuring more than 480 and spreading panic through a region just beginning to move from rescue operations to rebuilding. | CHENGDU, China, May 25 -- The strongest aftershock since a May 12 earthquake devastated parts of Sichuan province struck the area Sunday afternoon, killing two people, injuring more than 480 and spreading panic through a region just beginning to move from rescue operations to rebuilding.
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China continues recovery efforts after a devastating 7.9-magnitude earthquake hit central China on May 12, 2008, and rendered millions of people homeless.
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Jay Mathews: Good morning. I was a little concerned about scheduling this live chat so soon after Newsweek released the new list. Some of us don't get our copies of the magazine in the mail until later today, or tomorrow. But that is just the thinking of a dinosaur, born long before the Internet era, who doesn't realize that the smartest people these days are the ones who, unlike him, go to the web, and don't wait for the sliced up dead trees to arrive at one's doorstep. So I better get started. You people are busy, and have a lot of other web sites to visit. Richmond, Va.: I have read the criticisms of the methodology used to calculate the Challenge Index, and I have read your defense. As an AP Calculus teacher in the Richmond (Va.) suburbs, I think you need a cold dose of reality splashed in your face. Every year, fully half of the students in my AP class have no business being there. These students are in my class because of a horrible combination of parental and student over-estimation of their abilities and a school (and school district) policy designed to boost our ranking in your index. Rather than being challenged by college-level coursework, these students would be much better served in a class that either reinforced concepts from earlier classes or moved a much slower pace. Instead, these students will struggle mightily, get a 2 or 3 on the AP test, be know better prepared for college, and become disenchanted with higher math. But we scored higher in your rankings this year, so I guess all is okay. Jay Mathews: This is one of the most interesting questions I have ever received, a terrific way to start the chat. You are a pro who knows your environment, but you have to answer a question for me. If what you say is true, and half of our kids should not be in Calculus, then how do you explain what happened at Garfield High School in East Los Angeles when I was there? You may have seen the movie, but I would be very grateful if you would skim my book, Escalante, and tell me what you think. THAT Calculus teacher believed that giving such kids the extra time and encouragement needed to master the material would yield great benefits, and the data suggest he was right. He had more Mexican Americans succeeding at that one school than some entire states did. His pass rate on the AP test was about 66 percent, above the national average, and he had plenty of 4s and 5s. He argued that not only would good teaching bring more kids, even ones that appeared ill-prepared, to that level, but it would add academic muscle to those kids who could not get to that level, but would learn a great deal anyway. When they retook calculus in college, they would be far more likely to succeed, having struggled with it in high school, than they would if left in, as you put it, a slower class. And where would they find this slower class that would still stretch them and keep them moving forward? If you have one at your school, please tell me about it. I have visited about 200 high schools around the country, and I am rarely finding such classes. Schools tend to put kids they think are ill-prepared for difficult math in classes that do not prepare them for more difficult math. They don't think those kids can handle it. It would be nice if this were not so, but I don't see any way to change the culture to make such courses appear. All we have is AP and IB, and I can put you in touch with dozens of Calculus teachers who have made their AP and IB courses work for such kids. But we need a longer exchange on this. I could learn much from you. Please email me at [email protected], and I welcome anyone else who wants to keep this conversation going to email me there too. Central Va.: Do you have any sense how state standards of learning positively or negatively impact the standings of high schools? I notice quite a few Virginia high schools in the rankings, but few in my area (none actually in the county where my child would attend). I confess I am no fan of SOLs and would seek out alternatives that do not place so much emphasis on them, such as IB, Governor's school or private school. My child attends Montessori. Thanks. Jay Mathews: The Challenge Index ratings in Newsweek have nothing to do with state tests or state standards. Those tests and standards, I think, are better than nothing. They do motivate schools to get more kids up to a basic level. They raise the floor, as schoolteachers like to say. But what AP and IB do is raise the ceiling. Kids can shoot for college intro course competence, which completely changes the dynamics of the schools that open those courses to all, and thus make it much more likely they will appear on our list. You are right not to focus on how a school does on the SOLs. That just tells you what percentage of the parents are affluent, the iron law of standardized test scores. Instead look for schools that make our list, who are trying to get ALL kids, rich and poor, to a college level. The reason many of the schools in your area don't appear on the list, I would imagine, is that the culture hasn't changed yet in your schools. Up here in the Washington area, nearly everyone has accepted the idea that AP and IB should be for all kids who want to work hard. In most neighborhoods, including yours, I would guess, this is considered nuts. Most US high school administrators think AP should only be for A students, even though the research suggests it is the B and C students who can get the most out of it. Newark, Del.: You mention that you left out schools with SAT and ACT scores that were too high to compete, but much of the top of the list are schools with "Gifted and Talented" or "Magnet" in the name. I can't believe I'm saying this, but perhaps the standards for what counts as a 'normal school' should be lowered? Jay Mathews: I am open to any and all suggestions. I decided from the beginning to exclude schools like the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology because the list was designed to recognize schools that got their average students involved in AP and IB, and schools like TJ have no average students. There was a problem with just excluding magnet schools. Some magnet schools, like Banneker in DC, were full of students who would be considered average in the suburbs. Banneker's average SAT score, math and reading, is under 1100. Many of our suburban schools average over 1200, and they are not magnets. So I decided to find out which suburban regular enrollment schools had the highest SAT or ACT averages, and only exclude those magnets and charters who had average scores significantly above theirs. That means the cutoff now is 1300 on the SAT and 29 on the ACT. If you are a magnet and you are above that score, we celebrate you superiority by putting you on our separate Public Elites list. If you are under it, you go on the regular list. Notice some famous magnets, like Lowell in San Francisco or Boston Latin, are below several regular enrollment schools on our list. Fairfax Va.: I have been a frequent critic of yours in the past and I still am. It all boils down to this: I don't believe every kid is capable of AP. I don't believe every kid is capable of college. What I do believe is every kid should be challenged, but to think that every kid can be successful at the AP level is ridiculous. And for the thousandth time you should not have to slow or water down an AP course for the kids who don't belong. This is detrimental for the kids who actually belong there. There are plenty of other classes for the kids who are not ready for a true college level AP course. Jay Mathews: If I thought the philosophy I learned from hundreds of successful AP teachers--that all kids should be given a chance to take AP---produced watered down AP classes, I would. like you, question my thinking on this. But it turns out that doesn't happen in well run schools that understand AP and keep track of those classes, and require all AP students to take the AP exams. The best example is Fairfax County, Va., which ten years ago announced that all students were welcome in any of their AP classes, and all AP students would be required to take the exams. I waited for my phone to ring with angry phone calls from teachers and parents and students about all the dumbed down AP classes that resulted. So far, ten years later, no such phone calls, or emails. Fairfax's experience, and the experience of hundreds of others schools that have tried this, show that you cannot dumb down an AP or IB class without getting caught, as long as everyone takes the exam. No self-respecting AP teacher wants to be shown up as not preparing his or her kids for that test, and so the dumbing down does not occur. It DOES occur, a lot, in schools where kids can avoid the exam without penalty, but the list---which counts exams--was designed to discourage schools from doing that, and I think we have had some success in that venture. If your kids aren't going to take the exam, no one can tell if you have dumbed down the course or not. That is a bad situation, which is why I applaud schools that say, if you are in AP, you must take the test. But you sound like you have some facts on your side. Email me what you know. Is there a school that has done all the right things and is still dumbing down AP? Send me your data. It will help me. Ellicott City, Md.: My daughter goes to a school on the list -- I'm extraordinarily unimpressed. My experience as a parent has been that the teaching for AP classes is very uneven, and the school administration is more interested in getting good "numbers" (and appearances on lists like this) than in what the kids actually learn. I wonder how many kids who test out of college classes will miss important learning because what's covered in college wasn't covered in high school? Jay Mathews: We have plenty of evidence to show that the AP and IB classes are, on average, better and wider and deeper learning experiences than the average big state university intro courses that they replace. The AP and IB kids spend more time with their instructor, their instructors are more experienced teachers, their final exams are longer and more encouraging of thought and analysis, etc. AP regularly gives AP exams to college students who have just completed an intro course, to make sure they are mimicking the college's grading system. Some AP courses are not, as you say, so well taught, but as I pointed out above, AP, IB and Cambridge are the only courses in high school where the students, the principal and smart parents like you can actually check to see how good the teaching was. If a class full A students gets low AP exam scores, you know something is wrong with the teaching. You do not have that advantage in assessing the teaching in any other high school courses. Talk to some kids who have taken AP or IB, and gone to college. You will learn that in the vast majority of cases, doing AP or IB was an enormous advantage in their adjustment to tough college classes. Mt St Joseph High School, Baltimore Maryland: Mr. Mathews; I am more than a bit confused about your use of SAT numbers. Current SAT test is out of possible 2400. 1500+ is Maryland average, here at the Mount it is 1600+. My 7th grade daughter just posted a 1350 this past winter. Jay Mathews: As I said in that answer above, I am only counting reading and math, two of the three tests. I don't count the writing because it is still a wildcard, not used by many colleges, and it is easier to just go with the two tests we have looked at for several decades. I will try to make that clearer in my answers. Thanks for helping me do that. I am looking at just the two tests that total 1600 top score, not the three tests that total 2400 top score. Annandale, Va.: Where can I find information about good grade level (i.e., elementary and middle schools) schools in the area? Are there any rankings for these schools? Jay Mathews: There are, sadly, none that are very helpful. I did do a story in the Washington Post magazine last year about 30 good middle schools in this area, passed on emails from readers and some other data, but that was just a sample. I think the best way to judge a middle school is what percentage of its 8th graders complete algebra I. (50 percent is a good number. The national average is 25 percent.) But nobody puts out a list with that data. Maybe we will some day. You can go to any district or state Web site and find which schools have the highest test scores. That has some use, but mostly it is telling you which schools are located in the most affluent neighborhoods. washingtonpost.com: "Unstuck in the Middle" by Jay Mathews (Washington Post Magazine, April 15, 2007) Annandale, Va.: What strikes me about the list is, compared to some other areas, notably in Texas (!), our area seems to lack schools open to all students, who might be motivated by a specific interest like health professions or arts. Is this a true deficiency? Is there an argument against them? Jay Mathews: What a smart question. Sadly, MOST of the special interest high schools you will find are in urban districts where the administrators thought they might produce better teaching and learning if they focused on certain career fields. In most cases it does not work. I have visited some DC schools that have these academies and they are mostly a joke. In a few states and cities, and Texas is a good example, they have not just slapped a new career-oriented name on the school but gotten serious about hiring energetic, skilled teachers and raising the level of instruction, including heavy doses of AP and IB. Those successful cases you find on our list, but most such schools nationally are failures. We do have a couple such local schools appearing on the Newsweek list this year, McKinley Tech, a DC magnet, and Thurgood Marshall, a DC charter. Both have career-oriented programs, and include a lot of AP. But their scores on the tests are not very high yet, so they have a lot of work to do. I don't actually think career-oriented high schools are necessary to providing a good high school education. What students that age need are the reading, writing, math and presentation skills that will get them college places or good jobs, and any well-run school can provide those, no matter what it calls itself. Bethesda: I want to thank you for your list. We have been considering a move to another part of the country and we have used your list exclusively to identify the towns where we want to relocate. It may not be perfect but it's probably the most efficient manner for finding high performing schools. This seems like a simple question but I just want to make sure I am making the right assumption. Using HB Woodlawn (index 5.63) as an example, can I assume that the average graduating senior has taken 5 AP classes over four years? Jay Mathews: Yes, that is about right. The mathematically relationship is a bit more complicated, since a lot of juniors and some sophomores take AP test, but what you are saying is close enough. I like to say that any school can make the Newsweek list if just half of its juniors and half of its senior take one AP test. It is sad that only 5 percent so far have reached that modest standard. Thank you for the kind words, and let me know how your new school works out for you. Metro Detroit, Michigan: I couldn't help but notice in your rankings that private schools were absent. Do you do this for private schools? I went to Roeper school in Birmingham (MI) and took about 9 AP exams on my own (almost all of my classmates took several APs as well). I'm sure some of the other private high schools (Cranbrook among others) would rank highly as well. I point this out only because one of our rivals, International Academy, is technically a public school but competes with other private schools. It is ranked 12th in your list, which strikes me as an unfair assessment given its small class sizes relative to most other public schools. When you only have 125 hand-picked students per class (versus more than a thousand for some public schools in the area), its a lot easier to get ludicrously high rankings by this statistic. You might want to consider size when compiling this list. Jay Mathews: If you notice, the Newsweek list is accompanied by a piece I did on the size issue. I pointed out that the portion of smaller schools at the top of the list has gotten much bigger, a sign of the growing popularity of small schools, such as charters and magnets. My view is if smaller size works better, I don't want to discourage it on the list. I want to show its effects and suggest the even more schools move in that direction. As for the lack of private schools, I would love to rate them, but the private schools themselves--particularly the best known and most expensive independent schools--quake at the very idea. The National Association of Independent Schools put out an all-points bulletin when I started doing the list warning its members not to send me their data. They said the ratings might appeal to what they called "consumer-conscious" parents, but could not adequately convey the inherent wonderfulness of their unique contributions to children's lives. They have a point. The list has a narrow focus, but as the parent above noted, it has its uses. Those privates are saying they think parents like you and me are too stupid to look at a list in a magazine and make an intelligent judgment on the use of the information. Since so many private schools stonewall us, we decided not to try to rate them. But times may change. Fairfax, Va.: All things being equal, I would MUCH rather my kids go to Robinson HS, Lake Braddock, Oakton, Madison, over HB Woodlawn, which is consistently ranked among the highest echelons of your list. Why, because I am a racist elitist who hates poor people? NO! because I am a Hispanic parent that wants the best for my children, and the best is not a school with a poor graduation rate, high rates of violence, a school where a large portion of the students don't speak English, but are all artificially pushed to take classes they aren't qualified in order to increase the schools ranking. Jay Mathews: You should send your kids to whatever school you and they are comfortable with, but your message leaves the impression that HB Woodlawn is a school with a poor grad rate, high levels of violence, and a large portion of kids that don't speak English. You must be mixing it up with another school. Woodlawn has hardly any dropouts at all, very few students who have any trouble with English, no gangs, no high rates of violence. It is a very small school with a deep academic tradition. Only students with some academic ambition ever sign up for the lottery to that school, since they know its high standards. Bellevue, Wash.: As a parent of two high school students who attend a school in a district that emphasizes AP and IB and therefore has a number of school very high on the list, I have a concern about the cumulative effect of the push towards an AP curriculum. In the effort to push students towards these classes, we now have no honors classes in 11th and 12th grades. This means students either have to take what they perceive as "the dumb classes" or AP. I have no problem with 1 or 2 AP classes, but this year my daughter had to take five AP classes as a junior and next year will be more of the same. Some students can handle this pressure, but I think others would be better served by taking a mixture of AP and honor classes. What is your feeling on this? Jay Mathews: You should check out this great story on the issue in today's paper by Dan De Vise: Many honors courses over the years have, sadly, lost their reason for existence. In some cases, they have maintained some rigor and vitality, mostly because they are taught by a teacher with a passionate commitment to the subject. But in many cases they have become little more than refuges for middle class students who did not want to be in that regular course which they considered full of fuss-offs, and did not want to work as hard as they would have to in AP. That is really not a good reason to keep a course on a high school schedule. I suggested in a column last year that those high schools eliminate NOT the honors course, but the REGULAR course, and finally give all of those alleged dummies in the regular course the good teaching they deserve, with an honors or AP choice. Here is the column: AP and IB courses, in my view, are less stressful in the long run because they are engaging and well-taught, usually, and add value to a student's time in high school. They in the end make COLLEGE less stressful, and that should be included in the equation. Your daughter, however, is not, I suspect, taking all those APs because there are no honors course alternatives. She is taking them because she wants to get the best possible education. Smart girl. Fairfax, Va.: Would you support an initiative to build another school similar to Thomas Jefferson, in Fairfax (or Loudoun or PG County)?. I don't think I would have any problems with the way you rank schools, if we gave high achieving children more opportunities to separate themselves from the pact. Thoughts? Jay Mathews: I think that would be a fine idea. Loudoun has started a program like that. Although I might want to have an admissions system that was less stuck on only taking the very highest scorers. And I can think of plenty of ways we could help genuinely gifted students right now, such as not being so resistant to acceleration. Reston, Va.: I am a foreign language teacher at a high school. Like several questioners before me, I question the value of your rankings as well. Students (and parent and administrators) seem to think that AP courses are the magic elixir to get INTO a college - rather than good preparation for college. I have seen students focus on AP courses at the expense of Math or Foreign Language courses that are required for entrance to most colleges. The thinking (of students and parents) seems to be "if one AP course is good, 5 is better". This does not seem to be your rationale for your ranking system, but it is a consequence of the value schools place on your rankings. I believe the only true statistic that would evidence how well a school is preparing students for college would be one that showed the number of graduates from that school who actually successfully completes a 4 year college program in 4-6 years. Jay Mathews: I like your suggested rating method a lot. Sadly, we lack the data to make it happen, and probably won't be able to get it until every student in the country has a distinct electronic tag, and that doesn't sit well with American views of privacy rights. Some students overdo AP, but they are a TINY minority, less than 1 percent of all students. Notice that most US high schools don't have much AP taking going on at all. That is the real problem. About half of kids going to college have not taken a single AP course, one reason I think why we have such a high college dropout rate. This sentence interests me: "I have seen students focus on AP courses at the expense of Math or Foreign Language courses that are required for entrance to most colleges." I don't understand how that could happen. Math and language courses come in sequence. You can't take an AP course in those subjects unless you have reached a certain level, usually 4th or 5th year, where you will have already completed the college requirements for having a certain number of math or language courses. See my email address in question one, write me and tell me what you meant. Windsor, Conn.: Last year the College Board audited all AP classes nationwide due to complaints made by post secondary institutions regarding a lack of uniformity in the rigor of AP classes. Apparently, many student transcripts showed AP credits but the student's ability was well below AP standards when taking advanced courses in college. The College Board has since required all AP teachers to submit a syllabus to prove that the rigor is indeed of AP caliber. However, once submitted, the College Board can not be present to ensure that the teacher is following the more difficult standards. As your first questioner stated, just because the student is in the class does not mean the student is capable to perform in AP class. More importantly, are the classes of the schools mentioned of equal rigor? The one California teacher is an exception. Don't use their one in a million academic increase to hide behind a questionable methodology. I can drive in a 25 minute radius from where I live and find significantly divergent requirements for academic success just within basic courses let alone AP classes. Jay Mathews: You have been sadly misinformed about the audit. There was absolutely no evidence that student with AP credits were performing below college and AP standards. You can't get the college credit unless you score well on the AP exam, and almost all the available data shows that students who have done well enough on AP to get college credit do BETTER in college than those without those credits. See the Saul Geiser student at Berkeley, or the National Center for Educational Accountability study at U of Texas. You say: "The College Board can not be present to ensure that the teacher is following the more difficult standards." But it doesn't have to be present. EVERYONE can check to see if the teachers has followed the more difficult standards by seeing how those AP students score on the AP (or IB, or Cambridge) test. No other high school programs have that feature of an independent, incorruptible exam. Which is why I thought the audit was a big waste of time, but the College Board people wanted to play nice with their college members, who seem threatened by the fact that so many students these days with AP credit are successfully jumping over their intro courses. I say the colleges should learn to appreciate how much better prepared AP or IB students are, and wake up to realize they are in a new century. San Diego, Calif.: The fallacy of using the number of students taking AP classes as a measure of school performance is evident from your number five school, the Preuss School. They were found guilty of wide-spread grade tampering and watering down AP classes in an audit last fall. Here is one article: Principal at Preuss abruptly steps down (San Diego Union-Tribune, Dec. 19, 2007) Jay Mathews: I know all about that case, but notice the hard core of AP incorruptibility that survived even that scandal. The principal may have been able to change report card grades and other data, but she could not change the kids' AP test scores, which are sent directly to the colleges designated by the College Board. Nor could she alter the good teaching that was going on in those AP classes by great teachers. Talk to some to the people at that school, and you will learn what was really going on. It does not change at all the good results of all the hard work by students in a school that only accepts low-income kids. They earned their ranking on our list. (And by the way, check yr facts on the list. We count TESTS, not classes. There is a big difference, as several of the answers above show.) Arlington, Va.: You did clarify to some extent, but could you please explain to the Fairfax poster that HB Woodlawn is an ARLINGTON school, and there is a highly competitive lottery system to get into it? Fairfax was definitely getting HB confused with some other school. Jay Mathews: Sorry. You are right. Indeed, a student who wanted to attend any of the Fairfax schools listed could not attend HB, unless the student moved to Arlington and put her name into the lottery. Maybe the reader will send me an email and tell me which school in Fairfax she was thinking of. I am willing to bet it will turn out to be a much better school than he or she thinks it is. I have no quarrel with people choosing not to send their children to schools with lots of low-income kids, but I do object to them labeling such places as bad schools, without ever spending any time in them, or looking at their data. Rockville, Md.: Hello-Thank you for you ranking. My question is that your list seems to include specialty schools and prep schools. Is that correct? If so, wouldn't those schools tend to attract more talented kids and pull from a wider geographical area as compared to a typical public high school where, if you live in the district, you're in the school, if you don't you can't go? I would be interested in a list of just the latter. Thank you. Jay Mathews: Please see my answer above to the person who asked about why we excluded some high-scoring schools. We do list them as the public elites, and describe them on the Newsweek web site. But your point is a good one. We should look more closely at the specialty schools on the list. WE do NOT, however, have any prep schools, at least as I understand the term. That means private schools to me. Reno, Nev.: My daughter and her friend went to Wooster which has an IB program. After two years she and her friend (valedictorian) transferred to another school with an AP program. Their complaint was that the classes had both IB and non IB students in the same class. The classes were dumbed down and separate grading curves were used depending on whether a student in the class is an IB or not. My other child attended another school with an AP program. The requirement for taking an AP class is that you must pay the AP exam fees. The school does not care whether you actually take the exam and moreover does not release the score distribution or averages but gives weight (adds .1 to one's GPA/semester) in determining class rank irrespective of whether the student has taken the AP exam or how well they performed. Jay Mathews: How very interesting. Please email me at [email protected] and tell me which schools exactly these were, particularly the school with the weird AP test rules. They don't make sense to me, and are the first of their kind in my experience. I have also NEVER heard of an IB course that included IB students and non-IB students. I can see where there would be a temptation to dumb down, but if you will read my column link above honor classes which I posted a few questions above, you can read me describe a GREAT AP teacher, Jack Esformes, who had both AP and non-AP students in his government class, and didn't dumb anything down. As usual, it all depends on the teacher. Rome, N.Y.: Would national accreditation of dual credit courses offering community college credit as well as high school credit change your position as to their consideration in the Challenge Index? Jay Mathews: I would need a system, like AP, IB and Cambridge, that guaranteed the final exams would be long and challenging, with lots of free response questions, and would be written and graded by experts who do not work for the high school system the students attended. National certification would not be enough for me. The data indicate that, on average, dual enrollment final exams are not as challenging as AP. That is a problem for me. Rockville, Md.: Despite trying her best, my 5th grade daughter is middle of the road academically. And that's OK by me because I know she is working hard and is on grade level. So my question is, what's wrong with doing high school courses in high school and moving on to college courses in college? What happens in college, are they expected to do graduate level work by sophomore year? Students are already being pushed to do 6th, 7th and 8th grade work in the 5th grade, and my daughter can't handle it. She tells me she feels dumb. And that's not fair. Jay Mathews: People tend to forget something vital about AP, IB and Cambridge courses, which is important in my answering your good question. These do not substitute for most college courses. They substitute only for college INTRODUCTORY courses. There is a big difference. It is very helpful to take such courses in AP or IB or Cambridge form in high school because it makes the transition to college--where more than half of students drop out--so much easier. And students who do well in AP, IB or Cambridge can skip the intro course in college and move on to the exciting second and third and fourth tier courses, which AP does NOT duplicate, and which are the true college courses. The country continues to move forward. My dad graduated from high school in 1929, when he was among the minority of students to get a diploma. He didn't graduate from college, but was still ahead of the game. These days someone like him is at a disadvantage in arranging the kind of life he wants. By the same token, our high schools, most of them, are stuck at a relatively low level of late 20th century instruction that no longer matches the world we live in. Time to move forward, and encourage all college goers to take some of those intro courses in high school. Baltimore, Md.: I have some questions about the quality of the AP exams, themselves. Although I have no doubt of the improvement upon an average public school course, I question if AP test excellence really reflects what students should get out of a college class. For example, I earned a 5 on my US history AP. However, I did not have to write a research paper or read scholarly articles for that class; it was purely textbook and test prep based. Perhaps even more problematic, was the strong focus on political history, rather than the social history that was the focus in universities at that time. Who holds the college board accountable for the quality of their exam? Simply mastering facts and writing an essay should not be all that is asked of America's top students. Jay Mathews: The college board would, I suspect, love to improve those courses and exams, making them like the IB programs that do require a good long research paper in high schools. But they can't get ahead of the colleges, who set the standards for the intro college courses which AP mimics. All of the flaws in AP you cite are found in the intro college courses that students take in college if they don't take AP. Some good AP teachers do add a paper or other extras to their teaching, but in general, AP has to wait for the colleges--I am talking about the big state colleges that most Americans attend--to get their act together. Some are trying, but it is going to take awhile. Selective colleges have better intro courses, but only about 10 percent of American students get to attend those schools. Bowie, Md.: I am relocating to Ohio, to a part of the state where there are no schools on the Challenge Index. Is it possible for me to find CI info on the schools in the area somewhere? If not, what is the best publicly accessible data that I can use to choose a school district? Jay Mathews: You can call the guidance department of any school and ask how many AP or IB exams they gave in the most recent May tests administration and how many seniors graduated in May or June. Then divide the first number by the second, and you have their Challenge Index. Some schools come pretty close our 1.000 standard in Newsweek, and may be fine places to attend. But if the number is way below 1.000, you ought to look very carefully before enrolling there. A classroom is only as strong as its weakest link...: That being said, what do you say to the high achieving high school student that is taking an AP course as a way to challenge themselves, but the teacher my instruct at a slower pace because a quarter of the class is there more for social engineering purposes then for their academic prowess? Or perhaps it would be better phrased this way - how can a GT kid or just a really high achieving kid shine, if policy dictates that we are all equal academically, even if individual level of effort is certainly not equal? Jay Mathews: I would complain to the department chair and the principal. If that doesn't work, I would get a book of old AP exams, check out the questions, and either read ahead in the course or do some of your own reading, feeding off the questions you see in the exam. And I know some students, faced with mediocre AP courses, sign up for online AP courses, which turn out in many cases to be very good, and can be done at your own pace. If you are that quick, you can do two or three. Email me on this. Am I right to assume this is a course that does not require everyone to take the AP test? St. Louis, Missouri: Have you come across many (or any) schools on the list that do not offer AP classes but have students who take the AP tests? Our high school claims they do not want to be "restricted" by the AP curriculum so they offer what they think are superior "honors" classes. I find this to be a bit strange. Jay Mathews: Actually, there is a group of about 50 schools, calling themselves the Excellence Without AP network, that do just that. Google that title and my name and you will find some of my columns on the group. They are almost all very small and very expensive private schools. And they can, because of their high-achieving clientele, provide AP level courses without AP. But as you suggested, it would not work for most schools. A honors course that said it taught at AP level would work for me if it required all students to take the AP exam, but if that is the case, why not call it AP? A "honors" course in a regular school that blows off the exam risks being dumbed down, even if it promises otherwise. Winston-Salem, N.C.: I think a point that seems to get lost in the arguments over whether to rank and why school X may be better than Y despite their ranks, is that regardless of rank, a higher score indicates more opportunities for the best student in a given school. With all the emphasis placed on SOL and No Child Left Behind, is has ironically been the top students that have been left behind. From a macro view, the education system and the country will only thrive when the best students are challenged and allowed to excel. Perhaps rather than complaining about how student are being pressured into taking AP course, prepared or not, we should be figuring out how to make the classes sufficiently difficult to challenge the best students. Thanks for your work. It's much appreciated. Jay Mathews: Bless you. You have made my day. One sign of a great school, in my view, is a lot of complaints about AP pressure, which among the good students of my acquaintance is a way to bond together, just like I bonded with my fellow draftees by complaining about the basic training drill sergeant. Our real problem is, as you indicate, in most of our schools AP pressure doesn't exist, or any other academic pressure of any sort for that matter. Bethesda, Md.: It is my understanding that Fairfax County Public Schools pay for their students' test fees. Is this true? If so, it seems like yet another variable to contend with in this ranking system. Jay Mathews: They do, as do most of the other school districts in Northern Virginia. I would penalize them for that if I thought requiring all AP students to take the test, and paying the fees, was a bad thing. I think quite the opposite. It is a great policy that ensures every AP student will get the full dose of college trauma that they need, including the three hour exam. So I applaud such schools and hope the Challenge Index motivates more schools to adopt the same policy, as do many of the successful AP teachers who have led me to think this way. Rockville: Jay, Thanks for doing this Challenge Index - it is a great tool for parents and students. From the "local" perspective of the DC area, what high schools most impress you? For instance, is RM's program (at 32) markedly better than Churchill, or Howard County's (arguably) finest, Centennial? Jay Mathews: Howard County is changing, but for a long time even their best schools on the list were restricting access to AP. I have to visit Centennial before I say anything about it. RM is a wonder, a school so challenging that if the kids in its IB magnet program all suddenly transferred to another school, the remaining non-magnet kids would still be taking enough AP exams to get the school on the Newsweek list. I have many favorite high schools, particularly those that do the best job in challenging low income students, and giving them the extra time and encouragement they need to meet those challenges. Savannah, Ga.: When the AP tests are mandatory, is financial assistance provided? Jay Mathews: Usually, but there are some schools--I wrote about two in New Jersey last week--who do not pay the fees except for students with a real need. Here is that column: Baltimore, Md.: With an increased emphasis on AP exams that this ranking system encourages, it seems as though high school teachers too, would be hampered by the same low expectations of introductory classes at major public universities that you say limits the College Board. One of the bonuses of your ranking system is that it encourages schools to open up their AP classes, something I fully support. However, one of the weaknesses of your system, is that it undermines strong non-AP classes, which perhaps exceed the mediocre expectations of huge college introductory classes. I believe that this is why private schools, where such classes abound, choose not to participate in your survey. I wish there was a more nuanced way to evaluate the strength of schools -- one that showed the actual work of the students during the year. Jay Mathews: I share your wish. But notice that the vast majority of private schools have embraced AP, even as they complain about it. Any way to produce good teaching for our kids is fine with me. But in this stage of history, for most schools, it does not happen very often without AP, IB or Cambridge. The pressures to dumb down are just too great. Clarksville, Maryland: As a parent, I have to agree with the teacher from Richmond. My children attend a Blue Ribbon HS and the entire focus of the school is on AP classes. They are assigned to the best teachers so many students are pressured into enrolling, even though it's not in their best academic interest. Contrary to popular thought, not every kid is a genius and can handle 5 AP classes at once. These lists are more for bragging rights between administrators (and parents at the grocery store.) There is absolutely nothing wrong with taking regular or honors level classes. These kids have much less stress and will succeed just fine. My daughter is now a sophomore in college, excelling in her program, and never took an AP class. We hear more and more about overly scheduled teenagers who are on the verge on breakdowns. No wonder substance abuse has continued to increase. Those of us who were in high school 30 years ago did not have the pressures of high stakes testing and have done just fine. My husband and I both attended nationally ranked universities and have careers that are professionally and financially rewarding. This isn't Hollywood and Mr. Escalante was truly a hero for the kids at Garfield HS. But that was one highly committed educator working on a single test. In reality, our kids don't have the luxury of focusing on just one subject. There is nothing wrong with challenging kids, but at what - and whose - expense?? Jay Mathews: You make a good point for those of us in the top 10 percent of the country in income and education. We are going to set standards and expectations for our kids that will put them on just the right course. They will attend selective colleges and do great things, having had those advantages, whether they took AP or not. They will also suffer stresses, but I think often such stresses are exaggerated, and the source of the stress is not AP classes but we parents. Our kids see us choosing to lead stressful lives, and in many ways liking it. So they say, I want some of that. Usually no harm, but we have to be careful that our kids don't overdo, and not try to blame it on AP. To return to my main point, what about the 90 percent of families who do not have these advantages? What about their children? Their high school reading and math scores have seen NO improvement in 30 years. Those kids, on average, spend 2 hours a day watching TV and only one hour doing homework. Their high schools demand little more. Don't they deserve a bit of a challenge in their school day? There are lots of Jaime Escalantes out there now in many schools, proving that he was not a fluke. Anything that encourages their work, as the Newsweek list does, is a good thing. Richmond: I have a thought about the 1st comment. Perhaps the problem is that the way some schools structure classes prevents the teacher from helping students learn at their own pace. If the teacher is pressured to constantly move through the material, a student who gets lost will probably never catch up. Struggling under those circumstances is no good for anyone. No wonder the students don't like math or feel they can't do well. I don't think most public school teachers are taught to teach this way. Jay Mathews: Bingo. Absolutely right. A lot of kids, as I said above, are smart, but need MORE TIME and more encouragement to learn. That was one of the most important things I learned from Jaime. Re: Poolesville HS: Poolesville High School is the only "Whole School Magnet" in Montgomery County, Maryland. Should it be on your list since not just anyone can attend and therefore there may not be "average" students? Jay Mathews: It is not a Whole School Magnet. The magnet there is terrific, but many of the Poolesville kids are there because it is their home school, and do not participate in the magnet. Montgomery County does not have a whole school magnet. Newark, Del. again: Makes sense -- I guess my definition of "magnet" is higher than those who are naming schools. Thanks! Jay Mathews: You are most welcome. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.: I was intrigued by your index results. Having grown up in Michigan (with close ties there still) and living in Florida, I took a quick peek at those two states' results -- and was baffled to see the stark differences in the rankings. A couple of the best schools in Michigan, that I have passing knowledge of, rated in the mid-300s, while many Florida schools were rated within the "best" 100. Two of our local, "urban" schools fared as well as schools in the tony suburbs of Detroit. No school north of Lansing even made the list. My first thought was "Gee, our local schools are doing far better than I imagined". After looking at your methodology, however, it became clear that Mark Twain was correct: "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damn lies and statistics." As any fourth-grader should know, a larger numerator will increase a fraction, as will a smaller denominator. Your index is skewed in favor of schools with larger numbers of attempts at AP tests, as well as those with lower graduation rates. Wouldn't a measurement that is based on the number of tests passed divided by the size of the incoming freshman class be a better indicator of a school's true excellence? At least it would measure actual performance relative to the complete "market" the school serves. While Americans love lists of the "top whatever". I would think that state-to-state comparisons are complex at best (and more likely, impossible) due to differences in the different incentives given for test-taking. The Florida FCAT process puts inordinate emphasis on standardized testing -- with school districts and teachers compensated, directly or indirectly, based on test results. I'm not sure if all states have the same types of policies and incentives. This index seems to be a case of giving an "A for effort", which is in keeping with the current culture of "every participant is a winner". Jay Mathews: Good question. This is part of a long debate I am having with Andrew Rotherham, co-director of the think tank Education Sector. If you google both of us together you will find some of our discussions. Andy agrees with you. A school with low test scores and high dropout rates should not be on a top schools list. I argue that such schools have those problems because they have so many low-income students. We as yet have no proven solution for those low scores and high dropout rates in such schools. Some of those schools have great principals and teachers, but they have little power to shift the burden of demographics. However, they DO have the power to bring AP or IB to many more students, as the Garfield High teachers did, and change a lot of lives among those kids who won't drop out and will be in the upper range of those low scores. Your way means we have to assess schools the old way--if they have a lot of low income kids, they are bad. If they don't they are good. You are not assessing the school, but the demographics of the student body. The Newsweek list assesses schools in a better way--which ones have staffs that are trying hard to raise the level of every child, by introducing more challenging instruction? You might try reading my book Class Struggle to get the argument in full, but I am convinced it is better than yours, based on conversations with many teachers who have made those schools work for many kids. (PS, one of the benefits of dividing by the number of graduating seniors is that I am rating those urban schools academic efforts against just the number of students serious enough to graduate, not the kids who rarely show up or just roam the halls. If you can find an urban school of normal size that has solved those problems, I will write about it and adjust my method. Until then, I think this way of looking at schools is the most accurate reflection of the quality of the teaching, not the size of the parental bank accounts.) re: undermining non-AP classes: Even if districts are just trying to improve their Challenge Index rank, if they are forward looking this means improving the preparation in early grades that gets kids ready for AP classes in HS. That would be a good thing. Then even kids who don't take the AP class would have gotten better training in early grades. I do worry that many districts are not very forward looking, or don't know how to make these improvements. If it was easy we'd all be there already. Jay Mathews: This is a very wise message. Thank you. Re: Poolesville HS: Here is the link to Poolesville High School. http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/poolesvillehs/ It says right in their Mission Statement that they are a "whole school magnet". This is a recent change I believe. Jay Mathews: Thanks for getting back to me on this. It is, like many things, a matter of definition. You are quite right. Poolesville calls itself a whole school magnet. I just spoke to magnet coordinator Billie Bradshaw who explained that this means all students in the school, even the ones who came to Poolesville just because it is their local school, have the CHOICE to join the interdisciplinary academic program that makes up the magnet if they want to. (They don't have much choice in the 9th and 10th grades, but do in the 11th and 12th grades if they want to opt out of the fancier classes.) That is different than the county's other magnet, so I endorse their title, and will be more careful in the future when I discuss it, because of your good messages. Annapolis, Md.: I like the Challenge Index. Not because I think it produces better students or schools, but because it encourages schools to open opportunity for every student. Those who advocate restricted AP classes might not have thought of who the gatekeepers are, and who gets shut out. My own experience in Hampton Roads in the late 80s was that kids identified as GT in 6th grade were assumed to be smart right through high school graduation. They didn't have to do anything special to get into AP or honors classes in high school, and they surely weren't always "qualified". The students who hadn't been tagged in middle school had an awful time getting into good classes in high school. The practical consequences were that our AP and honors classes were filled with white kids, some of whom weren't interested and didn't work for it, while only a few black kids were allowed in. (At the time, there were very few Hispanic students in the school, and I don't remember any in the AP classes.) Many of us black students had similar experiences of tussling with the guidance counselors to let us into the classes we needed to take to be competitive for college, all while being told that they were just looking out for us. Apparently, they were afraid we would fail, and wanted to protect us from that. Whatever their motivations really were, I'll never forget that my mother had to call the superintendent of the district to get me into calculus, because the counselors and teachers just didn't want to believe that I could succeed in the class. As it happens, Calculus was my worst AP class by far, but it certainly helped me to do a lot better in college, where I had to take many advanced math courses for my engineering degrees. Jay Mathews: What a terrific message. And as you know, sadly, most high schools in this country still follow the system you describe so well. Rockville, Md.: I will say one thing is depressing me. I live in a community where the north side goes to Gaithersburg and the south to RM. People are so obsessed about getting into RM that they ignore the fact that Gaithersburg is perfectly fine. RM 32, Gaithersburg 652 I think. Sounds large but that is still the top 1000, and out of many thousands of schools. It is a matter of scale and when compared against 10000, the difference between 32 and 652 is oh so small. One more way of competing I guess. Jay Mathews: You are so right. I give the same lecture about the ranks. Gaithersburg is in the top 3 percent of US high schools. That sounds very good to me. If I didn't rank we would not have this problem, but if I didn't rank, no one would pay attention to this issue. We are tribal primates, our DNA wired to look for pecking orders, and we journalists know we have to rank or we won't get published, and no one will read what we have written on such obscure topics as AP courses. Falls Church, Va.: Do most kids who have taken the APs and placed with a 5 skip the intro classes when they get to college, or use their prior experience as a way to ease the overall transition to college and take the intro again? My son is graduating from TJ with a host of these things, and I am not sure what to advise him. Jay Mathews: Most 5s earned by students at TJ and other schools are in subjects that the student doesn't plan to pursue in college, and thus will have no need to skip. The social studies types like my kids are not going to take any more hard sciences, even though they took AP physics, bio and chemistry. The science types are not going to be doing much more explorations of the college English departments, even though they often took AP English. They will often use the credit to advance to the next level in their majors, but if you have looked at college curricula lately, many of the courses are electives that do not fall within the ranks of the major course sequences from which AP derives its intro courses. And since your kid went to TJ, he is totally on top of this. I am sure he, like my kids, will listen politely to your advice, but like them he really doesn't need it. Cardozo High, D.C.: I'm just curious exactly how some of these high schools made the list. I live across the street from Cardozo, and was appalled to read last summer's education report in the Post about the state of schools in DC. They highlighted students at Cardozo and touched on all of the academic and funding problems the school had. How does a high school like this make it in the top 1300 high schools in the whole nation? Is it that our education system is so poor that a school with so many problems like Cardozo, can make it, or is it because the methodology of your study somehow allows for a school like Cardozo to make the list? Jay Mathews: I have spent a lot of time at Cardozo. It makes the list because it has had for several years a core of AP teachers who absolutely refused to give into the low standards and hopelessness that plague most DC schools. They nurture kids, give them extra time and show them some of the research, reading and writing skills they will need in college. Cardozo English AP teacher Frazier O'Leary is a nationally known expert on how to do AP in our most disadvantaged schools. As all such schools, they endure many setbacks---well described in our recent stories. Most of their kids do not pass the AP exams, but their scores have been going up, and the educations they get at that school are clearly better than at other DC schools that do not take AP very seriously. Arlington, Va.: In terms of underqualified students taking AP courses... maybe what teachers need is more/better training in how to offer courses that BOTH challenge well-prepared students AND support poorly-prepared students. I am a teacher who faces the problem of teaching students who, as your first writer said, "have no business being in AP," but at the same time I believe STRONGLY that all students should be offered the chance to take AP courses. It is up to me to figure out how to support all students, without calling attention to the huge gaps in their readiness/"ability". I don't always know how to do that. I have seen teachers take the "sink or swim" approach, and don't believe it's the best way to handle the situation. Do you know of any good training for public school teachers that addresses this issue? The AP trainings I have been to, run by the College Board, have been all about the curriculum (as is appropriate!), and not about teaching it to underprepared but dedicated students. Jay Mathews: What a smart comment. I will copy it and send it to AP director Trevor Packer, who is pushing for more such training and has found a great educator, Mike Riley of Bellevue, Wash., to lead that charge. I don't know of any specific training that does better than others. I have found the best training comes in schools like Wakefield, right there in Arlington, that has been a leader in teaching AP to low income kids. Email later this week and I will tell you what they said. Arlington, Va.: Wow. I think you just showed your true colors: "I am rating those urban schools' academic efforts against just the number of students serious enough to graduate, not the kids who rarely show up or just roam the halls. If you can find an urban school of normal size that has solved those problems, I will write about it and adjust my method. Until then, I think this way of looking at schools is the most accurate reflection of the quality of the teaching, not the size of the parental bank accounts." What about the kids who roam the halls and rarely show up? Oh, yeah - conveniently, they drop out, so they don't count towards the Challenge Index, so you get to write about how some urban schools are just so wonderful. Now I understand just how perverse this index is -- a school with a high dropout rate but who can push a few AP tests at the few remaining is a great school? What about those kids who never even finished? They didn't even get a high school diploma! And those schools are considered successful? How about being honest -- publish next to the statistic about what proportion rate a free lunch the dropout rate for the school (e.g. what proportion of kids from the freshman year didn't make it to graduation). That would be a start at some honesty. Jay Mathews: I am trying to be as honest as I can. I just posed the question: do we have a solution for those dropouts that the great teachers in these schools can apply? I would be very grateful for your honest answer. If you know of one that has worked in an average inner city school, tell me about it and I will write about it. In the meantime, I don't see any point in rating schools on a game they cannot win. It is like blaming the residents of Florida for having a lot of hurricanes. Someday we may learn to control bad weather, but at the moment it is out of our hands, as is the high dropout rates in such schools. We are making a LITTLE progress, enough to keep trying, by starting smaller and more intimate inner city high schools. But the teachers and principals at the schools we have now lack the power to make their schools smaller. So I think we should judge them on jobs they can do, like getting more kids into AP, and hope the school boards that have the power to change the structure of schools start working on that. Rockville, Md.: With US News now out with a High School ranking, how do you feel their ranking stacks up against yours? What are the main difference between the Challenge Index and what US News uses? washingtonpost.com: America's Best High Schools (usnews.com) Jay Mathews: They are new, and well-intentioned, but so far we are way ahead. They can only do ratings in 40 states because they cannot get the top-down state data they use from ten states, plus the district. They don't give any credit for IB. They are trying to rate schools from a hundred miles up, using state data. We get our data from each school, or school district, in all 50 states and the District. That means we can present a more individualized sense of each school, and show the quality of some inner city schools that US News writes off--my friend Andy Rotherham advised them--because they have low test scores and high dropout rates. Anonymous: I would be curious to know if the 50% of the students in Richmond's AP Calculus teacher's class are quietly absorbing the material or if because they are overwhelmed they disrupt the teaching to the prepared students. If so, I might prefer to send my children to a school which ranks lower on the list. Jay Mathews: Good questions. I hope he or she writes and tells me more. Email me latter in the week and I will let you know if I got more info. Gaithersburg, Md.: If a school ranks high on the Challenge Index, that could possibly mean that there are students in the class who aren't prepared to work hard, since the index doesn't indicate whether the student even passed the test. Administrators who want their school to go further up the list could be encouraging students who aren't even prepared for the classes. Is it possible to do a second ranking that shows the percentage of students who take an AP class and actually pass the test compared to the entire number of graduates? I think both indices would be helpful. Thanks. Jay Mathews: Check out the Equity and Excellence percentages for each school on the Newsweek list. That shows you what percentage of the senior class got at least one passing score on an AP or IB test some time in high school, and is a good general measure of mastery and participation. But let me comment on the beginning of your comment---very few AP students fail to try. They generally do their best, because they know the courses are important, although not all pass the exams. It is the trying that builds academic muscle for college. That is why we count tests, meaning they went the whole way, and didn't avoid the exam, as many do. Washington, D.C.: Have you ever thought of doing (or helping someone else get the support to do) a ranking of US high schools on other criteria that might be more broad measures of how much they challenge their students?
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Washington Post education writer Jay Mathews takes questions and comments about his annual Challenge Index rankings of national high schools.
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With the winds of change blowing directly into Republicans' faces, here is a look at a handful of GOP-controlled seats that could feel the effects. Bush's 2004 vote percentage is in parentheses. · Alabama's 2nd (67 percent): On paper, Democrats have absolutely no business competing in this southeastern Alabama district that Bush won by 34 percentage points in 2004. But Democrats scored a major recruiting coup when they persuaded Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright to run. Bright is extremely well-known in the district and is a social conservative -- making him tough to tie to the national Democratic Party. Bright's meager fundraising take -- $54,000 through March 31 -- is of some concern, however. · Louisiana's 4th (59 percent): The retirement of Rep. Jim McCrery (R) from this western Louisiana seat caused little initial concern for Republicans, but the emergence of well-regarded Caddo Parish District Attorney Paul Carmouche as the Democratic candidate has made the race much more interesting. Republicans have several candidates running, but none of them carries the name identification or political chops of Carmouche. · Maryland's 1st (62 percent): Once state Sen. Andrew Harris upset longtime Rep. Wayne Gilchrest in the Republican primary, it appeared as though Harris would coast into Congress in the fall. But Democrats recruited a solid candidate in Queen Anne County Attorney Frank Kratovil, and Harris must still find a way to deal with lingering bitterness from Gilchrest backers. · Missouri's 9th (59 percent): Rep. Kenny Hulshof (R), who has been forever mentioned as a statewide candidate, finally took the plunge and left his northeastern Missouri seat to run for governor. Both parties have crowded primaries. Missouri Democrats -- led by Sen. Claire McCaskill -- have more effectively courted rural voters in recent elections. This seat will serve as a test of how far they have come. · New Mexico's 2nd (58 percent): This southern New Mexico district runs the length of the state, making communicating with voters a huge challenge. The last time the district seat came open was in 2002, when Rep. Steve Pearce (R), who is running for the Senate, won a crowded primary and beat a lackluster Democratic nominee. Republicans are currently tearing each other apart in advance of the June 3 primary, raising the possibility that the eventual nominee might be battered enough to provide Democrats an opening.
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The special-election victory by Democrat Travis Childers last week sent a signal to all political junkies that the House playing field may be far wider than most assumed even a few weeks ago. Childers's win in a northern Mississippi district that President Bush carried with 62 percent of the vote in...
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https://web.archive.org/web/2008051519id_/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2008/05/13/DI2008051301717.html
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U.S. Outlook Is Worst Since '92, Poll Finds | Burdened by the Weight of Inflation | Data (Post, May 13-14) Jennifer Agiesta: Hi everyone -- welcome to the chat. We should have links to coverage of our most recent poll posted shortly. Lots to cover, so let's get started. Anonymous: Any chance of an Obama-Clinton ticket now? And do you think whoever wins will accept the pseudo-apology of McCain supporter Rev. Hagee (saying he regrets any remarks Catholics may have found hurtful, not that he acknowledges what he said was wrong)? Jennifer Agiesta: Thanks for the question. As of our latest poll, Clinton is the favorite choice of Democrats to be Obama's running mate, should he win the nomination. About four in 10 named her in an open-ended question, but about as many either had no opinion or said the choice was up to Obama. Among those who'd like to see Obama win, 32 percent said he should choose Clinton; it was 47 percent among Clinton supporters. Other mentions: 10 percent named previous vice presidential nominee John Edwards, 3 percent Bill Richardson and 2 percent Al Gore. But at this early stage, much of the response to this question is name recognition. Another measure found that more than half of all adults said having Clinton on the ticket would make a difference in their vote -- a quarter said they'd be more likely to consider a Democratic ticket including Clinton, and 18 percent said they'd be more apt to vote Republican if Obama and Clinton lead the Democratic line. johnkwhite1: When more than 80 percent of the nation's voters think the nation is seriously off-track, I keep wondering how it is that not one presidential candidate has said what needs to be said: We need to regulate in the same way we regulate utilities those corporations engaged in providing necessary commodities, e.g. gas and oil, and we need to ensure balanced trade with all nations, e.g. Communist China, and we need to tax the living hell out of American corporations, e.g. drug manufacturers, that choose to offshore production and manufacturing. Yeah, things would be wild for a while until the American-based production and manufacturing was back on track, but after that, America would be strong again. All that needs to happen is getting rid of the corporate lickspittle politicians in Washington. ... Right now, they all are corporate lickspittles -- Democrat and Republican. Jon Cohen: You're certainly right about the context. In our new poll, 82 percent of Americans said the country is pretty seriously off on the wrong track, and that was true of majorities of Democrats, Republicans and independents. The percentage saying we're going in the wrong direction is now within a point of its all time high in Post-ABC polls. But the reasons for pessimistic outlook are varied (the downturn in economy and the unpopular war being two primary causes), so you're unlikely to see the kind of major overhaul of the role of government you envision. Nevertheless, trade policy has popped up as an issue in the Democratic primary, and it may play a key role in some swing states this fall. New York: Chris Cillizza wrote on his blog that McCain was winning white women by 50 percent 43 percent over Obama, while Obama was winning women overall 54 percent to 40 percent. It seems impossible, given the composition of the electorate, for Obama to be winning 54 percent of women, but only 43 percent of white women, who must make up somewhere in the neighborhood of 80 percent of the female electorate. Is my math wrong, or is Cillizza's? washingtonpost.com: The Fix: McCain vs Obama: By the Numbers (washingtonpost.com, May 13) Jennifer Agiesta: Hi New York. Obama holds a lead among women (54 to 40, as reported by The Fix) because of his overwhelming lead among black women. White women make up about three-quarters of all women in this poll, and they do break 50 percent for McCain and 43 percent for Obama. Among African American women, Obama leads McCain 94 percent to 4 percent; among all nonwhite women, he leads 88 percent to 9 percent. Bellingham, Wash.: I've asked this of a number of chatters at The Washington Post and haven't gotten a response so I hope you will take a crack. Here goes: Clinton claims she is more electable come November. One could argue, however, that one of the few factors that has kept her alive in the Democratic Primary is the skew toward females in the Democratic electorate -- it has skewed 55 to 60 percent female in most states. Even given this demographic advantage, Clinton finds herself behind in states won, votes received and delegates allotted (both super and non-super). So how can Clinton argue (and should superdelegates take seriously) that she is more electable, given that when we get to November the gender split will break a lot closer to 51-49 women rather than the 58-42 seen during the primaries? Seems that all things being equal, Clinton will get her lunch handed to her in the general, given a more even gender split. Thanks for addressing my question... Jon Cohen: Hopefully will have time to return to the implications, but for starters here are the numbers from 2004 and 2000: According to network exit polls, 54 percent of the national electorate was female in 2004; in 2000, women made up 53 percent of all voters. Fifty-three percent of Ohio voters in '04 were women, as were 54 percent of those casting ballots in Florida in '00. Seattle: Why should we believe polling data now as a view to the future? Given the presidential campaigns' record with polling accuracy, aren't polls becoming outdated? Jon Cohen: I'd suggest that you not see polls as predictive -- they're designed to measure opinions as they stand today, not magically presage attitudes at some future point in time. I'd also submit that high-quality polls conducted toward the end of campaigns are generally on-the-mark, with some obvious recent exceptions. Washington: I just saw something on TV that said that the numbers for Clinton vs. McCain were at 56 percent to 40 percent, and for Obama vs. McCain they were at 48 percent to 41 percent. First, how has Clinton's lead over McCain improved so much? Second, what happened to the 11 percent in the Obama/McCain matchup? Why are people willing to commit to Hillary but not Barack? Jennifer Agiesta: Hi Washington, thanks for the question. There are a staggering number of polls out there at the moment, of varying degrees of quality and with varying results. Looking at national results, in our latest poll and in a number of reputable recent polls, Clinton and Obama fare similarly against McCain. The Post-ABC poll released this week had Obama leading McCain 51 to 44 percent, while Clinton had 49 percent to McCain's 46. Since March, we've found Obama consistently ahead of McCain, while the Clinton matchup has varied somewhat -- and with six months before Election Day, those variations will continue to happen as the ongoing campaign impacts public opinion on the candidates. Both candidates, however, would bring a strong base of supporters to the general election: 96 percent of Democrats who said they'd prefer to see Obama win the nomination say they'll vote for him over McCain, and 94 percent of Clinton's backers would choose her in November. Arlington, Va.: Please explain to this polling novice why your sample population regularly has 10 percent-15 percent more respondents who lean Democratic than Republican (50 percent to 29 percent in the most recent poll) when the past two presidential elections were just about evenly split? Why does this imbalance in your sample not affect your polling results? Jon Cohen: A good question, and one that pops up almost every time we release a poll. We and all other polling organizations that release data on "party identification" show a Democratic advantage. This varies from poll to poll (in our poll this week, 34 percent of respondents considered themselves Democratic, 28 percent Republican and 34 percent independent). You're highlighting the "leaned party identification" numbers we post along with each survey. That's the result after we ask those who don't generally think of themselves as partisans whether they "lean" more toward the Democrats or the GOP. We wrote a bit more about the underlying question as part of our major project on political independents, conducted with Kaiser and the Harvard School of Public Health; here's the link. There's a ton more to write on party identification. I'll post some other links soon. Accountability: One problem I have with pundits and polling is that they lack accountability. If a poll is well-done but ends up being 100 percent off-the-mark, is anyone held accountable (fired, blacklisted, etc.)? Jon Cohen: Thanks for the question. First, I put pundits and pollsters in different camps (but then again I would). "Well-done" polls, as you call them, are the single best available way to gauge public opinion. But without a discourse on why it's important to have a good read on what people think, I will say that we do take a pollster's track record into account when we consider writing about new findings. Ultimately, though, the single best way to judge polls is to look at how they were conducted, not their results. sgw99: The media hammers a propaganda line (recession, inflation, economic collapse) and then does a poll that shows people think just what the media has told them. Ironic that this Washington Post story is printed the day after economic data is released that shows inflation remains very low. "Journalistic ethics" at work. washingtonpost.com: Burdened by the Weight of Inflation (Post, May 14) Jennifer Agiesta: Regardless of what the media say, people know their own pocketbooks, and our questions focused on the personal impact of recent price increases. Prices for food and fuel have climbed dramatically (in fact, the government today reported the highest monthly spike in food prices in nearly 20 years, and average gas prices have risen 11 cents in just the past week), and our results reflect those changes. As one poll respondent told me yesterday: "I'm very concerned. It's just getting harder and harder to make ends meet, and it's the stuff you have to have, and it's getting to the point where we're having to make choices." darrynfoley: Let's draw the only accurate conclusion possible: 1,000 adults out of about 300 million U.S. citizens believe this. I'm so sick of these polls that sample a mere 0.000001 percent of U.S. citizens being extrapolated into "what America thinks." The only accurate conclusion that can be drawn is that "out of 1,000 people surveyed, X percent of them believe Y." Please stop the faulty logic of extrapolating this upon America at large. The real poll will come in November, and that's the only one that matters. Jon Cohen: If you don't believe in random samples, next time you go to the doctor's office and she asks for a vile of blood, say "no, no -- take it all." Pollsters have few jokes, but that's one... Speaking of which, this weekend is the annual conference of the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR); I'll let you know next time if there are any new, good jokes. New York: Why do the press titles only state that Clinton won in West Virginia when at the same time Obama won in Nebraska? The Nebraska delegates virtually cancel out Clinton's delegates in West Virginia. Why isn't there more coverage on that? Jon Cohen: Last night's Democratic voting in Nebraska was a "beauty contest"; the state's delegates were allocated according to the results of a Democratic caucus held Feb. 9. Obama won 68 percent of caucusgoers. Last night he won the symbolic primary 49 to 47 percent. Washington: Although the elections are not for another five months, how are things trending, and what would your early predictions be for the White House winner? Jon Cohen: Going nowhere near a predication, but the "atmospherics" are clearly Democratic-leaning now. In our poll this week, Democrats have a 21-point advantage as the party better-suited to cope with the country's main problems. That ties their biggest lead on that question in Post-ABC polls going back to 1982. The only other time the gap was so large in the Democrats' favor was in mid-January 1993, on the eve of the Clinton inaugural. Chicago: Mentioned by many readers (and some writers) of the news after Sen. Clinton's West Virginia win was that hers may be more a coalition of Appalachian geography than demographics. What are your thoughts from the poll? How does this affect the race in November, and is there a vice presidential choice for Obama that would shore up some of this? Jennifer Agiesta: It's true that Clinton has had broad advantages in Appalachian regions, and in general, geography and demographics go hand in hand. The demographic fault lines in the primary campaign have been well established, but people who vote in primaries are very different from those who vote in general elections, and there is little to suggest that these divides necessarily will remain the same in November. In our poll, Clinton and Obama each trail McCain by nine points among white voters, and by similar numbers among white non-college voters, and both do extremely well among African American voters and win among women. But some differences remain -- Obama outperforms Clinton among young voters, while she bests him among seniors. Obama holds a greater advantage in the Midwest, but Clinton does a little better in the South. So the contours of the general election contest still are being shaped, and may not be the same as those we've seen in the primaries. Fairfax County, Va.: I was angry after North Carolina and Indiana that the exit polls did not ask about the gas tax holiday, which was the really live issue in the final few days and was a fascinating exercise in two totally different approaches to the voters. Instead, they asked once again about Rev. Wright, who by then had fallen off the radar screen (somewhat). No problems with asking about both, but it's annoying now to have to infer whether or not Obama's rather daring truth-telling strategy worked, or had no effect, or even lost him Indiana (which I doubt). Who decides things like this? If only one of the two topics was polled, it should have been the gas tax holiday. Jon Cohen: There was a gas tax question on last night's West Virginia exit poll, but you're right it would have been nice to have a week earlier. We subscribe to the exit poll, but we have no input into its questions. -- so while I have no information about the decisions of what questions to put on each exit poll, it's possible that the gas tax issue simply popped up too late to adjust the questionnaires (the exit poll is conducted on paper, and questionnaires have to be printed and mailed to exit pollsters in advance). Jennifer Agiesta: Thanks everyone for your great questions today, and be sure to look for further poll analysis on Behind the Numbers. Thanks! Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.
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Washington Post polling director Jon Cohen and polling analyst Jennifer Agiesta discuss the findings the latest Washington-Post ABC poll -- including some early general election polling -- and any other questions you might have.
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