The Truffle

Months ago , I wrote about Danica McKellar (aka Winnie Cooper from "The Wonder Years"), who has a BA in math from UCLA and has a mathematical theorem named for her. Her guide for math-phobic middle school girls, titled "Math Doesn't Suck," will be published in August. McKellar talks about her new book in Newsweek. "When girls see the antics of Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan, they think that being fun and glamorous also means being dumb and irresponsible," says McKellar. "But I want to show them that being smart is cool. Being good at math is cool. And not only that, it can help them get what they want out of life." Could we be seeing a backlash against the current celebrity vapidocracy? Here's hoping.

Awwwwwww. Guess who got cut out of her grandpa's will? PARTY princess Paris Hilton is $60 million out of pocket after her billionaire grandfather - appalled by her jail term for drink-driving offences - axed her inheritance. Family patriarch Barron Hilton was already embarrassed by his granddaughter's wild behaviour - notably when her home sex video was leaked on the internet. But the 79-year-old considered her 23-day sentence last month the last straw. "He was, and is, extremely embarrassed by how the Hilton name has been sullied by Paris," says Jerry Oppenheimer, who wrote a biography of the clan called House Of Hilton. "He now doesn't want to leave unearned wealth to his family." Hilton senior, the only member of the family left with a sizeable stake in the huge hotel chain, has let it be known that he intends to donate to charity the $2.4bn he will gain from this month's sale of the company to private equity firm Blackstone. The money will go to...

This time it's Rush performing "Tom Sawyer." Whaddya mean, you don't like Rush?

If it did, I would be the happiest person on Earth. Dismissing the GOP presidential field as a "pathetic" bunch of "pygmies," Newt Gingrich hinted Monday he might step in to beat Democrats Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama. "If, in mid-October, it's quite clear that one or more of the current candidates is strong enough to be a serious alternative to a Clinton-Obama ticket, you don't need me to run," the former House Speaker said at a breakfast sponsored by the American Spectator. "If it becomes patently obvious, as the morning paper points out, that the Democrats have raised a hundred million more than the Republicans, and at some point people decide we are going to get Hillary unless there's a radical change, then there's space for a candidate," he added. "So you'll know by mid-October one of those two futures is real." It's really sad that Gingrich has no faith in '08 slate. I mean, they're the ...

By crying wolf again and again, that's how. Cynthia Tucker explains more. We just don't believe them anymore. We no longer take seriously the warnings of terrorist threats coming from White House functionaries. So, earlier this month, when Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff told a Chicago newspaper about his "gut feeling" that the nation faces an increased risk of a terrorist attack this summer, nobody paid much attention. They've frightened us so many times before with false alarms and phony threats and hyped intelligence that we've stopped paying attention. We've forgotten where we put the duct tape and plastic and gas masks. And don't forget those color-coded alerts. Do they still do that? Tucker neglects to mention the 101st Fighting Keyboardists, mumbling ominously about brown people in turbans who hate our freedoms. Ah well. No one's perfect. Here's where it all gets maddeningly frustrating: This time might be different. Th...

Governor Elliot Spitzer's been in office only seven months and he already has a stupid scandal that could've been avoided. This stems from his feud with Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno. At one point, Bruno accused Spitzer of spying on him. Now, it turns out there may be some truth to his claims. Turns out two of Spitzer's aides, Darren Dopp and Richard Baum, were collaborating with the superintendent of state police to investigate Bruno's possible misuse of state aircraft to attend GOP fundraisers. And they were planning to leak this information to the media. Can you say "blatant political partisanship that you'd normally expect of the GOP"? I knew you could! Anyway, the good guy in this mess is a Democrat: specifically state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. Dopp and Baum, however, refuse to testify under oath. Newsday has excellent coverage (as always). The Albany Project also has been following the Elliot Mess, as the NYC tabloids call it. Alr...

Today's nugget of comedy gold is brought to you by Stephen Sabludowsky of the Bayou Buzz in Louisiana. Somewhere, in their cozy home offices, the superstars of the wingnutosphere must be quaking, as they contemplate this upstart from the Deep South (home of Bubba, damn it!) and imagine how their rhetorical skills and laundry lists of talking points can possibly can possibly top an article titled...drum roll please... Feingold's Iraq Censorship Resolution Is Bad Policy . Iraq WHAT is bad policy?!?!? Yo. Jonah Goldberg? You there? We don't need you anymore. We've found a new right-wing stupid who makes you look like Keith Olbermann. Maybe, after you're done crying into your beer, you can get back to work on that silly book of yours. What's it called again? Liberal Fascism from Hegel to Whole Foods? On second thought, maybe you should ask your mommy for more money. Ahem. If you think the title is great, wait till you read the article. U.S. Senator Ru...

It's two Brazilian legends for the price of one: Elis Regina and Antonio Carlos Jobim performing "Aguas del Marco."

First, there's the general annoyance whenever this city gets heavy rain. Not only do the roads flood (sadly unavoidable) but the flooding causes subway delays. It's like five dozen sick passenger delays all rolled into one. I seem to remember one morning when the rain pelted the city for all of about 10 minutes and the subways were down, delayed, or otherwise fucked up for the rest of the fucking morning. Is there any way water pumps could be upgraded so passengers can be spared future headaches? I'm tempted to get more involved with the Straphangers campaign. Well, the day went from bad to worse when a steam pipe exploded on the East Side this afternoon. Emergency workers are testing the air for asbestos following a deadly steam pipe explosion that occurred just before 6 p.m. tonight near the corner of Lexington and 41st Street on Manhattan's East Side. Mayor Michael Bloomberg said that at least one person was killed and nearly 20 more were injured in the massive ...

Although Rudy, McCain, and Yosemite Mitt are tripping over each other on the way to the GOP nomination, Republicans themselves are unimpressed with them. Gee, why could that be? Are GOP dog lovers appalled at Mitt? Are the Christian righties wary of Rudy (what? after that photo op with Santorum?)? Do they think McCain is just too darn old for the job? Do they wish Fred Thompson had remained on "Law and Order"? Who knows? Among the legions of undecided Republicans is Barbara Skogman, 72, a retired legal assistant from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She isn't at all excited about any of the prospects. At one point, she favored McCain. At another, she was open to Giuliani. Now, she's leaning slightly toward Romney but says she's far from sold on him. "I'm looking for a strong, honest person. Do you know of any?" she joked. She had an easy time detailing why she was queasy about each of the most serious contenders. "Isn't that sad?" Then she re...

Well, it looks like the main players in Situation FUBAR can't keep their stories straight. Al-Maliki says America is free to leave any time. Lee Hamilton disagrees. "There is no chance that the Iraqi forces could take over at any time, or certainly by the first of the year," Hamilton said in a nationally broadcast interview. "All of the support efforts, logistical and medical and so forth, they are not close to being able to meet," Hamilton said. "The most important is inclusivity," he added. "That is making sure that you include all elements of Iraqi society in the government," he said. "They're not close at all. The president gave them a satisfactory rating. But all they've done is create a committee" to work on a host of legislative issues aimed at completing the transition from the Saddam Hussein era. "I am extremely doubtful about it. He's had quite a bit of time now. He's known exactly what he's had ...

Maybe I should start watching these Sunday morning gabfests more often. Chris Matthews is on TV, looking pissed, fed up, and disillusioned about Iraq. It's really nice that he's stopped fawning over Tom DeLay and other assorted Repubs. About time, too. Maybe he should stop cutting off his guests, though. If I were Cynthia Tucker, I'd slap him. Oh, and it's too bad Katty Kay's British, because she'd be an awesome news anchor.

Iraq's prime minister says that US troops can leave "any time they want." That's nice...except that not everyone agrees with the guy. Al-Maliki said difficulty in enacting the measures was "natural" given Iraq's turmoil. But one of his top aides, Hassan al-Suneid, rankled at the assessment, saying the U.S. was treating Iraq like "an experiment in an American laboratory." He sharply criticised the U.S. military, saying it was committing human rights violations, embarrassing the Iraqi government with its tactics and cooperating with "gangs of killers" in its campaign against al-Qaida in Iraq. Come on. This is stupid. These guys can't make up their own minds, and we can't run their country for them. The general undercurrent in al-Maliki and al-Suneid's statements is the same: "We don't want the US here." You don't stay at a party after the host has told you to leave, so why continue to occupy a countr...

Conrad Black has been convicted of mail fraud and obstruction of justice. Do you think he'll appeal the decision on the basis of a biased jury ? Specifically, a jury not composed of rich people?

Theodore Sorensen, adviser to President John F. Kennedy, has written the perfect speech for the next Democratic presidential nominee, whoever he/she may be. It's a stunning piece. Let's hope that our next Democratic nominee really, really gets it. In other news, I'm off to see "Sicko" with Le Sweetie tonight, among other unpatriotic pursuits. PS: Happy Bastille Day to the French! There are some Americans who still like France, y'know.

Jack Burkman is the latest name to pop up on the DC madam's client list. And who's Jack Burkman? He's one of those analyst/pundit/consultant whatevers who pop up in GOP circles and on TV shows, all spouting the same stuff. He was a surrogate speaker for the Bush/Cheney 2004 campaign. He's appeared on "Scarborough Country," "Politically Incorrect," and (where else?) Fox News. He has his own firm, though it's a little unclear from his Web site exactly what it does. He also does what every good German right-wing toady does and defends Ann Coulter every chance he gets. Oh yeah, and he has a history of paying for intimate relations. And mistaking lesbians for hookers. afterward, we got a snazzy hotel room at the mayflower downtown. on the way over there, this really hot business man in a pinstriped suit walked past me, said hello, and doubled back. he asked me my name and introduced himself (jack burkman, government relations strategies), ask...

Dogs Against Romney is the group, and they've em-BARKED on a campaign to oppose the GOP's Great Blue State Hope. They've got some "ruff" words for Mr. Varmint-Shooter. They're dogged in their effort to get the word out about the most notorious dog-owner this side of Paris "Dogs Are the Cutest Accessory" Hilton. In fact, if we're unlucky enough to have a President Mitt, I'm sure they'll campaign to have him im-pooched. Okay, I'll stop with the puns now. Via Scott EVill.

"You know, Rudy, I can really, really help you in the fearmongering department. Can I work on your campaign, Rudy? Huh? Can I?" Rick Santorum is now playing Wingnut Nostradamus, predicting that there will be more terrorist attacks on America : Appearing on the Hugh Hewitt radio show, Santorum also hyped the necessity of "confronting Iran in the Middle East," and predicted that Giuliani, Romney and Fred Thompson would be the three surviving Republican candidates who would go head to head in the race for the nomination.... "Between now and November, a lot of things are going to happen, and I believe that by this time next year, the American public’s going to have a very different view of this war, and it will be because, I think, of some unfortunate events, that like we’re seeing unfold in the UK. But I think the American public’s going to have a very different view," said the former senator from Pennsylvania. Is Santorum expressing foreknowledge of some...

Her husband's legacy may be at best troubled and at worst catastrophic, but Lady Bird Johnson did lots of good with her conservation work. True, Betty Ford and Eleanor Roosevelt will always be my favorite First Ladies, but I have a soft spot for Lady Bird. It's partly because of her nickname and partly because America's landscape is a lot more beautiful because of her.

When I first moved to New York City, New York Newsday quickly became my favorite daily tabloid. Back then, the paper's featured editorial cartoonist was Doug Marlette, who doubled as author of the Kudzu comic strip and always induced giggles with his mockery of Jesse Helms. I loved his cartoons. This afternoon, I learned he was killed in a car accident, at the age of 57. David Cagle blogs about this tragedy and includes a cartoon from Marlette's nephew. Rest in peace, Mr. Marlette. And thanks for the laughter.

Sure, the Straight-talker turned Bush Mini-Me has had to fire 50 campaign staffers. Sure, he's been embarassing himself every chance he gets. Sure, he's had a falling out with his closest campaign ally . And sure, his fundraising has sucked royally. But at least he hasn't shown any interest in hookers.

Yes, it's Senator David Vitter of Louisiana . And the black book in question is the DC madam's. Normally, I'd file this story under "Politicos dig hookers--what else is new?" Except for the fact that he considers gay marriage to be one of the most important issues facing the nation today. (More important, in fact, than constituents who were left homeless by Hurricane Katrina.) Specifically, Senator Vitter supports that stupid gay marriage amendment. You know, I bet that a lot of those gay couples would be more faithful in their own marriages than Vitter was in his.

First, he angered animal lovers. Now conservatives are mad at him. Hey, waitaminnit. Doesn't the conservative base just luuuuuuuhv Mitt now that he's abruptly decided abortion and stem cell research are bad? Uh, no. Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney, who rails against the "cesspool" of pornography, is being criticized by social conservatives who argue that he should have tried to halt hardcore hotel movie offerings during his near-decade on the Marriott board. Two anti-pornography crusaders, as well as two conservative activists of the type Romney is courting, say the distribution of such graphic adult movies runs counter to the family image cultivated by Romney, the Marriotts and their shared Mormon faith. "Marriott is a major pornographer. And even though he may have fought it, everyone on that board is a hypocrite for presenting themselves as family values when their hotels offer 70 different types of hardcore pornography," said P...

Coming soon to a county fair near you New York's Roseland Ballroom! Yes, Silverchair. Mid-90s Australian Nirvanabes. They're still together. How did they get a gig at Roseland, anyway?

Van der Graaf Generator performing "Whatever Would Robert Have Said," circa 1970: Soft Machine, performing "Why Am I So Short?" circa 1967: Jello Biafra's favorite prog band, Magma, performing...uh, I don't know the title of this song:

...but it has. Almost. Tomorrow, I return to work. It was a cool extended July 4 weekend, seeing bands with Le Sweetie, going to Jones Beach with Le Sweetie, eating seafood with Le Sweetie, checking out the Whitney's Summer of Love exhibit with Le Sweetie. I also have a freelance proofreading job and a writing assignment as well. Going to Live Earth yesterday was part of that writing assignment. Amidst all this, I still found time to do the laundry and ride my bike around the neighborhood. This is what summer should be like.

Yup, I finished second place in This Eclectic Life's "This Blog Blows My Dress Up" Contest! And now I've got a cool graphic not only to celebrate but also to take you to This Eclectic Life's list of contest winners! Who came in first and third? You'll find out there. At some point in the future, I'll add this to my sidebar. In the meantime, hooray for me!

Crooks and Liars has the whole thing up.

Well, it's put-a-fork-in-it time for the Bush presidency. So says Olbermann. Already, he's quoting reputable scholars and constitutional lawyers who all say the same thing: President Bush is unpopular and incompetent and nobody likes him. NOW will Congress present a united front against this president and his crooked cabinet? Please? Olbie quote: "Political capital: Don't spend it all in one place." Now he's coming out with guns blazing. This special comment of his just rocks.

Here's legendary pianist Martha Argerich performing Chopin's Polonaise Opus 53. And Chopin Scherzo No. 3.

From the Salt Lake Tribune : If the rooftop ride really was such a smart solution, at the very least Mitt could have taken a turn up there himself. Certainly he's proved resolute in the face of risk, at least in the business world, and I have it on good report that the hair product he uses is guaranteed to hold fast in gusts of up to 70 miles an hour. On an unrelated note, Mitt has a wife named Ann and sons named Tagg and Matt. What's up with all the double consonants?

At one point, it seemed the GOP nomination was McCain's to lose. And guess what? It looks like he will lose it. Yes, in the race to see who can do the best imitation of a Bush conservative without actually invoking Bush himself, McCain is stumbling quite badly. Sen. John McCain's once formidable presidential campaign is in deep trouble, as senior officials announced Monday that worsening financial problems have forced them to lay off staff in all departments and the campaign manager will work without pay. Specifically, McCain has let go of about 50 people. Hopefully, his campaign manager has a really reliable source of income and other job prospects, because this campaign might not look so good on a resume. Three months after promising to do a better job raising money for his campaign, McCain, an Arizona Republican, posted another disappointing tally. He brought in $11.2 million in the second quarter of this year, down from the $12.5 million raised during the first quarter...

Yes, after flinging Muppet Man under the bus, the preznit has decided to scrape him off the tarmac and flick the pebbles off his suit, lest Scoots have to trade the suit in for a bright orange prison uniform. Otherwise, the man with the dumbest name in political history might reveal certain ugly facts about the administration. At this point, the president should just pose in front of an American flag with both middle fingers extended upward. New political slogan: "If you're not outraged, you're probably just waiting for January 20, 2009."

And I don't enter enough of them. Well, now that going to change. It's a funny name for a contest, because, well, it's a funny contest! Specifically, a contest to determine the funniest post. I'm up against some strong competitors, but of course I've got my eye on that Amazon gift certificate.

In retrospect, it was a great time to be alive. We had a competent and popular president and a first lady with a personality. We had a good economy and a sense of calm. We also had cool music. Is there any non-wingnut who doesn't miss the 1990s?

It's always problematic when ideologues of any kind try to analyze cartoon movies, as generally their efforts at analysis leave the reader screeching: "It's...only...a...MOVIE! Get REAL!!!" I remember when people claimed The Lion King was sexist and homophobic. Or when The Incredibles was supposed to be some kind of conservative/libertarian/anti-liberal manifesto. (With a strangely French-sounding costume designer? Don't think so.) Or the right-wing outcry over Happy Feet. Needless to say, I left Ratatouille convinced that the wingnutosphere would hate it. I mean, the characters are French , for God's sake! And those rats living in the ceilngs and sewers are symbolic of evil Muslim terrorists hiding among righteous Christians...right? Relax. They didn't hate it. As a matter of fact, they're positively goofy in their praise of the movie. And I mean really goofy. From WorldNutDaffy : [T]he overall storyline is very pro-capitalist, pro-in...

Here is Pitts' response to the neo-Nazis, hood-wearers, and general mouth-breathers who've been sending him death threats. I pity the Neo-Nutsies. How impotent they must feel. How frightened and small. So they console themselves with these delusions of inherent superiority.... I feel a little like Jimmy Stewart in It's a Wonderful Life. They say you can tell who a man is by looking at his friends. Which is true. But I believe you can also tell by looking at his enemies. Apparently, I have managed to make enemies of haters, bigots and other low, pathetic men. I must be doing something right. And that is how you respond to the thugs. More people should take their cue from Pitts when faced with far-right bigots. On an unrelated note, E.R. Shipp is another outstanding African-American columnist with a Pulitzer to show for it. She used to write for the New York Daily News, but I haven't seen her byline in a while. Now she has a blog. Where are you, E.R.? Come back! ...

Last weekend, Le Sweetie and I saw Magma, arguably one of the world's strangest, darkest prog bands. Even darker and stranger than Van der Graaf Generator. I mean, Van der Graaf had a skinny dude singing about lost astronauts and the darkness deep within his soul. Magma consists of French people singing in an invented language about refugees from Earth. They all wear black shirts with symbols on them. And along with Van der Graaf, they're a prog band that punks aren't afraid to admit they like. Reportedly, John Lydon and Jello Biafra are fans. Jello loves 'em so much he had a Magma t-shirt custom-made, complete with the logo. Anyway, these photos are from one of the band's few NYC-area shows. They played a small club in Brooklyn that was filled with merry fans. Man, there ain't nothing like obscure cult bands with happy, loyal fans. The above photos are from this show. Since a. the lighting didn't really show their faces and b. I don't hink it...