A fond farewell to a dangerous place: Iraq
Inshallah is a big deal in Baghdad. It means “God willing” and it follows pretty much every answer.
“Can we get a better map?” “Yes, inshallah.” “What’s for lunch?” “Chicken, inshallah.” “Are we going to survive this trip?” “Inshallah.”
I’ll never forget a conversation between Tom, an American correspondent who’d … Read More »
11
Hmmm, maybe if House Dems said they were against a payroll tax extension
Clearly, if President Barack Obama really wanted to extend the payroll tax cut, he chose the wrong strategy, as least to win over House Republicans.
The winning strategy was to tell them that in no way should they go into that briar patch. Really, that’s all I can see on … Read More »
6
For a man who killed a million, or more, he sure had a lot of friends
The news of the death of North Korea’s Dear Leader was greeted by either some pretty decent acting or scenes depicting what has to be the cryingest people on the planet.
Photos and videos coming out of the capital show soldiers, workers, students, folks on the street, folks on television, … Read More »
0
Christmas trees falling from above
My favorite Christmas tradition has to be what I know as the Days of Falling Pines.
I came across this during my years of living in central Berlin, in a neighborhood of five story apartment buildings. The apartments were these sprawling remnants of the Franco-Prussian war, built with French reparations … Read More »
3
Hey, Corzine is deeply concerned. Isn’t that enough?
Hard to see what the big deal is with the missing hundreds of millions from the accounts of MF Global clients. I mean, the former head of the fund _ Democratic Senator and former New Jersey Governor _ Jon Corzine has said he’s deeply concerned.
What more do people want. … Read More »
2
A man much-wronged, yet grateful for each day
In the middle of a recent meal at a midtown Wendy’s, I was introduced to a joyful Kansas Citian.
He was one of those people who elicit comments such as, “What’s he so happy about?” or “Doesn’t he know …?”
A friend at the table knew him and waved him … Read More »
0
The beginning of the end is sad start of Joe Paterno’s story
A great friend and former editor once taught me a very simple lesson about journalism and life:
“Stories don’t begin at the beginning, they begin at the beginning of the end.”
And so it is with Penn State’s Joe Paterno. Most folks looking at the first 61 years of his … Read More »
1
Happy 75th birthday to ‘The Hobbit’
“Catch 22,” perhaps the only book to truly capture the madness of war, just turned 50.
“Maus,” the frighteningly honest and irrepressibly creative graphic novel of the Holocaust, hit 25. The illustrated and era-defining Joy of Sex is now 40 years past publication (meaning, perhaps, it’s a little slower, but … Read More »
4
Brownback gets it wrong on college sports
In case area sports fans were worried, Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback is excited about the new look Big 12.
He thinks Texas Christian and West Virginia universities added to the existing locals make the conference just great.
His quote: “I’m thrilled that just like the Wildcats and Jayhawks, the Big … Read More »
0
Time to split revenue sports from universities
The midwestern Missouri Tigers are considering leaving the 9 member Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference (the SEC).
I didn’t use the words “University of” because university has nothing to do with this mooted move. It’s all about money.
Now, I don’t have a problem with that. But let’s be … Read More »
0
Good KC area trail plan sadly gathers more dust
This is an odd sort of time in the newsroom. We’re cleaning. In a place where we’ve walked past the same ketchup (oh, gross, or is it blood?) splatter in the stairwell since I think Henry Heinz first decided he needed something tomatoey on his burger, cleaning passes for a … Read More »
0
Two more down in war on terror
Apparently when a U.S. drone swooped down on al Qaida in the Arabian Penisula’s American firebrand Anwar al-Aulaqi, it was also targeting (unknowingly, perhaps, though luckily, certainly) Samir Khan.
Khan is the young North Carolina born “proud traitor to America” who publishes the terror group’s Inspire Magazine. Earlier this week, … Read More »
0
Saudi public whipping order canceled. The problem is that it was issued…
The email notification was rather straightforward in noting: “Saudi Women for Driving declares victory after King Abdullah revokes lashing sentence for female driver.”
As civil rights victories go, this would have to fall somewhat short of the Montgomery bus boycott or lunch counter sit-ins. but it is, nonetheless, both a … Read More »
0
Al Qaida to Iran: Stop being so jealous
The latest issue of Al Qaida’ s Inspire magazine is online, and while I haven’t yet had time to find the centerfold, I did find the op-ed a bit odd (to be honest, though, I shouldn’t have. Al Qaida and Iran are sniping at each other like high school kids … Read More »
0
Exactly where is the college in this college sports mess?
So, Oklahoma and Texas universities would play sports in a Pacific Coast league, admittedly joining a Colorado university.
Or these schools might bolt for the Southeastern United States. That would leave Kansas and Missouri universities to strike a deal to play football and basketball in a conference along the eastern … Read More »