A generation ago Vietnam was the polarizing war to end all polarizing wars. The U.S. was suffering through a casualty meltdown, key ally disapprobation and agonizing confusion over America’s role in the world. But U.S. security and the American way of life were never threatened — as they are now. No American was killed by [...]
These remaining afterthoughts in the wake of Hurricane Charley’s devastating swath through central Florida: * Dante needs a new circle for his Inferno: Permanent provisions for looters , price gougers and those hawking “I Survived (insert natural disaster)” T-shirts. *TV stations doing self promotions over Hurricane Charley come with the media’s competitive culture. Most impressive [...]
Paul Hamm should have given back the gold medal he won for the all-around in gymnastics. Two reasons — only one of which has to do with doing the right thing. The South Korean, Yang Tae Young, was shortchanged in his score by goofball judges. A technicality in reporting the mistake prevented the error from [...]
Let’s get rid of the juvenile “dream team” appellation that seems misapplied to talented lounge acts on the basketball court. But if it must be used, let it be applied to the U.S. women’s softball team. It was awesomely dominant and utterly classy — with a nice local touch in assistant coach Ken Erickson of [...]
*If coxswains, who don’t do any heavy lifting, can earn medals in rowing — and deservedly so — why can’t horses , who do all the work, earn them in equestrian? *Most forgettable, global-marketing, Olympic quote: “As a child, I always dreamed of becoming a McDonald’s athlete.” — Venus Williams . *It has been well [...]
It’s nestled among other boat builders on Tampa’s Rattlesnake Point, just south of the Gandy Bridge. Only this one has the 300-ton capacity Synchrolift out front. You don’t find it unless you’ve bypassed the trendy Rattlesnake Grille, you’re looking for work or you’re in the market for a seven-or -eight-figure luxury vessel. Welcome to the [...]
For 63-year-old Betty Castor, the pinnacle political campaign of her life — running for U.S. senator — unfolded in several critical stages. * In her position as president of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, she did a lot of lobbying — and a lot of traveling. In the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001 [...]
So many topics, so little space. Today’s column also honors the request of readers (actually Bill Shorrock, a friend with negligible attention span) who prefer the short-topic format. *The Athens Olympics is now underway. Nostalgia, anyone? Not too long ago, the definitive letters were USA and CCCP — now they’re BALCO and NATO. Granted, the [...]
Does it sometimes seem like we’ve devolved into a culture of distortion and spin? That O’Reilly isn’t the only fault-line factor out there? That the daily news cycle is an exercise in being carpet bombed by the Kobe Bryants, Scott Petersons, Mark Hackings, Martha Stewarts and Ken Lays. Somebody’s lying. For variety, we get Sandy [...]
Does it sometimes seem like we’ve devolved into a culture of distortion and spin? That O’Reilly isn’t the only fault-line factor out there? That the daily news cycle is an exercise in being carpet bombed by the Kobe Bryants, Scott Petersons, Mark Hackings, Martha Stewarts and Ken Lays. Somebody’s lying. For variety, we get Sandy [...]
