Bush IDs new terrorist threat -- zombie invasion

They hate us for our freedom. H/t Andrew Mitchell.

Ted Stevens busted--down the "tubes"?

From Sen. Ted Stevens' point of view, there might be some good in his indictment, on seven charges, today: At least this may push his previously best-known worst-day back into the shadows for awhile. I refer, of course, to that day of infamy, June 28, 2006, when Stevens, then 82, referred to the Internet as a "series of tubes" (among other slightly skewed descriptives) in a much-mocked speech on the floor of the Senate, in a debate over Net Neutrality.

Of course, this quickly made the press, The Daily Show, YouTube and eventually thousands of Web sites -- and became a punch line in cocktail chatter and the comedy circuit. Someone even did a song called "Series of Tubes." But it strikes me that probably few have ever read his extended remarks, or at least have not experienced them for years.

So here is a special tribute to Stevens and his "tubes" speech:

Sunday transcendence

Continuing our regular offering, here is the final "rock 'n roll" final movement of Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 -- which were are catching at Tanglewood later today....

Update on electrocuted soldiers issue

As you may know, I have followed this for month, and there was some grim new news on Friday, along with promises of action and denials by KBR.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/greg-mitchell/pentagon-admits-more-elec_b_115120.html

Bush gets 'drunk' in video

Yesterday I came across a then little-known video of President Bush at a private fundraiser (shot by a cell phone after cameras ordered killed)-- admitting Wall Street had gotten 'drunk' and laughing about the housing crisis -- and posted it at Huff Post. Soon it was drawing wide attention and today drew comment from all of the leading media. Here's my original post and the video.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/greg-mitchell/banned-bush-video-surface_b_114363.html

Austin paper pulls, apologizes for, article on Netroots

I guess I had something to do with it. See my article, which has been widely picked up, hailed by some, slammed by the right.
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003829997

Maliki says 'surge' not main reason for 'turnaround'

I've posted at DailyKos on the part of his Der Spiegel interview that hasn't gotten so much attention, and more:
http://www.dailykos.com/user/GregMitch

What I said in Austin

I'm about to return from Netroots Nation in Austin. Here's my report on my panel, which also featured Samantha Power, Mark Danner, Ari Melber and McJoan of DailyKos.
http://www.dailykos.com/user/GregMitch

Disemb, back and beyond

My Huff Post today on photo booted out of his Iraq embed after publishing graphic photo...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/greg-mitchell/photog-back-home-after-ge_b_113427.html

Back from Tanglewood after visit with the "Archduke"

With Julia Fischer, Jonathan Biss and German cellist whose name I always forget....A different group of three follows do the end of the 2nd movement below. I am off to Netroots Nation in Austin tomorrow morning (see big NYT story today). Samantha Power has just been added to my panel.

More on "unfit" soldiers in Iraq

McClatchy will conclude tomorrow a remarkable four-part series on the Army lowering standards to make its recruitment quotas -- and high number of people with criminal or drug problems making it to Iraq where they are given guns and asked to control OTHER people. Latest installment returned to incident I covered several times -- a Knight Ridder staffer killed by a U.S. sniper. Turns out sniper was drug dealer, and more. Here is my column:
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003827447

Judy Miller in the tent?

I got a first look today at upcoming novel by longtime NYT guy, John Darnton, that really sends up his paper. Here is my report:
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003827556

The American Dream?

Bill Moyers is doing a project on the American Dream, circa 2008. As part of it, he is asking all of the guests on his show this year to stick around for a minute afterward and just say a little something about that. Pretty off-the-cuff, and I didn't say anything particularly eloquent or noteworthy, but here it is:
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/americandream/questionvideos.html?19

Sunday transcendence

Continuing our tradition, here is 2nd movement of Beethoven's Triple Concerto with Barenboim, Perlman, YoYo Ma. We just experienced it on Friday at Tanglewood with Julia Fischer and Jonathan Biss, along with Pastoral Symphony, Barnard Haitink conducting. Giant crowd on the lawn!

The McCain-Gramm Follies

Phil er 'up after you go to the John.

On Olbermann again tonight

Keith away, Rachel in, talking about Obama's nuts...oh, you know, Jesse and Fox and O'Reilly and so forth. I'll put up video.

'NYT' puff piece on bum Rush finally draws heat

It took awhile -- the damn thing was posted online almost a week ago -- but read this revealing Q & A with the author of the Times' Limbaugh cover by Bob Garfield of "On the Media."
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003825620

Happy Plamegate anniversary!

It was five years ago today that Joe Wilson's fateful op-ed in The New York Times sparked the CIA Leak Case. Get on your Scooter and take a little ride down memory lane...
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003824819

Sunday transcendence

Continuing, somehow, my regular Sunday feature: Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1 (oddly, written after No. 2) doesn't get the props reserved for No. 3, 4 and 5 but it is nearly as great. Here is one of the best versions of the first movement ever, with Murray Perahia and Sir George Solti. Love the very end of the cadenza and Murray's sudden hand movements....

Iraq vet in famous photo dies from overdose

You may remember this shot from the early days of the war -- an Army veteran saving an Iraqi kid. Problem is, the medic saw too much in the war, and came home with raging PTSD. Break up with wife and various arrests followed. He overdosed week, accidental or not. Now wife and parents blame military for not doing enough for him, a now-familiar story. Here is my story.
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003824518

Hey, Baby, it's the Fourth of July

The great Dave Alvin song, one of my all-time faves, in a one-minute video, music by X, with fireworks -- and pro-atheist message. Whew!

Bush surveys damage -- caused by his presidency!

A hysterical report, courtesy of The Onion.


Bush Tours America To Survey Damage Caused By His Disastrous Presidency

That Spahn-Marichal 16-inning scoreless duel

Was happy to see NY Times' sports story today on this, since I have been telling the story for years and always feared everyone thought I was exaggerating. But it's true (as I remembered it from when I was boy): Two great Hall of Famers, young Juan Marichal and geezer Warren Spahn (he was 42) pitched deep into night with no score until my man, Willie Mays, broke it up with a 16th inning HR. They must have thrown 200 pitches, back when men were men. In a beautiful bit of irony, the Times carried in its print edition right below this story a picture of Jaba Chamberlain, the Yankees pitcher, who is half the age of Spahnie -- and threw all of 70 pitches yesterday.

ACLU releases sad report on civilian deaths in Iraq

Their earlier work on this -- and payment, or non-payment, of "condolence" funds -- is featured in my book. This is the latest, based on FOIA documents.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/greg-mitchell/aclu-releases-shocking-re_b_110464.html

Key move in electrocution death in Iraq...

I've written a couple of times in the past about the death of soldier in Iraq from electrocution in Iraq -- and how Ryan Maseth's mom, Cheryl Harris, has helped promote an official look into that and a dozen similar cases. (I'm happy to say I helped her with some research and have kept in close touch.) Today came word that the military is finally launching a full probe, so other lives may be saved now. Here is my piece at Huff Post and photo of Cheryl and son. Cheryl, you did it.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/greg-mitchell/death-of-my-friends-son-i_b_110129.html

Steve McQueen -- with Google giving chase...

Classic movie car scene with Google map tracing it all over SF...
http://www.seero.com/video/Steve_McQueen_3

The great Leonard Cohen at Glastonbury....

on new world tour..."So Long Marianne".... Hallelujah!

Madam Marie, who told fortunes better than cops do, dies in Asbury Park...

The boardwalk fortune teller made famous by Springsteen's "Sandy" song has died. Not to brag, but Bruce did take me and Peter Knobler by to meet her one day back in the mid-1970s. She retired in the mid-1990s but family members have kept the booth open. Here's the E&P tribute:
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003822932