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Simon Says
Jesse Jackson Jr.: Great Hopes And Disappointments
November 24, 2012 Jesse Jackson Jr. has a famous name and fabulous contacts, and had what looked like boundless prospects when he was first on the national stage in 1988. But this week, he resigned from Congress after his self-hospitalization this summer and an ongoing ethics investigation.
Simon Says
If The Pretzel Chicken Isn't Awesome, Why Review It?
November 17, 2012 In a week in which the news has been filled with a fiscal cliff, rockets, sex and security, a restaurant review also raised a ruckus. New York Times critic Pete Wells took on Food Network star Guy Fieri's new restaurant, but his motives for doing so remain elusive.
Simon Says
Making A Case For Closer Contact In Congress
November 10, 2012 The term "congressional gridlock" suggests that people in Congress at least run into each other. But I've begun to think a more critical problem might be that politicians of opposing parties are almost strangers to one another.
Simon Says
Emergency Workers Heroes Even Before Sandy
November 3, 2012 On Halloween night this week, millions of children tumbled into their neighborhoods dressed as superheroes. But that night, true superheroes were at work in uniforms, not costumes.
Simon Says
WWII Veteran Fought To Cast His Last Vote
October 27, 2012 Japanese-American Frank Tanabe was sent to an internment camp after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Even so, he volunteered to serve in the U.S. Army and fought for his country. Tanabe's last battle was living long enough to cast one last ballot.
Sweetness And Light
Brooklyn Finally Nets A Team Of Its Own
October 24, 2012 In its long history, Brooklyn has been famous for two sports events: No. 1, having the Dodgers; No. 2, losing the Dodgers. But now Brooklyn has an NBA team, a fancy new arena — and even a floor that may set a new trend.
Simon Says
Beware Election-Year 'Scam PACS'
October 20, 2012 The Center for Responsive Politics says that 942 superPACs have raised more than $403 million during this election season. A beguiling pitch aimed at people eager to contribute to a political campaign can also have some of the makings of a classic con.
Simon Says
The Pirate Prince Of Sealand, Remembered
October 13, 2012 Paddy Roy Bates,the self-proclaimed prince of Sealand, died this week at the age of 91. In 1965, Bates boarded an artillery platform seven miles off the English coast and set up Radio Essex, a "pirate" music station. But he didn't stop there.
Simon Says
Does Voting Early Prompt Hasty Choices?
October 6, 2012 Voting can be a chore, but getting more people to vote by allowing early voting may not be doing the candidates or the electorate any favors.
Sweetness And Light
The NFL's Lesson: There's No Replacing Good Refs
October 3, 2012 Only two groups of people really matter in any game: the players and the officials. That's the lesson the NFL inadvertently taught football fans in the past four weeks, says Frank Deford. At many stadiums, the regular officials were greeted with loud ovations after their lockout ended.
Simon Says
Jimmy Hoffa: Still Searching. Still Waiting.
September 29, 2012 "What happened to Jimmy Hoffa?" is one of the great persisting questions of the past generation. The latest tip has lead to a spot under a driveway outside Detroit, in the long search for the former teamster union head.
Simon Says
The Emoticon Turns 30, Seems Happy About It :-)
September 22, 2012 Using three keystrokes to suggest a smile may not be a great scientific advance, but the emoticon has been simple, useful and enduring.
Simon Says
Putin Turns Photo Ops Into Soviet-Style Agitprop
September 15, 2012 The Russian president admitted this week that many of his highly publicized stunts are staged. Critics charge that state-run media may have returned to a time when Russians don't turn to the news for news so much as clues to what people in power expect them to think.
Simon Says
Go On, 'Curate' This Commentary, Too
September 8, 2012 In recent years the word "curate" has been plucked out of museums and pasted onto everything from cosmetics, furniture and fashion lines to recipes, music- and photo-sharing websites and cat videos.
Simon Says
Without A Career, How Do We Know Who We Are?
September 1, 2012 A lot of Americans identify themselves by their work. It used to be a kind of identity stamp, but the economic crisis may have hastened a change that was already under way: more people living with a series of short-term jobs instead of lifetime occupations.
