Before the computers shut off to begin another weekend, I wanted to point to the following:
- Lawrence Summers suggests we might be rounding the bend. From the washingtonpost.com: “[I]t is modestly encouraging that since it began to take shape, consumer spending in the U.S., which was collapsing during the holiday season, appears, according to a number of indicators, to have stabilized.” He went on to talk about “smart regulation,” a favorite topic of mine. [washingtonpost.com]
- The Administration’s pick to head the FDA, former NYC health commissioner Margaret Hamburg, “avoids the usual debate between industry and consumer advocates.” [The New York Times]
- What does it mean when Warren freakin’ Buffet loses his Triple-A rating? From Forbes.com: “In the past year, shares of Berkshire Hathaway, the insurance and electricity conglomerate that Buffett controls, have lost 35%. Buffett saw his personal wealth decline by $25 billion. Now Fitch Ratings has snatched away his top-notch rating, downgrading Berkshire to AA.” [Forbes.com]
- I, Chris, by way of the recommendation of Maddow, hereby recommend Doctorow recommending Geoghegan recommending being smart about unions. From Doctorow: “This is one of the best books I’ve read about labor politics in America, striking a balance between the romance and heroism of the best labor struggles in US history . . . and the venality, pettiness and criminality of the worst of labor . . . .” [Boing Boing]
- Of course you’ve seen it, but if you haven’t: Comedy Central, March 12, 2009, Stewart v. Cramer. It’s instantly classic TeeVee. [The Daily Show]
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Chris Geidner is the award-winning senior political editor at D.C.'s Metro Weekly and has written for The Atlantic Online, The American Prospect, Advocate.com, Salon and other publications, as well as at his blog, Law Dork. In 2011, he received the Excellence in News Writing Award from the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association for his coverage of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal. Prior to moving to D.C. in 2009, he served as an attorney on the senior staff at the Ohio Attorney General's Office and had earlier worked for a leading Columbus law firm. An extended biography can be found