Some of my Favorite Things

Let's see... Raindrops on roses, whiskers on kittens... What are some of my other favorite things? Good news sources! Specifically, that wonderful British paper, The Economist. I enjoy a non-American perspective on the world that isn't necessarily anti-America, and I like their droll use of humor. For example, a recent article about Russia sending warships to Venezuela to perform joint exercises notes that:

The public response from Washington has been a barely-stifled yawn. The State Department noted that if the Russians were indeed coming, then “they found a few ships that can make it that far.”

I love that they found a way to make me laugh at my fear that we're heading towards a new cold war!

Useful sources of information

I'm becoming a political junkie of sorts, and I've always been a knowledge junkie. But also being a nerd, I want good analysis from the best sources. My rule of thumb: If your analysis of the situation fits on a bumper sticker, you're probably an idiot.

Things I don't like:

• the so-called "echo chamber" of cable news programs
• liberal blogs laced with "let's impeach Bush" rhetoric
  
• conservative blogs full of "if you criticize Bush you're a terrorist" rhetoric
  
• local news (I'm not that interested in sensationalized coverage of hideous crime)
• right-wing talk radio (Rush Limbaugh)
  
• left-wing talk radio (Air America)

I don't really have a problem with opinions, I just don't like "spin", and I don't really like uninformed opinions on issues I'd like to know more about. Some things that I generally like:

• The Economist --- A view of the US from a non-American, but not necessarily anti-American, perspective. Plus, I read all the articles with my best "BBC World Report" accent inside my head. Another things I like about The Economist is that they use numbers and relevant statistics to back up things they say. I like statistics, it comes from my love of baseball in my childhood.
  
• Friday Morning News Roundup on the Diane Rehm Show --- Journalists talking about issues in the news. The journalists aren't necessarily experts on every subject, but they are extremely well-informed on how events are being covered, and can do a good job of explaining the sub-texts behind various issues in the news, such as the implications of a move made by a political campaign or politician, or the ramifications of a diplomatic visit or diplomatic statement. The guests on the show are also adept at anchoring issues in the news in their relevant historical context. The show is split into one hour for domestic news, and one hour for international news. The international hour is usually stronger, especially during campaign season.
  
• UChannel --- Recorded lectures and panel discussions by leading scholars. Many universities participate, though UChannel was started by the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and their influence seems to have gained the project a lot of credibility. From UChannel's website:

"The UChannel presents ideas in a way commercial news or public affairs programming cannot. Because it is neither constrained by time nor dependent upon commercial feedback, the UChannel's video content can be broad and flexible enough to cover the full gamut of academic investigation."

I particularly like that, while certainly opinionated, the lectures aren't sound-bytes and are generally designed to clarify an issue, not deceive or confuse as many of the pundits on cable news.

• CSpan Booknotes --- No longer running, but their archives are online. I used to listen to this program in grad school on Saturday or Sunday nights while driving from my Dad's outside of Baltimore back to the University of Maryland near DC.
• The Teaching Company --- Check out any of their lectures. I'm not exaggerating, this company has changed my life. So long as I have my iPod, there is almost no wasted time in my life anymore. Driving, walking, doing dishes, shoveling snow, cleaning the bathtub---they are all opportunities for learning.