February 1, 2010
Calling All Designers: The NEA Wants You!
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is looking for graphic designers to propose a new “Art Works” logo and, if selected, to finish it so it can be reproduced on NEA materials. Submissions are due Feb. 26. Download the request for proposals here.
January 30, 2010
Civics Blogging: A Healthy Debate
President Barack Obama today addressed and took questions from House Republican party members attending a retreat in Baltimore. For students of government and political junkies everywhere, the entire event, seemingly unprecedented in the modern political era, was fascinating. If YouTube and CSPAN can disabuse citizens of the notion that government can be reduced to 30-second sound bites, that would be a positive development.
Citizens must try to find, and watch, these more honest exchanges, which shed a little light on the hard realities of governing in the 21st century. Legislating is just messy; it’s complicated for the press and somewhat disgusting to the citizenry.
But letting polarization take hold will only lead to legislative lethargy, which in turn will only lead to stagnation in the country and hurt average Americans with everyday problems. It simply cannot continue. Today was one small step to break the impasse; many more steps will no doubt be needed. It’s a start. Kudos to all who participated.
January 29, 2010
Science Friday: Hot Dog DNA
What’s in it, dog?
Below and here.
Support Science Friday.
January 28, 2010
SOTU: Ratings and Reaction
More than 48 million viewers watched President Barack Obama’s first State of the Union, more than watched Clinton’s first, but less than watched G. W. Bush’s first, Nielson reports.
More reaction:
Gail Collins in the New York Times, along with its Editorial Board.
Melissa Harris-Lacewell in The Nation.
Christopher Buckley at the Daily Beast.
The Washington Post (on Alito-Obama flap) – Yes, this has achieved flap status! Toobin also weighs in at the New Yorker, as does Packer.
The New Republic, cutting against the grain, as usual.
Indexing the Arts
Americans for the Arts recently launched a new tool to measure the vitality of the arts in U.S. communities across 76 indicators. Click the image to check it out.
