The Italian Connection

Carlo Bonini, journalist for La Repubblica in Italy and author of Collusion: International Espionage and the War on Terror, describes Italy's role in the flawed intelligence that helped justify the war in Iraq.

Gwen's voice

bacon and wine

"Now, bear with me a moment here. Back in 2002-2003, officials in the Bush administration and their neocon supporters, retro-think-tank admirers, and allied media pundits, basking in all their Global War on Terror glory, were eager to talk about the region extending from North Africa through the Middle East, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the former SSRs of Central Asia right up to the Chinese border as an "arc of instability." That arc coincided with the energy heartlands of the planet and what was needed to "stabilize" it, to keep those energy supplies flowing freely (and in the right directions), was clear enough to them. The "last superpower," the greatest military force in history, would simply have to put its foot down and so bring to heel the "rogue" powers of the region. The geopolitical nerve would have to be mustered to stamp a massive "footprint" -- to use a Pentagon term of the time -- in the middle of that vast, valuable region. (Such a print was to be measured by military bases established.) Also needed was the nerve not just to lob a few cruise missiles in the direction of Baghdad, but to offer such an imposing demonstration of American shock-and-awe power that those "rogues" -- Iraq, Syria, Iran (Hezbollah, Hamas) -- would be cowed into submission, along with uppity U.S. allies like oil-rich Saudi Arabia."

skinny recommended Woochon, at 10 W 36th a while back. Still good? any recommendations of Korean restaurants in that vicinity?

the first rule of milk club is you don't talk about milk club

got a car? drive-in movies in may

doesnt seem possible but ive actually gained weight on a diet of steak sandwiches, hamburgers, french fries, pork dumplings, bacon and egg sandwiches, chicken salad sandwiches, coffee cake muffins, brioche, cashews, snickers ice cream bars and perrier. must be the carbonation, right?

should i exercise to lose weight or just induce a mild coma? oh, who am i kidding? tell them to put me on the low fat feeding tube.

"What can be done to fix the situation?

[Long pause] You'd have to fire or execute ninety percent of the editors and executives. You'd actually have to start promoting people from the newsrooms to be editors who you didn't think you could control. And they're not going to do that."

Mark, make sure you see Trombone Shorty when you go down there. ( I recommend pressing pause and letting the video load completely before viewing.)

"when has Krauthammer ever not cried “Munich!” in response to an act of diplomacy?"

Apple Hits The 100-Million Mark With iPod

The Best Recipes in the World

Mark Bittman—who writes “The Minimalist” column in the New York Times—tells us about traveling the globe in search of the best recipes in the world for his new PBS series.

the book / debuts tonight ch 13 at 9

we know from our own mr a wilson that the alexander wilson was a preeminent american ornithologist. what i didnt realize is that he was a skilled illustrator or birds as well. he is noted for the eight volume set posted here. first to find the wilson warbler wins.

hard to believe but according to joan walsh of salon "Donohue said he thought the "South Park" episode this week in which Jesus returns as a ninja and cuts Donohue in half was "hilarious," and he disagrees with conservatives who've told him to sue Comedy Central."

RIP Sol LeWitt.

Johnny Hart R.I.P.

"I presented my credentials from the Marine Corps to a very polite clerk for American Airlines. One of the two people to whom I talked asked a question and offered a frightening comment: "Have you been in any peace marches? We ban a lot of people from flying because of that." I explained that I had not so marched but had, in September, 2006, given a lecture at Princeton, televised and put on the Web, highly critical of George Bush for his many violations of the Constitution. "That'll do it," the man said."

A Twist of the Wrist: Quick Flavorful Meals With Ingredients From Jars, Cans, Bags and Boxes” (Knopf)

The chef admits that she was not familiar with Rachael Ray’s “30 Minute Meals” when she started the project, or at least she’s too polite to say that hers are 30-minute meals that would make Thomas Keller say yummo: orzo with dried porcini mushrooms, radicchio and aged balsamic vinegar; white asparagus in brown butter topped with a fried egg and capers; key lime custards with crème fraîche. Some of the recipes came from fellow food professionals, like Ruth Reichl, the editor of Gourmet magazine, whose recipe for blueberry pie calls for frozen berries and a store-bought crust. “You talk to a chef who works all day and comes home hungry, these are the things they make,” Silverton said. “You don’t come home and do a braise.”

IF A GREAT MUSICIAN PLAYS GREAT MUSIC BUT NO ONE HEARS . . . WAS HE REALLY ANY GOOD?

It's an old epistemological debate, older, actually, than the koan about the tree in the forest. Plato weighed in on it, and philosophers for two millennia afterward: What is beauty? Is it a measurable fact (Gottfried Leibniz), or merely an opinion (David Hume), or is it a little of each, colored by the immediate state of mind of the observer (Immanuel Kant)?

"No one has been more critical of sunny progress reports that defied realities in Iraq."

umm, moron or complete moron?

cbs got a big fat gift today as the field collapsed leaving tiger woo at +3 in the final pairing for tomorrows final round of the masters. be there and be square.

Sir! no Sir!

Possible solar cell breakthrough. We'll see when they hit production.