Greg Palmer

I’m going to Chicago for the weekend to visit a friend. Any suggestions on what I should be sure to do and see while I’m there?

• The power of the tower | Art & Architecture | Guardian Unlimited Arts
  “It’s tall, no doubt about that, rising 1,046ft above the delis, sex shops and chain cafes on the fast-paced sidewalks below.” I thought Saint Rudy got rid of the sex shops?
  (tags: nyc architecture)
• The Burger Takes Center Stage - New York Times
  (tags: food restaurants nyc)

For some reason, this photo of Cheney scares the heck of out of me.

• Rep. Rush Holt: What’s Really in the RESTORE Act - Politics on The Huffington Post
  (tags: privacy law)
• The debt ’socialised medicine’ owes to Richard Nixon | Subscriptions index | Guardian Unlimited
  Very interesting. Nixon proposed universal healthcare during his inaugural address.
  (tags: presidency politics healthcare policy)

I’m not a Biden fan, but I have to agree with Tim. This is really funny.

• Online investigations into job candidates could be illegal | Technology | The Guardian
  I don’t think we have a similar law here in the US, but this is interesting anyway.
  (tags: privacy)
• Atlanta Hospital Moves to Unburden Itself of Debt - New York Times
  With some hospitals so profitable, why do places like Grady suffer? My guess is that private hospitals turn away unprofitable patients, but as a public hospital Grady must treat them.
  (tags: healthcare)
• Mississippi’s Lott to Leave Senate Seat - New York Times
  (tags: toread)
• Citigroup Sells Abu Dhabi Fund $7.5 Billion Stake - New York Times
  (tags: toread)
• Tiffany and eBay in Fight Over Fakes - New York Times
  (tags: toread)
• Son of Astor Is Said to Face Criminal Case - New York Times
  (tags: toread)
• The Citizenship Surge - New York Times
  (tags: toread)
• Exit, Russian Democracy - New York Times
  (tags: toread)
• Regulating Cable - New York Times
  (tags: toread)
• Those Lovely Manhole Covers - New York Times
  (tags: toread)
• Our Enemy Hands - New York Times
  (tags: toread)

Lucky me…I’ve got a bad case of bronchitis and am coughing up a storm over here.

• Advanced Search: Is The Name A Problem? : Digital-Lifestyles (alpha remix)
  I’m far from a trendsetter, but I successfully argued that oversight.house.gov should use the term “more search options” rather than “advanced search.”
  (tags: search)
• P*PHONE & USB*BASE Black - HULGER US
  I love the nostalgic look of this…
  (tags: shopping)
• FT.com / World - Michelin sprinkles stars on Tokyo
  That’s a big difference in the number of stars and seems to be a huge break from tradition.
  (tags: food travel)
• Shouts & Murmurs: The Zagat History of My Last Relationship: The New Yorker
  (tags: humor nyc love)
• The Best Novels You’ve Never Read - Book Hunt 2007 — New York Magazine
  (tags: toread books fiction literature)
• Short of money, Republicans enlist rich candidates - International Herald Tribune
  (tags: politics elections)
• You’re Eating That? - New York Times
  “Food safety, like toy safety, is part of a growing national concern that government agencies that are supposed to protect consumers have been whittled down to incompetence.”
  (tags: politics government)
• The Big Picture | Black Friday’s Upside Surprise
  As usual, I think Ritholtz is right on track.
  (tags: economics)
• All Play and No Work Makes for a Poor Life
  I think maybe Ben’s just hanging out with the wrong crowd, no? And somehow he thinks it’s young people who aren’t working, though he cites all older “one-off” people as his examples.
  (tags: work)
• City GOP benefits from Parking Authority | Philadelphia Inquirer | 11/26/2007
  (tags: politics pennsylvania)
• Mule Design Studio’s Blog: Facebook, you owe me one Christmas Present.
  Facebook’s “Beacon” in action.
  (tags: advertising privacy)

• Ivy league universities sued under loan shark law - International Herald Tribune
  (tags: finance)
• Saudis make up 41% of foreign fighters in Iraq | Iraq | Guardian Unlimited
  “More than 40% of the foreign fighters who entered Iraq to join the insurgency in the past year were citizens of Saudi Arabia, America’s key partner in the Middle East.”
  (tags: iraq war)
• Japanese shift cash out of U.S. investments - International Herald Tribune
  (tags: international finance)
• Just Off Insular Senate Floor, Life of the Uninsured Intrudes - New York Times
  (tags: healthcare congress)
• Dr. Drug Rep - Medicine and Health - New York Times
  (tags: healthcare)
• Bears - Whistler - British Columbia - Canada - Animals - New York Times
  (tags: nature environment)
• The High Cost of Health Care - New York Times
  (tags: health healthcare)
• Tightening the Beltway, the Elite Shop Costco - New York Times
  Richard Perle at Costco = hilarious.
• Bargains Draw Crowds, but the Thrill Is Gone - New York Times
  Hmmm saw this coming a mile away.
  (tags: financial retail economics)
• Lost in a Flood of Debt - New York Times
  “There is a desperate need for government and corporate leaders to step in with a broad plan to modify existing loans and stave off foreclosure wherever possible. It is both the humane and the economically responsible thing to do.”
  (tags: economics)
• Class Conflict on the Airlines - Travel - New York Times
  (tags: travel)
• The Frugal Traveler - In Chicago, Amid Architectural Glories, Piles of Cheap Fun - Travel - New York Times
  (tags: travel)
• Time magazine’s FISA fiasco shows how Beltway reporters mislead the country - Glenn Greenwald - Political Blogs and Opinions - Salon
  “What a repugnant though vivid microcosm this is for how so many of our Beltway journalists function. They think that their only job is to write down faithfully what they are told by both sides (if we’re lucky) and call it a day.”
  (tags: politics journalism)
• Clinton Takes On Student Loan Industry - The Caucus - Politics - New York Times Blog
  ““I want to get rid of the student loan companies,” Mrs. Clinton said at an event in Sioux City, as she laid out her college affordability plan.” WHAT?? That’s a really bold statement from Hillary.
  (tags: finance politics)
• “Did McClellan Accuse Bush of Lying to Federal Prosecutors?” by Scott Horton (Harper’s Magazine)
  (tags: politics)

• U.S. Out of Iraq How?: Introduction
  “Yes, Bush, a leader with all the impulse control of a petulant three-year-old, “broke” Iraq. But we own it now. Time to get ready with the apology, the checkbook, and whatever else is required.”
  (tags: iraq war)