Halloween etiquette: Trick-or-treat but be polite

Oct 28, 2009 - LONDON – Trick-or-treaters beware: Manners count — even on Halloween. Britain's authority on etiquette, Debrett's, issued its first guidance Wednesday on how to behave during the uber-American holiday. Although the holiday originated with Europe's Celtic pagans to mark the end of summer — typically celebrated by bonfires to ward off evil spirits and children disguised as spirits of the underworld — it has only been recently that British stores have swelled with Halloween stock and trick-or-treaters have canvassed streets for candy. - 6 Comments

Sotomayor hearings : they Got Some ’Splainin’ to Do

Jul 21, 2009 - July 19, 2009 The New York Times By FRANK RICH http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/19/opinion/19rich.html?_r=1 AS political theater, the Sonia Sotomayor hearings tanked faster than the 2008 Fred Thompson presidential campaign. They boasted no drama to rival the Clarence-Anita slapdown, the Bork hissy fits or the tearful exodus of Samuel Alito’s wife. There was rarely a moment to match even the high point of the Senate’s previous grilling of Sotomayor — in 1997, when she was elevated to the Second Circuit. - 4 Comments

Is It Really Wife Camp?

Jun 17, 2009 - ((I don't hate the idea of this, executed properly...)) Two years ago, concert pianist Wonny Song attended a reception in Paris. The host’s 13-year-old daughter greeted guests at the door and made proper introductions. “She could speak to ambassadors, artists, business people—everyone. - 10 Comments

NYT: A Dash of Party A, a Splash of Party B

Feb 12, 2009 - A lighthearted view of the perils of planning an inter-party dinner.. -------------------------------- February 12, 2009 A Dash of Party A, a Splash of Party B By MICHELLE SLATALLA http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/12/fashion/12spy.html?ref=fashion THE big drawback to being a host who wants to give a perfect dinner party is that you end up paralyzed by too many decisions. Is red meat O.K.? - 2 Comments

The Obamas and the Gaffe Hunters

Apr 03, 2009 - By Leslie Savan, The Nation Posted on April 3, 2009 http://www.alternet.org/story/134832/ The real question about how Barack and Michelle Obama are being received on their Rolling-G-20-Summit/Euro-Tour '09 has nothing to do with how the Europeans treat them, but all about the American mainstream media itself: What infinitesimal nit will they find to pick about the new president's conduct abroad that can be blown up into a two- to three-day pseudo-international incident? You know the sort of story I mean. We're not talking about serious systemic issues, such as the different perspective a country like Germany (with universal health care, generous unemployment benefits, and a highly unionized work force) might have on the need for a global stimulus when compared to the U.S., where the party Obama just turned out of office has proposed effectively privatizing Medicare. - 12 Comments

Indulgence of Islam is harming society

Dec 27, 2008 - Indulgence of Islam is harming society Channel 4's decision to invite President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to deliver its "alternative" Christmas message may have been offensive to many people, but no one can say the station is neglecting its obligation to cater for minorities. Muslim fundamentalists were thrilled by the broadcast. By Damian Thompson Last Updated: 7:04PM GMT 26 Dec 2008 Islam is the fastest-growing religion in Britain: the number of Muslims has grown from 1.6 million to two million since 2000. - 32 Comments