Mike Dressel dotcom

My blog?  Why, no, I think you mean my cabinet of wonder.

When the White House changes party hands, there’s a tradition among outgoing staffers to play harmless prank. Junior Clinton officials famously rubbed the Ws off the keyboards in the West Wing before President George W. Bush took office. But the current commander-in-chief has just pulled a doozy on his successor.

There are 14 seats on the National Council on the Arts, who review and recommend grant recipients from the $145 million annual National Endowment for the Arts budget. They also serve as advisers to the NEA chairman. President Bush’s latest appointed, Lee Greenwood, was sworn in today to a six-year term on the Council.

Yes, among his last acts as president is to leave newly elected Barack Obama with the man responsible for “God Bless the U.S.A.”

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More than 100 retired generals and admirals called Monday for repeal of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on gays so they can serve openly, according to a statement obtained by The Associated Press.

“Which Came First? Eggs Before Chickens, Scientists Now Say.”  Now that we cleared that up, can we conclusively prove why the chicken crossed the road? Huh? Amiright? *obligatory rimshot*  Anybody?  Anybody?  Is this thing on? Meh.  Don’t forget to tip your waiters.  And try the veal.

Crowdfunding Journalism

Here is my question about crowdfunding as a potential source of funding for journalism (which I don’t think is a terrible idea at all): Will the desire to kick money into the kitty be determined more on the the issue at hand, say investigating pollution in a local water supply, or because one enjoys/respects the output of the author? (See:  Ana Marie Cox.)  Will they ever be in conflict? Or is this whole crowdfunding thing to nascent to even bring up the question?

You know that feeling that every year Christmasy decorations are snuck out earlier and earlier, like you go to the store for a beach towel in August and it’s like, well, none here, guess I’ll sun myself on this Christmas tree skirt?  I feel that way about end-of-the-year lists.  Still!  Here’s All Songs Considered’s list of the year’s “overlooked gems.” Good thing then that there is still time to not overlook them!