John Cassidy: Alan Greenspan (newyorker.com)
... the economy is chronically unbalanced. Like an athlete on steroids, it is ailing from the inside. The United States has a negative personal-savings rate; an immense budget shortfall, which will expand as the baby boomers retire; a trade deficit greater than Russia's gross domestic product. As a country, we are living far beyond our means. Every working day, we borrow more than three billion dollars from foreigners, notably the central banks of China and other Asian nations, in order to pay our import bills and keep our interest rates low.
Simon Bowers: Buffett attacks American spending junkies (guardian.co.uk)
Warren Buffett, one of the world's most successful investors, has launched his most withering attack to date on the US trade deficit, describing Americans as "rich spending junkies" who could turn into a nation of "sharecroppers".
The plumber is supposed to come today - beginning to think his last name should be Godot.
No new flags.
Tonight, Wednesday:
CBS starts the night with a FRESH'Still Standing', followed by a FRESH'Yes, Dear', then a RERUN'Criminal Minds', followed by a FRESH'CSI: The 3rd One'.
Scheduled on a FRESHDave are Tommy Lee Jones and Anthony Hamilton.
Scheduled on a FRESHCraig are James Woods, Piper Perabo, and Keaton Simons.
NBC opens the night with a FRESH'E-Ring', followed by a FRESH'Biggest Loser: Special Edition', then a RERUN'Law & Order'.
Scheduled on a FRESHLeno are Snoop Dogg and Ron White.
Scheduled on a FRESHConan are Meredith Vieira and Jim Gaffigan.
Scheduled on a FRESHCarson Daly are Simon Baker and Imogen Heap.
ABC begins the night with a FRESH'George Lopez', followed by a FRESH'Freddie', then a RERUN'Lost', followed by a RERUN'Invasion'.
Scheduled on a FRESHJimmy Kimmel are David Spade, Rob Schneider, Jon Heder, and Dwele.
The WB offers a FRESH'One Tree Hill', followed by a RERUN'Beauty & The Geek'.
Faux has a FRESH'American Idol', followed by a FRESH'Bones'.
UPN has a FRESH'South Beach', followed by a FRESH'Veronica Mars'.
A&E has 'Cold Case Files', 'Dog The Bounty Hunter', another 'Dog The Bounty Hunter', and the movie 'Flight 93'.
AMC offers the movie 'Chain Reaction', followed by the movie 'A View To A Kill', then the movie 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service'.
BBC -
[2pm] 'Monty Python's Flying Circus' - The Golden Age of Ballooning;
[2:40pm] 'Blackadder' - Dish & Dishonesty;
[3:20pm] 'Blackadder' - Ink & Incapability;
[4pm] 'At Home with the Braithwaites' - Episode 5;
[5pm] 'Monarch of the Glen' - Episode 4;
[6pm] 'BBC World News';
[6:30pm] 'House Invaders' - Episode 1;
[7pm] 'The Benny Hill Show' - Episode 55;
[8pm] 'Cash in the Attic' - Foats;
[9pm] 'Little Angels' - Episode 1;
[9:40pm] 'A Week of Dressing Dangerously' - Episode 5;
[10:20pm] 'Changing Rooms' - Episode 5;
[11pm] 'Monty Python's Flying Circus' - The Golden Age of Ballooning;
[11:40pm] 'Kumars at No. 42' - Tom Jones;
[12:20am] 'Kumars at No. 42' - Graham Norton;
[1am] 'Little Angels' - Episode 1;
[1:40am] 'A Week of Dressing Dangerously' - Episode 5;
[2:20am] 'Changing Rooms' - Episode 5;
[3am] 'Murphy's Law' - Jack's Back;
[4am] 'Murphy's Law' - Bent Moon;
[5am] 'Murphy's Law' - Ringers;
[6am] 'BBC World News'. (ALL TIMES EST)
Bravo has 'Project Runway', another 'Project Runway', yet another 'Project Runway', then a FRESH'Project Runway'.
Comedy Central has 'Comedy Central Presents', 'Reno 911!', an old 'Jon Stewart', an old 'Colbert Report', 'Chappelle's Show', 'South Park', another 'South Park', and 'Drawn Together'.
Scheduled on a FRESHJon Stewart is Michael Beschloss.
Scheduled on a FRESHColbert Report is Emily Yoffe.
History has 'The Alaskan Oil Pipeline', 'Modern Marvels', another 'Modern Marvels', and 'Commercial Fishing'.
IFC -
[6AM] IFC Short Film Showcase: February (2006);
[7AM] My Knees Were Jumping: Remembering the Kindertransports (1996);
[8:30AM] The Grass Harp (1995);
[10:30AM] Sweet Dreams (1985);
[12:30PM] My Knees Were Jumping: Remembering the Kindertransports (1996);
[2PM] Va Savoir (2001);
[4:45PM] The Grass Harp (1995);
[6:45PM] Sweet Dreams (1985);
[8:45PM] IFC in Theaters (2005);
[9PM] The Magdalene Sisters (2003);
[11:05PM] Sound and Fury (2000);
[12:30AM] Independent Spirit Award Nomination Show (2005);
[1AM] The Magdalene Sisters (2003);
[3:05AM] Sound and Fury (2000);
[4:30AM] At The IFC Center (2006);
[5AM] Akira Kurosawa: The Last Emperor (1999). (ALL TIMES EST)
SciFi has the movie 'Primal Force', followed by the movie 'Code Red: The Rubicon Conspiracy'.
Sundance -
[6:15AM] The Spirit of Annie Mae;
[7:30AM] Bollywood/Hollywood;
[9:15AM] Year of the Bull;
[10:45AM] Ginger and Cinnamon;
[12:25PM] Food;
[12:45PM] True Confessions;
[2:35PM] I Am NOT an ANIMAL: Home;
[3PM] The Flower of Evil;
[4:45PM] Wallace & Gromit: A Grand Day Out;
[5:15PM] Year of the Bull;
[6:45PM] Village of Idiots;
[7PM] Childstar;
[8:40PM] Food; ;
[9PM] Kath & Kim: Kath & Kim: 99 Percent Fat Free;
[9:30PM] Wallace & Gromit: A Close Shave;
[10PM] The Heart of Me;
[11:40PM] I Am NOT an ANIMAL: Home;
[12AM] Ginger and Cinnamon;
[1:40AM] Dirty Filthy Love;
[3:15AM] Black Picket Fence;
[4:50AM] The Final Curtain. (ALL TIMES EST)
Actresses Eartha Kitt, left, and Rosie Perez, arrive at the post-performance cast party for 'The Public Sings: a 50th Anniversary Celebration', an event showcasing the Public Theater's musical theater history, in New York City, Monday night, Jan. 30, 2006.
Photo by Jennifer Szymaszek
The NFL offended the Queen of Soul, but now all is forgiven. Aretha Franklin, who will perform the national anthem at Sunday's Super Bowl here in her hometown, initially felt Detroit's rich musical legacy was being snubbed when the Rolling Stones were chosen as halftime performers.
"I didn't think there was enough (Detroit representation) by any means. And it was my feeling: `How dare you come to Detroit, a city of legends - musical legends plural - and not ask one or two of them to participate,'" Franklin told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
Franklin wasn't the only displeased Detroiter. So the league belatedly announced that Motown legend Stevie Wonder would play before the game, and that Franklin would sing the anthem with New Orleans legends Aaron Neville and Dr. John plus a 150-member choir.
Kevin Spacey poses with the John and Wendy Trewin Award for Best Shakespearean Performance, for his role in Richard II, at the Critics Circle Theatre Awards at the Prince of Wales Theatre, in London, Tuesday Jan. 31, 2006.
Photo by Ian West
Actor Samuel L. Jackson left his mark on Hollywood Boulevard on Monday, sinking his hands and feet into wet cement in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre, where many other stars have been honored.
"It's an awesome sort of experience, the kind of thing you don't really think about as a young actor," Jackson said at the ceremony. "You sort of stop to pause and say to yourself, 'Wow, you're in a very elite club.'"
Jackson began his film career in 1972 with "Together for Days," and has appeared in more than 100 movies, including "Do the Right Thing," "Jungle Fever" and "Pulp Fiction."
Late-night comic Jimmy Kimmel got himself into trouble when he made a joke in 2004 that some Detroiters didn't find all that amusing. His Los Angeles-based show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, was yanked off the air for a night after Kimmel said on national television that Detroit would burn if the Pistons won the NBA championship that year.
Now, 19 months and countless apologies later, Kimmel is in town, and yes, he's still sorry.
ABC is broadcasting Jimmy Kimmel Live from Detroit's Gem Theatre this week. That means the city Kimmel maligned will be front and centre on his show in the days leading up to Sunday's Super Bowl at nearby Ford Field.
Craig Ferguson's "Late Late Show" monologue Monday was no joking matter. Visibly shaken, the CBS host instead paid tribute to his father, Robert Ferguson, who died Sunday at age 75.
"If I get weepy, I don't want any slow cameras zooming in and music and stuff like that," said Ferguson, 43, during the 15-minute tribute. "You don't need to manufacture the drama. My heart's broken, my father's dead."
His Scottish accent thicker than usual, Ferguson said his father, a hardworking postal worker in Scotland for 44 years, was a "man of few words" who bonded with his son while watching television.
Ferguson said even though the two didn't always get along, his father was "a great man" who encouraged him to move to America and follow his career dreams.
This 2006 photo supplied by the Kameri Theater shows Itzik Cohen as Adolf Hitler dances in ' The Producers' in Tel Aviv . Bringing 'The Producers' to Israel might seem like just another plot twist to Mel Brooks' Broadway musical about getting rich off a surefire theatrical flop. But it's for real, in Hebrew, and playing to packed houses.
Photo by Gadi Dagon
Placido Domingo has canceled performances at the Metropolitan Opera through March 2 because of tracheitis.
Domingo, who has been bothered by the windpipe inflammation since mid-December, canceled his opening performance in Alfano's "Cyrano de Bergerac" last Thursday.
He withdrew from "Cyrano" performances Tuesday and for Saturday's matinee, which will be broadcast internationally on the radio. He also is canceling his appearances in all six performances of Saint-Saens' "Samson et Dalila" from Feb. 7-March 2.
Forget ogling the most beautiful gowns at this year's Oscars. Some lucky actress will hit the red carpet wearing shoes adorned with Rita Hayworth's jewelry.
"This is true Hollywood glamour!" shoe designer Stuart Weitzman said in a statement Monday. "I am taking personal jewels from a screen legend and creating a one-of-a-kind pair of shoes, which will be worn by a movie star of today."
Weitzman has selected two pairs of earrings, one ruby and one diamond, and will choose one pair to coordinate with the color of the actress' gown, Roger Neal of Neal Public Relations, which represents Weitzman, told The Associated Press.
Time Inc, the magazine publishing arm of media conglomerate Time Warner Inc., on Tuesday confirmed that it will cuts 100 editorial and publishing jobs as part of an effort to move toward digital delivery of content.
The company, which publishes Time, Fortune and People magazines, said the job cuts followed an earlier round of cuts in December.
Time Inc. said it has eliminated 66 jobs so far including 26 non-union editorial roles and another 40 business-side publishing roles. A company spokeswoman said that an unspecified number of union-member staffers have also been offered voluntary packages, but that the total number of jobs cut is not expected to exceed 100.
General view of the Balea Lac Ice Hotel in Fagaras mountains, 300km northwest of Bucharest, January 31, 2006. Tucked away at the end of a remote valley in Romania's highest mountains, the structure is the first ice hotel is Eastern Europe.
Photo by Bogdan Cristel
Britney Spears will guest star on an episode of "Will & Grace," NBC announced Tuesday.
The pop star will appear as a Christian conservative sidekick to Sean Hayes' character, Jack, who hosts his own talk show, on the April 13 episode, the network said.
Jack's fictional network, Out TV, is bought by a Christian TV network, leading to Spears contributing a cooking segment called "Cruci-fixin's."
Scott William holds a sign asking resident Bush to step down during a protest at Daley Plaza, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2006, in Chicago, prior to Bush's State of the Union address.
Photo by Nam Y. Huh
Prime-time viewership numbers compiled by Nielsen Media Research for Jan. 23-29. Top 20 listings include the week's ranking, with viewership for the week and season-to-date rankings in parentheses. An "X" in parentheses denotes a one-time-only presentation.
1. (1) "American Idol" (Tuesday), Fox, 35.0 million viewers.
2. (2) "American Idol" (Wednesday), Fox, 32.4 million viewers.
3. (3) "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," CBS, 25.9 million viewers.
4. (5) "Without a Trace," CBS, 22.3 million viewers.
5. (6) "CSI: Miami," CBS, 19.7 million viewers.
6. (7) "Dancing With the Stars" (Thursday), ABC, 19.3 million viewers.
7. (11) "Lost," ABC, 19.1 million viewers.
8. (8) "Grey's Anatomy," ABC, 18.4 million viewers.
9. (13) "Two and a Half Men," CBS, 17.0 million viewers.
10. (11) "NCIS," CBS, 17.0 million viewers.
11. (14) "Cold Case," CBS, 17.0 million viewers.
12. (19) "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," ABC, 16.2 million viewers.
13. (15) "Courting Alex," CBS, 14.9 million viewers.
14. (18) "CSI: NY," CBS, 14.9 million viewers.
15. (24) "Criminal Minds," CBS, 14.6 million viewers.
16. (24) "24," Fox, 14.2 million viewers.
17. (15) "60 Minutes," CBS, 14.2 million viewers.
18. (19) "Dancing With the Stars" (Friday), ABC, 14.0 million viewers.
19. (4) "Desperate Housewives," ABC, 13.9 million viewers.
20. (X) "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" special, CBS, 13.5 million viewers.
The head of a replica Viking galley burns during the Up-Helly-Aa festival on the Shetland Islands, January 31, 2006. The Up-Helly-Aa festival, introduced by men returning from the Napoleonic Wars of the early 19th century, takes place annually on the last Tuesday of January.
Photo by Kieran Doherty
CNN announced recently that it was hiring Philly's own Glenn Beck, whose right-wing rants now air on 200 radio stations across the country, to host an hour-long show on their secondary network, Headline News.
Some might be wondering when one of these bastions of the supposed "liberal media" is going to give a show to - stay with me now - an actual liberal?
Just look at the long list of conservative hosts Beck will be joining on the cable dial. On Fox weekdays, you've got Bill O'Reilly, John Gibson, Brit Hume and Neil Cavuto, not to mention shows like "Fox & Friends" dominated by conservatives (and don't get me started on "Hannity & Colmes").
The weekends feature shows hosted by ex-GOP Rep. John Kasich, Iran-Contra criminal Oliver North, the far-right editorial board of the Wall Street Journal, and the conservative tag team of Fred Barnes and Morton Kondracke.
Things are not quite so bad elsewhere, but progressives have little to be happy about. MSGOP features conservatives Tucker Carlson and Joe Scarborough, not to mention Chris Matthews, whose starry-eyed worship of George W. Bush grows more embarrassing by the week. But MSGOP is home to the one - count 'em, one - cable show hosted by a progressive, "Countdown with Keith Olberman."
An acorn woodpecker dangles from a tree as it looks for food at Rancho San Antonio Park in Los Altos, Calif., Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2006.
Photo by Marcio Jose Sanchez
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