In an industry where everyone is kicking, clawing and fighting for the limelight, the fashion industry has one powerfully guarded and well-kept secret. Until now... Meet Rushka Bergman. Read More...
It is perhaps unsurprising that 25-year-old Alexandra Monir has already released her first novel. But when one realizes she also wrote and recorded songs to complement it, and that she's penning her second book, it's hard not to be impressed. Read More... More on Authors
With the vast majority of Americans greatly overpaying for slow and unreliable broadband compared to connections in Europe and Asia, hundreds of communities have started building their own networks. And the industry is fighting back. Read More... More on North Carolina
Aloha may mean hi, hello, love, but nothing translates the grand groundswell of emotion felt when you say "aloha" or express it in some form or another. That's why I love the "aloha shirt." Read More... More on Spirit
This Wednesday: Ten things I can do every day -- even when I can't do anything else.
We've all had days where it seems as though nothing gets done. For those times when I seem to be spinning my wheels, I keep a list of things that I can do every day, even when I have no extra time, money, or energy to spare. I sometimes forget to write in my one-sentence journal and I don't always make it to the gym, but I do try to make sure I hit all these items.
When I was seventeen years old I started to participate in anti-Vietnam War demonstrations. The next morning I would check for coverage in the New York Times. Sometimes the protests were ignored. Sometimes the coverage was downright distorted. I wondered if the reporter had even been to the demonstration or if the paper was just lying to the public. The New York Times now has a "Public Editor" who is supposed to work "outside of the reporting and editing structure of the newspaper" and provide some check on the paper's accuracy and biases.
Unfortunately, at least in education, the public editor system is not working. In coverage of the debates over testing, teacher competency, unions, and charters, the Times always seems to come down on the side of Bloomberg, Gates, Duncan, Teach for America, and alternative certification and ignores people with actual classroom experience. On December 14, 2010, a Times headline told us "More and Better Tests" were the answer to improving educational performance.
While I have disagreed with the Times on a number of occasions, and in one blog post specifically accused the newspaper of promoting the latest educational "gimmick of the month," I have also encouraged teachers and teacher education students to use the Times as a literacy standard for their students and as a source of information of about local, national, and global events.
Beyond the brinkmanship and legal wrangling, Europe's path is clear. The ETS has committed to cutting emissions 21 percent against 2005 levels by 2020. Read More... More on Barack Obama
Yes, on paper, office work doesn't sound as exciting as shooting zombies, but in practice, the following five games with corporate settings still prove that there's plenty of fun to be had by playing games at work. Read More... More on Games
One of the Ten Commandments is to "obey" our parents. Well, what happens when we think that it is not in their best interest to continue living where they are living or we feel it is unsafe, and they disagree with us? Read More... More on Death & Dying
HuffPost Sports Columnist Jordan Schultz joined Chuck Todd and The Daily Rundown of MSNBC to discuss the NBA Lockout Wednesday morning. Read More... More on NBA
Federal audits are turning up misspent taxpayer dollars in a $5 billion stimulus program aimed at lowering the utility bills of disabled, poor and older Americans by making their homes more energy-efficient.
In West Virginia, which received $38 million in weatherization funds, some of the money went for lobbying, to consultants who did little work and to recipients with connections to state officials who are doling out the funds, the Energy Department's inspector general found.
In one case, West Virginia paid $25,000 to a lawyer for writing two sentences stating that weatherization contracts had been reviewed, reportedly after four hours' work at a state office, according to a report analyzing how the federal stimulus money was used. A $20,000 consulting fee was paid to the former director of the state's weatherization program after he left the job in May 2009 even though there were no specific work requirements set for the consulting contract.
The federal program's own watchdog had warned at the outset that some of the money in the Energy Department's weatherization program, part of the Obama administration's $787 billion stimulus intended to give a jolt to the economy, could be wasted.
"I have said from the beginning of the [economic] recovery program that weatherization is high-risk," said Earl Devaney , who as chairman of the Recovery Transparency and Accountability Board is Washington's top cop overseeing how stimulus dollars are spent. Noted Devaney in a statement to iWatch News : "There was little in the way of internal controls."
Mismanagement in West Virginia ranged from giving preferential treatment to state employees and their relatives, to shoddy work at the homes of disabled and poor people who were supposed to benefit the most, the Energy Department's inspector general report found. "We found problems in the areas of weatherization workmanship, financial management, prioritization of applicants for weatherization services, and compliance with laws and regulations," the report said.
Between September 2009 and August 2010, for instance, more than half of weatherized homes that were re-inspected needed to be redone because of faulty work, the report said. Meanwhile, $2,500 was spent on lobbying in Washington - even though such use is expressly forbidden - to "get the word out" that there wasn't enough funding to administer stimulus programs, it said.
Concluded the inspector general after looking at West Virginia's books: "The risk of failing to achieve Recovery Act goals, along with the risks of fraud, waste and abuse, remain at unacceptable levels."
While the Energy Department's inspector general has examined only a handful of states, it has found evidence of a range of misspending and waste.
George Collard , an assistant inspector general for the Energy Department, said the audits show the quality of the states' programs varied greatly, and that infractions often are minor. West Virginia is one of the states with "more significant miscues," Collard told iWatch News . "That's not to say there haven't been problems in other states."
Critics say the audits show that abuses might be widespread.
"You see a lot of smoke. There's got to be a fire," said Steve Ellis , the vice president of Taxpayers for Common Sense, a nonprofit watchdog that follows government spending. The question is: "How much?"
A 2010 special report by the Energy Department inspector general warned that the weatherization program had made "little progress" in achieving its stated aims -- helping large numbers of poor Americans lower their heating bills.
States seemed to face the biggest challenge, said Collard, in managing the program's finances and making sure that the work on homes was of sufficient quality. One problem has been the sheer volume of money that flowed into state agencies ill-equipped to cope with it. As part of its job-creation stimulus law, the federal government rushed money to the states, which then handed it out to community action agencies.
West Virginia, for example, received almost eight times its usual weatherization funding through the federal stimulus grant.
Ellis, of Taxpayers for Common Sense, said community agencies weren't prepared for such a big increase in funding. "These were groups used to drinking out of the water fountain at the elementary school," he said. "And they got a fire hose of cash."
At least seven more Energy Department audit reports are anticipated before the end of the year.
West Virginia officials have said they are working to improve administration of the weatherization program.
"The State of West Virginia has made a number of improvements in how they implement the weatherization program," said Kathleen Hogan, the deputy assistant secretary for energy efficiency. "However, as this report shows, there is work still to be done."
Collard was hopeful that West Virginia and other states would be able to fix their programs. "While our audits have identified problems with varying levels of degree, the departments and states have been proactive about the findings of the Office of Inspector General."
With an annual budget of about $4 billion, the WFP each year provides crucial sustenance to some 100 million people who would otherwise face hunger, malnutrition or even starvation. But the WFP could do even better. Read More... More on Poverty
The tech sector has traditionally been a boy's club. But a growing number of women are disregarding the "No Girls Allowed" sign and are not only infiltrating the tech world -- but, increasingly, influencing and leading it. This crashing of the silicon ceiling is cause for celebration -- and the launch of a new HuffPost series, "Women in Tech." Over the next few weeks, our Tech section will be spotlighting some of the most skilled and innovative women having on impact on today's tech scene. By celebrating their accomplishments, we hope this series will inspire more women to consider a career in the field. But no matter what gender you are or your place on the tech spectrum -- from Luddite to programming whiz -- "Women in Tech" will introduce you to some incredible women and their insights into this indispensable aspect of all our lives. Check out the first installment here. Read More... More on Women In Tech
I may be the founder of a vintage couture store, but I am not a wearer of vintage couture. I do have an extensive collection of men's vintage designer clothing, but Haute Couture has usually been for the girls. Until today, that is. Read More...
The Hammer courtyard turns electric in July for an ongoing series of free concerts featuring emerging bands. KCRW DJ Dan Wilcox will spin between sets by Graffiti6 and East Conference Champions. Read More... More on Arts
Egypt has moved beyond the Arab spring. Cairo, Tahrir Square -- it is as if nothing has happened. The traffic is moving slowly, the air is polluted, the roads are dirty. Read More... More on Egypt
The United States (5-0) defeated Lithuania (3-2) 107-105 in OT at the FIBA U19 World Championships in Latvia. This was the game of the tournament thus far. Read More... More on Basketball
Like the disciple Thomas who doubts the resurrection of Jesus and needs to see the details to believe he is real, we scan our long lost friend's pages and wonder: Is this for real? Read More... More on Facebook
We sure don't need any more screaming. My inbox and my Facebook feed fills up every day with screams from my favorite progressive organizations and people, faith-based and otherwise. Read More... More on Christianity
A great book happens when I pick up a book and can't put it down again; when I cannot suppress the sighs upon finishing it; when I cannot wait to tell everyone I know: read this book! But how to pick a favorite? Read More...
The past 35 years have witnessed unprecedented human migration all over the world, pointing to an extraordinary dislocation, to untold human tragedy as well as triumph. Read More... More on Religious Tolerance
Despite the best of intentions, without truly understanding my clients' and employees' perceptions, I made a costly mistake that, had I taken a few extra steps, could have easily been avoided. Read More...
Why have the Democrats caved into the Republican assumption that cuts have to be made to raise the debt ceiling? The decision is especially vexing when you consider that the Democrats have not even tried to point out the falsehoods at the heart of Republican claims. Read More... More on Republicans
Jurors of the Casey Anthony trial have been flown to Washington, D.C. in the hope of harnessing their talents to solve the looming debt ceiling crisis. "If anyone can make a swift and unpopular decision about this economic problem, it's them," said Senator Morris Harveston. "We've tried everything else. There is no reasonable doubt in my mind that they will get the job done."
The 12 jurors and five alternate jurors were sequestered in an unknown hotel a few hours ago, after being briefed on all previous negotiations that involve raising the country's borrowing limit and potential spending cuts. "I am certain they will be able to bring the same dispassionate skills to reviewing all of the information as they did to the Casey Anthony trial," said Congressman Richard Noller. "And if it doesn't work? Big deal -- it's just 11 hours."
Following this, the jurors will broker a treaty between Israelis and the Palestinian Authority, then fix all of the nuclear reactors in Japan, and form a unified field theory. Commented Juror Number Two: "If you want something done, we'll do it in eleven hours... or the job is free!"
The Dalai Lama arrived yesterday in the nation's capital and will spend much of the next two weeks (July 6-16) at the Verizon Center conducting rituals and prayers for world peace, and imparting Tibetan Buddhist teachings. Read More... More on Dalai Lama
"the Republican Party may no longer be a normal party. Over the past few years, it has been infected by a faction that is more of a psychological protest than a practical, governing alternative."
The idea that the current Tea Party-dominated GOP is single-mindedly focused on its far-right ideology at the expense of what is best for the country is not news to anyone who has been paying attention for the last two-and-a-half years. I suppose the fact the statement came from Brooks, a conservative, is what caused the column to get so much attention.
Janet Reitman has spent the last six years digging into this unusual faith, and her new book reveals much about the unknown world of Scientology. Read More...
The argument about who serves 'the best pizza in L.A.' is waged fiercely on the Internet's food blogs, with no resolution in sight. But now a new contender has entered the ring. Has it ever! Read More... More on Best Of LA
Researchers have, instead, just come out with even more evidence that we need to be doing plenty of exercise -- and we need to be doing it often. Read More... More on Fitness and Exercise
As a nation where immigrants historically have had a fair chance and been treated humanely, we need to give up Whac-a-Mole and devise one comprehensive policy, including a legalization plan. Read More... More on Immigration
Observing last night's Givenchy presentation at Hotel d'Evreux in the Place Vendome, I was reminded how seriously people take fashion. Read More... More on Fashion
Undaunted, Kathryn Sullivan flew again, not once but twice -- in 1990 on Discovery, and in 1992 on Atlantis. "I had to," she said without hesitation. Read More... More on Science
Some see the show as exploitation of little girls, while others see it as an exposé of moms seeking validation through the beauty of their children. Read More...
Here on the streets of Manhattan last week, we spoke with Kara Swisher, Co-Executive Editor of All Things Digital, about her Loeb award and her definition of blogging (it's the same as reporting, she says). Read More...
The creation of a Palestinian state via the UN will in no way end the Mideast conflict, but will only add another dimension of instability to the region. Nor will it serve the interests of the Palestinian people. Read More... More on Middle East
By lumping together certain ethnic musical forms, it makes it far harder for the artists involved in those genres to get the acknowledgement that the Grammy award bestows, and the career benefits thereof. Read More... More on Grammy Awards
Isn't a 'jobless recovery' as preposterous as a fetus-less pregnancy? We've got a bloody pile-up at the intersection of Wall Street and Main Street, where reality collides with such corporate conceits. And it's the workers who wind up on life support, while the suits speed away from the wreckage undented and undaunted. Back to the bat cave, to plot the next leveraged buyout!
The new HBO documentary, "No Contract No Cookies: The Stella D'Oro Strike," premiering on HBO2 tonight at 8pm, tells the story of a beloved Bronx bakery, founded by Italian immigrants in 1932, that now lies shuttered, like so many factories all over America. The saga of how the company went from a thriving family-owned enterprise to a gutted equity fund acquisition is a success story only if you're rooting for our modern day robber barons. For the dwindling middle class and the unwashed masses, it's an American tragedy that's being repeated all over the country.
"No Contract No Cookies" puts a poignant face--or 138 faces, to be precise--on the massacre of manufacturing jobs that CEOs routinely commit in the name of prosperity. At the Stella D'Oro factory, folks from 22 different countries worked convivially alongside New York natives and gained a foothold in the American middle class, only to be kicked off the ladder when Brynwood Partners, a private equity fund, bought the company. In 2008, when the workers' contract expired, Brynwood demanded a 30% pay cut.
Assuming Madison Square Garden doesn't raise prices, I'll have to fork over more than $290,000 to keep Rangers seats for the next 60 years (though the amount may be slightly less as I'm sure a few of those seasons will be cancelled due to a lockout). Read More...
If the economy is showing tepid signs of recovery, we're seeing no indication at the hundreds of food pantries and shelters we serve daily. Record numbers of people are still in need of emergency food assistance -- many for the first time. Read More... More on Chicago Impact
Closing down for the summer is not the Roberts Court's only disappearing act. During this past term, a disturbing trend emerged of withdrawing the courts from their historic and institutional role in providing justice for ordinary Americans. Read More... More on Dick Cheney
Traditionally Cirque shows have played outside Manhattan proper. However this year, the circus arts have landed at Radio City. And Cirque just may be taking money away from Broadway shows. Read More... More on NY Around Town
As a former Minister of Health in Nigeria and now head of a United Nations agency, I have come to one inescapable conclusion: if we are to tackle the consequences of growing populations, we need to invest in adolescents and young people now. Read More... More on Poverty
UN Women is releasing its first annual look at the state of females worldwide. And it focuses on exactly that: peace and justice, a sector that underlies many of the areas in which women lag behind. Read More... More on Women's Rights
Pakistan, in English is translated to 'the land of the pure.' Ironically, the constant fear and the ease with which lives are lost, is nothing short of the norm in this Islamic republic. Read More... More on Voices of Pakistan
The stock market crash that precipitated the early 2000s downturn was particularly tough on high-end wealth relative to the housing bust of the Great Recession. In the latter case, you hit a lot more people in the middle class, and it weighs dramatically on local revenues. Read More... More on Budget Cuts
France has some of the most conservative drugs laws in Europe, but whether the harsh law has diminished the French penchant for cannabis is questionable. Read More... More on France
"It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool," Abraham Lincoln famously said, "than to speak out and remove all doubt."
One of the banes of instant Internet communication is the ease of impulsively dashing off the first, angry thought you have. The angrier you are, the logic seems to go, the more passionate - and therefore what you say must be so. Unfortunately, passion and logic are polar opposites.
And "I'm entitled to my opinion" is no defense. After all, expressing a foolish opinion (no matter how entitled you are to it) is precisely what Lincoln was talking about.
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