When I wrote about Pete Seeger earlier this week I ended on the rendition of This Land is You Land he performed with Bruce Springsteen and his grandson Tao at President Obama’s first inaugural in 2009. As I wrote, “There are many currents of what America is. For a certain one, perhaps for many, that was a transcendent moment of connection.”
Now the Times has collected together a number of musicians’ remembrances of Seeger and one of the best is from Springsteen where he recalls just this event. He also notes the role of John Hammond, a name you may never have heard but a producer, musician, activist, talent scout among many other things who is undoubtedly one of the most significant figures in 20th century American music.
We found someone who Sarah Palin can beat in 2016: Rob Ford! But not by much!
Yep, released exclusively to TPM, PPP put Sarah Palin against foreign crack addict, Mayor Rob Ford of Toronto. And here are the details here.
If de Blasio is serious about his universal pre-K promise, TPM Cafe contributor Conor P. Williams lays out exactly how he could do it — in spite of Cumo’s objections over funding.
Amanda Ripley takes on the thing that educators often struggle with in today’s excerpt from her book, The Smartest Kids In The World: How figure out if kids care about school.
Over the next three decades, more and more studies showed that when it came to predicting which kids grew up to be thriving adults—who succeeded in life and in their jobs—cognitive abilities only went so far.
Something else mattered just as much, and sometimes more, to kids’ life chances. This other dark matter had more to do with attitude than the ability to solve a calculus problem. In one study of U.S. eighth graders, for example, the best predictor of academic performance was not the children’s IQ scores—but their self-discipline.
Don’t forget, join us for a chat (sub. req.) with Ripley today at noon.
It’s not an exaggeration. Henry Waxman may be the most important member of Congress ever to have served.
Where will Pope Francis take the US Church? He’ll first show his hand in Chicago. Fascinating look at what might be ahead.
Longtime Christie insider who served with all nine of the aides now under subpoena by the state legislature tapped to lead new state ethics commission!
Mayor Rob Ford defends Justin Bieber from media criticism. Ford: “Well, you know what, he’s a young guy. At 19 years old, I wish I was as successful as he was. He’s 19 years old, guys. Think back to when you were 19.”
Giuliani says “fifty-fifty” chance Christie is lying and knew about bridge closures.
Geez, with friends like that.
From TPM Reader AF …
Don’t quote me please but…. has anyone noticed that while NY-1’s Michael Scotto seems like a nice young man his Uncle is Anthony Scotto, feared Gambino boss and the King of the NY waterfront for many years.