Another Wednesday; another session with the Wednesday Curator!

Here’s a piece from The Daily Intelligencer at New York magazine (May 30), written by Jonathan Chait, titled Why Do Republicans Always Say “I’m not a Scientist”? Mr. Chait is always perceptive and worth reading.

Patrick Smith, writing for Salon on May 26, nails phony patriotism in American Exceptionalism is a Dangerous Myth. When I read pieces like this one (and Mr. Chait’s), I can’t help but recall Michael Douglas as President Andrew Shepherd in An American President, wrapping up an impromptu and angry talk with these words:  “This is a time for serious people, Bob, and your fifteen minutes are up.”

Is the World Losing Faith in Barack Obama? by Peter Beinart (another great writer) in The Atlantic on May 30, takes good care of former Vice President Dick Cheney, Karl Rove, Sean Hannity, and other hand-wringers, who are worried about how the rest of the world perceives America. Forgive me all to h*ll, please, but I thought these people didn’t care about what others think about the most exceptional, totally perfect nation/institution/creation ever!!!

Enough!!! Here’s a great, great interview on National Public Radio (June 2) with Jordan Ellenberg, the Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor of Mathematics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, about his new book, How Not to Be Wrong:  The Power of Mathematical Thinking. Another must-read for my list!

Finally, I googled food essays, as I did not have any links to anything concerning my favorite subject. First up, from The Electric Typewriter, is 35 Great Articles and Essays About Food. Great pieces here by the likes of the late, great David Foster Wallace (Consider the Lobster), Malcolm Gladwell (The Ketchup Conundrum), John McPhee (The Conching Room and Oranges), and, of course, Calvin Trillin (By Meat Alone and more). Enjoy!