* Former cabinet secretaries and memoirs are about as predictable as politicians and their disdain for “special interests.” But whether it’s Hillary Clinton, (former Secretary of Defense) Robert Gates or, most recently, former SOD Leon Panetta, couldn’t they at least wait until the president they were serving is out of office?
How about showing some class even if the kissing-and-telling parts won’t be so newsworthy a few years later. Even if, in the case of Panetta’s Worthy Fights, he has to restrain himself a little longer before calling out President Obama over the handling of Syria and the consequent “blow to American credibility.”
* Ben Affleck was superb in Argo. As a director, as an actor. He was awful the other night on “Real Time with Bill Maher.” As a guest, as an ad hoc spokesman for Islam.
The subject became Islam and Islamophobia. Affleck got into it with Maher and his guest, author Sam Harris. That both Maher and Harris are atheists obviously mattered to Affleck.
There are more appropriate forums for the discussion of substantive, uber sensitive subjects than an HBO exercise in comedy, commentary and F-bombast. Having said that, Affleck played the role of Hollywood elite forced to go on the offense against gross stereotyping and intolerance. If only Maher and Harris were bigots.
Affleck came across as smug, rude and insufferable. His body language was pitch-perfect last call at the local pub.
* I can’t imagine anything more perverse for journalists than having to reference ISIS’s newly released, non-negotiable media rules for those “who wish to continue working in the governorate.” As if.
There are 11 such rules, but I can’t envision any “infidel” reading beyond No. 1: “Correspondents must swear allegiance to the Caliph (Abu Bakr) al-Baghdadi. They are subjects of the Islamic State and, as subjects, they are obliged to swear loyalty to their imam.” Swearing, yes, but not loyalty to an imam.
The rules, however, are also horrifically moot once journalists have been beheaded.
* The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ballot for 2015 is now out and it includes the eclectic likes of Lou Reed, the Spinners, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. But once again, no Chubby Checker. How does this keep happening–or does ill will remain from back in the day when Chubby covered Hank Ballard on “The Twist”?
Regardless, Chubby’s an icon–and “Let’s Twist Again” was the first rock song to win a Grammy.
It’s inexplicable that Chubby Checker is still not in the R&R Hall, but N.W.A. and Nine-Inch Nails are on the upcoming ballot.
* As we know, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella made headlines recently for all the wrong reasons. The native of Hyderabad, India seemed, at best, insensitive to the flashpoint workplace issue of equal pay-equal work-equal opportunity. His candid advice for career-oriented women: Better to trust the system “as you go along,” rather than actually ask for a raise. In short, wait for “karma” to kick in.
Nadella later tried walking it back with a damage-control apology.
It was all beyond ironic.
First, it came during an event celebrating women in computing. Go figure. Second, his name “Satya” actually means “truth” in Sanskrit. He meant what he “misspoke.”
* Since retiring last month, Derek Jeter has sparked speculation about the next chapter of his life. Might he buy into a MLB franchise? Maybe expand his Turn 2 Foundation that motivates young people to pursue a healthy lifestyle and academic excellence?
As it turns out, he’s behind a new website devoted to delivering athletes’ “unfiltered” views to their fans. The Players Tribune, at www.theplayerstribune.com, is being billed as a digital company offering unique access to top athletes–from videos to podcasts–without having to go through reporters. Jeter says it will “bring fans closer to the games they love.”
If I’m a player, I’m thinking: “Cool. Nobody edits me but me.” If I’m a rabid fan, I’m thinking: “Cool. My direct, sports-idol connection.” If I’m anybody else, I’m thinking: “He’s Derek Jeter, couldn’t he do something more important?”