America's Future Foundation

Once again, tourist season is at our throats. Over the next few months, tourists will swarm Washington, D.C. and other scenic destinations worldwide. From a fashion perspective, this is a dreaded season. You know what I’m talking about. Athletic sneakers, man-sandals, flip-flops, shorts, baseball caps, enormous, ill-fitting t-shirts – all the proverbial fanny packs of [...]

 A bunch of years ago, someone introduced me to a handy little 1980s guide called “Color Me Beautiful” by Carole Jackson. It’s a guide to colors that flatter people of different skin tones, instructive for anyone who has hesitated over a purchase or wondered which shirt or tie to wear to a job interview or [...]

Theme parties and events offer an entertaining twist on the ordinary get-together. But they present a daunting challenge of “what to wear.” I have several specific theme events on my calendar for the next few months, including Mad Men Hawaiian and James Bond. (I’m going to envy those of you who have upcoming Downton Abby [...]

September 21, 2011 WORD OF THE DAY sotto voce (n) (sot-oh voh-chee) 1. in a low, soft voice so as not to be overheard 2. Italian: under (the) voice Example: Competitive democracy has also made our government more adaptable in the face of changing circumstances, and therefore more stable and durable. Authoritarian regimes such as [...]

July 29, 2011 WORD OF THE DAY amour propre (n) (a-moor-praw-pruh) 1. self-esteem; self-respect 2. French: sensitive self-love Example: So, because we are not willing to let people suffer consequences, we, acting through the government, must control increasingly large dimensions of everyone’s behavior for the sake of our own amour-propre. The healthcare dilemma is a [...]

I mean that literally, unlike Phil Collins’ song about the plight of the homeless. I spent the past few days in Anse Marcel (photo above) on the Caribbean island of St. Martin. The title of Collins’ song is a reminder of how hard it is to enjoy good fortune without reflecting on those who don’t [...]

Have you had your Orszagasm today? To be fair, it’s not just Jewish guys. Monica Lewinsky dated way out of her league. The real question is, are Jewish Democrats the only ones who can date their superiors?

As I’ve said before, I don’t listen to Rush Limbaugh or any other conservative talk-show hosts. Nothing I know about Rush & Co. has inspired any particular respect or fondness on my part. Yet I remain deeply suspicious of those who rely on criticism of Rush & Co. to advertise their own alleged commitment to [...]

As Joe noted this morning, Shepherd Fairey, the artist responsible for the “HOPE” portrait of President Obama, has admitted to tampering with and manufacturing evidence in a lawsuit related to the portrait. The Associated Press claims that Mr. Fairey owes them compensation, since the portrait was based on an AP photo of Obama. I’m curious [...]

Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards famously said “The only way I can lose is if I’m caught in bed with either a dead girl or a live boy.” Well, it looks like the mayor of Portland, Oregon has been caught with a live boy (an intern!) and he’s in trouble. And gay rights organizations are leading [...]