Larry Houghteling writes:

What a heart-stoppingly positive note Bill Moyers sent you. (He is of course correct in all particulars). I for one doubt you ever WILL come back to Earth.

I heard Chris Lydon’s show about Izzy the other night, and I was sorry old Chris didn’t invite you to participate, though Billmon and Josh Marshall represented the blogosphere nicely. But you are the one who has taken Izzy’s example of information-gathering and -weighing most seriously,and you shoulda been there.

Tell Lydon. He knows me. We used to work together.

Bradley Laing on Awards:

”Do “the best” really influence anything? I say this because it seems as though cable news seeks O.J. Simpson trials and Chandra Levy to attract a mass audience, and those are obviously considred entertainments.

The people agreeing as to what was “best”, although prehaps not those who chose what to reward, know their day job is celebrity news circus, to fill up airtime on basic cable.

Are any of these “bests” going to prevent another Jon Benet Ramsey or Natalee Holloway “news storm”?

And, by contrast, do yo think anyone on cable news would take time *away* from another Chandra Levy-like story to *argue with* the “best”?

As in: “FOX NEws Presents: Why The Emmy winners are wrong!”

BOOK TO CHECK OUT: The Coming First World Debt Crisis by Ann Pettifor

In this book Ann Pettifor examines the issues of debt affecting the first world or OECD countries. She traces the history and roots of where the current international debt crisis comes from–economic liberalization–and the restructuring of the international financial architecture in the early 1970s. The book goes on to explore the implications of high international indebtedness for governments, corporations, households and individuals.

Tom Erickson sends this quote from the Wall Street Journal:

”As interest rates rise, America’s debt payments are starting to climb — so much so that for the first time in at least 90 years, the U.S. is paying noticeably more to its foreign creditors than it receives from its investments abroad. The gap reached $2.5 billion in the second quarter of 2006. In effect, the U.S. made a quarterly debt payment of about $22 for each American household, a turnaround from the $31 in net investment income per household it received a year earlier.

The gap is still small within the context of the $13 trillion American economy. And the trend could reverse if U.S. interest rates decline. But economists say America’s emergence as a net payer illustrates an important point: In years to come, a growing share of whatever prosperity the nation achieves probably will be sent abroad in the form of debt-service payments.

That means Americans will have to work harder to maintain the same living standards — or cut back sharply to pay down the debt.”

Frank Meagher writes from Paris:

” Danny, just jumped over to read the “IDWT” review…..suprise ad right in the middle of the article from The Lending Tree, “when banks compete, you win. Refinance $200k for $917/month. Start Now. Bad Credit OK” now that’s funny!

Frame the response from Bill Moyers and put it on your desk. When you wonder why you continue to blog, read it!!

Thanks to all who write and read the blog. Thanks to D.J. for making the Mediachannel better and worthy of your support.

Commments to: Dissector@Mediachannel.