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I’m on a panel at the Union League Club this morning, and I need to get there right away, so there won’t be any blogging until later this morning. There doesn’t appear to be a whole lot happening right now anyway, but use this as an open thread on the day’s news until I return.

Oh, and try to be nice.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Dec 5, 06 @ 7:13 am

Comments

Here we go!

Oscar-winning US actress Gwyneth Paltrow feels dinner talk is far more interesting in her adopted homeland Britain than back in her native country.
“I love the English lifestyle, it’s not as capitalistic as America. People don’t talk about work and money, they talk about interesting things at dinner,” she told “NS,” the weekend magazine supplement of daily Portuguese newspaper Diario de Noticias on Saturday.

“I like living here because I don’t fit into the bad side of American psychology. The British are much more intelligent and civilized than the Americans,” the 34-year-old added.

Paltrow, who won a best actress Oscar for 1998’s “Shakespeare in Love,” lives in London with British band Coldplay’s frontman Chris Martin whom she wed in 2003.

She said having US pop star Madonna, 48, who married British film director Guy Ritchie six years ago, nearby was another advantage to living in London.

“She’s like an older sister. Everything I have gone through, she went through ten times worse and ten times longer. She gives me good advice about how to say no and take care of myself,” said Paltrow.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Dec 5, 06 @ 9:51 am
Now, granted, Gwyneth is only 34, famous and spoiled, being quoted by a Portugese newspaper suppliment writer.

By having lived and gone to school in Germany and spent a lot of time in the Netherlands, France and Great Britain, I can attest that money and job conversations don’t come up often among my non-American friends.

This is because they have been raised in a culture that do not value capitalism, individualism, or business sense. Literally, these people have gotten to the point where they believe there is some government out there whose job it is to keep the country operating. They have become infantized by socialism, in my opinion.

Whatever - what do you guys think? Let’s not throw rocks at Paltrow, lets use this as an interesting topic to discuss - OK?

Thanks!
VM

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Dec 5, 06 @ 10:02 am
I’m reading this blog called The Fix the old news is that Gov. Vilsack from Iowa is running for president. I read this post that tears him to shreds though.

Comment by Levois Tuesday, Dec 5, 06 @ 10:28 am
I disagree with Gwyneth Paltrow’s assertion that the British are more intelligent than Americans. Chris Martin has gotten to her.

I believe she has a point regarding conversations at American social gatherings. They revolve too much around work and money at the expense of getting a glimpse at what really makes someone tick. After working all day I don’t want talk of work to consume my free time, too. I’ve been to parties where the talk devolves into a game of one-upmanship about one’s income or real estate holdings.

Comment by Tom Tuesday, Dec 5, 06 @ 10:55 am
I have found socially that people are talking more about time - lack of it, not enough of it and their overcommitted life - taking time out for dinner is even difficult - people don’t have dinner parties or dinner with friends as much because little johnny has to get to tryouts and they have to pick up little susie from her indoor soccer and they have no time to stop - this is what also troubles me about people e-mailing and texting and cell phone while driving to stay in touch - slow down ! take time! chat! make dinner plans! be social with people not with your cell/email. I think we are too accustomed to short sweet messages on email and phones and we are losing our ability to find small talk at dinner…

Comment by annoyed all the time Tuesday, Dec 5, 06 @ 11:04 am
Given the general size of the United States, and its vastly diverse culture from state to state and rural to urban, it strikes me as intellectually dishonest for Paltrow to identify what Americans talk about at social gatherings. Dollars to donuts she is only attending gatherings of the wealthy 1% of the US. Have her come to a neighborhood block party sometime. That said anytime somone toughts(sp) having intellectual discussions this tends to send off my alarm bells as more self agrandizing. There is no need to identify that your prefer talking to a certain group of people over another by reference to the intellectual nature of the conversation. But at social gatherings I like to rant and rave about the world, government, and discuss our culture, and I have yet to see Miss P stop by for a chat she is welcome anytime.

Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Dec 5, 06 @ 11:32 am
Does the Union League Club waive their dress code requirements for panelists?

Comment by 312 Tuesday, Dec 5, 06 @ 11:33 am
KOS:If Obama runs, he wins

Comment by Snark Tuesday, Dec 5, 06 @ 12:32 pm
I send my condolences to the family of Margaret Mell.

I hope that Governor Rod Blagojevich and Alderman Richard Mell can patch up there differences and both put their interests aside for their daughter and wife; Patti Blagojevich and kids.

Comment by One_Mcmad Tuesday, Dec 5, 06 @ 12:48 pm
Why was Ald. Cardenas meeting with Victor Reyes, Al Sanchez, and Tony Munoz (all of which are being investigated by the Feds) at a Southwest restaurant over the weekend? Not too wise on Cardenas’ behalf…What’s he thinking?!?!

Comment by the assassin opus dei monk Tuesday, Dec 5, 06 @ 1:10 pm
What a surprise that goofball Pincham was on the appellate panel that let off quadruple-murderer Ealy.

Comment by Not So Fast Tuesday, Dec 5, 06 @ 1:16 pm
Gwynneth has never been to a English Soccer Match. I will say this, British culture turned Madonna from a who-er to mother of the century in a few years.

Comment by Wumpus Tuesday, Dec 5, 06 @ 2:12 pm
Ryne Sandberg named Peoria Chiefs manager

Comment by Robbie Tuesday, Dec 5, 06 @ 2:59 pm
“The British are much more intelligent and civilized than the Americans…”

Send some over here, then. Just read the Tribune bit about a university professor assaulting a colleague.

Comment by Angie Tuesday, Dec 5, 06 @ 5:23 pm