Washington Whispers
A Year Later, They Miss Only Falafel
It's been almost a year since Fox News Channel reporter Steve Centanni and cameraman Olaf Wiig were seized in Gaza and held for 13 days. But with the exception of fresh falafel and a big story, they aren't eager to return to the Palestinian territory. "It's really not a good time to go back," says Centanni, who was seized with Wiig August 14 and held until August 27. Besides diplomatic reporting, Centanni now works to free other reporters held captive around the globe. About the falafel, he says his captors sometimes ordered out for their prisoners. "It's hard to believe it was a year ago."
Even Cushy IMF Feels Pinched
It's not easy to cry for International Monetary Fund staffers, whose benefits-laden, six-figure jobs are some of the richest in Washington. But tough times are upon the IMF. We hear that the institution is going through a bit of belt tightening. Like: trimming travel expenditures, doling out smaller raises (but still raises), attrition, and even job outsourcing. And that's the good news. The IMF's annual budget comes from the money it makes off interest from international loans, and its lending has plummeted in recent years.
Golf Pro Mickelson Coaches Spellings
Masters champ Phil Mickelson knows there's a lot more to golf than turf and beer. It's the fancy angles and calculations involved that wow him, and he thinks those golf traits are a good way to get kids into math and science. And now even the Education Department is interested in his joint venture, the Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy, a camp that provides leadership and motivational training to grade-school teachers. We hear that Education Secretary Margaret Spellings joined Mickelson for a teacher town hall recently at the Virginia academy. The pro had Spellings demonstrate how the angle of a golf club face is really the key to sinking a putt, more important than the stroke itself. How'd she do? "Let's just say Phil didn't want to follow her act when she hit the pin on her first try," says Spellings spokeswoman Casey Ruberg.
New, Improved, and Still Unsatisfied
Some grumpy White House reporters aren't happy with their newly refurbished West Wing digs. A few hate their assigned seats, others want more space, and then there's the ban on jeans and sneakers. And now there's unease over who uses the facility after a reporter was barred from the briefing room one night because Chief of Staff Josh Bolten was using it to meet with interns. Officials tell us they will strive to keep out of the media's way, but ultimately, they say, it's their space.
Paul Bedard's blog is at www.usnews.com/whispers
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With Nikki Schwab, Linda Robinson, Dan Gilgoff, Emma Schwartz and Kenneth T. Walsh
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