Month: October 2011

Athenae, So Called Liberal Media5 Comments

Kids Today Like Their Print

If it’s THEIR print, that is: Students have returned to college campuses armed with laptops, smart phones and countless other electronic gadgets. Yet most still turn to a print newspaper for their campus news. The printed versions of college newspapers continue to thrive, with students grabbing copies as they go from one class to another. It’s not unusual to see students reading about the latest campus news while eating a quick lunch or taking a break on the lawn. It’s far less likely that the wired generation, raised with iPods and smart phones, is checking out the news on the … Continue reading Kids Today Like Their Print

Adrastos, Music2 Comments

Boo from Crowded House

Peter Adrastos Athas

I saw the above image on Facebook via progressives that kick conservative assand decided to not be a Halloweenie and share it with y’all. I’m having my annual autumnal cold and having to work through it so my Halloween spirit is de minimus. All I got is my annual posting ofSister Madlyfrom the <ahem> “farewell to the world” show at the Sidney Opera House in 1996: Continue reading Boo from Crowded House

Athenae, Stupid Republican Tricks13 Comments

This is Going to be Awful

For the women, of course.Not Cain: During Herman Cain’s tenure as the head of the National Restaurant Association in the 1990s, at least two female employees complained to colleagues and senior association officials about inappropriate behavior by Cain, ultimately leaving their jobs at the trade group, multiple sources confirm to POLITICO. The women complained of sexually suggestive behavior by Cain that made them angry and uncomfortable, the sources said, and they signed agreements with the restaurant group that gave them financial payouts to leave the association. The agreements also included language that bars the women from talking about their departures. … Continue reading This is Going to be Awful

Athenae, Big Damn Heroes, Economy23 Comments

‘Teaching 3rd Graders and Doing Landscaping’

That sort of thing is apparently beneath our Galtian overlords: Someone in the Chicago Board of Trade dropped leaflets on top of “Occupy Chicago” protesters Wednesday afternoon as they rallied alongside unions in the city’s financial district. “We are Wall Street,” theleaflet said. “It is our job to make money.” “Go ahead and continue to take us down, but you’re only going to hurt yourselves,” it continued. “What’s going to happen when we can’t find jobs on the Street anymore? Guess what: We’re going to take yours.” “Do you really think we are incapable of teaching 3rd graders and doing … Continue reading ‘Teaching 3rd Graders and Doing Landscaping’

Doc, Sports8 Comments

Seasons in Hell

After the Cardinals tied it for a second straight inning last night, I went to bed. I didn’t need to know what I already knew: There would be a seventh game. I didn’t need to see Ron Washington standing on the steps of the dugout, imploring Cardinal hitters to do something stupid and hand him the World Series. I didn’t want to see the requisite camera shots of Tony LaRussa looking like he knew he’d win. Baseball’s version of Benjamin Button is annoying enough in the regular season, let alone the playoffs, where he always seems to have this misplaced … Continue reading Seasons in Hell

Adrastos, Food and Drink, Music6 Comments

Rock On, Wino

Peter Adrastos Athas

Marketing is everything these days. I recall when rockers were disdainful of lending their names to various products. That has changed. I guess we can blame Gene fucking Simmons for that: Kiss pioneered “extending its brand” by sticking its imagery on almost anything you could imagine. I was interested to learn, however, that the ultimate first generation hippie band, the Grateful Dead, haslicensed its name andSteal Your Face logo to a winery.I’m less surprised to see Rolling Stones and Police related brands. When you open the latter, the voice of Sting tells you how great it is. The Dead wine … Continue reading Rock On, Wino

Athenae, Big Damn Heroes, Faith3 Comments

Fuck Yeah, Church of England!

How often do I say that around here? The canon chancellor of St Paul’s Cathedral, the Rev Dr Giles Fraser, has resigned in protest at plans to forcibly remove protesters from its steps, saying he could not support the possibility of “violence in the name of the church”. Speculation grew in the last 24 hours that Fraser, a leading leftwing voice in the Church of England, would resign because he could not sanction the use of police or bailiffs against the hundreds of activists who have set up camp in the grounds of the cathedral in the past fortnight. Just … Continue reading Fuck Yeah, Church of England!

Adrastos, Political Crack, Stupid Republican Tricks4 Comments

Leave me out of it, Mitt

Peter Adrastos Athas

Mitt Romney was running an almost error free campaign until recently. His status as the unloved frontrunner seems to have made the usually unflappable Romney irritable. Usually the Mittster can pander and flip flop with the best of them but he’s run into trouble over his handling of theOhio anti-union issue. He was for it before he was neutral and now he’s for it again. Gov. Kasich is annoyed with him and the teabaggers are pissed. You know it’s bad when the previously hapless Gov Package Check scores some points. My favorite recent Mitt Haircut moment, however, came with the … Continue reading Leave me out of it, Mitt

Adrastos, Current Affairs, Diary, Economy6 Comments

As Oakland goes?

Peter Adrastos Athas

Oakland is a city with an inferiority complex: it has been in the shadow of San Francisco forever and is now outshined by San Jose, of all places. I say that because San Jose was a smallish semi-rural town when I was growing up. That was, of course, before the tech boom. Oakland remains best known for Gertrude Stein’s wisecrack: “there is no there, there.” Oakland finds itself in the spotlight because of its handling of the #occupy protests: Police and protesters scuffled in the streets of Oakland on Tuesday as more than 1,000 people marched on city hall to … Continue reading As Oakland goes?

Athenae, Big Damn Heroes, Economy, So Called Liberal Media1 Comment

‘Misdemeanor Illegal Lodging’

Riot cops were apparently needed to combat the evil sin of camping: Interim Oakland Police Chief Howard Jordan said at a news conference later in the morning that hundreds of officers and sheriff’s deputies from more than 12 agencies moved in on about 170 protesters. He said police fired beanbag rounds and tear gas, but no one was injured. Television news footage showed protesters being taken away in plastic cuffs without incident, although an officer did fire a non-lethal projectile from a shotgun at a protester who lobbed a bottle, authorities told the San Francisco Chronicle. One of those arrested, … Continue reading ‘Misdemeanor Illegal Lodging’

Television, VirgoTex8 Comments

I guess Nancy Grace is more what they have in mind

This. Times a thousand. Yes, it’s just a stupid tv show and I get that there are traditional aspects to the art form but over and over, week after week, this is about some invisible rigid construct of “pretty” and “feminine” and “sexiness,” one single recognized standard for the “natural sexiness” of a woman. “I think it came out in moments …you had glimpses of this beautiful, vulnerable girl.” Fuck that shit. Continue reading I guess Nancy Grace is more what they have in mind

Athenae, Law/Justice, On Wisconsin3 Comments

The Fuck You Doctrine Continues

Jude sentthis over: The Wisconsin state Senate has passed a Republican-backed bill that would allow people suing the state or a state employee to pick where the case would be heard. Current law requires all cases against the state, as well as their appeals, to be heard in Dane County unless specifically authorized by law to be somewhere else. Republicans have long argued that judges in Dane County are too liberal. Not sure how the judiciary in other parts of the state should take the notion that they are automatically Republican Party hacks. This reminds me of nothing so much … Continue reading The Fuck You Doctrine Continues

Athenae, Stupid Republican Tricks7 Comments

Why They’re So Frustrating

I think these two posts illustrate why I’m having such a hard time giving a shit about the Republican primary. First: Never mind that Presidents don’t sign constitutional amendments, let’s just remember that Herman is no longersquishy on this issue. Herman also came out for an amendment defending marriage from the gays, and he swore to use the bully pulpit on social issues. Second: Willard Romney doesn’t seem to have Darth Cheney’s delight in other peoples’ suffering, if only because he doesn’t pay that much attention to other people. But true north on Romney’s moral compass is“What’s best for Mitt … Continue reading Why They’re So Frustrating

Athenae11 Comments

There’s a Dance You Haven’t Seen Before, Bob, Wanna Shoot It?

Police pepper-spray Polynesian dancers: The police action came after a pair of officers unsuccessfully attempted to disperse the dozen or so performers who were blocking an exit after the Union-Uintah game on Thursday night (local time), the Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune reported. The group in Roosevelt, a town of 8000, had travelled more than 150 kilometres east from the Salt Lake City area to watch a relative play his final game for Union, which lost to rival Uintah and finished the season without a victory. The group reportedly was trying to boost Union’s morale with the haka as … Continue reading There’s a Dance You Haven’t Seen Before, Bob, Wanna Shoot It?

Athenae, So Called Liberal Media5 Comments

Everybody Work Harder!

Management to the drones: Unfortunately, in spite of these and many other great accomplishments, our financial performance is not where we need it to be. Through the first nine months of 2011, our revenues are off plan by 3%, largely driven by the national advertising category which is off almost 30% year-over-year. Operating cash flow is behind plan by 24%. In the face of continuing challenges to our industry, we need to continue to work together. We need to sustain our print businesses while we find new digital sources of revenue. We need to innovate and optimize our resources. And … Continue reading Everybody Work Harder!

Adrastos, Political Crack, Sports, Television3 Comments

Odds & Sods

Peter Adrastos Athas

It’s time for a new feature here at First Draft. It’s my busy season so I’ll have less time for long posts. (Of course, every time I say something like that I post a long un.) So, I’ll be posting quick items under this rubric from time to time. I also like using the cool elpee cover with the Who in football helmets. Rock on, readers. –> The Gret Stetwide election was a snoozer but David Vitter was a loser. The two statewide candidates he endorsed-Billy (300 pounds of shit in a 200 pound bag) Nungesser and Jim Tucker-lost their … Continue reading Odds & Sods

Athenae, Big Damn Heroes4 Comments

Charming

Occupy Maine folks get a present: PORTLAND — Portland police are looking for the person who threw a chemical bomb at the Occupy Maine encampment in Portland during the early morning hours today. Sgt. Glen McGary said police responded around 4 a.m. today to an explosion in Lincoln Park at Congress and Pearl streets. Though no one was injured, McGary said the homemade bomb, which consisted of chemicals poured into a plastic Gatorade container could have caused serious injury. A. Continue reading Charming