Dr. A and I saw Ridley Scott’s Prometheus last weekend. We thought it was keen, groovy and swell. The film did, however, deploy one troublesome sci-fi cliche: it had a bald alien. Why are all aliens bald? Is there anti-hair bacteria floating around out there or are they all Michael Jordan fans? I firmly believe that there are hairy aliens. Just look at Mitt Romney who is clearly from the planet Weirdo… Continue reading Pulp Fiction Thursday: Bald Aliens
Remember this, because it’s maybe the most important thing you can know to know what the world is really like: We protect our own. Any family, any organization, any group of people you can make out of any combination of anybody anywhere, is our own. We draw circles and we work inside them, and it’s not always for nefarious reasons. We do this because the world’s too big. We have to bite it off in chunks, to make any impact at all. We pick what’s ours and we do our best with it. But when you entrench like that, when … Continue reading Humane
It’s been 90-100 in Chicago all week with no sign of letting up anytime soon. My plan is to go to the movies as much as possible, with long periods of sitting on the back porch aggressively not moving. What do you do to beat the heat? A. Continue reading Weekend Question Thread
Would that financial fuckwittery and generally the waste of resources in newsrooms (not to mention the EXTRA SPECIAL bonus of being sure to pit younger, less experienced reporters against older ones who resent them, so that everybody’s mad at each other instead of at the company) got a fraction of the media crit attention that CNN’s stupid Tweet misfire got. But hey, let’s talk some more about Twitter! That’ll be GREAT. A. Continue reading If Only CNN’s Shitty Tweets Were The Problem With Journalism
I’m pleased to be right about the decision but surprised that Kennedy wasn’t a swinger today. I was also tickled that Wolf and CNN not only dropped the ball but made lame excuses about why they did it. Y’all were in a hurry to be the first and that’s the reason, which ain’t no disgrace at all. Finally, deferring to the legislative branch makes this a conservative decision in the best sense of the word. Roberts has joined the loony radical right wing of the Court more than a few times but this time he voted like a true conservative. … Continue reading Instant analysis
Claire’s smallness. Let us show you it: A. Continue reading Friday Ferretblogging
Anyone shocked that it’s hot in New Orleans this week? I thought not. It’s been hot even for us and Della Street decided the other day that she didn’t want to waste any energy walking to the water bowl so she hung out next to it: Continue reading Friday Catblogging: Summer in the city
Would thatfinancial fuckwittery and generally the waste of resources in newsrooms (not to mention the EXTRA SPECIAL bonus of being sure to pit younger, less experienced reporters against older ones who resent them, so that everybody’s mad at each other instead of at the company) got a fraction of the media crit attention that CNN’s stupid Tweet misfire got. But hey, let’s talk some more about Twitter! That’ll be GREAT. A. Continue reading If Only CNN’s Shitty Tweets Were The Problem With Journalism
Anyone shocked that it’s hot in New Orleans this week? I thought not. It’s been hot even for us and Della Street decided the other day that she didn’t want to waste any energy walking to the water bowl so she hung out next to it: Continue reading Friday Catblogging: Summer in the city
On the road, conducting a rummage sale. We hope, as always, that we “make table.” Next week, I’m back. Until then, curse about something for me. Doc Continue reading Rummage Day
On the road, conducting a rummage sale. We hope, as always, that we “make table.” Next week, I’m back. Until then, curse about something for me. Doc Continue reading Rummage Day
Claire’s smallness. Let us show you it: A. Continue reading Friday Ferretblogging
Apparently the court saw the individual mandate as a tax, which made it Constitutional. Unless you’re a teawad, in which case all taxes are theft and this is no more valid than any other tax. I’ll bring the ammo to the bunker if you bring the Cheetos. Roberts voted with the liberals to make it a 5-4 decision. This will ensure that young people can remain on their parents’ insurance longer, that people can no longer be kicked off their insurance the moment they get sick, and that millions more people will have access to health insurance. Which is better … Continue reading ACA Upheld
Girls. If you think this is funny or cute for WHATEVER reason in your relationship, please break up right now. And I say that as somebody whose spouse got a tattoo of their wedding date on his ring finger. (Which was not my idea [much less my command]. I found it sweet, if a little bit fate-tempting, like isn’t this like painting on a target for the universe? That’s how this kind of stuff happens, you get your lover’s name inked on you and immediately, as if that caused it, she’s banging the fellow who does the landscaping.) (Nevertheless, it … Continue reading Branding the Damage On
I may not be much of a lawyer nowadays but I’ve been amused by all the folks who are *absolutely* certain that the Supremes will throw out the Health Care law. It’s all based on tough questions asked at the oral argument. One thing I learned from my Con Law profs is that appellate cases are won with written briefs and that oral arguments are for show. Yeah, the raving monster loony justices were mean to the solicitor general but that doesn’t mean the law will be struck down. What we’ll learn from tomorrow’s decision is whether or not Chief … Continue reading Deep Supreme Court Thought
From Album4 So it’s D-Day and not quite minus two hours to go…yesterday I saw this article by Sean Trende. He mentioned something I commented on here a couple of days ago — Scalia’s tantrum/dissent in the Arizona immigration law case was particularly childish/churlish — but then noted Tony has a history of writing petulant dissents if an important case doesn’t go his way. So perhaps there’s some modest hope. Trende is also pretty sure Roberts is writing the decision, hence this post’s title…and optional soundtrack. Guess we’ll see in just a bit. Continue reading Dr. Robert-s
I’m pleased to be right about the decision but surprised that Kennedy wasn’t a swinger today. I was also tickled that Wolf and CNN not only dropped the ball but made lame excuses about why they did it. Y’all were in a hurry to be the first and that’s the reason, which ain’t no disgrace at all. Finally, deferring to the legislative branch makes this a conservative decision in the best sense of the word. Roberts has joined the loony radical right wing of the Court more than a few times but this time he voted like a true conservative. … Continue reading Instant analysis
Apparently the court saw the individual mandate as a tax, which made it Constitutional. Unless you’re a teawad, in which case all taxes are theft and this is no more valid than any other tax. I’ll bring the ammo to the bunker if you bring the Cheetos. Roberts voted with the liberals to make it a 5-4 decision. This will ensure that young people can remain on their parents’ insurance longer, that people can no longer be kicked off their insurance the moment they get sick, and that millions more people will have access to health insurance. Which is better … Continue reading ACA Upheld
Dr. A and I saw Ridley Scott’s Prometheus last weekend. We thought it was keen, groovy and swell. The film did, however, deploy one troublesome sci-fi cliche: it had a bald alien. Why are all aliens bald? Is there anti-hair bacteria floating around out there or are they all Michael Jordan fans? I firmly believe that there are hairy aliens. Just look at Mitt Romney who is clearly from the planet Weirdo… Continue reading Pulp Fiction Thursday: Bald Aliens
FromAlbum4 So it’s D-Day and not quite minus two hours to go…yesterdayI saw this article by Sean Trende. He mentioned something I commented on here a couple of days ago — Scalia’s tantrum/dissent in the Arizona immigration law case was particularly childish/churlish — but then noted Tony has a history of writing petulant dissents if an important case doesn’t go his way. So perhaps there’s some modest hope. Trende is also pretty sure Roberts is writing the decision, hence this post’s title…andoptional soundtrack. Guess we’ll see in just a bit. Continue reading Dr. Robert-s
I may not be much of a lawyer nowadays but I’ve been amused by all the folks who are *absolutely* certain that the Supremes will throw out the Health Care law. It’s all based on tough questions asked at the oral argument. One thing I learned from my Con Law profs is that appellate cases are won with written briefs and that oral arguments are for show. Yeah, the raving monster loony justices were mean to the solicitor general but that doesn’t mean the law will be struck down. What we’ll learn from tomorrow’s decision is whether or not Chief … Continue reading Deep Supreme Court Thought
Girls. If you think this is funny or cute for WHATEVER reason in your relationship, please break up right now. And I say that as somebody whose spouse got a tattoo of their wedding date on his ring finger. (Which was not my idea [much less my command]. I found it sweet, if a little bit fate-tempting, like isn’t this like painting on a target for the universe? That’s how this kind of stuff happens, you get your lover’s name inked on you and immediately, as if that caused it, she’s banging the fellow who does the landscaping.) (Nevertheless, it … Continue reading Branding the Damage On
This will so totally work, you guys: Claire McCaskill will not be attending the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, a McCaskill aide confirmed to TPM Tuesday. McCaskill joins a list of vulnerable Democratic politicians whose home districts are hostile ground for President Obama and who will be steering clear of the convention. This always works. It’s always totally effective for a Democrat to run against other Democrats. I mean, we know it completely impresses the Sunday shows, and that’s who’s really voting anyway! It makes you look all mavericky and complecticated, and it absolutely insulates you from criticism that you’re … Continue reading Oh For Fuck’s Sake, Own It Already
E-readers. Kindle, Nook, iPad, etc. Have one, want one, like them, don’t? A. Continue reading Weekend Question Thread
Writer, director and second generation humorist Nora Ephron has died at the age of 71. Her bookHeartburn is one of the funniest things I’ve ever read although her ex-husband Carl Bernstein, who is skewered therein, may beg to differ. Her film career ended on a high note in 2009 withJulie & Julia and who among us didn’t howl, guffaw and cackle during When Harry Met Sally? Writing comedy is serious business and Nora Ephron was one of the best. She’ll be missed. Here’s a swell tribute to Nora by Lawrence O’Donnell: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640 Visit msnbc.com forbreaking news, world news, andnews about … Continue reading Nora Ephron, R.I.P.
Writer, director and second generation humorist Nora Ephron has died at the age of 71. Her book Heartburn is one of the funniest things I’ve ever read although her ex-husband Carl Bernstein, who is skewered therein, may beg to differ. Her film career ended on a high note in 2009 with Julie & Julia and who among us didn’t howl, guffaw and cackle during When Harry Met Sally? Writing comedy is serious business and Nora Ephron was one of the best. She’ll be missed. Here’s a swell tribute to Nora by Lawrence O’Donnell: Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, … Continue reading Nora Ephron, R.I.P.
This will so totally work, you guys: Claire McCaskill will not be attending the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, a McCaskill aide confirmed to TPM Tuesday. McCaskill joins a list of vulnerable Democratic politicians whose home districts are hostile ground for President Obama and who will be steering clear of the convention. This always works. It’s always totally effective for a Democrat to run against other Democrats. I mean, we know it completely impresses the Sunday shows, and that’s who’s really voting anyway! It makes you look all mavericky and complecticated, and it absolutely insulates you from criticism that you’re … Continue reading Oh For Fuck’s Sake, Own It Already
Oh fer fuck’s sake. I’ve tried twice to post over here today and both times my post got eated. Once it was a really lovely piece about the SCOTUS health care ruling and it just *poof* went away. I’m not even going to bother anymore. Here’s a video from last night’s Colbert Report, wherein he mocks Indiana Republican Senate candidate Richard Mourdock, who pre-taped his different responses to the SCOTUS health care decision and then accidentally published them on YouTube last week. Woopsies. Needless to say, Mourdock’s pre-taped responses, absent anything factual like, y’know, why SCOTUS would have ruled the … Continue reading The Many Moods Of Richard Mourdock
So everybody’s been piling on this guy, who richly deserves it: “I see a reporter here,” he said. “I just pray that you start writing about these issues. I just pray. Stop always writing about, ‘Oh, the person couldn’t get, you know, their food stamps or this or that.’ You know, I saw something the other day — it’s like, another sob story, and I’m like, ‘But what about what’s happening to the country and the country as a whole?’ That’s going to devastate everybody.” And I want to talk about this a little bit because it’s not just that … Continue reading The Country as a Whole
Oh fer fuck’s sake. I’ve tried twice to post over here today and both times my post got eated. Once it was a really lovely piece about the SCOTUS health care ruling and it just *poof* went away. I’m not even going to bother anymore. Here’s a video from last night’s Colbert Report, wherein he mocks Indiana Republican Senate candidate Richard Mourdock, who pre-taped his different responses to the SCOTUS health care decision and then accidentally published them on YouTube last week. Woopsies. Needless to say, Mourdock’s pre-taped responses, absent anything factual like, y’know, why SCOTUS would have ruled the … Continue reading The Many Moods Of Richard Mourdock