Month: April 2013

Athenae, Do Something, Nature is Scary14 Comments

Roll the Flood Back: First Draft Kitty Week!

So last week was the worst week ever, and in addition to the bombings in Boston, the ricin, the gun control fail, the West, Texas explosion, the manhunt and its conclusion, and various politicians’ using their pieholes to talk, the Chicago suburbs flooded. As in, six feet of water in people’s basements, parts of EXPRESSWAYS closed, stranded/drowned cars in sinkholes, etc. Among the flooding victims wasFeral Fixers, a cat shelter and spay-neuter-release program in Lombard. Their cats are all safe, butthis shelter lost everything: Let’s do this and get out of this miserable slump. Let’s raise some money for the … Continue reading Roll the Flood Back: First Draft Kitty Week!

Adrastos, Big Damn Heroes, Law/Justice, Political Crack, Stupid Republican Tricks, Terrorism2 Comments

Blessed Relief

Peter Adrastos Athas

I was working for a friend this week and wasn’t able to blog as much as usual; the first instance of blessed relief for y’all. I followed yesterday’s events via live blog on the Guardian, which spared me the teevee hype although NBC did a good job last night. And Pete Williams rocked the media universe all week long with his calm and factual reporting. I was struck by the way President Obama and Gov. Patrick approached the crisis in contrast to W and his minions with their fear mongering and colorful alarm charts and shit. No drama Obama and … Continue reading Blessed Relief

Stupid Republican Tricks, Tommy T4 Comments

Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – Appalachian trail update edition

Morning, good people! This is going to be a short one – trying to heal up enough to enjoy vacation for the next couple of weeks. First up –take a hike! Republicans pull plug on Mark Sanford Politico ^ | April 17th, 2013 | Alex Isenstadt Posted on Wednesday, April 17, 2013 2:02:44 PM byKantianBurke National Republicans are pulling the plug on Mark Sanford’s suddenly besieged congressional campaign, POLITICO has learned — a potentially fatal blow to the former South Carolina governor’s dramatic comeback bid. Blindsided by news that Sanford’s ex-wife has accused him of trespassing and concluding he has … Continue reading Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – Appalachian trail update edition

Adrastos, Big Damn Heroes, Law/Justice, Political Crack, Stupid Republican Tricks, Terrorism2 Comments

Blessed Relief

I was working for a friend this week and wasn’t able to blog as much as usual; the first instance of blessed relief for y’all. I followed yesterday’s events via live blog on the Guardian, which spared me the teevee hype although NBC did a good job last night. And Pete Williams rocked the media universe all week long with his calm and factual reporting. I was struck by the way President Obama and Gov. Patrick approached the crisis in contrast to W and his minions with their fear mongering and colorful alarm charts and shit. No drama Obama and … Continue reading Blessed Relief

Current Affairs, Do Something, Doc, Economy3 Comments

Winter comes for us all

docphd

George Carlin was fond of saying that the poor are there to scare the shit out of the middle class in this country. It was something that made them keep showing up at those jobs of theirs. However, I don’t think that’s the truth anymore. We’re already scared. We just don’t want to admit it. I caught the movie “American Winter”last night, a story of eight families living on the razor’s edge of poverty every day. The issues that landed them on that edge ranged from the death of a spouse to the loss of a job. Regardless of how … Continue reading Winter comes for us all

Current Affairs, Do Something, Doc, Economy3 Comments

Winter comes for us all

George Carlin was fond of saying that the poor are there to scare the shit out of the middle class in this country. It was something that made them keep showing up at those jobs of theirs. However, I don’t think that’s the truth anymore. We’re already scared. We just don’t want to admit it. I caught the movie“American Winter”last night, a story of eight families living on the razor’s edge of poverty every day. The issues that landed them on that edge ranged from the death of a spouse to the loss of a job. Regardless of how they … Continue reading Winter comes for us all

Uncategorized2 Comments

Boston Latest

Allison Hantschel

Globe: A massive manhunt is underway this morning in Boston and several surrounding communities for one of the suspects in the Boston Marathon terror bombing attacks. A second suspect has died in a confrontation with police, while one police officer has been killed and another has been seriously wounded. Pierce on Chechen nationalism: Just from my limited review this morning, it would appear to be something of a mistake to lump the indigienous Chechnyan fighters in the general category of “Islamic terrorists,” although that seems to be where the mass media is headed, alas. (Jake Tapper just compared these two … Continue reading Boston Latest

Uncategorized2 Comments

Boston Latest

Globe: A massive manhunt is underway this morning in Boston and several surrounding communities for one of the suspects in the Boston Marathon terror bombing attacks. A second suspect has died in a confrontation with police, while one police officer has been killed and another has been seriously wounded. Pierce on Chechen nationalism: Just from my limited review this morning, it would appear to be something of a mistake to lump the indigienous Chechnyan fighters in the general category of “Islamic terrorists,” although that seems to be where the mass media is headed, alas. (Jake Tapper just compared these two … Continue reading Boston Latest

Athenae, Fuck The Mommy Wars1 Comment

Why The Mommy Wars are Bullshit

Allison Hantschel

Until we fix this, it’s pointless for women to keep shaming each other over who works and who doesn’t, because these are barely choices at all: A 2007 survey by the National Institute of Child Health Development deemed the majority of operations to be “fair” or “poor”—only 10 percent provided high-quality care. Experts recommend a ratio of one caregiver for every three infants between six and 18 months, but just one-third of children are in settings that meet that standard. Depending on the state, some providers may need only minimal or no training in safety, health, or child development. And … Continue reading Why The Mommy Wars are Bullshit

Athenae, Congress4 Comments

Fuck Everything Forever Today

Allison Hantschel

I just ate half a bag of chocolate chips I AM NOT EVEN SORRY. Lyndon Johnson called, and he said he left his everything at your mom’s, so when you get done hawking $20 blowjobs out of the back of his Buick, do you think you could swing by and bring him his pants? Democratic Sens. Mark Pryor (AK), Max Baucus (MT), Mark Begich (AK) and Heidi Heitkamp (ND)voted against the amendment. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) also voted against the amendment so that Democrats could bring the bill up again. And okay, in a just world we wouldn’t … Continue reading Fuck Everything Forever Today

Michael F3 Comments

Just Plain (Gun) Nuts

FromAlbum4 So, thanks to a minority of Senators who’d just as soon piss themselves in public than get on the wrong side of the NRA, anexceedingly modest background check requirement before purchasing a lethal weapon failed. This isn’t even like requiring a driver’s license before getting a car — it’s more like the dealer being allowed to make sure you’re not habitually committing vehicular homicide. Meanwhile, here in the Gret Stet, aballot initiative passed last November (and endorsed by esteemed Gubnah PBJ) allows convicted felons to sue the State and demand…the return of any confiscated weapons. Go figure. We now … Continue reading Just Plain (Gun) Nuts

Athenae, Stupid Republican Tricks6 Comments

‘I don’t have evidence to back that up’

Allison Hantschel

Susan Collins, a US GODDAMN SENATOR, everybody: … “Whenever we have an attack like this it’s difficult not to think that it’s somehow involved in Islamic extremism,” said Maine Sen. Susan Collins, until recently a top member of the Homeland Security committee and still a prime mover on security bills. “I don’t have evidence to back that up. That’s just based on previous attacks.” Nah, you’re just talkin’. Just kinda spitballing. Brainstorming. Throwing stuff at the wall. You know. To reporters. In a public statement. Which, every statement you make is a public statement because YOU’RE IN CONGRESS. Shut your … Continue reading ‘I don’t have evidence to back that up’

Athenae, Fuck The Mommy Wars1 Comment

Why The Mommy Wars are Bullshit

Until we fix this, it’s pointless for women to keep shaming each other over who works and who doesn’t, becausethese are barely choices at all: A 2007 survey by theNational Institute of Child Health Development deemed the majority of operations to be “fair” or “poor”—only 10 percent provided high-quality care. Experts recommend a ratio of one caregiver for every three infants between six and 18 months, but just one-third of children are in settings that meet that standard. Depending on the state, some providers may need only minimal or no training in safety, health, or child development. And because child … Continue reading Why The Mommy Wars are Bullshit

Athenae, Congress4 Comments

Fuck Everything Forever Today

I just ate half a bag of chocolate chips I AM NOT EVEN SORRY. Lyndon Johnson called, and he said he left his everything at your mom’s, so when you get done hawking $20 blowjobs out of the back of his Buick, do you think you could swing by and bring him his pants? Democratic Sens. Mark Pryor (AK), Max Baucus (MT), Mark Begich (AK) and Heidi Heitkamp (ND)voted against the amendment. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) also voted against the amendment so that Democrats could bring the bill up again. And okay, in a just world we wouldn’t … Continue reading Fuck Everything Forever Today

Athenae, So Called Liberal Media2 Comments

How We Tell Stories Now

Allison Hantschel

Adrian Holovaty, who founded the late, much-lamented EveryBlock: Clearly there’s a template somewhere with a default title “Boston.com viral video page,” and the URLs are hard-coded to include “viral_page”. And let’s keep some perspective: overall, what’s important here is the news event itself, not the details of how one particular CMS titled a video. And I don’t mean to berate Boston.com. As somebody who used to work for news sites, I have been in their shoes. There are many, many more important things for a news organization to do in this situation — vet new information, feverishly post updates and, … Continue reading How We Tell Stories Now

Adrastos, Diary, Music

Album Cover Art Wednesday: Yesterday and Today

The original Beatles“butcher cover” has become highly collectible and keeps turning up on teevee shows like theAntiques Roadshow, Auction Kings andPawn Stars. It is rare and hideous, and born out of John Lennon’s boredom with conventional photo shoots and unhappiness with the way Capitol Records messed with their catalogue. Capitol, however, spared the Beatles career suicide by quickly withdrawing the cover and replacing it with a really stupid and dorky one. The first time I heard about the original cover, I tried peeling back the edge of my copy of Yesterday and Today. No ugly bloody babies underneath. Oh well. … Continue reading Album Cover Art Wednesday: Yesterday and Today

Adrastos, Album Cover Art, Art, Diary, Music

Album Cover Art Wednesday: Yesterday and Today

Peter Adrastos Athas

The original Beatles “butcher cover” has become highly collectible and keeps turning up on teevee shows like the Antiques Roadshow, Auction Kings and Pawn Stars. It is rare and hideous, and born out of John Lennon’s boredom with conventional photo shoots and unhappiness with the way Capitol Records messed with their catalogue. Capitol, however, spared the Beatles career suicide by quickly withdrawing the cover and replacing it with a really stupid and dorky one. The first time I heard about the original cover, I tried peeling back the edge of my copy of Yesterday and Today. No ugly bloody babies … Continue reading Album Cover Art Wednesday: Yesterday and Today