Month: April 2013

Current Affairs, Diary, Doc9 Comments

“A bye-bye shot.” (Abby Part III)

(In case you missedparts Iand II, here they are.) The Midget came creeping down the stairs around 6 a.m. It was still dark and the room was quiet. “Daddy?” “Yes, Peanut?” “Can I say goodbye to Abby?” I pulled myself off the fold-out bed and smiled half of a smile at her. “Sure.” She went by the cage, only to have the bunny start to flap and flail, sending the Midget streaking back to me. I petted her head. “It’s OK, honey. Abby’s just scared.” “Did you stay here all night with her, Daddy?” “Yes. She wasn’t lonely.” “Good.” She … Continue reading “A bye-bye shot.” (Abby Part III)

Adrastos, LOL, Of Interest1 Comment

Louisiana Curses

Peter Adrastos Athas

This hasn’t got anything to do with American Horror Story:Coven or other witchy/voodooy curse nonsense but with a survey about w hich state curses the most. My current home state, Louisiana is number 4. Fuck yeah, fuckin’ A, Louisiana is also the fourth most courteous state according to this click bait driven (it worked with me obviously) survey. Thank you for moving out the fucking way. We’re the only motherfuckers to make both goddamn lists thank you very much. They’re not polite in Jersey? Who the fuck knew? Everyone… Here are some swell looking charts courtesy of Marcex; Continue reading Louisiana Curses

Adrastos, Congress, Political Crack3 Comments

Messing with a Texas Legend

Peter Adrastos Athas

The new voter Texas voter ID law is clearly aimed at Democratic voters. How do I know that?It’s latest victim is one of the greatest living Texans who just happens to be a Democratic icon: Former U.S. House Speaker Jim Wright (D-TX) was denied a voter ID card thanks to Texas’s strict voter ID law. “Nobody was ugly to us, but they insisted that they wouldn’t give me an ID,” 90-year-old Wright said according to the Forth Worth Star-Telegram. Wright said he previously realized earlier in the week that the identification he had to vote, a Texas Christian University faculty … Continue reading Messing with a Texas Legend

Adrastos, Music, Political Crack2 Comments

Town Called Malice

The Thatcher series continues with the Jam. Here’s Paul Harris’ excellent description ofTown Called Malice in theGuardian article I keep going on about: Whether latter-day audiences truly understand its lyrics is an interesting question, because Town Called Malice is not one of those supposedly “classic” songs whose lyrics can mean anything to anyone at any time. Its words are a razor-sharp commentary on a specific social moment: the austere, strife-torn years of 1981 and 1982, when deflation was let loose, riots tore through English cities, unemployment headed towards three million, and Britain lost a fifth of its manufacturing capacity. Weller’s … Continue reading Town Called Malice

Athenae, Law/Justice2 Comments

Nothing Says Self-Defense Like Letting Someone Else Decide When to Murder You

Allison Hantschel

I know, it’s the Cornhole, but it’s actually trying to make an argument this time instead of just slavering over Mitt Romney’s jock: Of course, any self-defense rule bears the potential for injustice. For example, in a two-person altercation, one may be dead and the other dubiously claims self-defense. But these cases, like Trayvon Martin’s, implicate the self-defense justification generally. If George Zimmerman was the aggressor, he has no self-defense rights at all, whether the incident took place in a SYG jurisdiction or not. If Trayvon attacked Zimmerman, the only question is whether Zimmerman reasonably believed he was in danger, … Continue reading Nothing Says Self-Defense Like Letting Someone Else Decide When to Murder You

Adrastos, Political Crack, Stupid Republican Tricks4 Comments

The Devil Came From Kansas

What’s the deal with Kansas? All the Kansans I’ve met have been pretty sensible and down to earth people. Hell, Bob Dole wasn’t my cup of tea but neither he nor his long-time Senate colleague, Nancy Landon Kassebaum, were nutters. In more recent years, Kansas wingers seem to have drunk some bizarre kind of Bleeding Kansas kool-aid or something. From the Westboro Baptist Church to the murder of Dr. Tiller to electing an idiot extremist teabagger like Sam Brownback, the state has become better known for right-wing malakatude than great college hoops. Hmm, now that I think of it, the … Continue reading The Devil Came From Kansas

Athenae, Congress, Stupid Republican Tricks4 Comments

This Cocksucker Inhofe

Which is, of course, an insult to any individuals who suck cock: Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) said Tuesday that the gun control debate doesn’t have anything to do with the families of the Newtown, Conn., shooting victims, and that the only reason those families think it does is because President Barack Obama told them it did. […] “See, I think it’s so unfair of the administration to hurt these families, to make them think this has something to do with them when, in fact, it doesn’t,” Inhofe said. By “these families,” Inhofe was referring to 11 family members of victims … Continue reading This Cocksucker Inhofe

Stupid Republican Tricks, Tommy T2 Comments

Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – Shorter Darwin edition

tommyfd

Morning, everybody! From time to time I see something in Freeperville that can’t be mocked, isn’t funny, and just takes the wind out of my snark sails. This is one of those times. Back next week after I recover from this: Try living on food stamps this monthThe Columbian ^ | November 2, 2013 | Staff Posted on Saturday, November 02, 2013 8:10:41 PM by 2ndDivisionVet Can you feed yourself on $4.50 a day? That’s the typical daily benefit for someone who gets food stamps. Millions of low-income Americans are dependent on the program, which is called Supplemental Nutrition Assistance … Continue reading Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – Shorter Darwin edition

Michael F1 Comment

Rand Is Hip to What’s Happenin’ With Those Kidzz

FromAlbum4 But thestudent body and faculty of Howard University politely disagreed. Come to think of it, the only real social spending supported by Republicans that’s had a significant impact on African-Americans over the last generation or so has been…prisons. Which makes their “welfare is the plantation” argument even more ironic, given that at least in Louisiana, the major state prison once WAS a plantation. Just saying. Continue reading Rand Is Hip to What’s Happenin’ With Those Kidzz

Adrastos, Congress, Economy, Political Crack, Stupid Republican Tricks3 Comments

America Held Hostage Day 4

Peter Adrastos Athas

The wingnutty GOP vandals have turned to treating the guvmint shutdown as a form of performance art. I hate performance art. It’s lame, it sucks, and makes one act like Laurie Anderson who is one of the few people as cranky as her husband Lou Reed. I like Lou Reed’s music but he’s legendary for his dickishness. Where was I? Oh yeah, Republican stage craft. They’re insulting park rangers for enforcing the guvmint shutdown they voted for. They’re all smiley and hand-clappy on tevee like Michelle Bachmann. They’re holding fake conference committee meetings chaired by that unctuous weasel, Eric Cantor. … Continue reading America Held Hostage Day 4

Adrastos, Music

Friday Night Music: The Sugaree Variations

Peter Adrastos Athas

In between mocking wacko bird Republicans like Congressman Noogiebirther, I’ve had mortality on my mind today. That, in turn, gave me-you guessed it-an ear worm and the opening stanza of Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter’s great tune, Sugaree, has been lodged in my head all day: When they come to take you down When they bring that wagon round When they come to call on you and drag your poor body down First, the good old Grateful Dead: Here’s a 2011 live version from some of NOLA’s finest rockers with some awesome bass work by the great George Porter: Finally, … Continue reading Friday Night Music: The Sugaree Variations

Athenae, Congress, Stupid Republican Tricks4 Comments

Pointlessly Dicking People Around Is the Point

Allison Hantschel

SIx months ago I was in a closet, at Chicago’s Navy Pier, yelling into my phone at my insurance company. I’d spent most of the afternoon at the type of hospitality-networking event I rarely go to, because while free food and drinks are great I HATE gladhanding and would just as soon be getting some real work done. However, this one had been useful, and considering the day started with a doctor’s appointment I was happy to spend a few hours shoving free mimosas and scallops into my face. Then my phone started going off and I ducked somewhere quiet … Continue reading Pointlessly Dicking People Around Is the Point

Current Affairs, Doc1 Comment

I am shocked to discover that there is drinking going on in this establishment

docphd

Several schools in the UW system are having conniption fits this week regarding the presence of alcohol near their students. UW-Madison is dealing with some bad PR regarding the presence of an “I’m Schmacked” video, which depicts students (and some parents) binge drinking during parents weekend. The “Schmacked” crew alerts various college campuses as to their upcoming stops via Twitter and requests retweets. The party bus then stops at various locations, filming students in their natural habitat (bars, frats, the usual…) dancing, drinking and preening. The students didn’t disappoint the voyeurs. Lots of hot dudes, leggy Coastiesand enough booze to … Continue reading I am shocked to discover that there is drinking going on in this establishment

Adrastos, Music8 Comments

Album Cover Art Wednesday: A Salty Dog

There’s a semi-lively debate as to who was the first prog band. Some say the Beatles, Pink Floyd, or the Mothers. I lean in the direction of Procol Harum. One thing I’m certain of is thatA Salty Dogwas the first LP I bought because of the cover art. I saw it and had to have it even after learning that it was derived from a cigarette pack. That’s probably why the sailor looks so scuzzy and disreputable. Here’s the title track: Continue reading Album Cover Art Wednesday: A Salty Dog

Adrastos, Political Crack8 Comments

Paragraph Of The Day: Joan Walsh Edition

Peter Adrastos Athas

I lied about the day. It’s from a post on Tuesday that I’ve been meaning to quote: Today, the entire government has been taken hostage by leaders elected by this crazed minority, who see in the face of Barack Obama everything they’ve been taught to fear for 50 years. Start with miscegenation: He’s not just black, he’s the product of a black father and a white mother. (That helps explain an unconscious motive for birtherism: They can’t get their minds off the circumstances of his conception and birth.) With his Ivy League degrees, they are sure he must be the … Continue reading Paragraph Of The Day: Joan Walsh Edition

Adrastos, Law/Justice, LOL7 Comments

Malaka Of The Week: William Blakely

Public malakatude is rarely as literal as this: Three women testified against former Mount Carmel Vice-Mayor William Blakely, graphically recounting times he exposed himself while driving. News Channel 11 had the only reporter in court for Thursday’s preliminary hearing in Kingsport. “I was scared that I was gonna wreck, he was gonna cause me to wreck,” witness Deborah Sturgill said. “It seems that every victim would tell the same story. But I knew all the victims did not know each other,” Kingsport Police Detective Terry Christian said. Personal accounts in Thursday’s testimonies started the same – Blakely allegedly waving to … Continue reading Malaka Of The Week: William Blakely

Athenae, Immoral Values, Kids Today5 Comments

Stop Having Asses, Girls, They are Distracting

Ugh, this again: You’ll have to pardon me for thinking here (after all, I’m just a girl, what do I know?), but wouldn’t it be a whole lot easier to sit the boys down for a talk and tell them to cool it? Not only would it save the parents of every girl in the district from having to revamp their kids’ wardrobes, but it would prepare the boys for what will happen when they walk out into a dress code-free world where women walk around flaunting bare ankles and even, gulp, showing their knees! I don’t have a son; … Continue reading Stop Having Asses, Girls, They are Distracting

Adrastos, Political Crack1 Comment

Quote Of The Day: Satire Down Under Edition

Peter Adrastos Athas

It’s general election time in Australia. It looks as if the right will be returning to power, which makes a proposal by my countryman, Senator Nick Xenophon, very timely indeed.I have boldfaced the QOTD: Independent senator Nick Xenophon is offering to help satirists who want to send up Australia’s politicians. The South Australian senator says he plans to move an amendment to the Parliamentary Proceedings Broadcasting Act 1946 to allow federal MPs to be lampooned over what they say or do in parliament. He says programs such as The Chaser, The Project and Gruen Nation are banned from using images … Continue reading Quote Of The Day: Satire Down Under Edition

Adrastos, Album Cover Art, Art, Music1 Comment

Album Cover Art Wednesday: Around the World in a Day

Peter Adrastos Athas

Prince was riding high when he released this psychedelic soul record complete with a psychedelic cover by Doug Henders. The *only* reason Prince wasn’t the biggest star in the world in 1985 was because of Wacko Jacko’s monster Thriller LP. Me, I’ll take a trip to the psychedeli with Prince any day: Here’s *everyone’s* favorite song from this record: Continue reading Album Cover Art Wednesday: Around the World in a Day

Adrastos, Film, Music, Political Crack1 Comment

Tramp The Dirt Down

Hatred can be like rocket fuel for an artist. Margaret Thatcher inspired many fantastic films, plays, books and songs. The Guardian has a fine article byJohn Harris about how Thatcherism politicized the arts in the UK. Plus, the always awesomeMary Elizabeth Williams has a piece at Salon on Mrs. Thatcher and pop culture.But my personal favorite, Brassed Off. was not on her movie list. Oh well, nobody’s perfect… I’m going to feature some of the best anti-Thatcher, anti-Tory tunes this week as a sort of reverse hommage to Mrs. Thatcher. The good news is that she’s no longer here to … Continue reading Tramp The Dirt Down

Athenae, So Called Liberal Media6 Comments

There Is No Money for Journalism

Allison Hantschel

If only kids today valued real news: Matt Lauer: $22-25 million Diane Sawyer: $12 million Katie Couric: $10 million Forget these children with their twerkings and Twitterings. You wanna know what’s destroying American culture? THIS. At least Jon Stewart is funny. I’m no massive fan of either Sawyer or Couric, but that Lauer, that sexist douchebag clown, makes twice what they do, and they make ten times what a reporter could hope to earn in a lifetime, speaks volumes about who really values journalism. Here’s a hint: It ain’t media companies. A. Continue reading There Is No Money for Journalism

Athenae, Stupid Republican Tricks11 Comments

And Speaking of the Brits on Syria

Allison Hantschel

Charles Krauthammer: OBAMA SHOULD HAVE STRONG-ARMED PARLIAMENT INTO VOTING WITH HIM. I am having a hard time seeing when exactly Obama was supposed to be bench-pressing MPs into doing what he wanted them to do, given how he is not president of England. I mean, I’m sure Obama would have liked it if Parliament had voted his way, but other than calling up David Cameron and saying, “Dude, what the fuck?” I’m trying to picture how he could have influenced the vote and coming up with various things I’m pretty sure are illegal outside a Le Carré novel. Quite possibly, … Continue reading And Speaking of the Brits on Syria

Athenae, Economy, Fuck The Mommy Wars5 Comments

Childless Women Lack Essential Humanity

Boy, do I ever love it when they just come right out and say it.Oh, and fuck your sympathy, you condescending bitchmonster: I mean, seriously, what is this paragraph even trying to say beyond “please don’t fire me Mr. ‘Femail is a Great Name for a ‘Lifestyles’ section’, I can pimp breeding for white women harder if you want!” But, more than all the things we want, we actually need our children; they complete us as women, they are our light and our love and our legacy. Because without that ability to spawn actual human beings with their uteruses (well, … Continue reading Childless Women Lack Essential Humanity

Athenae, Marriage Equality, Religion2 Comments

Bigots are the New Gays

Jesus Elvis Roosevelt Christ: Last week, the cover of Time magazine showed two women kissing and a headline that read: “Gay Marriage Already Won.” With the Supreme Court case on gay marriage at hand in Washington — a final decision isn’t expected until summer — many feel that the legalization of marriage for gays is inevitable. Only the Deep South states, including Tennessee, remain opposed. In 2012, 59.4 percent of Georgia residents said they wouldn’t be in favor of legalizing gay marriage, according to a Landmark Communications/Rosetta Stone poll. Yet even in Tennessee, where more people are opposed to gay … Continue reading Bigots are the New Gays