Month: July 2013

Athenae, Immoral Values6 Comments

Defense

Allison Hantschel

Self-defense or private defense (see spelling differences) is a countermeasure that involves defending oneself, one’s property, or the well-being of another from harm. The use of the right of self-defense as a legal justification for the use of force in times of danger is available in many jurisdictions, but the interpretation varies widely. Last night after the verdict was announced, my neighbors were blaring what sounded like disco and setting off fireworks. My neighbors set off fireworks starting June 1 and going until they run out, and apparently this year they bought out a warehouse or something. If I was … Continue reading Defense

Athenae, Congress

Bitch, If We Cared What You Thought We’d Have Elected You

Allison Hantschel

Hey Senator, remember how America said no thanks to your ass? Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has been at the center of the talks, seeking to find an amicable resolution to a total of four stalled nominees, three for the National Labor Relations Board and one to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. But the negotiations do not appear to have yielded a result. According to CNN, McCain said enough Republicans would vote to overcome a filibuster against Richard Cordray to the CFPB as long as the White House agreed to replace two nominees to the NLRB who were recess-appointed: Sharon … Continue reading Bitch, If We Cared What You Thought We’d Have Elected You

Big Damn Heroes, Congress, Current Affairs, Doc5 Comments

Teacher Takano schools Republicans

docphd

My Friday posts have lacked quality lately because of a massive number of out-of-town trips, severe bouts of depression regarding our house sale and my day job. When you take on the job of teaching online classes and you make all of the homework due on one day (in order to help students remain flexible with their time), you have to pound the crap out of a lot of papers all at once. With a Friday deadline for homework and a requirement that they can’t start the next week’s set of work until they get their grades back, this means … Continue reading Teacher Takano schools Republicans

Athenae, Immoral Values, Law/Justice2 Comments

The Free George Zimmerman Theater

Allison Hantschel

Jesus Christ, you assholes, get some hobbies: Those in the smaller pro-Zimmerman camp held small signs, saying things like “We love you George” and “George got hit you must acquit.” Joseph Uy of Longwood was among an even smaller group: the few who said they had no opinion on whether Zimmerman was guilty. He said he came because he was “just curious.” “I’m neutral,” he said, while cradling his three tiny Chihuahuas in his arms. And yet there you are, in case there’s some fun to be had. God, I feel about these people the way I felt about everybody … Continue reading The Free George Zimmerman Theater

Adrastos, Law/Justice

D is for deliberation

Peter Adrastos Athas

I’ve been expecting a verdict in the Dipshit trial today and all we’ve gotten thus far is a question from the jury. I’m so addicted to Z trial that we stayed close to home for much of the day. Pitiful, no? A few scattered reactions to the closings: Prosecutor Bernie De La Rionda looks like Hank Kingsley of the Larry Sanders Show. Hey now. And Zimmerman’s mother looks like Zoyla from Flipping Out. I obviously watch too much teevee… John Guy’s closing was passionate and boiled the case down to its essence by declaring that the case is not about … Continue reading D is for deliberation

Adrastos, Album Cover Art, Art, Music2 Comments

Album Cover Art Wednesday: Cheap Thrills

Peter Adrastos Athas

San Francisco was teeming with talented artists and musicians in 1968.Robert Crumb’sCheap Thrillscover captured the spirit of the times, and the music was pretty damn awesome as well. Janis Joplin had some pipes, y’all: Here’s the entire LP. Merely listening to Janis belt out Ball and Chain gives me a sore throat: Continue reading Album Cover Art Wednesday: Cheap Thrills

Athenae, Congress3 Comments

Actual Republican Plan Discovered

Allison Hantschel

Fer chrissakes: Boehner didn’t deny that he initially agreed to a “clean” continuing resolution with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) but said “I and my members decided the threat of Obamacare and what was happening was so important that it was time for us to take a stand. And we took a stand.” Boehner was also asked if the strategy to spur a shutdown over Obamacare was established by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) against his wishes. “I thought the fight would be over the debt ceiling,” he said. “But you know, working with my members, they decided, well, let’s … Continue reading Actual Republican Plan Discovered

Adrastos, Marriage Equality, Political Crack1 Comment

Fuck Yeah, Kevin Rudd

Peter Adrastos Athas

Sometimes knowing that you’re going to lose an election can be liberating.That seems to be the case for Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd who gave a passionate and well reasoned argument against religious bigotry, and in favor of marriage equality that included a reference to the US Civil War and slavery. See the awesomeness for yourself: Continue reading Fuck Yeah, Kevin Rudd

Adrastos, David Vitter, Gret Stet Politics, Political Crack, Stupid Republican Tricks1 Comment

Shit my Senator says

Peter Adrastos Athas

I got an email from Bitter Vitter who in addition to “fighting for Louisiana” is also flogging a dead horse: Team, It’s no longer a secret that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) was targeting conservative groups’ tax exempt status. But I’m worried it doesn’t end there. I’m worried some of you, your businesses or other organizations have been unfairly targeted. If you think you’ve been targeted, send me an email at David@davidvitter.com, and we’ll investigate. An Inspector General report shows that in June 2011 the IRS started targeting conservative leaning groups like the Tea Party who were eligible for certain … Continue reading Shit my Senator says

Adrastos, Political Crack, Stupid Republican Tricks1 Comment

Charming

Peter Adrastos Athas

Here’s another story for the “teabaggers aren’t racist” file. I’m surprised that nobody in Phoenix called the President a mulatto: Racially-charged sentiment infused the protests and split the crowd both politically and physically. Obama supporters congregated on the west side of the road in front of the high school and his critics lined up across the street. Obama foes at one point sang, “Bye Bye Black Sheep,” a derogatory reference to the president’s skin color, while protesters like Deanne Bartram raised a sign saying, “Impeach the Half-White Muslim!” Many on both sides wore red, white and blue and carried small … Continue reading Charming

Adrastos, Album Cover Art, Art, Music

Album Cover Art Wednesday: A Trick of the Tail

Peter Adrastos Athas

It’s hard losing a charismatic front man like Peter Gabriel. In 1975, Genesis needed a new singer and drummer Phil Collins was reluctant to fill PG’s shoes. They auditioned some 400 singers before choosing, uh, Phil Collins. But you knew that already. A Trick of the Tail was the band’s first post Gabriel LP, and one of its best. The cover art by the good people at-you guessed it, Hipgnosis-depicts the characters from the songs and is reminiscent of Victorian book illustrations: I couldn’t find a better scan of the cover in all its gatefolded glory so I used the … Continue reading Album Cover Art Wednesday: A Trick of the Tail

Athenae, Diary4 Comments

Friday Ferretblogging: AMERICA Edition

Allison Hantschel

The Athenae household spent yesterday having the most aggressively American Fourth of July ever. Before a marathon game of Axis and Allies (during which Germany and I kicked back and let Japan win the war for us), Mr. A and I walked Bucky and Claire down a mile-long route with a group from the ferret shelter. Bucky LOVED the parade two years ago. He got petted by hundreds of people, since the majority of the parade-goers were little kids who were remarkably well-behaved, and by the end he was totally blissed out from all the love. I have to say, … Continue reading Friday Ferretblogging: AMERICA Edition

Adrastos, Music, Pony, Bitches!, Stupid Republican Tricks

How can I miss you when you won’t go away, Willard?

Peter Adrastos Athas

The guy who tried to make history by becoming our first robot President is back in the news. And he’s still saying stupid shit: Among the things Romney thinks might have actually changed the election appears to be his own comments. He repeatedly referenced his own “mistakes” in the CNN interview. He said he “regrets” his comment about 47 percent of Americans refusing to take responsibility for their lives. He said of Clint Eastwood’s empty-chair moment, “Clint didn’t hurt my campaign, I hurt my campaign a couple times.” He said dealing with the press is hard. “Jokes, for instance, will … Continue reading How can I miss you when you won’t go away, Willard?

Current Affairs, Doc, Economy3 Comments

Apathy as a default option

docphd

One of the best and most telling lines I think I ever read came from Terry Pluto’s book on the Cleveland Indians. After GM Frank Lane made about a dozen trades and stripped the team of anything worthy of a big-league roster, the club began the long march into 30 years of horrible baseball. Somewhere during that first scorched-earth season, a local fan told a local scribe: “I don’t know these guys well enough to be sore at them.” Pluto commented that this was the worst thing ever: apathy. As a member of our state-run university system, I find myself … Continue reading Apathy as a default option

Athenae, Congress, Immoral Values, Stupid Republican Tricks2 Comments

Nothing Goes Wrong Most of the Time

Allison Hantschel

There are a million things that can go wrong inside you. A couple of years ago when I first started going to a fertility clinic, Mr. A went on a business trip to, hell, I don’t even remember. We spend a hell of a lot of time together so I get twitchy when he’s not here for extended periods. My insomnia kicks in, and I do things like cut all my hair off or remodel the bathroom by myself with just a hammer. In this particular instance I stayed up all night reading stories about all the ways a pregnancy, … Continue reading Nothing Goes Wrong Most of the Time