Month: November 2013

Athenae, Congress, Economy3 Comments

Big Scoop: Pinhead Pundits Wrong About Everything Political Ever

Allison Hantschel

SHOCKING: With all that said though, Riser hit McAllister hard as a crypto-supporter of Obamacare and this was seen going into last night’s vote as the defining issue in the race. And McAllister won handily. You mean to say maybe all the Democratic panic over Obamacare being an utter LUZER on the campaign trail and oh my god we’d all better jump ship and trying to give people health insurance is JUST LIEK HITLER and let’s never do anything big ever again because it’s just too hard and too risky and nobody will like us and David Gregory will say … Continue reading Big Scoop: Pinhead Pundits Wrong About Everything Political Ever

Adrastos, Fog Of History, Law/Justice, Political Crack5 Comments

The Fog of History: The Oswald Enigma

Peter Adrastos Athas

Frontline is consistently one of the best non-fiction shows on teevee, so it’s not a big surprise thatWho Was Lee Harvey Oswald is one of the best entries in the macabre 50th anniversary sweepstakes. Did I really say sweepstakes? Yeah, just deal with it. The Frontliners give us a comprehensive look at one of the most baffling aspects of the whole story: what drove Oswald to do what he did. The puny and unimpressive nature of the man himself is one reason that so many people have a hard time believing that he killed a great man like Jack Kennedy. … Continue reading The Fog of History: The Oswald Enigma

Adrastos, Film, LOL, Television3 Comments

Album Cover Art Wednesday: A Moms Mabley Medley

Moms Mabley week at First Draft continues with three of her LP covers. I’d never seen the last one until the other day and it cracks me up since it has LBJ, HHH, and RFK waiting on the White House porch for the arrival of the grand dame. It is, of course, sci-fi since Lyndon and Bobby were *never* on speaking terms and not even Moms could have brought those two together: Continue reading Album Cover Art Wednesday: A Moms Mabley Medley

Uncategorized5 Comments

Fair Warning: This is Hobbes

Athenae’s skipping town tonight and for some reason she’s entrusted me with a set of spare keys to First Draft to keep you people entertained in her absence. So we’ll see howthat goes. I figure I should tell y’all at least vaguely where I’m coming from before I start inflicting my word vomit on you, so: I’m a nearly-30-year-old graduate student in computer sciences and biology, a godless heathen despite 13 years of Catholic school, and a (these days) intermittent comic artist. I’m also a lady-person with Opinions on what it’s like to be a minority in aSTEM field. All … Continue reading Fair Warning: This is Hobbes

Adrastos, Epic Blogger Win, Marriage Equality, Political Crack, Stupid Republican Tricks4 Comments

Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn

Peter Adrastos Athas

I don’t know about you, but I really don’t give a shit about the Cheney family feud. Hell, not even Richard Dawson would have cared to kiss ex-Vice President Duce’s bald, scaly head or the cheeks of his creepy spawn or his harridan spousal unit’s hand. The Cheneys are, in a word, icky. Not even Alan Simpson’s loopy intervention has awakened my interest in the story. It *might* hold my interest if Dan Savage’stheory that this whole thing is an act staged by the Cheneys turned out to be true. I wouldn’t put it past the devious bastards. I did, … Continue reading Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn

Adrastos, Diary, LOL, Television5 Comments

Moms Mabley

Peter Adrastos Athas

I’m obsessed with old school comedians. I’ll use any excuse, find any pretext to mention Don Rickles, Redd Foxx, Totie Fields, Henny Youngman or Fat Jack Leonard to name drop but a few. Some of my friends call me Shecky because of my fondness for puns and shticky humor. I like the nickname because it’s a bow to the great Shecky Green. This is a long, roundabout way of saying that I’m interested in show biz history and shit that makes people laugh. Moms Mabley always made me laugh: from her frumpy floral house dress to her bucket hat to … Continue reading Moms Mabley

Adrastos, Epic Blogger Win, Marriage Equality, Political Crack, Stupid Republican Tricks4 Comments

Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn

I don’t know about you, but I really don’t give a shit about the Cheney family feud. Hell, not even Richard Dawson would have cared to kiss ex-Vice President Duce’s bald, scaly head or the cheeks of his creepy spawn or his harridan spousal unit’s hand. The Cheneys are, in a word, icky. Not evenAlan Simpson’s loopy intervention has awakened my interest in the story. It *might* hold my interest ifDan Savage’stheory that this whole thing is an act staged by the Cheneys turned out to be true. I wouldn’t put it past the devious bastards. I did, however, learn … Continue reading Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn

Adrastos, Law/Justice, Television4 Comments

Quote Of The Day: 911 Call Edition

Peter Adrastos Athas

George Zimmerman has been arrested yet again. This time for assaulting his soon to be ex-girlfriend (I hope) Samantha Scheibe. The quote comes from the victim’s 911 call: He knows how to do this. He knows how to play this game. Truer words were never spoken. In fact, Zimmerman called 911 to get his side of the story on the record while the cops were outside. His side is that Ms. Scheibe is batshit crazy and went after him even though he threw her out of her own house. I’m trying very hard not to say I told you so … Continue reading Quote Of The Day: 911 Call Edition

Athenae, Kids Today, Urban Hellhole3 Comments

Threatening Their Way of Life

Whet explains some of the venom directed at bikes and bikers: And transit is at the dead center of this shift, perhaps literally—in 2012, economists from Berkeley and Oregon State argued that rising gas pricespopped the housing bubble, as the quick, steep mid-2000s increase pushed families past their financial breaking points, forcing them to reconsider or involuntarily abandon long, expensive commutes. All this sounds like a nightmare scenario if you live in the suburbs. Gas prices rise and housing prices fall, eating into liquid capital and equity. Families with the ability to move return back to the city, depressing housing … Continue reading Threatening Their Way of Life

Adrastos, Congress, Immoral Values, Kids Today, Political Crack, Stupid Republican Tricks5 Comments

The Return of the Ratfucker

Peter Adrastos Athas

Our old buddy and favorite fake pimp, James O’Keefe, is back in the news. Congressional Republicans are using one of his little playlets to smear folks who are helping to sign up people to the ACA: Then last week, Cornyn called on the Obama administration to shutter the navigator program altogether, citing Sebelius’s testimony and a video by the conservative activist group known as Project Veritas, which is overseen by James O’Keefe, which purportedly shows a navigator encouraging one of their clients to lie on their insurance application. O’Keefe, you might remember, was responsible for the deceptively edited video that … Continue reading The Return of the Ratfucker

Adrastos, Law/Justice, Television4 Comments

Quote Of The Day: 911 Call Edition

George Zimmerman has been arrested yet again. This time for assaulting his soon to be ex-girlfriend (I hope) Samantha Scheibe. The quote comes from the victim’s 911 call: He knows how to do this. He knows how to play this game. Truer words were never spoken. In fact, Zimmerman called 911 to get his side of the story on the record while the cops were outside. His side is that Ms. Scheibe is batshit crazy and went after him even though he threw her out of her own house. I’m trying very hard not to say I told you so … Continue reading Quote Of The Day: 911 Call Edition

Adrastos, Diary, LOL, Television5 Comments

Moms Mabley

I’m obsessed with old school comedians. I’ll use any excuse, find any pretext to mention Don Rickles, Redd Foxx, Totie Fields, Henny Youngman or Fat Jack Leonard to name drop but a few. Some of my friends call me Shecky because of my fondness for puns and shticky humor. I like the nickname because it’s a bow to the great Shecky Green. This is a long, roundabout way of saying that I’m interested in show biz history and shit that makes people laugh. Moms Mabley always made me laugh: from her frumpy floral house dress to her bucket hat to … Continue reading Moms Mabley

Athenae, So Called Liberal Media3 Comments

Can We Have That Politico Ethics Panel Now?

Allison Hantschel

Maybe we should just give Politico another spot on the Pulitzer board: In a segment this morning on “Morning Joe,” Politico potentate Mike Allen got promotionally cute. The context: “Morning Joe” launched a discussion of two opposing GOP views toward the last month’s shutdown crisis — that of Sen. John McCain and that of Sen. Ted Cruz. In a clip presented on air, Cruz pointedly expressed no regrets whatsoever about his extreme position in the October proceedings. After showing Cruz’s unapologetic approach, Scarborough asked guest Allen whether Republicans should focus on beating up the Democrats rather than fighting among themselves. … Continue reading Can We Have That Politico Ethics Panel Now?

Adrastos, Film, Fog Of History, Law/Justice, Political Crack, So Called Liberal Media, Television5 Comments

More Fog of History

Peter Adrastos Athas

My consumption of JFK 50th anniversary teevee continued unabated last week. It was such a televisual event that watching images, both familiar and unfamiliar, has occupied more of my time than reading stuff on the internets. I’ve skipped the more lurid programming that can be found around the dial and online. I’m inclined to reject the Warren Report but find the mega-coup/CIA/LBJ threads to be ludicrous albeit frequently unintentionally amusing. I’m not big on the Cubo-Soviet strand of assassination buffery either. I lean in the direction of Mob hit theory since it’s one of the few plausible explanations as to … Continue reading More Fog of History

Stupid Republican Tricks, Tommy T7 Comments

Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – moldy oldies edition

tommyfd

Good morning, gentle people! Time again to do some clearance on aging drums of toxic Freepitude, so let’s roll em’ out and open em’ up!

First, though – one recent thread I like to call –Hack Attack!

If you didn’t already know, there has been distribution of a DDoS attack tool called “Destroy Obamacare”, written in Delphi (translation: “Old folks coding”)and inner workings detailed here.

Freeperati? What’s your opinion of DDos attacks?

Free Republic DDOS attack?
Me ^ | 11/28/2010 | Me

Posted on Sunday, November 28, 2010 1:22:49 PM by PreciousLiberty

Is FR under a denial of service attack? I’ve had a lot of server errors trying to read and/or post an article today…

Anyone know?
1 posted on Sunday, November 28, 2010 1:22:50 PM by PreciousLiberty
If I had to guess, I’d say it was a False Flag operation by Jim Rob’s brother, who’s bucking for a raise.
Just kidding.

To: PreciousLiberty
System needs to be upgraded.

5 posted on Sunday, November 28, 2010 1:27:32 PM by Lazlo in PA (Now living in a newly minted Red State.)

Heh.

To: PreciousLiberty

The SPLC has designated Free Republic as a terrorist website and the DHS/ICE have sicced their patriot hacker monkeys on us.

11 posted on Sunday, November 28, 2010 1:40:29 PM by dljordan (“His father’s sword he hath girded on, And his wild harp slung behind him”)

To: PreciousLiberty

Hillbuzz site is also having problems, wonder if they’re under attack too. He’s been following the Wikileaks things too & has been threatened many times for his stand against the RATS!

29 posted on Sunday, November 28, 2010 3:22:02 PM by blondee123 (IMPEACH THEM ALL! FREEDOMS SLIPPING AWAY DAILY!)

Ah – “The Rats”. Goebbels would be proud.
EternalJew
Come on, boys – surely there’s a more plausible explanation than that!

To: PreciousLiberty; Jim Robinson

It was simulated – a way to give us a taste of being without FR so that we remember that during the next FReepathon.

I think Jim’s hoping we get more monthly donors so we can quit with the FReepathons!

30 posted on Sunday, November 28, 2010 7:07:28 PM by leapfrog0202 (“the American presidency is not supposed to be a journey of personal discovery” Sarah Palin)

SheepShearing
Carry on!
Old stuff after the jumpola…

Continue reading “Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – moldy oldies edition”

Adrastos, Congress, Immoral Values, Kids Today, Political Crack, Stupid Republican Tricks5 Comments

The Return of the Ratfucker

Our old buddy and favorite fake pimp, James O’Keefe, is back in the news. Congressional Republicans are using one of his little playlets to smear folks who are helping to sign up people to the ACA: Then last week, Cornyn called on the Obama administration to shutter the navigator program altogether, citing Sebelius’s testimony and avideo by the conservative activist group known as Project Veritas, which is overseen by James O’Keefe, which purportedly shows a navigator encouraging one of their clients to lie on their insurance application. O’Keefe, you might remember, was responsible for the deceptively edited video that led … Continue reading The Return of the Ratfucker

Athenae, So Called Liberal Media3 Comments

Can We Have That Politico Ethics Panel Now?

Maybe we should just give Politico another spot on the Pulitzer board: In a segment this morning on “Morning Joe,” Politico potentate Mike Allen got promotionally cute. The context: “Morning Joe” launched a discussion of two opposing GOP views toward the last month’s shutdown crisis — that of Sen. John McCain and that of Sen. Ted Cruz. In a clip presented on air, Cruz pointedly expressed no regrets whatsoever about his extreme position in the October proceedings. After showing Cruz’s unapologetic approach, Scarborough asked guest Allen whether Republicans should focus on beating up the Democrats rather than fighting among themselves. … Continue reading Can We Have That Politico Ethics Panel Now?

Adrastos, LOL, Political Crack, Television2 Comments

Chris Farley On My Mind

Peter Adrastos Athas

Every time I hear of Rob Ford’s latest idiotic escapade, I miss Chris Farley. Imagine Farley on SNL, or anywhere for that matter, playing Rob Ford. He had the girth, the moves and an array of vacant faces that would bring the crazed Toronto Mayor to life. If Ford doesn’t chill out sometime soon, he might wind up living in a van down by the river like Matt Foley: Continue reading Chris Farley On My Mind

Athenae, Congress, Economy3 Comments

Big Scoop: Pinhead Pundits Wrong About Everything Political Ever

SHOCKING: With all that said though, Riser hit McAllister hard as a crypto-supporter of Obamacare and this was seen going into last night’s vote as thedefining issue in the race. And McAllister won handily. You mean to say maybe all the Democratic panic over Obamacare being an utter LUZER on the campaign trail and oh my god we’d all better jump ship and trying to give people health insurance is JUST LIEK HITLER and let’s never do anything big ever again because it’s just too hard and too risky and nobody will like us and David Gregory will say mean … Continue reading Big Scoop: Pinhead Pundits Wrong About Everything Political Ever

Stupid Republican Tricks, Tommy T7 Comments

Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – moldy oldies edition

Good morning, gentle people! Time again to do some clearance on aging drums of toxic Freepitude, so let’s roll em’ out and open em’ up!

First, though – one recent thread I like to call – Hack Attack!

If you didn’t already know, there has been distribution of a DDoS attack tool called “Destroy Obamacare”, written in Delphi (translation: “Old folks coding”)and inner workings detailed here.

Freeperati? What’s your opinion of DDos attacks?

Free Republic DDOS attack?
Me ^ | 11/28/2010 | Me

Posted on Sunday, November 28, 2010 1:22:49 PM byPreciousLiberty

Is FR under a denial of service attack? I’ve had a lot of server errors trying to read and/or post an article today…

Anyone know?
1 posted on Sunday, November 28, 2010 1:22:50 PM byPreciousLiberty
If I had to guess, I’d say it was a False Flag operation by Jim Rob’s brother, who’s bucking for a raise.
Just kidding.
To: PreciousLiberty
System needs to be upgraded.

5 posted on Sunday, November 28, 2010 1:27:32 PM byLazlo in PA (Now living in a newly minted Red State.)
Heh.
To: PreciousLiberty

The SPLC has designated Free Republic as a terrorist website and the DHS/ICE have sicced their patriot hacker monkeys on us.

11 posted on Sunday, November 28, 2010 1:40:29 PM bydljordan (“His father’s sword he hath girded on, And his wild harp slung behind him”)
To: PreciousLiberty

Hillbuzz site is also having problems, wonder if they’re under attack too. He’s been following the Wikileaks things too & has been threatened many times for his stand against the RATS!

29 posted on Sunday, November 28, 2010 3:22:02 PM byblondee123 (IMPEACH THEM ALL! FREEDOMS SLIPPING AWAY DAILY!)
Ah – “The Rats”. Goebbels would be proud.
EternalJew
Come on, boys – surely there’s a more plausible explanation than that!
To: PreciousLiberty; Jim Robinson

It was simulated – a way to give us a taste of being without FR so that we remember that during the next FReepathon.

I think Jim’s hoping we get more monthly donors so we can quit with the FReepathons!

30 posted on Sunday, November 28, 2010 7:07:28 PM byleapfrog0202 (“the American presidency is not supposed to be a journey of personal discovery” Sarah Palin)
SheepShearing
Carry on!
Old stuff after the jumpola…

Continue reading “Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – moldy oldies edition”

Athenae, Fuck The Mommy Wars, Immoral Values, Kids Today7 Comments

Occasionally Ladies Drink, and Dance, Which Makes Their Daughters Drug-Addled Sluts

Once you have children, having any kind of fun sets such a bad example: The trend toward hipper, hotter moms has already been prevalent among Hollywood types. Dina Lohan used to famously go out clubbing with daughter Lindsay Lohan. Madonna and her daughter, Lourdes, Demi Moore and her daughter, Rumor Willis, Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi and her mother, Helen Polizzi, are just some of the famous mother-daughter duos seen out together. On Bravo’s “Keeping Up With the Kardashians,” family matriarch Kris Jenner and her Kardashian daughters are seen as nightclub regulars. But not everyone agrees that mothers and daughters regularly partying … Continue reading Occasionally Ladies Drink, and Dance, Which Makes Their Daughters Drug-Addled Sluts

Adrastos, Film, Fog Of History, Political Crack, Sunday Morning Video

Sunday Morning Video: The Fog of War

Peter Adrastos Athas

I’ve been gassing on about the fog of history, so I decided to post Errol Morris’ brilliant documentary about Vietnam war architect Robert Strange McNamara. Unlike a certain recent Defense Secretary whose nickname rhymes with crummy, McNamara learned some things from the mistakes he made in life: Continue reading Sunday Morning Video: The Fog of War

Current Affairs, Doc1 Comment

Playing with live ammo

docphd

(I sat out last week so that I didn’t push the Riot story lower on the blog. I feel for A and Mr. A. I hope the Chicken Rat is able to run and jump and have fun now. – Doc) During my first few years of advising, I often heard debates regarding which stories or photos we should or shouldn’t run in the college paper. The students often held the print edition to a higher standard, meaning that we had to make sure the stories or the photos were stronger, better or less controversial. The line that always got … Continue reading Playing with live ammo

Political Crack, Stupid Republican Tricks, Tommy T7 Comments

Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – Teabagger Trauma edition

tommyfd

So – Christie won and Cooch lost. Dare we open the airlock door?

Dare we not?

OK – here we go with –Freeper And Cooch!

Virginia Governor Election Day LIVE Thread

http://www.politico.com/2013-election/results/governor/virginia/ ^

| 2013-11-05
| parksstp

Posted on Tuesday, November 05, 2013 12:24:21 PM by parksstp

Thread for discussion of tonight’s VA Gov Elecitons Result. Is this too early?

1
posted on Tuesday, November 05, 2013 12:24:21 PM
by parksstp
It’s never too early for popcorn.

To: parksstp

“Is this too early?”

Nah, they’ll call it for McCauliflower pretty soon.Watch for speeding cars flying from precint to precinct with unmarked boxes.

2
posted on Tuesday, November 05, 2013 12:27:41 PM
by SaxxonWoods
(…Let It Burn…)

The polls have only been open for a couple of hours, but obviously it’s never too early to scream “election fraud”.

To: AppyPappy

I visited the four polling places in Waynesboro twice this morning.

Looking for the elusive voter fraud, no doubt. They finally called the cops on him for stalking.

Turnout looked steady and strong for an off-year election.
Those who were voting, seemed to be Republicans and Conservatives — well-groomed and cheerful people.

Because, of course, only “conservatives” are cheerful, albeit in a hateful, ragegasm-fueled fashion. And does “well-groomed” mean they were wearing American Apparel shirts, skinny jeans, and hats?

If so, you just mistook hipsters for Republicans. And can you just imagine if those scowling, unkempt, beads-and-flowers-wearing hippies had shown up? Horrors!

I was encouraged.

16
posted on Tuesday, November 05, 2013 12:46:24 PM
by Oak Grove
(H)

To: parksstp

yes…the polls are still open. It’s too early for this defeatist crap.

17
posted on Tuesday, November 05, 2013 12:47:24 PM
by pgkdan

Oh, it’s never too early for defeatist crap. Especially if you’re about to be defeated. In fact, you might want to get started on 2016 right away. Oh – that reminds me – did you hear that Christie won?
OK – time for some Election Day insight into the dynamics of voter turnout!

To: txhurl
WalMart should just offer a 52″ LED TV for 500 bucks, the you’d see a stampede of black faces out of the polling lines.“Chantelle yuz see, theyz offa a TV for 500, let’s blow this joint, gona git me sum”

66
posted on Tuesday, November 05, 2013 2:39:25 PM
by pburgh01

OK – that’s enough insight.
The ship sinks, with all hands bailing, right below the link to the proven election fraud.

Continue reading “Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – Teabagger Trauma edition”

Athenae5 Comments

The ACA is Obama’s Katrina, or Maybe Obama’s Iraq

Allison Hantschel

These things have a hierarchy, okay. I’m not okay with a fucked-up web site right now because how hard it is to make a web site function (says the girl who every year promises herself she’s gonna do this one better and doesn’t), but let’s keep in mind that nobody notable faced any kind of real consequences, such as PRISON TIME, for crises that resulted in coffins. So maybe demanding the heads of the Cabinet for the horrific crime of trying to help people is a wee overreaction. Also the number of people who believe that in the absence of … Continue reading The ACA is Obama’s Katrina, or Maybe Obama’s Iraq

Adrastos, Political Crack, Stupid Republican Tricks2 Comments

Oy, such a putz

Peter Adrastos Athas

Just to show that some things haven’t changed, George W. Bush made a stupid decision and then stubbornly stuck to his guns: Despite an uproar in the Jewish community, former president George W. Bush is still slated to deliver the keynote address to a fundraiser for the Messianic Jewish Bible Institute in Irving, Texas, tonight. The MJBI trains people to persuade Jews to recognize Jesus as their messiah. Followers of the group believe that if enough Jews are converted, Christ will return to Earth. After Mother Jonesbroke the news about Bush’s appearance last week, “a small shitstorm…kicked up over the … Continue reading Oy, such a putz