Month: December 2013

Diary, Doc, Kids Today1 Comment

The Harvard Bar

docphd

With graduation coming up this weekend, students in our department are flipping back and forth between sheer panic of trying to complete projects and wandering around, waiting for things to happen to them. It’s that typical “hurry up and wait” approach where you go through three finals in one day and then have to hang out for that last final, three days later, which probably won’t impact your grade unless you skip it. In that time period, a lot of kids have been hanging out in the doorways of the offices around here, saying goodbye to professors and just killing … Continue reading The Harvard Bar

Adrastos, Food and Drink, LOL, Television1 Comment

Sunday Morning Video: Come Dine With Me-Ealing

Come Dine With Meis a long running British comedy/cooking/game/competition show featuring a group of strangers cooking for one another. BBC America ran it for awhile before they became obsessed withTop Gear. A YouTuber has posted a bevy of episodes, This one features an expatriate black American, a Tory activist, a yuppie fitness fanatic, and a left wing school teacher. There’s now an American version on Lifetime and it’s pretty darn good although the comedic narrator isn’t as funny as Dave Lamb on the original. They really should have hired Kevin (Tom Servo) Murphy or maybe even me: Continue reading Sunday Morning Video: Come Dine With Me-Ealing

Adrastos, Current Affairs, Political Crack4 Comments

Does it make me a terrible person?

Peter Adrastos Athas

Okay, I *am* a terrible person, y’all know that already but am I even worse because I think the whole fake translator at the Mandela memorial service thing is funny? The translation of speeches into sign language at Nelson Mandela’s memorial service was seen as a sign of inclusiveness, but it appears the sign language interpreter was a fake, according to several expert organisations. Braam Jordaan, a deaf South African and board member of the World Deaf Federation, said the interpreter was making up signs as he went along. “The structure of his hand, facial expressions and the body movements … Continue reading Does it make me a terrible person?

Adrastos, Current Affairs, Political Crack, Religion, Science, So Called Liberal Media, Television6 Comments

Megyn Kelly Is Dreaming Of A White Christmas

Peter Adrastos Athas

Fox host Megyn Kelly doesn’t know a lot but what she knows she knows. You know what I’m saying? “For all you kids watching at home, Santa just is white.” Ms. Kelly was replying to a piece by Aisha Harris at Slate and just couldn’t resist stating what to her was obvious.Along with Ms. Harris, I beg to differ: Santa is loosely based on Saint Nicholas, a fourth-century Greek bishop known for secret gift-giving. But while the names “St. Nicholas” and “Santa Claus” are often used interchangeably, modern-day Santa hardly resembles his supposed inspiration, who was depicted as tall and … Continue reading Megyn Kelly Is Dreaming Of A White Christmas

Adrastos, Current Affairs, Political Crack, Religion, Science, So Called Liberal Media, Television6 Comments

Megyn Kelly Is Dreaming Of A White Christmas

Fox host Megyn Kelly doesn’t know a lot but what she knows she knows. You know what I’m saying? “For all you kids watching at home, Santa justis white.” Ms. Kelly was replying to a piece by Aisha Harris at Slate and just couldn’t resist stating what to her was obvious.Along with Ms. Harris, I beg to differ: Santa is loosely based onSaint Nicholas, a fourth-century Greek bishop known for secret gift-giving. But while the names “St. Nicholas” and “Santa Claus” are often used interchangeably, modern-day Santa hardly resembles his supposed inspiration, who was depicted as tall and thin and, … Continue reading Megyn Kelly Is Dreaming Of A White Christmas

Diary, Doc, Kids Today1 Comment

The Harvard Bar

With graduation coming up this weekend, students in our department are flipping back and forth between sheer panic of trying to complete projects and wandering around, waiting for things to happen to them. It’s that typical “hurry up and wait” approach where you go through three finals in one day and then have to hang out for that last final, three days later, which probably won’t impact your grade unless you skip it. In that time period, a lot of kids have been hanging out in the doorways of the offices around here, saying goodbye to professors and just killing … Continue reading The Harvard Bar

Athenae, Diary7 Comments

Friday Ferretblogging: Future Edition

When I started telling people I was knocked up, one of the first questions I got was, “What are you going to do about the ferrets?” My answers ranged from, “Well, we’ll just feed them directly into a woodchipper, soon as I can rent one” to “I was thinking of letting the baby sleep in the cage the first couple of months since she won’t be much bigger than Bucky and it’ll be warm in there.” I mean, what the TITS, what am I going to do about the ferrets? The ferrets are actually very good with kids, even huffy … Continue reading Friday Ferretblogging: Future Edition

Adrastos, Catblogging, Diary

Friday Guest Catblogging: Kismet is Batman

Peter Adrastos Athas

There was this thing going around in an alternate internet universe showing a cat in the shadows with the caption “Holy Shit, I’m Batman.” You may have seen it. I shared it and found myself tagged on this picture by my friend Lunanola. Her kitty Kismet made an appearance in this space back in August, it’s time for a return engagement: Continue reading Friday Guest Catblogging: Kismet is Batman

Adrastos, Congress, Malakatude, Political Crack, Stupid Republican Tricks2 Comments

Malaka Of The Week: Steve Stockman

Peter Adrastos Athas

Malakatude often involves magical (aka unrealistic) thinking. That’s why Texas Congressman Steve Stockman is this week’s “honoree.” Stockman is so far to the right that he lost his seat in 1996 before returning to an even wingnuttier district in 2012. Just call him the Comeback Nut. That brings me to the reason for “honoring” Steve Stockman for his malakatude. He’s challening past honoree John Cornyn in 2014 based on the fact that SENATOR CORNHOLE IS A LIBERAL. Yes, that’s right. John Cornyn is too liberal for this teabagging nutbar. John Cornyn with the second most conservative voting record in the … Continue reading Malaka Of The Week: Steve Stockman

Athenae, Congress4 Comments

Feeling Used

Allison Hantschel

Boehner to electorate: Stop treating me like I treat you! Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) displayed a rare flash of anger at outside conservative groups on Wednesday when asked about their opposition to a two-year bipartisan budget deal struck between Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA). “You mean the groups that came out and opposed it before they ever saw it?” a visibly angry Boehner told reporters Wednesday, his tone rising. “They’re using our members and they’re using the American people for their own goals. This is ridiculous.” Yeah, they’re using you! To accomplish things! Because they put … Continue reading Feeling Used

Michael F4 Comments

Don’t Forget The Pastafarians

FromAlbum 5 A typical “my-god’s-bigger-than-yours” maneuver from an Oklahoma wingnut Xtian state rep has generated an interesting reaction Members of the world’s oldest faith would like to join a display of religious symbols at Oklahoma’s state capitol, joining a Judeo-Christian tablet and a proposed Satanist monument. The Universal Society of Hinduism plans to submit an application to the Oklahoma State Capitol Preservation Commission for permission to place a statue of Lord Hanuman on the statehouse grounds. “If the Oklahoma State Capitol was open to different monuments, we would love to have a statue of Lord Hanuman, who was greatly revered … Continue reading Don’t Forget The Pastafarians

Adrastos, Current Affairs, Political Crack4 Comments

Does it make me a terrible person?

Okay, I *am* a terrible person, y’all know that already but am I even worse because I think the wholefake translator at the Mandela memorial service thing is funny? The translation of speeches into sign language at Nelson Mandela’s memorial service was seen as a sign of inclusiveness, but it appears the sign language interpreter was a fake, according to several expert organisations. Braam Jordaan, a deaf South African and board member of the World Deaf Federation, said the interpreter was making up signs as he went along. “The structure of his hand, facial expressions and the body movements did … Continue reading Does it make me a terrible person?

Adrastos, Malakatude, Political Crack, So Called Liberal Media, Stupid Republican Tricks, Television2 Comments

Malakatude Smackdown

Peter Adrastos Athas

It’s always heart warming when 2 past malakas of the week get into a public spat. Imbecile Senator and 5/10/13 honoree James Inhofehas gone after last week’s prince of malakatude, Chris Christie.Dim Jim blames Christieand his fleece jacket for Willard Mittbot Romney’s defeat last year. It’s, of course, utter nonsense but it’s a widely shared view on the right. Romney lost because he didn’t have a pulse and the nation wasn’t ready for its first robot President. Thus far Christie hasn’t fired back but that surely cannot last. Governor Pufferfish *lives* for confrontation and drama. It’s one reason I kept … Continue reading Malakatude Smackdown

Athenae, Congress4 Comments

Feeling Used

Boehner to electorate: Stop treating me like I treat you! Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) displayed a rare flash of anger at outside conservative groups on Wednesday when asked about their opposition to a two-yearbipartisan budget deal struck between Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA). “You mean the groups that came out and opposed it before they ever saw it?” a visibly angry Boehner told reporters Wednesday, his tone rising. “They’re using our members and they’re using the American people for their own goals. This is ridiculous.” Yeah, they’re using you! To accomplish things! Because they put you … Continue reading Feeling Used

Uncategorized2 Comments

TIME Person of the Year: Pope Frank. Ho hum.

Which, to be fair, I like the guy and he’s great atdoing little things that piss off the right people: And yet in less than a year, he has done something remarkable: he has not changed the words, but he’s changed the music. Tone and temperament matter in a church built on the substance of symbols—bread and wine, body and blood—so it is a mistake to dismiss any Pope’s symbolic choices­ as gestures empty of the force of law. That being said, TIME Man of the Year (as it was more honestly called until 1999; only four individual women have … Continue reading TIME Person of the Year: Pope Frank. Ho hum.

Adrastos, Diary, Music3 Comments

Album Cover Art Wednesday: Mandrill

I hadn’t contemplated the cover of Mandrill’s eponymous debut LP for many years until, that is, I saw Hunger Games: Catching Fire. It has a very exciting action sequence featuring baboons, which put Mandrill on my radar screen for the first time in years.Mandrillwas/is a funk-jazz-latin-rock fusion outfit named for a very colorful baboon relative. This LP is one of the few I ever bought based on the cover art: The music is *almost* as striking as the cover. Here’s the title track: Continue reading Album Cover Art Wednesday: Mandrill

Athenae, So Called Liberal Media7 Comments

‘lots of things are the law and then we change them’

Allison Hantschel

Yes, George. We change them. Either through the legal system and various court challenges, or by taking votes to change laws that no longer work or are no longer the prevailing view of the country. Which is not what’s happening here. Republicans have tried to change the law in all these ways. They lost. And that’s why Democrats are saying, um, guys, you challenged this a million ways and you failed to strike it down, so let it go. That’s the critical distinction here. We have ways of changing laws and NONE OF THEM are this. Unless George Will is … Continue reading ‘lots of things are the law and then we change them’

Adrastos, Congress, Economy, Political Crack, Stupid Blue Dog Tricks, Television2 Comments

America Held Hostage Day 12

Peter Adrastos Athas

Progress in ending the nutty teabagger guvmint shutdown has been slower than molasses today but I think it will be over by Tuesday. Unlike Politico I have no anonymous sources, just blogger’s intuition. I could be wrong but I’m certain that the neo-Confederates want to delay reopening the guvmint until after Columbus Day to avoid angering Silvio Dante and Paulie Walnuts. Brief Reading Assignment: Dave Weigelhas been on fire during the shutdown and this piece about teanut voting patternsis a must read. Dave does a good job of trying to explain the inexplicable behavior of the teahadists. Me, I just … Continue reading America Held Hostage Day 12

Adrastos, Political Crack, Television5 Comments

Pet Peeves: Mandela Memorial Service Edition

I love my DVR. Actually, it’s the cable company’s DVR but I love it anyhoo. I recorded NBC’s coverage of the Mandela memorial service and grazed on the highlights this morning. Two things happened that made me grind my teeth and cuss under my breath, I may have even used a13 letter word, Doc. The first thing that vexed me was Brian Williams’ proclamation that “4 American Presidents are here.” It’s standard anchorspeak but we only have one President at a time. The proper formulation is President Obama and FORMER Presidents Carter, Clinton and Bush. Calling an ex-Oval One Mister … Continue reading Pet Peeves: Mandela Memorial Service Edition

Uncategorized

Mark Halperin is Now Writing My Fanfic

Seriously, how dumb are you? Sorry to say that this just proves what an idiot Halperin is. Granted, I’d love for Big John to get another crack at the Big Job, and he would have been an extraordinary president, and he’s kicking serious ass at the job he has now, all of that. But absolutely no one else thinks this is a good idea, even Kerry: “Let me just say quickly, if Hillary Clinton doesn’t run for president I bet you John Kerry does,” Mark Halperin declared on MSNBC. The comment was at first met with silence, followed by awkward … Continue reading Mark Halperin is Now Writing My Fanfic

Adrastos, Diary, New Orleans, R.I.P., Television2 Comments

Frank Davis, R.I.P.

Peter Adrastos Athas

If you’re not one of my New Orleans readers, you may be scratching your head and axing yourself, who the hell is Frank Davis. But if you’re a New Orleanian, past or present, it’s a big story.Frank Davis was a much loved broadcaster who died last night at the age of 71. Frank was sui generis as a teevee features reporter/personality for WWL-TV. He did humorous features under the rubric Naturally N’Awlins. He was also the fish and game guy as well as doing a weekly cooking segment on the top rated WWL morning news. He did everything with good … Continue reading Frank Davis, R.I.P.

Current Affairs, Diary, Doc8 Comments

Bite me, Mr. Badwrench

docphd

A kid in my newsroom came to me recently with a crumpled piece of paper and a panicked look on her face. “I went to get my oil changed the other day,” she began. “This guy said my rear strut spring or something was broken? Here’s what he gave me…” Scrawled in penmanship that would equal my own in a “Which First Grader Wrote This?” contest, someone had written the words “Pass. Side Rear Strut incl. realignment.” The cost? $684 and change. I’ve often viewed struts as God’s punishment because people pissed and moaned about how often you had to … Continue reading Bite me, Mr. Badwrench

Adrastos, Immoral Values, LOL, Marriage Equality, Political Crack, Sports, Television1 Comment

Who should we send to Sochi?

German President Joachim Gauk will not be gawking at the Sochi Olympics next year. Did I say gawking? A pun, a weak one admittedly, but a pun nonetheless. In reality, he will not be leading the German delegation to protest Putania’s human rights record and all of those creepy bare chested pictures of Vlad doing manly shit. Keep your shirt on, Vlad and I mean that literally… Nation states customarily send high ranking cats and kittens to wave the flag at the opening ceremonies. In 2012, FLOTUS led our delegation to woody old London. This time we should downgrade our … Continue reading Who should we send to Sochi?

Adrastos, Political Crack, Syria7 Comments

Unsolicited Op-ed Advice

Peter Adrastos Athas

Vladimir Putin’s dickish op-ed for the NYT has also been published by the Guardian. I have confidence that No Drama Obama will NOT react by shitting himself like Bob Menendez or Senator Walnuts. It’s not his style, after all. We already knew that Putin is a gaping asshole of epic proportions and this article merely confirms his malakatude. Here’s my unsolicited, and hopefully unnecessary, advice: ignore the bad stuff and focus on the positives. Putin is now on record as wanting to control Syria’s chemical weapons and keep them away from people who might gas Russians. In short, the President … Continue reading Unsolicited Op-ed Advice

Athenae, Immoral Values, Religion4 Comments

The Hill They Want To Die On

Allison Hantschel

Apparently, for the Roman Catholic Church, it’s this: Children who attend Catholic schools in the Madison Catholic Diocese will no longer be taking field trips to the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery because the facility on the UW-Madison campus conducts research using embryonic stem cells. The diocese announced its decision in a letter Thursday to principals and priests, saying the research runs counter to Catholic teaching on the sacredness of human life. “Catholic schools in the Diocese of Madison may no longer participate in any activities, workshops or field trips at the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery,” wrote Michael Lancaster, superintendent of … Continue reading The Hill They Want To Die On

Athenae, Fuck The Mommy Wars2 Comments

‘Time is going to be your greatest enemy’

First of all, thanks for all the good wishes on this. Your support means a lot, and everybody who says Internet friends aren’t real friends can bite me. Second, this person can also bite me: KOOIMAN: I fit into that category perfectly. I’m single. I’m 29 years old. I’m very career-oriented. What is your advice in just a couple sentences?VENKER: My advice is, as the years go on and you find that you want, if you do, to get married and settle down, to understand time is going to be your greatest enemy. Not your husband, not men, not the … Continue reading ‘Time is going to be your greatest enemy’

Athenae3 Comments

Just Stop It

Allison Hantschel

Stop this. And this. Stop thinking enough time has passed that you can classily advertise a sale commemorating the murder of hundreds of people, for fuck’s sake. YES IT IS TOO SOON. It will likely be too soon forever. Maybe my grandkids will think it is not too soon, but I doubt it. Memorial Day and Veterans Day mattress sales are gross enough, but at least those holidays have been around a while. The earth has barely stopped smoking. Survivors are still alive, families of the victims are still alive, and I doubt they’re honored by your really sweet deals. … Continue reading Just Stop It