Salmond Smoked: Watching The Noslide

 

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Front page collage/montage via NBC News on Twitter.

I love watching election results. Following British politics is one of my nerdier hobbies. I love it when the two collide as they did last night during the Scottish Independence referendum or #indyref as the kooky kids on Twitter hashtagged it.

I had a grand old time last watching the BBC on CSPAN whilst tweeting up a storm. During past UK general elections, CSPAN has dicked us around a bit by offering tardy or incomplete coverage, which didn’t happen last night. That was obviously more irksome in the pre-internet days but I’d still rather sit on the sofa with Oscar nearby than watch a wobbly stream on the computer screen. Della is apolitical unless it involves the vital issue of feeding Della Street. Dr. A tends to boycott election coverage, especially when it’s all talking heads as it was during the early hours last evening. She’s much wiser than me. I’m just a wisecracker who lives on a wiseacre…

A few words about the post title. I made that Alex Salmond joke so often on Twitter that people threatened to lox me up and schmear me with cream cheese if I didn’t relent. The term noslide came from my friend Jeffrey. I’m not sure if he birthed it, but I thought I’d give him credit. I’d rather steal jokes from friends than strangers. More pandering to the pun community after the break.

Continue reading “Salmond Smoked: Watching The Noslide”

Big Chief Principal on the warpath; demands all students in his teepee use “redskin” to describe his tribe

Meet Rob McGee. No, he’s the other one…   Over my time in covering student newspapers and the battles they face when dealing with administrators, one thing has become abundantly clear: The more wrong the argument, the more vigorously the administrators enforce it. This week in Pennsylvania, the adviser to the Neshaminy High School’s student newspaper was suspended for two days. In addition, the student newspaper was docked $1,200 from its printing budget, an obscene amount of money for anyone, let alone a student paper where money is tight to begin with. The reason? Adviser Tara Huber refused to force … Continue reading Big Chief Principal on the warpath; demands all students in his teepee use “redskin” to describe his tribe

OH NO YOU DID NOT JUST, BRUCE RAUNER

Asshole:  Columbia College Chicago journalism professor Curtis Lawrence brought his class of aspiring reporters to listen to Rauner’s announcement about something or other and get some practice covering a political press conference, according to the Sun Times’ Natasha Korecki. Rauner’s seasoned political team decided not to let the students into the event. “Working media” only, they said before giving the boot to 12 up and comers. Working. Yeah. Lemme tell you something, I worked harder as a student reporter on my laziest day than I ever did on my hardest day as a pro, in no small part because everybody around … Continue reading OH NO YOU DID NOT JUST, BRUCE RAUNER

Toothless Hicks and Where to Find Them

It’s so, so, so easy:  And that’s the greatest motherfucking cosmic joke here: “there is little evidence that the expansion of health coverage will help Kentucky Democrats in this fall’s midterm elections” because obviously Kentuckians are ungrateful fucks who you just want to let loose on and say, “Go fuck yourself. We’re taking the diabetes treatment and the lung disease medicine and heading somewhere more hospitable.” But here’s the thing. This video was going around, and yeah, okay, toothless hicks. You know what I see in here? PEOPLE WITHOUT FUCKING TEETH. In the year 2014. In America. Which is not a … Continue reading Toothless Hicks and Where to Find Them

Album Cover Art Wednesday: Teaser and the Firecat

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The man with three names-Stephen Dimitri Georgiou, Cat Stevens, and Yusuf Islam-is back in the news, and in a good way. He’s planning his first US tour since 1976.  That’s why I thought the time was right to feature one of his album covers. Besides, I read about it on Mother Mary’s Facebook page and I fear her wrath. Not really, she’s one of Oscar’s favorite people, so what can I do?

The toughest thing about using Teaser and the Firecat in this feature is the variety of backdrops on the original LP. I saw at least 4 color schemes online and decided to go with the highest quality scan, which is this one. If it’s not the original, sue me.

Cat Stevens drew the covers for many of his LPs, and this is the one that speaks to me the most. It was based on drawings for a children’s book of the same name published in 1977. He was essentially a talented folk artist and that’s okay by me. He’s my countryman, after all. There are scans of the LP’s back cover and interior gatefold  after the break.

Continue reading “Album Cover Art Wednesday: Teaser and the Firecat”

Profiles In NFL Courage

The Minnesota Vikings finally did the right thing by placing the child beater on the “exempt/commissioner’s permission” list. BUT they did it in the worst possible way: via press release at 2 in the morning. The timing was craven and gutless, which sounds like an ambulance chasing law firm. That’s right, the jokes are back. I can only be samba for so long… Some will applaud them, but I will not. It took extreme pressure from sponsors and prominent Minnesotans to force the team to retreat. The fact that Gov. Mark Dayton and Senator Al Franken called for the child beater’s … Continue reading Profiles In NFL Courage

Adrian Peterson did not spank his son, he beat him

My long-time readers know that I never moralize or tell people how to run their lives. I never use the M word in either written or verbal discourse. I am not a fan of corporal punishment, especially when it’s done in anger, but I don’t think people who spank their children should be imprisoned or ostracized. Adrian Peterson did not spank his 4 year old, he beat him. The term child abuse is too generic and polite for this situation, this NFL superstar is a child beater. The word switch is also too polite: he beat his 4 year old son with a stick.

Adrian Peterson is a hall of fame caliber running back and a world class louse. He should be ostracized, but he’s too big of a star for the NFL to act swiftly and decisively.  So much for the hanging judge Commissioner. I’ll write more about Goodell, Ray Rice, and domestic battery in an upcoming malaka of the week post.

Keith Olbermann did a classic rant on this topic yesterday. If you haven’t seen it, please do so now. I’ll resume my own rant after the videos and the break:

Continue reading “Adrian Peterson did not spank his son, he beat him”

Others who have no slush fund

What was that about FEMA camps again?  Long Island resident Gary Silberman got a letter in the mail asking him to repay FEMA some $17,000 he received after losing the home he shared with his father to the hurricane. A FEMA review found that both he and his father received aid — a violation of FEMA’s “double dipping” policy — and that they had failed to get flood insurance following an earlier FEMA payment for damages caused by Hurricane Irene, in 2011. “I lost my home. I lost everything,” Silberman told the AP. “I don’t have $17,000 to give back.” … Continue reading Others who have no slush fund

A Slush Fund

Because why not:  For the past few weeks, dropping bombs on militant positions and sustaining a few hundred American military advisers in Iraq has cost roughly $7.5 million per day, according to the only estimate the Pentagon has provided. That is just over what taxpayers currently pay for each hour of the war effort in Afghanistan (about $5.7 million). Of course the Pentagon has to get that money from somewhere, even if it isn’t much, relatively speaking. And given that Congress has yet to authorize the mission, readers may be wondering about the source of that daily $7.5 million. It turns out that the … Continue reading A Slush Fund

Boardwalk Empire Thread: Different dogs, same fucking bones

It’s going to be a short one this week. The Good Listener was an episode that set the stage for the rest of the season so Imma keep it brief. Al Capone is on top of the world, ma. He’s a celebrity who gives interviews in his underwear while being fitted by a tailor. His world, however, is about to come crumbling down later in year: the IRS is on his trail. Nucky’s world is not so rosy. He took a hit in the 1929 crash; so much for legitimate investments. Now he’s trying to get some respectables to go into business … Continue reading Boardwalk Empire Thread: Different dogs, same fucking bones

Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – “Freud’s not here” edition

Good morning, all!

I was going to ignore this particular drum of psychosexual Freeper Id-with-a-lid, but we’d better open it up before it explodes and gushes its ecstatic release all over the Iso room.

Ready?

Michael Sam cut by Rams
espn.com ^ | 8/30/2014 | Nick Wagoner and Adam Schefter

Posted on 8‎/‎30‎/‎2014‎ ‎3‎:‎08‎:‎15‎ ‎PM by GreenAccord

EARTH CITY, Mo. — The St. Louis Rams released defensive end Michael Sam on Saturday, according to multiple league sources.

Sam’s efforts to become the first openly gay player in NFL history came up just short in a competition against undrafted rookie Ethan Westbrooks.

Westbrooks is one of nine defensive linemen to land a roster spot.

Sam officially hit waivers Saturday at 4 p.m. ET when all NFL teams had to trim their rosters down to the league-mandated 53 players. From there, the other 31 teams will have 24 hours to put in a claim for Sam.

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And the attorney retainer has already been paid…
1 posted on 8‎/‎30‎/‎2014‎ ‎3‎:‎08‎:‎15‎ ‎PM by GreenAccord
Of course it has, sweetheart – because NFL players NEVER have lawyers unless they have teh gay.
So  – are we going to get some insightful analysis of the ebb and flow of contract negotiation?
To: GreenAccord
13 posted on 8‎/‎30‎/‎2014‎ ‎3‎:‎18‎:‎21‎ ‎PM by conservative98
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To: GreenAccord

Personal foul. Spearing. 15 yard penalty. Disqualification.

15 posted on 8‎/‎30‎/‎2014‎ ‎3‎:‎18‎:‎39‎ ‎PM by Darren McCarty (Abortion – legalized murder for convenience)

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To: GreenAccord
He billed himself as an outstanding tight end and a receiver but strangely would not answer whether he was a pitcher or a catcher.

16 posted on 8‎/‎30‎/‎2014‎ ‎3‎:‎18‎:‎53‎ ‎PM by 17th Miss Regt

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To: GreenAccord
“came up just short in a competition”

What a choice of words. Does he now leave town lickety-split?

28 posted on 8‎/‎30‎/‎2014‎ ‎3‎:‎24‎:‎16‎ ‎PM by safetysign

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To: GreenAccord

They were unimpressed with his time in the 40 yard prance.

31 posted on ‎8‎/‎30‎/‎2014‎ ‎3‎:‎25‎:‎18‎ ‎PM by GreenHornet

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To: GreenAccord
Michael Sam cut by Rams That sucks ass…….er……that blows……er…… Bummer
61 posted on 8‎/‎30‎/‎2014‎ ‎3‎:‎44‎:‎59‎ ‎PM by Toddsterpatriot (Science is hard. Harder if you’re stupid.)
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To: GreenAccord

Sam is not a Ram. But could he be a Packer?

67 posted on 8‎/‎30‎/‎2014‎ ‎3‎:‎47‎:‎47‎ ‎PM by NautiNurse (Obama sends U.S. Marines to pick up his dog & basketballs. Benghazi? Nope.)

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To: DoodleDawg

This is just too hard too swallow. A solution will surely come from Sam’s mouth.

104 posted on 8‎/‎30‎/‎2014‎ ‎4‎:‎46‎:‎00‎ ‎PM by safetysign

….and so on.
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You know, I used to compare the “American Beauty” Id of the Freeperati to that of giggling twelve-year-olds, but that’s really doing a disservice to twelve-year-olds.
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More after the thingy.

‘your brand and your reputation is hit’

I really think other words might have been better here:  Keyshawn Johnson led the discussion, recalling when police were called to his home over a domestic dispute. He said that ESPN refrained from pilloring him pending the resolution of the charges (Johnson was later cleared of the charges), and argued that due process was a right that extended to all players. “Anytime your name is run through the mud, and not let due process take its place, your brand and your reputation is hit,” Johnson said. Several things, in order: 1. Plenty of people who are good at their jobs are also … Continue reading ‘your brand and your reputation is hit’

Todays bonus Obsession – “Thrilla In Wasilla” Edition

Sorry for the title – I know this happened in Anchorage, not Wasilla, but “Skankorage In Anchorage” just doesn’t have the same zing to it.

Well, as you probably know by now, this happened:

You Betcha! Sarah Palin’s Whole Family Reportedly Involved in a 20-Person Brawl
TV Guide ^

Posted on 9‎/‎11‎/‎2014‎ ‎1‎:‎28‎:‎42‎ ‎PM by bigdaddy45

Sarah Palin may have channeled her inner lipstick-wearing pit bull this past weekend, when her entire family was reportedly involved in a brawl in Alaska.

Details are scarce, but according to a local blog in the Palins’ hometown of Wasilla, Sarah’s son Track (who may have been under the influence of alcohol) got into a physical altercation with an ex-boyfriend of his sister Willow’s at a snowmobile party.

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Don’t shoot the messenger… but this story is hitting big today. Something clearly happened up in Alaska this weekend. It’s evidently been confirmed by the Anchorage PD that there was a big broohaha, and that the Palin family was in attendance.
1 posted on 9‎/‎11‎/‎2014‎ ‎1‎:‎28‎:‎42‎ ‎PM by bigdaddy45

 

Not for the world would I shoot the messenger who brought me such delightful fare as this!

The night before, Saturday, was a doozy. The details are a little sketchy, but there’s enough of them, from enough different sources, that a story emerges, a story that according to the gossip Gods, looks kind of like this: There’s some sort of Iron Dog/snowmachine party in Anchorage. A nice, mellow party, until the Palin’s show up. There’s beer, of course, and maybe other things. Which is all fine, but just about the time when some people might have had one too many, a Track Palin stumbles out of a stretch Hummer, and immediately spots an ex-boyfriend of Willow’s. Track isn’t happy with this guy, the story goes. There’s words, and more. The owner of the house gets involved, and he probably wished he hadn’t. At this point, he’s up against nearly the whole Palin tribe: Palin women screaming. Palin men thumping their chests. Word is that Bristol has a particularly strong right hook, which she employed repeatedly, and it’s something to hear when Sarah screams, “Don’t you know who I am!” And it was particularly wonderful when someone in the crowd screamed back, “This isn’t some damned Hillbilly reality show!” No, it’s what happens when the former First Family of Alaska comes knocking. As people were leaving in a cab, Track was seen on the street, shirtless, flipping people off, with Sarah right behind him, and Todd somewhere in the foreground, tending to his bloody nose.

To: bigdaddy45

When stuff like that happens at Hyannis MA the Kennedys get a pass.

2 posted on 9‎/‎11‎/‎2014‎ ‎1‎:‎30‎:‎57‎ ‎PM by lightman (O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance, giving to Thy Church vict’ry o’er Her enemies.)

Yeah – I imagine that last drunken brawl at Hyannis Port.  What a wild rumpus that was!
Of course, the initial response is: “Deny, deny, deny!”
To: bigdaddy45

“TV Guide” huh, Now THERE is a “source” for ya. What’s next “Weekly World “News””?

3 posted on 9‎/‎11‎/‎2014‎ ‎1‎:‎31‎:‎05‎ ‎PM by US Navy Vet (Go Packers! Go Rockies! Go Boston Bruins! See, I’m “Diverse”!)

One Freeper tries to put a brave face on that thing that might or might not have happened:
To: bigdaddy45
Good deal. Finally! A republican who knows how to fight!
9 posted on 9‎/‎11‎/‎2014‎ ‎1‎:‎34‎:‎19‎ ‎PM by so_real ( “The Congress of the United States recommends and approves the Holy Bible for use in all schools.”)
SpitTake
To: bigdaddy45
this story is hitting big todayReally? This is the first I’ve heard of it. Where do you get your news from, DU?
12 posted on 9‎/‎11‎/‎2014‎ ‎1‎:‎37‎:‎14‎ ‎PM by McGruff (I’m thinkin.)
I think he’s getting ready to shoot the messenger.
Of course, some hope it is true:
To: bigdaddy45

I would pay to see Sarah* go MMA on some dude.

*(hopefully in a bikini)

46 posted on 9‎/‎11‎/‎2014‎ ‎1‎:‎49‎:‎19‎ ‎PM by VanDeKoik

PalinHardon
And then – somebody goes there :
To: VanDeKoik

And therein lies the weakness with Sarah. No one can go two sentences without mentioning what she looks like.

The right winger love fest with Sarah is about being prom queen, not President.

54 posted on ‎9‎/‎11‎/‎2014‎ ‎1‎:‎56‎:‎38‎ ‎PM by Vermont Lt (Ebola: Death is a lagging indicator.)

DangerClose
To: Vermont Lt
“The right winger love fest with Sarah is about being prom queen, not President.”And what wing do you belong to if we might ask.
57 posted on 9‎/‎11‎/‎2014‎ ‎1‎:‎58‎:‎59‎ ‎PM by McGruff (I’m thinkin.)
56c2c-6a00d8341c5ced53ef01a511ef2b24970c-pi
The brawl begins in earnest below the fold

Continue reading “Todays bonus Obsession – “Thrilla In Wasilla” Edition”

“Grandpa Bobby”

When I heard that Bob Suter had died, a dozen thoughts ran through my head. Almost all of them were covered brilliantly by A in her post earlier this week. Meeting him at his store and meeting him at the Team Cheerios breakfast were among the best moments of my life at a time in which it wasn’t easy to find much for us to hold on to. We were scared, battered kids in our early 20s who didn’t know if we were going to accomplish an impossible task when we fell in love with Suter and company. Suter was … Continue reading “Grandpa Bobby”

Friday Catblogging: Tub Cat

Our water was turned off for 5 or 6 hours yesterday because of some sort of water works, uh, work. Since I assume that any project involving the city will take longer than expected, Dr. A filled the bathtub just in case. A wise but unnecessary precaution as they finished ahead of schedule. That never happens here. Anyway, when I pulled the plug to drain the tub it made a helluva racket causing Oscar and Della to run for the Grampian Hills. (I don’t know where the hell  that is but WC Fields loved to say that and if it’s good … Continue reading Friday Catblogging: Tub Cat

Tweet Of The Day: Senator Walnuts Edition

I don’t know about you, but when Mrs. Greenspan trotted out John McCain on MSNBC after the President’s speech I changed the channel. Enough already, Andrea. You drove me to watch a Shark Tank rerun… That brings me to today’s tweet. It comes from Eric Boehlert of Media Matters: Btw, I'm glad that after Gore lost in 2000 he didn't spend next 8 yrs making a fool of himself on cable TV like McCain decided to do aft '08 — Eric Boehlert (@EricBoehlert) September 11, 2014 That sums it up quite nicely. Maybe McCain should have retired, grown a beard, and … Continue reading Tweet Of The Day: Senator Walnuts Edition

That Day

There is no logic and no reason:  The current president has been accused by his detractors of many of the same sins as he tries to lead the nation through a time when “political acerbations” are profitable drivers of political rewards. (What is John McCain now but a walking political acerbation?) Last night, he called on those detractors to actually make the war they so loudly recommend. He called on the governments in the region most directly affected to do their part to protect themselves, and to try and stop their people from butchering each other. He is groping, still, … Continue reading That Day

Malaka Of The Week: Bob McDonnell

One of my favorite things about being a blogger is skewering hypocrites. That’s the essence of this feature: taking down the pious phonies who populate our national life. There is no bigger hypocrite than former Virginia Governor and future convict, Bob McDonnell, and that is why he’s malaka of the week. Everybody knows that McDonnell rolled the dice in his corruption trial and rolled snake eyes. That’s not even the worst, or stupidest, part, he took his wife Maureen down with him. That’s particularly rich in his case, as he ran as a “family values” candidate who trotted out his attractive … Continue reading Malaka Of The Week: Bob McDonnell

Which I think is just a giant rink filled with defensemen, really

If there’s a hockey heaven, Bobby Suter’s hitting people in it right now:  Bob Suter, a defenseman for the 1980 Miracle on Ice team and father of Minnesota Wild defenseman Ryan Suter, died Tuesday at age 57. Suter played for the University of Wisconsin, winning a national championship in 1977, before being chosen for the team that upset the Soviet Union and won a gold medal at Lake Placid, N.Y. [snip] Ryan Suter has said that his dad never talked about 1980 much while he was growing up. “It was never my dad the gold medalist. It was my dad … Continue reading Which I think is just a giant rink filled with defensemen, really

Best Candidate Name Ever

And the winner is Zephyr Teachout. It’s unusual, it’s punchy, it’s punworthy. She also cocked a snook at Andrew Cuomo in yesterday’s Noo Yawk Democratic Goober primary. (I prefer the term goober to gubernatorial. It’s one of my many quirks.) I thought she’d get 15-20% of the vote but she got 34%, which was a damn good showing for a protest candidate. I knew that Empire State liberals were mad at Prince Andrew but I didn’t think that many of them would vote against him. Cuomo has dedicated his career to avoiding the mistakes he thinks his father made. He clearly believes … Continue reading Best Candidate Name Ever

Album Cover Art Wednesday: Todd Rundgren’s Utopia

I’ve been thinking about posting this cover for quite some time. Todd Rundgren *is* one of my favorite artists, and this was the first Utopia LP as well as his first foray into prog rock. That, however, is not the reason for the timing. I saw the new Fox reality teevee train wreck Utopia the other day. It’s bad, bad, bad. Their idea of Utopia is putting obnoxious bros together with bikini clad babes and the odd wingnut. The result is a campy, unintentionally funny asshole utopia. I’m not sure if I can stand watching it again but it made me laugh to watch these bumbling bozos. Thomas More is not amused…

Todd Rundgren has always been an experimental artist. It’s what has made his career arc so interesting and occasionally infuriating. Todd Rundgren’s Utopia pushed the  LP format to its limit with each side clocking in at around 30 minutes. Todd’s first version of Utopia was full of guys with names like Moogy Klingman and M Frog Labat instead of screaming Fox teevee reality pukes. It’s a helluva album with a cool cover. The eyes have it:

Utopia

Continue reading “Album Cover Art Wednesday: Todd Rundgren’s Utopia”

Women’s voices matter

To begin: I am a woman teacher of introductory computer sciences. My two sections this semester have 150 students each. When I say there’s a “pretty good” gender balance, I mean it doesn’t take me too long to find women to make eye contact with while I’m lecturing. It’s definitely nowhere near 50-50, though. I had a student come into my office hours on Monday and mention, in passing, how intimidating it was that whenever I’d ask a question there were a bunch of male hands that would immediately jump into the air. “The guys already know all this,” she told … Continue reading Women’s voices matter