Feb 10, 2016
Feb 9, 2016
Gotta Go Back To Cable
TBS premiered Samantha Bee's new show - Full Frontal - last night and, of course, I'd forgotten all about it.
Here's a great clip that's great just for including the line describing Donald Trump as "an oddly tinted collection of psychiatric symptoms". You can't not like that shit.
Here's a great clip that's great just for including the line describing Donald Trump as "an oddly tinted collection of psychiatric symptoms". You can't not like that shit.
More Bey
Mr Giuliani seems to think speaking the truth isn't wholesome. He's saying having an opinion, stating an opinion, and defending that opinion is OK but only in places and/or circumstances prescribed by - who exactly? The masters? The Ruling Class? Some blobby "majority" or "the American people"? It's always some vaguely-defined image of an America that can be changed to fit whatever narrative they're flacking right now, but it always always always comes down to inviting the inference of a kindly white hegemony in a soft-focus past where all the black people were the good kind of black people who knew how lucky they were to spend their lives cleaning our toilets and then conveniently dying with nothing to show for it - long before we had to think maybe we should pay them back for any of it.
The authoritarian mindset is always trying to tell everybody to shut up; get with the program; and don't say or do anything that might make anybody feel uncomfortable with the way the boss needs people to believe things are. And one of the main tools is Divide-n-Conquer. They work hard to pit us against each other to make sure we go on paying their rent, while looking for any opportunity to point and say, (eg) "Hey, look - Beyonce is being divisive".
They talk "Unity", but if you make any attempt to get people together, they'll be happy you've given them another chance to slag you by saying you're the one "tearing this country apart".
We're being fucked with like we've got tails.
Today's Tweet
Neat nudge to stop public urinating in Czech republic via @brilliantads pic.twitter.com/QNHN3GslBh— richard shotton (@rshotton) February 6, 2016
Feb 8, 2016
Ends In A Tie
Some more or less random thinking on the day after Super Bowl.
So yesterday was the 50th Annual Billionaires' Bash-a-Rama, nestled in the snuggly warmth of Silicon Valley's mega-bucks party in the richest city in USAmerica Inc.
OK, I'll see that bet and I'll raise ya Black History Month, plus the 50th anniversary of Huey and Bobby starting the Black Panther Party (in the Bay Area BTW).
In a game featuring (mostly) black guys, where the Most Valuable Game's Most Valuable Player is a black guy, didn't anybody think it was little weird how the guy nobody could stop talking about was a washed-up white-dude quarterback who played like he had a coupla strands of linguini floppin' around where his throwin' arm's supposed to be?
One more tidbit - the Broncos Defense has 25 guys listed on the depth chart. 24 of 'em are black. Black men brought that trophy home to you, Denver. I don't know what that means, if it means anything at all, but a little acknowledgement on that one wouldn't be outa line. Maybe that's all Beyoncé was trying to say.
Anyway, my Donkeys won, and I'm a happy guy right now, and I can make a decision on whether or not I stay with this football thing later. Time for another drink.
So yesterday was the 50th Annual Billionaires' Bash-a-Rama, nestled in the snuggly warmth of Silicon Valley's mega-bucks party in the richest city in USAmerica Inc.
OK, I'll see that bet and I'll raise ya Black History Month, plus the 50th anniversary of Huey and Bobby starting the Black Panther Party (in the Bay Area BTW).
(still don't know why the sound was so lousy - either an engineer forgot to flip a switch or CBS was playin' it a little too cool and the whole thing had to go thru one guy's panel so he could pull the plug in case there was a Wardrobe Malfunction situation - you noticed Justin and Janet were absent from the retrospective, right?)
Was Bey kicking the beast from the inside, trying to give somebody a signal of some sort? Is it "disrespectful" that she'd do that at the Super Bowl? Or is it insulting to our intelligence, and/or more than a little ironic that a creature of "the system" is working hard to convince us she's fighting the system? Or maybe it's just more shiny things - bread and circuses.
Any subversive worth his salt knows the dominant force loses completely if they don't win outright, and that the insurgency wins if all they do is survive to fight just one more day. So how does anybody "win" anything in this kinda shit - when it's all mashed up together like this?
In a game featuring (mostly) black guys, where the Most Valuable Game's Most Valuable Player is a black guy, didn't anybody think it was little weird how the guy nobody could stop talking about was a washed-up white-dude quarterback who played like he had a coupla strands of linguini floppin' around where his throwin' arm's supposed to be?
One more tidbit - the Broncos Defense has 25 guys listed on the depth chart. 24 of 'em are black. Black men brought that trophy home to you, Denver. I don't know what that means, if it means anything at all, but a little acknowledgement on that one wouldn't be outa line. Maybe that's all Beyoncé was trying to say.
Anyway, my Donkeys won, and I'm a happy guy right now, and I can make a decision on whether or not I stay with this football thing later. Time for another drink.
Science Monday
I'm putting this up the day before Denver loses it's record 6th Super Bowl - actually, I'm trying to put up a lotta stuff in advance, because if my Donkeys pull it off, I'm prob'ly gonna be drunk for several days.
So here's some great stuff from The Thinking Atheist:
So here's some great stuff from The Thinking Atheist:
Feb 7, 2016
Sunday-Go-To-Meetin'
On Friday's podcast, Blue Gal did a Bible Bitch segment - generally too rare an occurrence IMO. I'm pretty god-hostile, but she always gives me something interesting and useful. Anyway, it centered around this Depression-era Methodist hymn:
O Young And Fearless Prophet --S Ralph Harlow, 1931
O young and fearless Prophet of ancient Galilee,
O Young And Fearless Prophet --S Ralph Harlow, 1931
O young and fearless Prophet of ancient Galilee,
Thy life is still a summons to serve humanity;
To make our thoughts and actions less prone to please the crowd,
To stand with humble courage for truth with hearts uncowed.
We marvel at the purpose that held Thee to Thy course
We marvel at the purpose that held Thee to Thy course
While ever on the hilltop before Thee loomed the cross;
Thy steadfast face set forward where love and duty shone,
While we betray so quickly and leave Thee there alone.
O help us stand unswerving against war’s bloody way,
O help us stand unswerving against war’s bloody way,
Where hate and lust and falsehood hold back Christ’s holy sway;
Forbid false love of country that blinds us to His call,
Who lifts above the nations the unity of all.
Stir up in us a protest against our greed for wealth,
Stir up in us a protest against our greed for wealth,
While others starve and hunger and plead for work and health;
Where homes with little children cry out for lack of bread,
Who live their years sore burdened beneath a gloomy dread.
Create in us the splendor that dawns when hearts are kind,
Create in us the splendor that dawns when hearts are kind,
That knows not race nor station as boundaries of the mind;
That learns to value beauty, in heart, or brain, or soul,
And longs to bind God’s children into one perfect whole.
O young and fearless Prophet, we need Thy presence here,
O young and fearless Prophet, we need Thy presence here,
Amid our pride and glory to see Thy face appear;
Once more to hear Thy challenge above our noisy day,
Again to lead us forward along God’s holy way.
And here's the podcast:
And here's the podcast:
Feb 6, 2016
Senator Big Gulp's Night Out
Can't improve on this. https://t.co/elRQzYvslk— Mike Roberts (@EvilleMike) February 7, 2016
Go, Ben Go
Live TV is the best fucking thing ever.
Stop watching the debate and just keep watching this Vine of Ben Carson's entrance: https://t.co/75a51YFRP2 #gopdebate— Jim Waterson (@jimwaterson) February 7, 2016
Pretending It Doesn't Matter
It bothers me a lot that they can't play football for more than a few minutes without somebody being in need of medical attention.
Football's my game. I loved playing it. I love watching it. I get it and it gets me. It's my game. But there's something wrong with it, and I have to admit there's something wrong with it.
I just really wish I had confidence that the people who have the power to make the necessary changes will, in fact, make those changes.
hat tip = politicians are poodyheads
Pretending It Matters
On the eve of Super Bowl 50!!!
So I guess the NFL needs to lose the bullshit Roman numerals thing when it comes to their annual biggest fucking thing in the whole world ever? 'Cuz the 'L' looks like a typo or something? Or it looks more like "Super Bowl - LARGE". I've never quite understood why we feel the need to dress that kinda shit up by using substitutes for numbers - like we're trying to make it look more important than it actually is - why can't we just let it be what it is?
So anyway, fuck that shit. But wait - Roger Goodell had to sign off on the '50' thing, so maybe Mr Goodell is of more use than tits on a bull after all(?) Or maybe, actually, somebody in Goodell's office handled it; well, more likely, it was somebody in the marketing department; or the PR firm that the NFL outsources all the important decisions to...so yeah, Roger Goodell is about as useful as tits on a bull.
So anyway, fuck that shit. But wait - Roger Goodell had to sign off on the '50' thing, so maybe Mr Goodell is of more use than tits on a bull after all(?) Or maybe, actually, somebody in Goodell's office handled it; well, more likely, it was somebody in the marketing department; or the PR firm that the NFL outsources all the important decisions to...so yeah, Roger Goodell is about as useful as tits on a bull.
Anyway, here's an oldie from Jay Smoothe - it starts as a reaction to some weird shit that flew around the web because of LebRon and Miami and the NBA and whatever, but Jay does a good job widening it out into a decent perspective on the pathology of Sportsball Mania in general.
Anyway - Go Donkeys! Losing a 6th Super Bowl is a record that could stand for a very long time. Make me proud, fellas.
Anyway - Go Donkeys! Losing a 6th Super Bowl is a record that could stand for a very long time. Make me proud, fellas.
Feb 5, 2016
Friday Nite Listenin'
By now, I suspect, this is something of a chestnut.
Don't care. Good guitar good poetry and good harmony never gets old.
Prologue --Milk Carton Kids
Don't care. Good guitar good poetry and good harmony never gets old.
Prologue --Milk Carton Kids
Spread The Blog
Honoring and remembering on this Blogroll Amnesty Day (thanks Tengrain). They also serve who sit and type.
From Scarfolk Council:
From Scarfolk Council:
Feb 4, 2016
Today's Tweet
At this point Democrats don't have a leg to stand on when mocking the GOP process. The infighting has been vile.— Smartassicus Totalus (@Cynicalreality) February 5, 2016
Can't prove that by me. I'm all in for Bernie. Until or unless it's time for me to be all in for Hillary.
And BTW - The only thing dumber than somebody saying they won't vote because "you're just choosing between the lesser of two evils" is the willful blindness required for somebody not to understand that it's about pushing back against the greater of the two evils.
Smarten up and vote. Then smarten up again, work together, and get shit done.
My Quote
Synthesizing and deriving from Napoleon and a movie called "The Contender".
Your willingness to be petty is shown in what you do to get power. Your commitment to greatness is shown in how you exercise that power.
Today's Tweet
Amazing action shots of Kingfisher hunting in winter, by Manfred Delpho. pic.twitter.com/pFXNXiXp6u— Weird Science (@weird_sci) February 4, 2016
Today's Tweet
Obama Triumphs As House Republicans Fail To Override Obamacare Repeal Veto https://t.co/moZX5iN25R So now they'll get going on jobs. right?— margaret stuart md (@marstu67) February 3, 2016
 |
| Waiting |
Feb 3, 2016
Today's Quote
To doubt everything or to believe everything are two equally convenient solutions; both dispense with the necessity of reflection. --Henri Poincairé
Today's Charlie
Charlie Pierce on the little stroke fest going on between Chris Matthews and Hillary:
Anyway, Matthews giving Hillary a tongue bath on the air like a dutiful little Press Poodle was a little surprising given the outright hostility that Charlie points out, but it makes a lot of sense from the stand point of the corporate media needing to rally around the power center and protect the status quo against the efforts of a Bernie Sanders who seems to be trying to turn this joint into some dirty little democracy or some such. Eww.
Careers are at stake here. If they allow Bernie to gain any real momentum, the whole Political Infotainment Industry is in real danger of total collapse. They know he's that much of a threat. Isn't it interesting how some people are so sure that protecting their paycheck is more important than serving our little experiment in self-government? That's the mindset of the overseer.
Somebody - actually a group of very powerful somebodies - has made a decision that Hillary's going to be our next POTUS. They'll hedge their bets by flacking Marco Rubio, but that's the window dressing; that's the match-maker shit they pull on us every fucking time.
Rubio is being cast as the GOP's Barack Obama - coming from behind to knock off all the favorites in the playoffs and win a shot at the title. I think it's interesting that Cruz (IMO) is being used as the cat's paw to countervail Trump, while Rubio is being pimped as some kind of quiet giant killer. BTW - I tho't that role was going to be Jeb's, but the guy is apparently even more adept at fucking up a free lunch than his dumb-as-a-stump brother, and I'm dumb enough to have tho't otherwise.
Anyway, we all remember what an epic battle it was for the Dem nomination in 2008 when we had the crafty veteran squaring off against the upstart newcomer, so why not just replay that whole fucking show; that was a dandy - but this time, we'll put 'em on opposite sides in a contest for the ultimate prize - it'll be a spectacularly spectacular spectacle to see these two valiant warriors in action as they slug it out for blah blah blah. This isn't even a horse race anymore - it looks a lot more like Professional Wrestling.
Call me wacky and y'know - I may be paranoid, but that don't mean nobody's out to get me.
Wanna know what stops this shit - or at least changes it for the better?
Chris Matthews had an interview with Hillary Rodham Clinton on the MSNBC channel of the electric teevee machine Tuesday afternoon that was flatly astounding. This is especially true if you remember Matthews' sorry history with the Clinton family, especially concerning HRC, against whom he was so hostile in 2008 that kindly Doc Maddow called him out on it on the air. Now, though, apparently, Matthews sees HRC as the only thing keeping the Battleship Potemkin from sailing up his driveway.I don't need a lot of encouragement to slag Tweety. The guy is a political sycophant who made his bones serving congress during a time that became pretty notorious for official corruption - not that anything can compare with what's going on now, but back then, bribery was still illegal. Aah, the good old days.
Anyway, Matthews giving Hillary a tongue bath on the air like a dutiful little Press Poodle was a little surprising given the outright hostility that Charlie points out, but it makes a lot of sense from the stand point of the corporate media needing to rally around the power center and protect the status quo against the efforts of a Bernie Sanders who seems to be trying to turn this joint into some dirty little democracy or some such. Eww.
Careers are at stake here. If they allow Bernie to gain any real momentum, the whole Political Infotainment Industry is in real danger of total collapse. They know he's that much of a threat. Isn't it interesting how some people are so sure that protecting their paycheck is more important than serving our little experiment in self-government? That's the mindset of the overseer.
Somebody - actually a group of very powerful somebodies - has made a decision that Hillary's going to be our next POTUS. They'll hedge their bets by flacking Marco Rubio, but that's the window dressing; that's the match-maker shit they pull on us every fucking time.
Rubio is being cast as the GOP's Barack Obama - coming from behind to knock off all the favorites in the playoffs and win a shot at the title. I think it's interesting that Cruz (IMO) is being used as the cat's paw to countervail Trump, while Rubio is being pimped as some kind of quiet giant killer. BTW - I tho't that role was going to be Jeb's, but the guy is apparently even more adept at fucking up a free lunch than his dumb-as-a-stump brother, and I'm dumb enough to have tho't otherwise.
Anyway, we all remember what an epic battle it was for the Dem nomination in 2008 when we had the crafty veteran squaring off against the upstart newcomer, so why not just replay that whole fucking show; that was a dandy - but this time, we'll put 'em on opposite sides in a contest for the ultimate prize - it'll be a spectacularly spectacular spectacle to see these two valiant warriors in action as they slug it out for blah blah blah. This isn't even a horse race anymore - it looks a lot more like Professional Wrestling.
Call me wacky and y'know - I may be paranoid, but that don't mean nobody's out to get me.
Wanna know what stops this shit - or at least changes it for the better?
A Brief Predictive History
Some day, we might get a peek at a few of the encounters that've set this epically wacky political year in motion, and maybe, the running battle between The Lord High Priebus and Donald The Invincible of Trumpkinland will be remembered ever so grandly thus:
Feb 2, 2016
Comments For Cash
No matter what it is. No matter who it's for or who wants it to happen - somebody's always gonna step up and be willing to pimp out their own children, believing they'll make enough to shield themselves from the shittiness that drowns "everybody else".
And remember, kids - if you want to know what's up with any problem here in USAmerica Inc, just take a hard look at who stands to benefit from allowing the problem to persist, and then look at who stands to profit from any proposed solution.
One last thing:
On the 31st floor,
a gold-plated door
won't keep out the lord's burnin' rain.
Sin City (cover) --Emmylou Harris and Beck
Today's Tweet
Ted (Spindle Face) Cruz had a roomie at Princeton who just can't stop talkin' shit about the guy.
Ted Cruz focused all of his resources on a state with tailor-made demographics for him, and he got 50,000 votes. Dodger Stadium fits 56,000.— Craig Mazin (@clmazin) February 2, 2016
The Inoculating Attack
— R.Saddler (@Politics_PR) February 2, 2016
The main reason Repubs are always launching what are truly silly "investigations" into non-troversial un-scandals like Benghazi and Voter Fraud and Whitewater and IRS and Fast And Furious and Vince Foster and whether or not Hillary was on the grassy knoll in Dallas and and and - anyway, they do it partly because they know their little fishing trips will uncover something eventually that embarrasses whoever they're sliming, plus they can use it to sell the baloney about "aren't you tired of all the scandal surrounding [insert Democrat's name here]? But mostly, by constantly using this one government power tool, in the most cynical and manipulative way possible, they set the frame that makes it easier for them to claim "it doesn't mean anything; it's all just political" when (eg) there're legitimate reasons for somebody to slap Rick Snyder's face around to the other side of his head.
And BTW - if you can't point out at least 6 times the Dems pulled this kinda shit, then shut the fuck up with all that Both Sides bullshit.
Feb 1, 2016
Jan 31, 2016
Today's Tweet
Whoever made this, thank you.
Trump v. Manson. pic.twitter.com/ztUx36aY1c
— Steve Marmel (@Marmel) January 31, 2016
Jan 30, 2016
Bob And Chez
These guys are often pretty dang good. Not Professional Left kinda good, but good. The best bit for me is their point that Trump is setting up DumFux News to be included in the big bad media megalith, and using Sarah Palin to swing the sledge for him. Pretty interesting.
And it goes along with driftglass (Professional Left) observing that there are politicians and other power-humpers out there trying lotsa little maneuvers to take advantage of our obsessive acceptance of the Both-Sides narrative in order to position themselves as the "sensible middle". Trump is a master at playing the ends against each other while staying safely at the center of it all. (have you watched "The Wheeler Dealers" yet, like I told ya?)
And it goes along with driftglass (Professional Left) observing that there are politicians and other power-humpers out there trying lotsa little maneuvers to take advantage of our obsessive acceptance of the Both-Sides narrative in order to position themselves as the "sensible middle". Trump is a master at playing the ends against each other while staying safely at the center of it all. (have you watched "The Wheeler Dealers" yet, like I told ya?)
The Mic Drop
Nobody's doing it better right now than Larry Wilmore.
Still hoping Trevor Noah will at least start to catch up soon. Also hoping the suits give him the space and the help he needs to do that.
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