0>w/hole>1

Absence Makes the Heart Gr....ew.

2012-01-24T19:38:00.000-08:00

Santorum with his finger on the pulse, as always. Via TheImmoralMinority.

Sorry it's been so long, O My Readership, if any a' youse still there. Tha new job is a much happier circumstance, but I find myself with fewer opps to write. And by fewer, I mean none.

That said, I've been plowing through The Boilerplate Rhino, and am enjoying it immensely -- particularly the bit about rattlesnake roundups and non-splat cats.

What have y'all been up to?

Questionable Packing Choice

2011-12-31T21:58:00.000-08:00

From NY Times, via Fark and ImmoralMinority: Serviceman Held for Carrying Explosives Into Texas Airport

Not sure what the Times' policy is these days about linking to articles...you might have to googles it up via (explosives + United + Midland Texas).

Vacation Station

2011-12-28T20:00:00.000-08:00

Real America (con't)

2011-12-27T08:00:00.000-08:00

Real America (con't)

2011-12-26T08:00:00.000-08:00

Quotes of the Day

2011-12-24T00:23:00.000-08:00

From "Snuff" by Terry Pratchett, HarperCollins, New York, 2011:

"I tell you, commander, it's true that some of the most terrible things in the world are done by people who think, genuinely think, that they're doing it for the best, especially if there's some god involved."
- p.185

"...good people have no business being so bad. Goodness is about what you do. Not what you pray to."
- p.186

"What was a policeman, if not a civilian with a uniform and badge? But they tended to use the term these days as a way of describing people who were not policemen. It was a dangerous habit: once policemen stopped being civilians the only other thing they could be was soldiers."
- p.207

Merry Christmas, Everyone

2011-12-23T11:41:00.000-08:00

Friday Getdown

2011-12-23T11:31:00.001-08:00

Fifteen Birds, in Five Fir Trees

2011-12-20T20:23:00.000-08:00

Lookit!

Blentry title from:

Real America (con't)

2011-12-20T18:55:00.001-08:00

"Great Historian" Gingrich Wants to Scrap Constitution in Favor of Rule by Fiat

2011-12-18T21:43:00.006-08:00

Or at least that's what this sounds like, in so much as he said he wants to do away with an independent and co-equal judiciary.

I think himself needs a little refresher, in between scarfing muffins and running up his Tiffany account.

===========

Also, Kim Jong Il's dead, apparently, which probably proves something or other about Obama being weak. Not sure how, but I'm sure it does.

Maybe something about illegal immigrants, phoney climate science, and the war on Bank Holidays too. I don't know. Logic was never my strong suit, but when its nobody else's either, so that's ok.

Question for the day

2011-12-18T20:30:00.003-08:00

How is the Occupy movement like the early Christian Church?

From HuffPo: Churches Help Occupy Movement Survive Crackdowns, Winter

From the Church Council of Greater Seattle: Church Council of Greater Seattle Affirms and Upholds the Occupy Movement

Fermentation Station

2011-12-18T19:54:00.002-08:00

I've got some work hoo-ha going on right now; blogging will be even more sporadic than usual. Feel free to (dr/th)ink amongst yourselves.

In the meantime, if you don't already listen to the Carolina Chocolate Drops, you oughta:

More of the Usual

2011-12-12T16:51:00.001-08:00

And here I thought this sort of thing went out of style with the Jeffersons. Silly me.

I'd stick the usual disclaimer about but-oh-no-they're-not-racists, but it's getting a little tired, so howzabout let's all just admit they're racists and move on.

=============

UPDATE:

GOP Debate Audience Cheers Child Labor on LGF.

So....these are the folks you want steering the bus?

That said, I wonder what else you could get a room full of Republican voters to cheer? I'm thinking even the Union Carbide accident might get at least a polite round of applause the way the children are curently acting.

Chocquibtown

2011-12-11T08:59:00.000-08:00

Via SvG.

I See By Your Outfit

2011-12-10T09:35:00.000-08:00

Pix aplenty from the University of Idaho Library:
* Digital Initiatives
* Ott Historical Photograph Collection
* Kyle Laughlin Photograph Collection

It's Not That It's a Bad Law, Mind You

2011-12-09T15:45:00.000-08:00

It's just that its perfectness need a little refining. HT Steve Benen, Political Animal.

Oddly enough, the following quote from Alabama Republican Gov. Robert Bentley strikes me as exactly, depressingly correct:

"[T]he state is “reaching out internationally to reassure our global partners that the business climate in Alabama is as strong as ever, and our people and communities are as inviting and welcoming as we’ve always been.”"

Yep -- *exactly* as inviting and welcoming as they’ve always been. But then I'm a cynic and a wise-ass, so there you go.

...

Is it just me, or does anyone else think the refinements to be proposed to the law are going to be, basically, "dude, arrest the brown guys, not the Germans"?

Quote of the Day

2011-12-09T12:26:00.000-08:00

"The term “Conservative” used to have meaning, but that is no longer the case in America. Here it is just a mask for grifters."
-- From Magical thinking: a case study by Dennis G. on BalloonJuice

===========

UPDATE:

"I’d swear this guy is getting dumber as the campaign progresses."
-- From Another Perry flub: 8 Supreme Court justices? by Steve Benen on PoliticalAnimal

O-M Reducks

2011-12-09T09:43:00.000-08:00

Dude, Olathe onna Dish! And it looks just how I thought it would, too.

Friday Getdown

2011-12-09T09:31:00.000-08:00

Scottish Art Hit'n'Run

2011-12-09T09:20:00.000-08:00

Mysterious paper sculptures via GW.

============

UPDATE:

Somewhat related: Words Under The Skin Tattoo Is Horrifically Cool via ER.

Cancelled on Account of Tha Crazy

2011-12-08T15:38:00.000-08:00

The Donald's not quite voted off the island, but once Bachmann's given a body the "ummm....that's alright, sweetness" treatment, it's time to bring in the clowns.

The other clowns.

Dammit...give me a minute...I'm sure I can find an appropriate link to some clowns that goesn't actually go to something GOP-related...

Nope, sorry. "Clowns" == GOP, all the time. This does not bode well for the future of the party, although perhaps it contains a kernel of hope for the Republic.

==============

UPDATE:

Always amusing to say "Santorum" and "jockeyed" in the same breath.

Reince Priebus, also too.

Kinky

2011-12-08T09:52:00.001-08:00

Men Don't Change

2011-12-07T15:23:00.001-08:00

Inspired by a post over t'Library Grape, here's some Harry T:

“Republicans approve of the American farmer, but they are willing to help him go broke. They stand four-square for the American home--but not for housing. They are strong for labor--but they are stronger for restricting labor's rights. They favor minimum wage--the smaller the minimum wage the better. They endorse educational opportunity for all--but they won't spend money for teachers or for schools. They think modern medical care and hospitals are fine--for people who can afford them. They consider electrical power a great blessing--but only when the private power companies get their rake-off. They think American standard of living is a fine thing--so long as it doesn't spread to all the people. And they admire of Government of the United States so much that they would like to buy it.”

As true or truer still. And, dammit, I missed out on this'un when Cain was shooting his fool ignorance-proud mouth off about not being a reader:

“Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.”

Read through the list; it'd be useful if there were more Harrys around today. My uncle used to say Truman was the last of the old guys....

Doctrine of Signatures

2011-12-07T15:16:00.001-08:00

Question of the day: Does the fact that he's shaped like a grenade make it more likely that Gingrich is going to take himself and the GOP out in a friendly-fire incident?

Black Heart/Heart Black

2011-12-07T11:52:00.000-08:00

Going out to DougJ, BalloonJuice, and Teahadists ever'where, here's the School of Rock end credits:

Wake me up when we can openly support killing Teh Ghey again, and not just at GOP functions.

Quotes for the Day

2011-12-06T17:27:00.000-08:00

"[S]uffering is the entire core of the GOP philosophy. It’s just that you are the one they want suffering."
-- From Suffer Little Children by John Cole on BalloonJuice

"Rick Perry is incensed that our aid dollars might prevent Uganda from hanging gay people."
-- From Shorter Rick Perry: “God Hates Fags” by John Cole on BalloonJuice

Cream of the Crop (con't)

2011-12-02T16:33:00.000-08:00

Look, GOP, I know Herman Cain's on the way out and all, but the mere fact that the brain that produced this magnificent piece of campaign marginalia was once your frontrunner at all -- AT ALL -- should give you some pause. What are we doing wrong? How did we sink so low? Is it something about ourselves that causes hucksters and numbnuts to flock to us like bottle-flies to a sewage pool? That sort of thing.

The first step is admitting you have have a problem, you know.

Dogpatch Tease

2011-12-01T20:43:00.000-08:00

Lil' Abner Amusement Park, no mo'.

Whatever Happened to Dogpatch USA? =>

Wikipedia: Dogpatch USA =>

Arkansasroadstories.com: Dogpatch U.S.A.

New Adventures In Dimbulb Republicans

2011-12-01T17:05:00.000-08:00

Newt Gringrich, ladies and gentlemen: "“Really poor children, in really poor neighborhoods have no habits of working and have nobody around them who works so they have no habit of showing up on Monday,” Gingrich claimed.

“They have no habit of staying all day, they have no habit of I do this and you give me cash unless it is illegal,” he added."

Via BalloonJuice

The poor are a criminal class. Good freaking god. What next, berating the military incursions of "The Turk" and "The Hun"?

================

UPDATE:

Charles Johnson wonders: "Good grief. Can this kind of stuff really be playing well with the GOP base?"

My answer: of *course* it does, because you'll note Grinch uses the words "in really poor neighborhoods" which means -- Bueller? Bueller? -- black. And calling black Americans lazy criminals is practically the password at the He-Man Woman Haters Club that passes for a political party over there.

================

UPDATER:

Hunh. Just noticed the acronym for this blentry's title is "NADIR". Whattaya know?

What He Said

2011-11-30T13:48:00.000-08:00

Ditto I say, quoting a quoter.

=============

UPDATE

Michele Bachmann, with just the most recentest example of above.

I mean, seriously, GOP -- aren't you ashamed of yourselves? *This* is the caliber of folks you want/produce?

U-G-L-Y, you ain't got no alibi.

HT BalloonJuice.

==============

UPDATER

Coda on the Bachmann article, by TPM commentor Simmelicious: "What an embassile."

With Regards to Sullivan and Racially-Based IQs

2011-11-29T21:43:00.000-08:00

View specifically 31:30-42:00:

=========

UPDATE:

Re: my comment in the comments, here's some Ta-Nehisi Coates, his last (probably) in a series of back-and-forths on this topic with Andrew Sullivan.

Cream of the Crop

2011-11-29T13:23:00.000-08:00

Drinking, voting -- what's the difference?

But, oh yeah, it's the *black* guy who's the ignoramus, right?

Person in Need

2011-11-28T20:05:00.000-08:00

Support Rumproast’s Fundraiser for Blogger StrangeAppar8us:

"...StrangeAppar8us suffered a severe traumatic brain injury on November 3rd. It is true that he is out of danger. He has already undergone one operation that went very well. He is able to speak, hold very short conversations, and his motor skills seem to be unaffected. His wit, intelligence, and the core sweetness of his character are also intact. It’s true that he is showing some improvement every day, but he is still hospitalized and has a permanent disability as a result of this injury that will require years of rehabilitation. We are heartbroken to report to you that his vision has been affected, and he is blind.

Rumproast, our jolly little blog, has been incredibly lucky to have been graced by Strange’s wild, weird, magnificent writing and wicked sense of humor. He has been a huge part of this blog since he first arrived as a commenter here back in August of 2008. We miss him terribly.

We know that we’ll never raise enough money to offset Strange’s massive hospital bills or pay for the extensive rehabilitation that will be required, but we’d like to do whatever we can financially to help our good pal out. Hopefully, with the help of the blogging community, we can help get enough money together to buy Strange specialized computer equipment so that he can start writing again (the guy has a helluva autobiography in him!), a companion dog, or anything else to make his transition as easy as possible."

Via BalloonJuice and The Political Carnival.

Quote of the Day

2011-11-28T16:43:00.000-08:00

"Mark Block is already trying to spin this.

'Look at the bright side,' said Block stubbing out a cigarette, 'at least it was consensual.'

Cracking an amyl nitrate, Block continued, 'The way I look at it, it just proves that he's just as experienced as Newt Gingrich. I wish the Manchester Union Leader hadn't been so hasty.'"
-- Commenter ma-foi on Cain ‘Mistress’ Offers Details Of ‘Affair’ on TPM. (I can't seem to find a good url to libnk directly to the comment, unfortunately...)

The "party of family values"...man, that *never* ceases to be funny.

Owt Howse

2011-11-27T22:17:00.000-08:00

I don't know why, but a Canadian elf just doesn't do it for me.

Bubble Pop (con't)

2011-11-27T13:00:00.000-08:00

In Which A Wax Mannequin Does The Cha-Cha

2011-11-27T09:41:00.000-08:00

What, you thought I was kidding?

Bubble Pop

2011-11-27T00:35:00.001-08:00

I'm Comic Sans, Assh*le

2011-11-27T00:04:00.000-08:00

I’m Comic Sans, Asshole. by Mike Lacher.

The Pungent Smell of Mildew

2011-11-26T21:23:00.000-08:00

I'm A Poor Man's Leni Riefenstahl, Essentially

2011-11-21T21:34:00.000-08:00

"...Megyn Kelly tells O'Reilly, that pepper spray is "a food product, essentially"."
-- ‘It’s a Food Product, Essentially’: Fox News Starts Spinning Pepper Spray Cops on Gawker via BalloonJuice

"Yeah, so is Ricin, Kelly."
-- Reply from commentor under_electriclite

Occupy This Thread

2011-11-21T20:31:00.000-08:00

It’s Cold Out There for Occupy Everywhere =>

OWS-inspired activism =>

#OWS - Interview With FDL's Kevin Gosztola =>

The Occupation Will Be Livestreamed

New Favorite

2011-11-21T20:22:00.000-08:00

Well, That's Their Job, Isn't It?

2011-11-21T16:54:00.000-08:00

"...Fox News actually leads people to be less informed than those who consume no news at all."
-- David Taintor in Poll: Fox News Viewers Less Informed Than Those Who Read No News on TPM

First, and I apologize, but that last name has just *got* to be a hard row to hoe.

That said:

a) if facts have a liberal bias; and
b) if FoxNews' job is to get people to vote Republican; then
c) it's FoxNews' obligation to produce stupid viewers.

And the stupidity of its viewers is something Fox takes very, very seriously.

Speaking of Fat Loudmouths

2011-11-21T09:48:00.000-08:00

* When will this guy get canned, already? Although he *is* useful as an "opposite" stick. "Jeebus, how can I be sure I am living a good and moral life?" "Well Johnny, you see that fat loudmouth over there talking into the thing with the knob on the end? Well...."

* Newt Gingrich, "Ideas Man".

* All together now: "Like. A. Hole. In. The. Head."

That last one might not be as fat, but the mouth, it ain't fer quiet.

Y'all Come Back Now, Y'hear?

2011-11-20T11:49:00.000-08:00

"Welcome to Cooter’s Place, the headquarters of Hazzard Nation, and all things Hazzard."

I'd like one of everything, please. Except for the stuff with the Confederate flag.

...Wait a minnit....

Ah, nuts.

==========

UPDATE:

It's like I'm prescient or something. Of course, linking "confederate flag" and "US conservative political poor behavior" is about as hard as...what? Finding a cat Pepe Le Peu wants to boink?

Long Live tha Law Blog

2011-11-19T16:00:00.000-08:00

Via AB: Netflix Gets Exclusive 'Arrested Development' Streaming Rights For New Season

Random Notes Page

2011-11-19T15:37:00.000-08:00

* TPM: CERN Reconfirms Faster-Than-Light Neutrinos

* Osage culture and language sites, plus a little background from tha wikis. Also from the wikis, the USS Osage (1863): "The first USS Osage was a single-turreted Neosho-class river monitor named after the American Indian tribe living in the Missouri area."

* Well worth reading: World Heritage Sites: A Complete Guide to 890 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In addition, here's OurPlace World Heritage photographs and the UNESCO World Heritage site.

* Via SvG, here's the wondrous Lila Downs, and AltLatino on NPR.

* Holy mother of God -- the papercut artwork of Béatrice Coron. And an additional article about her on Brain Pickings.

* The History of English, via R:

Friday Getdown

2011-11-18T17:00:00.001-08:00

=============

UPDATE:

Bachbot Stuck on Re-Re-Peat

2011-11-18T15:13:00.000-08:00

Isn't it time the nurses tucked Michelle into bed before she hurts herself? Sounds like she's got herself overexcited -- and maybe Princess Hermy, too.

Ham Hat

2011-11-18T14:38:00.000-08:00

Just a week left to go on the JourneyQuest Season 2 Kickstarter campaign; help unlock their additional promo incentives:

"$105,000 -- Every contributor receives an exclusive backer's-only embroidered Season Two Supporter patch.
$110,000 -- We commission a full-color map of Fartherall, the world of JourneyQuest
$115,000 -- We greenlight development of the JourneyQuest Role-playing Game
$120,000 -- We produce the official Orcs of JourneyQuest beefcake calendar"

That said, dunno if their SupaSecret $15,000 in donations count towards those incentives -- if so, then they're already up to $115,000...

If folks push it up to $200,000, then they'll do season 2 and 3 concurrently, but if they make that benchmark, I'll eat my hat*.

--------

* A hat made out of delicious, delicious ham.

The Blacks Are Lazy, Also Too

2011-11-17T10:02:00.000-08:00

Rick Perry, ladies and gents. A quality man, if ever there was one.

And nose to the grindstone? You bet!

Children

2011-11-16T22:35:00.000-08:00

I wrote a whole sarcastic post about this crap, but deleted it because the snark was too much.

But, I mean, Jesus. What Would Bill Bennett Say? Or are manners just for folks that you still think are folks?

Quoteness: I, Mudd

2011-11-15T15:15:00.000-08:00

The Trek episode "I, Mudd" (specif, Spock's wondrous line "Logic is a little tweeting bird chirping in a meadow") came up elsewheres on tha tubes; courtesy of IMDB, here's some other quotes:

Captain Kirk: Well, opinions?
Chekov: I think we're in a lot of trouble.
Captain Kirk: That's a great help, Mr. Chekov. Bones?
McCoy: I think Chekov's right, we are in a lot of trouble.
Captain Kirk: Spock, and if you say we're in a lot of trouble...
Spock: We are.

========

Alice #1 through 250: We have a very extensive library section for your amusement.
Alice #251 through 500: Our research laboratories and workshops are extremely well equipped.
Alice #1 through 250, Alice #251 through 500: You are free to visit them.
Captain Kirk: Alright, we might later. In the mean time, would you mind leaving us?
Alice #1 through 250, Alice #251 through 500: Why should we leave you?
Captain Kirk: Because... we don't like you.

Random Notes Page

2011-11-14T19:50:00.000-08:00

* Paper Cutting Art by Hina Aoyama

* Ten Amazing Vanity Press Ads from the New York Review of Books on ROTI.

* "The South," making everyone's life harder. Thanks a lot, "The South".

* Mortality Bridge won one of the 2011 Emperor Norton Awards.

Dude -- there's *Emperor Norton* Awards. Pretty cool.

Fnord, also too.

* GOP still hellbent (on wasting their time on pernicious nonsense).

Sissy Pizza

2011-11-14T15:37:00.000-08:00

Just back the truck up a minute, Princess Hermy -- what the hell are you on about now?

Anybody have any moist towelettes? Cain just palined all over himself.

Up Yours, Monday

2011-11-14T08:16:00.000-08:00

St. Ronnie for the Rest of Us

2011-11-13T20:00:00.000-08:00

Veronica Lake that is. Meow.

Festive Holi-DIE!

2011-11-13T08:03:00.000-08:00

Via R: When the moon is full, the beak will rise -- apparently, the Thankskilling DVD is hitting the streets now-ish.

...

Thankskilling 2 apparently got funded, also too. God help us all.

===========

In other news, Naked Ned Builds Potomac River Dams, Dislikes Cotton Clothes.

Ya Know Ya Wanna

2011-11-12T08:55:00.000-08:00

Buy Bahamut now, if not sooner. I got it today, and it's all that and a bag of slips. Ah, chips. I meant chips. Bag of chips.

White House Area Shots Fired

2011-11-11T19:49:00.000-08:00

wjla.com: "Shots have been fired between two cars near the White House, U.S. Park Police confirms."

Jackie Benson: "suspect in machine gun fire near #WhiteHouse jumped out of car at 23rd and Constitution. Car has Idaho plates."

Via ABL on BalloonJuice

==========

UPDATE:

This from Huffington Post: "The source does not believe the shots were directed at the White House, speculating that it was probably an issue between the two vehicles."

Paging Mr. Furr...Mr. Joel Furr...

2011-11-11T19:19:00.000-08:00

Please pick up at the white courtesy phone...

Frink.

=============

UPDATE:

Oh, God, why?

Dead to Me

2011-11-11T16:47:00.000-08:00

From TMP: 'Atlas Shrugged’ Producers Replace ‘Embarrassing’ DVD Covers That Say Movie Is About ‘Self-Sacrifice’.

*Sigh*.

I want to say something about Christ's message of "enlightened self-interest". I want to say something about about how true "enlightened self interest" would indicate not pulling up social ladders behind you was a *good* thing. I want to say something about the "enlightenment" of folks doubling down on a bomb.

But screw it. They're set on diddling while Rome burns, rather than joining the bucket brigade, so why bother.

There Can Only Be Ten Thousand

2011-11-11T10:17:00.000-08:00

A feature-length JourneyQuest Season Two looks like it just got green-lit -- they made $10K whilst I was at lunch.

Keep donating, though -- if they can make ten large in an hour, it's possible they can get to $200,000 (and thus shoot seasons 2 and 3 concurrently) by the time their Kickstarter program ends in a couple of weeks.

Not probable, but possible.

Friday Getdown

2011-11-11T09:21:00.001-08:00

No Words

2011-11-10T11:00:00.000-08:00

From Joe Paterno Fired: Penn State Football Coach Removed By Board Of Trustees After Scandal: "Sandusky founded The Second Mile charity in 1977, working with at-risk youths."

More here: Penn State Scandal Timeline: Key Dates In The Jerry Sandusky Sex Abuse Case , and some commentary over at BalloonJuice.

How is a Joke like a Dump in a Diaper?

2011-11-09T20:14:00.000-08:00

They're both made by *ssholes.

Your modern GOP, ladies and gentlemen. Something needs to be changed.

But None of it Matters Because They Are a Representative Sample

2011-11-09T19:12:00.000-08:00

So this happened.

I agree with Sullivan, minus the doubt: "I'm beginning to wonder if these debates are helping Obama more than his own primary debates did in 2007 and 2008."

It all comes down to letting people see in the light what all's been skittering around in the dark.

=============

UPDATE:

Is it just me, or is anyone else sniffing.....Palinmentum?

...

Kinda like smelly baby and Barbasol.

Stand By Your Sham

2011-11-09T16:54:00.000-08:00

Via the Dish, Cain's wife has postponed her Fox interview.

I wonders, I wonders, I wah-wah-wah-wonders why. One blonde too many?

The Ideas-Man's Bright Idea?

2011-11-09T13:23:00.000-08:00

Get rid of the CBO.

The above NSFW.

Jefferson Hareplane

2011-11-08T11:07:00.000-08:00

Okay, okay; hugely bad pun in the blentry title there. That said, read this or perish -- "Naked Girls and the White Rabbit" by Melissa King.

...

Perish, I say.

All Hails Tha Overlords

2011-11-08T09:17:00.000-08:00

Robots, so don't look, R.

Quote of the Day

2011-11-07T20:39:00.000-08:00

"Cain exhibited no inappropriate sexual behavior during the dinner, though he did order two $400 bottles of wine and stuck the women with the bill, she said."
-- by Susan Ferrechio in "Fifth woman raises questions about Cain's behavior" on The Washington Examiner, via TPM

===========

UPDATE:

Actually, the headline "Why Santorum runs" is really good too, but only if you're in on the joke.

Random Notes Page

2011-11-07T19:24:00.000-08:00

* Via KH, Science Ink: Carl Zimmer Catalogs the Tattoos of Science Nerds

* Calle del Campos by Chicha Libre:

Calle Del Campos from joshua camp on Vimeo.

More info on Chicha Libre here, and here, and here, and some toobs here. I've just listened to a coupla songs, and I'm hooked like a crooked trout onna bent pole. Or something.

* Actually, hell with it, pretty much *everything* on the Barbes label is worth listening to.

* Also, donut soap.

But What Herman Cain Really Wants to Know....

2011-11-07T11:18:00.000-08:00

...is will all this sexual harrassment business start to eat into his speaking fees and book sales?

Because if it does, then it kinda makes this whole running-for-president thing look a little counter-productive.

Ahem.

=========

UPDATE:

So is this enough for the GOP to drop this bipedal anchor around their necks, or are we still not there yet? And I'm not talking about Cain.

Via Cain Still Unable on BalloonJuice.

Quote of the Day

2011-11-04T15:55:00.000-07:00

"... science honestly done and described is vastly different as both a practical and a moral matter than the masked-as-science attacks on this mode of discovery that now dominate the thinking of one of the two major American political parties."
-- Tom Levenson in I’m Shocked! Shocked To Find That There Are Neutrinos Going On Here on BalloonJuice

Everything That's Wrong With "Conservatism" in 50 Words or Less

2011-11-04T13:33:00.000-07:00

Charles Johnson's title over at LGF pretty much illustrates the whiz-bang job GOPers have done in cementing their brand identification: Rep. Walsh Gets ‘Pro-Family’ Award, Despite Owing $100K in Child Support.

"To the bigots of the Family Research Council, it makes perfect sense to lavish praise on a deadbeat dad, because their definition of “family” isn’t what most people think of when they hear the word; they’re talking about a Christian fundamentalist extended family, an explicitly political construct. Anyone who promotes anti-gay, anti-science, and deeply misogynistic views is “pro-family” to the FRC, even if they abuse and turn their backs on their own children."

Friday Getdown

2011-11-04T08:10:00.000-07:00

Random Notes Page

2011-11-03T19:20:00.000-07:00

* Doc Hammer on th'DeviantArts.

Don't know who Doc Hammer is? Then your store could use some fixin'.

* Via GL, here's Michael Moschen, the contact juggler in Labyrinth.

Aaaand...some other stuff.

Oh, God

2011-11-03T16:13:00.001-07:00

Via the Dish, apparently Liz Cheney and John Bolton are Rick Perry's go-to folks for foreign policy know-how.

'Cuz really, everything was all Guy Smiley back when there was a Cheney warming an Executive Office seat, am I right?

Even Shorter Rand Paul

2011-11-03T10:00:00.000-07:00

Oh Randy, you nutball. Quit trying to resurrect the 30's; no matter whatcher "party" "thinks", the depression wasn't really coolsville.

Despite the great song.

All together now: "And you knew where you were then! Girls were girls and men were men. Mister, we could use a man like Herbert Hoover again."

Hello There, Navel

2011-11-02T21:28:00.001-07:00

Is the GOP "base"'s current fascination with an accomplishment-less American exceptionalism and their denigration of intellectual accomplishment and expert opinion an outgrowth of the larger Protestant idea of justification by faith alone?

Discuss.

....

I may have posted this thought before.

Indeed

2011-11-02T20:24:00.000-07:00

From WeAreRespectableNegroes: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words: Please Stop the Lie, Herman Cain is Not Being Lynched.

Separated at Birth?

2011-11-02T20:14:00.000-07:00

Herman Cain...Ross Perot. Ross Perot...Herman Cain.

Discuss.

.........

In other news, chaunceydevega (via the Dish) asks this of Cain's allegations of gropery: "That which lingers but has not yet been broached...are these women white?"

Ain't that the truth.

Quote of the Day

2011-11-02T08:24:00.000-07:00

"Uranus rarely gets any love."
-- From Uranus Bright Spot Intrigues Scientists, Leads Astronomers To Ignored Region by Dean Praetorius on HuffPo

Ah, Huffington Post, always my go-to site for detailed, non-fluff science reporting.

I See Your Weiner, and I Raise Cain

2011-11-01T16:44:00.001-07:00

From TPM: Herman Cain Accuser Wants To Come Forward

This just ain't gonna end well. But that's ok 'cuz it's all just a plot by the librul media and Mr. Peabody's Way Back machine. Or something.

...

Also, Nazis.

===========

UPDATE:

From BalloonJuice, GOP Pollster Chris Wilson Claims to Have Witnessed Cain Sexually Harass Co-Worker.

All those for whom this was totally unexpected, take one step forward. America -- be cool.

Quote of the Day

2011-11-01T13:09:00.000-07:00

“That’s why our blacks are so much better than their blacks.”
-- Anne Coulter, as quoted in Ann Coulter: ‘Our Blacks Are So Much Better Than Their Blacks’ by Jillian Rayfield on TPM

I have never read anything so eggregiously dimwitted in my life. If there's anything to be gleaned from her statement other than "Anne Coulter is a mannerless nincompoop", I can only think that the benefits of being circumspect about their racism -- ie thinking that you have to hide it because you might alienate moderates or potential voters that don't know any better -- no longer outweigh playing directly to the racists and to the "if I make somebody else angry then I win" crowd.

In other words, Coulter knows that "everyone" knows/thinks the Republicans are the party of dopes & racists, so there's nothing to be gained by subtlety any more.

Or maybe she's just that stupid.

===========

UPDATE:

From ABL on BalloonJuice:

"Republicans see black people as tokens. The Democrats have “their blacks.” So Republicans needed to go out and find “better blacks.” ”More impressive” blacks. Blacks who are willing to pander and make white Republicans feel good about themselves.

Herman Cain is nothing more than a token to the Teapublicans. He is their “See we’re not racist” shield to ward off what they (and only they) see as unfair accusations of racism. Ann Coulter’s latest verbal diarrhea proves the point."

=========

UPDATER:

Not about blacks nor Nazis but a good line nonetheless:

"...[Republicans'] “hero” is whoever gets them what they want (or what they convince themselves they want) at that exact moment, and the “villain” is whoever they think might get in their way. It’s really that simple."
-- John Cole in A Quick Answer on BalloonJuice

Quote of the Day

2011-10-31T19:00:00.000-07:00

"Surprise! Some Republicans somewhere did something really stupid."
-- ABL in Virginia GOP Halloween-themed email featuring zombie Obama with a bullet in his head? on BalloonJuice

Tha Horror

2011-10-28T17:42:00.001-07:00

90 Corgis Wearing Costumes vs A Paul Lynde Halloween.

Boo.

Shokan, NY

2011-10-28T16:00:00.000-07:00

There's some repeat visits going on, O My Readership, from Shokan NY, so I thought I'd give the place a peep. Unfortunately, my eyes are getting droopy, so I only did the most cursory of googles which probably in no way does the place justice:

* The Wikis
* Catskill Mountain Railroad
* The Catskill Mountain Railroad Wikis

I know -- way below my usual effort. Hell -- according to the wikis, David Bowie lived/lives there for crying out loud.

I'm ashamed of this truly minimal effort on my part.

...

They've got Woodstock Chimes, "the World's Favorite Windchime"(TM) for crying out loud! God, I suck!

All kidding aside, if the folks from Shokan want to add some skinny on their home town, feel free to post in the comments.

In Which I Am Reminded Of the GOP "Front" Runners

2011-10-28T13:26:00.000-07:00

"....for it is not to be imagined without experience, how in climbing crags, and treading bogs, and winding through narrow and obstructed passages, a little bulk will hinder, and a little weight will burden; or how often a man that has pleased himself at home with his own resolution, will, in the hour of darkness and fatigue, be content to leave behind him every thing but himself."
-- Samuel Johnson, from "A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland" (1775), as excerpted in "The Norton Book of Travel", edited by Paul Fussel, pp. 242-243, Penguin Books, 1987.

Friday Getdown

2011-10-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

Jesus Motherf*ckin' Christ

2011-10-27T20:04:00.000-07:00

From Virginia GOP Candidate Admits to Lesbian Affair With Minor; Blames Liberals and Weed by ABL onna BalloonJuice:

"Apparently, Wall, now 61 years old, was “in homosexuality” back when she was a high school gym teacher at Prince George High School in Petersburg, Virginia, and while employed there, she had herself a little lesbian love affair—with a minor.

But wait. It gets better!

She claims that she is now an “ex-gay” and that the only reason she was gay (and molested a kid, I imagine) is because she let liberal professors at her liberal arts college destroy her judgment and values.

Oh yeah—and she was smoking a lot of pot."

A high-school gym teacher, you say?

==================

UPDATE:

* Via one of the commenters on the Balloon-Juice article: Brennan Opponents Beyond Surreal

* On the HuffPost: Linda Wall, Virginia House Of Delegates Candidate, Admits Lesbian Affair With Minor

==================

UPDATER:

Arg. Sorry about the broken link above. Fixed.

And when she had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices

2011-10-27T18:22:00.000-07:00

Related articles:
* StandardSpeaker: Behind the gates of 'Hatchy Milatchy'
* BizzBangBuzz: The Land of Hatchy Milatchy
* CoalSpeak: Da 'Aitches Dere
* Rowr: Ms. Judy
* A Soul Searching: The Land of Hatchy Milatchy. (I think a lot of this content might have been cribbed from elsewheres, specif. the Wikis.)

Also:
* Dude, frikkin' Mauch Chunk, my favoritest Chunk of all.
* WNEP Tribute page
* Uncle Ted:

============

UPDATE:

Well, ok, *this* runs a close second as far as Chunks go:

Definite Kickstarter Candidate

2011-10-27T17:53:00.000-07:00

DIY Space Program Breaks Records with Airship Flight

I haven't heard anything recent about Rutan's SpaceShipX/WhiteKnight program; anybody got the skinny?

...

In other news, I just added a feed for TPM's Idea Lab at the bottom of the page, because I liked this article so much: Nanocrystal Device Could Be The Next Big Battery.

And this is happening, too.

2011-10-26T19:10:00.000-07:00

Precious Moments in Police Brutality on WriteChic.

There's a Term For That

2011-10-26T16:22:00.000-07:00

"I hereby propose Zandar’s Law: whenever the right pulls out ACORN to try to discredit anything, they have automatically lost the argument. It’s literally all they’ve got left at this point, after calling OWS supporters racists, bigots, anti-semites, soshulists, parasites, anarchists, criminals, mobsters, thugs, terrorist sympathizers, potheads, Soros puppets and welfare queens for the last month and some change and Americans still support the movement, we’ve finally arrived at minions of Sauron ACORN.

Awesome. You lose, Entire Right Wing Full Of Douchebags. Good day."
-- From "Like The Bankrupt Space On Wheel Of Fortune" by Zandar on BalloonJuice

Et Tu, Pinkertons?

2011-10-25T11:38:00.000-07:00

From ThinkProgress: BREAKING: Oakland Police Use Rubber Bullets, Flash Grenades, And Smoke Bombs To Evict Occupy Oakland

Run this on Endless Loop, Please

2011-10-25T11:36:00.000-07:00

From Perry On Whether His Tax Plan Gives Millions In Tax Breaks To The Rich: ‘I Don’t Care About That’ on ThinkProgress:

"HARWOOD: But for those at the top, it is hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions of dollars for them.

PERRY: But I don’t care about that."

0>w/hole>1

Absence Makes the Heart Gr....ew.

Questionable Packing Choice

Vacation Station

Real America (con't)

Real America (con't)

Quotes of the Day

Merry Christmas, Everyone

Friday Getdown

Fifteen Birds, in Five Fir Trees

Real America (con't)

"Great Historian" Gingrich Wants to Scrap Constitution in Favor of Rule by Fiat

Question for the day

Fermentation Station

More of the Usual

Chocquibtown

I See By Your Outfit

It's Not That It's a Bad Law, Mind You

Quote of the Day

O-M Reducks

Friday Getdown

Scottish Art Hit'n'Run

Cancelled on Account of Tha Crazy

Kinky

Men Don't Change

Doctrine of Signatures

Black Heart/Heart Black

Quotes for the Day

Cream of the Crop (con't)

Dogpatch Tease

New Adventures In Dimbulb Republicans

What He Said

With Regards to Sullivan and Racially-Based IQs

Cream of the Crop

Person in Need

Quote of the Day

Owt Howse

Bubble Pop (con't)

In Which A Wax Mannequin Does The Cha-Cha

Bubble Pop

I'm Comic Sans, Assh*le

The Pungent Smell of Mildew

I'm A Poor Man's Leni Riefenstahl, Essentially

Occupy This Thread

New Favorite

Well, That's Their Job, Isn't It?

Speaking of Fat Loudmouths

Y'all Come Back Now, Y'hear?

Long Live tha Law Blog

Random Notes Page

Friday Getdown

Bachbot Stuck on Re-Re-Peat

Ham Hat

The Blacks Are Lazy, Also Too

Children

Quoteness: I, Mudd

Random Notes Page

Sissy Pizza

Up Yours, Monday

St. Ronnie for the Rest of Us

Festive Holi-DIE!

Ya Know Ya Wanna

White House Area Shots Fired

Paging Mr. Furr...Mr. Joel Furr...

Dead to Me

There Can Only Be Ten Thousand

Friday Getdown

No Words

How is a Joke like a Dump in a Diaper?

But None of it Matters Because They *Are* a Representative Sample

Stand By Your Sham

The Ideas-Man's Bright Idea?

Jefferson Hareplane

All Hails Tha Overlords

Quote of the Day

Random Notes Page

But What Herman Cain Really Wants to Know....

Quote of the Day

Everything That's Wrong With "Conservatism" in 50 Words or Less

Friday Getdown

But None of it Matters Because They Are a Representative Sample