July 2011
2 posts
News of the World & Rupert Murdoch
A few people have E-mailed me asking why I haven’t commented on this story yet. I try not to blog about the kinds of stories that leave me with nothing new to add to the conversation. There’s also very little about this story that I find surprising.
Are tabloid journalists the scum of the earth? You bet.
Is Rupert Murdoch a manipulative bastard more interested in making money than...
Casey Anthony
Writing about this feels a little like discussing an episode of The Jersey Shore, so I’ll be brief.
I find it incredibly disturbing how closely criminal trials mirror entertainment, and how seemingly arbitrary it is which trials become national news stories. Though what happened to that kid is horrendous, I don’t need to know the details or watch it on TV. Don’t talk to me...
June 2011
18 posts
Brief Hiatus
Hey Ya’ll,
I’m experiencing a strange influx of work that’s making me about 300% busier than usual. I’m putting the blog on hiatus until I can give it the minimal amount of attention it deserves.
Thanks for your continued reading, Ex-Mod
Well Done, New York
New York Times: New York Senate Allows Same Sex Marriage
Empire State Building was lit like so:
Just like every civil rights struggle we’ve endured in our long history, this too shall progress excruciatingly slowly. This fight is the defining civil rights issue of our generation; we are making history.
Keep fighting, and have patience.
Sporratic Thoughts on Stewart vs. Wallace
Part 1
Part 2
Jon Stewart went on Fox News yesterday to reveal his more serious, philosophical side and kick some neo-con ass, as he sometimes does.
Chris Wallace, the FOX host, pressed Stewart on his influence, activism, and bias. Stewart does what he typically does when confronted with those issues: he dodges them altogether.
This is what drives me crazy about the Daily Show. Stewart...
The War On Drugs
The war on drugs has taken big steps toward ending in recent months as more and more officials call for the forty year old operation to end.
President Carter recently put an op-ed in the New York Times where he reiterated his objections to the “war”, and repeated a phase he used back in ‘77: “Penalties against possession of a drug should not be more damaging to an individual...
BREAKING NEWS: Anthony Wiener Resigns
This is all I have to say, really.
Tea Party Camp. Yes, Really.
Tea Party Summer Camp: The Experience of a Lifetime
Wow. I wonder if they need Jewish volunteers to help run “My First Federal Reserve”. If they do, then sign me up, because this is something that must be seen in person. I bet if I took a camera I could make Jesus Camp 2. If you’ve never seen Jesus Camp, I highly recommend it, but be warned: it’s the scariest movie...
Gay Judge
When A Gay Judge Rules On Gay Rights
via NPR:
“Opponents of gay marriage are challenging notions of judicial neutrality in a San Francisco courtroom on Monday. They’re arguing that a federal judge who struck down California’s ban on same sex marriage last year was biased because he’s in a same-sex relationship.
As the trial challenging California’s Proposition...
Gay Pride
There was a gay pride rally here in D.C. yesterday. Apparently. I accidentally encountered it while trying to get back home from a bluegrass concert in Virginia. Let me be more specific … I got stuck behind a hay trailer full of fat, shirtless, hairy, sweaty men who called themselves the Dancing Bears or something, some of whom were giving me the eyes.
In case the fact that I went to a...
Couldn't Have Said It Any Better Myself
Well, I probably could have. But this is pretty good, too.
Shock Value Does Not Wisdom Make
Stumbled across this article called “I Don’t Like My Child” wherein some woman, tries, no doubt, to piggyback on the controversy-fueled publicity of books like “Tiger Mother” and the woman who abandoned her kids to live in Japan.
I guess this woman expects me to admire her bravery in saying something people find socially unacceptable, but I won’t. Because the...
THIS is Why I Like Scalia
Scalia rips lawmakers as being sleepy and lazy
A couple of weeks ago I made public something I had been secretly feeling, something that was sure to irk my liberal family and friends: I admired Antonin Scalia. I couldn’t explain it very well at the time, but this article pretty much sums it up.
This is what happened when I posted it to facebook, by the way. Thought ya’ll might be...
Sarah Palin, Anthony Wiener, and Also Some Stuff...
1. Rich Man’s Justice
Short version: a man in Florida was given probation instead of jail time for killing two people because he was able to pay a relatively small financial penalty to the victims’ families.
I’m not easily outraged, but this is screwed up. This is an absolute abuse of the justice system. Any judge that allows financial restitution in lieu of time served...
Reflections After 200 Posts. I'll Be Brief.
With 200 posts now under my belt as a bona-fide blogger, I feel obligated to offer some reflection.
First of all, I would like to thank all of my readers, subscribers, and the people who have sent me feedback. I’ve been honored and humbled and blah blah blah.
Secondly, I need all your help in making sure this blog does not get any more popular. I do not want to be a professional...
I've Been Saying This for Years...
I do not believe in censorship. This is why.
Congratulations to Jon Stewart for getting higher ratings than FOX
On the Rihanna Controversy...
Though I don’t think viewing the video should be “mandatory”, I agree with the underlying sentiment of this very good column. Posting it in its entirety for your convenience. Link can be found here.
Ban Rihanna’s video? No, make it required viewing By Leslie Morgan Steiner
(CNN) — Like most people reacting to the controversy involving 23-year-old Grammy-winning...
Sarah Palin is ... uhhh ... Jewish?
I’m just going to go ahead and deduct myself one point for the sensationalist headline, and two points for blogging about Sarah Palin, the lifeblood topic of the most annoying group of people on the face of the earth: elitist, liberal bloggers.
Apparently Sarah Palin was in New York yesterday wearing this honkin’ piece:
I have three suspicions as to why she’s doing this.
1. ...
May 2011
12 posts
Happy Memorial Day
I’ve been seeing half-assed, obligatory tributes to soldiers and vets on facebook and car commercials all day. It drives me crazy.
If there are any soldiers, veterans, or family members of either reading this, know that I deeply appreciate your service.
God bless you all.
Quick Hits
#1 The Rapture
Couldn’t be sicker of hearing about this. If it didn’t possibly violate his first amendment rights, I’d like to charge Harold Camping with fraud. Because you know the promise of the second coming was followed by pleas for followers’ life savings in order to save as many souls as possible. He’s laughing all the way to the bank.
#2 Abortion in Texas
...
Back From Vacation. Should Have Stayed.
NYT: The Gossip Machine, Churning Out Cash
The gossip industry is the only part of American / Western culture that I truly despise. This New York Times report provides a very thorough description of how the scummiest industry in the world operates, victimizing idiots all over the world.
It’s why I don’t have the patience to spend more than a day in glamor cities like New York or LA,...
First Retaliation by Al-Qaida
Two suicide bombers killed 80 people in Pakistan today.
This attack was designed purely to drive a wedge between the already fractured relationship between the United States and Pakistan.
News Flash: the terrorists know exactly what they’re doing.
Truth.
Interesting...
Heard something interesting from Clinton’s Labor Secretary, Robert Reich, today. Sure, U.S. companies can spent unlimited amounts of money on U.S. elections. But is a company that keeps most of its workforce overseas really an American company?
Surely, everyone can agree that the prospect of foreigners pouring money into U.S. elections is problematic.
Your thoughts?
I Had a Bad Feeling...
…that things were about to get pretty ugly. Even supposedly smart people are expressing seemingly reflexive distrust toward the CIA, the White House, and the military.
The other side is pissed off because we aren’t needlessly stirring up even more hate and violence by A) not releasing the post-mortem photo and B) giving him a minimally religious burial.
EVERYBODY is...
Closure.
Proverbs 24:17: “Be not glad at the fall of your enemy, and let your heart not rejoice at this stumble.”
Remember on 9/11, how disgusted we were to see certain Arabs and Muslims dancing in the streets? How many of us went dancing in the streets last night? I’m glad the bastard is dead as much as anybody, but this is occasion deserves more solemnity and reflection than joy...
Bin Laden Is Dead
I just found out less than five minutes ago so I’m going to post my first reactions.
#1 Finally.
#2 This is huge for Obama.
#3 Everyone needs to be on guard for a counter-attack.
#4 I wish someone had invited me to the party outside the white house. I was asleep by 9:30 last night.
I’ll post more as we find out more.
April 2011
31 posts
More Absurd "Journalism"
Lawrence O’Donnell And Birther Orly Taitz Have Wild Shoutfest About Obama (VIDEO)
I’m ashamed to post this, but I want to talk about it a little bit. Because I really want to respect Lawrence O’Donnell, who helped produce the best television show of all time (The West Wing), but he’s making it very difficult. He might as well have invited a homeless schizophrenic ...
Win
Obama Releases His Birth Certificate
FULL ARTICLE
Bad move by the White House. This isn’t going to change anything. People who think he wasn’t born in the U.S. will assume the document is fake. This debate isn’t going away.
The fact that Donald Trump was able to bully the White House into doing anything is disconcerting. So too is the fact that Fox News, who perpetuated the issue, may be more influential than...
Military Says Nation Overreacted to Threat of...
CNN: The military’s secret plan … to shrink
A couple of high ranking military officials are calling for less emphasis on the military and national security and more in national prosperity and education. I am inclined to agree, so long as we maintain a strong national defense.
Happy Easter, Everybody!
Remember to catch the Rabbit and eat his lucky eggs!
What? I’m Jewish…
Accountability.
A couple of days ago, a couple of 14 year old girls one 14 year old and one 18 year old girl attacked a transgendered woman for using the women’s bathroom in a Baltimore County McDonalds.
Video here.
There has been a strong reaction to this video all over the country. Most of it expresses legitimate disgust and condemnation and, of course, there are always a few hateful, immature idiots...
NEWS VACATION
All week due to this “Royal Wedding” newsgasm.
"90 Accomplishments of President Obama Which The...
A lot of people keep sending me this article called “90 Accomplishments of President Obama Which The Media Fails to Report” whenever I criticize the President for not doing enough. I’ve ignored it the first couple of times, but I’ve become tired of reading it. I want to address some of these, because there’s more than a little trickery going on here. So I’m...
GPA Rationing?
Saw this interesting, likely doctored, exchange on a conservative blog…
Progressive Student: “We should tax the rich to give the poor more opportunity”
Conservative: “So you’d be cool with me taking some points off your GPA to give the dumb some opportunity, right?”
Progressive Student: “…”
First of all, I resent the notion of equating...
Debt
Wait! Don’t tune out! I promise I’ll try not to make this as technical and tedious as most articles on government finances are.
The next big financial issue coming down the legislative road will be whether or not to raise the nation’s debt ceiling (the “cap set by Congress on the amount of debt the federal government can legally borrow”)
This is a difficult issue...
Today's Short Media Rant
In general, I think the media does a good job covering issues dealing with race and gender, but whenever I see a story about a missing kid, the victim is ALWAYS an attractive, blonde, white girl.
Normally, with this sort of thing, there’s at least ONE exception, but not with this issue. I cannot think of ONE brunette, male, non-white, or homely person of any age whose disappearance...
Quick Notes On The President's Deficit Reduction...
Obama released his deficit reduction plan today, an audacious series of very technical policies that will likely go nowhere in a rabid Republican House. I’ve been waiting for this for a long time. I believe the best thing we can do for the long term health of the economy is deficit reduction, so I was eagerly anticipating this speech.
If there is anyone left who still doubts that this is...
What's This, Now?
Obama First To Put Tax Increases On Budget Table
There’s that spine he’s been looking for. Now let’s see him sell it. I can hear the GOP sharpening their swords outside my D.C. apartment.
About Damn Time
Recent U.N. Actions Show Policy Shift, Analysts Say
French Embassy: Forces Arrest Ivory Coast ‘s Gbagbo
Fark.com said it best: “Ivory Coast actions represent turning point for UN. From now on, strongly-worded letters will feature bold typeface, 16-point font, and helicopter gunship escort.”
How about the French showing some spine for once? Awesome. Lose the snobby, European...
Homeless Veterans
The hardest thing I ever had to do was kick my little brother out of my apartment. He’s a drug addict and was bringing in all sorts of nefarious things and people to my home, not to mention stealing from me and my then-girlfriend.
I tried to help him. I wanted to quit my job, watch him 24/7, and protect him as was my responsibility as the older brother. But every counselor, therapist,...
Government Shutdown
leonfellpool asked:
“Alright. What are your thoughts on a possible government shutdown: Hurt Dems? Help GOP? Help Dems? Hurt GOP? Help Politicians? Fuck middle-class? Do you think the GOP has the guts to make a gamble with it? Doe”
You know, Doe, I’ve spent the last couple of days trying to care. “Essential” services (and a lot of unessential ones) will not...
Working In Politics
yourprettywords asked: “As a person so involved in political science, I was hoping you had some advice. I’m a high school senior and I’m attempting to study for AP US Government and Politics exam. Do you happen to have any advice or resources that you think would be useful for understanding our politics, policies or any current news sources that come off more bipartisan...