Friday, October 27, 2006

Performancing Test

Wolcott on Corker:

Bob Corker is gay. He may not know it yet, he may never know it, he may go to his sarcophagus wrapped in denial, but his fascination with Ford's prowess and good looks gives him away, as does his political affiliation. All Republican political figures are gay, especially the men. When President Bush insists on kissing one bald head after another, the psychosexual symbolism speaks for itself. He's planting his lips on big uncircumcised Kojak peckers. When Rush Limbaugh packs his Viagra and jets off on a tropical jaunt with the guys, it's assumed there are saucy wenches awaiting him under the sultry palms, but I wonder--I wonder if it's cabana boys making the hammock sway under the moonlight. Republican women--those masochistic saints--are more like Joan Allen playing Pat Nixon under layers of frosting, their rigid smiles forged by years of living a lie with a man infatuated with other men and too timid to take out a subscription to Details magazine, lest he be exposed. The closet in which he dwells doubles as a panic room with a convenient minibar, so that if he ever stumbles or strays, he can blame it on the creme de menthe, not the burning yearning of his heart. Perhaps Corker has a special thing for black men, and can't get enough of that smooth and creamy Blair Underwood. There's no shame in that. Many a significant look has been exchanged in the locker room at half-time.

The only shame is that Harold Ford can't run for office without his Republican opponent, Karl Rove, and Ken Mehlman leching on him and taking turns at the keyhole. The South has made such progress, yet in affairs of the groin, it still has so far to go.








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Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Marching orders

More love to spread, baby.

Two weeks to go, no time to slack off.

Apparently they are firing back and breaking links. This is gonna get really ugly, really quickly.

Sweet.

Goo Gull Balm, version 2.0

via thesill@dKos
So we need to counter their counter-g.b.

Senate

Connecticut: Ned Lamont
Maryland: Ben Cardin
Michigan: Debbie Stabenow
Missouri: Claire McCaskill
Montana: Jon Tester
New Jersey: Bob Menendez
Tennessee: Harold Ford
Virginia: James Webb

Democrat Held Seats

(CO-03): John Salazar
(GA-03): Jim Marshall
(GA-12): John Barrow
(IA-03): Leonard Boswell
(IL-08): Melissa Bean
(IL-17): Phil Hare
(IN-07): Julia Carson
(NC-13): Brad Miller
(PA-12): John Murtha
(WV-01): Alan Mollohan

Republican Held Seats

(AZ-08): Gabrielle Giffords
(CT-04): Diane Farrell
(CT-05): Chris Murphy
(CO-07): Ed Perlmutter
(IA-01): Bruce Braley
(IL-06): Tammy Duckworth
(IN-02): Joe Donnelly
(IN-08): Brad Ellsworth
(IN-09): Baron Hill
(FL-13): Christine Jennings
(FL-16): Tim Mahoney
(FL-22): Ron Klein
(KY-03): John Yarmuth
(NC-01): Heath Shuler
(MN-06): Patty Wetterling
(NM-01): Patricia Madrid
(NY-20): Kirsten Gillibrand
(NY-24): Michael Arcuri
(NY-26): Jack Davis
(OH-15): Mary Jo Kilroy
(OH-18): Zack Space
(PA-06): Lois Murphy
(PA-08): Patrick Murphy
(PA-07): Joe Sestak
(PA-10): Chris Carney
(VA-02): Phil Kellam
(WI-08): Steve Kagen

"Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war"

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Things to know about some GOP types

--AZ-Sen: Jon Kyl

--AZ-01: Rick Renzi

--AZ-05: J.D. Hayworth

--CA-04: John Doolittle

--CA-11: Richard Pombo

--CA-50: Brian Bilbray

--CO-04: Marilyn Musgrave

--CO-05: Doug Lamborn

--CO-07: Rick O'Donnell

--CT-04: Christopher Shays

--FL-13: Vernon Buchanan

--FL-16: Joe Negron

--FL-22: Clay Shaw

--ID-01: Bill Sali

--IL-06: Peter Roskam

--IL-10: Mark Kirk

--IL-14: Dennis Hastert

--IN-02: Chris Chocola

--IN-08: John Hostettler

--IA-01: Mike Whalen

--KS-02: Jim Ryun

--KY-03: Anne Northup

--KY-04: Geoff Davis

--MD-Sen: Michael Steele

--MN-01: Gil Gutknecht

--MN-06: Michele Bachmann

--MO-Sen: Jim Talent

--MT-Sen: Conrad Burns

--NV-03: Jon Porter

--NH-02: Charlie Bass

--NJ-07: Mike Ferguson

--NM-01: Heather Wilson

--NY-03: Peter King

--NY-20: John Sweeney

--NY-26: Tom Reynolds

--NY-29: Randy Kuhl

--NC-08: Robin Hayes

--NC-11: Charles Taylor

--OH-01: Steve Chabot

--OH-02: Jean Schmidt

--OH-15: Deborah Pryce

--OH-18: Joy Padgett

--PA-04: Melissa Hart

--PA-07: Curt Weldon

--PA-08: Mike Fitzpatrick

--PA-10: Don Sherwood

--RI-Sen: Lincoln Chafee

--TN-Sen: Bob Corker

--VA-Sen: George Allen

--VA-10: Frank Wolf

--WA-Sen: Mike McGavick

--WA-08: Dave Reichert

You can find the source code at the MyDD link below. Spread the love, baby.

Big h/t to Chris Bowers, via Kos and MyDD

And a special thanks to Lord Google for making this possible.

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

A Rude Test

The Rude One has a great post up on how to properly frame the Iraq occupation debate.

A Quick and Easy Test to Determine Where You Stand on the Iraq War:
Let's say we line up, oh, hell, a couple hundred thousand American soldiers, fine men and women in combat uniform, officers, non-coms, grunts, and we put them on TV. Then George W. Bush walks in with a loaded glock. Now let's say that the President puts the gun to the temple of the first soldier and says, "If I shoot this Army private dead, there's a chance America will be victorious and democracy will bring peace to Iraq. Do you want me to do it?" There's no guarantees, though - just the chance. What would you say?

For the sake of argument here, let's say that you answer, "Yes, it's worth a soldier for the chance for peace in Iraq." So George W. Bush shoots the soldier in the temple and turns to his advisors, who check reports and, no, still no peace.

*snip*

How many soldiers would you let George W. Bush shoot dead? One? 3000? More? How many would you let him injure? 10? 20,000? More?

If you think the test is biased, unfair, and overly emotional, then you haven't been paying attention. For, really, and come on, is the current U.S. policy in Iraq any more wishful than a lottery of death and mutilation.

Feel free to play with friends. For big fun, substitute Iraqis and multiply by a couple hundred.

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Thoughts on a show

Cross-posted at The Babbling Academy (Lazarus Edition)

Evening, all.

Thought I'd give a couple of concert reviews this week. The Dresden Dolls played the Crystal Ballroom last night, and The Decemberists will be playing the same venue tomorrow evening. I guess I'll leave the set list on the front page, and my thoughts on the show "below the fold."

So...

Tunes:

Sing (video), The Dresden Dolls
Backstabber (Live), The Dresden Dolls
The Perfect Fit, The Dresden Dolls
Truce, The Dreden Dolls
Just People And Leaves, The Red Paintings
Walls, The Red Paintings

Enjoy!

(Let's make believe that blogger is cool enough for me to do this in post/extended post format)

------------------------------------------------------------------

The Dresden Dolls.
I got there at about 9:00. There were two opening acts. The Red Paintings played as a two piece combo. Apparently they've had a whole slew of problems this tour. Last night, one of their vehicles crapped out. Several of the band members did not make it to the show, so the violinist and the guitarist/singer performed together. It was great. They were very friendly, and the crowd really got into it. Ono, if you're out there, they're from your continent, so when they get back there, check 'em out.

Jason Webley followed The Red Paintings. Really high energy, got everybody on their feet pretty quick. Which is weird, 'cuz it's just him and his accordion. Think Tom Waits meets Jimmy Durante (credit to my friend Bean for that observation), with a dash of Weird Al. I absolutely loved it. Fairly short set, though. I think he did four songs, plus a guest appearance with The Dresden Dolls later on.

And then the Dolls went on.

Amanda was losing her voice, but it didn't sound bad. The scratchy voice thing really goes well with music that's as emotional as the Dresden Dolls. And damn, did they put emotion into that show. The entire set was great. Webley came out about halfway through and did an abbreviated cover of "Living On A Prayer", with Amanda playing drums and Brian on guitar. They also covered "Mad World" (Tears For Fears), with the singer/guitarist from The Red Paintings doing lead vocals and playing guitar.

Amanda said that they were going to do "The Jeep Song", but, because her voice was going out, she couldn't hit the high notes in the verses. So, The Brigade selected several members of the audience to come up and provide backing vocals. Sounded decent, all of the folks that got on stage knew the song.

"Half-Jack", "Sing", and "Girl Anachronism" were also fantastic, but I enjoyed "Backstabber" the most, I think.

I can't do them justice here, but The Brigade are a great addition to live shows. Much kudos to them

So, yeah. Overall, probably an 8 or 9 out of 10 as far as indoor concerts go (for me, at least). The venue is great. The whole floor is set on springs, the ballroom atmosphere is perfect for the Dolls, and the people were having a good time.

So, that's all I got.

Many blessings!

p.s.

Enjoy the unofficial video for "Backstabber"!



Sunday, October 08, 2006

From the General

I don't really have much in the way of commentary to add to this, but I'd just like to say how much it pisses me off to see these assholes trying to prevent high school kids from promoting tolerance. I don't get why, in an age of school shootings and apathetic teens, anyone would try to silence voices preaching peace and understanding.

Anyway, the General's satire is better for this sort of thing than my poorly written irritation, so...


A threat greater than the homosexuals

Dr. Benjamin A. Soria

Superintendent, Yakima County School District

Dear Dr. Soria,

I know you're going to catch a lot of heat for canceling A. C. Davis High's production of The Laramie Project.
Godless promoters of tolerance will certainly point out that there is nothing in the script that anyone would find offensive, but that is a lie. The play is a brutal indictment of one of our most effective tools for enforcing cultural conformity--the use of violence against those who would corrupt our culture by acting on their in-born attraction to those of their own gender. The Laramie Project demeans our long tradition of encouraging homophobia. It flings mud upon the Jackboots of Righteousness we've shined so lovingly for generations. What could be more offensive than that?

Link to full post

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Harry Nilsson sings Coconut

Thursday, September 28, 2006

In case you haven't seen this



Robert Newman's History Of Oil

Update
Credit where it's due:
This video was pointed out to me by MAT.
Thanks, Miss Anne!

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Juan Cole has a few things to say about the NIE.

A brief excerpt:

You can see the rise of anti-US sentiments under Bush most starkly in non-Arab countries such as Turkey and Indonesia which used to like us, believe it or not. In 2002, 52 percent of Turks had a favorable view of the US. In 2006, 12 percent of Turks have a favorable view of the US. In 2000, 75 percent of Indonesians had a favorable view of the US. In 2006, 30 percent of Indonesians have a favorable view of the US.

Even in major European countries such as France, Germany, Spain and the UK, Bush has cut the approval rating for the US in half or nearly so. Isn't that a bad sign, when the publics in our NATO allies rethink their view of us so radically? Won't we need the support of those publics at some point?

Bush by his Iraq misadventure has made us hated in much of the world, and especially in the Muslim world. Communist China is now widely viewed as mush less dangerous than the democratic United States. Don't you think that might turn into actual consequences?


Here's a link to the rest of the post.



Cross posted at The Babbling Academy.

Friday, September 22, 2006

Some Tunes

Elegantly Wasted, INXS

Naked Eye (The Propellerheads Remix), Luscious Jackson

Dragula (Hot Rod Herman Remix), Rob Zombie

In A World Gone Mad, The Beastie Boys

Burn Baby, Burn, Ash

Cobrastyle, Teddybears

Portland, Oregon, Loretta Lynn and Jack White

Thursday, September 21, 2006

conbo is a fucking genius

I can't stop laughing.

Credit where it's due:

Posted by: conbo at September 21, 2006 4:41 AM



Blue Monks and Muddy Waters

Right.

Faboo evening tonight.

No.

Wait.

Start again.

Woke up today feeling pretty miserable. I must've slept poorly (given the state of my "bed", this comes as no surprise), because I woke up to a pounding headache. Took a couple of excedrin, which didn't help one damn bit. Thought I was gonna have to deal with a migraine while I attended Kevin's reading. As you can imagine, this did not make me very happy.

As it was, I managed to get a bit of necessary shopping done in the course of the cross-town drive. And then I sat in traffic for nearly an hour. Bleh. Headache got worse. I got cranky.

Arrived at the venue with a bit more than a half hour to spare, so I got an espresso. And was reminded that sometimes caffeine can do wonders for a headache. By the time Cathy arrived, I felt pretty good.

The reading itself was great. Tom Spanbauer is a very gracious human being, and I quite enjoyed meeting him. The Dangerous Writers were also good folks. Some very good writing going on there. Naturally, I'm a bit biased towards Kevin's material, although everyone that read was quite impressive.

We hung out for a bit after the reading, and then made our way to the Blue Monk for a few drinks and some dinner. Pretty good pasta, and a great beer and wine selection available. One of the few places I've been to with a decent number of Belgian ales, including two on tap.

Charles kept us entertained most of the evening. That's kind of his thing. He's brash, and obnoxious, but I enjoy his company. In measured doses, of course. Cathy and Ericka were a pleasure as always. Both lovely women, with more brains and perspective than I've been blessed with. Kevin was in good spirits, but seemed a bit subdued. He's got a nasty cold right now, imagine he'll bounce back in the next day or so.

I think it's about time to book another coast trip with the Rapid City folks. We oughta be able to get a decent off-peak rate for one of the cabins again. Do some crabbing, get drunk and lounge in the hot tub. Ahh...

Alright, I 'm rambling. I don't have that headache anymore, but I feel like there's a cold (Kevin's?) trying to creep up on me. Think I'll start a fire, and call it a night.

Much love, and many blessings.

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Regime Change












Painting by Wayne Coe

Monday, September 11, 2006

S-11 Redux



Channel surfing the Apocalypse, via GNN

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

...And The Waves

Today's music is brought to you via The Babbling Academy.
I was going to just post it, and then it occurred to me what day it is.

One year ago, that bitch showed up.

I was still in a self imposed exile at Barger.
Incommunicado.

Must have been going home early for Labor Day. I remember hearing something on the radio about the weather, but I've never really paid to much attention to that sort of thing.

And then I turned on the t.v. at Mom's house. Hadn't watched t.v. in months, I guess. Flipped right over to CNN.

And wept.

There's a certain dichotomy here. Walking On Sunshine is a fun song. Used to remind me of Ange. Now, it's the name of the band that sticks in my head. I know it seems flip to post that, but I don't mean it that way.

So, she gets that, and one more, and then I'll post the playlist.

"A year she said and you shook your head
Said I'’m surprised it'’s gone on that long
Baby, baby, baby bitch
For words I am at a loss"

---

Evening.
Or morning.
Whatever.
I can't sleep.

I like this set. I can't seem to find the thread, but I think it all goes together somehow.

Goddess On A Hiway, Mercury Rev

Five On It (Remix), Luniz, featuring Dru Down, E-40, Richie Rich, Shock G, Spice 1

Empire (Video), Kasabian

Finch On A Saturday, Horse Feathers

Yeah, alright maybe it doesn't all go well together, but that's tonight's set.

Much love, many blessings

Saturday, August 26, 2006

Via The Babbling Academy

<crap><header><disclaimer>piracy = "communism";<justification>educational = "doubleplus good"</justification></disclaimer></header>

<something witty>I got nothing, sorry</something witty>

<tunes>

Processed Beats, Kasabian

Lost Souls Forever, Kasabian

F-Stop Blues, Jack Johnson

Behind The Sun, Red Hot Chili Peppers

Dumb, Nirvana

Hotdog In A Hallway, NOFX

Dying, Hole

</tunes>



<close>Many blessings</close>



</crap>

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

George Washington



My buddy Kevin turned me on to this video. I laugh my ass off everytime I see it.

What a week I've had!

Housesitting.

Never really minded doing it before, but I've been at it for three weeks now, for three different houses. I have to be at Kevin's house at least every six hours, have to be at my house twice a day, and on top of that, I've been helping out in northeast for the last four days or so. Plus a very brief side trip over Cornelius Pass to see Miss Anne and Husbot! Am glad things are calming down again tomorrow.

I have to pick up Ericka and Kevin at the airport, at which time Ericka will learn that Holly's tumor has come back with a vengeance. :( Kevin knows, but we both figure that there's no point in making the South Dakota visit any more unpleasant than necessary, so Ericka hasn't been told yet. I really hope that they can treat this, but it's moved pretty aggressively in the last five days or so.

On the positive side, the momma kitty that adopted Kevin and Ericka's porch has decided to trust me. That may have something to do with the fact that I feed her. She sure looks like she needs it. So skinny! The babies (actually, I've only seen one, but Kevin says there are three) only stare from a distance. Such a beautiful little cat. It's a little white puff ball, with grey ears, nose, and tail, and brilliant blue eyes. I am having a very hard time not adopting them, but I really don't have the space. Besides, I think Baby and Bitch would be furious at me if I brought home kittens.

Gonna try to get down to Eugene in the next day or so to see my brother. He's really enjoying the new job. That makes me happy. I'm so proud of him.

Anyway, I'm gonna go lurk at a few blogs, might post a tune or two at one of the MRR type blogs.

Much love, many blessings.

Monday, August 14, 2006

Of Bikes and Books

So.

I've been riding the old Schwinn around the bike trails on Clinton Street. It's been years since I rode a bike last. It's really the only kind of exercise I enjoy enough to do regularly. And since Nate and Katie are back this week, I'll probably get in a few rides with them. I have to get a mountain bike. Trying to keep up while riding a heavy, single speed cruiser is not fun. Hills are fucking miserable.

Picked up Watership Down tonight while visiting Kevin and Ericka. Great book. I think I've only read it once since high school, so this'll be a treat. I started it at midnight, and I'm 97 pages in. Also picked up a Tom Robbins novel that Kevin recommended. Another Roadside Attraction is the title. So far, I've never been disappointed with his choice in literature. Tom Robbins will, however, have to wait until I finish reading about Fiver and Hazel.

Um...

Did I mention that I just finished The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy? How in the hell did I miss this book? I've never even picked up a Douglas Adams novel, but it's had the same effect on me as On A Pale Horse (Piers Anthony is a god). I have to get my hands on everything this guy wrote, and read it quick. akaHusbot was kind enough to loan me the original BBC six part mini-series, along with the book. Am planning on taking that over to enjoy with Kevin and Ericka.

I was gonna bitch about a few things, but this post just seems so nice and upbeat, I'm gonna leave it alone.

Many blessings!

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Nothing in particular

Just a few quick thoughts, I've got work to do.

I saw Whit again for the first time since she got married. Weird. Heard her say "my husband." That was just bizarre. Good discussion, though. We talked about the links between the decimation of the Amazon, and the lemming march of the glaciers in Greenland and Antarctica.

My brother (Quintus, in the pics on the bike) just got offered a job at the Bier Stein, as general manager. He's 22 years old, I told him that he should take it, great people to work for. Pays pretty good, too.

And in other news, the MRR blogger ladies have set up a couple of fantastic alt blogs.

Here they are

Wil's new blog

Shell's (OUR) MRR Blog