Author of The Wrecking Crew takes us on a tour
October 5th, 2008That was the old way, welcome to the new way.
SNL and Fey did good
October 5th, 2008McCain loves the vets — or not?
September 28th, 2008Maddow talks to head of VoteVets.org on McCain’s ratings with DAV and other vet’s groups.
Appealing to the negative base emotions
September 5th, 2008…is pretty easy to do. I’ve been thinking along those lines and this Krugman editorial (05Sept08, NYTimes) does parallel that idea.
There’s a direct line from that student election to Spiro Agnew’s attacks on the “nattering nabobs of negativism” as “an effete corps of impudent snobs,” and from there to the peculiar cult of personality that not long ago surrounded George W. Bush — a cult that celebrated his anti-intellectualism and made much of the supposed fact that the “misunderestimated” C-average student had proved himself smarter than all the fancy-pants experts.
And when Mr. Bush turned out not to be that smart after all, and his presidency crashed and burned, the angry right — the raging rajas of resentment? — became, if anything, even angrier. Humiliation will do that.
I guess it’s the Republican reptile brain strategy and it does work grotesquely well. It always takes a lot more effort to think charitably (to be “godly”, not to put to fine a point on it) than to be self-appeasingly snotty and hatefully tribal.
I will guess that my experience in watching Obama’s acceptance speech — at one point thinking, “please, give me a call to volunteer, to help my fellow citizens; do what I wanted Bush to do after 9-11″ — is in stark contrast to the self-congratulatory contempt for others that the Palin and McCain speeches inspired.
But like I said, it’s always the easier path.
Gimme anyone who’s socially conservative
September 2nd, 2008…and has a vagina.
Nibblettes™
August 23rd, 2008I now return to my uncategorized Nibblettes™. Hope you enjoyed the previous thematic entries on Biking, Tech-related, Reading/Learning, Do Something, Visual, and Political topics.
A thought dump on teen violence and a broken society
Violence among teenagers in the UK is on a massive and frightening increase. I think it would be easy to say ‘a lot has changed since I was a teen’, but I’m not sure what and I don’t really believe it.
Boise trees, all you want to know.
Natural insect and rodent repellants
Battle — or at least coexist with at a distance — ants, dust mites, garden invaders, mice, mosquitos, moths, roaches, and/or ticks.
Mexican food, cooking supplies
Plus some great Mexican recipes.
We are a collection of 6 women, discovering life without adhering to society’s definition of normal. We strive to educate ourselves, learn from others, and share our experiences with not dabbling in normal. We are committed to creating lives of our own making and by our own definition, we know we are not alone and look forward to using this forum as a means to meet other folks who refuse to dabble in normal.
Bat bonanza! 100+ species found in 5 acres of jungle
I like bats. Bats offer a lot in the balance of things and they’re getting nudged out in some places (which neighbors will soon regret).
Where can I donate or recycle my old computer and/or electronic products?
This EPA site might give you a first step. Heard that Best Buy is jumping into doing that as well.
Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.
Villainess soaps. If that name doesn’t grab you, the idea of a wasabi face scrub should wow you.
Some background on the ad campaign. Or skip over to the movie. You gotta see the movie.
A comprehensive online food diary & calorie counter
Practical experience on the impermanence of…
The art of nonconformity > How to be unremarkably average
Accept what people tell you at face value. Surround yourself with people who think like you. Don’t stand out. Stay close to home. Get a normal job. Do things the way everyone else does, because there has to be a method to the madness…
Upgrading to version 3.0 (of me)
This prompts me to my own. Slainte, Darragh!
A different point of view. Free culture. Couchsurfers and Barcamp and Coworking.
Political Nibblettes™
August 23rd, 2008Has been added to my “news” regular reads. You ask questions, vote on what should be followed up on, and they’ll go bug the Capitol Hill lawmaker.
All those hundreds of TV channels may lead you that there’s a true diversity and variety in today’s television … but you’d be wrong. A handful of large companies control what you see, hear, and read every day.
Running for Office: It’s Like A Flamewar with a Forum Troll, but with an Eventual Winner
Sean Tevis of Kansas is running for state representative. In a different way. With cartoons.
McCain’s not so nice. But we knew that. (The Guardian)
A slight (cough) difference between McCain and Obama tax proposals
I’m sure you’re one of the poor millionaire class that needs the helping hand.
Visual Nibblettes™
August 23rd, 2008There’s never been a great woman artist
“Only men are capable of aesthetic greatness. Women make up 50 per cent or more of classes at art school. Yet they fade away in their late 20s or 30s. Maybe it’s something to do with bearing children.”
Art & Fear:Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking (book review)
Art is made by ordinary people. Creatures having only virtues can hardly be imagined making art. It’s difficult to picture the Virgin Mary painting landscapes. Or Batman throwing pots. The flawless creature wouldn’t need to make art.
Cursivebuildings’ odd stereoscopes
Just look.
Two-Thirds Primary by Rod Hunting and Tiffany Paige
Finding by seeing. Photographers.
Pages from essentially the same book. Casual art.
Vintage postcard collection online.
Hendrix, translated. Video.
Do Something Nibblettes™
August 23rd, 2008David Archuleta - no, OUR David Archileta
I guess there was some kid on one of those drek-filled TV shows of the same name, but OUR David was running for Senator from Idaho on the Democratic ticket. An uphill battle in this almost-most-Republican state, but unfortunately the other Democrat (with more establishment name recognition) won. I’m hoping this guy, a member of the Shoshone-Bannock tribe, will run again. I like his tone and goals.
Ultimately Congress is attempting to reduce your rights as a creator (whether you write, draw, design Web sites or sing), by allowing the infringer to make the distinction as to whether or not they tried hard enough to find the owner of the work and reducing the rights of the artist, designer or author. More details.
Local air quality will bring the threat of the dreaded Feds
In brief, because no one wants to do f-all about backwards planning methodology and dependence upon cars like LA.
You have until Sept. 15 to make a noise against eviscerating the Endangered Species Act
The latest volley from Bush et al. Carrying the flag this time is local dick, er, Dirk Kempthorne. And they’re making it harder to send comment. So do something.
10 years could make a world of difference
If we choose. platform_flier.pdf
Reading, Learning Nibblettes™
August 23rd, 2008Register free to save and share your books. Yeah. Real books that you’ve heard of. How are they doing this? I dunno.
Mygazines is your free place to browse, share, archive and customize unlimited magazine articles uploaded by you, the Mygazines community.
Teach English abroad. Wouldn’t that be soemthing. Stories of those that are doing it. And tips for international travel.