I’ve noticed there are quite a few baseball fans who frequent Shakespeare’s Sister, and those who have been around here awhile know that I am the most tragic of baseball fans—a diehard Cubs fan (still currently in mourning over the loss of my beloved Alou).
So the following is for all of you, and is also an homage to my dad, to whom I owe many of the good parts of myself, including both my passion for politics (even though my political leanings are perhaps not what he had hoped) and my passion for baseball.
When my dad was a kid, he was a spectacular baseball player—a pitcher. He had an awesome arm that fell to the mercy of its own talent; this was just before regulations were instituted prohibiting pitching limitless consecutive innings, and so at 21, he blew out his elbow after years of overuse. However, the year before, he had the opportunity to pitch against Satchel Paige.
Satchel was 65, and had arrived in West Lafayette, Indiana as part of a tour of retired players. An exhibition game was held with the local team, and my dad had the great honor of being the starting pitcher. The game was called for rain; the All-Stars won, in no small part due to the paralyzing awe that plagued their young opponents.
After the game, my dad was able to speak with Mr. Paige, and their picture was taken for the paper.
I’m 30 years old, and I have heard this story countless times. Last night, I asked to hear it again. And I will ask to hear it again and again, each spring, as I anticipate the start of a new season.
Play ball!
Take Me Out to the Ballgame
Attention!
For any California readers that might pass through, I give you Marching Orders, a great blog for Callyfornyuns. March on over and check it out.
Republican Renaissance?
On Monday, I asked where all the “real Republicans” are, and, if there are any of them left, whether they could be bothered to try to reclaim their party from the lunatics who have hijacked it. Well, it seems like the tenuous stitching that holds together the mangled remains of the party of Lincoln may well have been put under enough pressure by the Schiavo case that the unholy alliance between the corporatists and the Jesus freaks, upon which the GOP depends for its supremacy, is beginning to tear at the seams…
Read the rest at Big Brass Blog.
It's Du-MAH
Cool:
The mystery of who killed Admiral Nelson is to be explained in a previously unknown novel by Alexandre Dumas, author of "The Three Musketeers," discovered by a French researcher and going on sale in June, the book's publisher said.Get ready, Barnes and Noble. Here I come.
"Le Chevalier de Sainte-Hermine" (The knight of Saint-Hermine) is a classic Dumas adventure story about the start of the Napoleonic empire and includes a swashbuckling account of the battle of Trafalgar, according to Jean-Pierre Sicre of Phebus press.
"The description of Trafalgar is undescribably brilliant. And in it we learn that it is the hero of the book - the chevalier himself -- who shoots Nelson," he said.
[…]
The 900-page book appeared in serial form in a French newspaper and lacked just a few chapters when Dumas died in 1870. Claude Schopp, the Dumas specialist who made the discovery, has added a short section to bring the tale to its conclusion.
"The first clue goes back to 1988," said Schopp.
"I was trying to check a detail for an article and after months of research had to look through copies of 'Le Moniteur Universel.' Imagine my surprise when among the spools of microfiche I came across an almost completed serial signed Alexandre Dumas," he said.
"For a quarter of an hour, in contact with this treasure, I had the feeling I had the world in my hands," he said.
[…]
The opening lines of the novel are classic Dumas:
"'Here we are in the Tuileries,' said first consul Bonaparte to his first secretary Bourrienne, as they entered the palace where Louis XVI made his penultimate residence between Versaille and the scaffold. 'We must make certain that we stay here.'"
The grandson of a Haitian slave, Dumas was a hugely prolific writer, producing more than 250 works including plays, novel and even a cookbook. He remains today the most widely read French writer around the world. He died in 1870 at the age of 68.
Mobilize
In all of the coverage of the Schiavo fiasco across the liberal blogosphere, I’ve seen a lot of outrage (as well there should be) and a lot of frustration (as well there should be) and a lot of shock (as well there should be) with the government’s astonishing decision to get involved. What I haven’t seen is much mourning for how truly tragic a day it was for the American democracy.
I have been called a conspiracy theorist, a pessimist, a radical, and every name in the book for sounding alarms about what this administration is doing to our country, and yet, yesterday, we saw the legislative branch acting against the will of the people (by a significant majority, according to any poll one reads) at the behest of the executive branch to supercede the decisions of the judicial branch. Two fundamental breaches of the major tenets of democracy—overtly acting against the will of the people and a complete disregard for our system of checks and balances. And bear in mind, this was indeed a bipartisan decision.
I despair for the future of America that the trust between the people and our elected representatives is regarded with such apathy by the former and treated with such contempt by the latter. Opportunism has always been a part of the political landscape, but never has it come at the price of sacrificing the very principles of democracy; never have the precepts upon which this country was founded been subverted with such cynical proclamations of goodness when the motivation was sheer avarice, the unmitigated desire to retain power at all costs.
Yes, that is reason to be outraged, and frustrated, and shocked. But it also reason to grieve. That in which we believe, that love of country and democracy which motivates us each day to do what we do, to inform ourselves and others, is slipping away from us, and in large part, we react with the jaded sense that nothing really surprises us anymore. The resignation to such insufferable behavior is frightening.
Call me a conspiracy theorist, call me a pessimist, call me a radical, call me every name in the book. But it doesn’t change the reality that we are on the brink of losing that which is dear to us, perilously close to going over the edge, where the damage to our democracy becomes irreparable.
America is so big, and more importantly, so wealthy, that the average American experiences little difference in his or her day-to-day life regardless of who is president. It takes so very, very long for the reality of bad (or good) policy to affect personal circumstances—and even then, often such changes are untraceable for those who are not immersed in politics. Most people do not see, nor care about, the changes that are happening in our government; most people wouldn’t believe you if you tried to tell them. By the time they “get it,” it will be too late.
So what are we to do? We’ve recently discovered our ability to push stories into the mainstream media. It’s really our only chance. We must repeat over and over and over again that we will not let this stand; we must point out that this maneuver was not simply foolhardy or politically expedient, but in fact seditious; we must identify those who seek to destabilize our system of checks and balances as the treasonous opportunists that they truly are; we must make noise. There are traitors among us, but it is not we on the Left, who rightfully question bad policy and are branded as such for our refusal to toe another party’s line in furtherance of the mindless nationalism they substitute for new and good ideas. It is instead the ruling party, who promote a radical ideology wrapped in a flag that used to stand for the very principles they disdain. We must recapture that flag from these scornful interlopers, and with it, everything it is meant to represent.
We must make noise about their intentions, before it is too late.
Selling Social Security
I still have yet to understand how the likes of these deceitful blokes are able to get away with making claims about a security investment that an average Joe Schmoe broker would lose his license for making…
Read the rest at Big Brass Blog.
Damn
What to even say about this?
The suspect in the worst U.S. school shooting since Columbine smiled and waved as he gunned down five students, a teacher and a guard, asking one of his victims whether he believed in God, witnesses said. The teen's grandfather and his grandfather's wife also were found dead, and the boy killed himself…Read the rest at Big Brass Blog.
Question of the Day (Political/Fun)
Which former world leader does President Bush most remind you of and why?
(Be serious, be fun, or a little of both.)
Finally, Peace?
Judge Won't Order Schiavo Tube Reinserted
Good.
Michael Schiavo said he was outraged that lawmakers and the president intervened in a private matter.Yeah, well, you’re not alone.
Culture of Life: "Whose Life?" Edition
The following is, I want to acknowledge, so not the most important aspect of the entire Schiavo debacle, but since its being dissected into the finest of minutiae across the entirety of cable news and 99% of the political blogosphere, I hope you’ll forgive me this little foray into something slightly more trivial…
Read the rest at Big Brass Blog.
Where's Dumbo?
In today’s Seattle Post-Intelligencer, a former teenage Republican wonders What happened to real Republicans?
It’s a damn good question (and a fine piece), which reminded me of a post from Kung Fu Monkey’s John Rogers from back in December called I Miss Republicans:
No, seriously. Remember Republicans? Sober men in suits, pipes, who'd nod thoughtfully over their latest tract on market-driven fiscal conservatism while grinding out the numbers on rocket science. Remember those serious-looking 1950's-1960's science guys in the movies -- Republican to a one.When I originally excerpted John’s post, I wrote about my frustration with GOP voters and their continued allegiance to an administration whose policies seem counterintuitive to every Republican principle as I understand them:
They were the grown-ups. They were the realists. Sure they were a bummer, maaaaan, but on the way to La Revolution you need somebody to remember where you parked the car…
How did they become the party of fairy dust and make believe? How did they become the anti-science guys? The anti-fact guys? The anti-logic guys?
I'm not sure why it seems to be only people on the Left screaming bloody murder about how the Republican Party has been hijacked by total fuckwits. It’s akin to the moderate Christians I know who seem relatively unfazed by the radical element that, if left unchecked, will forever define American Christianity as a religion of intolerant zealots. No one on the Right appears moved to try to prevent this steady slide into political and religious extremism.So where the hell are you, real Republicans? Are you holding your breath and biding your time, hoping we can just get through this until one of your own gets passed the baton? Despite there being no heir-apparent to this administration’s throne, it’s increasingly unlikely that it’s going to be one of your boys (or girls). I hear names like John McCain and Richard Lugar less and less frequently, replaced instead with names like Bill “Cat Killer” Frist (boo) and Rick “Man on Dog” Santorum (hiss).
I was disgusted by some traditional Republicans I know who held their nose and voted for Bush, simply because they wouldn't vote for a Democrat. No matter how much you pointed out to them that - as bizarre as it may have seemed - the party of fiscal responsibility, smaller government, states' rights, and conservation (particularly environmental) was, this time, the Democrats, they still cast a vote for Bush.
Their party is slipping (has permanently slipped?) away from them, but they say nothing, do nothing. When America has fallen into the inevitable morass that is its unavoidable destination with Bush at our helm, I won't blame the Democratic voters, and I won't even blame the wingnuts on the Right, who at least voted as they believe, foolish as it is. I will blame the large swath of traditional Republicans who refused to acknowledge that their party had left them, and made no noise about its failed leadership, choosing instead to keep handing new strings to Nero for his fiddle.
Maybe you’re thinking that your party needs a good sound trouncing to get back on track, and maybe it really does. But when the time comes, don’t be an ass; vote for the donkey until that elephant stops dropping its massive piles on shit on everyone’s lawn.
Abortion Must Remain Legal
Amidst more discussion of the "Culture of Life," RampagingPMS has an excellent post on why abortion must remain legal (hat tip Heretik). A must-read for women and men. Be cautioned—strong imagery.
Question of the Day (Political)
Which Bush administration policy has most infuriated you and why?
Also tossing in which personal Bush attribute most infuriates you and why is encouraged.
The Art of Hypocrisy
This administration has provided limitless fodder for those who love to call bullshit when they see it, but this Schiavo case seems to pull so many threads together that the cumulative hypocrisy is nothing short of artful.
First, there’s Bush’s willingness to drop everything he’s doing on his vacation to run back to D.C. to sign legislation that will, once again, prevent Schiavo from finally getting some peace…
Read the rest at Big Brass Blog.
Must Read: Social Security
The Dark Wraith has up a simply awesome post examining the nuts and bolts of private accounts over at Big Brass Blog.
And for those of you who are having trouble viewing Big Brass Blog (I’m sorry, oddjob—I promise I’m working on it!), he’s also crossposted it at the Dark Wraith Forums.
Go.
Friday Blogrollin’ (Special Edition)
[NOTE: I'm leaving this post on top for awhile. Scroll down for new posts. And don't forget to blogroll Big Brass Blog!]
First, please note that the Dark Wraith has changed his URL to www.dark-wraith.com, so update your blogrolls.
Secondly, I’d like to introduce Big Brass Blog.
Big Brass Blog is a joint effort started by fellow bloggrrl Pam of Pam’s House Blend and myself—a group blog pulling together some of the best of the “unknown” bloggers, including the Dark Wraith, Ms. Julien, John at Blogenlust, and Linnet at Looking at the Stars, with a back-up crew including Mr. Shakes and Mr. Furious from Shakespeare’s Sister.
Big Brass Blog is dedicated to delivering a powerful, progressive message through a variety of voices. Our mission is this: to ensure that the issues often identified as "secondary" issues for the party-gay rights, women's rights, abortion rights, etc.-are given the same attention as those about which we are all concerned, such as preventing Bush's Social Security reform. Most importantly, even though our focus is on new ideas and resolute progressive principles, we plan to have a lot of fun.
We also intend to add other bloggers we love (you know who you are) and others we discover along the way, as we move forward. We’re still partially under construction, as the template isn’t friendly to low-res viewers, so if you’re among them—I apologize; we’re working on it.
I hope to see you all there.
Fascism 101
Reporting for the BBC, Greg Palast reports (via Skippy) that the Bush administration made plans for Iraq’s oil…before 9/11 even happened. And while that should certainly put to bed any further dismissals of “No War for Oil”-chanting anti-war demonstrators as touting little more than radical Lefty hyperbole and the accusations against bloggers who suggest the Iraq War was about oil of promoting unsubstantiated conspiracy theories, I have bigger fish to fry at the moment …
Read the rest at Big Brass Blog.
Damn Immigrants
I just overheard Mr. Shakes have the following exchange on the phone when trying to order some sandwiches (mind you, he has a Scottish brogue but it’s so not difficult to understand):
“Do you take credit cards?”
“Okay, the noomber is four zeroo six zeroo…”
“No, foor zeroo six zeroo…”
“No, zeroo.”
“Zeroo.”
“Foor zeroo six zeroo.”
“Zeroo!”
“ZEROO!”
Eventually, a supervisor was brought in to take down the number, and after I yelled, “Just say OH!” he was able to mange to convey the number without bringing in an enigma machine.
“Stoopid foocking bim! Had to get soomeoone else oon the fooking phoone. It was like I needed to give her sums: what’s two minus two? She’s proobably calling the FBI right noo to tell them there’s a terrorist on the loose. The thing that gets me is that I can call in stoock trades every day and say zeroo and be perfectly understood, but I try to oorder sandwiches and I’m a foocking mooron.”
This is reminiscent of the time we were going through a drive-thru and Mr. Shakes requested a “coop holder.” (Translation: cup holder.) “Can I have a coop holder?” “I’m sorry, what?” “A coop holder.” “I don’t know what a coop holder is.” “A coop holder! You know—for holding coops!” When we pulled up to the window, the person working there told him he ought to learn how to speak English. Mr. Shakes is currently ranting about this infamous moment in Shakes history right now.
