And I’d like to congratulate the minimum wage workers on their $4,368 raise, and the heirs and heiresses of $10 million estates on their $2.76 million raises, which works out to about 183 years of income for a full-time minimum wage earner.
New American Gothic, bitchez. That’s what I’m talking about. Go USA!
Do I find this appalling more because it’s yet another hallmark of a burgeoning fascist state, or more because it’s an infuriating affront to my intellectual capacity? Hard to say.
Although American students are typically taught a sanitized version of history in which the inherent superiority and benevolence of the United States is rarely challenged, the social and political changes unleashed in the 1960s have opened up some space for a more honest accounting of our past. But even these few small steps taken by some teachers toward collective critical self-reflection are too much for many Americans to bear.There’s more at the link. Honestly, this is just disgusting. I don’t even know what to say anymore, except that I’m really sorry for anyone who’s got kids in the public education system in Florida.
So, as part of an education bill signed into law by Gov. Jeb Bush, Florida has declared that "American history shall be viewed as factual, not as constructed." That factual history, the law states, shall be viewed as "knowable, teachable and testable."
Florida’s lawmakers are not only prescribing the specific view of U.S. history that must be taught (my favorite among the many specific commands in the law is the one about instructing students on "the nature and importance of free enterprise to the United States economy"), but are trying to legislate out of existence any ideas to the contrary. They are not just saying that their history is the best history, but that it is beyond interpretation. In fact, the law attempts to suppress discussion of the very idea that history is interpretation.
So, "If you're an American over a certain age, you can vote," eh? A nice little thought, there... but of course, it doesn't matter at all if your vote doesn't count.
Worst Ever Security Flaw Found in Diebold Voting Machine
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA -- “This may be the worst security flaw we have seen in touch screen voting machines,” says Open Voting Foundation president, Alan Dechert. Upon examining the inner workings of one of the most popular paperless touch screen voting machines used in public elections in the United States, it has been determined that with the flip of a single switch inside, the machine can behave in a completely different manner compared to the tested and certified version.
It’s nice to see you again.
The Food and Drug Administration said today it is considering approval of the morning-after pill for sale without a prescription, a surprise move on an issue that has ensnared the agency in debate for years.If the plan is approved, it would likely legalize OTC purchases of Plan B only for women 18 and older, but that would be a damn fine start.
Discussions between the government and Barr Laboratories, which manufactures the drug, known as Plan B, are set to begin immediately and could be completed “in a matter of weeks,” the agency said in a statement.
The High Priestess of Diarrheic Spewage recently gave an interview to BeliefNet (hat tip No More Mister Nice Blog, or NAMBLA), and I’m honestly having a hard time coming up with my favorite quote. I’m really torn between “[I]t's become increasingly difficult to distinguish the pronouncements of the Episcopal Church from the latest Madonna video,” “Most of the time, I'm an extraordinarily good Christian,” and “I think Cindy Sheehan is enjoying the celebrity status her son's death afforded her too. Thanks for pointing that out—I'll correct it in the paperback edition.”
Mostly, though, I’m just impressed with her unbelievable rudeness toward her interviewer, culminating in “Your question is incomprehensible,” in response to a question that was, by any measure, totally comprehensible.
Last week, I attempted to start a new fun Friday Feature; one of us could post a weird picture from the internets, and enjoy the no doubt hilarious comments that it would produce.
But, no... someone had to get clever!
So, Punkasses... I'm looking at you, R. Mildred... we accept your Image Warz challenge. I'll see your Anime-cute, yet ridiculously NSFW "Hello Menses" picture, and raise you this picture of the lunch menu of the damned. (Possibly not WS.)
Eat up, bitchez!
See, they were right...the Voting Rights Act isn't necessary in America, because obviously, racism doesn't exist anymore.
On the July 27 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio program, Michael Savage suggested that the purpose of the recently passed 25-year extension of the Voting Rights Act is to "put voting machines in crack houses." Acknowledging that "I don't really know what they mean by reaffirming the Voting Rights Act," Savage nonetheless asked whether the extension would ensure that there is "a chad in every crack house" and voting machines in "prisons."
From the July 27 broadcast of Talk Radio Network's The Savage Nation:SAVAGE: I don't really know what they mean by reaffirming the Voting Rights Act. Do they mean they're going to put a chad in every crack house? What are they going to do -- spend 10 billion dollars to make sure they have voting machines in crack houses?
[...]
SAVAGE: What is this Voting Rights Act reauthorization? What is this big deal? If you're an American over a certain age, you can vote. What are they talking about? What is this nonsense? What does [Rev. Al] Sharpton want, what does [Rev. Jesse] Jackson want? A couple of hundred million dollars to put voting machines in crack houses? What does he want? I don't get it -- and prisons?
And the hits just keep coming. The "Minutemen" sticker just adds that perfect little touch. Le sigh.
#132 on an infinite list: References to “the romance of the antiwar left.”
I don’t find anything romantic about being antiwar. I don’t find myself filled with a desire to glorify or wax rhapsodic about the current antiwar movement, nor any previous antiwar movements. In fact, I find the obligation to assert opposition to a war heart-wrenching, depressing, infuriating, and often rather tedious. There is nothing glamorous or fun about contemplating a war to which one objects, and if I’m part of some “antiwar left movement,” it’s not because I’m desperate to join in a group that makes me feel special or hearkens back to some glory days that allegedly existed before I was fucking born. It's because I'm expressing my personal beliefs, and whether I'm writing a wonkish piece on national security implications while wearing a business suit, or grousing about it braless and gripping a blunt, doesn't change the underlying principle for me one bloody iota.
For full debunking, hop on over to Digby.
A few years ago, Mr. Shakes’ dad bought him an atlas for Christmas. It’s the tenth edition of The Times Comprehensive Atlas of the World, and the thing is absolutely massive, with page after page of amazingly detailed maps and images and satellite photos. Saying it’s a handy reference is an understatement.
Last night, Mr. Shakes was telling me about Boudica, which segued into a discussion about early British history, and, as we spoke about the Saxons and Picts and the expansion of the Roman Empire, we pulled out the atlas, so we could trace history’s movements. We laid side by side on the floor, and stretched out the immense book in front of us, our shoulders bumping as we reached to trace lines through Scandinavia or to turn the page for a closer look at northern Britain.
We traveled to Oceania, and the Americas, and Asia, lingering in the Middle East to examine the borders that are ever in the news, and marveling that one continent could hold so many vastly different cultures. Syria, India, and Japan all on one map, defined by one continental border. It seems so strange.
Mr. Shakes flipped to the map of the U.S. It was the first time in awhile either of us had seen a map of the country that wasn’t broken down into red and blue. My index finger of my right hand landed on Nantucket, just as his left found San Francisco. The whole country, within our collective reach. Mr. Shakes remembered finding in the atlas the small Indiana town in which we now live, and showing his father where he was moving.
The world seemed smaller and smaller as I looked at countries and thought of people I’d met from each. The French soldier who’d been my student in an English conversation class. The Indonesian coworker I’d had, a brilliant artist who used to send me into fits of convulsive laughter with stories about his mother’s dachshunds fighting the local monkeys. The Ukranian exchange student who’d been a pal for her short stay. My Danish penpal, who I’d met just once in England while we were both there. My former neighbor from Nigeria. My childhood friend from Vietnam. And on and on, coupled with memories of being an American abroad, and all the curious questions disclosing my home would inevitably elicit.
Eventually, we tore ourselves away from the atlas, and the Scotsman and the American went to their bed.
This morning, I read the news, and the world seemed very big again. The borders people create around themselves are often so frustratingly impenetrable, can make us seem worlds apart, even when we’re in the same room.
Our conversation last night began with wars, the protracted battle for Britain, so one might conclude that the problem of borders, national and personal and all in between, is simply part of the human condition. Intractable. Never to be solved. But the sense of the world being small, the camaraderie between people from distant shores that makes borders seem, even if momentarily, unnecessary, is part of the human condition, too. A better part. Nobler. I've no solution, no conclusion. I'm just going to spend more time with my atlas, and try to keep close the feelings it evokes.
Apparently, if you're the prime minister of Israel, you can issue essentially the same apology for killing women and children in Qana...
"I would like to express my deep sorrow at the death of innocent civilians," the sources quoted Mr Olmert as telling Cabinet ministers at their weekly meeting.
...as you used when you blew UN observers all to hell...
“The prime minister expressed Israel’s deep regret over the mistaken killing of four U.N. peacekeepers,” Olmert said in a statement released by his office.
...without having to actually change your behavior:
Israel continued to attack targets in Lebanon even after agreeing to a 48-hour halt to its broad bombing campaign in the face of an outcry over the air raid on Sunday that left dozens of Lebanese civilians dead.
The well of regret runs deep indeed.
(Cross-posted.)
It cost me $40 to fill my tank with gas yesterday. I almost had a heart attack. One of the reasons that I'm very glad the husband and I are moving downtown is our proximity to work. We'll both be able to take the bus to work from now on; one car can be removed from the picture, and we can keep the Mini in the garage, to be used only when absolutely necessary. One of my first purchases after we move will be a bike.
I've been trying to use the air conditioning as little as possible, because my car simply eats gas when the AC is on and I'm driving in city traffic. My high 20's to low 30's average MPG suddenly becomes 19 MPG. I think I'd rather sweat than have to throw another forty bucks into my car every few days.
I'd imagine many of you are having the same issue. There are those of you that don't have the "luxury" of easily accessible public transportation and are forced to drive. There are those of you that have to, for whatever reason, own a much larger car, so it costs double or triple what it costs me to fill your car with gas.
I just want you to keep these woes and worries in mind when you read this next sentence.
This summer, Exxon Mobil made a profit of $1,318 in profit every second.
Every. Second.
The Senate's response? Why, voting on offshore drilling, of course.
Because the only cure for high oil prices is more oil.
(Tip 'o the Energy Dome to August. I know you cross-post, but what am I?)
This is exactly why we can’t let those damn dirty gays foster and adopt kids.
Oh, wait. You’re telling me that it was a straight couple who so heinously abused their kids that Daddy got five life sentences on five rape charges and 96 additional years on 12 charges of pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor and Mommy got 40 years for two charges of rape and four counts of child endangering?
Huh.
Well, then this is exactly why we can’t let those damn dirty straights have kids! No kids for anyone, because some parents suck.
Who’da thunk it? Spewing anti-Semitic slurs might affect the career of someone who depends on public goodwill for his success.
His most immediate issue is with Walt Disney Co., which is distributing "Apocalypto" and which also, through its ABC television network, has a development deal with his company to make a miniseries about the Holocaust.Con Artist indeed.
…[T]he Holocaust project, to be adapted from a little-known 1998 memoir called "Flory: Survival in the Valley of Death," which recounts the experiences of a young Dutch Jew during World War II, is in the early stages. An ABC spokeswoman Sunday would confirm only that the project was in development and that executives would wait to see a finished script before deciding whether to go into production on the proposed miniseries. Gibson and his spokesman, Alan Nierob, have said little about the project, which is backed by Gibson's Con Artists Productions, the TV division of his Icon Productions.
…peace in the Middle East is on its way, because President Bush is on the case.
“I’m monitoring the situation in the Middle East very closely,’’ Bush said this morning, in a speech at the Port of Miami.He’s a real stunner, that Bush. It really casts into stark relief how much better he is than all our other presidents when he comes out with radically brilliant new approaches to a millennia-old conflict like “monitoring very closely” and “wanting peace.”
…"We want there to be a long-lasting peace, one that's sustainable.”
Remember this classic?
