Quincy woman is called a noncombat casualty The Massachusetts National Guard soldier from Quincy who died in Afghanistan Friday was found with a single bullet in her head lying near her church on a secure military base, her family said yesterday after a briefing from Army officials.
The Department of Defense said in a statement yesterday that Ciara Durkin's injuries came from a "non-combat related incident" that is under investigation. The statement contradicts a Sunday statement from the Massachusetts Army National Guard that said Durkin, an Army specialist, was killed in action. A guard spokesman said the term was meant to imply that Durkin was deployed in Afghanistan at the time of her death.
"We're completely in the dark," said Pierce Durkin, the soldier's 28-year-old brother. "Patience is probably dissipating."
Family members, who are pushing for more information from Army officials, are girding for the possibility that Ciara (pronounced Kee-ra) Durkin was killed by a fellow service member, intentionally or accidentally, at the Bagram Airfield. They said they are confident that she did not commit suicide.
From the death of a female soldier in the relative security of her own base to conflicting statements and clumsy parsing of language by authorities to the certainty of a grieving family that its daughter did not take her own life - we have seen this before.
It is to be hoped that the family of Ciara Durkin meets with a swifter and more transparent response from the military than has the family of LaVena Johnson.
AT&T is really doing us a favor in giving us plenty of examples of unrelenting asshattery. A couple of months ago, they censored content during a Pearl Jam concert broadcast when Eddie Vedder sang some anti-Bush lyrics.
Now, they're just flipping the bird at everyone with their new terms of service that effectively give them the permission to cancel your service if you say nasty things about them:
AT&T may immediately terminate or suspend all or a portion of your Service, any Member ID, electronic mail address, IP address, Universal Resource Locator or domain name used by you, without notice, for conduct that AT&T believes (a) violates the Acceptable Use Policy; (b) constitutes a violation of any law, regulation or tariff (including, without limitation, copyright and intellectual property laws) or a violation of these TOS, or any applicable policies or guidelines, or (c) tends to damage the name or reputation of AT&T, or its parents, affiliates and subsidiaries.
So, let's say I subscribed to one of their services and had a bad customer service experience. Then, I decide to blog about it and complain that they suck. Sounds to me like AT&T would then be able to cancel my service due to my bad review which tends to damage their reputation.
Well, lucky for me I don't subscribe to any of AT&T services, so I don't particularly mind stating that their corporate censorship of free speech is for shit, which is more damaging to their already fucked up reputation than anything a customer could come up with.
Rule Number One: if you pick a fight with a skunk, prepare to get sprayed. The Democrats took on Rush Limbaugh for his "phony soldiers" comment, and of course the guy with the biggest microphone rallied the Orcosphere to his defense.
This is the next chapter in the posturing war between people who are trying to display the most outrage. The righties have the advantage because they are experts at playing the victim, and as they've proved so well in the past, when it comes to manufacturing outrage and blustering defenses of the indefensible, they have no peer. But that is what they do best -- they've spent the last twenty years perfecting this talent -- and so the Democrats had better be prepared to get it back in full force, banshees screeches and all. Senate resolutions and letters to the president of Limbaugh's network are no match for the self-righteous crocodile tears of a bully who gets bullied back.
I have to admire the Democrats for taking him on; it takes guts to poke a sharp stick at the skunk in the trash can. Now I just wish they would do the same for the battle that really matters -- bringing an end to the war. The one in Iraq, that is.
Part One in this series was the Dove advert "Evolution" that captures the transformation of a real woman into the impossibly beautiful version of herself on a billboard. Now comes (c/o Shaker Roguish Smurf, via Monoscope) another advert for Dove by the same creative team. Called "Onslaught," this ad the explores relationship between girls'/women's body image and the narratives about girls/women transmitted by the advertising culture.
I continue to have very mixed feelings about Dove's "Campaign for Real Beauty," given that it's still ultimately trying to hawk beauty products to women and that this is their idea of the spectrum of curvaceous women:
"Real women have real curves," Dove tells us, but there are real women without curves and there are real women with real big curves, too. Dove's carefully manufactured idea of "real beauty" strikes me as only slightly less pernicious than the beauty standard it's attempting to criticize—and I'd offer that there's a viable argument to be made that it is perhaps even more nefarious in some ways, since Vogue (for example) merely seeks to represent something (allegedly) attainable, not something "real."
Purporting to represent real women, while excluding everyone who wears a size in the double-digits, creates a fun-house mirror image of reality, not a true reflection. And it would be hilarious, if it weren't so sad, that "Queen of Self-Esteem" Jess Weiner, who's noted as their "resident expert on everything from body image and boys to popularity, friendship, and family issues," has a body shape evidently not considered thin enough to be featured as a "real woman" with "real curves."
I appreciate what Dove is trying to accomplish, but I remain unconvinced that they're really doing anything more than moving the goalposts a few inches by telling average women who most closely conform to the Impossibly Beautiful beauty standard that they're beautiful. And that's great—those women need to hear that they're beautiful. But surely that's an idea which can be conveyed without communicating the idea that the rest of us are not only not beautiful, but not even "real women" at all.
Both that headline and this article come courtesy of reader Kate217. Thanks, Kate!
The article is about a new study that shows the following things:
~ Overweight teenagers are just as likely to exhibit disordered eating behaviors (binge eating, using diet pills, vomiting, using laxatives) as thin ones. It just doesn't make them thin.
~ "A history of teasing about being fat was one of the strongest predictors of risk for being overweight and extreme dieting."
~ Things get especially bad when it's your own fucking family telling you you're too fat.
Any of this news to those of you who have actually been fat? Didn't think so.
Seriously, though, I'm thrilled that this is out there, since it is news to a whole ton of people. And I'm over the moon that the article ends with the following paragraph. The quote is from the study's lead author, Dianne Neumark-Sztainer, Ph.D., a professor of public health at the University of Minnesota:
“We have seen over the years that it does not work to make people feel worse about their bodies. The data are striking — talking about weight, worrying too much about diet, focusing on it increases risk not only of eating disorders, but also of being overweight.” Instead, she suggests modeling and positive encouragement of healthy behavior like making better food choices and exercising — and unconditional love, regardless of weight.
Emphasis mine, of course. Especially on that last part.
In yesterday's blogwhoring thread, Maura from My Left Nutmeg left the following comment: "Face the State, Connecticut's version of Face the Nation, actually invited me on to yesterday's broadcast to talk about blogging... Just thought I'd share since it's pretty rare to have a woman on TV talking about political blogging! (And a fat woman, to boot!)"
I had the chance to watch the video last night, and Maura is just so. awesome. I've never seen the blogosphere as I experience it so perfectly described, nor could I be any prouder as a female political blogger to have such a splendid representative. I daresay Al Gore would also be very pleased with such a great explanation about how the internet reconnects people to politics after television rendered them asunder.
But truly, the best part is when the host wants to know "What's the dark side [of the blogosphere]? What are some of the problems?"
Maura: It's hard for me to discuss problems, because I think, in a way, it's almost an unalloyed good to have more people have a voice in politics. I would say that there are some things that make politicians very nervous about blogs, and one of them is the idea that we don't have editors—so, you may have to get your story fact-checked by a hundred people; I can just post something up tonight without being fact-checked by an editor first. However, we have a very high standard for accuracy, and what we see is we have a really engaged readership, and they will call me on it if I put up something today—for instance, just before I left I put up a story about the Connecticut Catholic bishops have just announced today that they're going to disperse emergency contraception—I could not just put that up there without a link to a source or a second source, because my readers would immediately say, 'Maura, where's your link? Where's this coming from? Where did you get this?' So, politicians are a little bit nervous about that, because they're used to having a few layers of filters before something gets published.
Then there's a little exchange about anonymity and/or pseudonymity in the blogosphere, which the host introduces by referencing "anonymous slander." Maura won't really go there, though, so he tries to pique her again with "It is fascinating stuff, and it's not regulated at all, right? It's just kinda [makes a face like he smelled shit] out there?" And that's when she lets him have it with the sweetest smile.
Maura: No, it's just pure free speech, which is great. That's kind of the way our country was founded, with anonymous pamphleteers like Thomas Paine, or pseudonymous pamphleteers. So, I think we come from a great tradition of people being engaged through discussion.
Right on. Well done, grrl.
And credit to the host, who, despite that last little bit of poking, generally just let her go and didn't make it an interrupt-a-thon the way so many of these things are now.
[The show's website is here, although I'll be darned if I can find a transcript.]
I've never lied to make myself younger, and I can only recall one time when I lied to make myself older, which was to get into a bar to see a band six months shy of my 21st birthday. I used an ID borrowed from the sister of a friend whom I looked nothing like, and I couldn't believe it worked.
You're so very, very good in Glengarry Glen Ross, which is currently playing on IFC and compels me to watch it every time I am channel-surfing and see a frame of it, even though I own it on DVD and have already seen it a nonillion times. You're also extremely good in "30 Rock," which is just about the only sitcom worth watching these days that isn't "The Office" or "Curb Your Enthusiasm."
In fact, as I look over your filmography, I realize that you've been quite good in lots of things, more than I ever seem to remember when I have occasion to think of you.
The thing is, I notice that you tend to be at your best when you're playing a total asshole. I suspect this is because you are a total asshole.
And that makes me feel dirty for appreciating your work.
"After you, Mister Doggy Prezidint, heh heh. Hail to the pooch, heh heh."
U.S. President George W. Bush holds the door open for his dog, Barney, at the White House in Washington September 28, 2007. REUTERS/Jim Young (UNITED STATES)
"Illegal migrants really degrade the environment. I've seen pictures of human waste, garbage, discarded bottles and other human artifact in pristine areas. And believe me, that is the worst thing you can do to the environment."
Because some people just don't know how to go the fuck away, erstwhile Senator(ial Joke) Rick Santorum is threatening to run for governor:
The American Spectator reported last week that Santorum is seriously mulling a run for governor in 2010, when the race will be wide open. Term limits will force current Gov. Ed Rendell from seeking a third term.
Said one unnamed political adviser in The Spectator item: "Rick is a politician. He loves the competition and the process of running. He's getting back in and he's young enough that a gubernatorial run would set him up for greater opportunities politically down the road."
We're counting on you to save us all, Pennsylvania. We're counting on you!
This shirt now onsale at your local Wal-Mart. Seriously. In case you needed one more reason not to shop at that shit-hole.
Tara Stewart, a spokeswoman for the company, forwarded me information about Wal-Mart partnering with the attorney general's office in South Carolina on a public education campaign to combat domestic violence.
"We work hard on this issue and do a great deal to bring awareness and help families in need," she wrote in an e-mail message.
And the T-shirts fit into that public education campaign how?
Well, garsh, there wouldn't be any need for a campaign if we all just stopped making domestic violence the butt of jokes and stuff!
I don't know about you guys, but I haven't laughed this hard since the "I like my women like I like my chicken: battered" t-shirt. Oh, and these were hilarious, too.
(Btw, if you're considering going the whole "get over it" route on this one, please read this first.)
1. a belief or notion, not based on reason or knowledge, in or of the ominous significance of a particular thing, circumstance, occurrence, proceeding, or the like. 2. a system or collection of such beliefs. 3. a custom or act based on such a belief. 4. irrational fear of what is unknown or mysterious, esp. in connection with religion. 5. any blindly accepted belief or notion.
--from the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, via dictionary.com.
From Big Fat Deal, I've just learned that our beloved Liss-alike Dawn French believes she's going to die young.
The thing is, French doesn't anticipate an early death because she's ill, or because her older relatives died young, or for any other good reason that might logically cause one to suspect her days are numbered. She believes it because she's just had a gut feeling about it since she was 6 years old. It's a personal quirk, not a rational prediction.
She's the first to admit that:
"What's weird is I'm quite a logical person and there's not much logic to that," she says. "There are certain things I just know."
And here's what The Telegraph's Elizabeth Grice has to say in response:
Unfortunately, in Dawn's case, there is a logic plain for all to see. The article at the weekend in which she confided her thoughts on early mortality was accompanied by a happy picture of Dawn, mountainous in black, seated at a table with a plate of chips in front her.
Once she was the voluptuous, self-confident beacon for big women the world over, the role model who gave them permission to enjoy their comfortable, unfashionable bodies. Now she is something else altogether.
Doesn't she have just the tiniest inkling that allowing herself to become fat could have some bearing on her life expectancy? It would be insulting, surely, to imagine that she hasn't acknowledged the proven link between obesity and heart disease. She must know that, statistically, she has a serious chance of dying early.
Just because, as she says, there is no history of early death in her family - one granny is 99 and the other lived to be 95 - can she really believes [sic] her death forecast is counter-intuitive? Who is she kidding?
Who is she kidding? I'm more inclined to ask who you think you're kidding, Elizabeth Grice. I love that it would be insulting "to imagine that she hasn't acknowledged the proven link between obesity and heart disease" -- a link that's, uh, not so proven -- yet it's somehow not insulting to assume she has "allowed herself" to become fatter, and she doesn't realize people seem to think that's unhealthy? Not the tiniest inkling?
'Cause if she knew about the "risks," she'd just go ahead and get unfat, obvy. This is why we need to raise awareness about the obesity crisis. Clearly.
Never mind that if obese people do have heart attacks, they're more likely to survive them than thin people. Also never mind that having grandparents who lived into their 90s is actually a really good reason to believe you won't die young.
Surely, it would be insulting to imagine our intrepid reporter would allow herself to be confused by the facts!
But wait, it must be me who's confused. This isn't really an article about fat-hatred, see. I mean, Elizabeth Grice nostalgically recalls the days when Dawn French was merely "voluptuous," and gave the poor chunky girls permission to be a little bit fat. Permission to act as if they're just, you know, normal human beings. What are women with "comfortable, unfashionable bodies" to do now, huh? Who's handing out the moderate chubster dispensations these days? For the love of all that's holy, THE WORLD NEEDS DAWN FRENCH TO BE ONLY SORTA FAT!
I could go on and on, as you all know too well. The ghoulishly "Gotcha!" bit about her father's suicide and the quotes from the shrink who (presumably without having met French) calls her "remarkably uninsightful" -- while asking such remarkably insightful questions as, "Why would anyone eat too much for years on end?" -- could be a whole other couple posts right there.
And oh, wait, I can't let this line -- in which Grice acknowledges it's possible that French's premonition is for real -- pass:
How are we to know the strength of her conviction that sooner rather than later she will say goodbye to baggy jumpers, chocolate brazils and crispy cakes for ever?
Yes, because that is exactly what Dawn French's life is all about; that's what she would be saying goodbye to, were she to die young. In fact, I do believe the autobiography she's about to start work on will be titled Chocolate Brazils and Crispy Cakes Forever. 'Cause I've Worked Hard and Become Incredibly Successful, by Dawn French, or I'm Smart and Funny as Shit, by Dawn French, or I Know Hugh Laurie and You Don't, by Dawn French, just wouldn't touch on the really important parts of her life: the unflattering sweaters and the food. 'Cause -- I don't know if you realize this -- Dawn French is fat.
But here's all I really want to say about this article: Dawn French's superstition about dying early isn't hurting anyone. But the superstitions about fat and health -- the beliefs, not based on reason or knowledge, in or of the ominous significance of a thing; the irrational fear of what is unknown or mysterious; the blindly accepted beliefs and notions; and the customs and acts based on such beliefs -- make a hell of a lot of people suffer unnecessarily. Just like Stevie Wonder told us.
Jay Smooth brings us the first single from Bill O'Reilly's new gangsta rap album "Made You Watch." (Via Steve; lyrics below.)
Made You Watch
Now let me distort your perspective with my invective Then pretend I'm objective Y'all appointed me to serve injustice kick like a steel toe y'all know it's Bill-O
My tactics are trifling, when I attack for the right wing Run up from the back push the knife in Up in my No Spin Zone i rock your bells like a ringtone Call you prehistoric like Fllintstones
This ain't journalism, this is fox news You need a plan for some slander, i got you Propaganda I spit like *hock poo* And that stan named Olbermann's getting got too
Plus I know you've seen colbert jackin my swagger but now I'm back in the lab and the fact of the matter is The O'Reilly Factor is fatter, the facts don't matter If i lack raw data i just pack more chatter
And when you see me debating the screaming and hating Is only succeeding in making all of my ratings get fatter
he's lying!
Ha, made you watch In my game you're a pawn when I'm on Fox Getting big cuz I mix all your minds up Where my don's at? Where my neocons at?
It's inconceivable to me that someone with a moniker so awesomely suited for the Cult of the Feminazi Cooter could be such heinous Stepford scum, but so she is. A couple of weeks ago, Constant Comment sent me an article about the First Dud, asking the question "How does Laura Bush sleep at night?" and succinctly subtitled "The worst First Lady in recent memory has had no consistent program or agenda to changes things for the better, while at the same time providing PR cover for her husband," which pretty much sums up my feelings about her. Today the Rude Pundit puts the cherry on top:
That's a photo of First Lady Laura Bush sweeping into the Library of Congress gala of the National Book Festival. While her husband is threatening to veto health insurance legislation for children who live a little above ditch-sleeping poverty, while there's a, what do you call that? oh, yeah, war going on, while Burma, a nation she is supposed to care about, is locked down, the First Lady thought it was perfectly fine to show up in an ostentatious outfit that seems to reek of Scarlett O'Hara and "Fiddle-dee-dee. War, war, war; this war talk's spoiling all the fun at every party this spring. I get so bored I could scream." Ah, well. At least it seems to be the color of dried blood.
Bill Kristol, that right-wing pundit darling of Fox News is a real crack-up, always making jokes. Like this one yesterday regarding the SCHIP program:
First of all, whenever I hear anything described as a heartless assault on our children, I tend to think it’s a good idea. I’m happy that the President’s willing to do something bad for the kids.
I'm sure he's giving the real Billy Crystal a run for his money.
He goes on to bemoan how explotive the Democrats are for putting a 12-year-old on the radio to deliver the response to President Bush's weekly address wherein the president threatened to veto SCHIP. Of course the Republicans would never exploit children. They would never parade them on stage for something like, oh, say, opposition to stem-cell research. No, they would never do that. Not on your life.
With the usual caveat that anything in the Daily Mail should be read with a grain of salt, I want to pass on that said newspaper is reporting that the violence in Myanmar has escalated significantly, based on the account of a former intelligence officer for the ruling junta, who says he was ordered to take part in a massacre of monks and claims: "Many more people have been killed in recent days than you've heard about. The bodies [have been dumped in the jungle and] can be counted in several thousand."
Reports from exiles along the frontier confirmed that hundreds of monks had simply "disappeared" as 20,000 troops swarmed around Rangoon yesterday to prevent further demonstrations by religious groups and civilians.
Word reaching dissidents hiding out on the border suggested that as well as executions, some 2,000 monks are being held in the notorious Insein Prison or in university rooms which have been turned into cells.
There were reports that many were savagely beaten at a sports ground on the outskirts of Rangoon, where they were heard crying for help.
The Norway-based dissident news organization, the Democratic Voice of Burma, estimates that 138 people have been killed (which is significantly more than the junta says, and significantly less than suggested by the former junta official) but that thousands are indeed being detained.
"Our own estimate is about 6,000 people detained, not killed, but detained," including about 2,400 monks, DVB chief editor Aye Chan Naing said in Oslo.
He said they are being held in at least four places -- the infamous Insein Prison, a pharmaceutical factory, a technical institute and a disused race course.
Meanwhile, the UN envoy is still being stalled by the junta, and it will only be increasingly difficult to get accurate information out of Myanmar, as soldiers continue to go "to hotels in search of foreign journalists operating without permission."
I've got a new piece up at The Guardian's Comment is Free about the double-standard being applied to Republican Senators Larry Craig and David Vitter: "As long as those pesky watchdogs keep filing ethics complaints, the GOP's picking and choosing which ones deserve response will be increasingly harder to defend."
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