I have never watched an episode of Dancing With the Stars, and, to be filed under "Things That Won't Change That," is the announcement that the new cast for the upcoming season includes former House Majority Leader and ex-con Tom DeLay:
"His leadership was characterized by his aggressive 'Grow the Vote' method of party discipline where he never lost a vote, leading the Washington Post to nickname him 'The Hammer'."—Hey, ABC: You forgot to mention that his leadership was also characterized by
ten fuckloads of criminal corruption.
Remember when Tucker Carlson was on
Dancing With the Stars? (
Good times.) What is it with that show's insistence on reviving the careers of conservative has-beens? Is ABC secretly participating in some sort of rehabilitation program?
I swear to Maude if Dick Cheney shows up on
Lost, I will go totally trucknutz.
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[trigger warning]
Shaker Yoav sends along this heinous bit of opining in the Marietta Daily Journal in which the columnist argues that a park frequented by gay men for verdant trysts should not enact a proposed dog ban because: "With a little instruction, dogs could be taught to severely dislike the gay lovers in Burruss and Wildwood and bite them in the fanny and do what City Council should have done years ago - chase them off to Atlanta where they belong. Assuming that works, we will then tell the canines that cell phone users are really just possums with bad attitudes. The dogs will take it from there and then maybe the rest of us can have a little peace and quiet in Glover Park." Email the editor.
Shaker C.L. Minou forwards this interview with the loathsome Karl Lagerfeld, in which he is asked to channel Coco Chanel and says: "I was never a feminist because I was never ugly enough for that." Oh, my aching sides.
Shaker IvyCeltress emails this piece about BookCrossing, "a free-book-tracking Web site where anyone can, as a brochure puts it, 'share your books with the world and follow their paths forever more!' Its fans can register a book, add a brief journal entry, then place it in a public spot. The hope is that someone else will pick it up, record their find online and pass it on—becoming a link in a long chain of serendipitous literary discoveries."
Shaker Lindsay sends this thoughtful piece by a Lutheran about how the protests at the town halls could go, if they weren't totally rooted in self-interest.
Shaker Julia emails, with regard to the video game "Rapelay," about which I've written before: "The company who created Rapelay has now renamed the game's category." From the You Can't Make This Shit Up Files, the "rape" category has been renamed "Platinum Category," and the "sexual training" category (ugh) has been renamed the "Thoroughbred Category." Just barf. Times a thousand.
Shaker InfamousQBert emails that Britain is considering requiring disclaimers on advertisements in which models have been airbrushed.
Shaker Kathy_A forwards this piece found at Roger Ebert's place about the extraordinary Tilda Swinton and her traveling movie festival.
Shaker Rachel forwards this piece about the new ThinkB4YouSpeak ad campaign, which Rachel rightfully describes as "clueless" (the piece, not the ad campaign itself), as it seeks to excuse the use of "gay" as pejorative with classic lines like: "People use the word 'gay' in offhand ways not to disparage people, but as a slightly edgy synonym for 'lame'." lolsob.
Shaker Julia also sends this item which reports that Kirstie Alley is (quite rightly) pissed about a tabloid story claiming she may only have four years to live because she's overweight: "Alley writes on her Twitter.com page, 'I wonder if Kevin James, John Goodman, Alec Baldwin, James Gandolfini, K-Fed, Bill Shatner, etc are dying in four years or only Fat actresses'."
Which brings us to this NYT article sent by Shaker CassieC, about (as CassieC describes) "how it's now cool for men to be fat(ter) because spending time at the gym is such an unmanly girl thing to do. Also, it might be gay. Actual honest-to-goodness quote: 'Leading with a belly is a male privilege of long standing, of course, a symbol of prosperity in most cultures and of freedom from anxieties about body image that have plagued women since Eve.' (Subtext: give up, feminist bitchez! Sexist double standards are ETERNAL!)"
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Strip One,
Strip Two,
Strip Three,
Strip Four,
Strip Five,
Strip Six,
Strip Seven,
Strip Eight. In which Liss reimagines the long-running comic "Frank & Ernest," about two old straight white guys "telling it like it is," as a fat feminist white woman and a biracial queerbait telling it like it actually is from their perspective. Hilarity ensues.
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It looks like the public option is all but dead at this point. I was nearly beyond caring back in July; I am officially beyond hope now.
I despair that meaningful reform is attainable, and fear that whatever reform is achieved will actually make things worse.
But I'm willing to be convinced my pessimism is unfounded.
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Shaker Angie sends this article from the New York Times about Dr. Delos M. Cosgrove, a heart surgeon who is the chief executive of the Cleveland Clinic, who says he wishes he could stop hiring obese people, because "We should declare obesity a disease and say we're going to help you get over it."
Um, okay. But, like, even if that were true, does that mean this heart surgeon wouldn't hire a thin person with heart disease? Or diabetes? Or lupus? Or any one of a million other diseases?
It's funny (where funny = total bullshit) how even the people who call obesity a disease treat it differently than any other disease. It's like a whole new kind of disease, where the most important sufferers are not the people with the actual disease, but the people who don't have it.
They particularly suffer in their pocketbooks and in their eyes. Oh, the humanity!
And Paul the Spud (via Sadly, No!) and Shaker Unree (via Opinion L.A.) pass along this Wall Street Journal op-ed by Whole Foods CEO John Mackey, who helpfully explains that "many of our health-care problems are self-inflicted: two-thirds of Americans are now overweight and one-third are obese. Most of the diseases that kill us and account for about 70% of all health-care spending—heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes and obesity—are mostly preventable through proper diet, exercise, not smoking, minimal alcohol consumption and other healthy lifestyle choices."
Which is totally not an advertisement for shopping at Whole Foods, he swears it! No, wait, I'm sorry—he doesn't actually deny that at all; what I meant to say is that he's full of shit, because he doesn't put his fancypants grocery stores in the places that most need them, the sorts of places where the "healthy lifestyle choices" he wants people to make don't exist, nor does the price what he's selling so that those "healthy lifestyle choices" are not just another luxury item outwith the reach of the lower classes.
Since I don't shop at Whole Foods, maybe someone who does can tell me if they sell organic hay for the high horses from which assholes like Mackey issue their intolerable blame, shame, and naked hatred.
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<--SKM's sweet, sweet dream.
Q: What kind of an asshole do you have to be to open your living room windows at 3AM, fire up your amp, and start jamming on electric guitar and bass with your jackass buddies?
A: The kind that lives directly across the street from SKM and L.
Q: Could you possibly be more of an asshole?
A: Yes--glad you asked. Here's how: when SKM stands under your window and tells you to shut your windows or keep it down, look directly at her, toss your hair...and keep on playing. When L. comes out and tells you the same thing, repeat the look- toss-and-play process. Then, when L. knocks on your door until you finally answer, say "oh! I'm sorry!", like you had no idea, then act all faux-wounded 'cause we were so mean.
Dude, you're worse than sorry...you're sad.*
*with due respect to Whoopi Goldberg in Jumpin' Jack Flash.
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Welcome home, Suaad Hagi Mohamud.
Now, Mr. Harper. It's about that Inquiry, the one you should be holding on the appalling treatment of a Canadian citizen, and the shameful lack of response on the part of our government to her plight.
I'm sure you can appreciate, with your lengthy blather about accountability during the last election, that we now eagerly await your enthusiastic pursuit of the truth of this case, and who's responsible for the shabbiness of our dealings with our fellow Canadian.
Realistically, what I'm expecting to happen is...absolutely nothing. Mr. Harper's effectiveness on immigration-related topics has been approximately equal to his level of personal warmth, charm and charisma*.
Canada used to have a reputation for being a nation concerned with human rights around the world. I could be proud of my country for, for instance, leading the charge on land mine use. And we were proud not to join Bush's Coalition of the Willing to invade Iraq.
I'd like to get back to being proud of my country's reputation abroad, Mr. Harper. This would be a good place to start.
*This is not a compliment, for those unfamiliar with our Prime Minister./
Ceçi n'est pas un compliment. On a deux langues officielles en Canada.
A sample letter I'm sending to my local MP. I suggest re-writing before sending your own; it's harder to dismiss an individual letter than a form letter. Shaker Fionnabhair suggests, wisely, that a letter of thanks to Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, for pressing for action from the federal government, would be a good choice.
Good afternoon (name of local MP),
I'm writing today to express my hope that the government will be holding an official inquiry into the shabby treatment of Ms. Suaad Hagi Mohamud, recently stranded in Kenya when the Canadian government failed to protect her rights as a Canadian citizen.
It's one of those little pieces of the immigrant experience that many native-born Canadians are unfamiliar with, but we - immigrants, I mean, as I am myself a naturalized Canadian - have to take an oath to our country, where native-born Canadians don't. And yet we who have sworn to defend her, fall under suspicion for the simple fact of being immigrants. Of course, as an immigrant from the UK, I fall under the "expats" label, being from one of the "good" countries.
As an immigrant, I fear falling into a similar situation abroad - will my country defend my rights if I am unjustly detained abroad? We, all Canadian citizens - immigrant and native-born alike - all deserve the same treatment from our government. Please press your caucusmates to urge that an inquiry be held, and appropriate policy and training programs instituted to help reduce the chance of this kind of travesty occuring again. We are shamed before the world when this happens. Please help restore that pride, sir.
Respectfully,
(CaitieCat's real name, mailing address, and phone numbers)
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Well, actually, not really so much.
See, the TSA is instituting new rules today, another in the increasing list of silly rituals intended to make people feel as though the War on Terror is being "won" (see also, taking shoes off, dismantling all hand luggage, body-cavity-imaging machines, et c., et c.).
These rules will apply to any flight originating in the US.
Can't see what the problem is? Might be an example of cisprivilege there. Imagine, if you will, you're a trans person who has just transitioned. Per the local laws, you've not been able to change your name legally yet, nor your gender marker. So now, in the name of a spurious increase in security, trans people are to be outed to total strangers, or are not permitted to fly.
Because, as we all know, lots of terrorists like to fly around pretending to be trans people. It's such a respected, non-vilified identity, you can certainly understand how someone wanting not to be noticed would choose it. What could be more incognito than suddenly adopting a gender presentation you don't actually have, since it's so easy to pass right off the bat, right? That's what all the movies say.
Gee, that doesn't sound lethally dangerous. It's not as though trans people get killed much in this kind of situation - and I'm sure the highly-paid, exquisitely-trained operatives at the security counters will be very careful to maintain trans people's confidentiality.
But hey, no one discriminates against trans people, so why should we need rights protection, right?
Tip of the CaitieCap to Shaker Karatemonkey, who sent this link in to Liss.
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...it's De-lurk Day! We haven't had one of these in awhile, and I've noticed a lot of "long-time reader; first-time commenter" comments lately, so I thought I'd open a weekend thread for all you Shaker lurkers who rarely or never pipe up to say hi!
Cheeky devils!
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So, as many long-time Shakers will know, Mustang Bobby, a contributor here, makes an annual trip to the Stratford Festival. Well, Stratford isn't very far from here at all (it's a half-hour drive, give or take a bit), so we made arrangements to meet this morning, just to hang out and chat and so on.
Well, I'll say this: we appear to be both pretty much what's on the label, when our writing is considered. That is, I don't think either of us were all that surprised. :)
Bobby is a lovely man, with a gently ferocious wit that won't surprise anyone who reads his work. Our conversation ranged across many topics, covering from theatre and playwriting to blogging to the rise of stupidity in modern discourse.
Ooh, and we chatted about the idea of a Shakescon. I know, huh, fun idea, amirite? Yah. :D
We did, however, make sure to get pictures. So:
Your Humble Narrator, waiting for Bobby to arrive in the lobby. I am somewhat known for my striped leg attire, so I decided to make sure I'd got some highly visible ones.
Then, Your Humble Narrator and this lovely woman she knows, who happens to be very close to YHN. This is the_pixie_mouse, along with YHN.
And lastly, the one you came to see, YHN and Mustang Bobby.
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Iain and I were talking rather excitedly about District 9 last night. Earlier, I received the following email from him:
92 on Metacritic. Produced by Peter Jackson. No hollywood stars. Progressive political message. Aliens. DNA altering viruses.
Come ON!!!!! I mean, how am I supposed to absorb those facts and not jizz in my pants?
LOL.
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I can't wait:
Screen Gems has acquired rights to turn comedian Steve Harvey's book "Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man" into a feature.
Harvey wrote the humorous book of advice for women seeking to better understand their male counterparts, an exercise inspired by a segment on Harvey's syndicated morning radio show.
…"Steve has always provided an easily relatable perspective on men, the way they view women and their seemingly complex but surprisingly simple emotional needs," [Screen Gems president Clint Culpepper] said.
Barf.
I can't even tell you how much just the title "Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man" makes me want to smash things. You know, I think I've already read this story. It's called "I Want a Virgin
and a Whore" by Every Straight Antifeminist Misogybag MRA Asshole Ever.
Btw, love the whole "how men view women" thing.
All men? Even the gay ones, Mr. Culpepper? Oh, of course. They're not real men, right?
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"I feel it is time to re-create 'Friends' in the hourlong genre and feel like this is the perfect opportunity." — Dan Bucatinsky, who, along with Joel Schumacher and Topher Grace, is bringing St. Elmo's Fire to the small screen. Thanks, but no thanks, Hollywood.
[Cross-posted.]
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[Strong trigger warning.]
In March, I wrote about a proposed law in Afghanistan which would have legalized marital rape, among other injustices. After international uproar, Afghan officials promised the the law would be revised before passage.
Not so much.
Afghanistan has quietly passed a law permitting Shia men to deny their wives food and sustenance if they refuse to obey their husbands' sexual demands, despite international outrage over an earlier version of the legislation which President Hamid Karzai had promised to review.
The new final draft of the legislation also grants guardianship of children exclusively to their fathers and grandfathers, and requires women to get permission from their husbands to work.
"It also effectively allows a rapist to avoid prosecution by paying 'blood money' to a girl who was injured when he raped her," the US charity Human Rights Watch said.
...Islamic law experts and human rights activists say that although the language of the original law has been changed, many of the provisions that alarmed women's rights groups remain, including this one: "Tamkeen is the readiness of the wife to submit to her husband's reasonable sexual enjoyment, and her prohibition from going out of the house, except in extreme circumstances, without her husband's permission. If any of the above provisions are not followed by the wife she is considered disobedient."
This is a profoundly cynical attempt by Karzai to try to secure the fundamentalist (male) vote ahead of a hotly contested election. He is, ostensibly, our ally.
Contact the US State Department and politely request swift action.
In case anyone needs some help with what might be an appropriate letter...
Dear Secretary Clinton:
I have recently become aware of the new law in Afghanistan which permits Shia men to deny their wives sustenance if they refuse submit sexually, denies mothers legal guardianship of their children, allows rapists to pay off their victims, and in other ways severely diminishes the lives of Afghan women. As I am aware of and resoundingly support your emphasis on the rights of women worldwide, I am hopeful that there will be a swift response to this appalling legislation, and I strongly encourage you to take a bold stance on behalf of the women of Afghanistan.
Best regards...
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We've lost one of the big ones, folks:
Les Paul, the virtuoso guitarist and inventor whose solid-body electric guitar and recording studio innovations changed the course of 20th-century popular music, died Thursday in White Plains, N.Y. He was 94.
Rather than attempt to chronicle everything he has ever done, I'll just share a story of when I met Les in the early 90s.
I used to work at a music store in northern NJ, probably about 10-15 minutes from Mahwah, where Les lived at the time. One day they had Les come in to pose for a cover photo for the store's mail order catalog. After several people spoke with him, I walked up and told him what a pleasure it was to meet him. We chatted for a bit, and then I asked if he wouldn't mind giving me an autograph. He said, "Sure! Just get me something to write with!" So, I gave him a pen and a little piece of paper. He signed it, gave the paper back and I thanked him profusely.
When I got back to my desk, I looked at the paper and it said the following:
"Howdy! Les Paul"
I think that just about sums it all up.
Thanks, Les, for being such an inspiration.
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