This blogaround brought to you by Shaxco, makers of Deek-3PO Gay Robot Cosplay Costumes.
Recommended Reading:
Echidne: I Haz Teh Sadz
RosieRed23: No Boobs for You!
Cara: Protecting Your Safety While Speaking Out Is Not Irresponsible
Angry Asian Man: Jin-Soo Kwon at the Emmys!
Miss Cellania: Mermaid or Whale?
Melissa: Precious Takes Top Prize at Toronto
Leave your links in comments...
Monday Blogaround
Dave Matthews: Smart Chappy
"I don't think socialism, and I don't think warmness and respect are necessarily bad words." Huh. What a concept! He also has some interesting things to say about the media giving a platform to the wrong people, and about the ubiquity of racism, and how his perception of American racism changed after spending part of his young life in South Africa during apartheid. The whole interview is here.
And once again I marvel at the irony that the Dave Matthews Band is like the dudebro soundtrack. Do dudebros pay attention to anything besides what screen-printed filigree t-shirt to wear each day?
Top Chef's resident dudebro Mike Isabella,
who actually said in one episode, "No offense, but
a girl shouldn't be at the same level as I am."
What I'm Listning To
Christina Aguilera's rendition of James Brown's "Man's World" at the 2007 Grammy Awards. This is a man's world / This is a man's world / But it would be nothing, nothing / Not one little thing / Without a woman or a girl. It's such a different song when she sings it, different like whoa.
When a woman sings those lyrics, it's suddenly not about a world in which women are decorative objects, but a world that doesn't work without women, too. And when Christina sings it, fuck, it's a feminist anthem on steroids.
I love the look on Jamie Foxx's face at the end of the clip.
What are you listening to today?
Bonus Christina (featuring Lil' Kim): "Can't Hold Us Down"
I Can Haz Name?
Shaker Susan emails:
I need help from the Shakes community. A neighbor was sitting near my mail box with a long-haired kitten who was up for adoption. It's not as though my life isn't already ruled by two dogs, some fish and one totally-self absorbed cat. I couldn't help myself. Kitty is so cute, cuddly, and a major purr machine. I thought her name should be Sophie, but no, there is only one Sophs. Can the Shaker community help me?Sophie says she would be honored to share her name* with her fuzzy wee doppelganger, if that's the new kitteh's bestest name. Although we both agree she looks an awful lot like a Miranda.
What do you think, Shakers? What should the adorable new kitteh's name be?
----------------------
* It took us ages to find Sophs' name. Nothing suited her at all when we tried it on, except for Sophie. Livs was easy; she was Olivia Twist right from her start as a dirty little orphan. Tils was easy, too. I was sitting in the car, holding her in a blanket while Iain was in the store buying kitten food, and she looked up at me and I said, "You're name is Matilda, isn't it?" And she started with her ZOMG LOUD purring that makes everyone laugh who hears it.
Quote of the Day
"What is up with all these Republicans?"—Then-President George W. Bush, upon being informed that Republican Senator Larry Craig had pleaded guilty to having a wide stance misdemeanor disorderly conduct in an airport restroom.
Yet another revelation from the upcoming disher by former Bush speechwriter Matt Latimer.
Bush apparently also responded to Ed Gillespie's insistence on inserting into a speech Bush was to give in 2008 at Furman University a few lines condemning gay marriage, "I'm not going to tell some gay kid in the audience that he can't get married." Amanda at Think Progress wryly notes, "Of course, Bush ran his 2004 campaign telling that kid just that."
See?
C-3PO is the gayest robot ever:
Deeky at the "antique" mall yesterday, tries on some vintage headwear.
[Cross-posted.]
Afghanistan General: Escalate or Fail
General Calls for More U.S. Troops to Avoid Afghan Failure:
The top military commander in Afghanistan warns in a confidential assessment of the war there that he needs additional troops within the next year or else the conflict "will likely result in failure."Bob Woodward broke the story for the WaPo. They've got more here.
The grim assessment is contained in a 66-page report that the commander, Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, submitted to Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates on Aug. 30, and which is now under review by President Obama and his top national security advisers.
The disclosure of details in the assessment, reported Sunday night by The Washington Post, coincided with new skepticism expressed by President Obama about sending any more troops into Afghanistan until he was certain that the strategy was clear.
Meanwhile, President Obama tells CNN's John King: "I don't want to put the resource question before the strategy question. Because there is a natural inclination to say, if I get more, then I can do more. But right now, the question is, the first question is, are we doing the right thing? Are we pursuing the right strategy?"
That's sounds very reasonable, until one remembers it's in the context of the leader of the war theater saying that the right strategy is escalation. And Obama went on to assure us (in a line I swear he borrowed directly from Bush on Iraq), "[W]hat I will say to the American public is, it's not going to be driven by the politics of the moment," so, um, if he's not making decisions on politics, on what is the decision being made? Military assessments? And now we're back to escalation...
And once again, I hate that our president is treating "politics" like it's a dirty word. Why the hell shouldn't war be a political decision, when the two parties have, allegedly, two very different political opinions of war, and the funding is tied to Congress? And, honestly, how can it not be a political decision, in a representative democracy where the president and Congress are meant to be doing the will of the people?
I hated it when Bush said his decisions about the war/s wouldn't be motivated by "the politics of the moment," because "the politics of the moment" really means "the will of the people." Bush's saying he was totally comfortable ignoring the will of the people made me feel like he fancied himself a dictator. And guess what? It makes me feel the same way when Obama says it, too. For the same reason.
BENRY!!!
For the Losties…
LL Cool J: The nominees for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series are: Christian Clemenson, Boston Legal; Michael Emerson, Lost; William Hurt, Damages; Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad; William Shatner, Boston Legal; John Slattery, Mad Men.
Chris O'Donnell: And the Emmy goes to…Michael Emerson, Lost.
Voiceover as Michael Emerson walks to stage: If Michael Emerson weren't on television right now, he would be in New York City having a fancy cocktail with me—that is, until S. Epatha Merkerson walked into the room; then he'd blow me off. That's a true story. This is the second Emmy win and fourth nomination for Michael Emerson.
Michael Emerson: Oh my goodness, what a fine honor. I feel like I'm living out a character actor's dream. One day, I flew to Hawaii to do a guest spot, and four years later it's become the role of my lifetime. I salute the other formidable actors in my category. I salute my steadfast and beautiful wife, Carrie; my fine representation; and all the brilliant writers, producers, and artists that make up the Lost family, to which I belong. As they say in Honolulu, mahalo nui loa [thank you very much]. Good night.
What the Hell?
Iain
From the book The World Stock Photo Library, Vol. 118: Children of the British Isles.
[See also: Deeky, Liss, evilsciencechick, katecontinued, ClumsyKisses, Mistress Sparkletoes, Liiiz, Reedme, Mama Shakes, Mustang Bobby, RedSonja, MomTFH, Portly Dyke, SteffaB, Icca, Christina, Orangelion03, Car, Siobhan, InfamousQBert, Maud, Rikibeth, MishaRN, CLD, Cheezwiz, MamaCarrie, Temeraire, somebodyoranother, goldengirl, Liss (again), summerwing, yeomanpip, Susan811, bbl, Deeky (Part II), A Daily Shakesville Fan, Sami_J, liberalandproud Temeraire: Redux, Mama Shakes II, Bonus Deeky, OuyangDan, J.Goff, Iain, Talonas, The Great Indoors, gogo, kiwi_a, em_and_ink, Tik_bev, phdintraining, Deeky Freakhands, busydani, Jenny Anne, rowmyboat, DesertRose, Steve/Pido, Anne Onymous, phredrika, and The Last of the Famous International Deekys.]
The Dude Abides…Right in My Office!
Last weekend, I saw my friend J for the first time since my birthday (which was in May), and he brought a birthday present for me. (When he handed it to me, all wrapped up in lovely and colorful birthday paper, I said, "What's this for?!" He said, "Uh, your birthday?" Duh.) Anyway, so I opened it and immediately burst out laughing.
Something you should know about is that he J does not read my blog. Or rarely reads it. In any case, he'd never seen this post.
"Omigod!!!" I exclaimed.
"Do you like them?" he asked.
"I do," I replied. "And I'm totally not leaving them in the packaging."
"Definitely not," he said.
So, after an epic struggle to free the Dude and Walter from their plastic prisons—and the dog, and Donnie, in his Folgers coffee tin—they are now resting comfortably in their new home on the top shelf of my bookcase.
You'll no doubt note that the rug really ties the whole display together.
RIP Irving Kristol
Irving Kristol, the father of neoconservativism (and of conservative neocon prognosticator Bill Kristol), died today at age 89. Mr. Kristol was an extremely influential conservative thinker, and, even if Americans are not aware of it, his work has touched all of our lives—and the lives of everyone affected by our foreign policy.
I don't have anything nice to say about Mr. Kristol, since I only knew him by his politics, which I did not share. So I won't say anything else.
My sincere condolences to his friends and family, who knew him in a way I did not.
The Bottom of the Barrel, You Are Scraping It
Miss California Wows Conservatives:
The Value Voters Summit heard from potential Republican presidential candidates and GOP congressional leaders on Friday morning.I'm afraid that's less a favorable commentary on Ms. Prejean than it is a searing indictment of potential Republican presidential candidates and GOP congressional leaders.
But it was Carrie Prejean--former Miss California--who stole the show.
Wow. Look at the energy in that room. It's positively electric!
BOBBY!!!
Across the street from us, there lives a couple with two ancient, mangy dogs and about a zillion cats. (Or, they used to have a zillion cats, until local animal control came and took most of them away.) They're pretty much the biggest assholes ever: When we first moved in, Lady Sweatpants (so-called because I've never seen her wear anything, ever, other than a pair of blue sweatpants) was outside and I waved across the street to her, a gesture to which she responded with, "What are you looking at?"
Our next-door neighbor has an ongoing feud with Sir Grumpyhead (the etymology of which I'll assume is self-evident) and Lady Sweatpants, which most recently resulted in his asking them to (and offering to help them) clean up the metrick fuckton of junk spilling out of a dilapidated and collapsing out-building on their property, which was not just an eyesore and a public hazard, but had also become a breeding ground for feral cats. When rudely rebuffed and told to fuck off, our neighbor reported them to the city. It's clean now!
So, anyway, Lady Sweatpants hangs around outside all day with one of the ancient, mangy dogs, who barks incessantly and likes to wander off a bit. Both of these things—the barking and the wandering—prompt Lady Sweatpants to noisily smash together whatever random bits of crap she first puts her hands on (stick and a pipe, garbage can lid and a rollerskate) and scream at the top of her lungs: "BOBBY! SHADDUP! BOBBY! GET BACK OVER HERE! BOBBY! BOBBY! BOBBY! THAT'S ENOUGH! GET BACK OVER HERE! GODDAMMIT! BOBBY! BOBBY! BOBBY! YOU'RE GONNA GET IT! BOBBY!"
BAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHBBEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!
Then the ancient, mangy dog waddles back to her, and Lady Sweatpants goes back to whatever haphazard puttering she's doing in the yard or the garage, paying no attention to the dog, who wanders off again. "BOBBY! SHADDUP! BOBBY! GET BACK OVER HERE! BOBBY! BOBBY! BOBBY! THAT'S ENOUGH! GET BACK OVER HERE! GODDAMMIT! BOBBY! BOBBY! BOBBY! YOU'RE GONNA GET IT! BOBBY!"
BAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHBBEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!
Rinse and repeat.
All. Fucking. Day.
Kenny Blogginz was over here one Sunday afternoon when Lady Sweatpants started in with the screaming-at-the-dog routine. He looked at me like "What the fuck was that?!" Because she screams bloody goddamned murder. It's not like she's just yelling at the dog; she's screaming at it like an angry maniac. "BOBBY!!! ALL RIGHT!!! THAT'S ENOUGH!!! GET OVER HERE!!!"
Suffice it to say, this is more annoying than the barking ever is.
And it's just so hilariously unwarranted. The dog is all old and shit, and sort of limps back toward her all slow with its bum hip and it's like, "Wevs, dude. I was just on the other side of the yard. Damn."
Yet she screams at it like it might be contemplating robbing banks or splitting for China or something. The dog doesn't even leave the freaking yard.
I can't have my window open without listening to this shit on a loop. One of these days I'm going to snap: "PUT THAT DOG ON A FUCKING LEASH AND SHUT THE FUCK UP!"
Shaker Help Request (and Thank-You!)
by Shaker Betsy
A month and a half ago, I asked for resources that I could pass along to a friend of mine who was struggling to cope with a new disability.
I can't tell you how much I appreciate Liss posting my request, and how grateful I am to everyone who shared. My friend found them very helpful, and although (obviously) she's still dealing with her health problems, having those resources at her fingertips is really important.
I'm writing now with a request that comes from her. One of her many difficulties has been dealing with inadequate insurance. She is compiling stories about people's problems with health care coverage to circulate to politicians in the hopes of promoting true health insurance reform. Her email, which I'm posting with her permission, is below. Shakers are invited to email her with their stories.
Eliza writes:
If you--or someone in your immediate family--have had problems with inadequate (or nonexistent) insurance, can you please email me, telling me your first name, age, location, and employment (or lack there of)? I want to create a forwarded email in which people list problems with their health care coverage, and I aim to have these emails reach politicians. Please limit your statement to 3 or 4 sentences, and send it to eliza dot young at gmail dot com.Thank you so much, Shakers.
Daily Kitteh
This little nest she's made out of a blanket lying in the underside of an overturned dining room chair in the guest room (currently serving as storage for the dining room set we haven't room to accommodate) is Sophie's new favorite place, when she can't be sitting in someone's lap.
Friday Blogaround
This blogaround brought to you by Shaxco, administrators of the Keanu Reeves Fan Club. And the Keanu Reeves Not-Fan Club.
Recommended Reading:
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LeMew: Indiana Court vs. The Vote Fraud Fraud (Yay, Indiana!)
Angry Asian Man: Suspect Arrested in Murder of Annie Le
Tigtog: Marvel Fail: Rape Culture Apologism from Writer; Where the Hell Were the Editors?
Shark-fu: But We Can Do Worse with Tyler Perry…
WordAddict: NBC Thursday Comedy Night [spoiler warning]
Leave your links in comments...
