Potter checks out his new crate.
This is so the worst thing you're going to read all day.
"How to Deal With Angry Feminists," courtesy of AskMen.com. I especially like how they got a woman to author the piece, to give it that extra bit of "everyone hates angry feminists."
Bonus points for equating "angry" with "man-hating."
Despite feminists' reputation, and contra my own individual reputation cultivated over five years of public opinion-making, I am not a man-hater. But I am occasionally an angry feminist. And with good reason: There is still an enormous amount of kyriarchal oppression in the world.
Sometimes, I am even angry at a man, or specific men, because they have earned my ire, via some expression of male privilege or display of misogyny, or some other kind of bigotry.
I find those are the men who are most inclined to accuse me of man-hating, because it is easier to believe I have a blanket hatred for all men than a justifiable anger toward them, for which they hold the responsibility, rather than I.
[H/T to Shaker somebodyoranother.]
The Overton Window: Dedication, Acknowledgments, A Note From the Author
I know I said I was going to dive right in to chapter one today, but there's all this preamble stuff in the book I should address before we get started.
Overton is dedicated, in faith, hope and charity, to a minister, a war hero, and a philanthropist. The latter two I'm indifferent to, as dedications, but it's that first one that gets me. "Faith: To David Barton, a man who knows that the answers were left everywhere in plain sight by our Founders."
David Barton is the founder of WallBuilders, an organization whose goal is to "exert a direct and positive influence in government, education, and the family by (1) educating the nation concerning the Godly foundation of our country; (2) providing information to federal, state, and local officials as they develop public policies which reflect Biblical values; and (3) encouraging Christians to be involved in the civic arena."
Oy, a dominionist. Swell. I guess it's good we know exactly where Beck is coming from, right there with the very first line of his book.
Then there are the acknowledgements. Beck thanks his ghostwriter, his editors, all the douchebags at Fox, including Neil Cavuto and Bill O'Reilly, (no mention of Hannity, though. Ouch!) and a slew of other people. But the best part is this:
Special thanks to ... All of the VIEWERS, LISTENERS, AND READERS, including the Glenn Beck INSIDERS. We're not racist and we're not violent ... we're just not silent any more.
Umm... Okay. I've read a fair amount of books in my time, but this is the first time I've ever seen an author go out of his way to let his readers know he's not a racist. If you (and this applies to everyone, really) have to make an effort to point out that you're not a bigot, it is time for you to stop, take a moment, take a thousand moments if necessary, and do a little introspection. What is it about your behaviour, your actions, your words that have the world at large thinking you're a racist? It could be the entire world is wrong, or maybe you've some issues to work out. Saying "I'm not a racist" isn't enough. And as for noting your followers are not violent? More on that below.
(Bolding original)
Moving on... The note from the author. I almost quoted the whole damn thing here, it's just that ridiculous. But let's go back to something I talked about yesterday. This word of his, faction.
I've been a fan of thrillers for many years. While nonfiction books aim to enlighten, the goal of most thrillers is to entertain. But there is a category of novels that do both: "faction"—completely fictional books with plots rooted in fact, and that is the category I strived for with The Overton Window.
I worked in the book business for a long time. There is no category of books called faction. Please, just knock that off. Faction is a real word, sure, but it already has a definition. See.
I know this book will be controversial; anything that causes people to think usually is. In this case, I hope that you are forced not only to think, but also to research, read history, and ask questions outside of your comfort zone. It will ultimately be up to each of us to search out our own truths.
Oh please. "I know this book will be controversial; anything that causes people to think usually is." Who says stuff like that? I mean aside from high school kids writing essays about Marilyn Manson? I've never read an author, especially one of genre fiction, who takes his work and himself so seriously. Dude, it's a thriller. Enough with the pretension. This is NOT some groundbreaking work. Hell, it's not even a new story.
"While this may go without saying even once, I feel the need to say it again" Oh, this is going to be good, isn't it?
This is a work of fiction. As such some of the characters in this book express opinions that I not only disagree with, but vehemently oppose. I included them in the story because these views, like them or not, are part of the current American dialogue. Ignoring them, or pretending that radical ideas don't exist in society, does all of us a great disservice. Silencing voices or opinions only pushes them to the shadows and darkness, where they can fester and grow even stronger.
Oh Christ. More exhortations against violence. Which, again, begs the question. Why is it necessary to state that your intentions, the intentions of your readers, are not violent? Shouldn't that be a given? Unless there's something in your work, your actions, some mound of historical evidence that might give people the notion you're maybe treading a dangerous line there. I don't know. But it seems like if "this may go without saying even once" then you really should have no "need to say it again."
When all is said and done and people look back at this time in the history of our great country, there’s only one thing I hope that everyone, critics and fans alike, call me ...
Newsflash, Beck: Most everyone (at least those with sense) are already saying you're wrong. We have been for years.
Wrong.
Today in Canine Teaspooning
After Dudley found success in his role as greyhound ambassador at the County Fair, I decided to take him last night to an event held by the rescue at a local library, Greyt Readers, where kids (and adults) can meet and interact with the greyhounds, and, if they like, read to them. And he was, as ever, a GOOD BOY!
Image Description: Dudley lies amongst other greyhounds, half of whom are in foster care awaiting adoption from forever families, and beside a teenager, J, who loves animals and also participates in a local horse riding program for special needs children. After this picture, Dudley curled up next to him and let J throw his arm across his shoulders.
Image Description: J reads a book about greyhounds to the greyhounds.
Image Description: Iain met us at the library after work. Dudley was happy to see his pop, and his tail is just a blur of happy wagging.
Image Description: Dudley lies on the floor of the library with rows of books behind him.
Image Description: Dudley greets a little boy with a kiss on the face.
Image Description: Dudley, Patty (a brindle greyhound), and Blackberry (a black greyhound) look at the action in the middle of the space.
Image Description: Patty and Blackberry, who are both being fostered while awaiting permanent homes, cuddle near their foster dad.
Blackberry
Patty
Image Description: Star, who, like Dudley, found his forever home earlier this year, lounges handsomely while receiving attention from the kids.
Dudley became a part of our lives because of people who generously donate their time and personal resources to saving greyhounds, and we can't think of a better way to thank them than to pay that forward, in the hope of helping another family, or another dog.
Find out more about rescuing retired racing greyhounds here.Top Chef Open Thread
[Image from last night's show: "Spill the Beans," from the idiom challenge which, sadly, wasn't even the stupidest quickfire this season.]
Last night's episode will be delicately brunoised, so if you haven't seen it, and don't want any spoilers, pack your knives and go...
Quote of the Day
"We have two competing world views here and there is no way that we can reach across the aisle—one is going to have to win. We are either going to go down the socialist road and become like western Europe and create, I guess, really a godless society, an atheist society. Or we're going to continue down the other pathway where we believe in freedom of speech, individual liberties, and that we remain a Christian nation. So we're going to have to win that battle, we're going to have to solve that argument before we can once again reach across and work together on things."—Rep. John Fleming (R-Idiculous), who made the comment while "appearing before the Republican Women of Bossier with Sen. David Vitter (R-Eallylovesprostitutes).
You know, he's got a point. Everywhere I look there is evidence we are about to become a godless society, like: Our Christian president, our last Christian president, their almost exclusively Christian administrations who relentlessly pander to conservative and/or moderate Christians, the almost totally Christian Supreme Court, an almost entirely Christian Congress who start each session with a prayer, the millions and millions of other American Christians whose day of worship is still respected in various state laws across the country (like in Indiana, where you still can't shop for a car or buy booze on a Sunday), whose views are reflected in various federal laws (like denying same-sex couples the right of marriage in order to protect its "sanctity"), whose holidays are also national holidays, whose holy book must be sworn on in state and federal courts, and whose churches are not required to pay taxes, guaranteed freedom of religion, money that says "In God We Trust," a pledge of allegiance that describes us as "one nation under God," television networks who will accept advertising from conservative religious groups but not liberal political groups, schools who are incorporating a religious belief into science classes, conscience clauses for pharmacists and healthcare providers, religion-based residential communities being built, religious museums and amusement parks springing up all over the country, religious leaders being given diplomatic immunity, faith-based initiatives being federally funded, and our national media being constantly embroiled in a debate about in which god the president believes.
We are on the precipice, people!
*clunk*
Alan Simpson Apologizes
Obama Administration Fiscal Commission co-chair and former Republican Senator Alan Simpson has apologized to OWL Executive Director Ashely Carson for the absurd and dismissive email he sent her, and the FiscalCommission.gov website has posted the apology:
Dear Ms. Carson,Call me cynical, but that sounds like something drafted by some government PR flack for Simpson to sign off on. It's too perfect, too obvious an attempt to acknowledge Carson's work and prominence and make it sound casual.
My wife Ann and I are in Yellowstone National Park for the opening of the new visitor center, so I only just now have had the opportunity to read your response to my recent e-mail. I apologize for what I wrote. I can see that my remarks have caused you anguish, and that was not my intention. I certainly did not intend to diminish your hard work for the Older Women's League. I know you care deeply about strengthening Social Security, and so do I, just as deeply. I remember your testimony at our public hearing in June about the importance of retirement security for women. Over the last 40 years, I have had my size 15 feet in my mouth a time or two. To quote my old friend and colleague, Senator Lloyd Bentsen, when I make a mistake, "It's a doozy!"
Next time I'm in Washington, perhaps we could meet in person, and I could learn further of your sincere concerns.
Most sincerely,
Alan Simpson
And the authorship is important, because, if indeed as I suspect, a spin doctor cooked up this flippant mess, that means the administration has thrown in with Simpson, deciding that engaging in sexist rhetoric, diminishing activists' work and diminishing their concerns in the most condescending manner, and openly expressing hostility toward the nation's social safety net for its citizens is acceptable behavior.
And, irrespective of who actually wrote the thing, it's bullshit: Simpson clearly doesn't believe Carson "care[s] deeply about strengthening Social Security," and he clearly did "intend to diminish your hard work for the Older Women's League." That was, in fact, the overt objective of his patronizing and contemptuous email.
An apology that doesn't own that intent isn't a real apology at all.
UPDATE: The White House "accepts" Simpson's apology.
[A]t the White House, Jennifer Psaki, the deputy communications director, said, "Alan Simpson has apologized and while we regret and do not condone his comments, we accept his apology and he will continue to serve."Setting aside the obvious fuckery of the White House standing behind Simpson, the White House accepting an apology ON BEHALF OF THE PERSON TO WHOM IT WAS DIRECTED is an audacious display of arrogance.
Ken Mehlman: Out
Congratulations to former Bush campaign manager and former chair of the Republican National Committee Ken Mehlman, who has come out as gay.
That Mehlman was gay, though he says he "arrived at this conclusion about his identity fairly recently," was long an open secret, as he served as a high-ranking official for the institutionally anti-gay Republican Party, during the years when the party and its executive in the White House supported and pursued a Constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage.
Mehlman says he regrets not coming out sooner.
He agreed to answer a reporter's questions, he said, because, now in private life, he wants to become an advocate for gay marriage and anticipated that questions would arise about his participation in a late-September fundraiser for the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER), the group that supported the legal challenge to California's ballot initiative against gay marriage, Proposition 8.I don't feel angry as much as I feel pity. I can't imagine the self-loathing, the discomfort in one's own skin, the profound disassociation of self that happens with the subjugation of authenticity behind thin façade, that exists within someone who had the professional life he did. I wish him contentment of the sort that means he will never betray himself, or any other members of his LGBTQI family, again.
"It's taken me 43 years to get comfortable with this part of my life," said Mehlman, now an executive vice-president with the New York City-based private equity firm, KKR. "Everybody has their own path to travel, their own journey, and for me, over the past few months, I've told my family, friends, former colleagues, and current colleagues, and they've been wonderful and supportive. The process has been something that's made me a happier and better person. It's something I wish I had done years ago."
...Mehlman acknowledges that if he had publicly declared his sexuality sooner, he might have played a role in keeping the party from pushing an anti-gay agenda.
"It's a legitimate question and one I understand," Mehlman said. "I can't change the fact that I wasn't in this place personally when I was in politics, and I genuinely regret that. It was very hard, personally." He asks of those who doubt his sincerity: "If they can't offer support, at least offer understanding."
"What I do regret, and think a lot about, is that one of the things I talked a lot about in politics was how I tried to expand the party into neighborhoods where the message wasn't always heard. I didn't do this in the gay community at all."
[H/T to Shaker Glauke and Richard.]
Question of the Day
Suggested by Shaker Danika: Is there a song you liked when you first heard it only to be disappointed once you paid attention to the lyrics?
Says Danika [trigger warning for assault and classism]: "I was just humming 'In the Summertime When the Weather Is High' by Mungo Jerry, and I looked up the lyrics and [found this]: 'If her daddy's rich take her out for a meal / If her daddy's poor just do what you feel.' You asshole—I can longer hum this song with enjoyment now."
This is so the worst thing you're going to read all day.
"Skinny Jeans, John Wayne, and the Feminization of America," by Jane Gilvary, whose author bio informs us "is a freelance writer and a red, white, and blue conservative from the City of Brotherly Love. She loves Jesus, Johnny Cash, and the U.S. Constitution."
All right then.
[H/T to Margaret.]
Quote of the Day
Obama is on the spot: he has to fire Simpson, or turn the whole thing into a combination of farce and tragedy — the farce being the nature of the co-chair, the tragedy being that Democrats are so afraid of Republicans that nothing, absolutely nothing, will get them sanctioned.—Paul Krugman.
When you have a commission dedicated to the common good, and the co-chair dismisses Social Security as a "milk cow with 310 million tits," you either have to get rid of him or admit that you're completely, um, cowed by the right wing, that IOKIYAR rules completely.
And no, an apology won't suffice. Simpson was completely in character here; it was perfectly consistent with everything else he's said, and with his previous behavior. He has to go.
I Write Letters
Dear Glenn Beck:
You are an asshole of epic proportions.
I mean, really. You've engaged in massive amounts of fuckery in the relatively short time I've been aware of your loathsome existence, but promoting your upcoming "8-28 rally" by asserting it will "reclaim the civil rights movement" is truly breathtaking.
You would be a comedic genius if only there weren't so many people who earnestly believed in the rightness of your unchecked bigotry.
Contemptuously,
Liss
P.S. Commenting Guidelines: The usual. Disablist comments musing about Beck's psychological state or outright calling him crazy, nuts, deranged, delusional, unstable, a lunatic, in need of commitment, etc. are both unwelcome and not on-topic. I have a mental disorder, for example. It doesn't make me a lying rightwing dipshit.
Today In Giant Capsized Ship Film Reviews
The Poseidon Adventure
There once was a time when Hallmark produced quality entertainment, like The Promise, starring James Garner and James Woods as a pair of dysfunctional brothers learning to cope under the specter of mental illness. Now they churn out crap like this: schlocky remakes featuring cheap special effects and a host of B-grade actors well past their prime.
You're no doubt familiar with the premise of the original, wherein a luxury liner capsizes and the surviving passengers must escape their watery tomb. That is about all this production has in common with the original, as most every other element, including drama and suspense, has been excised wholesale in favor of crappy melodrama and crappier special effects.
Instead of a massive tidal wave flipping the S.S. Poseidon on its topside, the ship has been done in by menace-du-jour: Middle-Eastern terrorists. Though, I never understood why the terrorists were working in collusion with Chechen separatists to sink a South African cruise ship. Then again, I never understood how blowing a hole in the side of the ship caused it to capsize. Sure, it was explained once or twice, but it never seemed clear. Just because one fills a sentence with scientific sounding mumbo jumbo doesn't necessarily mean it actually makes sense.
So, that's the plot, more or less, and none of it is a surprise. The only question is who will and who will not survive. At the center of the drama is a wholesome American family, made up of Steve Guttenburg, his workaholic wife, and their two children. The marriage is crumbling, due to his infidelities and her devotion to work over all other things. (Those things being her husband and children.) So, will they all Grow and Learn and find a way to love again? Or will the family succumb to the inevitable, and drown one by one? Okay, so how many made-for-TV movies have you seen?
Also along for the ride is a rugged no-nonsense Sea Marshal named Agent Rogo (Adam Baldwin AKA Jayne from Firefly). He's the maritime equivalent of an Air Marshal. I don't even know if there is such a thing as a Sea Marshal, and I certainly don't know why he was in South Africa. For that matter, I don't know why any of these people were in South Africa to catch a cruise ship. Were all the flights to Florida booked? Big question: will he stop the terrorists and save the day? Well, no, if he did that there'd be no movie. Will he survive or die heroically saving a supporting character? Maybe.
Then there's the sniveling First Mate. Not only is he a pill popper, but he's blown Agent Rogo's cover. And Shoshanna, the masseuse, she's sleeping with Guttenburg. Will they get their Morning After? Come on, I think we all know what happens to sluts and drug addicts in movies.
Rounding out the cast are Rutger Hauer as a Catholic priest (see also), the Shelly Winter's character from the original (turning in the only interesting moment in the entire film, somewhere in the third hour), an Australian TV producer and his wife, C. Thomas Howell, Peter Weller, and a handful of anonymous crew members. It's anyone's guess which of these will make it topside.
Now, it is worth noting that this film about a cruise ship features not one single frame with an actual real live boat in it. Virtually every shot of the liner is computer generated, and quite badly at that. The one shot that isn't a CGI effect is clearly just some extras blue screened in front of a photograph of a boat.
And certainly, it's understandable that the producers went the CGI route. Surely it's cheaper than filming on an actual boat. The downside is your film looks cheap, but maybe that's the feel they were going for. In a disaster movie about a boat capsizing, who really pays attention to the boat anyway?
But what I cannot comprehend is why anyone would cast Steve Guttenburg as the lead. Was Craig T. Nelson busy or something? Guttenburg cannot act, there are no two ways about it. Watching him have "heartfelt" moments with his family is painful. One would almost feel sorry for him if it weren't for the overwhelming desire to turn off the DVD every time he appeared.
Whenever he was on screen, I kept holding out hope his character would drown, or get eaten by sharks, or something. But you know how made-for-TV movies are.
Directed by John Putch • Unrated • 2005 • 173 minutes
[Cross-posted.]
Today's Edition of "Conniving and Sinister"
[Background.]
See Deeky's archive of all previous Conniving & Sinister strips here.
[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 (Liss) and a biracial queerbait (Deeky) telling it like it actually is from their perspectives. Hilarity ensues.]
Daily Dose o' Cute
Image Description: Dudley lying in the grass, with his chin resting on my outstretched foot.
Dudz has taken to frequently lying with his head on my foot, or one paw draped across some part of me. This was taken earlier today, while I sat down under a tree during our walk to take a call from Iain. I sat at the edge of the shade, so Dudley could lie in the sun, as he loves to do; when he'd had enough, he moved into the shade and cuddled up beside me.
The Overton Window: A Book Report in 46 Parts
So, Glenn Beck wrote this new book. It's called The Overton Window. Beck describes the book as faction: "fiction based on facts." I guess Beck doesn't realize most fiction is based on fact, since we live in a world that exists, factually. Unless your book is about faeries, then yeah, it's probably based on fact. No points to Beck for pulling some ridiculous and self-important gimmick out of his ass and passing it off as if he's written some groundbreaking work. I mean, I don't get the impression Beck is trying to swing some non-fiction novel à la Capote, because this ain't no highbrow shit we're talking about. It's a right-wing wankfest espionage thriller. And not a very good one at that.
By all accounts, this book is awful. That's what all the professional critics are saying, like the book versions of Siskel and Ebert and Elvis Mitchell. Google it if you don't believe me. Anyway, my local library finally delivered me my copy. (My steadfast refusal to pay for a copy, outside of me bidding up to $2.88 a copy on eBay (that's a penny a page) accounting for the delay between the June pub date and today.) I've had it on hold since reading Joe Mande's screenplay version over at Videogum. I thought, "wow, no, it really can't be that bad, can it?" Can it? I guess I'll find out.
Over the next days, months, years, however long it takes, I'm going to wade through The Overton Window and share my reactions with you. It'll be like that dude who blogged the Bible. But with less Moses. Feel free to pick up your own copy (borrow Dad's!) and read along. Or not. I wouldn't blame you if you weren't up to it. I am not sure I'm up to it.
Tune in tomorrow for: Chapter One! Unless there's a prologue or some shit. In which case chapter one will come after that.
Touchdowns for Hope
What could get even the crustiest, grumpiest, die-hard Bears fan to root for a Packers' touchdown...? This:
Packers receiver Greg Jennings has just pledged to donate $1,000 to House of Hope, a Green Bay shelter for women and single mothers, for every time he catches a touchdown.Blub.
..."We are blessed to be in a position to give back," Greg Jennings said Wednesday. "And we have found a charity that is close to our hearts with the House of Hope. We hope to raise lots of money for them as long as I'm a Packer."
...Greg's wife, Nicole, said the Greg Jennings Foundation wanted to form this partnership because of her own background.
"Growing up, my mother and I had a period in life where we had to lean on a facility similar to House of Hope for food and shelter," Nicole said in a statement. "This experience made a positive and memorable impact on my life, and I believe it is important to do the same for other women and children that may have that same need."
If you live in the Green Bay area, Touchdowns for Hope is having a cocktail gala with silent and live auctions on Sept. 7. You can find out more about it here.
[H/T to Shaker Nick.]
Wednesday Blogaround
This blogaround brought to you by Shaxco, publishers of Asshat Dreaming: My Recollections of Imaginary Conversations with Jonah Goldbert, by Paul T. Spud.
Recommended Reading:
Resistance: It is 2010, isn't it?
Disability Bitch: Disability Bitch Gets a Bit of Hot Action
Spilt Milk: Acceptance Is Not 'Giving Up' [TW for discussions of body image]
Andy: Gay Male West Point Cadet: 'The most important thing I've learned here is how to be a good actor'
Steve: The Lingering Consequences of E Coli Conservatism
D.: Headline of the Day
Leave your links in comments...
