Actual Title: Two Kinds of Women.
Actual Subhead: "Are women becoming less slaves of approval? Might be."
Actual opening paragraph: "In my experience, there are two kinds of women (not those two, potty mind)."
This is basically an article written by a man who just noticed that feminism exists. Accompanied by a picture of a naked lady either having an orgasm or receiving a transmission from outer space. Possibly both.
This is so the worst thing you're going to read all day.
Quote of the Day
"[The Tea Partiers] will leave us if we go wobbly. I am worried about that, but that's why I think it's got to be a blood oath."—Congressman Steve King (R-Adicalconservative), "demanding a 'blood oath' from House Minority Leader John Boehner to include a repeal of health care reform in every appropriations bill next year, even if a government shutdown results."
If the Republicans do manage to reclaim the House and/or the Senate in November, things are going to get ugly. Real ugly.
A Day with HIV in America
[Video Description: A series of photos of people of different races, sexes, and ages, accompanied by instrumental music, is interspersed with the text: "A Day With HIV In America—Sept. 21st / Positive or Negative / We're All Affected / By HIV / Take Your Best Shot / Get In The Picture / A Day With HIV In America / Sept 21st / www.ADaywithHIVinAmerica.com."]
Tomorrow, Positively Aware magazine is inviting all residents of the US to participate in their national photo essay, A Day with HIV in America. Participants are asked to send in a photo of themselves, showing a scene of their everyday lives. You don't have to be HIV+ to participate: "Our objective is to create a sense of community among everyone who is concerned about HIV. Positive or negative, we are ALL affected by the virus."
All of us have been directly or indirectly affected by HIV. Participating in the project acknowledges the breadth of the lives that HIV touches. Think of it as a living AIDS quilt—the faces of people who are surviving with HIV, and/or people who have survived losing partners, friends, family members, colleagues, teachers, heroes, or icons.
Go here to find out more and submit your photo.
I Write Letters
Dear Dems:
This is why spending two years coasting on the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, while pretending it doesn't matter that you broke faith with women to pass insurance reform legislation and vanished the most important women's issue for the last 50 years from your fancy new website, is a bad fucking idea.
And, for reasons that the archives of this blog elucidate in excruciating detail every day, marginalized populations, women chief among them, keenly understand that social justice and economic justice are inextricably linked, so bank bailouts and bickering over whether to extend massive tax cuts for the wealthiest 1% aren't exactly endearing you to the 77-cents-on-the-dollar contingent.
Just because women know that the GOP is worse, doesn't mean they're going to show up to vote for you when you've given them precious little for which to affirmatively vote. It's increasingly difficult for lots of women to justify casting their votes to support a party whose legislative votes don't support women.
Love,
Liss
Female Voter
For the Losties
J.J. Abrams Is Now Pitching the New Locke–Ben Linus Show:
Vulture hears that last week, J.J. Abrams and frequent collaborators Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec (Alias, Mission: Impossible 4) began pitching a comedic drama to the networks that would have Michael Emerson and Terry O'Quinn — a.k.a. Benjamin Linus and John Locke/Smokey — playing former black-ops agents.And I jizzed! in! my pants!
The idea of Emerson and O'Quinn reuniting isn't completely new: In February, the duo told TV Guide that they were looking to put together a post-Lost TV project for themselves; the rumors were revived again last month when Emerson repeated his hopes for a new show while doing publicity for the Lost full-series DVD collection. Still, all the talk seemed to be in the realm of "maybe one day." Turns out plans for a show are very real and very active — and the involvement of Abrams and other Bad Robot types means there's a really good chance the project will soon find a home.
As always with all things Abrams, details are sketchy, but insiders said the potential show — which we've heard carries the working title Odd Jobs — would have a dose of humor.
THIS LOOKS GREAT!!!
(That was sarcasm.)
Here's the trailer for a fun new movie—coming in January to a theater near you!—from Ron Howard, starring (big voice) Vince Vaughn, Kevin James, and (little voice) Queen Latifah, Jennifer Connelly, and Winona Ryder, about the conundrum predicament dilemma (!) in which Vaughn finds himself after discovering that his best friend's wife is cheating on his best friend.
Even though he calls them, as a couple, his "hero" for their awesome relationship, before uncovering the quandary crisis dilemma-producing infidelity, she is only known as his "best friend's wife," not, you know, his friend, Geneva. She's just his best friend's appendage, not her own autonomous entity with an independent relationship with him, despite the fact they apparently hang out in a big group all the time.
Anyway, the lack of female personhood is probably the least of this movie's problems, given that the trailer opens with a homophobic joke:
[Transcript below.]
I can't even imagine what the hilarious reversal is going to be. Is Ryder posing as a beard for James'? Is it an immigration scam? What is the kooky story behind the Very Hot Lady who is cheating on her Stupid Fat Husband?! Boy, I bet it's a hoot!
With a nod to how awesome our new post-feminist world is, I'd also like to note that Jennifer Connelly has won an Oscar. Winona Ryder has twice been nominated for Oscars. Queen Latifah has been nominated for an Oscar.
Vince Vaughn and Kevin James have both been nominated for Teen Choice Awards.
[Via Andy. As always, I am not discussing the film per se; I'm discussing the trailer, and what I perceive the film to be based on how it is being represented by its own marketing.]
[Vince Vaughn, wearing a business suit, stands in a corporate conference room, in front of a table of other people wearing business suits, giving a presentation.]
Vaughn: Ladies and gentlemen, electric cars [long pause for comedic effect] are gay. I mean, not homosexual gay, but, you know, my-parents-are-chaperoning-the-dance gay. [His business partner, Kevin James, nods in agreement.] B&B engine design can combine the benefits of electric transportation with the rock-and-rollness of Dodge's current muscle car models.
James: That we all know and love!
[Queen Latifah, part of the group to whom they're presenting, nods and smiles appreciatively. Vaughn wow-wows the opening riff of Heart's "Barracuda" while playing air guitar. Cut to Queen Latifah talking to Vaughn and James in the hall after the meeting.]
QL: I'm inspired by what you're throwing down, and I got some serious lady-wood here. [She gestures to her crotch.] I want to have sex with your words. [James throws a side-eye at Vaughn.] Gotta go! Mommy and me! I'll call you! [She waves and runs off.]
Text Onscreen: TWO BEST FRIENDS.
[Cut to Vaughn and James at a smoky bar. Vaughn's girlfriend is Jennifer Connelly. James' wife is Winona Ryder.]
Vaughn: Nick, buddy, we got the deal.
James [to Connelly]: I'm not gonna lie—I love your boyfriend. Come in here. [They hug and the girls cheer.] This is great.
Vaughn: Don't ever let me go.
Text Onscreen: TWO PERFECT COUPLES.
[Cut to a restaurant, where the two couples are sitting around a table. Vaughn and Connelly kiss each other.]
James: I think you can know someone within the first ten seconds of seeing them; I fell in love with Geneva the moment I saw her.
Ryder: Awwww. [She reaches out and strokes James' cheek.]
[Cut to James and Ryder on the dance floor; James, because he is fat and intrinsically hilarious, is dancing like a complete arse; Vaughn and Connelly watch from a booth.]
Vaughn: When it comes to couples, they're my hero.
James: Honey, you hear that? Ronnie told Beth I'm his hero! [Ryder gives an "awwww" look. James turns back to Vaughn.] I'm Mean Joe Green; you're the little boy with the Coke bottle; come on, I'll throw ya a jersey! Let's do it! [More ridiculous dancing.]
Text Onscreen: BUT THIS JANUARY.
[Vaughn, now in some tropical location, sees Ryder with young hot stud, Channing Tatum. He spies on them through the foliage, as "Barracuda" swells.]
Text Onscreen: ONE LITTLE DISCOVERY…
[Vaughn ventures deeper into the foliage for a closer look, ignoring a sign reading: "CAUTION Passiflora incarnata DO NOT ENTER. He sees Ryder and Tatum kissing.]
Text Onscreen: WILL CAUSE A BIG DILEMMA.
[Vaughn trips and falls face-first into a bunch of plants. Cut to Vaughn sitting indoors with two other white dudes, his face all fucked up.]
Vaughn: I just saw my best friend's wife with another man.
Dude #1 (played by Clint Howard, in his obligatory role in every film of his brother's): You fell in a whole bed of poisonous passiflora incarnatas!
Dude #2: You can expect diarrhea, fever, dry heaving, painful swelling in your gums, and challenging urination, with a possible bloody discharge. [HA! HIS FRIEND'S WIFE'S CHEATING EVEN RUINED HIS DICK!]
Text Onscreen: From Academy Award winning director Ron Howard.
Vaughn [to some other random white dude in another setting]: Let me ask you a question, and this is completely hypothetical, something way out of left field [continuing as voiceover, over images of Vaughn stalking his best friend's wife and discovering her with Tatum again]: Let's say that one friend found out that another friend's wife was cheating on him…
Dude #3: How good a friend?
[Cut to footage of Vaughn and James at a Blackhawks' game, doing a choreographed move together.]
Vaughn [back with Dude #3]: Let's just say his best friend. Very best friend.
Dude #3: I wouldn't tell him.
[Clips of random people responding to, one assumes, the same question. A black woman says: "It all depends." A young white dudebro says, "He's gotta tell him. It's guy code, man. If you don't tell your friend, then you're basically doing her, too." Cut to Vaughn walking with James at a bar or something.]
Vaughn: Nick, I need to talk to you about something.
James: What's going on with you?
[Random scenes that make no sense, inserted presumably to show that Things Happen in the movie.]
Text Onscreen: THE DILEMMA.
[Scene of Vaughn peeing and screaming.]
Connelly: Are you all right?
Vaughn: Oh, to be honest with ya, honey, I'm feeling a little challenged. [Hilarious callback to being told he will have challenging urination.]
Text Onscreen: COMING SOON.
The Overton Window: Chapter Six
Finally! Something happens! It's silly, but that's par for the course, so far. "So far"? Like suddenly this book is going to turn the proverbial corner and transform into a tale less frivolous? Forget I made that qualification.
But... Back to the story: Finally, some story! And what happens? Noah gets detained by Blackwater. In Manhattan! Oh my! Yes, I just ruined the surprise and suspense and thrills of the thrilling chapter of this thriller. But whatever, you're not expecting me to keep you entertained are you? If Beck et al. are going to ruin my evenings, be sure I'm going to pass that on to you.
When we left Noah last chapter he was on his way to "finish his conversation with an attractive but naïve young woman who might need to be straightened out on a thing or two." But before he could get to "that meeting of flag-waving wackos," he had a very sloppy metaphor to endure.
Over the years Noah had confirmed many times that there truly is such a thing as a bad night. When these doomed evenings arrive you can't avoid them. The jinx comes at you like a freight train, and by the time you're caught in the glare of those oncoming lights it's far too late to avoid the disaster. The best you can do is make your peace with doom and ride out the curse until sunrise.
There's some mention of a BlackBerry, GPS and Plexiglass along the way, all for authenticity's sake. Or maybe Beck has worked out some product placement deals for mentioning all these wonderful products. Hmmm... Probably not, since no one even advertises on his TV show now except Forex traders and gold hoarders.
And as if bad metaphors aren't enough for Noah to deal with, he's got his cabbie's "atonal Middle Eastern music blaring from the radio" to rattle him too. Noah had opted for a taxi ride instead of grabbing a company limo and it was all downhill from there. Not that showing up at the patriot rally in a limo wouldn't have made Noah look like a douche or anything. According to the text, taking a cab was both Noah's first and second mistake. (Don't ask.) His third was offering the driver an extra twenty bucks to get them out of traffic.
Whoops!:
The cab mounted the curb and surged forward at a twenty-degree tilt, half on and half off the street, threading the needle between a hot-dog cart and a candied-nut wagon on the sidewalk and the line of incredulous fellow drivers to the left. The right-side mirror clipped a corner bus shelter as the driver pulled a full-throttle, fishtailing turn onto East Twenty-third.
Oh those crazy foreign cabbies! What won't they do for a few bucks? Well, I guess they won't get blown away by uniformed soldiers, not if they can help it.
The cabbie slams on the brakes, face to face with a soldier, standing on the corner, "cradling an assault rifle, which, while not exactly aimed at the cab and its innocent passenger, wasn't exactly pointed elsewhere, either." (No, I'm not sure what that means.)
It immediately became obvious that this cabdriver had seen a military checkpoint or two in his former homeland. With no hesitation the ignition was killed and both his hands were raised where the armed men outside could see them. Noah had no such prior experience to guide him. All he felt was the Lenny's hot pastrami sandwich he'd enjoyed at lunch suddenly threatening to disembark from the nearest available exit.
Uh oh, this can't be good. Soldiers in Manhattan, Noah on the verge of puking (or maybe shitting his pants, now that I think about it.) The soldier, who "looked to be all of nineteen years old, [with] a command in his eyes that made his rifle and sidearm seem completely redundant," orders Noah out of the cab and demands Noah's ID. Then something weird happens:
Another man in uniform had come near and held open a clear plastic pouch, and gave an impatient nod. Noah dropped the entire wallet into the bag, and after another wordless prompt from the man with the rifle, emptied his remaining pockets as well. The bag was zipped closed and passed to a nearby runner, who trotted off toward an unmarked truck parked up the block.
Is that standard operating procedure at military checkpoints in Manhattan? At military checkpoints anywhere? Anyway, the cabbie is roughed up for aggressive non-whiteness. Or maybe it was the driving on the sidewalk. I'm going with being a foreigner though. Because, if anything, this book is really biting social commentary disguised as crap writing.
It turns out, both presidential candidates are in town (what year is this?) as is "some emergency faction of the G-20, meeting downtown in response to the various calamities boiling over in the financial district" And "along with all those high-rollers comes high security; all the cops and evidently some division of the armed forces must be out combing the streets looking for trouble."
(By the way, "looking for trouble" doesn't mean what the author thinks it does.) Then Beck starts, ever so subtly, to lay out the concept in the title. The Overton window, is, if I may oversimplify here a bit, that range of things, typically in politics, though not exclusively, that are considered acceptable. The interesting thing is, that window can be moved. What is unacceptable at one point, can be pushed into the mainstream. E.g.:
Times had certainly changed, seemingly overnight, though Noah hadn't yet seen anything quite as intense as this. Fourth Amendment or not, with all the fears of terrorism in recent years, the definition of probable cause could become pretty blurred around the edges. People were getting used to it by now.
And this is, essentially, what the story is about: Using fear to change what people view as acceptable. Over the course of following chapters we will see Darthur and his cronies attempt to move the window, to impose that fascist new order on America, while the tea-bagging patriots valiantly fight back. (I hope I didn't spoil the surprise for you.)
Of course, this railing against fear-mongering is a bit hard to swallow when it comes from a professional fear-monger like Beck. That's the great irony, isn't it? This book, at its core, is fear-mongering, under the guise of anti-fear-mongering. Whut? No, don't think about it too much. It'll just make your brain hurt. It's a muddled mess of ideas. I have a hard time believing anyone takes this seriously. I am sure Beck doesn't. He certainly can't have put too much thought into it, because it just doesn't hold up under even the most basic scrutiny.
Back to the story: Noah is escorted to the "unmarked truck parked up the block." He notes the "gilded crest" on the logo on the side of the van (by the way, "unmarked truck" doesn't mean what the author thinks it does) and recognizes it as belonging to "Talion, the most well-connected private military consulting firm in the foreign and domestic arsenal of the U.S. government."
Noah is shoved inside and interrogated by a "severe" looking woman with "prematurely gray hair trimmed like a motel lampshade." Do I sense that all women in this book will be identified by their hairstyle? Nothing says characterization like a descriptive haircut. Noah sees his face on the woman's computer screen and she tries to get him to cop to more info so she can enter it into her NWO database.
I know someone who needs to get on a Do Not Track List, pronto. As a complete derail, why does no one use the word "pronto" anymore? I think we should bring that back into the American lexicon. I bet it would be perfect as a catchphrase for Charlie Sheen on "Two and a Half Men."
There is a silly conversation that follows wherein Noah asks if he needs a lawyer, and his interviewer seems incredulous. "I'm not sure I understand your reluctance to speak with us." As Noah storms out, she asks him about the teabagger flyer. Busted! Noah whips out his sassy on the woman, telling her she's got it all wrong.
"They have ties to the Aryan Brotherhood," she said, having begun to thumb through a file folder on her desk, "and the Lone Star Militia, the National Labor Committee, the Common Law Coalition, the Earth Liberation Front—"
"Hold it, wait up," Noah said. "The National Labor Committee? The National Labor Committee is a little shoestring nonprofit that busts sweatshops and child-labor operations. You want my advice, lady? You people had better update your watch list if you don't want to get laughed out of this nice truck. And, like I told you, I don't know anything about this group or what they do or who you think you've linked them to. I'm meeting someone there and then we're going somewhere else. Believe me, I wouldn't have many friends in the Aryan Brotherhood." He pointed to her computer screen. "But you've probably checked out my record by now, and you know that already."
"We know who you are, Mr. Gardner."
"By that, I think you mean you know who my father is."
"All right."
"Good. So unless there's anything else, I'm going to leave now."
I told ya! Sassy!
Noah walks off into the night and catches a glimpse of his cabbie being dragged away, pleading for his fare to help him. Noah ignores him, because he's kind of an asshole, and besides, he's got a date.
I'm not sensitive, some people are not sensitive enough.
[Trigger warning for transphobia]
I've noticed lately that I'm increasingly sensitive about, well, everything. Perhaps the prudent thing would be to blame my moodiness on ZOMGLADYHORMONES. (Besides, who doesn't like an excuse to buy chocolate?)
Here's a thing: in the over five years I've been out as a queer lady, experience has taught me not to trust other people. I'm pretty quick to perceive other people's actions as slights simply because of the incredibly massive number of times over the past five years I've been :ahem: slighted. As a friend of mine (who also happens to be trans) once explained to me: 'It's not paranoia if people really are out to get you.' Perhaps that's an extreme way of putting it, but it also gets to the heart of the matter.
There are those of us in this world (feminists/womanists, and/or people of color, and/or queer and/or trans people for starters) who often encounter the charge that we're being too sensitive.
In my case, I am pretty sensitive. Here's a couple of the latest reasons why:
Exhibit the Ath: Campus Pride's 2010 College Climate Survey
According to the Q Research Institute (which is owned(?!?) by Campus Pride):The [survey] documents experiences of nearly 6000 students, faculty, staff and administrators who identify as LGBTQQ at colleges and universities across the United States. Recommendations and findings from the national study provide the means for student activists, campus program planners and policy makers to implement strategic initiatives to address the needs and concerns of their LGBTQQ students and employees.
The results are predictable, but what really concerns me is this:Thirty-eight percent of 2010 State Of Higher Education for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People respondents indicated their gender identity as man, 48 percent as woman, 3 percent as transmasculine, 2 percent as transfeminine, and 8 percent as “other.”
Interesting. I hope this isn't going...Thirty-nine percent of transmasculine respondents, 38 percent of transfeminine respondents, and 31 percent of gender non-conforming (GNC) respondents reported experiencing harassment compared with 20 percent of men and 19 percent of women.
A significant number of transmasculine respondents (87%) and transfeminine respondents (82%) indicated their gender expression was the basis for harassment compared to 20 percent of men and 24 percent of women.
here. Wow.
I understand that many cissexual people sometimes have a hard problem dealing with trans and gender non-conforming people's identities, but that doesn't mean that it's okay to disrespect them, particularly when you're representing yourself as our ally.
I was e-mailing with Liss and Caitie, and none of us could figure out Campus Pride's delineation of gender.
First, transmasculine and transfeminine aren't AFAIK typically identities. I've certainly had plenty of discussions about transfemininity, but I don't know a lot of trans women who use "transfeminine" as primary way to describe their gender identity. Likewise, I've always seen "transmasculine" used to describe personal attributes that dominant culture codes as masculine and gender-transgressive. Moreover, these terms certainly aren't mutually exclusive with gender non-conformance. If anything, they're synonymous with it.
Second, and this one's big.... it's possible to be trans (and/or gender non-conforming) and still be a man or a woman. How many times do trans people have to go over this one with our cissexual allies?
Normally I wouldn't get all “sensitive” over a wee misrepresentation of my uh, identity, but like I said, I've been over this one before. Worse yet, this isn't the first time I've had such an issue with a campus-based "LGBT" group. I'm not saying that there aren't amazing folks working on many college campuses-- I've interacted with some of them. However, if anyone out there is wondering why I'm really, really slow to warm to “LGBT” organizations that purport to represent me, this is a reason why.
Exhibit the Bth: The Rochester Lesbian & Gay Film & Video Festival (ImageOut)
I get that the letter T doesn't show up in the title of the festival (nor do B or Q), but not only are some trans people lesbian or gay, we're kinda in the mission statement:ImageOut presents LGBT arts and cultural experiences showcasing films, other creative works and artists to promote awareness, foster dialogue and build community.
I'm not sure how [TW]inviting Israel Luna to speak counts as “building community.” I suppose it's more of a fostering “dialogue” think. :cough:
For. Fucks. Sake.
A friend was telling me about this yesterday, and I couldn't could believe it. But you know, we've been here before. It's not as if folks at ImageOut can feign surprise that trans people might be, uh, [TW]upset about Luna's inclusion in the festival lineup.
On the contrary:TOTWK was causing controversy even before its final cut was complete. Some trans and queer activists loudly question the relevance and objectivity of such an egregious portrayal of transgender women and the associated violence. But scandal has only given this outrageous screen romp a higher platform from which to kick ass. Is it really entertaining or just disgusting? Well, don't take our (or anyone else's) word for it. Join ImageOut for this late-night screening, see for yourself, and form your own opinion.
HELLO. I HAVE FORMED MY OWN OPINION. But forget about me, I'm just loud. And feeling even more indignant than usual ATM. [ETA: For the record, it is people who run film festivals who have given TOTWK a bigger platform, not "scandal."]
I live in Syracuse, and Rochester's the nearest bigger city, about 90 miles to the east. I've got plenty of friends around town who are LGB and/or T and/or Q, but I don't sense much of a LGBT community here. Certainly, I don't feel like part of much of what passes for the LGBTQ community in Syracuse.
My natural impulse is to seek out a place for myself in places where there's greater cultural diversity. Realistically, Rochester is that place (although in practice, I tend to forget about it/not have gas money). But, much as the case in other cities I've lived in, a part of the LGBTQ community in Rochester is doing its part to make me feel unwelcome.
What's worse is that I'm actively involved in building a stronger, more vibrant, inclusive LGBTQ community here in Syracuse. Well, that's not problematic. Rochester and Syracuse aren't worlds apart. I'm desperately trying to trust folks in “the community” here. Lots of folks have earned my trust. However, slaps in the face like the one from ImageOut really do make it hard for me to trust new acquaintances, even those who may be trustworthy.
I'm not sensitive, some people are not sensitive enough.
[ETA: Lest anyone think I'm being a bit too easy on ImageOut, I now see that they're "so excited" to bring viewers TOWTK, presumably because it's "challenging" and that "everyone has been talking about [it] all year." As if "everyone" hasn't been talking about the horrible economy all year, too.]
Monday Blogaround
This blogaround brought to you by Shaxco, proud distributors of Professor Dilong's Pocket Protectors.
Recommended Reading:
Echidne: TLC On Women
Resistance: 85 Days [TW for racism and disablism]
Chally: Sometimes Social Justice Is About Staying Silent
Lesley: This is why your TV is fat: Q & A with Savannah Dooley [TW for discussions of body image]
Stephanie: Ripley's Rebuke: The Big C [TW for fat hatred]
Andy: [video] Gay Men Interviewed After Locking Lips for 33 Hours in Record-Breaking World's Longest Kiss
Leave your links in comments...
Hood Ornaments
In case you weren't riveted to C-SPAN's coverage of the "Value Voters Summit" this past weekend, you might have missed the news that Indiana Congressman Mike Pence came in first in their straw poll for president in 2012. Sarah Palin came in fifth, behind such luminaries as Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney. I guess that tells you what this particular right-wing gathering thought of Ms. Palin; she's great on the stump, but even they don't want her to run for president. Or at least they'd rather have a white guy from Indiana.
It's interesting to note that the most prominent spokespeople for the Tea Party have been women: Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann, Sharron Angle, and now Christine O'Donnell. They're outspoken, occasionally charismatic and fun to watch as they give speeches, but when it comes to actually running for president or attaining a real leadership role in the default party of choice, none of them will be given any real power.
Discussion Thread: Do Not Track List
Consumer and privacy advocates would like to create a Do Not Track list similar to the Do Not Call list, which would allow internet users to opt out of being tracked for the purposes of serving targeted advertising.
Discuss.
[H/T to Shaker Janice.]
Greyhounds-a-Go-Go
This weekend, our local rescue had their annual Greyhound Picnic. Food! Music! Door prizes! And ONE BILLION greyhounds!
The weather was pretty dreary, unfortunately, and it was raining most of the time we were there, but it was still fun to see 100+ greyhounds running around together and being their comical, graceful selves. They are truly the most elegant goofballs. At one point, nearly the whole lot ran up the hill in one giant throng, curving around together like a school of fish, their collective gallop like a thundering orchestra. It was breathtaking.
Video description: Footage of the greyhounds in the ginormous dog run at the picnic, including some of Dudz running around and getting trampled (oof!) as all the dogs goof around. Set to Elizabeth Mitchell's cover of "Ladybug Picnic," which you can purchase here.
Pix below the fold…
Dudley and his doppelganger, Logan.
Dudley is wearing his racing muzzle in that picture because we were about to take him into the dog run, where muzzles are required just a safety precaution. Everywhere else at the picnic, they are allowed to be muzzle-free.
The Space Cowpokes' rescue in New Jersey also had their annual Greyhound Picnic this weekend, and Space Cowboy sent me this great pic of him with his boy Alfie, who is Dudley's fourth or fifth cousin:
"Who's such a good boy?!"
If you're interested in adopting a retired racer, you can find a rescue near you here.
More on the Rage of the Rich
In Which Mr. Deling Responds to Someone Who Might Be Professor Todd Henderson, by Brad DeLong.
A must-read.
[Via LeMew.]
I Keep My Bootstraps on Display in the Conservatory
Reading Paul Krugman's column about the anger among rich Americans at the prospect of paying higher taxes, it occurs to me that the the Bootstraps Rap ("nobody ever gave me nuttin'!") is nowhere to be heard when it comes to taxation. The same people who don't want the government spending money to feed and house desperate people are whinging like spoiled toddlers about the government potentially not spending money to subsidize their ridiculously low tax rate.
Sure, they frame it as the government taking something from them, but, in practice, lower tax rates (lower income) effect the fed's bottom line in ultimately the same way higher welfare rates (higher outgoing) does. So the framing is just a way to make themselves feel better about projecting their narratives of laziness and greed onto poor folks.
You know, conservatives always talk about how they want to return to some magical Golden Age of America, circa 1945 to 1960, and I say we start with bringing back the 80%+ tax rate that the wealthiest Americans paid at that time. Yay for nostalgia.
Big Tent
[Trigger warning for institutional homophobia.]
Over the weekend, the AP reported that the Montana Republican Party adopted an official platform earlier this year that "keeps a long-held position in support of making homosexual acts illegal, a policy adopted after the Montana Supreme Court struck down such laws in 1997." Yes, that's right—in the year two thousand and fucking ten, the Montana GOP wants to criminalize being gay/bi.
The fact that it's still the official party policy more than 12 years later, despite a tidal shift in public attitudes since then and the party's own pledge of support for individual freedoms, has exasperated some GOP members.Has Republican John Brueggeman actually ever met any other Republicans? Did dude Rip Van Winkle the Bush years, when the Republican Party wanted to amend the US constitution to codify anti-gay bigotry into the document established to "secure the Blessings of Liberty" for this nation's residents? Does he understand that "I believe people should be legally allowed to be gay, but be denied comprehensive equal rights, like the right of marriage and the right to serve openly in the US military" is a fundamentally horseshit position?
"I looked at that and said, 'You've got to be kidding me,'" state Sen. John Brueggeman, R-Polson, said last week. "Should it get taken out? Absolutely. Does anybody think we should be arresting homosexual people? If you take that stand, you really probably shouldn't be in the Republican Party."
...Brueggeman suspects that the vast majority of the party believes, as he does, that the Republican party should remove statement. It's against every conservative principle for limited government and issues like this exemplify how a political party can interfere with the relationship between lawmakers and their constituents.
"I just hope it's something that's so sensitive that people don't want to touch it," he said. "Even if there wasn't a Supreme Court decision, does anyone really believe that it should be illegal?"
Montana Human Rights Network organizer Kim Abbott said the GOP platform statement does not represent the attitudes of most Montanans, and it shows that the party is out of touch with the prevalent view of the people they are supposed to represent.Indeed. The actual wording of the plank is: "Homosexual acts: We support the clear will of the people of Montana expressed by legislation to keep homosexual acts illegal."
Either the GOP thinks that there are no gay people in Montana (in which case, the legislation is unnecessary!), or they are talking about "the people of Montana" and gay/lesbian/bisexual people are mutually exclusive groups, which is dehumanizing and marginalizing language of the sort one finds in the playbooks of eliminationist fucknecks.
You can contact the Montana Republican Party here.[H/T to Shaker Brunocerous.]
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