"You're trying to paint the governor as a racist. And nothing could be further from the truth."—Dan Turner, spokesperson for Gov. Haley Barbour (R-Acist), who recently waxed nostalgic for the Citizens' Councils which were "the respectable face of white supremacist political activism" preceding and during the Civil Rights Era, which Barbour recalls as a time that wasn't "that bad."
So nothing is further from the truth than "Haley Barbour is a racist"? Cool! Let's think of some things that are closer to being true than "Haley Barbour is a racist." I'll start...
Haley Barbour is an alien from Planet Yeahright.
Haley Barbour is totes into eating poop sandwiches every afternoon at 3pm.
Haley Barbour's favorite show ever is Saved by the Bell. He hearts Screech.
Haley Barbour is half komodo dragon.
Haley Barbour's head is filled with garbage farts.
Quote of the Day
What I'm Listening To
Video Description: Aloe Blacc performs "I Need a Dollar" with The Roots on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon last week. (The video should start right at the beginning of the musical segment, but, if not, jump to minute 37.)
Or, watch the music video here. The music video ends with "Life So Hard," the lyrics for which don't seem to be available online, but are:
The key to everything, everybody, here in America is the money / Some say that it's the root of all evil / Brings wars and [can't make this out] / These families in the street, with nothing to eat / These baby boys and girls with no shoes on their feet / All the men who leave or die in a war zone / And the women do it all on they own / It reminds me of the ghettoes right here and the hoods that I see / Everywhere that I've been in this country / Stop bailing out the banks and give the [?] to me / I guess my piece of the pie ain't free.Lyrics to "I Need a Dollar" are available here.
Daily Dose of Cute
Video Description: Olivia plays with everyone's favorite toy in Dudley's bed. Dudley snoozes on the adjacent couch, completely unaware of Olivia's Epic Battle with the Fuzzy Thing going on in his bed. Set to a section of Aaron Goldberg's "OAM's Blues."
Dudley and Sophs (and Iain's sugar-free cookies)
Dudley and Matilda
Olivia in Dudley's bed. Which is, of course, only fair.
Monday Blogaround
Today's blogaround brought to you by Shaxco, publishers of Iain McEwan's Guide to the Olive Garden, Best Restaurant in the Multiverse.
Recommended Reading:
Sady: #MooreandMe, Five Days and Running: Run It All The Way Down (A Timeline of Relevant Quotes) [TW for sexual assault and rape apologia]
Arturo: Epic Fail Of The Week: Youth Football Coach Says Racist Rants Were 'Taken out of Context' [TW for racism]
Tasha: What I Learned About Fat and Feminism in 24 Posts or Less [TW for fat hatred]
Historiann: "I'm Not a Feminist, But..."
Fannie: Another Wise Latina Takes Bench: Immediately Ensures All She's Not Racist, Sexist, or Heterophobic [TW for intersectional privilege]
Andy: Citing States Rights, Virginia Lawmaker Seeks to Ban Gays from National Guard [TW for homophobia]
Leave your links in comments...
Just LOL
Actual Headline: Obama reaches out to liberal groups to shore up Democratic base after tax deal.
Much of the White House's interaction with liberal groups has taken place at a weekly Tuesday meeting at a downtown Washington hotel. The "common purpose" gatherings are closed-door sessions between top Obama aides and officials from dozens of left-leaning interest groups such as unions, youth voting groups, women's organizations, gay rights advocates and civil rights activists. Attendees are required to keep all proceedings secret and off the record.Reach out and shove someone.
Some liberals have criticized the gatherings, saying the White House uses the sit-downs to steer the left instead of taking its advice. Jane Hamsher, publisher of the liberal Fire Dog Lake blog, has likened the meeting to being in a "veal pen."
I'm no highly-paid Democratic strategist, but it seems to me that the administration's constant need to "reach out and shore up the base" would be significantly diminished if the president stopped governing like a Republican.
Today in "Special Rights"
[Trigger warning for homophobia and violence]
So there's this story on the AP's tubes. And it's depressing. The events the story covers are depressing, but from my perspective, so is the story.
Here are the opening paragraphs of the story as of this writing:
"A culture war has broken out at the United Nations over whether gays should be singled out for the same protections as other minorities whose lives are threatened.
The battle will come to a head on Tuesday when the General Assembly votes to renew its routine condemnation of the unjustified killing of various categories of vulnerable people.
It specifies killings for racial, national, ethnic, religious or linguistic reasons and includes refugees, indigenous people and other groups. But the resolution, because of a change promoted by Arab and African nations and approved at committee level, this time around drops 'sexual orientation' and replaces it with 'discriminatory reasons on any basis.'" [Emphasis mine]
There's a difference between "making explicit" and 'singling out.' Singling out implies, well, singularity, uniqueness. 'Singling out' is part of the narrative of specialness, of special rights, of special, and therefore presumably undeserved and extraneous rights.
I can think of a variety of reasons for holding various positions on the wording of this particular resolution, (although IMO it's pretty clear that removing the reference to sexuality is a way to erase and ultimately justify violence against the sexually underprivileged). But that's not what's at issue here.
The UN resolution explicitly condemns the killing of members of a significant number of groups. Confusing the explicit inclusion of "[having a] sexual orientation [that society oppresses]" to a list of reasons the UN really abhors seeing people persecuted with a singling out of "gays" supports a culture that sees civil rights for LGBTQ people as extraneous.
And let's be clear about where we stand-- this resolution is about condemnation. If the UN can agree upon that, then maybe they'll be able to start discussing protection.
Senate Passes Food Safety Legislation
I don't know a hell of a lot about this bill, but I'd be more impressed if it didn't appear to be yet another of the increasingly popular pieces of regulation legislation that requires and relies heavily on self-policing (because government is icky, or whatever):
The legislation would affect all whole and processed foods except meat, poultry and some egg products, which are regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.Um, okay.
...Unlike the current system, which relies on government inspectors catching contamination, the new measure would require manufacturers and farmers to come up with strategies to prevent contamination and then continually test to make sure they work.
Now how about a "food safety" bill that stops the US government from subsidizing corn to the tune of billions of dollars every year, thus insuring high-fructose corn syrup is in everything, from yogurt to pasta sauce to bread?
Blog Note
Posting will be light this week, as many of our contributors/mods are traveling or preparing for holidays, sick, or just need a much-deserved break. Iain's off this week, so I'm going to try to take some time, too, here and there, and we're going to be sorting out my computer situation.
Please remember that at times when we're short-staffed, it may take longer than usual to clean up hairy threads.
Open Thread
Hosted by rye bread.
This week's open threads have been brought to you by bread.
Bread: it's what's for dinner.
Don't Ask Don't Tell Is Hereby Repealed
By a vote of 65-31, the United States Senate has repealed Don't Ask Don't Tell.
This is one more step forward for equal rights in America.
The Virtual Pub Is Open
[Explanations: lol your fat. pathetic anger bread. hey your gay.]
TFIF, Shakers!
Belly up to the bar,
and name your poison!
Daily Dose o' Cute
So last Thursday, this 8 week-old kitten (General Burnside, after the sideburn guy) moved in with us. Our daughter loves him. A lot:
[A picture of our daughter hugging Burnie, quite possibly to the point of discomfort.]
They play together. A lot:
[Sideways video of our daughter and Burnie playing with yarn and a scratching post. The audio is mostly our daughter saying a lot of things, mostly inaudable things, at a very high pitch and volume.]
Still shots below the fold...
Before:
[General Burnside sees some yarn...]
After:
[...and he attacks!]
In case my parents are reading (and are observant), why yes, that is the hand puppet shaped like a urine-filled specimen cup that we totes stole from your place. You'll be getting it (and your mouse) back soon.
[I can't make this shit up.]
Silly Men!
by Shaker BrianWS
So, Liss sends me this email this morning with the subject line "OMG LOLOLOLOLOL."
At first, I was thinking, "OMG please let there be an awesome Top Chef GIF in here." But, alas, it was not.
It was, however, actually something much, MUCH better: This.
(For those uninterested in clicking through, it's an article at CNN headlined "Men and their holiday shopping battle," by Bradley Gallo. And, yes, it is as terrible as it sounds.)
My first thought was, "Wow, there is an awful lot of bullshit in here to unpack," because it's a heterocentrist piece of trash in so many delicious ways. First off, naturally there's no discussion in this article about how gay men shop, but we already know the reason why that is. Gay men get their own articles, which are always completely different from this one—high style, fine clothing, expensive wine, ULTRA-GAY RESORTS BEWARE THEY ARE COMING FOR YOUR TOWN! The entire article is about how "men," period, can't shop, hate shopping, and are just too fucking stupid to be able to successfully complete, much less enjoy, such a womanly pursuit like shopping. That is, as long as they're straight men, implying once again that gay men aren't "real men."
I'll let Liss's email unpack the other portion of it. "This article is just another perfect example of how the patriarchy is the greatest enemy of men, because 'dudez are bumbling numpties who can't even buy Crimbo pressies without shitting on their own shoes' isn't exactly a classic feminist trope, ahem."
I don't really have anything to add to that bit of hilarity, especially because I have no fucking clue what several words in there even mean.
Anyway, as I've become particularly fond of doing recently, I've just got to point out a couple of my favorite parts of the article. I mean I seriously HAVE to, they're that good. A Mix CD of my favorites below.
"They come in with a list -- they don't want to get the wrong thing -- they bring in a bottle or a ripped page of a magazine," Rodriguez said. Men are always asking her, "are you sure this is the one? Are you sure?"
"Are you sure this is the one?" I don't know about you, but this one really encompasses the entire article quite well. A straight man comes in holding the fucking page of a magazine with the product's picture on it, holds the actual product in his other hand, and needs a kind ladyperson to help him solve a particularly gnarly visual puzzle about whether two things that look exactly alike are the same thing. "Hey, I know that I'm looking for this bottle of Celine Dion's Belong perfume like I have in this picture, and though this bottle in my hand is the same size, says 'Celine Dion Belong' on it, and looks exactly the same, can you just do a quick double-check for me to make sure I'm not gonna royally screw this one up and accidentally buy a bottle of antacids instead of perfume?"
What a weird little anecdote about stupid men and their stupid inability to shop.
"I tell women up front that I don't celebrate holidays," and Wilson only buys a gift that he knows his girl is willing to match in cost on a gift for him.
I wonder how many dudes he had to go through interviews with before this article got finished. Like he'd ask a guy how he felt about shopping and he'd say "Eh, it's not my favorite, but I don't mind it that much."
Nope. Not a big enough douchebag; let's ask someone else! "It's one of my least favorite things in the entire world and to be perfectly honest, I would rather spend an entire week locked in a small room with Newt Gingrich than do this shit." Nope. Not a big enough douchebag—come on world, aren't there ANY TOTAL ASSHOLES IN THIS MALL????
Then he found that guy. "She's only buying me Call of Duty: Black Ops and the headset for Xbox so I can talk to my broskis while we're fucking launching grenades and shit into each other online. Seriously, have you seen that fucking game? Nah, really, babe, it's unreal, you should test it out sometime or get it for your boyfriend. Oh, how much does that cost? Eh, maybe a hundo when you add it all up, so I was like fuck that necklace she keeps talking about, I'm getting her socks with ponies on them, and some Neutrogena face lotion, and chocolate, maybe a Julia Roberts DVD or something, you know, shit ladies like, but only up to $98, not a penny more!"
But some men are romantics and they treat the process with care. Sohaib Ansari is 24 years old and originally from Pakistan. The love of his life has just finished her exams back in their home country. He wants to surprise her with a gift.
OMGWTFWHUT?!! "Ansari knows that females love jewelry." Of course they do. And pink shit. And babies. And pictures of babies dressed in pink wearing lots of jewelry.
Ansari knows that females love jewelry. "It means something. It makes them pretty. It makes them beautiful," he said. He is looking for that one piece to pop out and make the decision for him. "This is my first time buying for her so it has to be special."
"It makes them pretty." Seriously, Shakers, I love mocking articles like this, and this line may have actually broken my will. It makes them pretty? No, pal, it makes you an asshole. Does he bother with any real knowledge of whether the love of his life actually loves jewelry, or is he just assuming that she does because women are pink, baby, jewelry robots programmed from birth to serve his gender stereotypes?
I hope she hates his gift and tells him she'd rather he'd have bought her a football.
And finally…
What if a man has to handle this completely on their own?
Shakers, this is not a world I want to live in. I'm going to go sleep this one off.
Meanwhile...
...in the third war we're totally not fighting, three US missile attacks in the Khyber tribal region of Pakistan reportedly killed "killed 54 alleged militants."
Less newsworthy, naturally, than the already barely audible news of the third war we're fighting: "Human rights groups say there are significant numbers of civilian casualties in the attacks."
There have been "more than 100 missile attacks this year inside Pakistan," but: "US officials do not acknowledge firing the missiles, much less comment on who they are targeting. It is impossible to independently report on the aftermath of the attacks because outsiders are not allowed to visit the tribal regions."
Pope Picks Fight in Honor of World Day of Peace
[Trigger Warning: Christian Supremacy]
The World Day of Peace is almost upon us. Well, actually the International Day of Peace was September 21st, but the Catholic World Day of Peace is January 1. So much for peace and goodwill. (Although in fairness, the Catholic Church came up with the gimmick first.)
Anyhow, yesterday Pope Benedict XVI gave a speech in honor of peace, where he talked about how Christians are totally winning the Oppression Olympics, and how the rest of the world (like me?) needs to make haste with the peace.
Oh! And he said that religious intolerance was an affront to God. So that was kinda interesting.
"At present, Christians are the religious group which suffers most from persecution on account of its faith. Many Christians experience daily affronts and often live in fear because of their pursuit of truth, their faith in Jesus Christ and their heartfelt plea for respect for religious freedom. This situation is unacceptable, since it represents an insult to God and to human dignity; furthermore, it is a threat to security and peace, and an obstacle to the achievement of authentic and integral human development."...and of course, there's...
"A freedom which is hostile or indifferent to God becomes self-negating and does not guarantee full respect for others." [emphasis mine]Happy World Peace Day. There's cake and ice cream in the basement, but it's reserved for believers in the one true God.
Wooo! Peace Day!!!! Woo! Woo. woo.
Friday Blogaround
This blogaround is brought to you by Shaxco, makers of the BieberMeter, for all your snow-measuring needs.
Kate Harding: [TW discussion of sexual violence] Some Shit I’m Sick of Hearing Regarding Rape and Assange
Diane Glosson: e-Textile Workshop Sells Out at the Record Breaking Grace Hopper Celebration 2010
Ladysquires: How Not to Write About Disability in Your College Application
abby jean at FWD/Forward: Training Is Important
Arturo R. Garcia: Thor Losers: ‘Christian’ Group Aghast at Idris Elba's Godliness
Brian Switek: Geminiraptor Helps Set Utah Dinosaur Record
cuppycake at Border House: 1UP’s “20 Worst Cosplayers” feature practices fat-shaming
smitten kitchen: roasted chestnut cookies
Some reading about White Nose Syndrome in bats, an epidemic I have mentioned here before:
Pamela Black: Agency Plans to Save Bats from White-nose Syndrome
Brandon Keim in Wired: The Desperate Battle Against Killer Bat Plague
From the USGS: Tattered Wings: Bats Grounded by White-Nose Syndrome’s Lethal Effects on Life-Support Functions of Wings
Share your links in comments.
Latest Assange Rape Apologist: Julian Assange
[Trigger warning for sexual assault; rape apology.]
Julian Assange gets in on the discredit-Assange's-accusers act:
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said Friday that the sexual misconduct charges against him are little more than an effort to discredit him and his organization.Not for nothing, but the allegations made by the two women were published some time ago. Of course, I realize it's totally unfashionable, especially among rape apologists, to consider women's eyewitness statements about their own sexual assaults "evidence."
"This has been a very successful smear campaign so far, but I think its days are numbered and people are starting to wonder, is what is claimed really true and if it is true, where is the evidence?," Assange told NBC's Today show. "Why has no evidence been provided even to me and my defense attorneys?"
Anyway, special congratulations to Michael Moore for sounding exactly like a man accused of rape discrediting the women who accused him.
