Billy Ray Cyrus: "Achy Breaky Heart"
It's Alive!
Hi, Shakers. As many of you know, I've been sick for almost a week now with some kind of stomach flu or food contamination-related garbage belly or possible intestinal demonic possession, during which time I've been sleeping approximately 18 hours a day and spending my meager waking hours out of my fucking head with dehydration-induced brain-bedlam.
At one point, while cradling my new BFF, Blue Bucket, I heard Dudley puking somewhere else in the house, and I imagined, briefly, that we were both dying and I needed to procure a Speak 'n' Spell that he might dismantle and use to contact his people.
Anyway! I managed to digest something other than a Saltine last night, for the first time in six days, and my fever finally broke, which has somewhat diminished the light-headed dizziness that's been keeping me off the computer. Until now, I've not even been able to read the news. So I'm going to try to get some work done today; I'll start with my email, which is an ungodly mess, and hopefully will get back to posting later in the day.
Twice already, I've thought I was on the mend, only to be viciously plunged back into the depths of whatever vengeful bug has gripped me, so this may turn out to be a premature rumor of my return. But I am hopeful! And hope springs eternal, unlike, one hopes, this goddamn persistent gutfuck.
I'm still getting an agonizing stomachache anytime I try to eat or drink anything, but I've nonetheless felt like I'm on an upswing ever since I was walking up the stairs to bed the other night and my pants fell down. "Oh the humanity!" I said, and tried to laugh, but burst into tears instead. Nadir, thy name is pantslessness.
My profound thanks to the contributors and mods for all their extra work while I was ill. My appreciation is truly boundless.
Question of the Day
What's your favorite side dish?
Potatoes for me, in any form, but especially french freedom fries.
You Know What You Need?
A pair of My Little Ponies singing a medley of showtunes, including "Defying Gravity" from Wicked.
Perry and "Personhood"
So this happened yesterday:
Question off camera: Um, I'd like to clarify whether you agree or disagree with Mitt Romney regarding the personhood amendment?Barf.
Perry: Let, let me tell you what I believe in. I'm pro-life. Been pro-life all my life. Uh. (pause) As the governor of Texas I don't know if there's, uh, anyone who has been engaged more issues that have been, uh, protective of life. Uhm. And parental consent, parental notification, this last session of legislature we passed a law that, uh, says if a female is to receive an abortion she, ah, has to have a sonogram before that procedure can occur. Uhm, I happen to...to believe in putting justices on the Supreme Court that are pro-life. And....Roe versus Wade would, ah, be found to be unconstitutional, it would go back to the states. Until! There would be a constitutional amendment to the United States that would clearly defend life and that life would be from the time of conception until death. I would support that. Uh, and....(pause)...that a pro-life amendment in a constitutional way is the way that this issue is finally addressed. So, uh, I have always been very consistent, uh, on the issue of life and will continue to be in the, ah, men and women who I would ask to serve on the United States Supreme Court would be strict constructionists and they would find nothing in the United States constitution dealing with the issues of, ah, abortion. That would go back to the states and the state could decide those issues up until the time there would be a United States constitution to protect life, which I would be supportive of.
Coming Soon To A Theater Near You
(Click image to engage tractor beam.)
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace 3D
Note the conspicuous absence of Anakin and Jar Jar on the poster. Anakin is briefly seen in the new trailer, which makes the movie look terrible in three dimensions. Also note that if this release tanks, the other five films will not be given the 3D treatment. Whoops!
This is a real thing in the world.
Baconlube™, which bills itself as "the world's first bacon-flavored personal lubricant and massage oil." $11.99 a bottle or $59.99 for six. It's probably less messy than repurposing your bacon grease.
Wednesday Blogaround
This blogaround brought to you by bootstraps. Find your own blogs to read!
Leave your links in comments...
What Privilege Sounds Like, FIFA Edition
(TW for racism and apologia)
Sepp Blatter, embattled head of FIFA under constant complaint of corruption, has spoken out yesterday on a number of recent racism incidents (note that these are only incidents from the past couple of WEEKS), saying that:
"I would deny it. There is no racism, there is maybe one of the players towards another, he has a word or a gesture which is not the correct one, but also the one who is effected by that, he should say that this is a game.Tl;dr version: "We're working really hard, so you should cut us some slack, because obviously anyone who plays a competitive game can be expected to spew racist insults!"
"We are in a game, and at the end of the game, we shake hands, and this can happen, because we have worked so hard against racism and discrimination. I think the whole world is aware of the efforts we are making against racism and discrimination.
"And, on the field of play sometimes you say something that is not very correct, but then at the end of the game, the game is over and you have the next game where you can behave better."
Um, no, Mr. Blatter. A lot of us manage to get through all kinds of high-stress, competitive situations without dehumanizing our adversaries. It's fairly simple, really: you just don't call people racist names. There. See how easy that was?
And speaking as a referee who has, on more than one occasion, shown red cards to players for racist behaviour on the pitch, I can say with absolute certainty that racism is an ENORMOUS problem in our beloved sport, and a horrendous blight on The Beautiful Game.
I think it's clear from your statement that the only reason you're not spewing racist bullshit yourself is that you're a canny politician, and that means you need the support of some of those same people you'd otherwise sneer at. But self-interest is not a pass for racism, and you, a white man with enormous power, don't get to tell POC that they should just smile and take it.
FIFA needs to get out of the rectal haberdashery game, and into the "getting rid of this overprivileged shitbag we have running this place" game.
Transmomentum in Massachusetts!
Well, after some late wrangling joined the House and Senate bills, the House passed the new combined resolution (3810) last night, and the Senate passed it this morning by voice vote (thanks to Shakers DonnaL Wench and gidgetcommando for those updates - my mistake on the attribution, thanks to DonnaL for pointing it out).
As pointed out in yesterday's comment thread, this is an imperfect bill, but it's still a step forward, and I want to commend the representatives in MA for their courage in doing the right thing, and thank those who contacted those representatives in support of this bill.
We may not be running pell-mell into the future, but we're definitely shuffling forwards.
Quote of the Day
[TW for disordered eating.]
"By calling girls like me fat this is what you're doing to other people." — Miley Cyrus, on her twitter, responding to critics of her new, plumper body, by posting a picture of an emaciated woman. (The photo is at the above link, and fair warning, it is graphic and NSFW and likely triggering for some folks.) Miley followed up with a tweet stating "I don't wanna be shaped like a girl I LOVE being shaped like a WOMAN."
Occupy Wall Street Open Thread
[TW for violence.]
Police in Seattle cracked down on peaceful protesters last night, pepper spraying a pregnant 19-year-old and an 84-year-old woman.
A Seattle police spokesman said he didn't have details on the incident, but he noted that pepper spray is "is not age specific. No more dangerous to someone who is 10 or someone who is 80."
Okay then.
Discuss this and other Occupy-related stories. And share your links!
Don't Let Yer Badgers Grow Up To Be Weasels*
This morning, Wisconsinites officially began collecting signatures to recall Governor Scott Walker.
The Wisconsin State Journal:
The Democratic Party of Wisconsin hosted a petition pickup party Monday night, and more than 40 recall supporters wore party hats and blew kazoos as they counted down the final seconds before 12:01 a.m.
Margaret Kraegy, 49, walked out of the Democratic office at 330 E. Wilson St. with petition in hand by 12:25 a.m. Kraegy, a heavy equipment operator for the Madison Parks Division, said she had to start circulating petitions because the legislation passed under Walker's watch has harmed her family and coworkers.
"I'm taking off work a half-hour early tomorrow so I'm not collecting signatures on city time," Kraegy said.
Of course, folks have been working on this tirelessly on since early this year when Walker and the state GOP circumvented the state constitution to please their corporate masters.
I don't know about the rest of you, but this is the kind of activism that keeps me moving.
On a tangential and personal note, over the past several months, I've made arrangements to leave academia and move with my family back to our adopted hometown of Madison in time to whip up some pre-recall jello salad. I'm sure at some point I'll have tons to say about the academy (hoo-boy), about Syracuse, and about moving home. Right now, I'm just tired.
But damn, as much as I love a lot of things about Syracuse (you wouldn't know it from my writing, but it's true), I'm so fucking excited to move back to a place where post it notes are a vital tool in the fight for democracy.
If you want to learn more about how to help with the recall effort, visit United Wisconsin.
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*Screenprinting, fuck yeah.
