"That's a scandal—those people are guilty of murder in my opinion. Some of those people they persuade are going to end up dying because they don't have health insurance. For people who do that to other people in the name of some obscure political ideology is one of the grossest violations of our humanity I can think of."—Independent US Senator from Maine Angus King, not mincing words about conservatives' attempts to dissuade uninsured people from enrolling in Obamacare.
Liss and Ana Talk About Elementary
[Content Note: Fat hatred; explosives. Season Two Episode One spoilers!]
The new season of Elementary premiered last Thursday, and, as was our habit last season, Ana Mardoll and I chatted about the show over the weekend, and here is our Monday recap!
* * *
Ana: Lady, you know I am not hard to please, I mean I loved EVERY SINGLE EPISODE of Season 1, but I didn't care for this one much at all. What is wrong with me?
Liss: I didn't care for it, either. For a lot of reasons. But you are definitely not alone! Iain said the show went from his favorite show on television to a show he wouldn't even have watched if that was the only episode he'd seen. Yikes.
Ana: I was REALLY put off by the fat jokes, especially since this is a Thing they've struggled with. The crack about fat people on a plane and THEN the bit about his old colleague gaining weight and THEN the super-bullying "nickname" for his brother … it was all very upsetting to me.
Liss: Me too. I felt especially sore about it because I took all that time tweeting at the writers about it last season, sending them info on weight research and fat hatred, and noting that Sherlock would definitely be aware of this stuff, as the character has been written. So their prejudice was more important than being true to their own character. I also get the feeling that after people complained that their Sherlock was "too nice," they decided to double-down on the fat hatred, catering to the people who complained he's "too nice," rather than responding to people who complained about the fat hatred. Awesome.
Ana: And the whole "it wasn't exercise; it was a potentially FATAL DISEASE" was disconcerting because, okay at least it wasn't a PSA on EXERCISE!, but on the other hand, it felt like we were supposed to see it as a good side-effect. Like, that is a fucked up mentality: I nearly died, but on the plus-side I lost weight and am smoking hot now! Ack.
Liss: Right. Which is a thing that happens in real life to fat people who lose weight as a result of disease/disability. We lose weight and get complimented on how great we look. "Uh, thanks. But I have cancer." That shit is not a joke.
Ana: I did like the main plot of the plastic gun and the 3D printing and Sherlock caring for an addict and Joan got lots of good lines in and I smiled when she beat up that guy because I knew you were pulling for her to get more physical since Lucy Liu kicks ass, so I was really trying to like the episode and had almost decided that I did but THEN HIS BROTHER BOMBS A BUILDING WHAT THE FUCK.
Liss: FOR REAL. Did not enjoy.
Ana: How is that cute or funny when we have this HUGE culture of violence and bystanders getting hurt?!? There's a goddamn "man kills people with weapon" event in the news every day now and we're saying that bombing a building is a cute way to reconnect with your estranged sibling?!? And it really undermined the established tone, I thought; is this the same Sherlock who thought it was Serious Business to fire a gun in the house (which, you know, IT IS), but felt that they absolutely had to because Detective Bell was being framed?? But now bombs are fun and artsy!
Liss: I agree totally. And, apart from that, what a horrendously shitty thing to do to someone. "I blew up all your shit to get your attention." Whut. Nope.
Ana: More generally, I was super disappointed that Season 1 introduced us to all these incredible women and people of color and trans* people, and yet our season premier is … a bunch of white guys. Yay. Oh, but it's okay because it's a bunch of white guys from the BOOKS. Well, certainly, I was thinking that this show needed more Arthur Conan Doyle white guys in it!! (That's what made it popular in Season 1, right?!) I was really hoping we'd see the snow plow driver again, or Ms. Hudson, or Alfredo, or Detective Bell, or hey MAYBE A WHOLE OTHER MINORITY CHARACTER. You know, like they did almost every episode last season?
Liss: Uh huh. And again, that felt to me like they're catering to critics who complained the show deviated from precious canon too much. Which, yeah, was the reason I LOVED THE SHOW. So.
Ana: Also-also, all that bit with Sherlock talking about Joan having sex with Mycroft … ack. I always felt he did that in Season 1 to ruffle her feathers because they weren't friends yet and he resented her presence as a companion. So bringing that back wasn't something I was super-thrilled about. I was pleased that he was so very wrong, but it still bothered me. And the whole "well, you can't have sex with ME" thing … I mean, yes, that's true but please stop TALKING about it. Ack. Ack. Ack. I wouldn't be comfortable in that conversation, and I'm not sure that Joan has been established as someone who is, either.
Liss: Another thing where I feel like the writers DON'T GET WHY PEOPLE LOVE THE SHOW. Everyone I know who loved the show the first season was very in favor of there NOT being any kind of romantic/sexual tension between the two of them, and the way to honor that isn't to have Sherlock KEEP TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY'RE NOT DOING IT in a super creepy way. Just leave it the fuck out of the show. Jesus Jones.
Ana: Also-also-also, you know how Season 1 was really big on domestic violence and humanizing the women victims? You didn't get that at ALL in this episode. The focus was on Sherlock and Lestrade and Mycroft. I wasn't even sure until halfway into the episode if the Dead Wife was married to the living guy or the buried guy. She felt like a total non-entity, like a puzzle piece for men to solve.
Liss: Same here! I was super confused about whose wife (property) she was. And then, even when they showed a picture of the crime scene, we didn't even see her face. Which was pretty much the opposite of humanizing female victims of violence. I also felt a departure from the first season in that Joan was given no opportunity to contribute to the case by empathizing with the victim in the way that became her specialty. Boo.
Ana: So … basically, I has a disappoint. Oh, wait: I did totally like Joan's Batman sleep shirt. CUTE!
Liss: Ha ha me too! And whoooooooooops deviating so thoroughly from your own beloved formula that now the only thing we've got to talk about that we like is Joan's t-shirt. Get it together, Elementary. And P.S. That's two fat strikes. One more, and I'M out.
Monday Blogaround
This blogaround is brought to you by a brief space in between lectures.
Neil at Wonkblog: The FBI Can’t Investigate Terrorists and Fraudsters Due to Budget Cuts
Heather at Crooks and Liars: Barasso Fearmongers over Single Payer Systems
[CN: classism, racism] LaToya at Racialicious: Is Economic Mobility Destined to be a Zero Sum Game?
[CN: misogyny] Indian Homemaker: Marriage Tips Only For Men Just For Fun
[CN: misogyny, religious oppression] Lubna at NBCNews.com: Saudi Women Launch New Campaign to End Driving Ban
[CN: ableism, access issues] Netmouse at Access Fandom: Detcon1 Seeking Accessibility Lead
[CN: racism, sexism]Rebecca at The Mary Sue: Let’s Take a Moment to Appreciate the Real-Life Version of Sleepy Hollow‘s Abbie Mills
[CN: transphobia] Andy at Towler Road: Transgender Journalist Dehumanised by Comedian at Eurogamer Expo
The History Blog: U.S. Returns Silver Griffin Rhyton to Iran
Scicurious: Practice Spinning, Tiny Dancer
Peter at Weird Shit in Historic Newspapers: Chinese Eggs (1922)
Please feel free to leave your bloglinks in the comments below.
Update: Senate Rejects House Vote
The Senate has rejected the House version of the Continuing Resolution. It's being sent back to the House, who have a few hours to pass something in line with the Senate's version.
I don't see much reason for the Dems to give in on this, although I try not to underestimate their flair for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Once Obamacare starts rolling out, it's going to be much tougher for the GOP to demand it stop. Of course, they still have many ways to mess around with it before full implementation in January, and as SKM pointed out to me in comments, it's especially worrying that they might fuck around with the pre-existing conditions requirements. And I am sure they will do their best to wedge anti-contraception policy in whatever legislation they can! But politically, I think Obama and the Dems have nothing to gain by agreeing to a delay right now. And if the signup period gets rolling, then it's harder for the GOP to demand a delay.
I also utterly hate that defending Obamacare may mean that hundreds of thousands of government workers lose their pay for who knows how long, and that millions more will be affected by shutdowns and cuts, for who knows how long.
But I'm sure the media will happily explain why both sides are just as bad!
Feel free to discuss developments or leave updates below.
The Final Breaking Bad Recap Ever.
[Content Note: Descriptions of violence. Spoilers are smoking the blue stuff herein.]
The deposed king surveys the ruins of his crumbled empire.
So, the finale of Breaking Bad aired last night, and I'll just get right to my reaction: It was sublime. It was perfect. I loved every moment of it. As to why I loved it so much, I'll get to that, but first: The recap!
We pick up with Walt in his frosty exile in New Hampshire. He has broken into a car, and, as police lights near, he whispers, "Just get me home." The police lights pass, and, in one final bit of the absurd, unaccountable luck that has abetted his monstrosity, he pulls down the visor only to have the keys fall into his lap.
Once he arrives in Albuquerque, on his birthday, Walt stops at a gas station, where, from a payphone, he calls a publicist or manager of some sort for the Schwartzes, his old Grey Matter business partners, and, posing as a New York Times reporter, he gets their new address. He leaves his watch, a gift from Jesse on his last birthday, atop the payphone as he walks away. Time is up.
We know from the opening episode of this season that Walt then traveled to a diner, where he made a 52 out of bacon to celebrate his birthday before buying a machine gun and a used car from a shady character in the restroom. So, when he later shows up at Elliott and Gretchen Schwartz's place, we know he is armed and dangerous. He is terrifying as he casually strolls behind them into their home, gazing at their family photos while he waits for them to notice him.
Elliott points a small kitchen knife at him. "If you're taking that route, you're going to need a bigger knife," Walt tells him. Elliott drops the knife to the floor.
But Walt is not here to harm them. Not physically, anyway. He orders them to help him cart his $9 million into their house, then tells them that they are to use the money to set up a trust for Flynn, to be given to him on his 18th birthday. Gretchen snaps at Walt that if he wants to get his drug money to his family, he can do it his own damn self. But Walt is persuasive: With a wave of his hand through their front window, two pinpoints of red light land on their chests. He tells them that he has hired two hitmen to ensure that they carry out his plan as directed.
It is the perfect, horrible vengeance: Walt has never been able to stop thinking about Elliott and Gretchen's money, and now they will never be able to stop thinking about his.
In the News
Here is some stuff in the news today!
Welp, at least someone stands to benefit from the impending shutdown: Threat of federal shutdown is windfall for political fundraisers. And if there's anyone who really needs a break these days, it's definitely political fundraisers, so good for them! Ha ha just kidding. They're fine.
The US stock market is reacting to the impending shutdown, and I bet you can guess what's happening! If you guessed "it's probably not good," give yourself one million points! The cool thing about that is how most non-wealthy people invest in the stock market, if they do at all, only through their retirement plans, so it's super neat how the same rich fucks who fund the Republican Party are now freaking out about the Republican Party behaving like they are able to behave only because rich fucks keep funding their elections, and their stupid panic will drive down the value of the retirement savings of ordinary people who have no control over any of this. Free markets for everyone!
In same-sex marriage equality news, a judge in New Jersey "ordered state officials to allow same-sex couples to marry starting October 21, saying the current civil union system unfairly deprives them of federal benefits available to married couples." Woot! Meanwhile, in Virginia, Ted Olson and David Boies, the lawyers who took California's Prop. 8 case to the US Supreme Court, are challenging the state's ban on same-sex marriage.
The US Justice Department will be filing a lawsuit to challenge North Carolina's new voter ID law, which is antidemocratic garbage.
I know you will be SHOCKED to hear this, so I hope you're sitting down and preemptively fanning yourself, but it turns out BP "misled federal officials and withheld information about the amount of crude spewing from its blown-out well" following its 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. I'm sure they'll be severely punished with a modest fine for which they will pay by firing hardworking people who had nothing to do with the spill or the cover-up.
[Content Note: Misogyny] Sheikh Saleh bin Saad al-Lohaidan, a conservative Saudi Arabian cleric, says "women who drive risk damaging their ovaries and bearing children with clinical problems, countering activists who are trying to end the Islamic kingdom's male-only driving rules." That would be hilarious if it weren't for the fact that this is the kind of shit being used to deny women the right to drive.
This is neat: "Nasa is planning to launch a 3D printer into space next year to help astronauts manufacture spare parts and tools in zero gravity."
Daily Dose of Cute
If a beagle could sing, and if there were a song called "I'm Dreaming of the Great Pumpkin," then Mistress Nell would definitely be singing that.
Please feel free to leave photos and talk about your furry/finny/feathered/other words that don't begin with f friends in the comments below! (As a reminder, this thread is for happy and warm-fuzzy talk only. If you need support or want to share more troubling pet news, you are very welcome to do so in the Open Thread.)
Photo of the Day
[Photo Credit:Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call. Via.]
Saint Ted Cruz, who apparently wrought the miracle that is the GOP's garbage obstruction, awaits political martyrdom via President Obama's evil knights politely worded criticism.
We'll have to wait until 2 PM ET to see what the Senate has to say. In the meantime, here are a few headlines that may be useful or interesting. Feel free to leave more in the comments below.
Government Shutdown: Get Up to Speed in 20 Minutes
US Shutdown: An Explainer for Non-Americans
House Republicans Target Contraception In Last-Minute Spending Bill
Will a Government Shutdown Chill Congressional Republicans Out? No
Student Cited By Ted Cruz As Proof Of Obama's Failure Is Actually Grateful For Obamacare
Blog Note
I've got a doctor's appointment this morning, so I'll be out for awhile. In the meantime, the big news story today is, of course, the shutdown. Aphra_Behn's got a great post on it here.
I am absolutely beside myself with listening to this endless bullshit about how the Tea Party is holding the Republican Party hostage, and how this is going to cause a civil war in the Republican Party, and how moderate Republicans are so frustrated boo-hoo etc. This was always going to be the end game of a decades-long GOP strategy. This is what the Koch Brothers have been paying for. Any Congressional Republican who claims to not have seen this coming, or to be disgusted by it, is even stupider and/or more dishonest than I already considered them to be.
Anyway. I'll be back later.
Also: I promise that I will post the Breaking Bad thread as soon as I can!
GOP Continuing Resolution/ACA/Shutdown/Assholery Thread
[Content Note: classism, denial of health care, anti-agency politics]
So, it's official: the U.S. House GOP has voted down the Senate version of the budget Continuing Resolution. A government shutdown is highly likely, unless the Senate and the House can agree on a CR tomorrow.
The Senate could, in theory, vote to accept this and avert a government shutdown. But that's unlikely, especially since the GOP is not only demanding a one-year delay of the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, they also threw in new shit like allowing employers (not just religious institutions) to refuse to fund any women's contraception that they don't like.
Naturally, I'm not surprised, although I am contemptuous.
My only surprise is that they didn't throw a lot of other poop in there too, like "get FDR off the dime," "re-name the National Cathedral the St. Ronnie of Reagan Grotto and Fun Park," or "make Shakesville take down all those Mitt Romney-Stands-In Front-of-Something posts."What does this mean? Well, it means the Democrats in the Senate can agree to the House requirements (briefer Harry Reid: "HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Nope!") or they can vote it down tomorrow. The House, in theory, might have a brief window of time to try to pass something matching the Senate version, but it's unlikely the Tea Partiers are going to relent, so that wouldn't change anything.
In short, shutdown.
Which will, of course, hurt a whole lot of USians, but let's not even pretend that the GOP gives a shit about that. If they cared about hurting people, then they wouldn't object so strenuously to millions finally getting health insurance. Nope, this is all about preventing the tiniest bit of interference with the Sacred Profits of Aynrandia. As Trent Franks (R-Iceforbrains] says:
"I'm a free-market guy, and I truly believe that Obamacare could be the linchpin in shifting America over into an almost irreversible socialist economy."
Yes, it is definitely great for the markets when the freaking government of the damn United States shuts down! You are definitely a financial genius, sir! Who could resist investing in a country where the radical wing of one party can wreak Madisonian clusterfuck on a regular basis? Seems like a great idea to me! Going to be AWESOME for the dollar, the national credit rating, etc.
OTOH, maybe I should thank Franks for his actual honesty. He and the rest of these garbage-souled assholes are, indeed afraid that when USians get a taste of the ACA helping them, it will be that harder for the GOP to continue to flog their particular brand of anti-government codswallop. They're terrified that USians might re-learn the lessons of the Great Depression and Second World War, both of which had to be addressed by centralized planning (rationing, Mr. Franks, was not a free market option!)
I could go on and on with examples (G.I. Bill? the Interstate Highway System?) but the point is that there are some things national governments can do quite efficiently, and the GOP knows it damned well. But rather than admit that, they'd rather vote to keep millions of USians uninsured, and, with the shutdown, many more unfunded, unpaid, and/or unemployed.
I'm angry, Shakers, and not a little bit scared of what this will mean for me, my loved ones, my community, and everyone else living in this country. Congratulations, Republicans! You've certainly shown exactly how much you love the U.S.A.
Feel free to use the thread as a safe space to discuss this. As it's a weekend, I ask you to be extra-careful about maintaining the space, since mods will be in and out.
Open Thread
This week's open threads have been brought to you by carnival games.
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!
TV Corner: Parks and Rec
[Content Note: Fat hatred; bullying. Spoilers are catching the redeye to London herein...]
Parks and Recreation returned last night, and (almost) everyone had something going on: Leslie won an award for which April nominated her; Ron and Diane are married and having a baby; Ann and Chris are not married and having a baby; Ben and Andy are having success with the Sweetums nonprofit; Tom is fighting The Fonz to save his business; and (almost) everyone went to London to see Leslie get her big award. Huzzah!
There were some great moments in this episode, and of course I totally cried my face off when Ron sat on the Scottish cliff, reading a Rabbie Burns poem.
But, I have to be honest: The show has lost something for me. I miss Leslie's and Ann's friendship, which used to be central to the show. I cringed at Leslie ranting about the complainy fatties in Pawnee "clinging to their fried dough and sodas." I can't take the Jerry bullying anymore. (And what was that suckling baby face? Nope.) The writers kept promising, after lots of folks complained, that the Jerry bullying was going to be addressed, implying it would be resolved, ended. But that hasn't happened. We got an episode where he had a heart attack and the people he's super nice to all the time were nice to him for two seconds before going right back to bullying him.
It's a weird thing, because I enjoy some other shows that are more problematic in more ways than Parks and Rec is. Which maybe doesn't seem fair. But I expect more of Parks and Rec, because I know it can deliver more.
It's fundamentally a show about earnest people who have flaws and fuck up but are still essentially kind. I don't want or expect Leslie Knope to be perfect, but I don't want her to be a fat-hating jerk who's mean to her loyal coworker and friend, either.
And as much as I love (and I really do love!) the relationship between Leslie and April, I miss the relationship between Leslie and Ann. I never expected Parks and Rec to be a show that didn't make room for two female friendships.
Anyway. What did you think? Did you love it? If you loved it, I am genuinely glad for you! Yay! Did you have some problems with it? Same as mine, or different ones? Let the discussion commence!
Promoting Women in STEM, 1946 Style
[Image Description: A number of white men in brown military uniforms sit around a table; at left, Diana Prince/Wonder Woman, a white woman with dark hair and wearing glasses, and dressed in a blue uniform, is objecting to to the presentation of an older white man in civilian clothes. Diana: "But Doctor, the atom bomb dissolvs any metal into gas--: Doctor: (cutting her off) "Not this metal -- this is stronger than the atom splitting! Naturally a woman can't understand!"]
[Image Description: Close up on Diana and Steve Trevor, a blonde white man in a uniform. Diana: "A woman helped invent the atom bomb! Dr. Lise Meitner's mathematical figures showed how to split uranium atoms--" Steve: (whispering behind his hand, and also cutting her off):"Pipe down, Di--Novel's going to test his metal with a bomb."]
Guess who turns out to be right about the metal not actually withstanding an atomic blast? Did you guess Wonder Woman/Diana Prince? YOU ARE CORRECT! Guess who turns out to be the villain? Did you guess the mansplaining asshat doctor guy? YOU ARE CORRECT! (Also: Steve Trevor, you should know better! Get it together!)
In conclusion: Yay for ladybrainz and SCIENCE!
Friday Blogaround
Today's blogaround is brought to you by horse-pill-sized antibiotics.
Digby (Hullabaloo):[CN: healthcare, economic anxiety] Your Helpful Insurance Company
Trudy (Gradient Lair): [CN: intersectional racism and misogyny] “Do you think that true solidarity is possible among Black and non-Black women of color?”
Duane (Indian Country Today): How Does Tribal Leadership Compare to Parliamentary Leadership?
Angry Asian Man: [CN: Racial stereotyping] CNBC Host Joe Hernen Can’t Resist the Dumbass Indian Jokes
Emer (Comment is Free): [CN: Sexism] Why Snubbing Books by Women Is Not the Same as Snubbing Motorbikes
Cathy (HASTAC Blogs): Why Does College Cost So Much and Why Do So Many Pundits Get it Wrong?
Becky (The Mary Sue): The Constructive Side of Escapism
Angela (Past Imperfect): [CN: rape, slut-shaming, adoption] President Cleveland’s Problem Child
The History Blog: Daughter Gets WWII Medals, Letter, from Father She Never Knew
Peter (Weird Shit in Historic Newspapers): [CN: housefires] Flaming Spook is Girl Psychic (1922)
Feel free to leave your own links in comments.
Damn.
Al Gore lets the Republicans have it:
[clip begins partway through former Vice-President Al Gore's speech at the Brookings Institution this morning] ...I will have more to say about this [climate change report] on many other occasions, but, because this report was released just hours before we gathered here, I would not have felt right about not addressing it.He could barely contain his contempt. Beautiful.
Now, I'm gonna talk about the potential for a shutdown in just a moment, but, uh, I think the only phrase that describes it is political terrorism. "Nice global economy you got there. Be a shame if we had to destroy it. We have a list of demands. If you don't meet 'em all by our deadline, we'll blow up the global economy."
[pause] Really? Um. Where are the American people in this? Why does partisanship have anything to do with such a despicable and dishonorable threat to the integrity of the United States of America?
