Saturday, July 31, 2004
MAYBE THEY'LL CALL IT THE "TCN: THE CHOMSKY NETWORK"
Hoping to build on the "promise" of Air America, a group of far lefty activists have decided to create a new network in order "to counter the conservative news coverage they see on ... CNN." (Via I Want Media). The planned network would also be to the left of Al Gore's new "youth-oriented" TV network NWI.
DIAMOND DAYS FOR THE NORTHERN ALLIANCE
The Northern Alliance has been getting out and about. First at a pub sit last week (hugely successful we understand although we weren't able to make it ourselves), and now today they're headed to the Estates at Diamond Bluff to meet their groupies and anti-groupies and broadcast live (noon to 3 pm CST), both locally on am 1280 The Patriot and (at long last!) via an Internet stream (only works with IE right now, I'm told).
Friday, July 30, 2004
TWISTED TITLE #35
This week's incorrect children's title:
That's Right Sonny, Santa's Been Drinking, And If You Tell Anyone Your Cat is HistoryTo see last week's title, click here.
Thursday, July 29, 2004
HELLO IRONY
A part-time economist for Electricité de France is facing a disciplinary hearing next month. And what does it take to get disciplined as a unionized worker at a French state-owned utility if you enjoy twelve years of seniority? Well, you have to publish a very special kind of how-to book.
Corinne Maier hit the jackpot with Bonjour Paresse ("Hello Laziness") in which she explains "why it's in your interest to work as little as possible and how to screw the system from within." She is an economist after all. A very special economist with a doctorate in psychoanalysis (no mention anywhere of a doctorate in economics but maybe I'm just a lazy Googler).
Sadly, Ms. Maier won't be able to make the disciplinary proceeding. She'll be on vacation.
Corinne Maier hit the jackpot with Bonjour Paresse ("Hello Laziness") in which she explains "why it's in your interest to work as little as possible and how to screw the system from within." She is an economist after all. A very special economist with a doctorate in psychoanalysis (no mention anywhere of a doctorate in economics but maybe I'm just a lazy Googler).
Sadly, Ms. Maier won't be able to make the disciplinary proceeding. She'll be on vacation.
Tuesday, July 27, 2004
AT LEAST HE WON'T CARE ABOUT THE HAIRSPRAY
Northern Alliance stud Captain Ed has been invited to blog the Republican National Convention! Spitbull's invitation seems to have gotten lost in the ether. (A popular theory hereabouts is that King of SCSU Scholars had something to do with it; he complains our inclusion in the Alliance is an enduring "mystery" but there ain't nothing mysterious about cold hard cash. And he claims to be an economist!) But we're taking it in stride.
Especially after seeing this:
But we're kind of cheesed about missing out on the cool visor swag potential.
UPDATE: Hindrocket has been invited too! 10% (2 out of 20) of the RNC credentialed bloggers will be from the Northern Alliance.
Especially after seeing this:
If any of The New York Times reporters covering the Democratic National Convention had hoped to relax with a cold beer inside Boston's Fleet Center after a hard day of work, they've been disappointed.Sorry Ed, we're guessing the Secret Service may have similar concerns about the Republican convention. We plan to crack a cold beer, uncork a warm bottle of the red, open a large umbrella and read every word of your RNC blogging. In short, we'll be there with you in spirit(s).
That's because, unlike at past conventions, outside booze -- or any bottled liquid for that matter -- is banned from the convention site, along with most food, hairspray, and even large umbrellas.
"It was rejected," said John Files, assistant to the Times' Washington editor, who tried late last week to bring several cases of beer and a case of wine into the press room for the Times scribes. "The Secret Service is particularly concerned about liquids, fearing biohazards, regardless of whether they are open or closed.
But we're kind of cheesed about missing out on the cool visor swag potential.
UPDATE: Hindrocket has been invited too! 10% (2 out of 20) of the RNC credentialed bloggers will be from the Northern Alliance.
THEY'VE GOT THE POWER
Now that it's summer, especially now that it's summer, it has become clear to me where the true source of power lies: access to telephone numbers of babysitters who don't have access to summer cabins. Those who have it live lives of blissful freedom and can lord it over those of us who don't.
Yes yes yes I realize that much of the world either doesn't have small children for whom they are responsible, doesn't care about engaging in adult activities in the absence of said children, or doesn't give a hoot about the kids. Unfortunately I am not lucky enough to fall into any of these exceptions. I am a babysitter have-not (or, more precisely, have-not-enough) this summer and at the mercy of those babysitter haves. The babysitter haves don't just share their numbers with any Tom Dick and Harry (or Eloise). You have to earn the information with various bribes or, heaven forbid, a sustained relationship approximating close friendship.
I do OK during the school year. It's true I occasionally wring my hands over the unreasonably active social lives of the babysitter demographic (when I was their age a babysitting job was a welcome break from parental monotony) or cluck disapprovingly at the parents dishing out earning-incentive destroying allowances to their kids (I am clearly a social conservative when it comes to babysitters.) But despite these horrific roadblocks, I can usually find a babysitter if I steel myself to make enough telephone calls (yes, I finally understand, it is extremely humiliating being turned down by teenage girls; I apologize if I ever caused anyone any such pain in the past).
But summer in Minnesota is absolute hell for the babystter-dependant! Potential babysitters are all visiting their friends' cabins, or going camping or tubing down some tributary for the weekend just when I need them. It's an impossible situation, and elevates the power of those with babysitter access to untenable heights.
At lunch last week a friend told me the story of a local businessman who experienced difficulties enforcing his non-compete agreement against a former partner. His solution: he forbade his daughter from continuing to offer her babysitting services to the turncoat. As a lawyer, I admire the ingenuity. As a mother, I decry the unfair tactic. I guess I need expand my toadying efforts from the babysitter list-holders to the babysitters' parents.
Yes yes yes I realize that much of the world either doesn't have small children for whom they are responsible, doesn't care about engaging in adult activities in the absence of said children, or doesn't give a hoot about the kids. Unfortunately I am not lucky enough to fall into any of these exceptions. I am a babysitter have-not (or, more precisely, have-not-enough) this summer and at the mercy of those babysitter haves. The babysitter haves don't just share their numbers with any Tom Dick and Harry (or Eloise). You have to earn the information with various bribes or, heaven forbid, a sustained relationship approximating close friendship.
I do OK during the school year. It's true I occasionally wring my hands over the unreasonably active social lives of the babysitter demographic (when I was their age a babysitting job was a welcome break from parental monotony) or cluck disapprovingly at the parents dishing out earning-incentive destroying allowances to their kids (I am clearly a social conservative when it comes to babysitters.) But despite these horrific roadblocks, I can usually find a babysitter if I steel myself to make enough telephone calls (yes, I finally understand, it is extremely humiliating being turned down by teenage girls; I apologize if I ever caused anyone any such pain in the past).
But summer in Minnesota is absolute hell for the babystter-dependant! Potential babysitters are all visiting their friends' cabins, or going camping or tubing down some tributary for the weekend just when I need them. It's an impossible situation, and elevates the power of those with babysitter access to untenable heights.
At lunch last week a friend told me the story of a local businessman who experienced difficulties enforcing his non-compete agreement against a former partner. His solution: he forbade his daughter from continuing to offer her babysitting services to the turncoat. As a lawyer, I admire the ingenuity. As a mother, I decry the unfair tactic. I guess I need expand my toadying efforts from the babysitter list-holders to the babysitters' parents.
Friday, July 23, 2004
IS THAT YOUR FINAL QUESTION?
Jeopardy phonemenon Ken Jennings has boosted recent ratings for the TV show (past Wheel of Fortune, imagine that!). As a result, he's become a news phenomenon (ABC, CBS, CNN, FOX, E!, USAToday , NPR, Washington Post, NY Times, David Letterman, Good Morning America, Live/Regis and Kelly)! Even ESPN got in the act, cleverly using sports analogies to make him relevant to their readers:
But it's the no coffee part of Mormonism that may be the secret to his success.
No, it's not nearly enough for me to give up my own caffeine habit but I fully intend to rely on this important research report the next time I call my children by the wrong name.
Yes, he's a smarmy know-it-all with the personality of a hall monitor, the kind of guy everyone hides from at a Christmas party. But he has "it" -- that indefinable quality you have when you know you're good, when you're in the zone and taking everyone for a ride. The '86 Celts had it. They toyed with teams before ripping their hearts out, Temple of Doom style. The JG does too. Not since the pre-nanny Tiger has somebody laid the smack down like this. He doesn't beat people, he dismantles them.Have I mentioned that he's a practicing Mormon? As in no booze, a fact that has prompted the creation of a new drinking game: Jeopardrink!: the KenJen Edition ("The worse Ken does, the drunker you get").
But it's the no coffee part of Mormonism that may be the secret to his success.
No, it's not nearly enough for me to give up my own caffeine habit but I fully intend to rely on this important research report the next time I call my children by the wrong name.
TWISTED TITLE #34
This week's incorrect children's title:
A Month of Fun: You and Daddy's Two Boys, Mommy's Three Girls, Daddy's New Wife's Kid, Mommy's Boyfriend's Daughter, All Four Sets of Your Grandparents and Funny Uncle Fred Celebrate Thanksgiving!To see last week's title, click here.
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
FLITTERPUFFERY
The seven year old lost a tooth yesterday. Well, actually, she yanked it out and then dashed to her room to shove it under her pillow. Good pacifist that she is, I don't think she'd actually knock out her sister's tooth for the payoff (and she's watched this cautionary Powerpuff Girls episode at least ten times after all) but I was a little surprised by how cold blooded she was about it (cha-ching!). No "ick!" about all the blood yet she's usually quite squeamish.
Well, this is certainly not the first tooth loss she's suffered/enjoyed (she started first grade with the classic no-front-teeth look). She's getting to be an old pro at this, jaded enough to grill me about how this fairy business works. How do you know there's a tooth fairy?
I think I held up OK (it helped that she probably wanted me to convince her, concerned that the dollars may stop appearing if I think she no longer believes). I told her we know because there's a dollar under the pillow in the morning. She didn't ask me any more questions but apparently decided to devise an experiment of her own. She left a note along with the tooth:
The Internet reveals still more, of course:
Well, this is certainly not the first tooth loss she's suffered/enjoyed (she started first grade with the classic no-front-teeth look). She's getting to be an old pro at this, jaded enough to grill me about how this fairy business works. How do you know there's a tooth fairy?
I think I held up OK (it helped that she probably wanted me to convince her, concerned that the dollars may stop appearing if I think she no longer believes). I told her we know because there's a dollar under the pillow in the morning. She didn't ask me any more questions but apparently decided to devise an experiment of her own. She left a note along with the tooth:
Dear tooth fairyTurns out the tooth fairy's name is Flitterpuff!
What is your name
Love [seven year old child]
The Internet reveals still more, of course:
What does the tooth fairy do with all those teeth? There's no consensus. Terry Pratchett in Hogfather suggests they're just collected, neatly labeled and filed away in a museum-like castle. Pratchett also suggests that the tooth fairy's business involves intricate record-keeping and accounting, and says she "carries pliers – if she can't make change, she has to take an extra tooth on account." I think I'd just as soon not explain that part to kids.I on the other hand will hold this in reserve in case any sister slugging develops.
Tuesday, July 20, 2004
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW YOU LEARNED IN 3RD GRADE
A succinct analysis of global politics from Tightly Wound:
Think of Europe as a grade school playground: The old Eastern bloc countries are the poor foreign kids who hang out together because no one else will talk to them; Germany is the proto-football jock who gets off on giving the little kids wedgies; Portugal and Spain are the pretty girls that Germany likes to tease and that the poor kids are afraid to talk to; Italy is the class clown with ADD and some other behavioral issues; Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands are the average kids who like to play kickball; and France is the skinny rich kid with no athletic ability and an inexplicable sense of entitlement.You'll have to click through the link, you lazy surfer you, to see who is the teacher.
ROOT THINKING
The crack young staff of “The Hatemonger’s Quarterly” selects one of the Left's nuggets of wisdom regarding the current War on Terrorism (overlooking "The best way to fight terrorism is to appease its proponents at every turn; Syria is a wonderful country that has been alienated by our unsavory tactics; &c") they acede to the often-voiced lefty imperative and examine the "root causes" of terrorism.
Sunday, July 18, 2004
AS PREDICTED, THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE IS GETTING DIRTY. VERY DIRTY.
Powerline seems to like to put up occasional girlie pictures to keep its male readers, er, interested (of course the readers all claim to read Powerline for the articles). But now there's proof those guys are strictly Bush-league operators: Fuck The Vote (not entirely work safe).
SEXY LIBERALS OF THE U.S. UNITE in taking back the government from the sexually repressed, right-wing, zealots in control! Everyone knows liberals are hotter than conservatives - we look hotter, we dress hotter, our ideas are hotter, and we are infinitely hotter in the sack. We must use this to our advantage - as one more weapon in a diverse arsenal to strip the conservatives of their power (by stripping them of their clothes first).Since recent elections have shown more women vote left than right, this tactic may have some, ahem, legs. Mitch Berg, for instance. How long do you think he'd hold out?
Believe it or not, even the most seemingly deeply rooted right-wing ideologue can be manipulated by sex. As we all know, the sex drive is a powerful beast that has the potential to change people. People lie for sex, they cheat for sex, they even kill for sex - and you can be sure that they will change the way they think (and therefore vote) for sex. All you need to be armed with are your sexy progressive values, a razor-sharp wit, your genitalia, and a mindset that doesn't mind taking one for the team.
At Fuck The Vote we provide a Pledge Sheet that can be used conveniently before becoming physically intimate with a conservative, The Pledge Sheet asks the signee to make a promise to vote for anyone but George Bush in the November election. FTV has not endorsed a single candidate but recommends strategic voting. We also encourage FTV fans to take road trips this summer to swing(er) states to collect pledges. If you collect a pledge let us know about it on the Swinger States page! Have safe fun fucking over Bush while fucking for votes.
Saturday, July 17, 2004
IT'S BOOK PLUG PAN-DEMONIUM!
The Warrior Monk came out of retirement to join the blog crowd hyping Hugh's new book: If It's Not Close, They Can't Cheat: Crushing the Democrats in Every Election and Why Your Life Depends on It.
Hugh has attributed the book's skyrocketing rankings on Amazon to the blogosphere's accolades. Pure speculation, I'd say. But I'll match him one in the cause-and-effect guessing game: the strength and vibrancy of the right-hand portion of the blogosphere can be attributed to Hugh's steadfast backing and generosity. Aside from the book's merit, it's fitting that we return the favor.
... and raise the bet: there may be a trickle-down effect to Calphalon from all this blog love: Amazon's "Customers who bought this item... Also bought these items..." feature suggested their 12 inch Everyday Pan. Perhaps Hugh ought to follow Glenn Reynolds' lead and start writing about cookware. Talk about a marketing tsunami!
Hugh has attributed the book's skyrocketing rankings on Amazon to the blogosphere's accolades. Pure speculation, I'd say. But I'll match him one in the cause-and-effect guessing game: the strength and vibrancy of the right-hand portion of the blogosphere can be attributed to Hugh's steadfast backing and generosity. Aside from the book's merit, it's fitting that we return the favor.
... and raise the bet: there may be a trickle-down effect to Calphalon from all this blog love: Amazon's "Customers who bought this item... Also bought these items..." feature suggested their 12 inch Everyday Pan. Perhaps Hugh ought to follow Glenn Reynolds' lead and start writing about cookware. Talk about a marketing tsunami!
Friday, July 16, 2004
DR. ATKINS: CLOSET MISOGYNIST
Carl Zimmer of Corante posts about recent confirmation of the factors that may lead to sex skewing:
Mothers eating a high-fat diet (which probably led to high levels of glucose) gave birth to litters with two sons for every daughter. Mothers eating high-carb diets produced about one son for every two daughters.(Via Gene Expression). Sounds like today's über-diet is going to cause a gal shortage in coming years.
TWISTED TITLE #33
This week's incorrect children's title:
Fill Your Hamster's Bottle With Espresso and Watch Him Run!To see last week's title, click here.
Thursday, July 15, 2004
OLD MEDIA INSECURITY
We're surprised nobody has yet spun a conspiracy theory out of Boston's decision to ban newspaper vending machines during the Democratic National Convention. (Via I Want Media). The marketing chief for Weekly Dig, a local free weekly, puts a brave face on things: "I might sucker some of my interns to hawk (papers)."
Conventioneers gotta get their news fix 24/7 and, in the absence of the cheat sheets, where better than blogs? Aha! Inescapable conclusion: the tipster that prompted the security crackdown must be Glenn Reynolds. (Well, it can't be the interns.)
Although Spitbull has access to all sorts of inside information we cracked this one all by ourselves. You're welcome.
Conventioneers gotta get their news fix 24/7 and, in the absence of the cheat sheets, where better than blogs? Aha! Inescapable conclusion: the tipster that prompted the security crackdown must be Glenn Reynolds. (Well, it can't be the interns.)
Although Spitbull has access to all sorts of inside information we cracked this one all by ourselves. You're welcome.
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
HYDE PARK: MECCA FOR BOOKSTORES AND RUST
Many University of Chicago students and alumni are also bloggers, as it turns out, and this week they're airing an old pet peeve: why you can buy anything in the world you want to in Hyde Park, as long as it's a book (joke courtesy of Jacob Levy). Will Baude thinks U of C'ers are too intellectual to create the demand necessary to support anything but book stores. Phoebe Maltz says they just want to appear intellectual and they'd buy a new miniskirt in a neighborhood store if they could. Jane Galt and Jacob Levy put an end to all this navel gazing: it's the rent-seeking dynamic, stupid (note to us plebians: this means "zoning").
Zoning or no zoning, the secondary effect of creating this bookstore-topia is that anyone who can possibly swing owning a car does so. There are lots of good bars, stores and restaurants a short car ride away.
The Warrior Monk and I are both alums. I drove an ancient Honda Civic that was so rusted that you could see the street whiz by through a little hole in the floor. In the winter the locks froze open and you had to be careful when taking a turn because the driver's side door had a tendency to swing open. The Warrior Monk's Buick Regal sported a back "window" consisting of cardboard secured by duct tape. The plastic on its steering wheel column was gone, but that's another story.
I have always been amazed at how zombie-like the cars appear on Chicago highways and streets. Now when I visit I'll think: I wonder if it's the zoning?
Zoning or no zoning, the secondary effect of creating this bookstore-topia is that anyone who can possibly swing owning a car does so. There are lots of good bars, stores and restaurants a short car ride away.
The Warrior Monk and I are both alums. I drove an ancient Honda Civic that was so rusted that you could see the street whiz by through a little hole in the floor. In the winter the locks froze open and you had to be careful when taking a turn because the driver's side door had a tendency to swing open. The Warrior Monk's Buick Regal sported a back "window" consisting of cardboard secured by duct tape. The plastic on its steering wheel column was gone, but that's another story.
I have always been amazed at how zombie-like the cars appear on Chicago highways and streets. Now when I visit I'll think: I wonder if it's the zoning?
Tuesday, July 13, 2004
BEANIE POWER
The kids are dizzy with delight because they've been asked to be flower girls. The seven year old, who has done this before, is holding flower girl classes for the three year old. They're using a basket full of beanie babies as a stand in for the petals.
The classes come complete with report cards, the first of which read "N" (the helpful key included translated this to, reasonably enough, "needs improvement").
What did she do wrong? I inquired.
Apparently, she has a tendency to fling the "petals" forward rather than dropping them daintily on the floor. She also throws like a boy and the seven year old, who has experienced the power of her curveball, is concerned the bride will be bruised.
Luckily (or unluckily) they have three and a half months to practice.
The classes come complete with report cards, the first of which read "N" (the helpful key included translated this to, reasonably enough, "needs improvement").
What did she do wrong? I inquired.
Apparently, she has a tendency to fling the "petals" forward rather than dropping them daintily on the floor. She also throws like a boy and the seven year old, who has experienced the power of her curveball, is concerned the bride will be bruised.
Luckily (or unluckily) they have three and a half months to practice.
Monday, July 12, 2004
DECONSTRUCTING MAGIC
An instructor from a French teachers training institute (doesn't that image give you the shudders) has read the tea leaves (a.k.a. the blockbuster Harry Potter series):
But fear not, Le Monde printed a rebuttal; instead Harry Potter can actually be read as a "ferocious critique of consumer society and the world of free enterprise." Harry is "the first hero of the anti-global Seattle generation."
It's good to know that denizens of the birthplace of Derrida still know how to brawl. The sniffs caused by the fact that many of Harry's enemies, including his arch-nemesis Voldemort, bear French monikers are especially enlightening.
(Credit: political theory daily review)
UPDATE: The New York Times runs a translation of the original diatribe. (Credit: An Inclination to Criticize)
Capitalism is now trying to shape, after its own taste, not only the real world, but the imaginary world of its consumer-citizens.The world of Harry Potter, he is reported to opine, "glorifies individualism, excessive competition and a cult of violence."
But fear not, Le Monde printed a rebuttal; instead Harry Potter can actually be read as a "ferocious critique of consumer society and the world of free enterprise." Harry is "the first hero of the anti-global Seattle generation."
It's good to know that denizens of the birthplace of Derrida still know how to brawl. The sniffs caused by the fact that many of Harry's enemies, including his arch-nemesis Voldemort, bear French monikers are especially enlightening.
(Credit: political theory daily review)
UPDATE: The New York Times runs a translation of the original diatribe. (Credit: An Inclination to Criticize)
THE GREAT MINNEBLOG GET-TOGETHER
The Northern Alliance is throwing a shindig - a non-political, ecumenical one - for bloggers in the area. Here's the official invite for those in Minnesota (or anywhere within driving distance of the Twin Cities):
Here's the deal: We'd like to meet at Keegan's Irish Pub in Northeast Minneapolis, on Saturday, July 24, at 5PM. We'd like to spend a few hours hanging out, meeting other bloggers, and just having some fun. Cash bar? The whole place IS a cash bar!Don't yet have a blog but want to come see what all the ruckus is about? Just visit Blogger.com and you'll be fitting into the guest criteria in no time.
By the way - this is not a "Northern Alliance" event, just a random social thing for bloggers.
Interested in being there? We'd love to get a headcount. Please drop us a line at party *at* northernallianceradio *dot* com. Tell us who you are and what blog you write, if any. We'll send the details right back.
Hope to see you all there! Oh - and spread the word among any other bloggers you know!
The Whole Northern Alliance
Saturday, July 10, 2004
HOAXES AND GUILT
This afternoon our more with-it Northern Alliance brethren will be interviewing hoaxmaster Odin Soli (now that name's got to be made up), the 35-year-old male creator and animator of the 20-something female and sexually adventurous blogmistress Plain Layne. Turns out Mitch Berg and Odin go way back. Tune in to am1280 the Patriot (Internet streaming should be coming soon) from noon to 3 pm today--maybe Mitch will reveal that he's the guy behind, say,Belle de Jour. Birds of a feather, you know.
Oh, yeah. They'll also be talking to a spokesperson from the BushCheney04 campaign and the West Virginia high school senior who gave the First Amendment an airing when he posted conservative signs around his school.
The Elder and Atomizer are out skating in the MS75 but they may call in, panting, in the third hour. Spitbull? Well, we finally feel a bit guilty for sitting on our asses so we bankrolled Atomizer. How much? Enough so we can blow off our NA obligations for months to come.
Oh, yeah. They'll also be talking to a spokesperson from the BushCheney04 campaign and the West Virginia high school senior who gave the First Amendment an airing when he posted conservative signs around his school.
The Elder and Atomizer are out skating in the MS75 but they may call in, panting, in the third hour. Spitbull? Well, we finally feel a bit guilty for sitting on our asses so we bankrolled Atomizer. How much? Enough so we can blow off our NA obligations for months to come.
Friday, July 09, 2004
BOBBLE HEAD ECONOMICS
George W., George H., Barbara and Laura Bush: $14.95
John Kerry, Howard Dean and Wesley Clark (there's no John Edwards doll) : $19.99
Arnold Schwarzenegger: $19.99
(this doll, though it presumably originally enjoyed the highed production run and resulting lower price of the Bush dynasty, is probably premium priced because The Governator recently sued to shut down the doll's production)
Hugh Hewitt: priceless
John Kerry, Howard Dean and Wesley Clark (there's no John Edwards doll) : $19.99
Arnold Schwarzenegger: $19.99
(this doll, though it presumably originally enjoyed the highed production run and resulting lower price of the Bush dynasty, is probably premium priced because The Governator recently sued to shut down the doll's production)
Hugh Hewitt: priceless
TWISTED TITLE #32
This week's incorrect children's title:
Getting Chosen Last in Gym Class Means You are Clumsy and Nobody Likes YouTo see last week's title, click here.
Wednesday, July 07, 2004
ACADEMIC TO TROLLS: BRING IT ON!
Spitbull doesn't have a comments feature because we're lazy (gotta find where they hid that screwy comments box and then check it to activate 'em) and fearful (at first no one came to our parties either ... until we wised up and stopped throwing parties). Comment bullying isn't really a factor. Plus, our hero Daniel Drezner thinks everyone is being a wuss about comment civility anyway:
UPDATE: The King does care. Looks like comment trolls may simply be academics honing their flame-throwing skills ...
Look, I'm an academic, and this stuff is nothing. I've attended seminars where the paper presenter ran out of the room because s/he was crying. I've presented papers that have been likened to poor undergratuate theses. I've had papers rejected by top journals because they were "narrow and without much theoretical interest." I've heard cruelties uttered that will be burned in people's psyches until the day they die. In other words, I'm used to a pretty high standard of criticism. Compared to that, a line like "Hey, Drezner, let's outsource your job, you f***ing a@#hole!" -- or letters like these -- just come off as histrionic nonsense.Care to comment, O King of the Ivory Tower?
UPDATE: The King does care. Looks like comment trolls may simply be academics honing their flame-throwing skills ...
Tuesday, July 06, 2004
BUT HE'S NO PINT PATRIOT
Finally, a guide to help us interpret the fevered rants and "barf-lies" of Frater Atomizer. (Via GeekPress)
You're going to need it if you visit the Minnesota State Fair this year and local radio station am 1280 The Patriot doesn't abandon its annual tradition of setting up a studio on the fairgrounds. Although he doesn't take to the air very often, we predict the heady combination of beer gardens and Northern Alliance Radio Network comaraderie will prove difficult for Atomizer to resist. Be prepared!
You're going to need it if you visit the Minnesota State Fair this year and local radio station am 1280 The Patriot doesn't abandon its annual tradition of setting up a studio on the fairgrounds. Although he doesn't take to the air very often, we predict the heady combination of beer gardens and Northern Alliance Radio Network comaraderie will prove difficult for Atomizer to resist. Be prepared!
Monday, July 05, 2004
THE SECRET OF A HAPPY LIFE
Especially for those of us who have small children: cocktail hour.
Sunday, July 04, 2004
THIS IS HOW TO CELEBRATE THE 4TH, MITCH
As the 7 year old explains primly: "it's the birthday party for the United States of America." She's hard at work putting together a party with the neighborhood kids right now. They've all ransacked the house for anything festive in red white and blue and come up with an armload of ribbons, paper and, inexplicably, one My Little Pony plastic tablecloth.
Tonight the Warrior Monk has promised to set off fireworks while everyone watches and applauds wildly from the deck. I grew up in a Fireworks Verboten state so I am amazed and thrilled by store-bought fireworks and expect to exclaim over and over again: "how can these be legal?!"
I had a birthday recently too. I am not that old yet but figure I need to practice the aged art of repeating myself and annoying my children.
Tonight the Warrior Monk has promised to set off fireworks while everyone watches and applauds wildly from the deck. I grew up in a Fireworks Verboten state so I am amazed and thrilled by store-bought fireworks and expect to exclaim over and over again: "how can these be legal?!"
I had a birthday recently too. I am not that old yet but figure I need to practice the aged art of repeating myself and annoying my children.
Friday, July 02, 2004
TWISTED TITLE #31
This week's incorrect children's title:
Kids Who Don't Wear Brand Names Are Stinky and StupidTo see last week's title, click here.
Thursday, July 01, 2004
I FAVOR BRIGHT COLORS MYSELF: BLUE NAILPOLISH AND ORANGE DRESSES
I watched some of the Saddam being charged video feed this morning on CNN. Christiane Amanpour talked about how diminished he seems: thinner, and instead of wearing army fatigues, he wore a mismatched grey suitcoat and brown pants!. I still find him kind of frightening. Either I'm a poor judge of men's fashions or a rank coward. No, I don't really need your opinion of which one.
