61 Things on Toby the Cat

Friday Musical Tribute

Just because I like it.

March Madness; or, ". . . The Hunt is Canned!!!"

Well, it is upon us. The time designed to maximize heartbreak and bad fortune in the shortest possible period of time.

Ought to be an excellent opening weekend. And here, yet again, is that beautiful song by Megadeath. That song that is soooo, as it were, apropos. And ahh, that opening bass.

Enjoy. And Go Tar Heels!!!!!

Presidential Bracketology

Watching Obama engage the brackets is fun for many of us, of course--which is likely why ESPN provides this as an embedded link.

But actually it makes a lot of sense that Obama would make moves like this to augment the Rhetorical Situation popularly known as March Madness. Not only does it reinforce his already stratospheric credentials with the younger generations, but more importantly, in this economy it would certainly not do to sneeze at a cross-continental multi-million dollar spectacle, replete with cash infusions into the travel and service industries by wealthy boosters and frenzied alumni alike, an upsurge of television advertising funds, too, and perhaps consequently, a spike in retail consumerism, etc.

And it is worth mentioning that the Final Four this year will take place in..... Detroit, a city that, ahem, can use all the help it can get, right now.

And then there's the psychological excitement of the thing--wise, perhaps, to inject Bracketology into a Public Discourse overly dominated by doom and gloom.

A True Innovator

Muktar Mai scores another one for Pakistani women. I am in utter awe of her courage, determination, and general bad-ass-ness.

Proving Once Again that Obama Is Good For Gay Rights {And a Label Harrogate Could Not Resist}

From the AP:

The Associated Press has learned that the Obama administration will sign a U.N. declaration calling for the worldwide decriminalization of homosexuality that President George W. Bush had refused to endorse.

U.S. officials said Tuesday they had notified the French sponsors of the declaration that the administration wants to be added as a supporter of the declaration. The Bush administration was criticized in December when it was the only Western government that refused to sign.

The officials said the administration had decided to sign the declaration to demonstrate that the United States supports human rights for all around the world.

Music for a Tuesday

Just like the cover of Macy here. Makes me want to get a good recording to run through B&Ws.

Monday Musical Tribute

Sit back, sip the coffee for a few minutes, and reflect on Beauty.

"The case against breast-feeding"

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The article, "The Case Against Breast-feeding," by Hanna Rosin (from this month's The Atlantic), has been discussed elsewhere various members of TRS. I found this interview with Dr. Nancy Snyderman and Hanna Rosin, which was on this morning's Today Show, really interesting. For the record, I like Snyderman a lot. Each time I see an interview with her, I think she gives really practical advice, especially about medical issues associated with kids, often saying things like "Here is what I'd say to do as a doctor, and here is what I have done as a parent." I like that she recognizes that there is often a disconnect b/w the medical science and parenting.

As for Rosin's argument that breast-feeding may not always be the best choice for mothers, I agree. I find her argument that few people consider the time commitment associated with breast-feeding really compelling. I devoted a lot of time to breast-feeding Wild Man, especially in the first year of his life. It became less time consuming the older he got, and I'm glad I was in a position to breast feed exclusively. Not all mothers are, and not all mothers want to. And rather than continue the debate (which I find to be remarkably like the working mom vs. the stay-at-home mom debate), we should accept that this is a highly personal decision.

Oh, and for the record, I also agree with Rosin that the scientific evidence touting the medical benefits of breast-feeding isn't particularly compeling. For more on this, read articles by Joan Wolf, including this one.

Cheney To The Rescue

If you just look at it in terms of what has actually happened, it is quite amazing that he just comes out and does John King's show on CNN, and King treats him with all this respect and everyone acts like its normal, a Vice President with a vast store of experience and a perspective to give.

As opposed, say, to a corporate mouthpiece with blood on his hands.

But anywho. Check out this little framejob by Powerline, a Rightist web site that consistently shilled for President Bush throughout.

The money line:

The contrast between Cheney's lucidity and the babbling brook who now serves as Vice President is painful.

Geez. Harrogate's not a big Biden fan, but that statement right there, that's just embarrassing writing Powerline. Even for you guys, this is caricature.

Oxy?

Before we handle the annual APB for Harrogate, we must address this question, which deserves to be taken seriously:

Oxy? Where are you?

Newswriting & Public Humiliation: How Many Different Ways Can One Guy Get Messed Up Anyway?

After a string of highly serious posts (perhaps most emblemized by Harrogate's Walter Egan tribute) it is time perhaps for some fun, if slightly mean-spirited, celebrity gossip.

The first two words of the headline, "Madonna wins in custody row with Guy", are the most important words in this story.

In that context you gotta love the last sentence in the story. Hmmm. Which reminds Harrogate, A-ROD nowhere to be found in the sublime world of Madge these days. Maybe she discovered that the rumors about steroids "side effects" are not only true, but also not really what one would call a "side effect."