Friday, March 20, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
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.
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.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
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, March 16, 2009
"The case against breast-feeding"
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
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.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
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?
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."
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Stop the Prison Rape Jokes
One of the saddest aspects of our popular culture is the ubiquity of the prison rape jokes. The reference to prison rape for comedic effect operates as a blight on several standup comedic acts, songs, sitcoms, and a range of "harmless," fun movies including Mallrats and Office Space.
As all theory heads know, the ubiquity internalizes, normalizes prison rape, when reason dictates it would be no more common to joke about this than it would to joke about any other kind of rape. It is after all rape.
Which brings us to this little piece by Doug Giles, one of Townhall's resident "Tough Guy Conservatives." You know the type he styles himself to be: he's a man's man, he hunts and kicks butt and takes names and he doesn't truck with them there elitist intellectuals. No sirree.
Anyway. The column is about what a bad guy Chris Brown is and by extension how bad the "hip-hop culture" is and by extension how much better conservatives are than liberals since after all, chances are very low that the makers and purveyors of "gangster rap videos" vote Republican.
But here's the snippet on prison rape. Harrogate read this and realized that during the existence of this glorious blog, he has never yet used it to express his disbelief that the culture is still okay with speaking of prison rape cavalierly.
Affect-Loaded Snippet:
This has nothing to do with "political correctness," though a professional neanderthal like Giles would probably try to put it in that category. Just a simple reminder for those who needed it, rape isn't funny. That's all.
As all theory heads know, the ubiquity internalizes, normalizes prison rape, when reason dictates it would be no more common to joke about this than it would to joke about any other kind of rape. It is after all rape.
Which brings us to this little piece by Doug Giles, one of Townhall's resident "Tough Guy Conservatives." You know the type he styles himself to be: he's a man's man, he hunts and kicks butt and takes names and he doesn't truck with them there elitist intellectuals. No sirree.
Anyway. The column is about what a bad guy Chris Brown is and by extension how bad the "hip-hop culture" is and by extension how much better conservatives are than liberals since after all, chances are very low that the makers and purveyors of "gangster rap videos" vote Republican.
But here's the snippet on prison rape. Harrogate read this and realized that during the existence of this glorious blog, he has never yet used it to express his disbelief that the culture is still okay with speaking of prison rape cavalierly.
Affect-Loaded Snippet:
Where I hail from (the great nation of Texas) men don’t do that to women, but the guys dumb enough to usually get the stuffing beat out of them by the girl’s dad or brothers—or both. After that near-death butt kickin’ administered to the girl-abusing loser by chivalrous men who love the women in their lives, the wussy would then proceed on to prison where he’d become the abused girlfriend of several randy inmates. It’s called jailhouse justice. And I like it.
This has nothing to do with "political correctness," though a professional neanderthal like Giles would probably try to put it in that category. Just a simple reminder for those who needed it, rape isn't funny. That's all.
Bombers
So as times get worse economically, let the fear tactics begin again: kids with guns in college and nuclear bombers in Cuba and Venezuela??? WTF???
Did Russia not learn that spending ridiculous amounts of money of weaponry of fear, invading countries to institute your regime, and etc. in an effort to spread your ideology globally gets you no where and broke???
Hmmm, sound familiar?
Did Russia not learn that spending ridiculous amounts of money of weaponry of fear, invading countries to institute your regime, and etc. in an effort to spread your ideology globally gets you no where and broke???
Hmmm, sound familiar?
Friday, March 13, 2009
Assy McGee Award® for 3/13/09: Paul Edwards
The piece is entitled "How I'm Praying for the President."
Just. Wow.
Representative Spewage:
Based on the policy positions alone, there is solid evidence that Barack Obama has made himself an enemy of God and the enemy of God’s people.
Update: Rhianna and Chris Brown...
...did not record a duet together. Whew. Now I can stop worrying about the personal drama being experienced by people that I don't know.
And they think grade inflation is bad *now*...
Republican senator Jeff Wentworth (San Antonio, TX) has introduced a bill to the Texas Legislature that would permit people to carry concealed weapons on college campuses. His reasoning is as follows:
As a college instructor, I find this bill to be quite terrifying. I would feel very uncomfortable knowing that my students may be armed--I wonder if the schools would issue bullet proof vests to the faculty and staff? And what about the intimidation factor? Some students are a little frightening in their responses to a bad grade *without* weapons.
Plus, the idea that we'll be "safer" if everyone armed and able to properly defend themselves from mentally unstable attackers makes no sense to me. Sounds like a lot of freaked out people running around campus with guns to me.
"I don't want to wake up and read in the paper that Texas students were mowed down like sitting ducks on campus because they weren't allowed to defend themselves," said Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, who is filing the "campus carry" bill this week. "It's a matter of personal safety and self defense." (from the Dallas News 2/24/09)
As a college instructor, I find this bill to be quite terrifying. I would feel very uncomfortable knowing that my students may be armed--I wonder if the schools would issue bullet proof vests to the faculty and staff? And what about the intimidation factor? Some students are a little frightening in their responses to a bad grade *without* weapons.
Plus, the idea that we'll be "safer" if everyone armed and able to properly defend themselves from mentally unstable attackers makes no sense to me. Sounds like a lot of freaked out people running around campus with guns to me.
Late, Late Thursday Musical Tribute
Harrogate has always liked this song.
To borrow the language of metaphor, it is almost as though the song were a magnet, and Harrogate steel.
To borrow the language of metaphor, it is almost as though the song were a magnet, and Harrogate steel.
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