Until, as has been said before, the possible, if not inevitable, betrayal – because clearly TNC is around. Per the yoozh, I have no idea what’s going on.
In the meantime, it’s yours….
Standard FYI clause: My rule of thumb is that I wait for 2 hours after Ta-Nehisi would usually open a thread (roughly noon, EST), and if none is forthcoming, I put one up here.
Emily L. Hauser - In My Head 
Bill Harshaw
/ May 1, 2012Anyone seen the Politico post on the Return of the West Wing (video–PSA)?
Bill Harshaw
/ May 1, 2012Whoops: url is http://www.politico.com/blogs/click/2012/05/west-wing-cast-reunites-for-psa-122144.html
aaron singer
/ May 1, 2012Alas, that walk-and-talk was not in one shot.
Lizzou
/ May 1, 2012Really enjoying MAD MEN this season, although I miss Betty…
One thing. I’m really surprised (because the level of attention to detail is usually incredible) that they’re overlooking the fact that Megan and her parents are speaking a “France French” – they do not in any way sound like people from Montreal!!!
I guess they’re assuming they don’t have much of a Francophone audience 😉
anibundel
/ May 1, 2012I admit to not knowing the difference, but I did wonder about that.
Betty’s off losing the baby weight. I assume, she’ll reappear now that we’re rounding down to the latter half of the season.
Lizzou
/ May 1, 2012I hope so!!
JHarper2
/ May 1, 2012But Megan the actress is from Quebec I believe.
Lizzou
/ May 1, 2012She is, which is another reason I was so surprised at her non-Quebecois accent. And the actors playing her parents are French.
Bookwoman
/ May 1, 2012The father is, but the mother is played by Julia Ormond, who’s English, no?
Lizzou
/ May 1, 2012Oh, I didn’t know she was British! Well, regardless, the parents don’t have a Quebecois accent. Maybe the backstory is that they immigrated to Canada lol
Lizzou
/ May 1, 2012d’oh! French husband just informed me that Megan does have a weetle accent (which makes sense, because she is from Montreal) but the parents definitely do not. This is a bone of contention in our house when I make him watch Mad Men with me… plus, he lived in Quebec longer than I did.
aaron singer
/ May 1, 2012While watching that I looked up Ormond’s bio, apparently she grew up attend quite ‘posh’ schools in England–I wonder if she learned French there.
David L
/ May 1, 2012Why, this went up at almost 2:20. That is unacceptably late, young lady! I was waiting my lunch on this!
(Actually, not really, I’m delaying lunch only about 30 minutes later than normal and mostly because I want to finish the one thing I have to do today before I decide whether I want to go home and sleep. I’ve had two nights in a row with nowhere near enough and I’m barely functional.)
Craig (@FuriousGiorge)
/ May 1, 2012Go away, ‘batin.
Kate Cox (@KCoxDC)
/ May 1, 2012I didn’t mean to run into the OTAN yesterday and then vanish, heh. When I had time to come back it was locked, and when it was unlocked I was out of time to come back.
So the answer to the TAR question Craig posed is: well, at this point there’s no-one left I’d pair blonde Rachel with either, although it’s possible that if the two Rachels swapped partners one team might at least be halfway bearable. Although even captain dickface doesn’t deserve green Rachel.
(And I think that in 40 years, green Rachel is going to have become just like my mother-in-law.)
Craig (@FuriousGiorge)
/ May 1, 2012I have some degree of affection for Big Brother Rachel and it is entirely because she has red hair and big boobs there I said it.
David L
/ May 1, 2012I have some degree of affection for Brendan, but that’s almost entirely because he’s a well-muscled latino guy.
Perhaps we could work out a deal.
Craig (@FuriousGiorge)
/ May 1, 2012Baby, you are on.
(Immediately regrets deal after spending 10 minutes with Big Brother Rachel, who cries 3 times during that period.)
taylor16
/ May 1, 2012I have some degree of affection for Big Brother Rachel because that piece of sh*t Vanessa will not stop snarking about her weight and how “old” she is and I DO NOT LIKE THAT MEAN GIRL BULLSH*T YOU SHUT THE F*CK UP AND GROW UP AND LEAVE HER ALONE.
And then Rachel melts down and I roll my eyes and want to throw things at the TV. But god, no matter what, I have no tolerance for that Mean Girl shite.
Craig (@FuriousGiorge)
/ May 1, 2012It’s amazing how quickly people can piss away good will. When Big Brother were taking abuse for being selfish dickheads in that airport line a few episodes, it was totally deserved. And then Vanessa had to blow it by telling her to get her nose done before she gets her boobs done next time. No one ever seizes the high road on reality shows, even high-end ones like TAR.
efgoldman
/ May 1, 2012No one ever seizes the high road on reality shows, even high-end ones like TAR.
“High end reality show: a perfect oxymoron. Or maybe just a fantasy.
Craig (@FuriousGiorge)
/ May 1, 2012I’m sorry my generation’s TV doesn’t please you, dad.
efgoldman
/ May 1, 2012If you were my kid, I’d lock you in a chair and prop your eyelids open, Clockwork Orange style, and force you to watch black and white TV for 72 straight hours…
Naah. I just can’t stand reality shows, or talent shows, as a concept. OTH, I’m a sucker for most cop or detective shows, going back to the 50s and 60s, including the classic Hawaii Five-O; but not the new one, EVER.
efgoldman
/ May 1, 2012For some reason ,the last two rows of text disappeared below the comment box. Thus, EDIT, PLEASE!
emilylhauser
/ May 1, 2012Fixt!
efgoldman
/ May 1, 2012thx. you’re wonderful.
emilylhauser
/ May 1, 2012xoxo!
Kate Cox (@KCoxDC)
/ May 1, 2012But TAR is “Around the World in 80 days,” only it’s 24 days or fewer and also only three teams actually get to make it all the way around. Planes! Trains! Automobiles! Elephants!
efgoldman
/ May 1, 2012Phileas Fogg never wore a thong and halter top.
emilylhauser
/ May 1, 2012I saw this comment first in complete isolation on my dashboard, and it was a thing of great beauty.
JHarper2
/ May 1, 2012Tonight on BBC America
The Real Game of Thrones
starring The former King of Greece, The former King of Yugoslavia, Prince Michael of Rumania, The Count of Paris all competing for the title of next ruler of a small European territory.
efgoldman
/ May 1, 2012Tonight on BBC America
The Real Game of Thrones
Starring Joe the Plumber, Mr. Rooter….
JHarper2
/ May 1, 2012Win!
caoil
/ May 1, 2012Or maybe throw a wrench in there and make it…The Real Hunger Game of Thrones? Only one will be crowned!
aaron singer
/ May 1, 2012Hopefully the small European territory will be the Duchy of Grand Fenwick.
efgoldman
/ May 1, 2012I LOVE Grand Fenwick references. I saw the movie when it was new. In Boston, it played at an art house in Kenmore Square, that was torn down for the Mass Turnpike.
aaron singer
/ May 1, 2012I have only seen the movie, I have not read any of the books. But Peter Sellers was great, as he usually was.
JHarper2
/ May 1, 2012I so wish I had remembered Grand Fenwick when I was try to come up with a name for the principality.
Bookwoman
/ May 1, 2012Soldiers turn their uniforms into art, but not how you might guess. They make them into paper! This is a great video that was on the PBS Newshour last night: http://video.pbs.org/video/2228985233
helensprogeny
/ May 1, 2012I loved this when I saw it last night. What a great idea, and apparently very useful for those who participate. Art – helps you dominate the impossible in your life.
anibundel
/ May 1, 2012The Civil wars today for T4T. Also the new Dark Knight trailer (and craig’s thoughts therein) and The Voice recap.
http://anibundel.wordpress.com/
taylor16
/ May 1, 2012I totally spaced on the Voice last night, but still went and read your recap. Old habits die hard. And now when I watch it online, I will know what to speed through. So thanks! 🙂
anibundel
/ May 1, 2012I just ran the iTunes numbers for tonight’s recap. Juliet is peaking at Number **4**.
taylor16
/ May 1, 2012Wow, really? That’s … apparently you weren’t lying that she was awesome last night. I can’t wait to check it out. Also, I was so relieved that Jamar did well after he broke everyone’s eardrums last week…I know he’s the one we’re all supposed to like with his backstory and whatnot … but the dude can sing!
caoil
/ May 1, 2012I do not like this aging thing. Again today my brain has thwarted me in my attempts to recall a particular piece of vocabulary. Whatever this filing system is up in my skull, it’s crap.
Also: I would like it if someone would pay me to stay home and read books all day. Any option of that being arranged, sooner rather than later? I’m happy to give up my current job to anyone! Please?!
Bookwoman
/ May 1, 2012Again today my brain has thwarted me in my attempts to recall a particular piece of vocabulary.
Welcome to the club, honey. Not to mention the ever-amusing “I’m upstairs; why did I come up here?” and “I already told you that? Three times? Who knew?”
caoil
/ May 1, 2012I don’t mind the slight forgetfulness about walking into a new room (yet), it’s the not being able to retrieve words in a timely fashion that is driving me around the bend.
David L
/ May 1, 2012My issue has been not so much that I forget words but that I pick out something that’s close but no cigar. Last night, I almost said something about people “exhuming each other’s virtues” instead of extolling them.
JHarper2
/ May 1, 2012The Evil that men do lives after them
The good is oft interred with their bones
Jordan Devereaux
/ May 1, 2012I think that’s just a property of stairs. Got me into a lot of trouble when I used to live in a townhouse-style apartment.
anibundel
/ May 1, 2012Can someone pay me to stay at home and sit near my beloved kitties all day?
caoil
/ May 1, 2012Right! Revision: Universe, can you please rearrange things so that both ani and I can stay at (our respective) home(s) and still be financially okay?
anibundel
/ May 1, 2012I’ll be happy to blog while I’m nearby the kitties!
JHarper2
/ May 1, 2012I want you to blog with kitties and I want Petefrombaltimore to be able to read and post amazing things from home with his new kitty.
I know that PfB can’t afford kitties right now, but if ever there was a humane and wise man that cats would adore living with……
caoil
/ May 1, 2012Blogging about kitties!
efgoldman
/ May 1, 2012Can someone pay me to stay at home and sit near my beloved kitties all day?
Be careful what you wish for. It got awfully old for me, the last few months. I don’t have cats (or dogs, which at least could fetch my slippers) but I had an actual verbal person who has opposable thumbs.
David L
/ May 1, 2012Same here. I was able to work from home after my knee surgery in December, but I was still bored out of my mind, especially the couple of weeks when it was enough of a hassle to go from sitting/lying to standing that I tried not to get up more than once every few hours.
anibundel
/ May 1, 2012Ewww, verbal people with opposable thumbs. They have opinions and things.
No thanks. I’ll take a gentle purrhuffing sidekick bedded down nearby, please and thanks. They don’t require conversation.
efgoldman
/ May 1, 2012Rob doesn’t have opposable thumbs? Or is he not verbal? Your adoring public needs to know.
anibundel
/ May 1, 2012Rob goes out to work–sometimes for 12-20 hour stretches.
Kate Cox (@KCoxDC)
/ May 1, 2012The damn cat does not understand, “I am working on a feature” or “seriously, stop eating my press kit” or “no, I feed you after 5:00 and right now it’s 12:30.”
On the other hand, Ninja Gaiden 3 really was so bad that I don’t mind that he kicked it under the TV stand never-to-be-retrieved, so there’s that. And sometimes he sleeps on my desk, purring.
anibundel
/ May 1, 2012FatOne would totally try and eat a press kit. Trouble would merely lick the cardboard outside.
caoil
/ May 1, 2012Oh, this made me giggle.
Masumi would fight both of them for the right to ‘gargoyle’ on the cardboard, hide her tiger toy on it, and then lick the box into oblivion.
anibundel
/ May 1, 2012Marshmallow gargoyles on things. FatOne is too lazy. He catloafs.
chingona
/ May 1, 2012My dad always says, “Getting old ain’t for wimps.”
efgoldman
/ May 1, 2012Original: Bette Davis “Gettin’ old ain’t for sissies” on Carson’s show, decades ago.
Yes, I remember. Yes, I’m old.
chingona
/ May 1, 2012Who’s Bette Davis?
…
I kid, I kid. Thanks for the citation.
helensprogeny
/ May 1, 2012Whenever I complain about the joys of aging, my partner, who is 7 years older than I, just looks at me with a rather sad smile and says: It only gets worse.
efgoldman
/ May 1, 2012I do not like this aging thing. Again today my brain has thwarted me in my attempts to recall a particular piece of vocabulary. Whatever this filing system is up in my skull, it’s crap.
I keep telling myself its MUCH better than the alternative.
And it is.
caoil
/ May 1, 2012I have taken my (puny) revenge on this degenerating pile of carbon by having a Blizzard for lunch. Confetti cake is the flavour of the month, people!
efgoldman
/ May 1, 2012There’s a new Five Guys just up the road.Requires a drive – good thing. About every 4-6 weeks does it. I have learned to order the “junior” (single patty) burger. Maybe they should also call it the “Senior” or the “Forgetful” or something.
aaron singer
/ May 1, 2012My favorite flavor growing up was Mud Pie: fudge pieces, coffee flavoring, and oreos.
efgoldman
/ May 1, 2012Brigham’s Peppermint Stick.
Still available from time to time in Stop & Shop.
Also in the store still in Belmont, MA, as a Hordester told me last time this came up. Sorry, don’t remember who. Baiskeli, maybe?
JHarper2
/ May 1, 2012Yesterday I did my part in paying for civilization. On the last possible day (in Canada) before penalties kicked in I filed and paid my taxes.
Fortunately in Canada (outside Quebec) you only have to file once. Provincial tax is a percentage of Federal tax with a few tweaks, so the feds collect withholding for both levels and do the collection and then remit to the provinces their percentage. A sensible and money saving form of federalism that mitigates the effort and pain in filing tax returns.
Also I ticked the box that allows Revenue Canada to send my information to Elections Canada to keep me registered as a voter for the next year.
I have such an aura of civic and patriotic pride today.
anibundel
/ May 1, 2012I am currently sitting on my boss forcing him to finish our property tax returns. They’re due in two hours.
aaron singer
/ May 1, 2012I read this post and contrast it with your southern neighbors. Quite the difference…
But I guess today I’ll often think of an ‘other.’
stephen matlock
/ May 1, 2012I feel somewhat similar, having paid my taxes on April 16th (a day early!) and finally paying my fines for overdue books at the library ($0.20, but it’s nagged at me).
caoil
/ May 1, 2012I was so proud of myself the first time I filed my taxes after leaving home. It felt like a great accomplishment! Still, to this day, I can never figure out why people freak out over it, as though it’s a colossal task. Unless you have lots of convoluted sources of income or investments or capital gains, it takes no more than half an hour to an hour to do?
Kate Cox (@KCoxDC)
/ May 1, 2012I know a significant number of freelancers and with their combined expenses / invoices, the compiling of taxes is a weekend-long pain-in-the-ass chore.
(For us, our 2011 taxes were easy-peasy 30 minutes in TurboTax. Next January will be much more challenging, though.)
caoil
/ May 1, 2012Oh, that I can believe! I can also believe it’s more onerous for our American cousins (based only on what I’ve seen on tv, of course). But here, as JH says, it’s so straightforward – one double-sided page to figure out your federal tax, same for provincial tax, a single sheet to note the RRSPs you contributed to, and so on. I should have said that I can never figure out why my fellow Canucks are in a panic! Especially those who, like me, have one job, maybe some student loans they’re paying back, or RRSP contributions. Your handful of slips, a good calculator, and you’re good to go! Or you get lazy like me and do it via an online service, then it’s 15 minutes tops.
Darth Thulhu
/ May 1, 2012Dropping this off quickly on a break:
For Paul Wartenberg:
I came to the Open Thread much too late last night to contribute, but you have my condolences on the employment challenge. Sorry it persists, and do not blame yourself that public library funding has plummeted through the floor.
In regard to the possibility of getting your depression diagnosed as a disability sufficient for SSD … I can only offer my own family’s experience, which is: For the Love of All That is Holy, Do Not Do It.
The program has swallowed my younger brother’s life whole. It is the roach motel of welfare programs: once you are in, every imaginable perverse incentive argues against you ever getting out. Your health care, income, and every aspect of personal well-being will be dependent on never being employable for a long-term job again, because that is what it will require to keep the checks coming. My brother has lost an entire decade of his life, and is only now beginning to crawl around to pursuing some education now that our younger sister is getting married and moving elsewhere with her life.
Again: Do Not Do It Unless Starvation is the Alternative. It will wreck your life.
As for advice on getting a job …
Convenience stores are always hiring. There is a reason for this: they generally exploit their workers and offer grueling days for small paychecks, so staff churn is somewhere north of 100% per annum. But still: always hiring. Wal-Mart and Burger Barn and their ilk likewise, for the same reason.
You will want to have a deflection for the inevitable question about what you’ve been doing for the past two years, but the manager really won’t care about losing you in a year if you get a better job … they kind of expect that. Don’t talk about being unemployed for two years, talk about what you have actually done: the only skills your manager cares about are work ethic and responsibility.
If you wish to pursue such an employment path for a time, look like a go-getter at the interview. Talk about losing your job and then selling your fiction writing and becoming an Internet salesman, which you will continue to be doing while employed. Say you need some extra money to pay the bills, and can work flexibly (AKA have close to 24-7 availability) because your other jobs can be done at any time and you don’t have people to take care of (they cannot ask about this latter detail, but you are free to volunteer it).
You should be able to acquire such a job, though not necessarily a gold-plated version like a Trader Joe’s or a Five Guys or a CostCo – those are cutthroat competition to get in. Regardless, the job will be stressful and frantic and exhausting, but if you pick a store with a good manager (really take a long look at the store and a good listen to the crew), it will be rewarding despite that, and despite the low pay.
Best of luck in your hunt, sir.
chingona
/ May 1, 2012My sister-in-law had triplets at 29 weeks back in February. The last one came home from the hospital yesterday. I can’t go see them yet because I have a cold (I saw all of them in the NICU early on, and I’ve seen the other two at home, but not this last one). It was a really long haul. There’s a lot that goes on in that last trimester to get babies ready to be on the outside. And they’re not totally out of the woods yet. They won’t know for sure what all the long-term implications are for a bit. But still … it’s just absolutely amazing what they can do. When they were born, they couldn’t breath on their own, couldn’t suckle, couldn’t open their eyes, couldn’t maintain their body temperature. Each one was about a pound and a half. And now … they’re little babies. It’s a goddam miracle.
helensprogeny
/ May 1, 2012Just – “LIKED”!! Also, congratulations to all!
snailspace
/ May 1, 2012My cousin was not quite that small when he was born in 1983, but he was just about at the earliest time and smallest weight they could keep alive in the NICU then. Months and years of worries about future mental and physical development, motor skills, ability to live not on a ventilator, etc.
He got married on Saturday. All smart, funny, athletic 6’4″ of him.
chingona
/ May 1, 2012Congratulations! That’s wonderful.
emilylhauser
/ May 1, 2012Why oh why does this blog not have a like button. I ask you.
JHarper2
/ May 1, 2012You should talk to the Blog owner.
emilylhauser
/ May 1, 2012You know, I thought she and I were friends but lately she’s been avoiding me.
taylor16
/ May 1, 2012Oh, that’s great news! Congrats to your SIL and tiny high-fives to those tough little babies!!
carlos the dwarf
/ May 1, 2012Amazing. Congratulations! May all three grow up to have long, happy, healthy lives!
JHarper2
/ May 1, 2012May they grow strong and kind and healthy.
SWNC
/ May 1, 2012Congratulations, auntie! Babies are tough little critters. May these little ones continue to thrive!
emilylhauser
/ May 1, 2012Yay for happy news!
aaron singer
/ May 1, 2012Reading the TNC post on Passing Strange this afternoon and my mind thought of Us Vs Them (over and over again):
dmf
/ May 1, 2012emilylhauser
/ May 1, 2012I ❤ the Brand New Heavies so much!
carlos the dwarf
/ May 1, 2012Nine more work days. Nine more work days. I just keep telling myself this. Then I have a weekend to pack, and I’m out of here.
emilylhauser
/ May 1, 2012To where?
carlosthedwarf
/ May 1, 2012Moving. To DC. For the foreseeable future, unless I fail too hard at getting a job.
JHarper2
/ May 1, 2012Don’t forget to transfer your branch membership to the DC Horde.
efgoldman
/ May 1, 2012corgingiron
caoil
JHarper2
(and anyone else I’ve missed in the Canadian Horde)
Last week, a much beloved and respected police sergeant in Providence was killed on duty (cruiser collided with electric pole. The pole usually wins).
The funeral was over the weekend. As usual, there were cops from all over the map. Because this is a small TV market, it was the lead story on all the local TV news.
Also as usual, the pallbearers were police officers. One of them was a Mountie, in full dress red tunic and ranger hat. It was impressive as hell, that one (or more) came all the way to Providence, and that he was chosen. Also looked impressive as hell amid the sea of shades of blue.
JHarper2
/ May 1, 2012My condolences on the loss to your community of a respected and liked police member. When the police are members of the community and known and liked it makes a huge difference.
A story about a mountie who was a member of a community. This mountie had as part of his patrol area a First Nations reserve and he realized he was arresting a lot of young reserve members for driving without a license. He found out that it was because they had no place to learn to drive or to be properly taught so they could take the exam (the reserve school did not have the resources for drivers ed).
He got himself trained and certified as a driving instructor and convinced the young people to take lessons. He charged a minimal fee so that it wasn’t a handout. He also believed they would pay more attention and take greater interest if it wasn’t a freebee. After that there were fewer accidental deaths and injuries in the area.
I wish I could remember his name. He did a lot of good.
caoil
/ May 1, 2012You would think, with all the RCMP’s troubles lately, that they’d be taking these good stories & getting some publicity with them…
corkingiron
/ May 1, 2012Yes – those red serge suits are impressive. I think that’s a Sam Browne belt that they wear, but I could be wrong. Here in BC there is no Provincial Police Force (I think this is also true for most provinces except Ontario and Quebec) so the RCMP is the local law enforcement – the usual blue uniforms, but their vehicles have the red serge guy on horseback. And I’m glad that the Police Forces take time – and budget – to honor their own.
emilylhauser
/ May 1, 2012Lovely, fascinating, and so on.
What’s a BB??
corkingiron
/ May 1, 2012Must you continue to stalk and taunt me just because I’m a Canadian? It should have been FB – as in Facebook – but I’m wearing a big-ass bandage on my typing finger due to an unfortunate knife fight between my left and right hand…
efgoldman
/ May 1, 2012Was alcohol involved?
corkingiron
/ May 1, 2012Sadly, no. Just aging eyes and a stubborn pride that said “I don’t need glasses to carve a fnckin chicken!”
corkingiron
/ May 1, 2012Sadly, no. Just 62 year old eyes and a stubborn pride that said “I don’t need glasses to carve a fnckin’ chicken!”
efgoldman
/ May 1, 2012Carving is one of several things I never learned to do in my 67 years. I’m not upset about it. mrs efgoldman learned the skill from her father, and is damned good at it.
emilylhauser
/ May 1, 2012Honest to God, mate, I thought it was a thing! Hand to God!
Terribly sorry, I did not mean to mock. And now that I know the reason, I’m every sorrier. Tell your hands to cut it out. But not literally.
corkingiron
/ May 2, 2012No apologies needed ee. I was just tweakin ya! And the hands – well, they’ll get back on civil terms eventually.
emilylhauser
/ May 2, 2012Phew!
dmf
/ May 1, 2012who knew it was “loyalty” day, who knew there even was such a thing? not moi
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/05/01/presidential-proclamation-loyalty-day-2012
efgoldman
/ May 1, 2012who knew it was “loyalty” day…
I’ll bet it was some bright bulb’s idea as a counter to May 1 being the Soviet National Day.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCFibtD3H_k (sorry about the ad)
dmf
/ May 1, 2012I would imagine, and it apparently bumped “child health day” some things never change
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=11135#axzz1tceyTWWo
chingona
/ May 1, 2012My internet pet peeve of the day: When you disagree with someone, and they respond with, “I’m entitled to my opinion!” Of course you are! And I’m entitled to mine. Which is different than yours.
efgoldman
/ May 1, 2012“I’m entitled to my opinion!” Of course you are! And I’m entitled to mine. Which is different than yours.
Or the other riposte, I don’t remember from whom, during the reign of Shrub the First: “Yes, but you’re not entitled to your own facts.”
chingona
/ May 1, 2012Indeed, but in this case, it really is a difference of opinion. I just don’t like the assumption that I’m somehow shutting down the other person by disagreeing. Just … make your case!
Bookwoman
/ May 1, 2012I’m not sure of the context with GWB, but the original quote is usually attributed to Daniel Patrick Moynihan: “Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.”
David L
/ May 1, 2012Mitt Romney’s campaign hired Richard Grenell, an openly gay man, to serve as spokesman on foreign policy issues, but he has been run off by the social conservatives elsewhere in the GOP. Romney’s campaign is, at least, defending his credentials although it doesn’t exactly strike me as a particularly full-throated defense.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/post/exclusive-richard-grenell-hounded-from-romney-campaign-by-anti-gay-conservatives/2012/05/01/gIQAccGcuT_blog.html
Dear Republicans: This kind of bullshit is why you’re losing the Millennials. We’re actually aware enough of the LGBT people in our midst to know that who a man sleeps with isn’t directly tied to his knowledge of global affairs. Nor do we particularly feel like a disapproval of disapproval of same-sex relationships (repetition intentional) should have the effect of dictating our views on other issues, but that’s the end effect because we can’t countenance that kind of hatred.
SWNC
/ May 1, 2012Heck, this kind of bullshit is why they’re losing my 73 year old father. When you manage to drive elderly white Southern veterans away from the Republican party….well, you’ve managed something extra-special.
stephen matlock
/ May 1, 2012It’s this kind of stuff that drove a life-long Republican (and I mean life-long; I was a Precinct Committee Officer at one point) out.
efgoldman
/ May 1, 2012Of course, to wouldn’t have anything at all with his thousands of sexist and mysogynist tweets. Naaah. Couldn’t be. Ever’one knows they ain’t no worr on wimmins.
David L
/ May 1, 2012If he was merely a misogynist catching fire from the left, he’d be an asset to the campaign and any departure would be derided from Rush to Fox to TNR as the liberal PC police running wild again.
I don’t envy the gay conservatives. I’ve seen more flak directed his way about that (from both gays and conservatives) than I have about his tweets. On the other hand, I’m also not thrilled about the “gay-rights” PACs that tend to ignore gay or pro-gay Republicans on grounds that the only way to advance gay rights is to elect Democrats.
efgoldman
/ May 1, 2012I don’t envy the gay conservatives.
I find that a very severe oxymoron, like [GODWIN ALERT!] Jewish Nazi. or KKK black man – something like that.
OTH, there’s my very gay, very Catholic friend, Sean, who the church calls “objectively disordered”. He takes the very long view, both in this life and the next.
carlos the dwarf
/ May 1, 2012Being a gay conservative means purposefully associating yourself, not just with people who disagree with you, but with people who actively hate you and wish ill upon you. That sort of masochism is very much not my thing.
Dex
/ May 1, 2012Yeah, I’ve known people who could do it, but I’m just not built that way. A percent or two on my taxes isn’t worth associating with people whose platforms are founded on bigotry. And I’m neither gay, nor a person of color, for dog’s sake.
An ex-girlfriend of a (female) friend of ours used to be a fairly highly placed Republican operative at the state level in Indiana. We went to dinner with them back in, I think 2003/4 and she had just decided to bail on the party. She was basically trashing her own career, but could no longer stomach the scapegoating of LGBT folks by Rove et al. It was both painful and fascinating to hear her talk about her struggling with her decision.
David L
/ May 1, 2012I find [“gay conservatives”] a very severe oxymoron
I think I can safely assume that it wasn’t intended to be, but I find this really offensive.
Sexual orientation has nothing to do with whether someone prefers a high-tax, high-service government to a low-tax, low-service one. Or whether they support women having a right to choose abortion. Or whether they believe in capital punishment. I don’t blame anyone who chooses not to vote for or associate with the Republican Party because of being LGBT even if they agree for them on most other issues, but that doesn’t mean that the existence of those who do is an oxymoron.
This is the same nerve as that was hit as my weekly pub quiz master assuming that gays will do well at the musical theater round and poorly in the sports round, when the opposite is true for me (as discussed in yesterday’s OTAN at the mothership). It denies people their individuality because of what groups they identify with.
Dex
/ May 1, 2012I’ve told this story before, but there used to be this series called World Series of Pop Culture that ran I think on VH1. Anyway, there were teams of people that would send individuals to the mic to answer trivia questions. I believe that once a person answered a question, they could not answer another in that particular round. In this one particular match it was toward the end of the round (maybe not the last person on each team, but close), meaning that there weren’t very many people left to answer questions. A white guy and a black woman go to the mics for their respective teams. The topic that comes up? Hip-hop. And the crowd just starts laughing because, ikr, African American ftmfw. But the joke was on the crowd (and as someone pointed out, anyone who knows much about the demographics of hip-hop listenership): the white guy steps to the mic and says: “The first album I ever owned was The Chronic and my mom bought it for me.” and the black woman says “My parents didn’t let me listen to hip-hop when I was a kid.”
emilylhauser
/ May 1, 2012Ayup. It’s astonishing, really. Like someone around here said: The GOP in its current form is riding off into the sunset, even as we speak…. https://emilylhauserinmyhead.wordpress.com/2012/02/15/the-gop-rides-into-the-sunset/
Darth Thulhu
/ May 1, 2012That was a wise and insightful writer, whose understanding is only exceeded by their radiance, beauty, and potassium content. If only there were a way to give them thanks and appreciation in a forum where they would see it.
emilylhauser
/ May 1, 2012(It’s cause she eats bananas. The potassium thing).
: )
Dex
/ May 1, 2012Yeah, it’s kind of funny here in Chicago. I’m the oldster among our group of friends; many of them are 8-10 years my junior. (Although I try really hard to fit in and act young and hipsterrific.) It’s really funny when politics comes up in the group. I know it’s a very skewed sample, as these are largely middle class, highly educated kids living in Chicago, but they sort of speak in shorthand: Republicans are wrong on both race and homosexuality and are automatically disqualified from the conversation. They could be right on every single other issue, but they’re not even getting a brief glance from these kids.
stephen matlock
/ May 1, 2012Explain to me the logic of putting the forced air vent directly under my legs at my desk.
caoil
/ May 1, 2012Your office is recreating scenes from The Seven Year Itch?
stephen matlock
/ May 2, 2012Umm…
I would not be the body type nor do I engage in those sartorial choices. I’m just sayin’
stephen matlock
/ May 1, 2012And explain to me how this gets ordinary people like me interested and sympathetic:
http://www.king5.com/news/cities/seattle/May-Day-protests–149640725.html
You’re breaking windows on a bar?
efgoldman
/ May 1, 2012You’re breaking windows on a bar?
Lets the stale beer smell out.
JHarper2
/ May 1, 2012Mr efgoldman, you are really have fun wearing your onion today aren’t you
efgoldman
/ May 1, 2012I don’t like the stale beer smell in bars. It overwhelms my onion.
Remember, I’m the father of whom it was asked, by then 8-9 year old daughter, “Daddy, are you ever going to give me a straight answer?”
To which the response was “what do you think?”
chingona
/ May 1, 2012Today in 6 year olds learning to read. I pulled in behind another car in front of school. From the back seat, I head, “Mommy, what’s a vulva?” “Uh, what?!” “Up there!” he points through the front windshield at the car in front of us. “That’s a VOL-VO,” I say, stressing the O’s as much as possible. “A vulva?” “No, a VOL-VO.” “But a vulva … that’s something. I’ve heard that. What is it?” “A girl’s private parts.” Silence. Then, “oh,” kind of quietly. Then his mouth kind of twitches at the sides. “Why would someone name a car a vulva?” “It’s a VOL-VO!”
caoil
/ May 1, 2012How parents keep straight faces & don’t explode with laughter every day is a mystery to me.
efgoldman
/ May 1, 2012How parents keep straight faces & don’t explode with laughter every day is a mystery to me.
We couldn’t, and we didn’t; didn’t even try.
Since it was always understood that Laughter Is A Good Thing, it was never a problem.
chingona
/ May 1, 2012In this particular instance, my rising fear that we would walk into school with him still saying “vulva” in a loud voice made it fairly easy not to laugh. After that did not happen and I was safely back in the car by myself, I couldn’t stop laughing.
Dex
/ May 1, 2012I think parental duty requires that you save these stories and tell them at very embarrassing moments when the child is older. I’m going to be such a mean parent in that way.
efgoldman
/ May 1, 2012In this particular instance, my rising fear…
Eh. Anybody who’s taught grade school for more than a year has heard this stuff. And laughed about it.
chingona
/ May 1, 2012But walking into a school building with a six-year-old boy yelling “vulva!” would have been a new experience for me.
efgoldman
/ May 1, 2012Every day with a first kid is a new experience for both of you. Generally it is wicked fun and interesting. Well, always interesting.
dawnoleary
/ May 1, 2012Where is the “like” button?
helensprogeny
/ May 1, 2012What dawnoleary said!
zenobiajo
/ May 1, 2012too funny–loved it!
carlos the dwarf
/ May 1, 2012Lindsay: We’re super rich again, Mikey! And I’m going to buy a car. A Volvo!
Michael: Lindsay, you’re not going to start spending money again.
[she hands him a picture]
Michael: And this is not a Volvo…
Lindsay: Oh, that’s from sitting on the copier.
Lindsay: I cant believe Tobias dumped me for that whore Kitty. Do you think he would leave this? And these?
[points to her breasts]
Lindsay: And this?
[hands Michael a piece of paper]
Michael: Still the car.
Lindsay: Or this?
Michael: [hands Michael a picture] Glad I didn’t spring for color.
Dex
/ May 1, 2012Because vulvas are awesome, that’s why.
chingona
/ May 1, 2012Smooth ride, quick acceleration, heated seats . .. sure. But for a car with a reputation for safety? I don’t know.
chingona
/ May 1, 2012Which is to say, go ahead and give that answer when it’s your kid and get back to me on how it goes.
dmf
/ May 1, 2012http://www.radioopensource.org/siddhartha-mukherjee-have-we-an-innovator-in-the-race/
Craig (@FuriousGiorge)
/ May 1, 2012Is there any political group that spends more time running cover for people who fucking hate them than the Log Cabin Republicans? Pathetic.
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/05/romneys-gay-spokesman-so-much-for-that/256615/
emilylhauser
/ May 1, 2012Republican women?
It might be a tie.
dmf
/ May 1, 2012it’s always amazed me how unified the Reps have been at the federal level, although they are cracking some now, given the tensions that party holds, not sure there are such divisions on the Dem side at least not the same levels of vitriol. That said MLK and others have taken a lot of abuse to try and achieve what they believe to be a wider good, democracy is an ugly ugly business.