Naturally, I think Jesus was into the MoPar thing. His father's house has many mansions, presumably with a fair number of garages. And I suspect Chryslers are well-represented.
1
What would Jesus drive?
He would drive those people who invoke Him for their political goals out of the church.
Posted by: John at November 26, 2007 01:38 PM (j9QaS)
2
Well, he sure didn't like those moneychangers in the Temple . . .
Posted by: Attila Girl at November 26, 2007 02:01 PM (aywD+)
3
The disciples, on the other hand, leaned toward Hondas. From Acts 2:1 (KJV): "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one Accord in one place."
Posted by: CGHill at November 26, 2007 06:28 PM (7tYOI)
Traffic's Down.
This sounds like a good time to bleg. After all, with no one actually reading the thing, imagine what's happening to my morale. But remember: there's nothing wrong with me that some money and premium gin won't fix.
(Darrell, you're soooo off the hook, here: I'm directing this toward the gin/cash deadbeats out there, and they know who they are. I'm still doing fine on Damrak, but I'm low on No. 209 [amazing stuff from SF] and could use some more Citadelle. I was about to take the Cascade Mountain plunge, but got Junipero at the last minute, instead. I wouldn't mind some more Hendrick's, of course. I've lost my passion for Dry, which is a step above normal Beefeaters, but can't compete at the Citadelle/Junipero/209 level. These gins take the clear beauty of London dry gins and add just a bit more juniper, plus a little bit of 1-2 compatible botanicals [usually involving citrus peel]. The way to make a martini with these guys is to get some really clean, fresh ice, pour the gin atop, and say the word "vermouth" out loud. Nothing else is necessary; even adding an olive would be a crime with these gins.
I'm thinking of doing a three-way "shootout" between Junipero, No. 209, and Citadelle.)
1
And I did notice that your Yahoo avatar is wearing new duds. The temperature must have dropped to the low 70s, eh? Stay warm!
Posted by: Darrell at November 24, 2007 11:53 AM (GdI34)
2
I'll have you know that it's dropping below 50 here every single night, and once in a while it does so during the day!
It's terrible.
Posted by: Attila Girl at November 24, 2007 01:45 PM (aywD+)
3
I know! And tomorrow, the day will be 1 minute and 4 seconds shorter than today. If that's not a reason to start the premium gin showdown, I don't know what is!
Posted by: Darrell at November 24, 2007 02:04 PM (GdI34)
4
What do you mean dropping readership.
I'm here everyday.
Posted by: Chuck at November 24, 2007 09:00 PM (H4W1a)
5
Thank you, Dear. I'm just trying to guilt-trip the less-assiduous into sending me booze and money.
Posted by: Attila Girl at November 24, 2007 09:07 PM (aywD+)
6
It got 25 degrees out at my farm last night. Not pleasant, considering I'm still crashing in my camper, which is *not* insulated for this kind of weather.
I'm still thawing out...
Posted by: Desert Cat at November 25, 2007 04:59 PM (DIr0W)
7
You need one of those "expedition-rated" down sleeping bags!
Ick!
(Or get two high-quality bags that zip together, and take Daisy Cat out there with you . . . that'll help--two bodies result more heat than one, and I'm not even being dirty, here.)
Posted by: Attila Girl at November 25, 2007 07:15 PM (aywD+)
8
What I have is two 1500 watt electric heaters going full blast, and there's still a chill on the floor and near the windows.
I'm working on converting an old travel trailer to a well-insulated mobile cottage. With four inches of foam insulation and minimized window area, it ought to stay comfy in the cold and the hot weather.
That still leaves the outdoor weather to contend with. I don't go out there just to hibernate.
Funny though, it was 25 at dawn and 60 by mid afternoon. That's the desert for ya.
Daisy Cat doesn't have the same level of enthusiasm for the farm that I do. She came out for Thanksgiving, but went back to town for the rest of the weekend.
Posted by: Desert Cat at November 26, 2007 06:32 AM (DIr0W)
9
You didn't buy close enough to a rifle range! Big mistake
Posted by: Attila Girl at November 26, 2007 10:05 AM (aywD+)
10
Psh. The neighbor has a dry pond with high banks that he's offered for our use as a target practice range any time we want.
Posted by: Desert Cat at November 30, 2007 07:54 PM (wacYD)
1
Dear, dear! Why don't you actually listen to what the man (Don Henley) has to say intead of parroting pseudo modernist tosh? When you know as much as he does about what's going on in this world, then your comments might have some substance. Until then, save your nonsense for the many idiots out there.....please?
Posted by: Sharmian at November 24, 2007 07:21 PM (pfPo2)
2
Hi, Sharmian!
I hope I didn't hit a nerve.
But when I hear Henley complaining to our local DJ ("the last DJ," in fact) about people "violating his copyright" by posting Eagles clips to You Tube, it makes me cranky.
Jim Ladd played right along, though, and proclaimed it "immoral" to rip someone else's CD to one's own iTunes program (or even tape an album, for crying out loud).
I assume, of course, that Ladd has never, ever borrowed a book from a friend, and thereby violated a writer's "intellectual property rights." Don't get me wrong: I'm not saying musicians haven't been ripped off for decades by the music industry: I'm only saying that the end user shouldn't be made into the enemy, here.
Ladd: "You have a reputation as being someone whom, in business, you do not want to cross. They say you have an army of lawyers on your side."
Henley: "Well, you need 'em these days."
I'm only expressing my gratitude that The Great Don Henley allowed me to link a video with one of The Sacred Tunes on it.
Now if only, in concert, he'd let someone else do the drumming on "Hotel California," so he wouldn't be out of breath while he's trying to "sing" it (that is, sort of wheeze it out). That would be nice, no?
Posted by: Attila Girl at November 24, 2007 08:49 PM (aywD+)
3
Since when is publicity a bad thing? Does anyone really think the YouTube offering will
do anything other than increase sales by exposing the material to a new audience?
Posted by: Darrell at November 25, 2007 07:28 AM (RH4kj)
4
Wow! You hit the nail on the head. I'm embarrassed to say that, for whatever reason, I never really listened to the lyrics before. That despite the fact that I probably know ALL of the lyrics to Hotel California.
Speaking of Hotel California, in 1973, after living for 4 years in California, I moved back to Kansas. I was alone, driving a Pinto station wagon pulling a small U-Haul trailer (don't ask). West of Oakland, on a really long downgrade, the trailer went haywire on me (due to faulty loading, probably), came around and smashed into the rear quarter panel of the car. Fortunately, there wasn't much traffic and I was able to get stopped on the shoulder of the road without further damage.
After getting some help from a local U-Haul agent, I was able to get my bent hitch straightened, re-arranged the load in the trailer, and proceeded on. I was feeling pretty shaken by the incident and dreading the 1800 miles or so I still had to travel.
That evening I stopped at a motel on I-5. It was a nice motel, almost new with a Spanish mission theme, but out in the middle of nowhere. And it was almost deserted. I had a sandwich and a couple of beers in the attached restaurant/bar and there were, at most, 2 other customers. Given my mental state at the time, it was really spooky. I did not sleep well that night.
In recent years, I had almost convinced myself that while I was at that motel, the lyrics to Hotel California were running through my head. But, since the song came along about 4 years later, that's obviously not the case. However, to this day, I can't hear the song without thinking of that motel.
Posted by: Suds46 at November 26, 2007 08:20 PM (OcYMU)
5
If you want spooky, here's this: there was clearly, at one point, a Hotel California. On Los Feliz and . . . um, Riverside? . . . (near the fountain where young Latino couples have their wedding portraits taken . . . someone help me out, here). There are a bunch of old signs (presumably on property that is owned by the city and part of Griffith Park, right off of Riverside) mostly unlit neon IIRC, that say "Hotel California" on 'em. There obviously used to be a Hotel CA in the area (now converted into apartments along Los Feliz, I imagine), and no one can decide whether to junk the signs or make 'em into a museum. So, there they sit. Rusting.
This is right by the L.A. River, which even oldtimers cannot agree on--that is, is it a real river that got reinforced with concrete, or is "river" just a fancy name for an old water-delivery system?--maybe that one that runs through the Central Valley itself? (Now, of course, after 15 years of floods and soil and whatnot, a whole ecosystem has grown into the L.A. River: islands with trees on them, thick brush, rocks and sand . . . all framed by those odd concrete banks).
I don't know the history. But I love it.
Posted by: Attila Girl at November 27, 2007 01:17 AM (aywD+)
Just Thought I'd "Claim" This Blog on Technorati.
Though goodness knows why; my profile over there is doing just fine without any intervention whatsoever. But I'm just feeling a bit blog-whorish today, so there you go.
(The story sounds fishy, anyway: I'm sure the Fire Department coordinates with the cities so that trees are cut back within set guidelines, even for oak trees. And why would one hire a tree-trimming company out of Orange County to come all the way up here to the foothills, when they don't even know the local ordinances?)
More on Those Lights Going Out in Georgia . . .
I still love this song. I suppose I should download Reba's version on iTunes, and then I can hear it back-to-back with Vicki's on my iPod.
But of course I've never been able to figure out the time frame involved in the story: it starts in the evening, when Andy and his friend are having a drink at the bar, and in that same evening Andy gets killed, Dear Brother is arrested, a trial occurs, and the Sheriff/Judge still get home in time for supper.
It seem to me that unless there's a time machine involved, there had to be two nights which, cumulatively, led to the lights going out in Georgia (or at least—metaphorically—for the narrator's brother).
Which is better for the story arc, but not as good for the scanning of the lines in the chorus:
Those were the two nights that culminated in the lights going out in Georgia,
On the second of which they hung an innocent man,
So don't trust your soul—or, at least, the physical part of your being—to no backwoods Southern lawyer,
'Cause the Judge in the town has been corrupt and sloppy in the past, and after this incident he had blood on his hands, though not really in the same sense as Lady MacBeth did, and these ones might someday wash out.
Andyway, here are Vicki and Reba talking about the song—and then singing Reba's version. Reba has a better accent for it, and she does fabulous things with her eyes. On the other hand, she does flub the lyrics slightly.
1
Great song, I haven't heard or thought about this one for a while. One of my favorites growing up. Other songs I enjoyed that were similar were "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves" by Cher and "Ode To Billy Joe" by I think Bobbie Gentry. Thanks for reminding me of some of the classics. If you don't mind, I'd like to link this post from my blog.
Posted by: Dieter at November 23, 2007 07:38 PM (2tG0R)
2
That's fine. BTW, I did download Reba's version of "Night . . . Georgia," and listen to that one. Someone told me that McIntyre "popularized" the song, but Vicki's version went to #1 in the early 1970s, so I think Reba just took it to a new audience (iTunes classifies Reba's as "country," and Vicki Lawrence's as "pop").
The way I got the story, someone sent the song to Cher, but Sonny turned it down on her behalf, thinking it might be offensive to Southerners. Cher only heard later (apparently) that she'd been offered the song.
I love those old Cher songs--"Gypsies" is great. I also like "Half Breed." Both very guilty pleasures.
Posted by: Attila Girl at November 23, 2007 08:07 PM (aywD+)
3
Wow, talk about songs bringing back memories! I loved "Nights", "Gypsies" and "Half Breed" when I was little. Add "Delta Dawn" by Tanya Tucker to the mix and I think you've covered my entire repertoire as a kid.
Hm, come to think of it, later as a teenager I was really into Southern Gothic fiction. I think we've found a theme - not sure that it's a particularly good one. ;-)
Posted by: Janette at November 24, 2007 07:28 AM (5R+zg)
4
I was more familiar with Helen Reddy's version of "Delta Dawn." And I also loved her "Angie Baby."
She used to drive around here in a huge red boat of a 1970s semi-low-rider convertible, with a license plate that read "IM REDDY." I saw it in front of a liquor store once, but I didn't go in to look for her, 'cause I don't gawk at people.
Posted by: Attila Girl at November 24, 2007 01:51 PM (aywD+)
5
The night of the hanging was the night the lights went out. The night of the murder was kind of like the night they switched to compact flourescent bulbs. If they would have had them in 1973, that is. I like to think of that as the real reason she didn't come forward sooner to save her brother.
I really loved "Take The Ribbon From My Hair" by Lynn Anderson. Some people know it as "Help Me Make It Through The Night."
Take the ribbon from My hair
Shake it loose and let it fall
Lay it soft upon my skin
Like the shadows on the wall
Come and lay down by my side
Till the early morning rides
All I'm taking is your time
Help me make it through the night
I don't care what's right or wrong
And I don't try to understand
Let the devil take tomorrow
But tonite I need a friend
Yesterday is dead and gone
And tomorrows out of sight
And it's sad to be alone
Help me make it through the night
And it's sad to be alone
Help me make it through the night
Oh I don't wanna be alone
Help me make it through the night
Posted by: Darrell at November 24, 2007 02:26 PM (GdI34)
6
Reminds me of "Put Your Ring on a Different Finger," by Elvis Costello (one of his psuedo-Country songs).
Posted by: Attila Girl at November 24, 2007 04:29 PM (aywD+)
7
I never considered it a song about cheating. Extramarital? Yes. Not caring to verify marital status? Yes. A pioneering song for a more innocent time.
Posted by: Darrell at November 25, 2007 07:25 AM (RH4kj)
From the Carol Burnett Show . . .
Courtesy of Cassandra, now on blog-hiatus (no true blogger ever really quits for good; you know it, and I know it):
The funniest thing about that show was the fact that the actors kept losing their shit: it didn't feel like a lack of professionalism so much as a sort of good-natured expression of camaraderie among them. Of course, that means that the outtakes from the show are the best part.
And, yes: after asking the other Cotillion women, and checking out Vicki's website, we have indeed confirmed that the Vicki Lawrence from "The Carol Burnett Show" is the same one who originally performed "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia."
She, Carol Burnett, Harvey Korman and Tim Conway are just the best: Comedy without a body count. Love it.
1
All you had to do is ask someone old enough to remember firsthand. And since Vicki Lawrence was married to the songwriter, Bobby Russell, from 1972-74, don't you think that might have something to do with her winding up with the song? He also wrote "Little Green Apples" and "Honey's Song," if you were curious.
And, by the way, the Shelley Fabares that co-starred in "Coach" WAS the same Shelley Fabares that had the hit with "Johnny Angel" in 1962.
Posted by: Darrell at November 23, 2007 09:48 PM (p4bKK)
2
Heck--it was a surprise to my husband, when I told him.
Perhaps you're just more hip than you realize, D!
Posted by: Attila Girl at November 24, 2007 01:06 AM (aywD+)
3
I never thought I wasn't hip. Knowing the cultural references just never correlated with popularity in my case. But it probably kept me out of the big leagues when it comes to making a major contribution in science. My head is filled with lyrics from a bunch of '60s TV commercials and stuff, while the major players are basically one-trick ponies based on my personal experience.
A local radio host with a popular comedy show once had Marilyn vos Savant, billed as being the most intelligent human based on documented IQ results, on as a guest. Before her appearance, she agreed to take a short test that he would create. A few months later, a caller brought her up, and he told the story of how much time he spent putting together the test and how she really did. He started out as a researcher/fact checker for a major local news station, so he tapped some of his sources for the math/science questions. Most of his regular friends contributed pop culture questions. He told how he debated throwing those in, putting some in and taking them out, but finally deciding to include ten TV and pop music questions that someone her age couldn't help knowing--in his estimation and based on testing every person her age he came in contact with in the weeks prior to the show. She missed them all. Since she was a guest, he glossed over it at the time. I heard the segment at the time and thought it was strange that he didn't talk about the results of a test that he had been talking about for days. The caller weeks later must have touched a nerve, because he went on about how could she NOT know the answers.
I guess you have to watch TV and listen to the radio to know what's on. Or read about it.
Posted by: Darrell at November 24, 2007 09:48 AM (GdI34)
4
Well, that sort of thing happens to me because of my sort of binary relationship with television (on-again, off-again).
For instance, my friends had to tell me about Madonna as a cultural phenomenon (this was long before *Desperately Seeking Susan* came out, but still . . .).
And then there was that time they were talking about Max Headroom, and I didn't know what they were talking about. "It's like talking to an ALIEN!" one of them sputtered in frustration.
I probably also wasn't listening to the radio enough in those days, either, come to think of it.
So I'm a nerd, too--just a novelist nerd.
But I do know "hold the pickles, hold the lettuce," and that sort of thing. I watched eons of television with various grandparents and babysitters in the 1960s and 1970s, and we watched a fair amount in 70-74.
Posted by: Attila Girl at November 24, 2007 01:59 PM (aywD+)
So, What Do We Call Those Muslims (Or "Perverters of Islam," If You Prefer)
. . . who are trying to kill us?
Timothy Ash of The Guardian makes the linguistic case against "Islamofascists," and argues that "Islamists" describes those who advocate through peaceful means for repressive systems such as Sharia law, whereas the term "Jihadis" should be reserved for those who murder in Allah's name.
I've been using "fuckin' assholes," but I've been cautioned that this lacks precision.
UPDATE: Dr. D. suggests in the comments that all "real Muslims" believe everything in the Koran—in a very literal way. Does that mean that all real Christians believe that every word in the Bible is literally true? Does it mean all real Jews believe everything in the Torah is literally true? Because I have a few challenging passages for you, if that's the case.
Furthermore, Dr. D. would like to see this country "Muslim-frei." Not only do I not particularly want that—I find the very proposal scarier than the Jihadis, or whatever we've decided to call them.
But Brian Micklethwait seems to agree that it's the religion itself we need to denounce. I still don't see it: I'd rather wage war on a few hundred people who want to kill me, or a few thousand people who want to convert me by force, rather than a few billion who don't care one way or another what I'm doing and are perfectly indifferent to whether I wear shorts, or whether my gay friends are living with their boyfriends, or whether I believe that Jesus was, in fact, the Christ.
As for those who love to ironically discuss "the religion of peace," you enjoy that. Me, I'd like to know whether, in point of fact, "they will know we are Christians by our love." Not always, boys and girls. And I'm not discussing the Middle Ages here, either.
I'd like to clean my own house before I see to other faiths' own Reformations. And by that, I mean The House of Joy McCann. There is plenty to be done in it—physically, metaphorically, spiritually, emotionally.
And so I shall leave the religious wars to others. Have at it, kids.
1
I would argue against "jihadi". As I recall, jihad means "to struggle against", so it's usage can range from "I am in jihad against my sinful nature" to "I'm going to kill those heathen Americans".
"Fuckin' assholes" is indeed imprecise. I have been accused of, and likely guilty of, assholery. But I've never desired to chop off LMA's head. Yah, I know, a character flaw, but I'm funny that way.
Posted by: I R A Darth Aggie at November 23, 2007 08:02 AM (1hM1d)
2
I think it is quite adequte to simply describe them all as just muzlims. We need to remember that every last one of them is under an obligation to bring us under subjection to Izlam. Some will resort to violence while others may not, but they all have that same obligation just by virtue of being muzlims.
A second item to consider is that they essentially have no way out. Izlam does not allow people to leave. The penalty for leaving Izlam is death, and this penalty is enforced worldwide. There are a few who do leave, but they then live in fear for their lives. Those who want to live peacefully usually just keep a low profile, but then they are still muzlims. When the time comes, if it looks like their side is winning, they are apt to decide it is time to stand up and be counted for allah.
For this reason, we need to demand that every last muzlim be deported from the USA. We must not allow any muzlims to remain in the US. This is much more than a religion; it is a subversive political movement that is out to overthrow our way of life. It cannot be allowed to remain within our country. It is like a cancer eating away at us, and the only way to survive cancer is to get rid of it, all of it. You can't leave a little and expect to have the long term cure. All muzlims have to go, beginning NOW!!
Posted by: Dr.D at November 23, 2007 09:08 AM (KG5do)
3
Don't most religions contain an exhortation to the faithful to bring unbelievers into the fold? The New Testament is very clear that Christians have this obligation.
Even twelve-step programs, despite the Tradition of "attraction, rather than promotion," recommend reaching out to other people with the same compulsion (alcohol, food, sick relationships, dysfunctional relations with money). That is, in fact, the Twelth Step.
I'm just wondering whether we should be getting rid of anyone, of any faith, who's done any missionary work /oureach / proselytizing whatsoever.
After all, it's the only way to be sure.
Posted by: Attila Girl at November 23, 2007 12:53 PM (aywD+)
4Don't most religions contain an exhortation to the faithful to bring unbelievers into the fold? The New Testament is very clear that Christians have this obligation.
Yes, true. But there's a vast difference between shaking the dust from one's sandals, and offering someone a convert or die, infidel. Yes?
As for Dr. D's idea at throwing the lot of 'em out, I would tend to disagree. However they should be aware that they will encounter people in the USofA who they will find offensive, either in manner of dress, speech, or behaviour. Just Deal With It.
And if they can't, they can go back from whence they came. Much like Californians, they seem to be really happy to escape from a certain environment, and then attempt to change their new environment to be just like what they left. Puzzling, but true.
Posted by: I R A Darth Aggie at November 24, 2007 01:15 PM (1hM1d)
5
Are we talking about Jackson Hole, Wyoming, again?
Not all Muslims do this—just as not all Californians do it.
It isn't my impression that Muslims in the U.S. are really high on bringing Sharia law over here, or trying to get a separate legal system used for their crimes, vs. ours. I know that immigrants to Western European countries do that on a regular basis, but I just don't see much of it here (aside from a very tiny lunatic fringe). Most immigrants here are happy to live in a pluralistic society, and there really isn't an expectation that this country will "roll over" to silly demands, as some of the European countries have appeared on the cusp of doing.
Hence, "America Alone," (not that I agree with all of Steyn's premises, of course).
Posted by: Attila Girl at November 24, 2007 02:10 PM (aywD+)
Always Nice To Get in Touch with Old Friends.
I sent a note to Dr. Prime:
When last we spoke, a year and a half ago, you were really getting into weed, chocolate, and eating pussy. How go all of the above?
Excellent. They always deliver. Although things are a bit slow in the pussy department right now. My girlfriend is in another state, and my wife has this whole "we're separated now" philosophy which has definitely cut down on availability.
And how are your kids and wife? And girlfriend?
Everyone's good. My out-of-state daughter is a kickass kid (she's 5 1/2 now) and I'm going to visit in a few weeks. My girlfriend is my best friend, and she also has really big breasts, so it works out great.
He still hasn't sent me the manuscript for his book, yet. I suppose I could simply "borrow" it from my friends' houses . . .
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Most [Paul supporters] are normal people who live next to you, who go to the same supermarkets with you, and who send their children to the same schools. IÂ’m leaning towards Soren DaytonÂ’s belief that the Paul phenomenon is a protest vote. ItÂ’s a reaction to failures of Republicans to reduce the size and scope of government. ItÂ’s sort of like Pat Buchanan opposing President George H.W. Bush in 1992.
1
Well, I can't argue with that analysis. The Republicans have utterly sucked these last several years. Ron Paul represents everything I used to believe Republicans stood for.
Posted by: Desert Cat at November 25, 2007 05:11 PM (DIr0W)
Kathleen Willey's New Book
. . . may not be coming out at a particularly convenient time for Mrs. Clinton:
Mrs. Willey noted that Carl Bernstein wrote in his biography of Mrs. Clinton, "A Woman in Charge," that it "was not Clinton's philandering that bothered Hillary so much as her inability to control it," and that Mrs. Clinton has long been aware of her husband's wandering ways.
"Hillary has been hiring private investigators to scope out what Bill had been doing since he was governor," Ms. Willey said.
Other women — including Juanita Broaddrick, Gennifer Flowers and Paula Jones — have testified to Mr. Clinton's behavior as governor of Arkansas. That behavior exploded into crisis during the 1998 Lewinsky scandal, which ended with Mr. Clinton impeached by the House on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice, but acquitted by the Senate.
Mrs. Willey said that the Clinton administration's "damage control" operation consisted of private investigators keeping quiet the women with whom Mr. Clinton had supposed relations through intimidation, while influencing press coverage.
"It was hard to sit there and watch what the media was saying about me night after night" after her name became public during Kenneth W. Starr's independent counsel investigation of the Lewinsky scandal, she said.
"It was all untrue," she said. "It was a terrible smear campaign. There are bruises, believe me, but since I am a strong woman, I stayed strong."
Mrs. Willey says she received numerous threats — nails were driven in all four tires of her sport utility vehicle, her cat disappeared and a mysterious jogger near her Virginia home told her, "Hey, Kathleen. ... You are just not getting the message, are you?"
It was "a reign of terror," she said. "My car was vandalized; my children were threatened; I was threatened."
She sees all of this as part of a pattern.
"I think it's pretty obvious that she stuck with him because she had a 30-year plan to be president," Mrs. Willey said. "They are co-presidents. 'Buy one, get one free.' Clinton admitted this in the 1992 campaign."
As to Mrs. Clinton's playing what she calls "the gender card" in the current election campaign, Mrs. Willey said the former first lady is not an "advocate for feminism, but an advocate for one woman: Hillary Clinton."
Bill Clinton is one of the most talented politicians that has ever lived. But the idea of having him back in the White House—even as a First Spouse—really turns my stomach. Ironically, he may be his wife's greatest liability. And I'm not talking about his tomcatting, but rather the scorched earth tactics both Clintons used against their political opponents.
I wonder what it says in my FBI file. Ugh. The Clintons are very unattractive people.
Willey again:
"This is an important story for people to read, women in particular, and first-time voters who are considering [voting] for Hillary," she said. "This book will enlighten the public about what happened to me, and the kind of people we are dealing with: the Clintons."
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The message: we are, in fact, our brothers' keepers. At least, to some degree. Or, as someone once observed of Mrs. Dalloway:
. . . She was one of the most thoroughgoing sceptics he had ever met, and possibly (this was a theory he used to make up to
account for her, so transparent in some ways, so inscrutable in
others), possibly she said to herself, As we are a doomed race,
chained to a sinking ship (her favourite reading as a girl was
Huxley and Tyndall, and they were fond of these nautical
metaphors), as the whole thing is a bad joke, let us, at any rate,
do our part; mitigate the sufferings of our fellow-prisoners
(Huxley again); decorate the dungeon with flowers and air-cushions;
be as decent as we possibly can. Those ruffians, the Gods, shan't
have it all their own way,—her notion being that the Gods, who
never lost a chance of hurting, thwarting and spoiling human lives
were seriously put out if, all the same, you behaved like a lady.
Or, for that matter, a gentleman. Steve Martin is brilliant in this movie. Go see it soon; it's time, and it still counts as Thanksgiving viewing if you see it before the end of November. (In my family, it would count if you watched it before March, but we tend to run late on these matters. We also take our Christimas decorations down by July 4th, whether we need to or not.)
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Sorry, Kitty-Cat.
I've been AWOL on our Afghanistan discussion (under the Camille Paglia post). I have client-itis, and I'll be back later.
You're making some great points, and I'll catch up over the long weekend, once I get the family disposed of. (Um. I didn't mean in shallow graves in my backyard, though, come to think of it . . . . )
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I <3 Brian May
Via Ace's news sidebar (his mini-blog, to the left of the main one) comes this little tidbit about Queen's sainted guitarist:
LONDON (Reuters) - Brian May, lead guitarist from rock band Queen who has just completed a doctorate in astrophysics, was on Monday named as the next chancellor to Liverpool John Moores University.
May, who will take up the role early next year, became an honorary fellow of the university earlier this year in recognition of his contribution to the arts and for encouraging public understanding of science with his book Bang! The Complete History of the Universe.
Three problems with the Reuters story: 1) that horrific dangling participle; 2) the egregious omission of the fact that—alone among the top guitarists of all time (Harrison didn't do it, Clapton didn't do it, Hendrix didn't do it; no one did it) May built the guitar he later played in concert for many years. He still has it; he still plays it. It's his signature. He fashioned it as a teenager, with his father's help in their workshop. (Maybe that was in their GARage, it being England and all.) He's not just a physicist; he's an amazing engineer.
And an underrated guitarist. Remember: before News of the World came out (or maybe it was The Game; I'll have to check), Queen produced sounds that were semi-orthodox for the time, but every other prog band was using synthesizers to do it. Queen's first five albums used no synthesizers at all. It was all Yankee British ingenuity, and Brian.
And 3) this:
"In this age of celebrity culture, it is rare to find someone who has fame, fortune and universal acclaim and yet who remains true to his core values of learning and enlightenment," said the university's vice chancellor Michael Brown.
The boys from Queen were all academics; even Freddie had studied visual arts formally. And they weren't alone in not checking their intellects at the door when they got into entertainment: after all, the guys from Monty Python and Beyond the Fringe are/were the same way.
Now if only someone would coax John Deacon back into the spotlight. Hermit Boy: your fans need you.
I always mean to watch the Super Bowl, because of the ads, but I always forget. Also, I'd probably have to watch it on my own television: my husband hates having me around when there's football on TV. I always forget to check whether there is a play going on before I talk.
If I had TiVo, could I set it to record the Super Bowl, but only play the commercials? I mean, they are the best of the best—they almost always win the Clios. (And, no: I haven't been to the Clio Awards since I broke up with the guy from Rhythm & Hues. But I loved going to 'em, back in the day. I've been kissing up to all my friends who work at ad agencies, so it's just a matter of time.)
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Hi, I'm a producer at BlogHerAds, and I wanted to ask you a questions about advertising on your blog. Can you email me when you have the chance? jenny at blogher dot com
Posted by: Jenny at November 19, 2007 08:07 PM (l4/f3)
