No doubt you’ve heard about the saga of liberal blogger Amanda Marcotte being hired by candidate John Edwards to manage his campaign blog.
Amanda Marcotte’s writing style varies in tone from the incendiary to the downright Hiroshimian. She has an elegant style and vocabulary no doubt inspired by sundry hip hop artists, comment threads on pornographic forums, and Bradley Dingledorf, the pimply, smelly guy who scrawled graffiti on her seventh-grade locker.
Behold this gem of literary fortitude:
“Q: What if Mary had taken Plan B after the Lord filled her with his hot, white, sticky Holy Spirit?
A: You’d have to justify your misogyny with another ancient mythology.”
Convinced that Marcott’s treatise on The Third Person of the Trinity as Human Spermatozoa was merely misunderstood, nuanced satire rather than adolescent brain spew, Edwards said this, defending his decision to retain Marcotte:
“I've talked to Amanda and Melissa; they have both assured me that it was never their intention to malign anyone's faith, and I take them at their word.”
Indeed, rumor has it that the Maligning Bar has been set so high, Satan himself is having a hard time clearing it.
UPDATE: Just for the record, I could care less if John Edwards keeps Marcotte on or not. The fact that her reputation is blighted by vulgarity on a cosmic scale is his misfortune and none of my own. As vile as I think her comments are, I'd rather her come right out and say "f*** you!" than insult my intelligence by feigning innocence about her intentions. Plus, I wouldn't vote for Edwards anyway, but I'd rather the electorate see whose company he's keeping.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Turn your radio on, and listen to the t'storms in the air ...
In the wake of 20 tornado deaths in Florida, the folks at my favorite weather blog -- the ABC 33/40 Weather Blog -- have issued another rant on the importance of weather radios.
I second that emotion.
Unfortunately, the "let the government take care of you" mentality has overridden common sense for a few people to the point that they'd rather get swept away like Dorothy than plunk down $20 for a basic weather radio. Scroll down to the first comment on that post and you'll see what I mean.
Granted, I'm a weather geek. I've gone through storm spotter training. I want my own wireless home weather station. But geekitude is not required for basic human survival.
Sometimes, people do all the right things and still get killed by tornadoes. In 1998, an F5 -- the most powerful type of tornado -- hit west of here and killed more than 30 people. A few were simply at ground zero and could have survived only if they'd had a basement or storm shelter. They did everything right and got into the most protected area of their homes, but the storm was too powerful.
But when I read about people in trailer parks getting killed, I want to scream. No one should EVER be in a mobile home during a tornado warning. NEVER EVER EVER. Drive to a gas station and hunker down in their bathroom. Go to a neighbor's house. Heck, crawling into a ditch is preferable to remaining in your own flying coffin.
Sad.
I second that emotion.
Unfortunately, the "let the government take care of you" mentality has overridden common sense for a few people to the point that they'd rather get swept away like Dorothy than plunk down $20 for a basic weather radio. Scroll down to the first comment on that post and you'll see what I mean.
Granted, I'm a weather geek. I've gone through storm spotter training. I want my own wireless home weather station. But geekitude is not required for basic human survival.
Sometimes, people do all the right things and still get killed by tornadoes. In 1998, an F5 -- the most powerful type of tornado -- hit west of here and killed more than 30 people. A few were simply at ground zero and could have survived only if they'd had a basement or storm shelter. They did everything right and got into the most protected area of their homes, but the storm was too powerful.
But when I read about people in trailer parks getting killed, I want to scream. No one should EVER be in a mobile home during a tornado warning. NEVER EVER EVER. Drive to a gas station and hunker down in their bathroom. Go to a neighbor's house. Heck, crawling into a ditch is preferable to remaining in your own flying coffin.
Sad.
Monday, January 29, 2007
I want my pink back
Eve Ensler and fellow Code Pinkers protested this weekend against the war and the "surge," which Ensler likened to something that ... ahem ... happens to teenage boys in the middle of the night. She invoked images of things "swelling" and "rising" and "lasting just a minute."
OKAY, Eve, we get the picture.
Ensler has managed to completely invert the ideals of the women's movement. I thought women struggled to be recognized for their brains. You know, we're substantive, thoughtful, more than just the sum of our womanly parts.
Now, Ensler and the other Pinkers flounce around in ridiculous outfits, screeching, snickering about genitalia, and holding signs with insightful commentary such as "Augmentation is for Boobs."
And for Pete's sake, enough with the pink. Pink is a perfectly wonderful color, and I want it back.
OKAY, Eve, we get the picture.
Ensler has managed to completely invert the ideals of the women's movement. I thought women struggled to be recognized for their brains. You know, we're substantive, thoughtful, more than just the sum of our womanly parts.
Now, Ensler and the other Pinkers flounce around in ridiculous outfits, screeching, snickering about genitalia, and holding signs with insightful commentary such as "Augmentation is for Boobs."
And for Pete's sake, enough with the pink. Pink is a perfectly wonderful color, and I want it back.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Spare the rod, spoil the plane ride
AirTran had to boot a couple and their out-of-control kid off a plane because they were delaying takeoff. The 3-year-old refused to sit in her seat and was "climbing under the seat and hitting the parents."
Hitting the parents.
I've blogged before about my frustration with bratty kids who think nothing of assaulting their own parents. The 16-year-old who bruises her mother, as I witnessed one woman talking about, I'm sure started out like the 3-year-old on this plane.
In a not-unrelated item, a California assemblywoman wants to ban spanking of children under 4. She said she hasn't figured out exactly how to define spanking for the purposes of this bill, but she was quoted as saying, "I think it's pretty hard to argue you need to beat a child," [Sally] Lieber said. "Is it OK to whip a 1-year-old or a 6-month-old or a newborn?"
"Whip." Oh, geez. No one is advocating taking a cat o' nine tails to a three-month old. Anything that would cause injury to a child (apart from a tender bottom) is already against the law. And certainly she knows that.
Liber then invokes the tired canard that spanking breeds societal violence. Does that not collide with common sense? How many of you were spanked as children? Okay, put your hands down. How many of you have committed a violent act? That's what I thought.
Note to self: Never move to California, and ride AirTran at the next possible opportunity.
Hitting the parents.
I've blogged before about my frustration with bratty kids who think nothing of assaulting their own parents. The 16-year-old who bruises her mother, as I witnessed one woman talking about, I'm sure started out like the 3-year-old on this plane.
In a not-unrelated item, a California assemblywoman wants to ban spanking of children under 4. She said she hasn't figured out exactly how to define spanking for the purposes of this bill, but she was quoted as saying, "I think it's pretty hard to argue you need to beat a child," [Sally] Lieber said. "Is it OK to whip a 1-year-old or a 6-month-old or a newborn?"
"Whip." Oh, geez. No one is advocating taking a cat o' nine tails to a three-month old. Anything that would cause injury to a child (apart from a tender bottom) is already against the law. And certainly she knows that.
Liber then invokes the tired canard that spanking breeds societal violence. Does that not collide with common sense? How many of you were spanked as children? Okay, put your hands down. How many of you have committed a violent act? That's what I thought.
Note to self: Never move to California, and ride AirTran at the next possible opportunity.
Bits 'n' snips
Hello, GGB readers! It's been a few days since I've posted, so I thought I'd update you all on my goings-on:
95 Days and Counting: The GGB's days as a single girl are numbered. When we were 200 days out, it felt like forever until the wedding. Now, my to-do list is expanding geometrically like a psychotic Mandelbrot set, and it's hard to keep up with my own thoughts. Luckily, my mother is retired and the noble and gallant Rich is not above taking over part of the checklist.
24 Hours of Terrorist-smacking Goodness: We had to see what all the fuss was about, so Rich and I downloaded the first four "hours" of 24 from iTunes and watched them Sunday evening. (What a great deal! Four hours of entertainment for $8, no commercials.) Caught last night's installment as well, and we're both recording the season on our respective media PCs.
I can see why the show is addictive. It's just a damn good show. A few nitpicks, though: The dialogue occasionally lapses into tired stump-speech clichés and sloganeering. And the twist about possible involvement of Jack's brother and father is just a wittle too convenient, IMHO.
95 Days and Counting: The GGB's days as a single girl are numbered. When we were 200 days out, it felt like forever until the wedding. Now, my to-do list is expanding geometrically like a psychotic Mandelbrot set, and it's hard to keep up with my own thoughts. Luckily, my mother is retired and the noble and gallant Rich is not above taking over part of the checklist.
24 Hours of Terrorist-smacking Goodness: We had to see what all the fuss was about, so Rich and I downloaded the first four "hours" of 24 from iTunes and watched them Sunday evening. (What a great deal! Four hours of entertainment for $8, no commercials.) Caught last night's installment as well, and we're both recording the season on our respective media PCs.
I can see why the show is addictive. It's just a damn good show. A few nitpicks, though: The dialogue occasionally lapses into tired stump-speech clichés and sloganeering. And the twist about possible involvement of Jack's brother and father is just a wittle too convenient, IMHO.
Friday, January 19, 2007
I hope she can get the deposit on the caterer back
Here's someone who's having a bad day: You're a judge in Memphis, and you discover that not only has your fiancé had sex with another woman, he is in jail because he paid said woman to have sex with her 8-year-old daughter.
Fiance of Memphis Judge Accused of Paying Woman for Sex With 8-Year-Old Daughter (Fox News)
Fiance of Memphis Judge Accused of Paying Woman for Sex With 8-Year-Old Daughter (Fox News)
If I were that woman, I don't know what I'd do, but I can think of a few possibilities ... Epilady his entire body followed by a nice sea salt scrub comes to mind.
Yuck.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
'24' is da bomb
Okay, I'll have to admit. I'm not a watcher of 24, but I am tickled at the ... cough ... bomb the season opener has detonated among the jabbering classes.
And this just in: Muslims protest reprised role as terrorists in Fox series '24'. (Hat tip: LGF) One person quoted in the article is concerned about reprisals against Muslims in the U.S.:
"Somewhere, some lunatic out there watching this will do something to an innocent American Muslim because he believes what he saw on TV."
I'm more concerned about the lunatics watching the beheadings on Al Jazeera, myself.
And this just in: Muslims protest reprised role as terrorists in Fox series '24'. (Hat tip: LGF) One person quoted in the article is concerned about reprisals against Muslims in the U.S.:
"Somewhere, some lunatic out there watching this will do something to an innocent American Muslim because he believes what he saw on TV."
I'm more concerned about the lunatics watching the beheadings on Al Jazeera, myself.
Too uncoordinated to be 'jocular'
If you’ve ever seen Broadcast News, you know why on-air panache and writing chops often do not come in the same body. Katie Couric should take note.
Her Jan. 15 “blog” post about the dearth of female news anchors left me scratching my head. Describing a meeting regarding U.S. policy in Iraq between senior White House officials and prominent members of the news media, she wrote:
“I couldn’t help but notice, despite how far we’ve come, that I was still the only woman there.”
Uh, that should be, “I couldn’t help noticing,” Katie.
“Well, there was some female support staff near the door. But of the people at the table, the ‘principals’ in the meeting, I was the only one wearing a skirt. Everyone was gracious, though the jocular atmosphere was palpable.”
Okay, I’m going to give her the benefit of the doubt. If she meant “jocular” as in people were making jokes, I don’t understand why she would contrast it with everyone being “gracious.” Doesn’t make sense. Perhaps she meant that everyone was being nice but she wasn’t in on “the joke,” whatever that was.
Others have speculated, though, that she used “jocular” as some sort of adjective wrenched from “jock.” If so, God help us, she should be condemned to the fifth circle of Hell, where the only reading materials are Webster’s and the AP Style Manual.
“The feminist movement that began in the 1970’s helped women make tremendous strides …”
Wha? I thought the feminist movement began in the 1800s. But what do I know? I’m just a dinky blogger from Alabama.
“That meeting was a reality check for me—and not just about Iraq. It was a reminder that all of us still have an obligation to ask: Don’t more women deserve a place at the table too?”
You deserve a place at the table only if you’re qualified and prepared, Katie – not simply because you’re filling a quota. But far be it from me to suggest that a news anchor from a major network should possess basic English skills and a knowledge of history.
Rush Limbaugh has commentary here. Ian at Hot Air opines here.
Her Jan. 15 “blog” post about the dearth of female news anchors left me scratching my head. Describing a meeting regarding U.S. policy in Iraq between senior White House officials and prominent members of the news media, she wrote:
“I couldn’t help but notice, despite how far we’ve come, that I was still the only woman there.”
Uh, that should be, “I couldn’t help noticing,” Katie.
“Well, there was some female support staff near the door. But of the people at the table, the ‘principals’ in the meeting, I was the only one wearing a skirt. Everyone was gracious, though the jocular atmosphere was palpable.”
Okay, I’m going to give her the benefit of the doubt. If she meant “jocular” as in people were making jokes, I don’t understand why she would contrast it with everyone being “gracious.” Doesn’t make sense. Perhaps she meant that everyone was being nice but she wasn’t in on “the joke,” whatever that was.
Others have speculated, though, that she used “jocular” as some sort of adjective wrenched from “jock.” If so, God help us, she should be condemned to the fifth circle of Hell, where the only reading materials are Webster’s and the AP Style Manual.
“The feminist movement that began in the 1970’s helped women make tremendous strides …”
Wha? I thought the feminist movement began in the 1800s. But what do I know? I’m just a dinky blogger from Alabama.
“That meeting was a reality check for me—and not just about Iraq. It was a reminder that all of us still have an obligation to ask: Don’t more women deserve a place at the table too?”
You deserve a place at the table only if you’re qualified and prepared, Katie – not simply because you’re filling a quota. But far be it from me to suggest that a news anchor from a major network should possess basic English skills and a knowledge of history.
Rush Limbaugh has commentary here. Ian at Hot Air opines here.
Friday, January 05, 2007
Me and Kevin Bacon
The GGB is at home with a cold. Slightly bored. Mindlessly 'Net surfing. And I wonder: How many degrees of separation are there between me and Kevin Bacon? Let's see.
Me
> college acquaintance Lissa
> Michael Keaton (Lissa used to babysit for Keaton when she lived in California)
> Jack Nicholson (starred in Batman w/Keaton)
> Kevin Bacon (starred in A Few Good Men w/Nicholson)
That was easy.
My buddy Kevin.
Me
> college acquaintance Lissa
> Michael Keaton (Lissa used to babysit for Keaton when she lived in California)
> Jack Nicholson (starred in Batman w/Keaton)
> Kevin Bacon (starred in A Few Good Men w/Nicholson)
That was easy.
My buddy Kevin.
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Demi Moore is starring in WHAT?
Anyone notice the error in the NewsGator item below?
I'm sure Demi Moore fans everywhere will be lining up to see that one.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Laura Bush refuses to be poster child for skin cancer; press revolts
The White House Press Corps has gone completely insane.
Witness Tony Snow's grilling about why Laura Bush's skin cancer removal was not immediately disclosed. (Secrecy in the Bush White House ... ooooh!)
Malkin has a great transcript here.
Mrs. Bush had a nickel-sized squamous cell lesion removed -- getting your wisdom teeth removed is more painful and invasive. However, once the press heard cancer, they immediately began demanding why Mrs. Bush wasn't doing public service announcements about the dangers of not wearing your sunblock. Apparently, we're all idiots and can't take care of ourselves unless Mizz Laura tells us to:
(White House Press Doofus) "What I'm saying is even though she may not be an elected official, she's a very public official and very well loved. And as someone who has two adolescents who don't like to listen to mother when she says, put on the sun screen, get out of the sun, she could potentially have a great influence on a lot of people's lives, especially young women."
AAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! ::: pounds head on desk :::
Aren't you a little tired of celebrities and their diseases? I'm all for awareness-raising, but geez Louise, why do we demand that sick people parade themselves on Oprah and lecture the masses on going to the doctor regularly?
I wish Mrs. Bush godspeed ... and for the press to leave her the heck alone.
Witness Tony Snow's grilling about why Laura Bush's skin cancer removal was not immediately disclosed. (Secrecy in the Bush White House ... ooooh!)
Malkin has a great transcript here.
Mrs. Bush had a nickel-sized squamous cell lesion removed -- getting your wisdom teeth removed is more painful and invasive. However, once the press heard cancer, they immediately began demanding why Mrs. Bush wasn't doing public service announcements about the dangers of not wearing your sunblock. Apparently, we're all idiots and can't take care of ourselves unless Mizz Laura tells us to:
(White House Press Doofus) "What I'm saying is even though she may not be an elected official, she's a very public official and very well loved. And as someone who has two adolescents who don't like to listen to mother when she says, put on the sun screen, get out of the sun, she could potentially have a great influence on a lot of people's lives, especially young women."
AAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! ::: pounds head on desk :::
Aren't you a little tired of celebrities and their diseases? I'm all for awareness-raising, but geez Louise, why do we demand that sick people parade themselves on Oprah and lecture the masses on going to the doctor regularly?
I wish Mrs. Bush godspeed ... and for the press to leave her the heck alone.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
A little Christmas cheer
Yikes! Another month has gone by since my last post. *tsk, tsk, tsk* Oh, so much to blog about. Jimmy Carter. Mahmoud Dinnerjacket. Britney Spears.
Well, maybe not Britney.
But in the spirit of the holiday, I will forego the usual political nattering and instead bring you this priceless clip from Mr. Bean, courtesy of Hot Air:
Merry Christmas, Mr. Bean
Enjoy.
Well, maybe not Britney.
But in the spirit of the holiday, I will forego the usual political nattering and instead bring you this priceless clip from Mr. Bean, courtesy of Hot Air:
Merry Christmas, Mr. Bean
Enjoy.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Rangel, Kerry singing from same hymnal
I blogged yesterday about Charlie Rangel's swipe at my neighbor, the great State of Mississippi. Rep. Chip Pickering (R) has demanded an apology and voiced what's on many Southerners' minds:
"I hope his remarks are not the kind of insults, slander and defamation that Mississippians will come to expect from the Democrat leadership in Washington, D.C.," he said.
Don't get your hopes up, Chip.
Rangel came back with this Kerry-esque response: "I certainly don't mean to offend anyone. I just love New York so much that I can't understand why everyone wouldn't want to live here."
Reminds me of Ray Nagin's insistence that "chocolate" meant "a drink made with white milk and dark chocolate."
This "I meant the exact opposite of what I said" act is getting old, but I don't think it's fooling many people. Personally, I say, keep handing them the microphones. Let's have the whole country hear more about what bigots they are. Yes, I said bigots. Smearing the troops or Southerners is just as bigoted as smearing African-Americans or homosexuals.
Dang, I'm getting cranky. Time for the weekend and some time out with Rich.
"I hope his remarks are not the kind of insults, slander and defamation that Mississippians will come to expect from the Democrat leadership in Washington, D.C.," he said.
Don't get your hopes up, Chip.
Rangel came back with this Kerry-esque response: "I certainly don't mean to offend anyone. I just love New York so much that I can't understand why everyone wouldn't want to live here."
Reminds me of Ray Nagin's insistence that "chocolate" meant "a drink made with white milk and dark chocolate."
This "I meant the exact opposite of what I said" act is getting old, but I don't think it's fooling many people. Personally, I say, keep handing them the microphones. Let's have the whole country hear more about what bigots they are. Yes, I said bigots. Smearing the troops or Southerners is just as bigoted as smearing African-Americans or homosexuals.
Dang, I'm getting cranky. Time for the weekend and some time out with Rich.
He never shoulda been there in the first place
Note to Shakira: Would you like to write a check to Adrienne Shelly's widower and child to help compensate them after her brutal murder at the hands of an illegal immigrant?
Would you, by any chance, like to amend your statement at the Latin Grammys in support of "the recognition [illegals] deserve from the government"? I'm sorry ... exactly what sort of recognition did this piece of crap deserve?
Just asking.
(Hat tip: Michelle Malkin)
Would you, by any chance, like to amend your statement at the Latin Grammys in support of "the recognition [illegals] deserve from the government"? I'm sorry ... exactly what sort of recognition did this piece of crap deserve?
Just asking.
(Hat tip: Michelle Malkin)
Thursday, November 09, 2006
He ain't whistlin' Dixie
Charlie Rangel takes a swipe at the South. From the New York Times (big surprise):
“It’s not just committees — our influence within the House Democratic caucus will grow enormously,” Mr. Rangel said in an interview. To that end, he sketched out an expansive federal agenda: Teaming up with Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg on gun control, passing new tax incentives for urban job programs, and redirecting federal money to New York in return for the outsize tax collections that the federal government makes here.
“It’s not just committees — our influence within the House Democratic caucus will grow enormously,” Mr. Rangel said in an interview. To that end, he sketched out an expansive federal agenda: Teaming up with Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg on gun control, passing new tax incentives for urban job programs, and redirecting federal money to New York in return for the outsize tax collections that the federal government makes here.
“Mississippi gets more than their fair share back in federal money, but who the hell wants to live in Mississippi?” Mr. Rangel said.
I thought the Dems were all about helping poor people, and there are more poor people in Mississippi than in New York, right? So, why the griping, Charlie?
But I, frankly, am glad that Mr. Rangel doesn't live in Mississippi or anywhere else near me. He's a doofus. Ted Nugent nailed him on Hannity & Colmes a few years ago on the subject of gun control. Nugent pointedly asked what he'd do if someone were breaking into his house and threatening his family. Rangel said, "Call 911." Nugent laughed and said, "Good luck."
Yeah, that's the problem with you gun-control nuts: By the time you have to call 911, it's often too late.
For example, on 9/11.
(Hat tip: Michelle Malkin)Tuesday, November 07, 2006
OMG
Y'all, I am so bummed.
Terrorism. Illegal immigration. John Kerry's frightening mug. It's all just trivia now because of the horrors of Brit and K-Fred breaking up.
Who could have seen this one coming? I mean, what a great couple. Just the perfect couple. And Brit is the one doing the leaving. Is she crazy? What's not to love about this guy?
I'll be okay, y'all. Just give me a little while.
::: sniff :::
Friday, November 03, 2006
Aw ... say it isn't so
I like Shakira. I really, really like Shakira. As one of the few contemporary singers I bother to keep up with on occasion, she saves me from being a complete old-timer permanently stuck in Retroville.
And now she's done it. Dangit. According to Fox News:
"She threw her support to those trying to become citizens as they work without documentation. 'I hope soon they will receive they recognition they deserve from the government,' the Colombian superstar said."
Shakira, girlfriend, please ... "the recognition they deserve"? They deserve??
By the way, I don't know where this "trying to become citizens" business comes from. Between the Mechistas claiming that the southwestern U.S. belongs to them anyway and the revolving door at the border, I don't see a whole lot of investment in the idea of U.S. citizenship.
First George, and now Shakira. Oh, this makes my head hurt.
And now she's done it. Dangit. According to Fox News:
"She threw her support to those trying to become citizens as they work without documentation. 'I hope soon they will receive they recognition they deserve from the government,' the Colombian superstar said."
Shakira, girlfriend, please ... "the recognition they deserve"? They deserve??
By the way, I don't know where this "trying to become citizens" business comes from. Between the Mechistas claiming that the southwestern U.S. belongs to them anyway and the revolving door at the border, I don't see a whole lot of investment in the idea of U.S. citizenship.
First George, and now Shakira. Oh, this makes my head hurt.
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