Wafts of optimism

Another sneaky procedural move by Democratic legislative leaders, this time on an actual bill that is likely to have widespread support, once the trivial GOP filibuster in the Senate is bypassed. You wouldn't want too much reform on Capitol Hill, would you?

It's only Tuesday...

The fundamental problem with this week is that I'm doing way too much of this, and not nearly enough of this. I mean, really, stop the train . . .

It's my station, I can lie if I want to!

Fox news (successfully) asserts the absence of law requiring that news be truthful -- let their viewers beware!!!

When kittens go wrong

This cute orange bobblehead becomes... a cat-o-pottomus. Or at least a large and somewhat baffling mop of fur... Cute, or terrifying??

Contempt

Tony Auth pens one of those in-a-nutshell visuals that distill some 6 years of arrogant and heedless power-mongering into a concise image. Sigh.

Friday silliness

Ever have cardboard tube "sword" battles with your siblings (or maybe college roomates)? Turns out there's a whole organization devoted to the sport, and of course public contests of skill and strength. One can only hope this inspired notion spreads eastward . . .

(via GirlHacker)

Today's crankies

It's not enough that we ship our troops to police a civil war, leave their families to make do, and bring them home with physical and spiritual injuries; now we are charging them for equipment that got destroyed on the job (where "on the job" means "during a war," right?)... insane.

Meanwhile, on the home front, the Airline Pilots Security Alliance notes that none of its security recommendations, all of which were aimed at real vulnerabilities, have been taken, while the TSA busies itself confiscating your toothpaste and peering into your loafers...
(via boing boing)

Modern hotties

A different take on the "Sexiest man alive" contest is provided by AfterElton.com, a gay voters' ranking of the hotties in the public eye (modeled on AfterEllen, in which lesbians offered a Top 100 list different from those chosen by Maxim). Quite a bit of eye candy there, a lot of faces from recent hit TV, and a few surprises of the Nice Guy variety. Looking at the selection, however, I suspect that Clooney's position near the bottom of the list might reflect a certain age bias among the selectors . . .

(via Medley)

"President's war on work"

We've been in the midst of a class war for some time now, and kudos to Edwards that he found a way to make that clear to the average listener and a program of tax reform that might have a fighting chance.

Quote of the day

Must be out-of-doors enough to get experience of wholesome reality, as a ballast to thought and sentiment. Health requires this relaxation, this aimless life. This life in the present. Let a man have thought what he will of Nature in the house, she will still be novel outdoors. I keep out of doors for the sake of the mineral, vegetable, and animal in me.

Henry David Thoreau
Journal entry, November 4, 1852

Shameless

Don't like how things are going, even though it's your guys making the mess? Just relabel the offenders as Democrats and whoosh! problem solved (or, at least, buck passed)...

It's amazing that Fox can keep a license.

Get a move on!

I swear, I go away for a few days' (much-needed) vacation, and I return to find that we're still in the midst of a Constitutional crisis. What have all the rest of you been up to in my absence?! Sigh.

Two interesting bits on feminism

Actually, they're about/by men who are (pro-)feminist. Both longish but worth reading all the way through.

1. The first is about the dual need to support women's battles against patriarchy (and make a difference wherever possible) while simultaneously handling the mix of emotions that comes from hearing stories that cast men as haters. It's noteworthy not only for showing equal attention to both types of problems, but for understanding that injecting "this bums me out" into every feminist conversation is entirely unhelpful and can derail necessary conversations of a different type. I applaud the author for helping create a "feminist ally" community where such discussions can productively take place.
   (via Medley)
   
   
2. The second is less about that particular struggle than about how we teach college students to think about consent. In particular, I agree that just teaching "how not to be raped" is sadly lacking, and "how not to be a rapist" is a critical component as well. Even more helpful is his argument that

   The opposite of rape is not consent. The opposite of rape is enthusiasm.

   That certainly reframes the situation where pushing and pushing (against silence or denial) can be seen as an ok form of behavior between partners, not to mention taking advantage of silent or unconscious individuals. Useful thoughts.

I'm out of here for a long weekend, so you'll have to make do without me until Wednesday. cheers!

Brilliant!

Somebody finds a way to replicate the joy of sliding down a wood floor in your socks -- by making a sort of boot that lets you skate on carpet! Makes me wish that my house didn't shift from wood to carpet every ten feet or so...

(via Rebecca's Pocket)

From the Department of We Learn Nothing

FEMA finds yet another way to screw Katrina survivors . . .

A twisted refrain

It's frustrating that a Democratic majority isn't enough to create change on a national level. But even more frustrating is that no argument or maneouver can even get decent factual coverage -- take this distortion as an example. It's the Republicans who are filibustering, thank you very much! eesh!!

Image of the day

The news is increasingly leaving me prostrate with anger, frustration, shame. Constitutional scoffing by those sworn to uphold its principles, the souls of our armed forces being sucked into the maelstrom of Vietnam Iraq, and all the rational counter-balances left without teeth. Somehow it all feels summarized well by this single visual, although Bitch, Ph.D., really has the links and rant to go with it . . .

Why impeaching Cheney wouldn't be wasted effort

Because he's still agitating for more war (in Iran this time), and who knows how many other evil schemes are up his sleeve...

(via Follow Me Here)

Well, this explains why they're so happy to have us there!

A soldier explains the destructive and seemingly pointless raids on Iraqi homes that they carried out on a regular basis. Yes, gentle occupiers, we . . .

Adventures in produce IV: Some summer favorites

I'm a bit behind, but here was the haul of our last produce share:


First, another head of lettuce, and one of radicchio (bleah!).


A bag of potatos! And several tomatos!!


This week's novelty grouping: dreidl-shaped summer squash, cucumbers,
dandelion greens, a sweet onion, and a "lemon cucumber."


And last, but not at all least -- fresh corn!! 12 ears!

Many good meals, including some on the grill, have come from all this -- we hope there will be even more corn (and tomatos and other favorites) in the next batch!