Thursday, August 28, 2008
Lest We Think We're Past It Now
Make no mistake, Obama's speech tonight was paradigmatic.
BUT, just as I went to turn off the TV, I heard Pat Robertson make the statement I think I was waiting for without really knowing it. He said something to the effect that Obama did what he needed to do, he was a man.
A man.
How delightfully male was tonight's event? Don't get me wrong, I got the chills. I craved a Democratic candidate stepping to the Republican's eight years of bullshit - and step he did. But in that moment of thinking about the very masculine aspects of tonight's hallmark speech, did you wonder what Clinton's speech would've sounded like? I think Robertson's statement, however, hints at a large level of comfort that will rush back to the mainly male talking-head circuit: we can stop worrying about the girl now! Phew. Male metaphors for all!
I don't think gender decided this election anymore than I think, ultimately, race will decide the general election. But that doesn't mean we're cured, either.
Catherine, you around? Surely you had similar thoughts? Probably far better formed than mine are. I'm going to revisit this.
BUT, just as I went to turn off the TV, I heard Pat Robertson make the statement I think I was waiting for without really knowing it. He said something to the effect that Obama did what he needed to do, he was a man.
A man.
How delightfully male was tonight's event? Don't get me wrong, I got the chills. I craved a Democratic candidate stepping to the Republican's eight years of bullshit - and step he did. But in that moment of thinking about the very masculine aspects of tonight's hallmark speech, did you wonder what Clinton's speech would've sounded like? I think Robertson's statement, however, hints at a large level of comfort that will rush back to the mainly male talking-head circuit: we can stop worrying about the girl now! Phew. Male metaphors for all!
I don't think gender decided this election anymore than I think, ultimately, race will decide the general election. But that doesn't mean we're cured, either.
Catherine, you around? Surely you had similar thoughts? Probably far better formed than mine are. I'm going to revisit this.
And That, Kids, Is How You Give A Speech
Damn. THAT's what I've been waiting for.
In a word - and I said it before Keith Olbermann did: Sorkinesque.
Except it was real. He said, in not too much less a blunt way, cut the crap.
Loved it.
In a word - and I said it before Keith Olbermann did: Sorkinesque.
Except it was real. He said, in not too much less a blunt way, cut the crap.
Loved it.
Just To Be Clear
Yeah, I posted that I would rather NOT vote for an Obama/Biden ticket.
But let's be totally, utterly, completely, absolutely, un-f-ing-mistakably clear: I will vote for the Obama/Biden ticket in November. Period.
Those who, like the stupid, wing-nut "PUMAs" that the MSM et al. seem to find with great luck, will refuse to vote for Obama, despite being anti-McCain, because of Biden's negatives are . . . well, I don't want to say "stupid," because it sounds like an ad hominem attack, which is never good for discourse. But saying ignorant implies there was no opportunity to observe what happens when a just-large-enough mass of politically confused exercise the "privilege of idealism" (h/t).
2000, people. It's our generations Alamo. You should remember it. And everything that came after.
There are about 50 good reasons, sound acadmic arguments, against Biden. I only need one word: hawk. But he's better than Bush. He's better than the Bush machine which clearly still has a choke holdon the once respectable McCain. So f that. I'm sticking with my team, loudly and proudly.
Everyone get the hell over it and get back to business.
But let's be totally, utterly, completely, absolutely, un-f-ing-mistakably clear: I will vote for the Obama/Biden ticket in November. Period.
Those who, like the stupid, wing-nut "PUMAs" that the MSM et al. seem to find with great luck, will refuse to vote for Obama, despite being anti-McCain, because of Biden's negatives are . . . well, I don't want to say "stupid," because it sounds like an ad hominem attack, which is never good for discourse. But saying ignorant implies there was no opportunity to observe what happens when a just-large-enough mass of politically confused exercise the "privilege of idealism" (h/t).
2000, people. It's our generations Alamo. You should remember it. And everything that came after.
There are about 50 good reasons, sound acadmic arguments, against Biden. I only need one word: hawk. But he's better than Bush. He's better than the Bush machine which clearly still has a choke holdon the once respectable McCain. So f that. I'm sticking with my team, loudly and proudly.
Everyone get the hell over it and get back to business.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Her 'last act of political activism was getting married'
Lesbian rights pioneer Del Martin dies
Sad day - but at least she was able to marry before she died.
Don't forget to vote no on 8.
Sad day - but at least she was able to marry before she died.
Don't forget to vote no on 8.
Wait, Aren't We Missing An Option Here?
No fair! Some law schools are hiding their dumb kids in part-time programs so as not to blemish their precious US News rankings. But US News is onto you, bad law schools. They may start counting your part-timers! Ha! Then you won't be able to use them as cash cows who don't kill your numbers. But if US News pulls the trigger, beware!
Seriously, y'all, so you're saying you'd have to cut the multi-colored crap at the bottom that you were totally cool with letting in before? So are you saying you're NOT letting in qualified candidates right now? I'm pro-affirmative action, but somehow, the above statement highlights everything those against affirmative action have tried to pin on the policy since its inception. Ugh.
Law schools are dumb, law school administration can be even dumber. US News, though, is subscription evil.
*Yeah, CMC, I'm looking at you and your student-body-increasing-itude.
Counting part-timers would roil the law-school rankings, which have a big impact on where students apply and from where law firms hire. A number of law-school administrators interviewed about the potential change contend it could have another effect: narrowing a traditional pathway to law school for minorities and working professionals. Those groups often perform worse on the important Law School Admission Test, or LSAT, and schools could feel pressure to raise their admission thresholdsOR, wait for it, schools could stop changing their programs to make them mesh with limited, static metrics that sometimes run counter to the school's founding philosophy.*
Seriously, y'all, so you're saying you'd have to cut the multi-colored crap at the bottom that you were totally cool with letting in before? So are you saying you're NOT letting in qualified candidates right now? I'm pro-affirmative action, but somehow, the above statement highlights everything those against affirmative action have tried to pin on the policy since its inception. Ugh.
Law schools are dumb, law school administration can be even dumber. US News, though, is subscription evil.
*Yeah, CMC, I'm looking at you and your student-body-increasing-itude.
Nancy Kates Should Stop Complaining
A very long time ago - certainly pre-9/11, I beeped going through the Oakland airport security line despite having no metal on me. Or so I thought. On the secondary wanding, it was the metal hook-and-eye closure on my bra that had set off the beeping. Pretty sensitive equipment. The woman with the wand placed her hand on my back, felt the closure and let me go on my way. Short. Non-invasive. And I was out of there.
Not so for this entirely unreasonable woman, also at Oakland airport, who was "indignant" over her ordeal. Big-breasted women deserve special rules, it seems.
As with most of my least-favorite "this is what's wrong with America" articles about post-9/11 security matters, the beefs expressed miss the greater wrongs in favor of slapping at lower-paid TSA employees who really, truly, have heard it and seen it all before, so you may as well stop trying.
We all know - or at least think we know - that the safety measures implemented wouldn't have done boo to prevent 9/11. But really, get the fuck over it, y'all. Check out Nancy Kates, and the reporter's, final anecdote that I guess is supposed to highlight the foolishness of those bastards at OAK:
The screener was justified in confirming that the wire in Nancy Kates's bra was an underwire and not something else. The Fourth Amendment has nothing to do with it and I'll thank you to stop cheapening our Constitutional protections which are under truer attack from greater forces even as I type.
Can't believe this story warranted ink.
Not so for this entirely unreasonable woman, also at Oakland airport, who was "indignant" over her ordeal. Big-breasted women deserve special rules, it seems.
As with most of my least-favorite "this is what's wrong with America" articles about post-9/11 security matters, the beefs expressed miss the greater wrongs in favor of slapping at lower-paid TSA employees who really, truly, have heard it and seen it all before, so you may as well stop trying.
We all know - or at least think we know - that the safety measures implemented wouldn't have done boo to prevent 9/11. But really, get the fuck over it, y'all. Check out Nancy Kates, and the reporter's, final anecdote that I guess is supposed to highlight the foolishness of those bastards at OAK:
Kates said that although she flies about once a month, the only other time her bra has set off alarms in an airport was while she was being "wanded" in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. When she explained to the security agent that the wand was picking up the metal in her bra, she said, that was the end of the matter and she was allowed to go on her way.Right. So all the TSA screener needs is your word for it, right? After all, you're a red-blooded American and no one should suspect you of anything.
The screener was justified in confirming that the wire in Nancy Kates's bra was an underwire and not something else. The Fourth Amendment has nothing to do with it and I'll thank you to stop cheapening our Constitutional protections which are under truer attack from greater forces even as I type.
Can't believe this story warranted ink.
Amen, Mr. Stewart
Friday, August 22, 2008
All You Need To Know About Our Immigration Policy
From the acting director of ICE, commenting on the self-deportation program, set to end soon, which had been enacted to calm fears of immigrant advocates:
Advocates said the program was designed to fail from the start and its failure may now embolden enforcement efforts. Like, the bad kind of enforcement efforts.
"They want amnesty, they want open borders, and they want a more vulnerable America," Hayes said.To make that statement work, you must equate both amnesty and open borders with vulnerability. I'm not sure both do, or not both equally anyway.
Advocates said the program was designed to fail from the start and its failure may now embolden enforcement efforts. Like, the bad kind of enforcement efforts.
Bid Biden Good-bye, Please
So the rumor mills are pumping out massive amounts of Biden predictions as Obama's VP choice draws near. First, it's totally smart to announce before the convention because if he didn't, I might mistakenly watch more of the convention. After two weeks of Olympics (the coverage of which largely poos on the West Coast audience by airing after 11pm, but whatever), I just don't know that I can be chained to my TV anymore. Plus the regular season starts soon, and I need to rest up before the premiere of 30 Rock.
And this is a junkie saying she isn't so amped about the Denver do. That should worry my party.
But anyway, back to Biden.
In 1991, I recall really liking Biden as I watched him chair the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings.
Yes, really. If you do the math, I was 12, but I was a highly attentive sixth grader, I assure you.
Since 1991, however, Biden became a pretty raging hawk and I don't dig on war. I'm still bothered by Clinton's pro-war vote. Biden is even more aggressive on the issue than she is. Maybe he's not quite Lieberman, but I wouldn't count on Biden to urge Obama away from, say, invading Iran.
And this is a junkie saying she isn't so amped about the Denver do. That should worry my party.
But anyway, back to Biden.
In 1991, I recall really liking Biden as I watched him chair the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings.
Yes, really. If you do the math, I was 12, but I was a highly attentive sixth grader, I assure you.
Since 1991, however, Biden became a pretty raging hawk and I don't dig on war. I'm still bothered by Clinton's pro-war vote. Biden is even more aggressive on the issue than she is. Maybe he's not quite Lieberman, but I wouldn't count on Biden to urge Obama away from, say, invading Iran.
Math Comes Up Short
The new requirement that 8th graders take Algebra 1 has schools scrambling for math teachers. I wonder if our cultural "girls think math is hard" bias gets us into this mess.
If I ever went into teaching, I'd love to be a math or science teacher. If for no other reason, being an algebra teacher would be great because it would probably cause an adverse reaction in my own algebra teacher who thought I was possibly one of the stupidest people ever.
If I ever went into teaching, I'd love to be a math or science teacher. If for no other reason, being an algebra teacher would be great because it would probably cause an adverse reaction in my own algebra teacher who thought I was possibly one of the stupidest people ever.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Via Amber: Baby Lawyer Advice
If you were brave/foolish/broke enough to go for a job with a firm now that you've graduated from law school and taken the bar, you should probably bookmark this.
Nothing But A G Thang
Introduce me to someone with the last name of "Dominquez." No really, I'd love to meet him or her. A google search of "Dominquez" presents you with the question of whether you meant "Dominguez."
You probably did.
I would love to know how someone can correctly send me an email to an address including my last name BUT STILL MISSPELL MY SURNAME IN THE EMAIL. REPEATEDLY.
Read. Just read. That's all I'm asking. Maybe also apply some common sense and general knowledge gleaned from living in a largely Hispanic state.
I'm just saying.
You probably did.
I would love to know how someone can correctly send me an email to an address including my last name BUT STILL MISSPELL MY SURNAME IN THE EMAIL. REPEATEDLY.
Read. Just read. That's all I'm asking. Maybe also apply some common sense and general knowledge gleaned from living in a largely Hispanic state.
I'm just saying.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
POL Cats
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
At Least He's Consistent
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Fast Times
A more thorough explanation of the advances in swim technology at work in Bejing than "they have those fast suits now."
I appreciated the list linked above because it eases some of my fears that Phelps et al. will get nailed for doping or something later. I don't think they will since they undergo daily (multiple-daily?) blood tests to ensure they are clean. I may google around later for more on the science of the pool depth, width, and lane dividers' effect on times.
I appreciated the list linked above because it eases some of my fears that Phelps et al. will get nailed for doping or something later. I don't think they will since they undergo daily (multiple-daily?) blood tests to ensure they are clean. I may google around later for more on the science of the pool depth, width, and lane dividers' effect on times.
