So it Goes.

Dear Donald...

2011-09-17T19:13:00.000+09:00

On the right is Rick Perry, current governor of the state of Texas, and running for the Republican nomination for president of the US of A. Below is Jim Perry, former major-league baseball player, and Minnesota Twin. When I was a kid, I used to play Strat-o-matic baseball, and he was one of my pitchers.

And this, is you. You're an idiot.

Posters

2011-08-15T08:44:00.005+09:00

I used to do this in Korea, but haven't done it much in Japan. My Japanese is still pretty basic, but I'm guessing the text is a translation of the English posters, which say "It all ends." (The first two characters (これ) are roughly similar to 'this,' so maybe "This ends" or something like that.) Time to hit the books, and study my日本語。

By the way, I loved the movie. Exciting and heart-breaking. I'm going to miss these characters.

Happy Rapture Day!

2011-05-20T23:19:00.002+09:00

Missionary Positions

2011-03-19T12:38:00.000+09:00

So let me see if I got this straight (so to speak.) According to some "good Christians," the massive earthquake and devastating tsunami that struck Japan last week happened because:

Japan is shaped liked a dragon, and Japanese people worship dragons
The emperor sleeps with a succubus on a special bed
The Japanese aren't religious enough, or at least christiany enough

Many of these same people celebrated the 2004 tsunami that killed 250,000 people because a lot of Muslims were killed. And now these people want to send missionaries to Japan to convert them to Christianity, because this god that sent the disaster is the only way to...ummm...I don't know...go to heaven with this mean god or something.

Social Networking in a Disaster

2011-03-14T22:07:00.001+09:00

During the last few days, it became crystal clear what a valuable tool Facebook is. At it's best, such as we witnessed after the earthquake and tsunami here in Japan, it's the best way to let people 'back home' know you're alive and well. The support we received helped us all cope. I can tell you there is nothing more frightening than what I experienced on Friday afternoon, but it pales in comparison to the destruction and horror up north in Miyagi Prefecture. In the recent revolutions across north Africa, Facebook and Twitter were incredibly important tools.

But Facebook also became the tool for another group of people--people whose lack of humanity is shocking, and yet, perhaps, unsurprising. These people unleashed a torrent of hate and indifference, with not one ounce of compassion for those suffering on the other side of the world. I saw a collection of Facebook posts at a couple of blogs, a collection that enraged and saddened me. I don't know what makes people like this. I understand nastiness and hate on the Internet--that is not new. But usually that hate hides behind the anonymity of the Internet. These were people posting on their Facebook pages--showing names and pictures of the people unleashing this hate. Young people, old people. Most of these people seemed to think Japan deserved this horror, as some sort of 'payback' for the attack on Pearl Harbor, seventy years ago. Think about that for a minute. Some even brought God into this, somehow God was getting Japan back for Pearl Harbor. Think about that for a minute. I would take bets on whether these same people identified themselves as Christian on their Facebook pages. (Remember the awful people who were 'relieved' that most of those killed in the 2004 tsunami were Muslims, not Christians.) By the same logic, should the USA be punished for Hiroshima and Nagasaki? For Dresden? For the firebombing of Tokyo? For the internment of Japanese-Americans? For Vietnam? For the continuing killings of innocents in Afghanistan? By this same logic, what was America being punished for by Katrina? For 9/11?

This kind of hate unleashed is nothing new, perhaps just the delivery of it is easier than ever. But look at the other news filling the cable news shows--class warfare, union busting, political attacks on Muslims, gays, women--and this from politicians, and those who bring us the news. The hate that spews out of the radio and the TV is then echoed by those who listen to Rush and Glenn and Hannity and O'Reilly and countless other. Perhaps I shouldn't be surprise by what I read, but I am. And I am sad. And disheartened. And happy I live here, in Japan, and not there.

Remember that the title of this blog (SO IT GOES) comes from Kurt Vonnegut's novel Slaughterhouse-5, which is about the fire-bombing of Dresden, something Vonnegut himself witnessed as a prisoner-of-war.

Defense of Marriage?

2011-03-08T11:24:00.000+09:00

These guys are all against same-sex marriage. They recently whined about the Obama-Holder decision on DOMA. They all love "traditional marriage" so much that they've done it a lot. Newt, three times. Trump, three times. ~~Rash~~ Rush, four times. Way to defend marriage, ~~douchebags~~ gentlemen.

INTERPOSITION

2010-08-29T19:05:00.001+09:00

INTERPOSITION, originally uploaded by driftglass00.

Brilliant. Just brilliant. Seen at Driftglass.

How Not to Travel

2010-08-18T19:50:00.001+09:00

From one of my favorite sites: Fundies Say the Darndest Things:

(Board member forwards a message from his daughter about her mission trip to Japan)

“It's 9:17 pm Wednesday here in Tokyo. That would be about 7:17 am where you are. Today, we went prayer walking at Asakusa Temple, and it was devastating. As you enter through the large gates, you see two huge statues of "protectors" (translation: demons). [holy shit, demons-tom] Beyond that is a market place and then another gate with yet more demon representations. As you enter the second gate, you can see people bowing to the false gods before they enter. [uh-oh, this is not going to be pretty-tom] Then, you're greeted by the smell of incense as you watch people stand around an altar, bathing themselves in the smoke in order to purify themselves. After that, they go to the right where a large water fountain/basin is located so that they can rinse their hands and mouths to purify those. To the left is an atrocity. They have a bronze Buddha called a "healing Buddha." [a statue is not an atrocity-tom] People rub the place on the idol that needs healing and then rub themselves in the same stop. It's terrible. Inside the temple was bad, too. People were throwing money into this large...thing...and clapping their hands before saying a prayer. Yes, they have to pay the gods to listen to their prayers and clap to wake them up. [give money to your religion? shocking...stop your tithing now you christians!] It's the worst. There are two large lantern-like things to either side in which people place small white birthday candles to pray for aborted babies [whaaaa!?-tom] (this is normally done by a family who suffered this tragedy). Beyond this is an area where only members of the temple can enter in which they pray to false gods. Beyond that is something similar to the Holy of Holies in the Jewish temple. Only the monks could enter. I saw someone open the door, and the monks were simply lounging about."[hmmm...praying maybe-tom]... "Outside to the right of the temple was a Shinto shrine. There, someone had brought their new car to get blessed, and we watched as a shrine priest performed a very long ceremony over it. [that never happens in Christian churches, right?-tom] These people are lost. They are so spiritually blind. I've never seen idol worship to this extent before, and it's a sad thing.

Also, yesterday, we did 5 minute English lessons. [wonder what they used to teach, maybe THE BIBLE?-tom] I felt I was largely unsuccessful. [no kidding, 5 minutes? WTF?-tom] It took a long time for people to come to me, and when they did, they were all men. The problem with that is that I, as a woman, can't ask a man for any sort of friendship without it meaning something...more. [sad, sad-tom] And none of them were actually interested in what I had to say. ['cause you were tying to preach to them you stupid idiot!-tom] Although, many lost interest when they found out I was with a Christian organization.” [no shit, sherlock-tom]

People like this should never, ever, leave the USA. This is why they hate us. Can you imagine if some Buddhist monk, or Shinto priest, or rabbi, or (gasp) imam showed up at her church to preach and try to convert people? She'd have a heart attack, then start shooting.

Wow! Watch This....

2010-06-26T15:37:00.002+09:00

Lightning strikes three of the tallest buildings in Chicago at the same time! from Craig Shimala on Vimeo.

Pics from Kawaguchiko

2010-06-13T09:47:00.001+09:00

I wanted to upload a few pics, but it seems Blogger and Safari don't play well together. Same problem with Firefox. Here's just one pic of the mysterious Mt. Fuji.

On the Train: Keisei Line and Toyo Rapid Line (Shin-Keisei too)

2010-05-21T10:59:00.001+09:00

Theocracy, American Style

2010-05-14T18:09:00.000+09:00

So I'm popping around the various blogs (of the lefty persuasion) and come across an interesting discussion on The Young Turks video show, hosted by Cenk Uygur (I think I spelled that correctly.) He was interviewing a conservative writer (S.E. Cupp) who has written a book called Losing Our Religion: The Liberal Media's Attack on Christianity. Yeah, I know. She tried (and failed) to provide any real examples of the "liberal media" attacking helpless Christians. The host tried desperately to get her to be specific, but eventually she got frustrated and hung up on him. First--I am so tired of the "liberal media" crap. Second--I am so tired of the "stop picking on us Christians, we are 80 percent of the American population!"

I applaud Cenk for pushing for specifics, but I do have one quibble. Ms. Cupp kept trying to push the idea President Obama is not sufficiently Christian, and Mr. Uygur kept asking, again, for specifics. My beef--he should have asked why the president's religion is so vital in the United States. I have found it refreshing the last few years to live in a secular country (Korea) where religion is in the background. I am finding that to be the case here in Japan, as well. When I lived in Thailand, religion is so deeply engrained in the culture, and yet not something that is so "in-your-face" as the USA. (It is much more important in the south of the country, where there are tensions between the Buddhist majority and the Muslim minority.) But in the USA, could an atheist (or an agnostic) be elected president? Or senator? or...well, any office.

When I think about returning to the States to live, I consider the state of politics. I thought that after 2008, after the end of the frightening Bush regime, I would be comfortable returning. But now, with the state of things, and the current overheated climate, I think I need to stay away a few more years. There are a lot of crazy people running loose in the USA right now.

Trains

2010-05-11T19:50:00.002+09:00

GeoTagged, [N35.72934, W140.10381]

I spend a lot of my time on trains, being that I work at five different schools around the area. Luckily, I do get reimbursed. The Japanese railway may be the best in the world.

Adjustments

2010-05-11T13:08:00.001+09:00

So it's been six weeks (or thereabouts) of my new life in Japan, and it's been fun and frustrating at the same time. I feel adrift at times, overwhelmed by cultural and language barriers. I have learned over the past eight years to take things as they come, but the daunting prospect of learning to speak Japanese frustrates me, but I'm determined to do it. More later, my station approaches...

Testing

2010-05-09T16:26:00.001+09:00

Trying the "blog from iPhone." Cool.

Under Construction

2010-03-27T11:26:00.002+09:00

Trying to spruce things up a bit in here. Forgive the mess.

Glenn Beck Attacks Me

2010-03-11T08:51:00.000+09:00

Palm on Face

2010-02-09T13:31:00.002+09:00

Sorry to obsess a bit over the Palin palm-prompter-gate...or whatever the heck to call it...but I don't get it. What is her appeal? Let's see if the Rude Pundit can explain: (Yes, the language is raw--he is the Rude Pundit after all)

...See, Sarah Palin is graded on the hot chick curve. Men wanna fuck her and women with low self-esteem wanna be her, so whatever she does just affirms that she is hot and fuckable and gets to travel. If she looked like Kay Bailey Hutchison, we wouldn't even be talking about her. Palin knows it. And she wields her sexuality like a distraction while she magically steals attention from those smarter than her.

It ain't just Palin. Let's face it: if Hillary Clinton had looked like Sarah Palin, she'd be president. And if Barack Obama had looked like Dennis Kucinich, he would not. But, Jesus, you could argue there was substance there. It's a sad fact of America in the 21st-century that shallowness is a quality and depth makes you an out-of-touch elitist...

I actually noticed while watching the infamous video of her at the Q&A after her speech (the one where she consults her "palm pilot") she twice looks at the audience while she, ummm, caresses her leg. Back to the Rude Pundit:

...But in her brief, hand-scripted Q&A after, swear to god, the Rude Pundit couldn't figure out what the fuck she was saying on a very basic English language level. Read this shit about her litmus test for endorsing candidates: "But if they feel that they've been taxed enough already and that they make us a commitment that they are going to do something about it and if they just believe in that constitutional limited government that the federal government has got to start abiding by, a lot of the things that perhaps the details, the things on the periphery that perhaps I wouldn't agree with every single aspect of their agenda that they would like to implement, they have got the basics down, I think it would be wise for us to be supportive." What the fuck is that? Palinonics, a language that only makes sense to people dazzled by the shine off her glasses. She makes George W. Bush seem like William F. Buckley.

And then there's this call to theocracy: "And then, I think, it is kind of tougher to -- kind of tougher to put our arms around, but allowing America's spirit to rise again by not being afraid -- not being afraid to kind of go back to some of our roots as a God-fearing nation where we are not afraid to say, especially in times of potential trouble in the future here, we are not afraid to say, you know, we don't have all the answers as fallible men and women. So it would be wise of us to start seeking some divine intervention again in this country so that we can be safe and secure and prosperous again. To have people involved in government who aren't afraid to go that route, not so afraid of the political correctness that, you know, they have to be afraid of what the media would say about them if they were to proclaim their reliance on our creator." Does she realize who was president for eight years just recently? Wait, here's the answer: no. No, she does not...

At this point, the only palm-related thing I can think to do is a facepalm. (See above illustration.)

Palin-prompter

2010-02-09T01:34:00.001+09:00

The Next Chapter

2010-02-02T15:14:00.000+09:00

You'll notice a new banner up there, with a picture I took in Kyoto, Japan. Starting in late March, I will be living and working in Japan, so the Seoul it Goes banner is going into retirement. Yes, I know I don't post as much here as I used to, having moved most of my stuff over to Facebook. But I suspect with the new country and new job, I'll still use this place to post photos, and wacky videos. I love wacky videos.

And, as Kurt said: so it goes.

Question Time

2010-01-30T16:01:00.000+09:00

So thanks to the magic of the Internets, I was able to watch most of the Question Time with the Prime Minister, Barack H. Obama. I was fascinated by this lone Democrat facing 140 of the opposition, answering questions and giving them lots of things to ponder. The questions were at times contentious, and facing a bevy of middle-aged white (mostly) guys isn't an easy task. These thoughts occurred to me as I watched: Barack H. Obama is one smart guy, and he responded with smart answers even as the middle-aged white (mostly) guys tried to outsmart him. The one woman congressfolk I saw asking a question was Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee (who just canceled her appearance at that shady Teabagger orgy) gets extra points for prefacing her question with complaints about the tone in Washington, and asking for a new way forward (or some thing of that ilk,) then blaming Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, and using "Democrat" as an adjective (instead of "Democratic.") Yeah, blazing a new path forward there congresswoman. But the best irony of the day, hearing some Republic congressfolk (see how that noun as adjective thin works?) whine about they should never have let this thing be televised--the same folks that criticized Barack H. Obama for not being as transparent as he could, and doing the whole health care thingy on C-SPAN.

(In the photo above right, Prime Minister Barack H. Obama greets Congressman John Boehner before Question Time.)

Memo to Pat Robertson:

2010-01-16T17:25:00.000+09:00

Shut the fuck up. Just shut the fuck up.

A Gravity-Defying Gleek Speaks

2010-01-02T17:08:00.005+09:00

I know I'm a bit late to the party here, but I really have fallen hard for this show. Being on the

other side of the world tends to make that happen.

Being a former musical theatre geek (okay, maybe not really "former") and
occasional outcast (yeah, yeah) I have appreciated the

complexities of this shows writing. It has defied the usual stereotypical characters,
and given them all depth and they act in unexpected ways.

The episode that this song is from is a good example. The cheerleading coach Sue

(played by the amazing Jane Lynch) is given some depth here, and the "otherness" of the

characters is highlighted. But the characters don't act like most TV show usually characters

act, like the redneck father of the gay boy, (or the gay boy himself,) or the dumb cheerleader,

or the kid in a wheelchair.Yes, the music is great, and yes, there are some truly funny

moments--but this show is so much more than that, and that's why I celebrate it.

Happy New Year

2009-12-31T22:18:00.000+09:00

Happy New Year to all. Have a great 2010 (or 2553 to my friends in Thailand.)

Another Christmas Greeting

2009-12-24T01:32:00.000+09:00

"Welcome Christmas, bring your cheer.
Cheer to all Whos, far and near.
Christmas Day is in our grasp,
So long as we have hands to clasp.
Christmas Day will always be,
Just as long as we have we.
Welcome Christmas, while we stand,
Heart to heart, and hand in hand."
--Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas--

Happy Holidays

2009-12-21T21:07:00.001+09:00

Have a wonderful Christmas, Happy Holidays, and the best for 2010.

Found Today on Talking Points Memo

2009-12-12T15:07:00.000+09:00

This little sight gave me a chuckle today. This is exactly how it appeared on the website.

My Vacation: A Short Video

2009-12-02T03:09:00.003+09:00

From Chilly Seoul to Sunny Koh Samui

2009-11-19T12:50:00.000+09:00

As much as I love Korean food, I am anticipating a week of amazing Thai food. And a few cold, cold Singha beers.

I'll be staying in a beach bungalow on Lamai Beach on the island of Koh Samui, a place I've been before (and shown in these pictures) and am excited to see my friend Chaiwat, who works on the island.

When I return to Seoul, I'll be starting my final term in my contract at Oedae academy, and once again, I am considering my next move. But all that will come after a week in paradise.

More Very Cool Auto-Tuned Science

2009-11-12T15:17:00.000+09:00

Coolest Science Ever (aka Auto-tuned Science)

2009-10-21T21:26:00.000+09:00

I realize the blog has pretty much turned into a video-sharing thing. Ah, well. Anyway, this one absolutely amazed me. Enjoy science like never before.

Cool Tilt-Shift Video

2009-10-19T21:03:00.001+09:00

I saw this at Oliver Willis' blog.

More Auto-tuned News

2009-10-16T11:47:00.003+09:00

Rachel on Obama Derangement Syndrome

2009-10-10T17:35:00.000+09:00

Michael Moore Writes a Letter

2009-10-10T17:16:00.000+09:00

Congratulations President Obama on the Nobel Peace Prize -- Now Please Earn it!

Friday, October 9th, 2009

Dear President Obama,

How outstanding that you've been recognized today as a man of peace. Your swift, early pronouncements -- you will close Guantanamo, you will bring the troops home from Iraq, you want a nuclear weapon-free world, you admitted to the Iranians that we overthrew their democratically-elected president in 1953, you made that great speech to the Islamic world in Cairo, you've eliminated that useless term "The War on Terror," you've put an end to torture -- these have all made us and the rest of the world feel a bit more safe considering the disaster of the past eight years. In eight months you have done an about face and taken this country in a much more sane direction.

But...

The irony that you have been awarded this prize on the 2nd day of the ninth year of our War in Afghanistan is not lost on anyone. You are truly at a crossroads now. You can listen to the generals and expand the war (only to result in a far-too-predictable defeat) or you can declare Bush's Wars over, and bring all the troops home. Now. That's what a true man of peace would do.

There is nothing wrong with you doing what the last guy failed to do -- capture the man or men responsible for the mass murder of 3,000 people on 9/11. BUT YOU CANNOT DO THAT WITH TANKS AND TROOPS. You are pursuing a criminal, not an army. You do not use a stick of dynamite to get rid of a mouse.

The Taliban is another matter. That is a problem for the people of Afghanistan to resolve -- just as we did in 1776, the French did in 1789, the Cubans did in 1959, the Nicaraguans did in 1979 and the people of East Berlin did in 1989. One thing is certain through all revolutions by people who wish to be free -- they ultimately have to bring about that freedom themselves. Others can be supportive, but freedom can not be delivered from the front seat of someone else's Humvee.

You have to end our involvement in Afghanistan now. If you don't, you'll have no choice but to return the prize to Oslo.

Yours,
Michael Moore
MMFlint@aol.com

MichaelMoore.com

P.S. Your opposition has spent the morning attacking you for bringing such good will to this country. Why do they hate America so much? I get the feeling that if you found the cure for cancer this afternoon they'd be denouncing you for destroying free enterprise because cancer centers would have to close. There are those who say you've done nothing yet to deserve this award. As far as I'm concerned, the very fact that you've offered to walk into the minefield of hate and try to undo the irreparable damage the last president did is not only appreciated by me and millions of others, it is also an act of true bravery. That's why you got the prize. The whole world is depending on the U.S. -- and you -- to literally save this planet. Let's not let them down.

Happy Birthday...

2009-10-08T00:19:00.000+09:00

...to my brother Bob. Hope you've got some freshly brewed beer to celebrate with.

USA! USA! USA! LOSES HAHAHA...

2009-10-05T12:15:00.002+09:00

Ah, remember when the Left were traitors and America-haters...good times, good times.

Happy Chuseok

2009-10-02T14:48:00.003+09:00

I wish a Happy Chuseok to my Korean friends, and my friends in Korea. Like American Thanksgiving, it is related to the harvest, and is largely centered around food. It is also a chance to put on your hanbok.

Funny Funny

2009-09-24T01:18:00.001+09:00

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Moral Kombat

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Healthcare Protests

Guiding Light Extinguished

2009-09-19T16:09:00.002+09:00

When I was in the second grade, I got pretty sick. I spent a couple weeks in the hospital, and several weeks at home, recuperating. I spent a lot of time with my mom, and we watched TV together, including the soaps. At the time, there were two, count them, two stations in Minot, North Dakota--a CBS and an NBC station. My mom watched the CBS soaps, As the World Turns, Secret Storm, and Guiding Light. I got kinda hooked on them, and over the ensuing decades, watched them off and on. Oh sure, Secret Storm disappeared, replaced by Love is a Many Splendored Thing, then Capitol, then The Bold and the Beautiful, and The Young and the Restless in there somewhere. Those others never really captured my attention, but through the years ATWT and GL were things I would go back to now and again. I'd watch them in college, in the Student Union between classes. When I was a bartender in my early years in Chicago, I'd work until 3 or 4 in the morning, and sleep late the next day, waking up at noon or thereabouts and then watch those two soaps before work. As recently as two or three years ago, I found GL on AFN here in Korea, and would watch it occasionally, until they replaced it with some other lesser soap. Then AFN disappeared off my cable, and well, that was the last I saw of GL. Friday saw the final episode of GL, 72 years after it debuted on the radio, and 57 years after it moved to TV. That is an amazing accomplishment. How long before ATWT sees the same fate?

Let me see if I got this straight...

2009-09-17T21:24:00.002+09:00

So according to the conservative right-wingy teabaggy folks...

...these two are racists...

...and these two are not racists.

Just checking.

UPDATE: What about this guy?

A Brave Man

2009-09-16T13:41:00.001+09:00

What do you think would have happened to this guy without the police escort? Just a guess, but the patriotic American teabaggers would have been much more physical. Scary, scary stuff.

Everything Old is New Again

2009-09-13T13:51:00.001+09:00

Top: Lining up for free dental care in Denver. Bottom: Lining up for soup.

Oh no, not "Happy Birthday..."

2009-09-13T00:35:00.001+09:00

Cool Fan Video...

2009-09-13T00:11:00.001+09:00

...of "Bad Things," the theme from True Blood.

The Speech

2009-09-10T20:29:00.003+09:00

I saw a few pieces of the health care speech, and aside from the juvenile tactics of some Republicans (waving what apparently are competing plans) I thought it was a pretty good speech. It's good the president pointed out the lies and distortions, and I'm thrilled he didn't jettison the public option. Can he pass it? I don't know. Kent Conrad and Max Baucus and the other senators representing the insurance industry could still ruin it.

I say leave the Republicans in the dust. Pass real reform.

And Congressman Joe Wilson? For bringing teabag tactics into the capitol, you deserve to be censured. What an asshat.

[The photo is from the White House's Flickr page.]

Is it Real...

2009-09-09T14:22:00.003+09:00

...or is it parody? Sadly, it is hard to tell the difference at this point in history.

My head explodes in 3...2...1...

2009-09-05T13:56:00.002+09:00

I seriously think my head is going to explode soon. Seriously. WTF? These people booing and trying to shout down a clergyman for daring to speak Spanish in the US of A. Most hilarious moment: when you hear an older woman (at least she sounds older) rudely shouting "Very rude!" during the bishop's question. Very rude for speaking Spanish. Interrupting him and shouting that he's rude. I live for the ironies of life.

America Has Gone Insane, Part 4,567

2009-09-05T12:36:00.006+09:00

Today's Question: Which of these people would you want to speak to your kids in school?

Them? (They could talk about loofahs and falafel and guns, oh my.)

These guys? Newt could talk about health care (you know, leaving a wife sick with cancer.)

Senator Vitter could talk to the kiddies about diapers I guess.

The guy in the sunglasses? (Apparently he'll just "indoctrinate" them with his super-secret magical powers with his "propaganda" about socialism and fascism...wait, what?) The crazy lady on the right (she likes to stalk children, so maybe not.)

The guy on the right? He could talk about sending e-mails and stuff.

These guys? Sean Hannity could talk about the Bunny Ranch. Hmmm...the two on the right look a little too gay, so nope.

Or maybe these guys. (Cheney...no way! he'd eat my kids!) Loofah-boy...eww, too creepy.

This is how it's done...Al Franken version

2009-09-05T12:01:00.000+09:00

WTF?

2009-09-04T14:13:00.002+09:00

So, I'm hopping around the Internet today, and discover that the right-wing loons are pissing their pants and clutching their pearls because the President of the United States of America is going to talk to the kiddies of the country in their schools. Apaarently he's going to "indoctrinate" them into...well, I'm not sure exactly. Aparrently he's the only president ever to do this (except for George H.W. and...wait for it...George W.)

Jeebus Cripes on a cracker. WTF is wrong with you people?

BONUS MADNESS: I just watched a YouTube of Glenn Beck (yeah, I know) describing both the communist AND fascist architecture and artwork in New York, specifically FOX "News" bitter enemy's building. (30 Rock, home of GE/NBC/MSNBC.)

More Auto-Tuned News

2009-09-03T11:56:00.000+09:00

Love this.

Makes Sense to Me

2009-08-29T14:23:00.001+09:00

That Pesky Squirrel

2009-08-25T12:32:00.000+09:00

Truth is stranger than...ummm...wait...

2009-08-20T17:12:00.002+09:00

Interesting article:

WASHINGTON—After months of committee meetings and hundreds of hours of heated debate, the United States Congress remained deadlocked this week over the best possible way to deny Americans health care.

"Both parties understand that the current system is broken," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters Monday. "But what we can't seem to agree upon is how to best keep it broken, while still ensuring that no elected official takes any political risk whatsoever. It’s a very complicated issue..."

Oh, I forgot to tell you. It's from the Onion. Hard to tell these days.

This is how it's done

2009-08-19T16:41:00.002+09:00

Very Cool Video

2009-08-19T11:52:00.000+09:00

Obama's Gonna Kill Granny...Or Not

2009-08-15T12:19:00.001+09:00

Where is This All Headed?

2009-08-14T14:28:00.000+09:00

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Anther Day, Another Threat

2009-08-14T14:07:00.004+09:00

From the AP:

'Death to Obama' sign holder in Md. detained

By DAVID DISHNEAU (AP) – 11 hours ago

HAGERSTOWN, Md. — The Secret Service is investigating a man who authorities said held a sign reading "Death to Obama" outside a town hall meeting on health-care reform in western Maryland.

The sign also read, "Death to Michelle and her two stupid kids," referring to the first name of President Barack Obama's wife, said Washington County Sheriff's Capt. Peter Lazich.

Lazich said deputies detained the unidentified, 51-year-old man near the entrance to Hagerstown Community College about 1 p.m. Wednesday after getting calls from a number of people attending the meeting held by Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md. Obama was not at the meeting.

The sheriff's office turned the man over to the Secret Service, Lazich said.

Barbara Golden, special agent in charge of the agency's Baltimore field office, said Thursday that an investigation is ongoing but declined further comment. A spokesman at the agency's Washington headquarters also declined to discuss the investigation.

Police said there were no other arrests among the nearly 1,000 people, some carrying protest signs, who came to the college for the meeting or demonstrated off-campus.

Cardin's national communications director, Sue Walitsky, called the incident "unfortunate." She said she was unaware of it until Thursday morning.

Unfortunate? Ya think? If this was Bush, the guy would be in Gitmo.

Where can I get real news? Oh, right...

2009-08-12T21:19:00.002+09:00

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Healther Skelter

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Spinal Tap Performance

Notice the FOX loons whining about noisy protesters...a few years back. Notice S. Palin saying "Quit makin' things up!" Ah, good times, god times.

The Rude Pundit Sends a Greeting to S. Palin

2009-08-11T15:50:00.002+09:00

Go read it.

Here's just a little bit, with an asterisk, because, well...just because:

...Sometimes, there's something delicious about offering a simple, sublime "f*ck you" as a rejoinder to rank idiocy....

...Or, in other words, ex-Governor, the death panel is there. It's called "the profit margin..."

Today's Moment in Irony

2009-08-11T15:22:00.002+09:00

The conservative activist who claims he was beaten up by union thugs in St. Louis [meh, not so much...there's video!] while protesting against health care reform is accepting donations towards his medical care because he was laid off recently and … has no health insurance.

I live for irony. [ Note to self: That statement will go on my tombstone.]

2009-08-10T20:48:00.002+09:00

This one has been bouncing around the blogospere the last couple days, and actually a version of this has been around a long time--maybe since the dark days of (duh-duh-DUUUUUHHHHH!!) Reagan.

I AM AN AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE SHITHEEL
this morning I was awakened by my alarm clock powered by electricity generated by the public power monopoly regulated by the US department of energy. I then took a shower in the clean water provided by the municipal water utility. After that, I turned on the TV to one of the FCC regulated channels to see what the national weather service of the national oceanographic and atmospheric administration determined the weather was going to be like using satellites designed, built, and launched by the national aeronautics and space administration. I watched this while eating my breakfast of US department of agriculture inspected food and taking the drugs which have been determined as safe by the food and drug administration.
At the appropriate time as regulated by the US congress and kept accurate by the national institute of standards and technology and the US naval observatory, I get into my national highway traffic safety administration approved automobile and set out to work on the roads build by the local, state, and federal departments of transportation, possibly stopping to purchase additional fuel of a quality level determined by the environmental protection agency, using legal tender issed by the federal reserve bank. On the way out the door I deposit any mail I have to be sent out via the US postal service and drop the kids off at the public school.
After spending another day not being maimed or killed at work thanks to the workplace regulations imposed by the department of labor and the occupational safety and health administration, enjoying another two meals which again do not kill me because of the USDA, I drive my NHTSA car back home on the DOT roads, to ny house which has not burned down in my absence because of the state and local building codes and fire marshal's inspection, and which has not been plundered of all it's valuables thanks to the local police department.
I then log on to the Internet which was developed by the defense advanced research projects administration and post on freerepublic.com and fox news forums about how SOCIALISM in medicine is BAD because the government can't do anything right.

Dark Times Part 2

2009-08-10T11:36:00.004+09:00

An excellent article over at Daily Kos today. Here's an excerpt:

...Now, how it is that a healthcare reform debate has managed to raise a viciously angry., assertively fact-hostile and debate-hostile political climate that brings back national memories of American desegregation seems outright baffling. Except that many of the paranoid healthcare protestors are "teabaggers" as well, and many of those "teabaggers" are "birthers" besides, and the whole parcel is, from polling, clearly a fringe movement based most substantially in the southern states, the only remaining stronghold of the party that contains them. And -- there is no way around it -- America has just now elected the first black president. The very first, after two centuries and then some, and even though I am in the terribly liberal, very nearly socialist hellhole of California I can still go no more than a few miles from my home and see the confederate battle flag hanging from a living room window, or stuck to the bumper of a worn and battered truck...

Dark Times

2009-08-09T15:29:00.005+09:00

This article pulls together a lot of incidents and events of the past few weeks, and sums up the frustrations I have been having lately. A few choice excerpts:

In an ageless magazine cover, entitled "Freedom of Speech," artist Norman Rockwell drew a guy in workman's clothes standing up to speak his mind at a New England town meeting...
...The fellow would get shouted down today, at some House members' town meetings, if he tried to argue for a public option health care plan...
...Up in Connecticut, he might have witnessed teabaggers urging Sen. Chris Dodd -- recently diagnosed with prostate cancer -- to commit suicide by taking painkillers "a handful at a time..."
"..Adolf Hitler, like Barack Obama, also ruled by dictate," Rush Limbaugh told listeners Thursday. A few moments later, he intoned: "(The) Obama health care logo is damn close to a swastika logo..."
...On the Fox News Channel, meanwhile, Glenn Beck was doing a skit with a joke about "put(ting) poison in Nancy Pelosi's wine." Beck recently called our 44th president a "racist" and charged that Obama has a "deep seated hatred for white people or the white culture..."

[All emphasis mine.]

Remember: Dissent is patriotic. Shouting down opposing viewpoints is not.

Rachel Maddow Part 2

2009-08-08T01:20:00.000+09:00

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Rachel rocks.

Democracy in Action? Or...Maybe Not

2009-08-08T01:08:00.001+09:00

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The Truth Comes Out

2009-08-06T14:02:00.001+09:00

More Pics

2009-07-31T15:48:00.003+09:00

Not a typhoon, but quite a storm.
Approaching Incheon at sunrise.
Costabella Tropical beach Resort.

Back from the Beach...

2009-07-31T15:23:00.003+09:00

...and back to work on Monday in our new location. I looked at the new place last week, and it looks great!

I enjoyed my time in the Philippines (specifically Mactan Island, Cebu.) I stayed at a very nice resort, but it was a bit isolated, with two security gates, and off in the country. And I must say, within ten minutes of walking out the doors of the airport, I had two guys trying to get me a "date" with some ladies. What a friendly place! (I didn't make a date, by the way.)

Anyway...here's a few pics:

The biggest bed I've ever seen.

(Left) Leaving Incheon in the evening. (Right) A nice bathroom. And I took as many baths as I could!

How Cool is This?

2009-07-16T12:19:00.000+09:00

Forget MSNBCNNBCBSABC and FAUX NEWS...This is How All News Should Look

2009-07-12T20:12:00.001+09:00

Endless Entertainment

2009-07-07T17:40:00.003+09:00

If you've never been to Fundies Say the Darndest Things, I urge you to go there. It is one of my favorite sites. Here's a sample:

"Left Behind"-Life Insurance Beneficiaries...
Hi RR,

No need to guess what recent topic in the news sparked this thought....but I was curious as to what you all think. Most of us who have life insurance, list our beneficiaries as our spouse, children or other close relatives. Now, hopefully all of them will be Raptured with us. My son is on my policy but he is going up into the clouds with me!

But what about those who will be left behind. How is that going to work with missing people? I mean there will be no bodies and there will be potentially thousands of claims. Don't they make you wait a year to declare someone that is missing to be dead? How will all the insurance companies handle this? And what about those polices where all the beneficiaries listed go missing? Does that money turn over to the state? My policy is paid by the company so it has no loan value, but I just can't imagine the legal nightmare the Rapture is going to cause in this area.

Thanks All and God Bless!

ADDED 7/8: Just to be clear, the post above is apparently a sincere question, not a "Poe.*" This is what makes this site so entertaining/frightening.

*From Poe's Law: "Without a winking smiley or other blatant display of humor, it is impossible to create a parody of Fundamentalism that SOMEONE won't mistake for the real thing."

Happy 4th

2009-07-04T14:06:00.003+09:00

Here's hoping all you American pats and ex-pats around the world have a great 4th of July. Me? Well, I'm in the middle of the rainiest month in Korea, so no big plans. I do have a few beers in the refrigerator, so I will hoist one for all of you. Maybe later some Korean BBQ, in honor of you BBQers over there.

Did I hear right? Is Sarah Palin running off to Argentina with Bubbles the Chimp?

Maybe I got that wrong.

Buffy vs. Edward

2009-06-23T09:50:00.000+09:00

Shot and a Beer Anyone?

2009-06-08T13:55:00.002+09:00

Both the Tennessee House of Representatives and the Senate have overruled a veto by Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen on a bill that makes carrying handguns into bars legal, it was announced Friday. Consuming alcohol while carrying a handgun will remain illegal, but those with a permit to carry a weapon will be allowed to do so in any restaurant or bar. Owners can still opt to ban handguns from their establishments...

Nothing could go wrong with this law, right?

[Full story here.]

Is it Too Late to Impeach Bush/Cheney?

2009-06-06T16:19:00.002+09:00

Two years before the 9/11 attacks on America, George W. Bush told a Houston journalist if elected president, “I’m going to invade Iraq.”

Bush made the comments about starting an aggressive war to veteran Houston Chronicle reporter Mickey Herskowitz, then working with Bush on his book “A Charge To Keep,” later brought out by publisher William Morrow...

...In a new book, “Media In Crisis”(Doukathsan), Baker quotes Herskowitz as telling him: “He (Bush) said he wanted to do it (invade Iraq), and the reason he wanted to do it is he had been led to understand that you could not really have a successful presidency unless you were seen as commander-in-chief, unless you were seen as waging a war...”

Fuck him. Fuck Cheney too.

[Full story here.]

We Must Defend Traditions, Part the Second

2009-06-03T12:06:00.001+09:00

We Must Defend Traditions

2009-05-30T12:58:00.000+09:00

Twenty Years Ago, Part 2

2009-05-29T01:04:00.001+09:00

Twenty years ago, could anyone have foreseen this picture? Time keeps on slipping.....

Twenty Years Ago

2009-05-28T11:53:00.001+09:00

Can it really be twenty years? Time keeps on slipping, slipping, slipping...

Playing Around With iMovie...

2009-05-22T02:08:00.002+09:00

The Right to Arm Bears?

2009-05-21T11:45:00.004+09:00

From the Washington Post website:

House Approves Measure to Allow Guns Into National Parks

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Gun rights advocates have found a sweet spot in Democratic-dominated Washington, and they are using it to aggressively push legislation.

Their latest victory came yesterday when the House passed a bill that will allow people to bring concealed and loaded guns into national parks. Advocates won with the help of moderate Democrats...

F*ck You Very Much (The Song)

2009-05-20T11:50:00.002+09:00

I will admit it--I am an old fart, and out of touch with pop music, as happens with old farts through the ages. I had not heard this song, and never heard of the singer, until recently. But I saw this video, and loved it.

You Say OMOH, and I Say....

2009-05-17T12:31:00.003+09:00

This is a photo I found at one of my favorite blogs, Joe. My. God. It shows the Russian riot police, with the acronym for their name on the back of this man's jacket. They are notorious for their handling of activists at gay pride parades (including yesterday in Moscow, in which lots of them got arrested.) Now, think about the mirror image of this photo. Still not getting it? Here--let me help:

I live for irony.

To Boldly Go Where No Man Has Gone Before

2009-05-09T21:24:00.006+09:00

I just got back from seeing Star Trek (in IMAX no less!) and I must say...I loved it! They captured the spirit of the original, and there is non-stop action, so, what's not to like?

The actor playing Kirk did manage to capture the reckless, shoot-from-the-hip style of the original, though I must say it was hard to see Kirk in him (which is not necessarily a bad thing.) The actor playing Spock was great, and I saw Spock in him, without doubt. The McCoy character too...brilliant. Uhuru, Chekov and Sulu...well done. My major complaint--there should have been much more of Simon Pegg's Scotty character, he was so good, and so funny.

I recommend it highly, and if you can see it in IMAX, by all means do it.

A note about the poster: The pronunciation in Korean is "Stah-traek" and the Korean title includes a subtitle "duh-bee-gee-neeng." (That of course means "the beginning.) Korean titles often differ from English titles, and using "the beginning" is common. The FOX channel here shows Smallville, and calls it Superman: The Beginning.

Forgot to note...

2009-04-28T15:16:00.001+09:00

...that this crappy blog just passed it's third anniversary. Woo hoo.

A Tribute to Bea Arthur

2009-04-27T23:16:00.001+09:00

One of my all-time favorite broadway songs, performed by the great Angela Lansbury, and the late, great Bea Arthur:

Insa-dong, Seoul

2009-04-26T21:11:00.001+09:00

Lotus Lantern Festival and Insa-dong, Seoul

2009-04-26T21:02:00.003+09:00

Lotus Lantern Festival, Seoul #4

2009-04-26T20:58:00.001+09:00

Lotus Lantern Festival, Seoul #3

2009-04-26T20:54:00.001+09:00

Lotus Lantern Festival, Seoul #2

2009-04-26T20:50:00.003+09:00

Lotus Lantern Festival, Seoul

2009-04-26T20:46:00.002+09:00

They Stink on Iced Tea!*

2009-04-22T11:06:00.004+09:00

The Americans are revolting!
All across the country—from Boston to Atlanta to San Antonio—thousands of Americans, inspired by Fox News and radio conservative talk show hosts, took to the streets to protest.

They protested a fascist government that has restricted their freedom of speech and freedom of religion, protected by the First Amendment. They protested thousands of instances where the government infringed upon their rights of privacy, protected by the Fourth Amendment. They called out the government for violations of the rights of due process, protected by the fifth and sixth amendments. They protested the use of about $1 trillion to fight an unnecessary war in Iraq. They protested the apparently unregulated policies of the banks, money lenders, and Wall Street financiers who brought this nation into the current recession that has led to an 8.5 percent unemployment rate and several hundred thousand to lose their homes to foreclosure actions. They protested the fact that about 46 million Americans don’t have health insurance, that as many as five million Americans are homeless, about a fourth of them veterans. They protested the use of torture, of the destruction of the environment, of the awarding of no-bid sweetheart deals worth hundreds of million dollars to companies that do business with the President and Vice-President.
Actually, they didn’t do any of that. Not now and certainly not during the Bush–Cheney years.

From All Spin Zone. Read the whole thing here.

After the assault on the Constitution by the Bush regime, these "tea parties" seem ridiculous to me.

*That is variation of a line from Mel Brooks' History of the World, Part 2. Full quote: "Your Highness, the peasants are revolting!" "Are you kidding? They stink on ice."

April in Seoul #2

2009-04-20T14:01:00.003+09:00

April in Seoul

2009-04-20T13:08:00.001+09:00

Cause and Effect?

2009-04-08T16:41:00.004+09:00

From the always excellent Orcinus:

You have to wonder if right-wingers will ever get it: Difference isn't a threat.

They were mewling like wounded hyenas this weekend after some of us pointed out that there was a direct connection between the irresponsible fearmongering in which they've been indulging since Barack Obama was elected and Saturday's tragedy in Pittsburgh.

Michelle Malkin, for example, whined to her cultlike audience that liberals were being mean to them: "You killed these police officers. It’s all your fault." As Oliver notes, the Instawanker has been thrashing about angrily too.

My favorite, though, was Neil Sheppard at Newsbusters:

Let's be clear what these attacks on folks like Beck, Rush Limbaugh, and Sean Hannity are all about -- the left-wing in our nation want to silence ALL opposing voices in the media, and they will do it using all tools at their disposal INCLUDING blaming journalists and political commentators for the criminal behavior of others.

This is a familiar refrain that comes up every time anyone raises a socially damning issue like this one: We're trying to oppress them, to silence their voices, by pointing out how morally and ethically bankrupt they are.

Actually, we're just pointing out how bankrupt they are. No one here has said anything about silencing their voices -- we just want them to face up to the consequences of their irresponsible rhetoric. It's called culpability: They obviously are not criminally culpable, nor likely even civilly culpable. But they are morally and ethically culpable.

The author of this post, David Neiwert, has a new book: The Eliminationists: How Hate Talk Radicalized the American Right

Love It!

2009-04-08T12:03:00.001+09:00

Some days, the weight of the world can seem overwhelming. Then you see something like this, and it seems, well, better.