missroserose | Entries tagged with politics

The NYT Magazine has a pretty cool article on "The Gay Generation Gap", which talks about some of the issues that younger gay men have been sniping at older ones (and vice versa) about - "You're cocky and entitled, you're sexually careless, you heedlessly take advantage of the benefits we spent our youths fighting for" vs. "You're obsessed with your own victimhood, you go on about AIDS like your parents went on about WWII, you think the only way to get anything is to get angry about it", etc. It's interesting from a cultural perspective, but also oddly heartening - especially after watching Milk and realizing that it wasn't that long ago that being openly gay really was a serious liability. Intergenerational sniping aside, the fact that we've gotten so far in the space of one generation is pretty astonishing in and of itself, and I only hope it continues to get better.

Current Mood: cheerful
Current Location: Workafternoon

Current Mood: cheerful
Current Location: Workafternoon

I realize that abortion is a hot-button issue and everyone's got an opinion on it, and that's fine, but...

...when one posts a link to an article relating to a very specific aspect of the whole debate, is it completely bollocks to think that people might read and think about the content of that article, and respond to the content of the article rather than just posting their opinion about abortion in general?

There are plenty of forums to express opinions on abortion, and I'm more than familiar with most of the arguments one way or another. Frankly, the reason I posted the link was because I was interested in getting people's thoughts on the specific subject of the article, which brought up an idea not often seen in the debate. Instead, it seems everyone just saw the word "abortion" (and maybe "Tiller") and gave a knee-jerk Pavlovian reaction.

Maybe I'm expecting a bit much from folks on the Internet - I know a lot of people don't go to LiveJournal to think. But still, it's a bit discouraging seeing how easily manipulated people's feelings can be (and I'm including myself here, I know I'm prone to it too) just by bringing up one or two loaded terms. It's why I always make doubly sure to rethink anything I might say regarding a subject I feel strongly about, because it's so very easy to get wrapped up in your feelings and completely miss the actual point someone might be trying to make.

Current Mood: discouraged
Current Location: Couch in the blessedly cool library at home

Current Mood: discouraged
Current Location: Couch in the blessedly cool library at home

What do you really believe?

Current Mood: thoughtful
Current Music: Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars

What do you really believe?

Current Mood: thoughtful
Current Music: Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars

Word is tearing through Facebook and other venues that RockStar Energy Drink was invented by conservative talk show-host/hate-monger Michael Savage, and therefore should be boycotted by anyone who cares about little issues like GLBT equality, religious tolerance, human rights, etc. I certainly agree that that's a good course of action, assuming the claim is true, but so far all the sources I'm finding point back to a single website for reference (www.thetruthaboutrockstar.com). And considering that anyone with a grudge can put up a decent-looking website, this strikes me as the sort of situation ripe for a Snopes-ing. (That said, the boycott's been going on for a couple of weeks now with no response from RockStar, Inc., which lends some credence to the claim - you'd think that they'd want to immediately distance themselves as far as they could from such a repugnant figure.)

In any case, it's something to bear in mind. I've never tried the stuff myself, but I'm sure some of my LJ friends drink it, and what with the glut of energy drinks on the market right now it might be worth considering making a switch. Meantime, if anyone finds stronger evidence for or against the claim, let me know - I'll probably do some digging myself, once I'm off work.

ETA: The person who originally pointed me in this direction has dug up the link to RockStar's articles of incorporation, as filed in the state of Nevada, which do list a Janet Weiner as the CEO. Considering that Michael Savage (née Weiner)'s wife is named Janet Weiner, that seems a pretty strong connection. Whether or not the drink itself was "invented by Michael Savage" or he "founded the company for his son to run" (as a number of places have claimed) is true, there's certainly a strong enough connection to (in my opinion) warrant a boycott.

Current Mood: mellow
Current Music: Bitter:Sweet - The Mating Game

Current Mood: mellow
Current Music: Bitter:Sweet - The Mating Game

After the "OMG TERRORIST FIST BUMP" debacle, I really, honestly, truly thought there wasn't a thing the right-wing pundits could scream about that was more ridiculous.

Apparently, I was wrong.

What I love best? The Canadian Press are the only link that came up on Google News who were reporting this with anything resembling the appropriate level of amused disbelief. The American media conglomerates are all too busy reporting the seriousness of the situation, or getting the opinion of a Real Live Mustard Grower. (Grey Poupon, however, gets points for making a brand-promoting joke out of the swamp of ridiculousness.) And yes, the links are for any visiting aliens who may not yet be convinced that humans are capable of this kind of thing.

Oddly enough, however, I just recently came across an article that may explain how and why the aforementioned pundits start these kinds of things. They can't help it. It's their programming.

Current Mood: hungry
Current Location: Couch at home

Current Mood: hungry
Current Location: Couch at home

Want to stay informed as to what's happening in Washington, but find lengthy political analysis too taxing to read?

Follow the Obama Facebook Feed!

Current Mood: amused
Current Location: In bed at home
Current Music: Thomas Newman - Spring

Want to stay informed as to what's happening in Washington, but find lengthy political analysis too taxing to read?

Follow the Obama Facebook Feed!

Current Mood: amused
Current Location: In bed at home
Current Music: Thomas Newman - Spring

Are you afraid of teh gay? (Circle all that apply)

Yes

Maybe

Possibly

Expecting TEH GAY around every corner

( Because good memes never die, they just evolve. )

Current Mood: goofy

Are you afraid of teh gay? (Circle all that apply)

Yes

Maybe

Possibly

Expecting TEH GAY around every corner

( Because good memes never die, they just evolve. )

Current Mood: goofy

David Frum, an acknowledged neoconservative who is probably best known for having written Bush's "Axis of Evil" speech, has a piece in Newsweek decrying the way Limbaugh has become the public face of the Republican party. While I disagree strongly with his baseline (he claims that Rush and his followers are important to the Republican cause and deserve respect, despite any number of truly reprehensible things the man has said and done), he has a remarkably lucid grip on what, exactly, is wrong with letting a media blowhard who lives to stir up controversy be the bearer of your political philosophy. He also seems to have a good concept of how the Republicans need to change their platform to become more relevant to today's world (he claims, quite rightly, that their philosophy was developed to govern the world of the 1970s and hasn't changed since then).

The great bit? He's absolutely convinced - probably accurately - that his piece will provoke a cascade of "If you don't like Rush, leave the party and stop calling yourself a conservative!" vitriol.

On the one hand, it's a bit sad to see the one (somewhat) rational voice get buried like that. But on the other, it's sort of inevitable; for a long time the neocons have identified themselves by their disdain for "elitist intellectuals". So what happens when things start to go wrong for them and someone makes some intelligent points about what needs to change? They fall on him like wolves on an injured caribou.

Human nature just ain't a pretty thing.

Current Music: S-C-H-A-D-E-N-F-R-E-U-D-E!

Current Music: S-C-H-A-D-E-N-F-R-E-U-D-E!

Bristol Palin, the much-scrutinized pregnant teen daughter of a (former, thankfully) VP candidate, has given birth to a healthy son.

And named him...Tripp Easton.

Odds that she picked that one out from the Sarah Palin Baby Name Generator? Anyone...?

(At least she's keeping up with family tradition. Le sigh.)

Current Mood: amused

Current Mood: amused

Paperwork done with; or at least, put off until tomorrow. I'm starting to get an idea of why it is some folks' desks are never clear. But hey, it means I'm keeping busy, which means I'm earning the salary they're paying me, which is definitely a plus. Especially given how I was complaining about the lack of things to do at my last job.
I was browsing the incense at the local Trade Winds and asked the clerk about the lack of sampler packs of my favorite brand (I burn incense infrequently enough that those are usually just right for me - lots of different flavors and just a few sticks of each). She said the company had gone out of business (sadface!), but that they had done so a couple of times before and come back after a year or two. I hope that's the case this time as well. But, just in case, I got a few packs of nifty sweet-smelling stuff. Hey, it's cheap and it smells nice.
Heard on KXLL today - the usual afternoon news roundup, featuring Andy and local newscaster Weld Royal (who has one of the best names ever) BSing about local and state headlines. Amusing to listen to, especially given that said headlines prominently featured Sen. Stevens, who (in addition to being behind Begich by over 3,000 votes at this point) is facing rumblings that the Senate Republicans may well vote to strip him of his committee posts and other such duties. (Current official line: "We want to see how his reelection results turn out first." Current unofficial line: "We don't want to be the ones responsible when someone else could do the job for us.") After finishing with the news and weather, Andy bowed out Ms. Royal to the strains of "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'", which made me giggle - it seemed an appropriate song for Stevens from both Alaska and his own party.
I have been purse-less for about a year now, ever since the strap on my last one broke. I've made do with a backpack or coat pockets, because the purse I really wanted was $150 off L.L. Bean. And now I've finally bit the bullet and bought one, and it's even better than I anticipated - fantastic quality, plus it's got about a bazillion pockets! I'm way happy with it, especially given that it's backed by their unconditional guarantee. So if the strap breaks in three years, I can send it back for a new one (seriously). Most of the reviewers have claimed theirs lasted upwards of seven years, though, which seems pretty reasonable.
Okay, time to go make twice-baked sweet potatoes. Curse you, Robs, and your delicious journal entries...

Current Mood: chipper

Paperwork done with; or at least, put off until tomorrow. I'm starting to get an idea of why it is some folks' desks are never clear. But hey, it means I'm keeping busy, which means I'm earning the salary they're paying me, which is definitely a plus. Especially given how I was complaining about the lack of things to do at my last job.
I was browsing the incense at the local Trade Winds and asked the clerk about the lack of sampler packs of my favorite brand (I burn incense infrequently enough that those are usually just right for me - lots of different flavors and just a few sticks of each). She said the company had gone out of business (sadface!), but that they had done so a couple of times before and come back after a year or two. I hope that's the case this time as well. But, just in case, I got a few packs of nifty sweet-smelling stuff. Hey, it's cheap and it smells nice.
Heard on KXLL today - the usual afternoon news roundup, featuring Andy and local newscaster Weld Royal (who has one of the best names ever) BSing about local and state headlines. Amusing to listen to, especially given that said headlines prominently featured Sen. Stevens, who (in addition to being behind Begich by over 3,000 votes at this point) is facing rumblings that the Senate Republicans may well vote to strip him of his committee posts and other such duties. (Current official line: "We want to see how his reelection results turn out first." Current unofficial line: "We don't want to be the ones responsible when someone else could do the job for us.") After finishing with the news and weather, Andy bowed out Ms. Royal to the strains of "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'", which made me giggle - it seemed an appropriate song for Stevens from both Alaska and his own party.
I have been purse-less for about a year now, ever since the strap on my last one broke. I've made do with a backpack or coat pockets, because the purse I really wanted was $150 off L.L. Bean. And now I've finally bit the bullet and bought one, and it's even better than I anticipated - fantastic quality, plus it's got about a bazillion pockets! I'm way happy with it, especially given that it's backed by their unconditional guarantee. So if the strap breaks in three years, I can send it back for a new one (seriously). Most of the reviewers have claimed theirs lasted upwards of seven years, though, which seems pretty reasonable.
Okay, time to go make twice-baked sweet potatoes. Curse you, Robs, and your delicious journal entries...

Current Mood: chipper

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It's Only A Paper Rose

an artist's journey through the labyrinth

Entries tagged with politics

Generation Gay

Generation Gay

Disappointment

Disappointment

Food for thought

Food for thought

Oh, the tangled corporate web we weave...[UPDATED]

Oh, the tangled corporate web we weave...[UPDATED]

Color me impressed.

Color me impressed.

Barack Obama deleted the group Guantanamo Bay Detainees 4EVA. (Khalid Sheikh Mohammed likes this.)

Barack Obama deleted the group Guantanamo Bay Detainees 4EVA. (Khalid Sheikh Mohammed likes this.)

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