Adventures in waitressing #78:
a big table where the topic of conversation was strategerizing on how to ban pornography. Later, I was told that the head of the table was the reverend of one of SA's largest (baptist?) churches (unconfirmed, but he did look reverendy). To his credit, he has kind eyes, he said nothing during the conversation except to snort when his wife asked, "how can we eliminate pornography in our denomination?", and he tipped very well.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Quote of the Day
From Mark Kline's recent post about Obama's apparent reticence on DADT, and Andrew Sullivan's ambivalence about O's seemingly laggardly approach to gay rights:
I say that Andrew is ambivalent because he vacillates between outrage and intellectual resignation re: Obama's "two steps behind" methodology. But that's understandable; I often feel the same way.
Whenver His Catholic Majesty Ferdinand of Aragon, most powerful and wise prince, was about to embark on some new enterprise, or make a decision of great importance, he went about it in such a way that, before his intentions were known, the whole court and the people were already insisting and exclaiming that the king must do such and so. Then he would announce his decision, just when all hoped and clamored for it.
I say that Andrew is ambivalent because he vacillates between outrage and intellectual resignation re: Obama's "two steps behind" methodology. But that's understandable; I often feel the same way.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Bill Maher doesn't get it.
Bill Maher the other day made a big deal about Obama being on TV all the time. The Media fixates on this, because, ostensibly, they are complicit in the Obamaramathon. However, more interesting is Maher's charge that Obama isn't doing enough fast enough, and that Obama should take a page from Bush's playbook - i.e., push through everything and anything you can, and the consequences (and everyone else) be damned. Maher hired someone he thought had balls, goshdarnit!
He then proceeds to list off several ridiculous things that Bush did in fact push through. But, nearly everything that Maher listed off has been repealed, challenged, or overturned.
I suspect Obama is more audacious than we think.
Certainly, we are used to our chief executive pushing through bold (read: ridiculous) agendas. Maybe that's why Obama's soft power goes unappreciated. And a great example of this is the stuff going on in Iran. Here's a great link to how Obama's MO is to build support, and let the people do the leading.
Obama creates the conditions, lets the support build, and when it's sufficiently there he acts. Albeit modestly. I believe that instead of big changes that would be less of a sell to a group of people, he chooses to work incrementally, and keep up the pressure. This way, the support is there before he acts, and this allows the people to have ownership in his legislation. And that's legislation that will be harder to repeal. Let support build again, and repeat the process until we have real change.
It's kind of like the frog in the pot, but that's probably a bad analogy.
I think that we can see this most vigorously with gay rights. He kept silent on this, let the support (and indignation) build, and then he changed what he could within his purview - federal worker's partner benefits. Then, at the signing of the memo, he said that he would work to repeal DOMA, because DOMA gets in the way of what he ultimately wants to do. "These are the wrongs that we intend to right *today*." Why this isn't getting more air time or recognition, I don't know.
We can fault him for not doing more faster. But really, do we want permanent change? or change that will be flipped the moment there's someone new in office?
He then proceeds to list off several ridiculous things that Bush did in fact push through. But, nearly everything that Maher listed off has been repealed, challenged, or overturned.
I suspect Obama is more audacious than we think.
Certainly, we are used to our chief executive pushing through bold (read: ridiculous) agendas. Maybe that's why Obama's soft power goes unappreciated. And a great example of this is the stuff going on in Iran. Here's a great link to how Obama's MO is to build support, and let the people do the leading.
Obama creates the conditions, lets the support build, and when it's sufficiently there he acts. Albeit modestly. I believe that instead of big changes that would be less of a sell to a group of people, he chooses to work incrementally, and keep up the pressure. This way, the support is there before he acts, and this allows the people to have ownership in his legislation. And that's legislation that will be harder to repeal. Let support build again, and repeat the process until we have real change.
It's kind of like the frog in the pot, but that's probably a bad analogy.
I think that we can see this most vigorously with gay rights. He kept silent on this, let the support (and indignation) build, and then he changed what he could within his purview - federal worker's partner benefits. Then, at the signing of the memo, he said that he would work to repeal DOMA, because DOMA gets in the way of what he ultimately wants to do. "These are the wrongs that we intend to right *today*." Why this isn't getting more air time or recognition, I don't know.
We can fault him for not doing more faster. But really, do we want permanent change? or change that will be flipped the moment there's someone new in office?
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
solidarity
I've been glued to my computer and its various live blogs for the past 60 hours regarding the iran situation. I was interested in the run up, but more interested in the crazy outcome. So, my page has been turned green for the meantime in solidarity. However, I realize that this is not for the US, but for what the people of Iran want. Outcomes are outcomes, but I sincerely hope that less people get hurt and voices are heard. Regardless of politics, people should be heard.
Go here for Nico's liveblog, or here for Andrew's. Also, if you're on Twitter, or so inclined, search for #gr88 or #iranelection. Both reliable. Or just go here for everything. Perhaps too much.
And yes, I just said Twitter. As I said before, my hatred of Twitter will kick me in the ass, and today is that day.
By the way, Obama is right to proceed the way he has. Too perfectly explosive.
UPDATE: #iranelection better than #gr88 for news in Tehran. Because embedded bloggers post there more than the other. @persiankiwi is the best. I want his story after this is all over. Then @stopahmadi and @oxfordgirl. But persiankiwi is actually posting from the middle of Tehran, but not sure about the others. On cycles because he has rotating ISP's and commandeers DSL's when he can. Sea of Green.
UPDATE II: @persiankiwi no longer posting. but word has it that he/she is ok.
Go here for Nico's liveblog, or here for Andrew's. Also, if you're on Twitter, or so inclined, search for #gr88 or #iranelection. Both reliable. Or just go here for everything. Perhaps too much.
And yes, I just said Twitter. As I said before, my hatred of Twitter will kick me in the ass, and today is that day.
By the way, Obama is right to proceed the way he has. Too perfectly explosive.
UPDATE: #iranelection better than #gr88 for news in Tehran. Because embedded bloggers post there more than the other. @persiankiwi is the best. I want his story after this is all over. Then @stopahmadi and @oxfordgirl. But persiankiwi is actually posting from the middle of Tehran, but not sure about the others. On cycles because he has rotating ISP's and commandeers DSL's when he can. Sea of Green.
UPDATE II: @persiankiwi no longer posting. but word has it that he/she is ok.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Green Day is Pop Punk Porn
I love to watch Anthony Bourdain, the bad boy poet of the culinary world. He is caustic, but kind; transparent, not two dimensional; and reflective without succumbing to navel gazing. In perhaps my favorite episode, Bourdain goes to New Zealand. It opens with him giving a lecture to the kiwis wherein he decries the new brand of food network offerings that he labels "food porn." (My sister-in-law also uses this term for the Barefoot Contessa, living vicariously through the Contessa's excessive use of butter.) Bourdain bombs. Crickets. His prickly brand of humor doesn't play well to the ladies. Then, perhaps predictably, Bourdain goes on a culinary and cultural tour of NZ to get his groove back, and triumphantly returns to give another lecture where he kills it.
Bourdain is my food porn. He is an acquired taste, yes. But you have a pretty good idea of what you're going to get, regardless of the content, and it's always a guilty pleasure. His obsession with bacon also doesn't hurt.
This is how I feel about Green Day. I didn't really appreciate them when they first came on the scene, but they've grown on me. I love the (perhaps apocryphal) story of the American Idiot album where they had worked on it for two years, lost all the recordings, then faced with at two week drop-dead date, wrote an entire rock opera. They're good at what they do, and it's refreshing to see such focus in an age where electronic vocals are not used for artistic effect, but instead to hide poor ability. (Kanye, Kanye, Kanye... Who told you it was ok to sing songs outside your vocal range? You're doing it wrong.)
Green Day was on Colbert the other night. They played their new song, "Know Your Enemy," from 21st Century Breakdown. It's great. It sounds like every other Green Day song and I love it. I feel like I've been listening to this song for years - like it's been hovering forever in the Green Day ether and they just plucked it like an apple. They're tight, playful, and just plain fun to listen to. Pop Punk Porn.
I only want to know: "How are you so awesome?"
(Fortunately, Joey's stopped with the guyliner. Probably dropped that as soon as douchey Pete Wentz thought it was a good idea.)
And, for a superhappyfuntime, watch Colbert interview them, then listen for the cookies in the performance.
Now, off to solve the problem of having Walmart be the only store in my immediate area that sells music.
Bourdain is my food porn. He is an acquired taste, yes. But you have a pretty good idea of what you're going to get, regardless of the content, and it's always a guilty pleasure. His obsession with bacon also doesn't hurt.
This is how I feel about Green Day. I didn't really appreciate them when they first came on the scene, but they've grown on me. I love the (perhaps apocryphal) story of the American Idiot album where they had worked on it for two years, lost all the recordings, then faced with at two week drop-dead date, wrote an entire rock opera. They're good at what they do, and it's refreshing to see such focus in an age where electronic vocals are not used for artistic effect, but instead to hide poor ability. (Kanye, Kanye, Kanye... Who told you it was ok to sing songs outside your vocal range? You're doing it wrong.)
Green Day was on Colbert the other night. They played their new song, "Know Your Enemy," from 21st Century Breakdown. It's great. It sounds like every other Green Day song and I love it. I feel like I've been listening to this song for years - like it's been hovering forever in the Green Day ether and they just plucked it like an apple. They're tight, playful, and just plain fun to listen to. Pop Punk Porn.
| The Colbert Report | Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
| Green Day - Know Your Enemy | ||||
| ||||
I only want to know: "How are you so awesome?"
(Fortunately, Joey's stopped with the guyliner. Probably dropped that as soon as douchey Pete Wentz thought it was a good idea.)
And, for a superhappyfuntime, watch Colbert interview them, then listen for the cookies in the performance.
Now, off to solve the problem of having Walmart be the only store in my immediate area that sells music.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
OMGOMGOMG!!! Sherlock is back, b*tches.
Yes, I have an obsession with all things Sherlock. This is why I'm over the moon about the RJD movie coming out this Christmas. I. Can't. Wait. RJD as a messy, depraved, quirky, crazy, SOB Holmes is about the best casting that could have ever occurred. Oh, and Jude Law as Watson is also rather inspired. And pretty to look at.
BTW, this is why Poe's Dupin never really took off. Who wants to see some dude sourly sitting in his pipesmoked cabbage of a room, playing the armchair detective from old news clippings when you can get this:
It's all about the character. OMGOMGOMG.
BTW, this is why Poe's Dupin never really took off. Who wants to see some dude sourly sitting in his pipesmoked cabbage of a room, playing the armchair detective from old news clippings when you can get this:
It's all about the character. OMGOMGOMG.
Monday, May 18, 2009
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