Some commentators seem to be struggling with what marriage means in the wake of this week's Prop 8 ruling. Even Obama seems unsure where to turn. Fear not, readers! Jesse and Grover are here to sort things out for you!
Certain folks are going to continue freaking out about this for a few weeks and months (or, in truth, for as long as it is politically useful) but in 20 years this will all be a distant memory much as anti-miscegenation laws now seem quite absurd. Progress, people!
Showing posts with label WOHJR. Show all posts
Showing posts with label WOHJR. Show all posts
Liveblog: PDX
The bar where I watch the Mets is 4 blocks from my apartment. While taking in yet another loss, I stepped outside for a breath of fresh air. Coming back inside, I noticed in the entryway pictures of the winners of this particular bar's 'Inferno Wing' challenge. The wings are apparently quite spicy, as there were only 4 pictures posted. Imagine my surprise, then, to see a familiar face smiling back at me! Photo after the jump...
Most Glorious Victory Over Terrorism!
This video has been making the rounds the last 36 hours... I encourage the readership to watch but be aware that it is very disturbing. It is mostly self-explanatory, let me just add a quick comment. Unsettling as the bloodlust of the individual pilots on the video is, this kind of behavior is clearly systemically present in Iraq. As ye sow, so shall ye reap.
Video after the jump
Healthcare Poop Sandwich Passes House!
The House passed this evening H.R. 4872 - The Reconciliation Act of 2010, which among other things approves Senate changes to the original healthcare bill. There will be another bill to come which incorporates some of the "better" changes through reconciliation, but the Congress essentially passed the thing tonight. This particular portion of the bill now goes to Obama-- it will be interesting to see how he handles the signing given that much of the overall healthcare plan is still subject to vote. I'm not sure this will be seen as the historic day that some are hailing it as, but you never know. Vent in the comments...
Serious Question
Why do garbage truck drivers insist on displaying teddy bears they've salvaged on the exterior of their trucks? I find it incredibly creepy to see four or five dilapidated (derelicte?) bears mounted on the side or front grill of a trash hauler. Its got to be the saddest sight in the world-- all that love and youthful innocence, now lost forever. Plus they ALL do it. What gives?
Stop Snitchin'
Full rundown on the new policy here. My initial reaction is that this will be a complete nightmare for the houses (EDIT: Except for Phi Delt-- heyo!), especially if HPo does indeed use Dartmouth students as undercovers. As a former social chair this terrifies me. In particular, under some readings of the "house party" rule social chairs might be looking at serious fines and jail time. The administration warned us to the possibility of the police and Hanover DA using this house party law against fraternities but stressed that it hadn't been tried before. On its face it would seem to apply to social officers, almost certainly to the person who went to Stinson's to pick up the Keystone. 2009 Recap: Winners & Losers
I was inspired by this cool chart in the NYT to do a little recap of the year. Without further ado:
2009 Winner: Peyton Manning
Though the football season is not yet complete, this has been a good year for Archie's son on the field. Undeterred by the loss of one of his more talented (but homicide prone) receivers, Peyton led his Colts to a 14-0 start with several clutch performances. Two of his top receivers were virtual unknowns before the season began, particularly the absurdly-named Pierre Garcon (wasn't that he name of the candlestick in Beauty in the Beast?) and Austin Collie, which is a breed of dog I'm pretty sure. Any doubt that Peyton is the engine that makes his team go was erased last week, when the Colts self-destructed as soon as Manning was pulled. He should win the MVP, and his team looks tough heading into the playoffs.
Off the field, Manning has grabbed the title of America's Golden Boy with both hands. He can be seen on the television bantering with actors and Justin Timberlake quite at ease, and he continues to exude the good-guy persona. And actually, he is charming and funny on the TV. When you consider the added fact that Manning's only competition for the sports star/advertising icon throne has flamed out pretty spectacularly at the hands of his comely 9-iron wielding Nordic wife, Peyton seems poised for a big year. Look for guest-star appearances from him this winter and a boatload of new advertising contracts as he seems to be the best game in town. The chair is his until those strumpety cocktail waitresses from Orlando get to him. With or without a Super Bowl victory, we may all remember 2009 as the beginning of the Manning Era.
2009 Loser: Benedict XVI
So many to choose from here. Tiger, Balloon Dad, Bernie Madoff, Obama, Mitt Romney, the New York Mets-- I could go on for hours. But here are my Friday Five style reasons Il Papi loses the year:
1) Same Sex Marriage. Despite some political setbacks to the same-sex movement (seriously, Maine? WTF?) it seems clear to me that we are inexorably moving towards nationwide acceptance of teh ghey marriage. I mean, if Iowa is cool with it, the rest of the nation is definitely coming around. Not a moment too soon of course, but that's another post. Rome's moral authority on this may be slightly eroded anyways, as they reached out somewhat awkwardly to disaffected Episcopals whose priests aren't even celibate anyways.
2) Abortion. The monstrous Stupak Amendment will hopefully be stripped from the final Healthcare bill, but even if it is not, as with the gay marriage thing, my sense is that the country is moving in an accepting direction. Here's to hoping 2009 is the high water mark for the anti-choice crowd, and I think it will be.
3) Child Molestation. Yes, the hits keep on coming, this time out of Ireland, where the priests have apparently been buggering altar boys since the 1850s while each successive bishop looked the other way. This one creeps me out, so lets just move on.
4) Papal Security. Ratzo had a close call this Christmas with a deranged woman who jumped out of the crowd at Christmas mass and knocked the Holy Father and another cardinal over in her excitement at being in the big Christmas show. In addition to underscoring what a nightmare it must be to be in the Papal security business, the Pope must be at least slightly miffed at the news coverage of this event. For this rather astonishing breach of security surrounding a man revered by billions around the globe garnered perhaps 1/16 of the attention lavished on some Nigerian asshole who tried to light his underpants on fire on the final approach to Detroit. Where's the love for Christ's vicar?
5) Cultural Resonance. Fascinating poll out this week from Gallup, which asked the following
question: "What man, that you have heard or read about, living today in any part of the world, do you admire most?" Some pretty surprising results, I must say-- Obama comes in first (that won't last) and George W. Bush (!) narrowly edges out Nelson Mandela for second place. If that isn't horrifying enough, the Pope can only muster a tie for fourth with... AMDAL favorite Glenn Beck! Radio and TV shock jock, Christmas Sweater and conspiracy theory enthusiast Glenn friggin Beck ties the Pope?!!!! Jesus, Mary and Joseph if this isn't the beginning of the end times, I don't know what is. 2009: the year the Pope jumped the shark.
2009 Winner: Peyton Manning
Though the football season is not yet complete, this has been a good year for Archie's son on the field. Undeterred by the loss of one of his more talented (but homicide prone) receivers, Peyton led his Colts to a 14-0 start with several clutch performances. Two of his top receivers were virtual unknowns before the season began, particularly the absurdly-named Pierre Garcon (wasn't that he name of the candlestick in Beauty in the Beast?) and Austin Collie, which is a breed of dog I'm pretty sure. Any doubt that Peyton is the engine that makes his team go was erased last week, when the Colts self-destructed as soon as Manning was pulled. He should win the MVP, and his team looks tough heading into the playoffs.Off the field, Manning has grabbed the title of America's Golden Boy with both hands. He can be seen on the television bantering with actors and Justin Timberlake quite at ease, and he continues to exude the good-guy persona. And actually, he is charming and funny on the TV. When you consider the added fact that Manning's only competition for the sports star/advertising icon throne has flamed out pretty spectacularly at the hands of his comely 9-iron wielding Nordic wife, Peyton seems poised for a big year. Look for guest-star appearances from him this winter and a boatload of new advertising contracts as he seems to be the best game in town. The chair is his until those strumpety cocktail waitresses from Orlando get to him. With or without a Super Bowl victory, we may all remember 2009 as the beginning of the Manning Era.
2009 Loser: Benedict XVI
So many to choose from here. Tiger, Balloon Dad, Bernie Madoff, Obama, Mitt Romney, the New York Mets-- I could go on for hours. But here are my Friday Five style reasons Il Papi loses the year:1) Same Sex Marriage. Despite some political setbacks to the same-sex movement (seriously, Maine? WTF?) it seems clear to me that we are inexorably moving towards nationwide acceptance of teh ghey marriage. I mean, if Iowa is cool with it, the rest of the nation is definitely coming around. Not a moment too soon of course, but that's another post. Rome's moral authority on this may be slightly eroded anyways, as they reached out somewhat awkwardly to disaffected Episcopals whose priests aren't even celibate anyways.
2) Abortion. The monstrous Stupak Amendment will hopefully be stripped from the final Healthcare bill, but even if it is not, as with the gay marriage thing, my sense is that the country is moving in an accepting direction. Here's to hoping 2009 is the high water mark for the anti-choice crowd, and I think it will be.
3) Child Molestation. Yes, the hits keep on coming, this time out of Ireland, where the priests have apparently been buggering altar boys since the 1850s while each successive bishop looked the other way. This one creeps me out, so lets just move on.
4) Papal Security. Ratzo had a close call this Christmas with a deranged woman who jumped out of the crowd at Christmas mass and knocked the Holy Father and another cardinal over in her excitement at being in the big Christmas show. In addition to underscoring what a nightmare it must be to be in the Papal security business, the Pope must be at least slightly miffed at the news coverage of this event. For this rather astonishing breach of security surrounding a man revered by billions around the globe garnered perhaps 1/16 of the attention lavished on some Nigerian asshole who tried to light his underpants on fire on the final approach to Detroit. Where's the love for Christ's vicar?
5) Cultural Resonance. Fascinating poll out this week from Gallup, which asked the following
question: "What man, that you have heard or read about, living today in any part of the world, do you admire most?" Some pretty surprising results, I must say-- Obama comes in first (that won't last) and George W. Bush (!) narrowly edges out Nelson Mandela for second place. If that isn't horrifying enough, the Pope can only muster a tie for fourth with... AMDAL favorite Glenn Beck! Radio and TV shock jock, Christmas Sweater and conspiracy theory enthusiast Glenn friggin Beck ties the Pope?!!!! Jesus, Mary and Joseph if this isn't the beginning of the end times, I don't know what is. 2009: the year the Pope jumped the shark.
Liveblog: Civil Procedure Final
Computer users are in a different room. I didn't realize I was so old fashioned...Grand Old Teabags!
Exciting news this week for all you political junkies out there! Rasmussen, a polling outfit that has been cited approvingly in this space by some other contributors, released something intriguing. I'll let the fine pollsters speak for themselves!
In a three-way Generic Ballot test, the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds Democrats attracting 36% of the vote. The Tea Party candidate picks up 23%, and Republicans finish third at 18%. Another 22% are undecided.
Did you catch that? No, not that the stupid donkeys are out in front, but rather that TEA PARTY PATRIOTS outpoll the GOP! So how about it, conservative blog contributors? Pullin for Palin? Bonkers for Beck? Perhaps feeling a bit Scozzafava-ed?
On a related note, there are still tons of tickets available for Glenn Beck's Christmas Sweater tour. There were only 17-20 tickets sold to this once-in-a-lifetime event in New York and Boston, where our conservative friends are based. Guys, what gives? Scos can perhaps be forgiven given the crushing weight of COBRA payments instituted by that good-for-nothing Ted Kennedy. But Brah? C'mon man, don't let a holiday season go by without experiencing "the latest incarnation of Glenn Beck's deeply personal tale of love, faith and family." Only $20!
Dart-Uncouth?
Anyone in Hanover able to give some on site reportage on the apparent "slurs" dropped by Dartmouth fans at the Harvard squash match?
In 2004, I was subject to similar treatment at our regular season match against Penn, something I no doubt encouraged as the match went on by throwing in a few fist pumps and wearing my purtiest pink bandana. Turns out the playoffs that year were at Penn as well so I took the opportunity to exact some revenge on the gallery-- not by winning but by being ejected after tossing my racquet such that it flew up into the audience and struck a young girl in the face. Take THAT, homophobes!
UPDATE: At first glance this seems to be quite the weak sauce-- one of the Jewish Harvard players is objecting to it being pointed out that he was being "bagel-ed." Having been "triple-bageled" on more occasions than I care to divulge, I can say the only slur intended was against this wanker's poor play, not his ethnic/religious heritage. Christ on a friggin hippo, that is lame...
Stoned Me Just Like Jelly Roll
Its been a big week for stoners. First, on Thursday morning voters awarded MLB's NL Cy Young to Tim Lincecum of the San Francisco Giants. The very same Tim Lincecum was pulled over on I-5 in Washington State on October 30 of this year with a small quantity of-- gasp-- the reefer! Not to be outdone, noted marijuana enthusiast and former Canadian football star Ricky Williams followed Lincecum by turning in a three TD effort in leading the Miami Dolphins over the Carolina Panthers on Thursday Night, a performance made all the more impressive when you consider one of his scores came on a catch (hand-eye coordination perhaps not among the traits usually ascribed to stoners).
This relates nicely to an ad I heard on the radio this morning, advertising Cheech & Chong's new tour, purportedly in favor of pot legalization called "Get it Legal." Now, far be it for me to raise an eyebrow towards two of surely the most formidable pot-ninjas in this fair country,
but are they really the best advocates for legalization? I can't really think of a duo who might be less convincing than those two to someone on the fence about the issue. Of course they want pot legalized! All of which got me, in turn, thinking about who the most effective possible advocate for country-wide legalization might be. Its tempting to say
the Pope, but after reflection I have to go with Warren Buffett. Wouldn't it just blow your mind if he came out and said he rips a 6-foot bong every morning before he gets out of bed?! That would do it, I'm pretty sure-- the man is America's Pope. Suggestions for others in the comments!
