Amanda Fucking Palmer.
Yes, she's often referred to herself that way.
"Runs In The Family" is a track off her 2008 album, "Who Killed Amanda Palmer?", a play on the mystery of the classic TV show "Twin Peaks", where a major plot point was a murder of character Laura Palmer. Also featured on the album is the always awesome Ben Folds.
Runs In The Family addresses the struggle of people with genetic illnesses, whether physical or mental. Although, based on Palmer's frenetic performance, I'd guess she was focusing more on mental illness.
Amanda Palmer also happens to be married to famed author Neil Gaiman (...and when are they going to finally make a movie out of "American Gods?"). And she wrote a book called "The Art of Asking", which I recently read and highly recommend, and that led me to watch her memorable TED talk that spawned the book. Very much worth a viewing.
Sunday, August 02, 2015
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Jefferson, Jackson...Washington?
The Connecticut Democratic Party recently decided to drop two of the names on it's biggest annual fundraising event, the Jefferson Jackson Bailey Dinner, or the "JJB" in common parlance.
Thomas Jefferson was a slave owner, and he also (let's face it) repeatedly raped at least one of his slaves (because consent cannot be given when someone is incarcerated or directly under complete control of another).
Andrew Jackson worked against the abolitionists and sided with the South on the issue of slavery, along with being responsible for the slaughter of countless Native Americans.
So that leaves state political operative John Moran Bailey as the only remaining name currently attached to Connecticut's Democratic dinner. I don't know if he did anything wrong, but I'd be willing to bet he doesn't approach the other two in notoriety.
I don't have much of an opinion either way about the name change. I guess I'm in favor of acknowledging the wrongful acts they committed, and if part of that acknowledgment means their names being dropped from the dinner, I'm fine with it.
But in all the articles I've read about this topic, there's one name that hasn't really come up. This person of course isn't named in the JJB, but he has always been honored and revered in this country since it was founded.
I'm talking about George Washington.
The Father of our Country.
The First President.
And, a person who owned slaves. At times, well over 100 slaves.
If we are seriously discussing scrubbing Jefferson and Jackson's name off of high-profile political events, shouldn't we also take a closer look at George's dealings in the slave trade?
There are apologists for Washington and Jefferson, who say that they were simply citizens of their time, and they were born into a society where is was considered acceptable for a wealthy landowner to own slaves.
True, Washington was the only founding father who freed his slaves upon his death, he attempted to keep slave families together, and he agonized over the issue of slavery.
While still owning and working his slaves.
Sounds like a bit of a disconnect there, right?
Then again, when one of the slaves, Oney Judge, a personal attendant to Martha, escaped to the north, ol' George didn't hesitate to send agents to attempt to capture her and return her to slavery. By the way, there's an episode of Drunk History where comic Jen Kirkman hilariously narrates the Oney Judge story after drinking too much wine.
The point I'm making is, why hasn't anyone brought up the discussion that George Washington was just as guilty of the crime of slavery as Jefferson?
The answer, I think, is because Washington enjoys a status far above any other other person in American history. He is simultaneously a great leader, a hallowed saint, and a true visionary. He essentially IS the American ideal. But he also owned slaves. It would be very uncomfortable for everyone to start a conversation along those lines.
It is inevitable that this will become a topic that will have to be addressed.
How the discussion goes will say a lot about America and it's people.
Thomas Jefferson was a slave owner, and he also (let's face it) repeatedly raped at least one of his slaves (because consent cannot be given when someone is incarcerated or directly under complete control of another).
Andrew Jackson worked against the abolitionists and sided with the South on the issue of slavery, along with being responsible for the slaughter of countless Native Americans.
So that leaves state political operative John Moran Bailey as the only remaining name currently attached to Connecticut's Democratic dinner. I don't know if he did anything wrong, but I'd be willing to bet he doesn't approach the other two in notoriety.
I don't have much of an opinion either way about the name change. I guess I'm in favor of acknowledging the wrongful acts they committed, and if part of that acknowledgment means their names being dropped from the dinner, I'm fine with it.
But in all the articles I've read about this topic, there's one name that hasn't really come up. This person of course isn't named in the JJB, but he has always been honored and revered in this country since it was founded.
I'm talking about George Washington.
The Father of our Country.
The First President.
And, a person who owned slaves. At times, well over 100 slaves.
If we are seriously discussing scrubbing Jefferson and Jackson's name off of high-profile political events, shouldn't we also take a closer look at George's dealings in the slave trade?
There are apologists for Washington and Jefferson, who say that they were simply citizens of their time, and they were born into a society where is was considered acceptable for a wealthy landowner to own slaves.
True, Washington was the only founding father who freed his slaves upon his death, he attempted to keep slave families together, and he agonized over the issue of slavery.
While still owning and working his slaves.
Sounds like a bit of a disconnect there, right?
Then again, when one of the slaves, Oney Judge, a personal attendant to Martha, escaped to the north, ol' George didn't hesitate to send agents to attempt to capture her and return her to slavery. By the way, there's an episode of Drunk History where comic Jen Kirkman hilariously narrates the Oney Judge story after drinking too much wine.
The point I'm making is, why hasn't anyone brought up the discussion that George Washington was just as guilty of the crime of slavery as Jefferson?
The answer, I think, is because Washington enjoys a status far above any other other person in American history. He is simultaneously a great leader, a hallowed saint, and a true visionary. He essentially IS the American ideal. But he also owned slaves. It would be very uncomfortable for everyone to start a conversation along those lines.
It is inevitable that this will become a topic that will have to be addressed.
How the discussion goes will say a lot about America and it's people.
Sunday, July 12, 2015
What a bunch of dopes
I really wanted to title this post "What A Bunch Of Colossal Assholes", but I figured the NSFW headline might appear on people's news feeds, and I didn't want anyone to have an issue at work.
Once again, the Republicans are stopping progress on a necessary bill for bullshit politicking and lame posturing.
I can only hope that voters in the 2016 election will take the power out of these destructive idiot's hands and allow the adults to run the country for a while.
Confederate Flag Amendment
House Republican leadership pulled the fiscal year 2016 Department of Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill from the floor after several members voiced opposition to an amendment that would have allowed Confederate flag paraphernalia to be sold at national parks and displayed on graves at National Park Service-run cemeteries.
Once again, the Republicans are stopping progress on a necessary bill for bullshit politicking and lame posturing.
I can only hope that voters in the 2016 election will take the power out of these destructive idiot's hands and allow the adults to run the country for a while.
Saturday, July 11, 2015
Former Speaker Amann steps down from Milford DTC
Former House Speaker James Amann has recently announced his resignation from the Milford Democratic Town Committee. He was on the DTC for 33 years, and even though he reportedly hasn't attended any meetings since his abortive 2010 run for Governor, he feels that he needs to step down and allow others to lead.
Yes, I'm fully aware of the irony in that last sentence.
Amann currently heads Milford-based International Government Strategies, a lobbying firm described in media as "a governmental affairs consulting firm".
Which is long for "lobbying firm".
I'm speculating that he stepped down because his firm likely "consults" with members of various political parties, and he probably doesn't want to look biased by being a current member of the DTC.
Which is fine with me, more power to him. He's certainly entitled to all the success he can get.
Full disclosure (although why I think it's necessary, I don't know): I've been a mostly non-involved member of the Milford DTC for several years, although I still do proudly display lawn signs for our party's candidates every fall.
Yes, I'm fully aware of the irony in that last sentence.
Amann currently heads Milford-based International Government Strategies, a lobbying firm described in media as "a governmental affairs consulting firm".
Which is long for "lobbying firm".
I'm speculating that he stepped down because his firm likely "consults" with members of various political parties, and he probably doesn't want to look biased by being a current member of the DTC.
Which is fine with me, more power to him. He's certainly entitled to all the success he can get.
Full disclosure (although why I think it's necessary, I don't know): I've been a mostly non-involved member of the Milford DTC for several years, although I still do proudly display lawn signs for our party's candidates every fall.
Saturday, June 27, 2015
The Supreme Court actually had a good week
Yeah, I know. I'm surprised too.
First, the Court upheld the Affordable Care Act yet again (commonly known as "Obamacare"). Justice Roberts states:
Then there's the gay marriage decision:
So yeah, I'd say that was a pretty good week there.
First, the Court upheld the Affordable Care Act yet again (commonly known as "Obamacare"). Justice Roberts states:
Then there's the gay marriage decision:
“It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right.” –Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, writing for the majority
So yeah, I'd say that was a pretty good week there.
Sunday, June 21, 2015
They say all publicity is good publicity
But in this case, I'm sure Gold's Gym would prefer to stay out of the limelight.
Hey look, there's the South Carolina we-love-slavery flag! Woohoo!
Hey look, there's the South Carolina we-love-slavery flag! Woohoo!
Thursday, June 18, 2015
It's been over 150 years
How's about letting go of that fucking offensive flag, you ignorant racist shitdip inbred peckerwood rednecks?
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Donald Trump throws his hair into the ring
Thank you Mr. Trump, for making my blog easy to write.
Friday, May 29, 2015
Dennis Hastert indicted
Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert was indicted yesterday for allegedly trying to conceal around $3.5 million in "hush money" to an unknown person who was threatening to expose something obviously hideous and probably disgusting about him.
That's $3,500,000 to keep a dirty little secret.
Or, more probably, a career-ruining, headline-blaring, fodder for late-night talk shows kind of secret.
(Dennis Hastert on left as Bush signs bill)
Hastert was instrumental is helping pass a bill that George W. Bush gleefully signed into law that restricted the rights of women to seek a certain type of abortion. This was just a step in the direction of stripping those rights entirely from women.
Karma can often be a bitch, and something tells me that she's mad as hell and is gonna land a big fucking hammer on ol' Denny's head.
I'll watch for updates, and will likely post them here. Gleefully.
UPDATE: I can't resist posting my video of Joe "Bush's Lapdog" Lieberman lying to my face about Dennis Hastert covering up the investigation of Mark Foley's "misconduct" with some young Congressional pages and their naughty bits, as it eventually was proven.
That's $3,500,000 to keep a dirty little secret.
Or, more probably, a career-ruining, headline-blaring, fodder for late-night talk shows kind of secret.
Hastert was instrumental is helping pass a bill that George W. Bush gleefully signed into law that restricted the rights of women to seek a certain type of abortion. This was just a step in the direction of stripping those rights entirely from women.
Karma can often be a bitch, and something tells me that she's mad as hell and is gonna land a big fucking hammer on ol' Denny's head.
I'll watch for updates, and will likely post them here. Gleefully.
UPDATE: I can't resist posting my video of Joe "Bush's Lapdog" Lieberman lying to my face about Dennis Hastert covering up the investigation of Mark Foley's "misconduct" with some young Congressional pages and their naughty bits, as it eventually was proven.
Sunday, March 15, 2015
Sunday Night Music Club v.39
Frank Zappa and Steve Vai have a memorable guitar dual in 1982. Rome, I think. Wow!
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