It's a toss-up...
July 15, 2006
July 14, 2006
My New Favorite Song
(Click to watch/listen)
Pure genius courtesy of The Complaints Choir of Helsinki by way of WFMU's Beware of the Blog.
July 13, 2006
Cut the Traitor Talk
"To all the Republicans who sit in their air-conditioned offices and talk of the courage it takes for them to keep young kids in harm's way -- I say enough. Karl Rove talking about "cutting and running" while he sits on his big, fat backside-saying "stay the course." I say enough! That's not a plan! We've got to have a new direction, and it's clear we need more Democrats in Congress to get that done.Join John Murtha and sign the petition.
No matter how obvious the mistakes in Iraq become, or how many Americans get fed up, Republicans in Congress and the White House will label you a traitor to your country if you stand up and question them. I hope you will join me in my call to House Republicans by signing this petition. We hope to deliver 50,000 names to the Speaker of the House, asking them to cut the traitor talk and start to get a change of direction in Iraq -- if you believe this Republican Congress has abdicated its responsibility long enough, please join us."
July 12, 2006
Never seen anything like that before, falling bodies tumble 'cross the floor...
(Well I'm a tumbler!)*
* "Born Under Punches" - Talking Heads
Lewis Black's Breakthrough
(Click to watch)
Excerpt from Lewis Black's most recent HBO special, "Red, White & Screwed." You can buy Lewis' latest album over at emusic (You get 25 free downloads just for trying the service. Lewis' album has 18. Do the math, browse the site and get some more free MP3s).
"Did it really ding-dong?"
Allen Toussaint and Elvis Costello try to answer some big questions on this blistering version of Toussaint's "Who's Gonna Help Brother Get Further?" featuring The Imposters, Anthony "AB" Brown and The Crescent City Horns. One question not addressed: What the hell is up with drummer Pete Thomas' facial hair?
(Click to watch/Dancing permitted)
Buy the album here.
July 11, 2006
-P-O-O-D-L-E-
(Click the Poodle with the red ball to learn how to play the game of "Poodle")
NSFW
(via WFMU's Beware of the Blog)
For more info, go here.
The Eraser
Radiohead's Thom Yorke (kinda sorta a spiritual descendant of Syd Barrett) has just released his first solo album:
July 10, 2006
Moron-in-Chief
And besides being an idiot, he's unbelievably arrogant, smug, contemptuous and defensive:
(Click to watch)
Video stolen from Crooks and Liars.
Pourquoi?!?!?!?
What the hell could Marco Materazzi have said to provoke Zizou?
UPDATE: Rumor has it, Materazzi called Zidane a "dirty terrorist":
France captain Zinedine Zidane was apparently called a "dirty terrorist" by Marco Materazzi before he head-butted the Italy defender in Sunday's World Cup final, the anti-racism group SOS Racism said on Monday...
Zidane, the son of Algerian immigrants, was shown a red card after the incident and Italy went on to win on penalties after the match was tied 1-1 following extra time.
The Paris-based group called for an inquiry and said world soccer's governing body FIFA had recently toughened sanctions against racism.
"It's for this reason that SOS Racism asks in a determined fashion for FIFA to shed light on this altercation and that sanctions laid out in the official rules be applied should this be the case," SOS Racism said.
Neither Zidane nor Materazzi have spoken in public about what had passed between them before the incident. French television reported that Zidane would talk about the incident "in the coming days".
Despite the incident, my wife and I got swept up in the excitement and came down with World Cup Fever. Time to plan for South Africa, 2010. In the meantime, we can all watch this for the next four years:
July 07, 2006
the party party PRESENTS:
"Sunday Bloody Sunday" by George W. Bush
Click the smirking chimp to watch.
July 06, 2006
Vacation Photo Blogging!
Just slightly (and we do mean slightly) less irritating than visiting friends and suffering through their vacation photos...
"The best beer ever" (we said that after each pint)
Standing room only to watch England lose the World Cup once again ("curse you, Ronaldo!")
Rather than stand, we found a tiny Italian restaurant (with an even tinier TV) to watch England lose the World Cup (once again)
Site of one of my favorite Kinks' songs, "Berkeley Mews" (click the pic to listen)
The Tube. Air conditioned stations but non-air conditioned cars. Extra points for large maps, easy access, cleanliness. New York Subway: 1/London Underground: 3
A "super" window display
We're big fans of Stick Figures in Peril
We "queued" for an hour and a half in the blazing heat for limited Wimbledon access. Here's the action on Court 16 between 4 guys we never heard of.
And finally, a song to sum it all up (Click to watch & listen).
The nicest thing about getting out of the country? You don't see much of this pig:
Light posting until I get my bearings...
June 29, 2006
Gone Fishin' Drinkin'
Back on the 5th.
Editor's Note: Even though I'll be out of the country on July 4th, I will be here in spirit, celebrating all that is great about our God-Blessed-America. And just to prove my commitment to you and my country, I'm leaving you this wonderfully appropriate holiday gift (Pssst: don't "open it" until the 4th):
Be seeing you...
June 27, 2006
Buy This Book
(Click to buy)
Co-written by World o' Crap's very own Sheri Zollinger.
So that's what she looks like, sort of.
June 26, 2006
Playing Politics With Iraq
By BOB HERBERT
If hell didn't exist, we'd have to invent it. We'd need a place to send the public officials who are playing politics with the lives of the men and women sent off to fight George W. Bush's calamitous war in Iraq.
The administration and its allies have been mercilessly bashing Democrats who argued that the U.S. should begin developing a timetable for the withdrawal of American forces. Republicans stood up on the Senate floor last week, one after another, to chant like cultists from the Karl Rove playbook: We're tough. You're not. Cut-and-run. Nyah-nyah-nyah!
"Withdrawal is not an option," declared the Senate majority leader, Bill Frist, who sounded like an actor trying on personas that ranged from Barry Goldwater to General Patton. "Surrender," said the bellicose Mr. Frist, "is not a solution."
Any talk about bringing home the troops, in the Senate majority leader's view, was "dangerous, reckless and shameless."
But then on Sunday we learned that the president's own point man in Iraq, Gen. George Casey, had fashioned the very thing that ol' blood-and-guts Frist and his C-Span brigade had ranted against: a withdrawal plan.
Are Karl Rove and his liege lord, the bait-and-switch king, trying to have it both ways? You bet. And that ought to be a crime, because there are real lives at stake.
The first significant cut under General Casey's plan, according to an article by Michael Gordon in yesterday's Times, would occur in September. That, of course, would be perfect timing for Republicans campaigning for re-election in November. How's that for a coincidence?
As Mr. Gordon wrote:
"If executed, the plan could have considerable political significance. The first reductions would take place before this fall's Congressional elections, while even bigger cuts might come before the 2008 presidential election."
The general's proposal does not call for a complete withdrawal of American troops, and it makes clear that any withdrawals are contingent on progress in the war (which is going horribly at the moment) and improvements in the quality of the fledgling Iraqi government and its security forces.
The one thing you can be sure of is that the administration will milk as much political advantage as it can from this vague and open-ended proposal. If the election is looking ugly for the G.O.P., a certain number of troops will find themselves waking up stateside instead of in the desert in September and October.
I wonder whether Americans will ever become fed up with the loathsome politicking, the fear-mongering, the dissembling and the gruesome incompetence of this crowd. From the Bush-Rove perspective, General Casey's plan is not a serious strategic proposal. It's a straw in the political wind.
How many casualties will be enough? More than 2,500 American troops who dutifully answered President Bush's call to wage war in Iraq have already perished, and thousands more are struggling in agony with bodies that have been torn or blown apart and psyches that have been permanently wounded.
Has the war been worth their sacrifice?
How many still have to die before we reach a consensus that we've overpaid for Mr. Bush's mad adventure? Will 5,000 American deaths be enough? Ten thousand?
The killing continued unabated last week. Iraq is a sinkhole of destruction, and if Americans could see it close up, the way we saw New Orleans in the immediate aftermath of Katrina, they would be stupefied.
Americans need to understand that Mr. Bush's invasion of Iraq was a strategic blunder of the highest magnitude. It has resulted in mind-boggling levels of bloodshed, chaos and misery in Iraq, and it certainly hasn't made the U.S. any safer.
We've had enough clownish debates on the Senate floor and elsewhere. We've had enough muscle-flexing in the White House and on Capitol Hill by guys who ran and hid when they were young and their country was at war. And it's time to stop using generals and their forces under fire in the field for cheap partisan political purposes.
The question that needs to be answered, honestly and urgently (and without regard to partisan politics), is how best to extricate overstretched American troops — some of them serving their third or fourth tours — from the flaming quicksand of an unwinnable war.
June 23, 2006
"Fort Lewis, Washington (June 22, 2006) - U.S. Army First Lieutenant Ehren K. Watada reported to duty at 2:00 a.m. early this morning, Thursday, June 22nd and refused orders to move to the adjacent McChord Air Force Base to prepare to fly to Iraq. Lt. Watada believes that the war and occupation in Iraq are illegal, and thus participation in the war is also illegal. At this time he has been restricted to base and has been ordered to have no communication with non-military personnel."Click the poster for more information.
Common Sense Not Politics
The Boss talks about why the country would be better off if George Bush was replaced and why musicians are just as qualified to voice their opinions as the "idiots rambling on cable television."
June 22, 2006
We Have a Winner!
Tony Franciosa (loved your work in The Name of the Game) thought our Mystery Celeb was Sly Stallone. Tony obviously is suffering from a strange, nostalgic Stallone time warp: Sly hasn't had this much hair since his Rambo days:
(Stallone: with hair extensions & with hair plugs)
However, "Anonymous" correctly guessed that our Mystery Celeb was Naveen Andrews from Lost (I'll let Anonymous' misspelling of Naveen slide). Tell him/her what he/she's won, Don!
"It's a New Car...Commercial!"
(Directed by Steve Ayson of The Sweet Shop, New Zealand)
June 21, 2006
Whiffle Ball Tony
As we all (sort of) know, Americans underwhelmingly reelected George W. Bush because he seemed like the kind of guy you'd want to have a beer with (John Kerry, of course, being the kind of guy you'd want to have wine and cheese with -- and that would be bad 'cause wine and cheese come from France).
Recently, Digby and James Wolcott tried to explain the even more puzzling phenomenom of the "Man-Dude Love" Bush elicits from grown men. Digby:
"Perhaps someone can explain to me the strange male attraction to George W. Bush. I have never encountered anything quite like it. From day one, DC nerds like (Joe) Klein have had massive man-crushes on Junior, describing him as "loose-hipped" and "swaggering" and showing all manner of strange obsession with his masculine body language. Klein seems to barely be able to contain his squeal as he writes about Bush’s "strut" and his "full jaunty" (which sounds suspiciously like "full monty" — giving full rise, as it were, to speculation about what Klein was thinking about when he came up with it.) But, can someone please tell me what in the hell he’s talking about when says that Bush was "downright frothy?" What in god’s name was Klein doing while he wrote this column? (Don’t go there…)"Wolcott:
It occurred to me reading Digby's post that when it comes to Bush, Joe Klein has a hammy bit of George Costanza in him. You may recall the episode where George got a guy crush on Tony, Elaine's hunky dude of a boyfriend (played by Dan Cortese). George was so enthused that he began modeling himself on Tony, turning his baseball cap around and repeating Tony's catchphrases...The obvious problem is that Bush is also the country's Tony and 50% of the people back in 2004 neglected to think through the consequences of allowing Tony to continue running things. One person who beautifully understands the consquences is comedian Mike Birbiglia:
George Bush is Joe Klein's Tony. He's Chris Matthews' Tony too, depending on the lunar phases. He's the Tony for a lot of the Beltway pundits, which is why they're so relieved when Bush regains his swivel hips and starts handing out nicknames like gold stars to the press corps. He's what they would be if only they weren't cursed with so much intellect.
Click on his photo and listen to Mike wax comically about Pizza, Bush (a.k.a. Whiffle Ball Tony) and why "we're all gonna die" (and click on the Birbiglia link up above to find out more about Mike).
June 20, 2006
Everybody Connie Chung Tonight
Oy.
Click to watch the once respected (?) newscaster...at your own peril.
Thanks (I guess) to WFMU's Beware of the Blog.
June 19, 2006
When Thee Was Fab
or All You Need Is Love's Labours Lost:
(Truly, a remarkable archival find for Beatles fans everywhere)
Good Question
Ava Lowery is 15 years old. She is passionately against the war in Iraq. She has an excellent blog and has created a number of compelling videos/animations. She's also received death threats from war supporters.
At 15, Ava is smarter than most of us. Watch her field questions from some CNN bobblehead who, among other things, asks this whopper: How could a 15 year "know about the war or study the war?" Well, certainly not by watching CNN.
Guess The Mystery Celeb
My wife, friends & I spotted this celeb all by his lonesome at a NY downtown/westside eatery last night and one of us shamelessly took this picture on the sly. Can you guess who it is? And can you tell if he tipped well?
Update: Yes, a 23% tip is not too shabby, and no, it's not the former lead singer of Rage Against the Machine, but that was a decent guess considering the generous amount of kinky hair shared by both gentlemen:
Here's a gigantic hint: If you know this celeb at all, you probably know him from his television work (although he did appear in an Academy Award-Winning film for Best Picture).
Update 2: What a fantastic guess. But, no, it's not Hurley.
Honey, I Laced The Folgers
Get up, get out of bed. You can sleep when you are dead:
Directed by Steve Ayson of The Sweet Shop, New Zealand.
June 16, 2006
I Could Watch This For Hours
I'm not sure I get the incredible World Cup Fever Americans are suddenly having after years of staggering indifference but I have to admit this little gif, courtesy of WFMU, is mesmerizing:
If you like this gif, you might also dig WFMU's World Cup Death Watch updates. Good times...
Exclusive Video From Bush's Recent Surprise Visit to Iraq Photo Op
(surprisingly, this is courtesy of a website billing itself as "conservative" -- I guess Bush has truly lost his base)
Television: The Gateway Drug
For years I've maintained that TV, not marijuana (pot, grass, weed, herb, cannibis, ganja, reefer, Mary Jane, boom, chronic, skunk), was the ultimate gateway drug, with the irresistible power to send all of us mere mortals on the cruel path of addiction (in all it's many forms: drugs, alcohol, candy, toys, cars, clothes, money, Kool-Aid, etc.). And now, there's proof (thanks Spike!):
The Revolution will be Televised on YouTube
The Democratic Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, has embraced the internets and has started her very own YouTube page. She includes this video of shameless Republican hack Louie Gohmert attacking war hero (and Democrat) John Murtha:
Rep. Gohmert: Let me close by saying some have not had nice things to say about our colleague Mr. Murtha, and others wanting to pull out of Iraq quickly. I understand the faithful visitation that he does routinely. So i say thank god for his big heart. I say thank god for his compassion. Thank god for his visits to the wounded. Thank god for his ministering to grieving families. But thank god he was not here and prevailed after the bloodbaths at Normandy and in the Pacific or we would be here speaking Japanese or German. Thank you.Meanwhile, Ann Coulter thinks Murtha should be fragged. Can we officially lock her away now?
Rep. Murtha: Was the gentleman at any of those locations? Either at normandy or any of those locations?
Rep. Gohmert: You want to know which locations?
Rep. Murtha: Yeah. Normandy?
Rep. Murtha: I say were you there?
Rep. Gohmert: No, sir. I wasn't.
Rep. Murtha: Were you in Vietnam?
Rep. Gohmert: No, sir.
Rep. Murtha: Iraq?
Rep. Gohmert: No. I have been over there. I haven't been fighting.
Rep. Murtha: Boots on the ground?
Rep. Gohmert: I do admire the gentleman's compassion and all he has done for our wounded. He has done a great service that would be you, Mr. Murtha.
June 14, 2006
Radiohead
Caught them last night. You should do the same if you have the chance. Here they are performing There There:
President Stimpy
Our Compassionate Conservative-in-Chief inappropiately (as usual) kids around with the guy who has Stargardt's Disease (click the link to read what it is and then be amazed that we still let this idiot run our country):
(via ThinkProgress, Crooks and Liars and reader Sal who declares that Bush will be the hands down winner of The Joey Nichols Club)
God Save The Internet!
Kay Hanley, Jill Sobule and Michelle Lewis, a.k.a. The Broadband ("We're like the Dixie Chicks, only less well-known and more Jewish..."), have a free little ditty for you, all about protecting net neutrality. Click their banner to listen and/or download.
"While this song is tongue-in-cheek, it's scary... 'cause it's true! The telecommuncations industry is really trying to destroy our Internet! Take action now while you still can and visit SavetheInternet.com."—Jill Sobule
June 13, 2006
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