Nov 25 2009
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i love this kid.
How can I not reblog this?
Nov 24 2009
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“ As president, I believe that robotics can inspire young people to pursue science and engineering. And I also want to keep an eye on those robots in case they try anything.
— President Obama. Love it.
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This is the last one, but watching Kermit recreate the “Dancing In The Dark Video” really hits my pop culture sweet spot.
YESSSSSSS. My life is complete.
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![thedailywhat:
Tee of the Day, Too: “Hope is Fading Fast” from Freshjive.
From re-uping the Patriot Act to expanding involvement in Afghanistan to defending DOMA to laughing off legalization, Obama has managed to do many disappointing things in his short time in office. And hope for change is fading fast.
[via.]
Shit like this drives me bananas. First of all, expanded involvement with an exit strategy in Afghanistan was always part of Obama’s agenda. Meanwhile, he has never been a gay marriage supporter. It’s ridiculous to see him following through on those two policies and say that the “hope for change is fading fast.” There was never hope for change on those two issues from Obama.
Yes, he laughed off legalization. But his DOJ also ceased prosecutions of medical marijuana dispensaries that are in compliance with state law. That’s a pretty big deal. He’s not working to repeal DOMA (see above), but he’s taken (baby) steps to repeal DADT (which will happen next year), he expanded hate crimes legislation, and he’s ended the HIV travel ban. He passed Lilly Ledbetter and a massive stimulus. We’re closer than we’ve ever been to expanded health care coverage. The Patriot Act is a frustrating continuation, but consider the fact that he’s working to end two wars, the biggest recession in 80 years, and the effect of extensive war crimes. I’m sorry he hasn’t legalized pot yet. Grow the fuck up, dude.
Conservatives: the same. Guess what? No real expansion of abortion rights, no increased taxation (yet, though any reasonable person recognizes it’ll have to happen next year), an (imperfect and not-yet-final) health care bill that nonetheless pays for itself and protects (for better/for worse) the private market, no instant hasty withdrawal from the middle east. Just chill out a little, and maybe you’ll see that he’s not the devil.
No, he’s not been perfect. What a shocker! But facing more immediate adversity than any newly-elected President in decades and trying his best to appease both sides of the country, I’d say he’s done a pretty damn good job.](http://20.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ktmit3wR2v1qzpwi0o1_400.jpg)
Tee of the Day, Too: “Hope is Fading Fast” from Freshjive.
From re-uping the Patriot Act to expanding involvement in Afghanistan to defending DOMA to laughing off legalization, Obama has managed to do many disappointing things in his short time in office. And hope for change is fading fast.
[via.]
Shit like this drives me bananas. First of all, expanded involvement with an exit strategy in Afghanistan was always part of Obama’s agenda. Meanwhile, he has never been a gay marriage supporter. It’s ridiculous to see him following through on those two policies and say that the “hope for change is fading fast.” There was never hope for change on those two issues from Obama.
Yes, he laughed off legalization. But his DOJ also ceased prosecutions of medical marijuana dispensaries that are in compliance with state law. That’s a pretty big deal. He’s not working to repeal DOMA (see above), but he’s taken (baby) steps to repeal DADT (which will happen next year), he expanded hate crimes legislation, and he’s ended the HIV travel ban. He passed Lilly Ledbetter and a massive stimulus. We’re closer than we’ve ever been to expanded health care coverage. The Patriot Act is a frustrating continuation, but consider the fact that he’s working to end two wars, the biggest recession in 80 years, and the effect of extensive war crimes. I’m sorry he hasn’t legalized pot yet. Grow the fuck up, dude.
Conservatives: the same. Guess what? No real expansion of abortion rights, no increased taxation (yet, though any reasonable person recognizes it’ll have to happen next year), an (imperfect and not-yet-final) health care bill that nonetheless pays for itself and protects (for better/for worse) the private market, no instant hasty withdrawal from the middle east. Just chill out a little, and maybe you’ll see that he’s not the devil.
No, he’s not been perfect. What a shocker! But facing more immediate adversity than any newly-elected President in decades and trying his best to appease both sides of the country, I’d say he’s done a pretty damn good job.
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“ Even if Mr. Beck adopts my every political position, however—lobbying to end the War on Drugs, stop the most pernicious aspects of the War on Terror, and implement my own idiosyncratic immigration reform package, among many other things—I’d still count him a man that all principled people should denounce. A political movement built on the rhetoric of a mercenary propagandist is a bit like a house built on a flatbed truck: once you’ve built it up all nice and strong, the driver is liable to move it somewhere you hadn’t any intention of going.
—
Conor Friedersdorf, “Glenn Beck, Community Organizer”
(via carolinastar)
See also: Sarah Palin, Lou Dobbs, et al. This is, naturally, the foundation of the modern GOP, the reason smart conservatives like Andrew Sullivan and David Brooks are no longer considered right-wing by so-called Conservatives. As always, it could be an interesting Thanksgiving.
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I’m not much of a fan of Noah Baumbach (The Squid and the Whale was a major “meh”), but I am ALWAYS a fan of comedians taking on Serious Dramatic Roles. I see comedy as being often infinitely more difficult and emotional than most dramas, and consequently comedians can be well suited to Get Serious (Bill Murray, of course, being the shining example).
And this looks good, and existential, and right up my alley! A movie about a lazy dude who doesn’t want to do anything with Ben Stiller Getting Serious? Where’s the line for Fandango?
Nov 19 2009
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Poll: Majority of Republicans Believe ACORN Stole the Presidential Election
(via newsweek)
Man, I’ve been meaning to make a long post about politics, the GOP, health care (you know the GOP’s health care plan allows for gov’t funded abortion?), NY 23, and the general collapse of society, but never got around to it.
But that headline alone (it’s 52%, by the way, with only 27% believing Obama actually won the race) does a better job than anything I could write of conveying the idiocy.
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Again, if you haven’t seen Once, you really probably should. Here’s the wonderful opening scene.
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So I went to the Swell Season’s first show in LA last night (they’re on again tonight), and got the treat of a lifetime — Jason Segel came out to perform a balls-out hilarious song he wrote about trying to sleep with a Swell Season fan. The video above is thankfully not-terrible quality.
For those who don’t know, the Swell Season are Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova from the movie Once, along with Hansard’s regular band The Frames backing them up. The movie’s amazing, and if you haven’t seen it, you should. The band is just as amazing.
It’s a strange show to see. Once, and the soundtrack to it, narrates Glen and Marketa’s blossoming relationship, as you watch and hear them become romantically involved. Their just-released follow-up album, Strict Joy, was written in the midst of their breakup. So in concert, you get both effects, mixed in with each other. You hear “Fallen From The Sky” to open and think “oh god, they’re so cute together.” Then you hear “Low Rising” and realize they’re not together anymore. And later you hear something else and want to scream out: “DON’T YOU SEE YOU LOVE EACH OTHER??”
Because ultimately, they’re singing these songs to each other, in real time. Singing about how much they love each other, or how much they’ve grown apart, but going through all the emotions on stage in front of you. Bizarre. But breathtaking.
Emily noted it was like The Swell Season Variety Hour, and it was; the Frames’ fiddle player did a traditional Irish ballad, Marketa brought a family friend on stage and sang a traditional Czech song in honor of the recent anniversary of the Velvet Revolution. Glen told incredible story after incredible story, from an old woman in Chicago with a beautiful coat to dealing with a side project from the band you’ve been involved with for twenty years.
But best of all, somehow, was Jason Segel. Completely out of nowhere, Glen tells about meeting Jason and Paul Rudd, and then introduces Jason. And then we get this truly phenomenal song. Not just a great tune, but absolutely hilarious.
Probably the best single concert moment of my life. Just awesome.
