Scritti Politti: February 19. 2009

Well, in other news, if you were girding yourself for the coming California Budgetocalypse - it's apparently okay to stand down. At least for a little while. But if you haven't gotten to read Gail Collins' wonderful op-ed on the matter, please do. It's an entertaining rundown of parliamentary dysfunction, from coast-to-coast. It's got it all: broccoli farming, Al Franken, "mind-altering demons," and jealousy over fancy office furniture. Best of all, the whole thing hangs on a reference to the much-beloved teevee series, Kolchak: The Night Stalker. And really, you can't beat that.

Why Are 17 Uighurs Languishing At Gitmo?: Via 1115: "They are in prison today simply because we made the mistake of putting them in Guantanamo yesterday (even though they are not enemy combatants, even though they are not guilty of anything). We put them in prison for no fault of their own, and for no good reason. We continue to hold them for no fault of their own, and for no good reason. We are punishing them, literally, for nothing. Surely, that's cruel and unusual punishment? We are imprisoning them indefinitely for having committed no crime. Surely, that's a gross violation of their human rights?"

Frenemy Mine: In order to survive the economic downturn, New Jersey's Star Ledger and Bergen County Record will join forces, thus testing the new Scorpion/Frog Model of print media. Good luck!

Stuff RNC Chairpeople Like: Via Yglesias: "Newly elected Republican National Committee Chairman Michael S. Steele plans an 'off the hook' public relations offensive to attract younger voters, especially blacks and Hispanics, by applying the party's principles to 'urban-suburban hip-hop settings.'" Does this mean Michael Steele's gonna drop a mixtape or something? Just trying to plan your day.

Okay, A Line Must be Drawn Somewhere: Look. I get it. When referring to Nadya Suleman, the shorthand "Octo-Mom" really pops. But must we tolerate the Octo-ization of everything having to do with this story? Like "Octo-Grandfather," Us Magazine? Octo-Mom chose that life. Let's not thrust "Octo" on everyone.

Hey! Did Somebody Leak The Oscar Winners?: Maybe!

Comments

[HHarvey]

08:21 PM on 02/19/2009

Wow... that's enough reality tv sport to make my head spin. Just think, the year has only just begun.

[dwamikayla]

06:56 PM on 02/19/2009

This is a slight digression, but I can't help it ...

Why is it suddenly stylish to "unabbreviate" television as "teevee" (see the 1st paragraph) instead of the good ol' 2-letter expression "TV"??? It takes 3 times as many keystrokes to type. Is there some "cuteness" factor in this that I'm not aware of?

[mooph]

08:26 PM on 02/19/2009

Supposed to exaggeratingly stress the first syllable: TEE-vee.

Has a hint of anarchophonetic revisionism to it. And it's cute.

[propitiousmoment]

09:56 PM on 02/19/2009

caps key is a pain